Sexton/Gatlin Racing
[email protected]
[email protected]
(619) 454-6945
For Immediate Release
WILD NIGHT FOR SEXTON/GATLIN RACING AT BARONA SPEEDWAY!
(Lakeside, CA, September 1, 2018) Put Sexton/Gatling Racing in its own backyard and the entertainment factor will blow off the top of the charts. That is just what happened last Saturday night when the racing trio provided a flip, a fire, a heat race win and a top five main event finish during the California Lightning Sprint Car race at the Barona Speedway.
Located on the Barona Indian Reservation, the track is mere miles from the Sexton’s Lakeside home. Extra family members and friends were on hand and the Sexton’s did not disappoint. It all started when Dalton Sexton, the oldest of the two racing siblings who always race with and against their father Brent, timed in at 14.924 in the 19-car field. That was a career-best second in CLS competition for the rookie and was only .001 off the fast qualifying time. Father Brent was the third fast qualifier at 15.013. The youngest of the racing team, 14-year-old Grant, was 12th fastest with a lap of 15.966.
The family trio was split in the two, eight-lap heat races. Father Brent was in the first one and he placed fifth. The second heat ended up being a Sexton Brothers “Highlight Reel” affair. Grant spanked the field from the drop of the green flag and won the race by over a half straight. However, it was older sibling Dalton who garnered most of the attention. Farther back in the field, the teenager took a nasty flip coming off turn two. His car violently tumbled over multiple times. It landed on its wheels and before the field could get stopped and the safety crew could arrive on the scene, the teen amazingly kept on going and drove the battered racecar away!!!
Dalton was slated to compete in the dash, but the violent tangle knocked him out of it as his crew was thrashing in hopes of getting his car ready for the main event. Brent finished third in the dash.
Hard work in the pits paid off for the team. When it was time for the 25-lap main, all three Sexton/Gatlin Racing cars presented themselves for the start. Brent had the best starting spot from the outside of row three. Grant was two rows behind on the inside of the fifth row and Dalton and his repaired race car started on the outside of row six.
Things went well for Brent who ran in the top-five all race and finished fifth. It was his eighth top five finish of the year. The race was not as kind to his sons. Grant exited on lap 10 with a clutch problem. Five laps later, as he did in his heat, Dalton exited the main in spectacular fashion. Going down the back straight, his engine exploded in a spectacular ball of fire. Showing the poise of a seasoned veteran, he calmly hopped out of the car as the safety crew rushed over to snuff out the flames. Unfortunately, it resulted in a 12th place finish, one spot ahead of his brother.
Going into the next USAC/CLS race at the Bakersfield Speedway on September 8th, Brent is third in the championship standings and is only four-points out of second. Grant climbed to ninth in the standings and is still leading the “Rookie of the Year” chase. Dalton is second in the “Rookie” standings and is 12th overall in the CLS title chase.
To keep up with all the exploits of the Sexton/Gatlin Racing Team, be sure to visit it’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Sexton-Gatlin-Racing-1173560279445564/
Sexton/Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2018 season possible. Sexton Fire Protection, Scotty and Jimmy Keys, BK Wings, Victory Graphics, Henchcraft, Sam Coe Performance and Swift Powdercoat. If you or your company would like to be a part of the Sexton/Gatlin team for the 2018 campaign, please call (619) 454-6945 or E-mail [email protected]
SEXTON/GATLIN 2018 CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SERIES RACING SCHEDULE
March 31 – Placerville Speedway – BCRA – Brent 2nd - Grant 14th - Dalton 17th
April 14 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National – Brent 5th – Grant 7th – Dalton DNS
April 21 – Bakersfield Speedway – USAC National – Brent 7th – Dalton 9th – Grant 18th
May 5 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National – Brent 2nd – Dalton 10th – Grant 12th
May 19th – Barona Speedway – Jim Squire Memorial – Brent 4th – Dalton 8th – Grant 18th
May 26 – Perris Auto Speedway – USAC National – Salute to Indy – Brent 11th – Dalton 12th – Grant 16th
June 16 – Bakersfield Speedway – Civil War vs BCRA – Brent 6th – Grant 12th – Dalton 21st
July 7 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National – Grant 7th – Dalton 11th – Brent 19th
July 21 – Santa Maria Raceway – Civil War vs BCRA – Grant 17th – Dalton 18th – Brent 19th
August 1 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National – Ventura County Fair – Brent 2nd – Grant 14th
August 11 – Merced Speedway – BCRA – Brent 8th – Grant 13th
August 18 – Perris Auto Speedway – USAC National – Grant 4th – Brent 5th – Dalton 11th
August 25 – Barona Speedway – Brent 5th – Dalton 12th – Grant 13th
September 8 – Bakersfield Speedway – USAC National
September 21 – Placerville Speedway – Civil War vs BCRA
September 22 – Placerville Speedway – Civil War vs BCRA
October 6 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National
October 20th – Barona Speedway
October 27 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National
November 17- Bakersfield Speedway USAC National with USAC National and Western Midgets
December – River City Expo Center – Tulsa, Oklahoma
This release produced by Scott Daloisio. Contact (909) 226-7768 mailto:[email protected]
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