MID-AM’S FINAL THREE EVENTS TO DECIDE CHAMPIONSHIP |
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Gregg Paul
Mid American Stock Car Series
September 17, 2014
Three more races at three different tracks, with three drivers still contending for the championship. When the Mid-American Stock Car Series rolls into Elko Speedway in Minnesota on September 20th for the sixth annual Thunderstruck 93 event the top three drivers in points will be vying to continue the quest for the 2014 season championship.
Jeff Holtz will take a fifty one point lead over Jeremy Spoonmore and a fifty two point lead over Lyle Nowak into the race at Elko. The Mid-Am Series only trek into Minnesota to the 3/8 mile banked oval offers a different challenge to the racers then the remaining stops at Rockford Speedway and LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway for the famed Oktoberfest to close out the season.
Elko Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8 mile oval, while Rockford Speedway is a high-banked paper clip shaped quarter mile. LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway is a veritable super speedway by comparison at 5/8 of a mile. Each track has a unique racing line with unique set ups. Each driver will have figure out how to best tackle each track as well as battling each other and the rest of the stellar field of drivers competing for the victory. The three drivers battling for the championship will have their hands full not only with the tracks and each other, but their fellow competitors as well.
While Holtz’ lead is reasonably large, when you consider there are three races remaining there are plenty of opportunities to gain or lose points. Points are available for qualifying along with the heat races and the feature with a maximum of 128 possible. If one of the drivers could score the maximum while the others have even a top five kind of day, plenty of ground could be made up. Throw in two more races after Elko and it’s easy to see that the points battle will likely come down to the final race at Oktoberfest.
The top three in points have also factored into the win column in 2014. Jeff Holtz leads the series in victories with three, with wins coming in the season opener at Rockford, Milwaukee, and Slinger. Lyle Nowak scored back to back victories at Jefferson and Wausau, while Spoonmore had a lone victory at Hawkeye Downs in Iowa and was the overall winner at the August LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway “LAWNKeepers Split 40”.
There may only be 135 laps of racing left in the Mid-American stock car season, but if it is anything like the prior races in 2014, there is sure to be a lot of excitement all the way down to the final checkered flag. One of many questions to ponder is who will emerge as the champion?
The three drivers racing at three different tracks in the final three races will provide that answer in the coming three weeks.
Detailed Elko Speedway info can be found on www.elkospeedway.com or call 952-461-7223.
Keep up with Mid-American on www.midamericanracing.com.