Spoonmore Scoops Up Overall Win at MIS

Topics:  Jeremy Spoonmore

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
August 30, 2009

OREGON, Wis. (August 30, 2009) – History repeats itself. Example: Jeremy Spoonmore’s Sunday afternoon conquest of the “Split 50” at Madison International Speedway. In 2007 Mid-American Stock Car Series action, Spoonmore finished second to Bill Prietzel on the half-mile of Wisconsin International Raceway, only to follow that with a win in the next event at MIS. After finishing second to Prietzel three weeks ago on the half-mile at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, Spoonmore again reigned supreme at “Wisconsin’s fastest half-mile.”

Spoonmore held off a hard-charging MASCS debutant, Adam Degenhardt, to collect the win in the first 25-lap segment. In the second segment, Spoonmore, who started tenth after an inversion of the finishing order from the first 25, made a late move vaulting into second place behind Kyle Shear to secure the overall win. The win was Spoonmore’s first of the season and his third top-five in three starts.

With six laps remaining in the second stanza, Spoonmore, who was running third, was in position to tie Shear for best overall finish. With knowledge of the tiebreaker belonging to Shear, Spoonmore received some advice over the radio. “My dad, who was spotting, told me that if I finished third, I lose,” said Spoonmore. He said he knew what he had to do and swooped past Paul Neisius with two laps remaining.

Shear was also aware of the circumstances. “Why didn’t Spoonmore just finish third?” said Shear, in jest, after picking up the second segment win.

The 2007 MASCS Rookie of the Year began his ascent to the head of the class after an early caution for a stalled Justin Neisius on lap three. When the second caution flew on lap 14, as Mike Beyer experienced mechanical failure, Shear had moved into second.

On the restart, Shear haunted Neisius for a single trip around the half-mile, until he made his pass to the inside. He then endured two more restarts in the final nine laps.

Neisius faded in the waning circuits of the second segment, losing the third spot to Jake Finney on the final lap. Lyle Nowak rounded out the top five.

Although Neisius faltered in the final laps of the second 25, he secured a top five finish in the overall finishing order and chopped into the 61-point lead Bill Prietzel held prior to Sunday’s race. Prietzel, who seemed to have seized control of the first segment, had his engine expire while leading ten laps into the first 25.

After several laps of side-by-side action between Scott Null and Ryan Finley up front, a spin on lap two by Cody Lipstreuer brought out the first caution of the afternoon. Prietzel restarted on the outside of the second row and, with no traffic to slow him in front, blasted past Null on lap three.

Three laps later, Spoonmore worked past Null into second. After a lap six caution for a tangle between Mike Lichtfeld and Troy Shear Jr., Prietzel flexed his muscle by pulling away from Spoonmore on the restart. That bulky lead lasted only four more laps before Prietzel’s machine expired.

When the field was set loose again, former late model driver Adam Degenhardt, making his first ever MASCS start, moved into second and set his sights on Spoonmore. The two broke away and left the remainder of the field racing for third.

“[Degenhardt] gave me all I could handle,” said Spoonmore. “He really made it tough on me in that first segment.”

Although he gave several promising challenges to the outside, Degenhardt was not able to find enough grip to make a pass. He finished second and was forced to make an early exit from the second 25, while running in the top five, due to mechanical troubles. Kyle Shear made a pass on Mark Pluer to secure third with three laps to go and Null held on to round out the top five.

Spoonmore’s finishes of first and second gave him an overall score of three. Kyle Shear (four points), Mark Pluer (10 points), Lyle Nowak (12 points) and Paul Neisius (14 points) were the top five overall finishers.

The next event for the Mid-American Stock Car Series is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at Dells Raceway Park. The “September Shootout” will also feature the eight-car, ten-lap Hankscraft Inc. “Dash for the Duel” presented by Wintergreen Resort and Conference Center

For more information on the “Dash for the Duel” please visit [b]Mid-American Announces Dells Duel[/b]

Dells Raceway Park is located on Smith Road just outside of Wisconsin Dells, WI. For more information visit www.dellsracewaypark.com

For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series, including results, the current 2009 standings, the 2009 schedule and driver information please visit www.midamericanracing.com