(Bryan Lugo Photography)
Tulsa, OK | December 22, 2017 – After spending his 2017 season focused on midget racing and other endeavors, Michael Faccinto is prepared for a return to the micro sprint community at the biggest event of the year. Battling in next week’s 33rd edition of the Lucas Oil Tulsa Shootout, Faccinto will be chasing his third-career Golden Driller as he runs the Winged Outlaw and Outlaw Non-Wing classes. Always a thrilling competitor on the Tulsa Expo Raceway, the Hanford, California native has a rich history with the facility that includes a Chili Bowl Midget Nationals main event start from this January. Hoping to return with the same skill and magic that guided him to a Golden Driller in 2015 and 2013, Faccinto could become part of an elite group as only two other men have scored three Shootout titles in the Stock/Outlaw classes this decade.
“This year was a little different with me not running the micro, but you always go into Tulsa with the same expectations as years past, and that is to win the Golden Driller,” stated Faccinto. “I’m excited to still be competing with cars that I’m familiar with thanks to the Kasiner family. They have always been great to me and I would love to win one of these for them.”
Making his seventh-straight appearance at the Tulsa Shootout, Faccinto has recorded at least one feature start in every attempt since 2012. With 10 total starts to his name, the 27-year old veteran has earned five top-five finishes along with his two victories. Starting his streak in 2012 during the peak of Team Green, Faccinto finished second to teammate Heath Duinkerken in the headlining Winged Outlaw class. Scoring his first title in 2013 with a start-to-finish domination of the A-Class division, Faccinto returned in 2014 with a successful week that included three starts and two top-ten finishes. The 2015 event entailed his second-career Golden Driller and a thrilling Winged Outlaw triumph that included an exciting battle with teammate Jerrod Wilson. In 2016, he secured another top five finish in A-Class, while 2017 involved a controversial DNF while at the front of the Winged Outlaw feature.
“Winning a third Golden Driller would mean a lot to me, especially after we were so close last year,” said Faccinto. “Running only two classes this year, I do feel more prepared than years past. Winning one Shootout title is tough enough, so to win a third would be a really cool accomplishment.”
Driving for the Kasiner family, Faccinto will be relatively comfortable in his return to micro sprints as he is back with a previous car owner that experienced plenty of success with him. Piloting the CS9 Chassis, Kasiner Farms, Factory Kahne No. 21G for multiple seasons, the owner-driver combination most notably won the inaugural Super 600 title at the 2015 California Speedweek.
Beginning on Thursday, December 28th with practice and heat races, the 33rd edition of the Lucas Oil Tulsa Shootout will run through Sunday, December 31st when a new batch of Golden Driller winners are crowned. Walkapedia will continue our Tulsa Shootout coverage all week long with countless previews leading up to the race as we highlight this year’s contenders.
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