Nowak Says No Way at Norway

Topics:  Lyle Nowak

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
June 26, 2009

NORWAY, Mich. (June 26, 2009) – No one, no way, no how. Lyle Nowak could not be denied a win in the ‘Eh’ Main at Norway Speedway on Friday night as the Mid-American Stock Car Series made its return to the 1/3-mile oval for the first time in almost 15 years. Bill Prietzel and Mike Beyer made several valiant efforts throughout the 40-lap feature event, but were unable to keep Nowak from making his first trip to victory lane in 2009.

Nowak snatched the lead on the outside from Nick Crawford at the drop of the green, but was unable to build any real estate between himself and the rest of the field. On lap nine, Crawford was close enough to tap Nowak on the rear bumper. Nowak held the lead as Crawford slid up the race track, allowing Beyer to slide into second.

Until a caution for a spin on lap 21, Beyer took several looks, but was unable to find enough space to make his move on Nowak.

The game changed again when Prietzel moved his machine into third on lap 23. Two laps later Matt Pyburn stalled on the front straight while running fifth, setting Prietzel on the outside of the second row for the restart on lap 25.

Prietzel needed only one lap to work his way around Beyer and began pressuring Nowak. Running the inside line to perfection, Nowak made sure that Prietzel was unable to make a move to the inside.

Nowak said he knew Prietzel would not be satisfied for second. “I wasn’t going to give up the bottom. Bill is a really good racer. If he did pass me on the outside, more power to him.”

The same sentiments were echoed by Prietzel. “Lyle was very intelligent the last five laps, doing what any good racer would do,” commented Prietzel. He noted Nowak made sure that if Prietzel was to make the pass into the lead, he would certainly have to work for it.

In a true testament to the statement “all is well that ends well,” the night had a frantic start for both Prietzel and Nowak. Nowak lost the cover to the rear end of his machine and borrowed a spare from Prietzel. Prietzel hit the soft-wall on his second lap of qualifying.

“It was kind of ironic that we ended up racing each other hard at the end for the win but it was kind of fitting too,” said Nowak

Prietzel’s altercation certainly looked worse than it ended up being. He was sideways exiting turn four and hit the soft-wall protecting the flagstand flush with his right rear. Prietzel said the chassis of his Monte Carlo did not sustain any major damage. Cosmetically it was a wreck, he said.

Help was not far away to ensure Prietzel would get back on the track. With his wife Jan as his lone pit crew member, Prietzel received aid from the pit crews of Nowak, Bobby Gutkencht, and Jake Finney.

Demonstrating the true spirit of the Mid-American Stock Car Series, the crew members of the Paul and Justin Neisius also ensured Prietzel was able to race. Paul Neisius and Prietzel were separated in MASCS standings by only 14 markers entering the event.

Beyer held on for third, Paul Neisius worked his way up to fouth and Brian Back rounded out the top five. Back raced the entire 40-lap feature without the nose, hood and front quarter-panels on his machine due to a wreck in the heat race. He started 15th.

Earlier in the evening, Justin Neisius set fast time with a lap of 15.596 seconds. With Pyburn setting fast time at Golden Sands Speedway earlier this season, MASCS rookies have set fast time at two of three events in 2009.

Pyburn was awarded the Wehrs Machine Hard Luck Award as he saw a sure top-five slip away with mechanical failure.

The Mid-American Stock Car Series roars back into action Saturday at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wis., as it prepares to honor its founder Gary Vercauteren and his family. Qualifying begins at 5:45 p.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

141 Speedway is located on Highway R just north of Francis Creek, Wis. For more information please visit www.141speedway.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.