Sammy Epling Race Report

Perry, Michigan (Tuesday, May 17th, 2011): What started out as a three races in three nights weekend, turned into a single night of racing for Sammy Epling as he was able to race at the track where he's the defending track champion at while the other two shows were won by Mother Nature. .

Beginning on Friday, May 13th, a trip back to Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan for a regular show was in store for Epling and his Doug Finley Motorsports / SJE Motorsports Team. Epling come home in the runner-up spot in the feature, but by just getting to that point was an accomplishment itself for the Perry, Michigan resident.

"The night didn't start out so hot when I spun out in the heat race going for the lead. I hated it that I tore up the car and collected Mark Andersen in the process," reflected Epling. "But the guys on the crew busted their butts putting the car back together as best they could with what we had." He added.

Epling was forced to start last in the 20-car field and steadily picked his way through the field and had worked his way up to third when he looped his #29 NorthsideTowing.net machine by himself. ""I don't know what the hell was wrong with me." He laughed. "Must've been a Friday the 13th curse or something," He added.

So once again, Epling worked his way through the field and by the end of the race had got back up to second place but ran out of time trying to catch the eventual winner, Ryan VanderVeen who would go on to take the checkered flag. "We had a fast car, but I just made a couple of mistakes and it cost us. That's ok, we'll get back there (Mt. Pleasant Speedway) over Memorial Day Weekend and see if we can find victory lane."

A trip to the Buckeye State was planned as the crew made their way down to the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval of Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio. But as the crew pulled up, they were informed that the show was canceled and in addition, the next day's four times rescheduled Sunoco American Late Model Series 2011 season opener at the big 1/2 (0.500) mile semi-banked dirt oval of Millstream Speedway in Findlay, Ohio was postponed, thus ending Epling's race weekend early.

"It's just unreal what the weather has done to the Sunoco ALM Series! We still haven't got a show in with them and we're coming up on Memorial Day!" Laughed the Perry, Michigan standout, "I hope this coming weekend will end that streak with two Sunoco shows in my home state. I can't wait for these two races. Hopefully we can have a good showing and get a nice jump out ahead of everyone in the points."

What are now the first two shows of the 2011 racing season for the Sunoco American Late Model Series will be in Epling's home state of Illinois beginning This Friday, May 20th at Kankakee Motor Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois and then continuing on Saturday, May 21st at Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois. Epling, who now calls Perry, Michigan home, has both dates circled on his 2011 calendar.

"We wanted to get over there earlier this season for the World of Outlaws Late Model shows, but, as has been the case all season long for us, the weather held us back. Hopefully we can have a good weekend this weekend and this ridiculous weather holds out for us to actually be able to race." Epling continued. "We're really hoping to race this time. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends." He ended.

After the trip back home to the Prairie State, the Sunoco American Late Model Series will do its best to catch up on its 2011 racing season over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend with three races in three days beginning at the track where Epling is the defending track champion; Mt. Pleasant Speedway on Friday, May 27th. From there, the Series travels to the Buckeye State and to Oakshade Raceway on Saturday, May 28th before wrapping up the holiday weekend at the legendary 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked dirt oval of Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio on Sunday, May 29th.

Epling's #29 Mastersbilt Chassis sporting a Pontiac GTO nose on his UMP Late Model will carry sponsorship decals from; NorthsideTowing.net as well as SJE Trucking, Imaging Solutions, Shift Shop Transmissions, Mike Childers & Sons Excavating, Lane Automotive, Fusion Sign Company, Jeff Smith Home Improvements, NashCar Trailers, Huffy's Marathon, Hedrick Precision Engines, Dowker Racing Engines, M.P.H. Promotions, SJE Motorsports, and Doug Finley Motorsports.

For more information about Sammy Epling and the entire SJE Motorsports / Doug Finley Motorsports Team and to inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the 2011 racing season, log onto the teams' website at: www.sammyepling.com You can also follow the entire 2011 season with Epling by becoming a fan on his Facebook Fan Page. Just go to: www.facebook.com and search "Sammy Epling / SJE Motorsports" then click on "Like" today.