NOWAK REIGNS IN THUNDERSTRUCK FEATURE AT ELKO

Topics:  Lyle Nowak

Gregg Paul
Mid American Stock Car Series
September 24, 2014

Perhaps Lyle Nowak sent a message to his fellow title contenders at Elko Speedway by leading all fifty laps in scoring his third win of the season for the Mid-American Stock Car Series. Nowak took the green flag from the outside of the front row and took the lead from Dan Gilster as they headed into turn one.

Despite being challenged by both fellow title contender Jeremy Spoonmore and later Scott Dunning, Nowak was able to lead every lap as he tied Jeff Holtz for the most victories in the series in 2014.

Once Nowak cleared Gilster for the lead he quickly opened up a five car length advantage. Spoonmore and Brian Holtz raced side by side for third while Kenny Joosten rounded out the top five.

Nowak continued to stretch out his lead over Gilster, pulling away to a half straightaway advantage by lap ten. That lead would quickly be erased when the yellow would fly on the next lap. Brian Holtz’ car was leaking fuel enough to cause the yellow to come out.

When racing resumed, Nowak got the jump and stretched out his lead once again. Spoonmore pulled to the outside of Nowak when the cone came out and settled into the second spot with Joosten getting past Gilster in third. Scott Dunning moved into the fifth spot and quickly challenged Gilster for fourth before setting his sights on Joosten.

Meanwhile a little further back, fast qualifier and points leader Jeff Holtz was struggling in the seventh position.

Nowak once again would open up a half straightaway lead as Spoonmore seemed content to ride in the second spot. Dunning would move into third as he would get around Joosten on lap 14. Rick Tackman Jr. would move in on Joosten and finally claim the fourth spot on lap 18.

Jeff Holtz finally found some speed in his car and began to move up in the running order. Gilster slipped back in the pack and Holtz moved past into sixth by lap 21. Seven laps later Holtz would get around Joosten to move into the top five.

As Holtz was making his move, so was Dunning, getting around Spoonmore for the second spot on lap 27.

Once Dunning got by Spoonmore, Dunning began to close in on Nowak and cut into the huge lead. Dunning was aided by lapped traffic, as Nowak seemed to catch the lapped cars at an inopportune time. With twenty laps to go Nowak’s lead was a half straightaway, and just four laps later Dunning closed to within three car lengths.

Nowak initially had a little trouble getting around the lapped cars and Dunning capitalized. Dunning was on Nowak’s bumper with just thirteen laps to go and suddenly we had a race on our hands.

Nowak then got a little loose off of turn two giving Dunning an opening to the inside, but Nowak was able to recover quickly and hold off the challenge.

The leaders then cleared the lapped traffic with ten laps to go and had no one to get in their way all the way to the checkers.

Dunning drove deeper into the corners and closed the gap, but Nowak was able to pull away off the corners and maintain the lead.

The laps were winding down, but Dunning wasn’t going to give up without a fight. He would close in, but Nowak had the answer every time. Dunning got his nose inside of Nowak going into turn one on a few occasions, but Nowak was able to turn away every challenge that Dunning would mount.

Eventually Dunning would simply run out of time as the laps clicked by. Nowak would make it to the checkers a mere .267 second ahead of Dunning, with Spoonmore finishing in third. Tackman Jr. would bring it home in fourth with Jeff Holtz rounding out the top five.

Nowak’s third win of the season tied him with Jeff Holtz for the most victories in the Mid-American Stock Car Series for 2014. Nowak who came into the race in third place in the points fifty two markers behind Holtz, moved into second place picking up nine points on Holtz.

Holtz set fast time in qualifying and that helped his cause despite his fifth place finish in the race. Jeremy Spoonmore lost a little ground despite his third place finish. Spoonmore came into the race second in points trailing Holtz by 51 points and left in third place trailing by 53.

The next Mid-Am race at Rockford Speedway could go a long way into deciding how the championship will pan out. Holtz won the season opener at Rockford and will look to cement his points lead before heading to Oktoberfest to decide the title.

Rockford Speedway details can be found on www.rockfordspeedway.com. Of course, you can follow the Mid-American points race drama unfold on www.midamericanracing.com. Better yet, join us for the action at Rockford Speedway this Saturday night, September 27th.

Results of the Thunderstruck 50 Lap Feature at Elko Speedway
1. 32 LYLE NOWAK
2. 132 SCOTT DUNNING
3. 95 JEREMY SPOONMORE
4. 74 RICK TACKMAN
5. 38 JEFF HOLTZ
6. 8 ERIC PIERCE
7. 47 KENNY JOOSTEN
8. 23 DAN GILSTER
9. 3 DAVE MCCALLA
10. 00 MARK BROONER
11. 80 DUSTY KREBS
12. 04 CRAIG STARK
13. 30 DAVID SLACK
14. 98 GREG BEEBE
15. 01 RYAN GUTKNECHT
16. 38 BRIAN HOLTZ