TITLE WITHIN REACH, KEITH HOPES TO PREVENT SPOONMORE DOUBLE DOWN AT FEST

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
October 3, 2013

WEST SALEM, Wis. (October 3, 2013) – We’ve all been there. Head in the textbook, reading about some guy who did something decades ago, wondering if the clock can tick any faster. Then, more than likely, we’ve heard the quote – or some variation of it – from George Santayana.

“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

In last year’s Mid-American Stock Car Series appearance at Oktoberfest Jeremy Spoonmore rose from the ashes of his fiery disappointment from a week before to overcome a 45-point gap and steal the title from Lyle Nowak. This year Spoonmore sits 57 points back of current MASCS point leader Brad Keith, who has studied last year’s situation as though it were an upcoming section of the SATs.

Keith’s objective to pass the test this season – stay out of trouble on Saturday at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway.

“I know everything that happened last year,” Keith said. “If we race smart and qualify well that changes everything in the points. If we can out-qualify Jeremy or qualify within a spot or two, it makes it really hard for him to make up 50 points during the race.”

Provided Keith starts the feature event, the maximum amount of points Spoonmore can gain in the 40-lap main is 58, which proves Keith theory of qualifying’s importance. Last season Spoonmore chewed up 18 markers in time trials, leaving just a 27-point gap heading into the feature. Spoonmore went on to outgain Nowak by 62 points last season at Oktoberfest.

“I can still recall last year like it was yesterday,” Spoonmore said. “You don’t really think about it, then you find out like last year that Lyle spun in qualifying and we went out and set fast time. I thought ‘wow this really could happen.’ If there is any misfortune we’re going to try to step up and pick our game up.”

Keith is hoping that he met his quota of bad luck the last time Mid-American visited LFS on August 24. Before he could raise the temperatures in his Hoosier racing tires in the heat race, the rear end broke on Keith’s machine. He utilized his de facto teammate Dusty Krebs’ ride for the feature and was able to salvage a fifth-place finish.

“Having Dusty let me borrow his car while we were here last time was huge. Without that we’d really have a point battle on our hands,” Keith said.

He also referred to the fact that being back in his ride is going to be like slipping on a favorite pair of shoes. “I think it’s going to be a big advantage compared to last time. We finished fifth here in a car that I had no laps in. To be able to be in our own car and be comfortable will be better for us.”

Spoonmore knows all about being in an unfamiliar machine at LaCrosse. Last season he utilized a backup car in claiming the title. This time around Spoonmore will be back in his ride – one that he drove to a second-place finish in August.

“It’s a lot easier this year going in with a car I’ve been in all season,” Spoonmore said. “If we can figure out a few things to get faster maybe we can win the race. The bottom line is that all we really want to do is win. The pressure is off of us.”

However, Spoonmore admits that the pressure index could rise, if the gravity of the point battle creeps into the feature. Last season Spoonmore came in with what he said was “nothing to lose.” Once Nowak spun in qualifying and started to falter in the feature, Spoonmore said time started to slow.

“I actually didn’t even think about it until two laps to go. We were running second and I thought we had to win,” he recalled. “I knew I couldn’t catch James (Swan) at the time. Then once they told me on the radio what was happening with Lyle, the last two laps felt like 200.”

If that situation does not present itself to Spoonmore, no one will be happier than Keith. Seeking his first Championship, Keith hopes to do what only James Swan and Rick Corso have done before and seal the title with a win – leaving Spoonmore without the chance to raise his blood pressure.

“I want to win the race just as much as the Championship,” Keith said. “Not only are we points racing, but I would also like to win there, or at least have a top five or top three. It’s a big race, probably one of the biggest of the season for the Mid-American cars.”

To put himself in position, Keith knows that he – just like all other racers seeking to take care of business at ‘Fest – will have to maintain an attitude that blocks out all of the shiny distractions presented in the Midwest’s pinnacle race weekend.

“There are a lot of different things that can get you sidetracked,” Keith said. “You just have to keep focused and keep your mindset. At the end of the weekend it all pays off. As much effort as you put in is what you get out of it.”

If the effort and the result are there for Keith to claim his first title, he may find time to enjoy the post-race festivities of Oktoberfest Saturday.

“I’ve never won any sort of major Championship so there is a little weight on my shoulders,” he said. “It would mean a lot to me, my family and all of my crew guys. Everyone is excited about this. It’s one thing to win a Championship; it’s another to win in a traveling series like Mid-American.”

However, if the clouds from early season misfortune clear and reveal the aligned stars again for Spoonmore, he will be happy to celebrate an occurrence of déjà vu.

“If we win again I guess the only thing I can say is that we’ve had two small miracles in two years,” he said. “I can’t complain about that. It’s definitely going to take a lot of work and a lot of luck. If those fall into place, maybe we’ll win again.”

PAST WINNERS LOOK TO PLAY SPOILER

Although the majority of the attention will be on Keith and Spoonmore’s title bout at ‘Fest, there will be plenty of faces prepared to steal their spotlight.

Coming off a win in Sunday’s National Short Track Championships at Rockford, James Swan looks as though he’s lit the wick again. Driving for Brian Holtz, the five-time MASCS Champion will be looking to nest on the ‘Fest stage for the third straight season. It would be Swan’s fourth straight win when he has appeared at LFS.

Prior to Swan’s domination of the last two Oktoberfest features, Tyler Bauknecht powered to a win in the capstone event of 2010. Bauknecht, who claimed Rookie of the Year honors that season, has competed only once this season in MASCS action at Jefferson. He was a part of the ‘Fest event last season, but suffered a 21st-place finish.

Rick Corso, the 1999 MASCS Champion, has also been on stage as a ‘Fest winner.

Most recently, however, Bill Prietzel left his fellow MASCS brethren at LFS scratching their heads and licking their wounds. Prietzel dominated the LawnKeepers 30 in August. The win was Prietzel’s fourth in a Mid-American car at the five-eighths mile, but his first since 1997. A continuation of that display could be bad news for fellow competitors come Saturday.

Other drivers who will be hungry for a win are those who have found success on solo runs at LFS. Bobby Gutknecht and Brian Back are past fast qualifiers in ‘Fest events. Dan Gilster, who will be named MASCS Rookie of the Year, set fast time in August.

Mid-American will compete as part of the Saturday portion of Oktoberfest Race Weekend at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Qualifying is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 5.

For more information visit www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com or www.lacrossespeedway.com