FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2011
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Austin Hubbard Claims Top Ten in Knoxville Late Model Nationals

by Ben Shelton
Seaford, Delaware (10/04/11) – Austin Hubbard took part in the 8th Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals over the weekend in his #19 Beitler Enterprises/Rocket/Cornett Racing Engine Super Late Model, and came away with a top ten finish in the season's richest event.

After what has been a rough year so far, Austin enjoyed a great run on Thursday night in the opening event of the 8th Annual Knoxville Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals. Sixty-four cars entered the $7,000-to-win event, and Hubbard started the night by qualifying third fastest in time trials. With the top ten cars being inverted in each heat race, Austin started tenth on the grid before storming past Billy Moyer on the next to last lap to claim the heat race win to lock into the sixth starting spot for the main event.

In the feature Austin would quickly work his way into the top five and by lap ten he was up to the third spot. Over the remainder of the event passing would become difficult and Hubbard would challenge Darrell Lanigan for the second spot on several occasions before settling for a third place finish behind race winner, Jimmy Owens, and Darrell Lanigan.

Friday night saw the second round of the 8th Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals held at Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, Iowa). Sixty Super Late Models entered the $7,000-to-win, program, and the night would start well as Hubbard qualified second fastest to only Scott Bloomquist. Once again the top ten cars were inverted for heat race action, so Austin started 10th in the second heat. Early in the heat he would struggle to make up much ground, but as it progressed he began marching forward. Unfortunately, bad luck would strike with just one lap remaining, when his engine expired bringing his night to an early end.

Despite Friday night's bad luck, Austin amassed enough points on Thursday night to lock into the outside front row starting spot for the 100 lap, $40,000-to-win finale in the 8th Annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals. He was joined on the front row by Brian Birkhofer, and as the race went green, it was Austin, who bolted to the lead. He would pace the field for the first 23 circuits before Don O'Neal slipped past for the lead. Over the next several laps Austin would battle in the top five slipping as far back as the fourth spot before charging back to the second spot just past the halfway point. Hubbard looked to be on his way to a definite, runner-up finish before contact with the lapped car of Brady Smith, bent the left front of Austin's entry, making it handle not as well. As a result, over the closing laps he would slip to a seventh place finish.

Austin will return to action on Thursday night, October 6th at Rolling Wheels Raceway (Elbridge, NY) as the World of Outlaws Super Late Model tour resumes their 2011 season. The event will be headlined by a $10,000 to win feature. Hubbard is seventh in the latest tour standings.

Austin Hubbard would like to thank all of his sponsors including Beitler Motorsports, Reliable Painting, Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway (April 15th-16th), Trinity Transport, Salisbury Door & Hardware, Rocket Chassis, Cornett Racing Engines, Keyser's Port City Racing, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Robby Allen Enterprises, Sunoco Race Fuels, ASI Racewear, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, PANELfast, Trick Race Parts, Hawk Performance, Dyer's Top Rods, The Joie of Seating, Bell Helmets, Wilwood Disc Brake, Cizmar, TWM Racing Products, Crow Design, TC Race Cars, Integra Shocks & Springs, R2C Competition Filters, Outerwears Pre-Filters, Performance Rod & Custom, CPD Racing Tools, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Peterson Fluid Systems, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Racing, Performance Bodies, Sweet Mfg, MPC Performance, Jones Racing Products, Three Wide Clothing, and MSR Mafia.com Marketing Services.

For marketing opportunities, please contact Tonya with MPM Marketing at www.marketwithmpm.com

For more information on Austin Hubbard, please visit www.AustinHubbard.com.