Second to None: Spoonmore Gets First of 2008 at Rockford

Topics:  Jeremy Spoonmore, National Short Track Championships

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
September 28, 2008

(Love’s Park, IL) September 28, 2008 – After three second place finishes in 2008, Jeremy Spoonmore is no longer a bridesmaid. Spoonmore jumped into the spotlight on Sunday afternoon by winning the 75 lap Mid-American Stock Car Series feature as part of the 43rd Annual National Short Track Championsips at the Rockford Speedway.

Outside pole-sitter Kenny Smart paced the first eight circuits using the preferred outside line, but could not keep enough of a handle on his machine to stay out front.

“I knew I wanted to save the tires early so I stayed behind him,” said Spoonmore, who used the dreaded inside line to make the pass on lap nine. “I knew he would get loose. I watched him and knew I could get around him and finally I just rolled around him,” he said in reference to the winning move.

Spoonmore then held of the charges of defending race winner Kenny Joosten and a host of other challengers after taking the lead and surviving a multitude of restarts.

“Wow was that a long race, there were a lot of cautions,” said Spoonmore in victory lane.

The overcast sky, casting a gloom over the Rockford Speedway, proved to be a bad omen for what became one of the most caution-filled events in recent Mid-American history. The caution flag flew over the event ten times, with eight flying before the halfway mark. But, as always with Mid-American, the cautions led to the excitement of the double file restart.

Current MASCS point leader James Swan had worked his way up into the top three by lap 14. He and Josh Nelms raced furiously for the second spot after Spoonmore had pulled away. The two swapped the spot after starting side-by-side on the next three restarts until Joosten finally moved past Swan whose car refused to handle on the bottom of the track.

Joosten then had the preferred line to move around Nelms on a lap 34 restart. At that time, the driver on the move was Daryl Gerke. Gerke, who finished fifth in the Spring Opener at Rockford, stayed out of trouble and meticulously worked his way into the top five by lap 41. It seemed as though Joosten and Gerke were the only two who were able to keep their machines competitive using the low line and a showdown was set between the two on a final lap 59 restart.

The high line again reigned supreme as Gerke shot around Joosten and into second. Although Gerke was able to close the gap on Spoonmore briefly, he was not able to muster a final challenge.

With the top three well settled, the battle from fourth on back raged heavily. After a spin and a flat tire on lap 26, Kyle Shear worked his way back up to fourth by lap 63. In his mirror a great battle between Jake Finney and Bill Prietzel, who also were involved in an earlier caution, was developing. The two made contact several times, but Prietzel, who failed to qualify in the top 15 and had to transfer into the feature through a heat race, held the fifth spot.

However, more bad luck was in the cards for Prietzel as the machine lost power coming to the white flag. Prietzel looked as though he was going to make up the points he lost to Swan during qualifying but the three-time champion limped back to the checkered flag in the tenth spot.

Swan held on for seventh and increased his lead to 68 points. The lead is no longer over Prietzel, but now Kyle Shear. Prietzel sits in third 78 markers out of the top spot.

The next event for the Mid-American Stock Car Series will be the final points event of the “Sweet 16 Season” at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, WI as part of the 39th Oktoberfest Race Weekend. Mid-American, making its second appearance at La Crosse in 2008, will run its full program on Saturday.

The LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway is located on the LaCrosse Interstate Fairgrounds.

The Fairground is located at the intersection of Hwy 16 and County Road M, next to the town of West Salem, Wisconsin. For more information please visit www.lacrossespeedway.com or www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com

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