Mid American Rookies Looking to Headline in ‘06 and Beyond

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
August 2006

The Mid-American Series indeed may be the best way for up and coming drivers to break out of their local short track shell and get their names out at new venues around the Midwest. The Mid-American Stock Car Series has certainly produced some great drivers through the years. Drivers such as Peter Hernandez who is currently competing as part of NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity” program with Bill McAnally Racing/RCR Development, Jake Ryan who is a top runner in the ASA Late Model Challenge Series and Eddie Hoffman Jr., a former ARTGO champion and short track ace, are past champions of the Mid-American Series.

The Mid-American rookie class of ‘06 is certainly ready to break out and shake up the front runners of the Series. The rookies realize that the opportunities for them can be great. For some drivers, the experience of the Mid-American Series is a reward in itself. “It seems like the place to be,” said leading rookie contender Jake Finney from Sycamore, Illinois. “There are all these veterans that know what they are doing and they can really show you how to race,” added Finney.

Finney was exposed to stock car racing by his father, Dave Finney who currently competes as part of the NASCAR Auto Zone Midwest Elite series. With a love for racing pumping through his veins, Finney made the plunge into a racing career, racing go-karts at the age of 14. After three years of go-kart racing, Finney decided to take a year off and build a Mid-American car. A sixth place finish at Rockford in April started Finney off on the right foot.

Finney has five top 10s in 2006, his best finish being fifth. He currently sits fifth in Mid-American points, 170 points back from point leader James Swan of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Finney’s 713 points place him as the top rookie, 187 points ahead of fellow rookie driver Dave Obermeyer of Slinger, Wisconsin.

It would seem that fate brought Obermeyer to the Mid-American Series, or perhaps brought the series to him. Obermeyer began racing Slinger Stingers, a type of street stock, on Sunday nights at the Slinger Speedway. In 2003, Slinger decided to scrap the Stinger division in favor of Mid-American style cars. Instead of finding a new place to race, Obermeyer decided to upgrade to a Mid-American car. With a new car and a new outlook, Obermeyer decided to hit the road. “I love the traveling,” stated Obermeyer, “it’s something different; not the same old grind week in and week out.”

While Obermeyer boasts a heat win at Rockford and a last chance win at Lake Geneva, sour luck has clouded his rookie campaign. Mechanical failures have plagued Obermeyer up to this point in the season, however, an accident while working on his car before the race at Grundy may be the reason why Obermeyer is set back from Finney.

Finney realizes that Obermeyer may indeed mount a charge toward the end of the Mid-American schedule. “Dave is really competitive. I think if hadn’t missed one race that he would be right on my back bumper,” said Finney.

Obermeyer relays the same positive attitude toward his competitor. “Jake’s a good racer who is doing well, I hope I can catch him,” proclaimed Obermeyer.

While both racers have differing backgrounds they share the same expectations for the 2006 season. Either driver would like to see a feature win and end up in the top ten in series points. They also share a bold quote, “I expect to win the rookie of the year title.”

Finney and Obermeyer will continue their bids to be the top rookie contender as the Mid-American Series makes its first visit to the Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, Wisconsin since 2001 on Friday, August 11th. The following race will be the Gary Vercauteran Memorial at Wisconsin International Raceway on Saturday, August 19th as part of the Blue Race.