Mid-American Stock Car Series 2009 Preview

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
April 9, 2009

Fort Atkinson, WI (April 9, 2009) – It’s good to be king. Just ask James Swan, whose name has become synonymous with the title “Mid-American Stock Car Series Champion” over the past three years. However, Swan is off to conquer new territories, as Mid-American’s only four-time champion will move on this season.

The epic of the Mid-American Stock Car Series’ 2009 season will span seven months, four states and hundreds of breathtaking laps with one question in mind...Who will replace Swan on the throne? When the final checkered flag falls at Oktoberfest, a hero will emerge and take their rightful place in the MASCS history books.

History, itself, has been good to Lyle Nowak in two of the past three season openers at Rockford Speedway. Nowak, who many consider as a major threat to grab the ’09 championship, cruised to an easy victory in the 2006 Spring Classic at Rockford Speedway and was in the right place at the right time to collect the prize last season.

“I don’t know if we can do it again, but we’re sure going to try. I love that race track,” claimed the ever-modest Nowak.

In fact the first three stops seem very favorable for the Wausau, WI veteran. The third stop is right in Nowak’s backyard at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, WI where Nowak is the most recent MASCS winner. The second event at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, IA, sandwiched between two of Nowak’s strongest tracks, seems to be a wild card for not only Nowak, but for the entire Mid-American contingent.

Some have compared the half-mile of Hawkeye Downs to the fast-paced high banks of Madison International Speedway, where Nowak won in September and the half-mile of Marshfield, where Nowak finished a strong third.

Despite 31 years of racing experience, the driver who has 16 track championships to his name has never even seen Hawkeye Downs. The comparisons were a pleasant surprise. “I’m feeling a lot better about it now,” Nowak commented.

Another long time veteran, three-time MASCS champion Bill Prietzel, will feel fairly confident heading into Cedar Rapids. After all, he has been there in his Mid-American car and truck recording a fast time and a win. Prietzel is not only confident in his ability to prepare for a trip to Hawkeye Downs, but also confides in his fellow competitors.

“It’s very similar to La Crosse. The racers that we have will have no trouble adapting,” said Richfield, WI’s Prietzel.

In 2009 Prietzel will look to tie Swan with his fourth MASCS championship. Halfway through 2008, it looked as though Prietzel may have been the driver to beat for the championship, until a few unfortunate incidents down the stretch.

Prietzel recorded a DNF at Madison, fell out of the top five on the final lap at Rockford due to mechanical troubles and had to qualify into the feature at Oktoberfest through a heat race. The string of bad luck has left Prietzel unfazed heading into this season.

“That’s not even a concern. It’s nothing that has to be fixed,” said Prietzel. “We just had a bad day at the racetrack. It can happen any time.”

Nipping on the heels of the wily short track veterans will be the past three MASCS Rookies of the Year.

Kyle Shear took the honors in 2007 and stormed his way to a runner-up finish in his second season. Most drivers would have been content with a second place finish to a three-time, now four-time champion. With remorse over several events, Shear was not.

“I know I had a good year but, at the end of it, I was looking back at a lot of races and wondering ‘if only I had done this or only I had done that,’” Shear contemplated.

Aside from the points lost through qualifying to Swan, the recently-turned-21-year-old from Roscoe, IL recalled the Governor’s Cup at Milwaukee to be one of the biggest hits he took in the final standings. Shear was set for a tight track which loosened up very quickly once the sun came out on that Saturday afternoon.

“I try not to think about that day. I take the blame for that,” said Shear. During the first caution of the 40 lap contest, Shear entered the pit area and tightened up his ride. He recovered for a 15th place finish but had to watch Swan nest on the podium.

Also on the podium at the Governor’s Cup was 2006 MASCS Rookie of the Year Jake Finney, who enjoyed his best campaign yet in 2008. Finney picked up his first Mid-American win in the Tisler Salvage Red Race at Wisconsin International Raceway in June and returned to victory two months later at the same venue in the Tisler Salvage Vercauteren Memorial Blue Race.

With no races at WIR in 2009, Finney will look to grace a new victory lane. However, do not expect that next victory to take as long as his first.

“Once we got that first win and got that monkey off our back, it seemed like the whole team came to life,” said the Sycamore, IL native. “We always go to the track with the mindset that we can win. We just have to keep that mindset through 2009 and hopefully the wins will fall into place for us.”

With excellent examples set by the previous two Rookies of the Year, 2008’s best new-comer, Mark Kissinger, will try to step up his effort as his MASCS career progresses.

“I tried to be a little conservative last year [so I could win Rookie of the Year],” West Bend, WI’s Kissinger explained. “But this year could be a little more interesting. I will be able to be a little more assertive and not afraid to try new set-ups, and with the "lighter" schedule I’m able to return to my home track (Slinger) for about five shows,” he added.

While Mid-American has only 12 scheduled events in 2009 (compared to the 16 in 2008), there will be some interesting twists and turns along the way. Perhaps the most interesting quirk in this year’s schedule comes on a weekend where Mid-American makes its first appearance at Norway (MI) Speedway this millennium on Friday, June 27 then takes the show to 141 Speedway the following night.

“I've never done two races in a row like that. It should be an interesting experience,” Kissinger claimed.

It will be the first time Mid-American has run back-to-back races since 2006 at Madison and 141. However, the back end of that double header was postponed due to rain.

The test of will and skill could have at the two venues could have a major bearing on the final 2009 standings.

“Obviously your season can be made or broken on that weekend. Certainly survival is going to be key,” offered Nowak.

Nowak’s sentiment was echoed by a multitude of fellow Mid-American competitors who expect to be out front this season. That multitude is a list which grows with every Mid-American membership that pours into Doug and Julie Strasburg’s mailbox.

“There are a handful of us that can win that championship. I would like to think that I’m in the same column with those people,” said Finney. “Of course the people standing in my way are the Shears (Kyle and Troy Jr.), Lyle Nowak, Bobby Gutknecht and Bill Prietzel. It’s pretty stiff competition, so it’s going to be a tough championship to win.”

To be fair, Finney was identified by each of the drivers he named as a threat to win the championship, as well.

Perhaps a look back to last year by Finney will provide the best foreshadow as to how the 2009 Mid-American season will play out.

“When we have 14 races a year and 12 different race winners, it just shows you the level of competition each time we unload. It’s a gamble and a shot in the dark to guess who the 2009 champion will be.”

The journey to discover Mid-American’s next champion will begin with a frantic 50 lap feature on Sunday, April 19th at Rockford Speedway in Love’s Park, IL as part of the 32nd Annual Spring Classic.

Rockford Speedway is located at 9572 Forest Hills Road seven miles north of downtown Rockford, just two miles west of Interstate 90 at the intersection of Forest Hills Road and Highway 173 in Loves Park, IL. For more information please visit www.rockfordspeedway.com .

Stay tuned to www.midamericanracing.com for more announcements and news regarding Mid-American’s 2009 season.