MID-AMERICAN BRINGS ACTION to THE "ACTION TRACK"

Mid American Stock Car Series
June 19, 2014

(Fort Atkinson, WI - June 18, 2014)

When a baseball player is on a hot hitting streak, they say he’s “seeing the ball well”. If the Mid-American Stock Car Series was a baseball league instead of a racing circuit, that clever little catch phase would no doubt apply to its current point leader - Jeff Holtz.

The Franksville, WI veteran will be the man everyone will be shooting for this Saturday night as round five of the series’ 2014 season takes it to Wisconsin’s Action Track - the tricky confines of Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, WI.

Much like that baseball player who is able to connect on whatever the pitcher flings toward the plate - whether it be a fastball, slider or curve - Holtz has been hitting the ball hard on a variety of racing tracks. He is a perfect 4 for 4 in the top five finishes, including wins on the tight high-banking of the 1/4 mile at Rockford Speedway and the fast sweepers and long straights of the Milwaukee Mile. Toss in good finishes at the ½ miles - a 5th place run at Grundy and a podium 3rd at Wisconsin International Raceway - and it’s easy to see why the 38 team has emerged as an early season title favorite.

Holtz will lead a solid contingent of 20+ MASCS competitors to Jefferson, not the least of which are the three guys closest to him in the season standings. All three - Jeremy Spoonmore, Lyle Nowak and Mark Pluer - are former series champions that have not missed a top ten finish in the series yet this year.

The Jefferson entry list also includes 2013 Rookie of the Year Dan Gilster, who cracked the top five in points after a stellar runner-up finish to Holtz at Milwaukee. Gilster replaced Scott Dunning in the top five after the Mile race. Dunning was off to a solid start on the season, but lost an engine in practice. With the help of several teams and a motor on loan from Gutknecht Racing, he was able to answer the bell on Saturday, getting some laps in to stay alive in the point chase.

Milwaukee also may have been a turning point for 2013 champion Brad Keith who recorded his first podium finish of the season. 2014 had not been kind to the defending race winner, with engine issues at WIR sidelining him until The Mile race where he was fast all day. Keith dealt with some health issues earlier in the week, but appears ready to contend on Saturday night.

A dark horse in the field may be Scott Null who has decidedly more laps around Jefferson than anyone else. A longtime competitor at the Speedway in divisions right up to the Late Models, Null’s resume includes over a decade’s worth of feature wins dating back to his first there in 1987. Null's 2013 quick time may be tougher task this year as competitors have logged laps and experience on the "Action Track" since then.

Both leading rookie contenders are entered; Greg Beebe and David Slack. Slack will make the long trek from Engadine, MI after missing Milwaukee due to illness.

Jefferson will mark the first run of the season for former MASCS regular Travis Rodewald who will also be at the track with his TUNDRA Super Late Model.

Saturday will be the second time this season that TUNDRA is paired with MASCS for a special event, series owner Doug Strasburg says carries special meaning because of the track itself. "To be able to bring Mid-American to possibly the only track in Wisconsin that's been in the same family for 45 years is a privilege and makes Mid-American a part of Wisconsin racing history,” he said. “The Tuckers have a history of perpetually making facility improvements balanced with surviving the ups and downs of short track racing. Mid-American teams find this a very challenging but rewarding track. Kind of like dancing with the Bell of the Ball, intimidating, exciting and victorious as you leave the dance floor. It's great to be here."

Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Fan gates will open at 3 p.m., with qualifying at 5 p.m. MASCS and TUNDRA will be joined on the card by the IMCA Vintage Cars and the Jefferson Road Warriors.

For updates, news, and series information, visit the MASCS website at www.midamericanracing.com/. Click on "Entries" under MID-SUMMER THUNDER for the complete entry list.

For more information on Jefferson Speedway, visit the track’s website at www.jeffersonspeedway.com.

In other MASCS news, the first of six series events taped for telecast by Sopwith Motorsports TV aired this past week on Time Warner Cable Sportschannel of Wisconsin. The Vercauteren Memorial, recorded at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI, is now also airing on TUFF TV and Untamed Sports TV nationally. It will appear on MotorSportWorld.TV soon.

The episode is also available to watch in its entirety on YouTube via this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV-cYkBTG-4

For more information on all episode dates, times, and station information, visit the Sopwith Motorsports website at www.sopwithmotorsports.com.