BRIGHTON, Tenn. – Tucker Boulton will make his 360ci winged sprint car debut this Saturday at his home track.
Boulton, who plans on running full time this year with the ASCS Mid-South Region, gets a warm-up opportunity this weekend when Riverside Int’l Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., hosts the division during the final night of the Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hometown Challenge.
“I’m hoping to knock the rust off and get all of the seat time I can,” he said. “That’s always a goal for the first weekend of the year. Getting comfortable is also important for us, especially as we’re moving into the 360 division.”
Boulton, who has raced a 305ci winged sprint car for the last two and a half years, was able to attend a test session in the middle of this month.
“We were able to hit the track twice and there was definite improvement from the first to second session,” he said. “I never realized there was that much of a horsepower difference. It’s good. It’s fun.”
Boulton estimated a schedule of 35 to 45 races this year if all goes well with select ASCS National Tour and USCS Series races in addition to the ASCS Mid-South Region schedule.
Last weekend’s planned ASCS Mid-South Region opener rained out.
“We’re shooting for the ASCS Mid-South Region Rookie of the Year Award and if we can do well in the points that’d be great, too,” he said. “We still have the 305. If we have an open weekend and there is a local race going on we’ll take it out.”
Boulton is also focused on learning throughout his transition into the 360 ranks.
“The only thought this weekend is to get into the feature and get behind some guys who have more experience and learn all I can,” he said. “Hopefully we can come back later in the year and show them what I have once I get some experience.”