Inside Line Promotions – FORNEY, Texas (Feb. 3, 2015) – Travis Rilat is about to embark upon a lengthy trip to another country in order to pay homage to a close friend.
Rilat is venturing to Australia this week to compete in the 4th annual Tyson Perez Memorial, which is slated for this Saturday at Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier, Glenburnie, South Australia.
“We’re going to honor my mate as they’d say in Australia,” he said. “Tyson liked more than anything to win. We’ll win it in his name.”
Rilat dominated the memorial race – named in honor of a friend and crew chief who passed away in 2010 – last year. This Saturday he will return to the same sprint car, which is owned by George Smetona and crew chiefed by Phil Seymour.
“Tyson and I were pretty close buddies,” Seymour said. “Travis and I have become good buddies. Travis will kick some (butt). There’s no worries about that. We have a good car for him. As long as no knucklehead gets in his way we should be fine.”
Rilat has improved in each of the first three memorial races. After crashing during the inaugural event, he finished second in 2013 before winning last year. The only thing left to do is repeat the victory.
“I think we have a good car,” he said. “It’s the same engine and same car as last year. We have good equipment. We just need to have a little luck on our side and we’ll have a repeat of last year.”
Rilat, who will be in Australia for approximately a week, will also spend a lot of time with the Perez family.
“We’ll just reminisce and have a good time,” he said. “It’s always a great time when we get together and everyone can tell stories about the amazing times we had with Tyson.”
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier, Glenburnie, South Australia
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TravisRilat.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TravisRilat29
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Triple X Race Components
Based in Burlington, Wash., Triple X Race Components offers top-of-the-line sprint car, midget and micro sprint parts and chassis. For more information, visit http://www.xxxraceco.com.
“Triple X has been a great partner for the last few years,” Rilat said. “I always feel very comfortable and very safe racing a Triple X chassis.”
Rilat would also like to thank the Perez family, George Smetona, Phil Seymour, Sprint Roller Shutters, ESP, Motors on Malor, Cols Quality Contracting, Total Steel Australia, Shark Racing Engines, Shop the BOSS, Weld Wheels, KSE Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Hoosier Racing Tire, HRP Wings, Goodrich, Penske Racing Shocks, All Star Auto Reconditioning and everyone who has partnered with his No. 29 Triple X.