SWAN TRIUMPHS in MID-AMERICAN RETURN to GOLDEN SANDS

Topics:  James Swan

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
August 11, 2006

(August 11) Plover, Wisconsin -- Current Mid-American point leader James Swan from Lake Geneva, WI took advantage of a lap 34 restart to gain the inside groove on Reedsville, WI Jeff Tisler. Swan rode the line to win the 40 lap feature marking the Mid-American Stock Car Series return to the Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, WI.

Tisler paced the field to the green flag alongside Richfield, WI Ron Weyer. Tisler grabbed the lead from Weyer at the drop of the green. Weyer began to fade on the outside yet held on strong as he and Scott Ascher from Sussex, WI raced side by side for second. By lap 10 Weyer had fallen back to fourth and the man on the move was Wausau, WI veteran Lyle Nowak. Nowak jumped from his seventh starting spot up to third by lap 15. Two laps later Nowak would sneak pass Ascher for second and began to reel in Tisler who had built his lead to nearly a straightaway.

At the halfway point defending Mid-American champion Bill Prietzel from Richfield, WI had moved from his 9th starting spot into fourth with Kenny Joosten of Wonder Lake, IL and Swan rounding out the top six. While the inside line was preferred by most drivers, Swan went to work on the outside line and passed Prietzel for fourth on lap 25.

A spin by Ryan Finley from Shabbona, IL erased the lead that Tisler had over a hard charging Nowak. On the restart Tisler had the front row all to himself while Nowak was double file with Ascher in row two. While Tisler hugged the inside line, Nowak made contact with him after the restart in turn one. Nowak backed out and allowed Tisler to straighten his car out. The lap would not count as a spin by Weyer in turn four brought out the caution once again.

The contact between Nowak and Tisler left a slight crinkle on Nowak’s machine. Nowak exited the track with a flat tire, eradicating his chances of the win. The restart saw Tisler once again alone in the front row with Ascher on the inside of row two next to Swan. Swan took advantage of the space to work his way around Ascher into second.

Swan began to work to the outside of Tisler with less than ten laps to go. Although Swan may have had the faster machine, he was unable to make the pass and tucked back into line behind Tisler until a second spin by Finley with six laps remaining would bring out another caution. “I tried working Tisler on the outside and maybe gained about an inch a lap,” stated Swan. “I knew it was open behind him so I tried to get him on the inside,” Swan added. On the restart Swan lined up on the inside of row two, directly behind Tisler.

Coming back to the green flag, Tisler bobbled slightly coming out of turn four. Swan took advantage and used the inside line to work his way around Tisler with four laps remaining. Swan then checked out from Tisler and held on to win. “The car got really loose off the restart,” said Tisler of Swan’s pass. “James had a faster car and he got around me, but this was my best finish in a Mid-American Series race ever.” Tisler finished second followed by Ascher, a Series best finish also, then Prietzel and Joosten rounding out the top five.

With the win Swan padded his point lead over George Schultz and Lyle Nowak who both had problems stemming from the cautions on lap 29.

Ten lap heats were won by George Schultz and Scott Ascher. Nowak would not leave Golden Sands empty handed as he won a six car, twelve lap shootout between the Mid-American stock cars and the Golden Sands super stocks.

The next race for the Mid-American Stock Car Series is the Vercauteran Memorial on Saturday, August 19th as part of the Blue Race at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI. From there the Mid-American Series heads to the Milwaukee Mile to compete as part of the Governor’s Cup Weekend which includes a 16 lap, 16 car “Dash for Cash” which pays $2,000 to the winner. For more information about the Mid-American Series including results, standings, schedules and driver info visit www.midamericanracing.com.

40 Lap Feature
1. James Swan, Lake Geneva, WI; 2. Jeff Tisler, Reedsville, WI; 3. Scott Ascher, Sussex, WI; 4. Bill Prietzel, Richfield, WI; 5. Kenny Joosten, Wonder Lake, IL; 6. Jake Finney, Sycamore, IL; 7. Bobby Gutknecht, Oak Creek, WI; 8. Scott Null, Lake Mills, WI; 9. Ron Weyer, Richfield, WI; 10. Don Wood, Maribel, WI; 11. Jim Thorson, Sugar Grove, IL; 12. Tim Schmitt, Muskego, WI; 13. Ryan Finley, Shabbona, IL; 14. Lyle Nowak, Wausau, WI; 15. Tony Habeck, Black Creek, WI; 16. Gregg Marks, Maribel, WI; 17. George Schultz, Bristol, WI; 18. Andrew Kulka, Deerfield, WI; 19. Elliot Marquardt, Merrill, WI

10 Lap Heats
Heat 1: Schultz; Wood; Null; Kulka; Tisler; Marks; Weyer; Habeck; Schmitt
Heat 2 : Ascher; Gutknecht; Nowak; Finney; Swan; Joosten; Prietzel; Finley; Thorson

Fast Time -- Joosten, 13.092