FINNEY RETURNS TO GLORY IN VERCAUTEREN MEMORIAL AT NORWAY |
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Topics: Jacob Finney
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Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
August 5, 2011
Phoenix trip to be given away on Saturday
NORWAY, Mich. (August 5, 2011) – Ending a nearly-three-year drought, Jacob Finney captured his third Mid-American Stock Car Series feature win at Norway Speedway Friday night. It was Finney’s second in a Vercauteren Memorial and first since Aug. 16, 2008 – a win that engraved his name on the trophy the first time.
Finney captured the lead from Ryan Gutknecht on lap 33 of the 40-lap main event after a three-wide pass through lapped traffic. He then held off a resurgent Guknecht on the final lap.
“It’s been a long while,” Finney said in victory lane. “I can’t win a race in Illinois so I have to come all the way up to Norway in front of the greatest fans in the world and win in front of them.”
Gutknecht and Finney were flanked to the outside by the Decker sisters at the drop of the green. Gutknecht and Paige Decker did battle at the start in the front row while Finney battled Claire Decker in the second row.
The first green flag run of the feature was cut short when Eric Buchholz spun in turn four on lap two. By that time Finney had crept passed Paige Decker and into the runner-up spot.
On the double-file restart Finney aligned on the outside of Gutknecht. Finney didn’t dare to stay on the high side for long as he tucked back behind Gutknecht in second.
As Finney studied Gutknecht’s every move around the third-mile, current MASCS point leader James Swan and two-time Norway winner Lyle Nowak began to pick through the field. On lap six Swan slid to the inside of Jay Foster for fourth. On lap later Nowak copied the move. Swan captured third from Paige Decker just a few circuits later, with Nowak again following suit on the next lap.
Five laps later the field was thrown into a massive shake up. The trigger for the caution was a Claire Decker spin in turns one and two. From there, race contenders started to drop.
When the field tried to restart on lap 15, fast qualifier Jeff Holtz spun in turns three and four. With nowhere to go Paige Decker slid in and made contact, ending her race. As the safety crew cleaned up the incident flat tire started to wipe out top racers.
Lyle Nowak was the first to pull off with a flat tire several laps into the caution. Adding to the dramatics just a few moments later, Swan pulled off with a flat tire, as well. When the field restarted the top five had a completely different complexion.
Finney once again was given the outside of Gutknecht, Foster and Mike Lange restarted in the second row and Travis Rodewald restarted aside Dan Church in the third row.
When the green flew again Lange quickly challenged Finney for second. However, Finney was able to regain the spot from Lange and recapture his spot behind Gutknecht. Just two laps later, the lead duo had a new challenger as Rodewald stepped to the plate.
Gutknecht, Finney and Rodewald began to pull away from the field and approach lapped traffic as the laps clicked off. Rodewald tried several times to get the inside line on Finney, but the 2006 MASCS Rookie of the Year did not budge off the bottom.
Seeking his first career MASCS feature win in a car formerly driven by his uncle Bobby, Gutknecht held his ground. Finney glared to the inside on a few occasions, but did not see the right opportunity.
That opportunity came on lap 33 when the leaders approached lapped traffic. Scott Null, who also had a tire going down, slowed exiting turn four. Gutknecht went to the top side and Finney stayed to the bottom. As they roared down the front stretch, Finney had the positioning and took the lead.
“It looked like the 33 and 62 got together and poor Ryan got pinched up,” Finney said of the pass. “But I saw my opening on the bottom, we took it and the car stuck.”
Gutknecht closed the gap over the final five laps and even got to Finney’s bumper in turn two of the final circuit. Maintaining his line and his composure, Finney held on for the victory. Rodewald cruised to third, Swan raced his way back to fourth and Nowak made his way back to fifth.
In its 22 year history, 2011 marked the first season the Harold and Regina traveling trophy made a trip to be presented at Norway Speedway. With a five-and-a-half hour trip back to Sycamore, Ill. the trophy may also see it’s longest trek since Finney last toted it from Wisconsin International Raceway in 2008.
“I love this trophy, I love having it sit in my shop for the year. It’s just unbelievable,” Finney said.
The Mid-American Stock Car Series returns to action on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Dells Raceway Park for Dells Duel Part Two. James Swan was victorious in the series’ last trip to DRP with a thrilling last-lap, last-turn pass of Bill Prietzel.
Mid-American will also draw a winner for a NASCAR weekend in November with Paige Decker and Decker Racing courtesy of Boring Bob’s TOURs at that event.
Dells Raceway Park is located at N1070 Smith Road, five minutes north of downtown Wisconsin Dells, Wis., off highway 12-16. For more information visit www.dellsracewaypark.com.