Top 5 Mid-American Moments of 2008

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
November 20, 2008

Fort Atkinson, WI (November 20, 2008) – With no further ado, here are the top five of the “Sweetest 16” moments in the Mid-American Stock Car Series’ 2008 season.

5. Crystal Wood Becomes First Woman to Win MASCS Event

Crystal Wood knows what it takes to win. She had won numerous races in hobby stocks and super stocks at 141 and is the first woman to win a track championship on asphalt in the state of Wisconsin. Wood added her newly acquired last name to the record books once again on June 28th as she bested a tough field of Mid-American competitors and 141 locals.

The race began with another Mid-American first. Not only was it the first time that husband and wife raced against one another in Mid-Am action, but the two started side by side on the front row. Husband Don led the initial circuit on the outside line. The two then raced neck and neck until Crystal began to pull away on lap three.

She faced several late challenges from 141 front runner Andy Casavant in the late laps, but was able to keep out front when the checkered flag was thrown. As Crystal headed to victory lane, her husband Don gave her a congratulatory shot in the door. The praise was far from over as she was greeted to a standing ovation from the when exiting her Ford Taurus.

The Francis Creek Frenzy was a race Mid-American travelers would like to forget. Kenny Smart placed the best of any MASCS traveler. He finished 7th.

4. Swan and Prietzel Battle for the Championship Again

A story that had been told in 2001 and 2007 had some extra punch in 2008. This time, history was on the line.

It is no secret that a look at the MASCS record book will show Bill Prietzel and James Swan as two of the most prolific drivers to belt into a Mid-American Stock Car. So when the two hit the track in ‘08 all eyes focused on the two three-time champions.

Prietzel surrendered the 2001 championship to Swan in dramatic fashion with a last lap accident at Oktoberfest. The 2007 championship went to Swan after a late season charge that began with a win at Marshfield in late September.

As Mid-American neared the midpoint of its “Sweet 16 Season,” it came to the surprise of no one that Prietzel and Swan were less than ten markers apart. Swan had to hope for another late season charge. He would also hope his consistency from earlier in the season would pay off in the form of his third consecutive championship. Prietzel had to hope that the third time was the charm to deny Swan a chance at another title.

3. Swan Takes Point Lead at Milwaukee, Doesn’t Look Back

Consistency was the key for Swan all year long. While he and his team were frustrated to be winless so late in the season once again, they were incredibly happy that they did not have the same terrible luck they had in 2007.

Swan hit all of his marks in qualifying for the Governor’s Cup, setting the fastest lap of the afternoon. His solid qualifying effort chopped into Prietzel’s slim point lead and his run to a podium finish took it away.

More consistency from Swan and some bad luck for Prietzel allowed Swan to pull away. Engine problems for Prietzel at Madison and Rockford took away sure top fives and dropped him to third in points behind Swan and Kyle Shear.

There was no sophomore slump for the MASCS rookie of the year from one year ago. With several stunning runs, Mid-American fans received a glimpse into a bright future. Shear put himself in position to make some history as well. If he could surmount Swan’s 68 point lead at Oktoberfest, he would become the youngest Mid-American champion ever.

With the scene set, a winless Swan foreshadowed that La Crosse would be his last race in the Berge Racing entry and perhaps as a member of Mid-American. Swan did not disappoint himself or his team as he won Oktoberfest for the first time in his career. It was a very stylistic way to put the wraps on his third consecutive Mid-Am championship and record fourth overall.

2. Manthei Lends a Helping Hand

The course of history could have been changed on a rainy day in Francis Creek.

Swan and Berge Racing had yet to have any engine troubles in 2008. Very early on in practice for the Francis Creek Frenzy a terminal engine problem sidelined Berge Racing’s Ford Taurus. A long rain delay between practice and qualifying led to much speculation as to what was going to happen with Swan.

As competitors and teams took shelter in the speedway restaurant/office building, it seemed as though Swan had come up with a solution. Ryan Manthei, a traveling MASCS competitor turned semi-regular at 141, told Swan to hop into his ride.

Manthei, who earlier in the week expressed confidence in his ability to win the race, had no hesitation in giving up his ride for the week. It was a testament to the sportsmanship of all teams in Mid-American. Displays of sportsmanship are rarely as extreme as giving up a car, however, giving up a part, a tip, or some time to help happens at almost each and every Mid-American contest.

Swan was very pleased with his new ride for the afternoon, claiming that it was faster than his car. He rode to a respectable 9th place finish as many other top Mid-American drivers fell by the wayside with DNFs.

Manthei was pleased with his decision as well. “I told him now he better go win that championship,” he stated after the race. Thanks to Manthei, Swan was able to stay on pace after a wild night in Francis Creek.

1. The Finish Heard ‘Round the Midwest

Drivers, officials and the fans that were fortunate enough to witness the Freedom 40 at Marshfield on July 5th, regard it as the greatest race since Marshfield switched from dirt to asphalt in the mid 1990s. It is also regarded as the best finish in the new-era of Mid-American racing.

The 22 car field swapped spots and raced frantically for 40 caution free laps. Prietzel had the lead on the white flag lap after an incredible battle with Lyle Nowak. Brian Back then charged on the outside line to race side by side with Prietzel to the checkered flag. Back won the drag race to the stripe, picking up his first ever MASCS win.

Back became the first driver to take fast time and win the feature event since Swan did it in August of 2006 at Milwaukee. In fact, Back was only one spot away from a clean sweep as he came up inches short in the eight lap heat race.

Tom Wagner, who handled the announcing duties at Marshfield, recalled the event.

“If stock car features were like homework, I'd say the teacher would have to give that last Marshfield feature an ‘A.’ [It] pretty much had everything you want to see in a feature,” he recalled.

“First you thought Prietzel would win, and then maybe Nowak, but when all is said and done, here comes one of the local favorites to pull it out on a last corner pass. That race was a show, no question about it. Not sure you could have written a better script for it if you tried,” he added.

Mid-American will host a meeting at the Wisconsin Racers’ Auction and Trade Show at the Brown County Arena on Saturday, December 6th. The time of the meeting is yet to be determined. The Brown County Arena is located across from Lambeau Field on Oneida Street in Green Bay, WI.

For more information about the Mid-American Series including results, the final 2008 standings and driver info please visit www.midamericanracing.com