Shear Seeking Sophomore Season Repeat at DRP

Topics:  Kyle Shear

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
May 27, 2008

(Fort Atkinson, WI) May 27, 2008 – A trip to Dells Raceway Park last July was a new experience for each of the 25 drivers who made the maiden voyage to the facility for the Mid-American Stock Car Series. With an even playing field for all competitors, it seemed fitting that an upstart rookie took the checkered flag over a then two-time, now three-time Mid-American champion. Now that the surprise has faded and the win has sunk in, Kyle Shear will head to DRP this Saturday for The Dells Duel Part One as the only driver to have won a Mid-American event at the venue.

Many had considered Shear’s win an upset as he held off defending Mid-American champion James Swan. The win was even a shock to Shear and his team, “Going into the Dells last year I thought that I could have a good run because we went their and practiced,” said the 2007 Mid-American rookie of the year. “I was confident that I could run in the top 5 but I had no idea that I would be winning my first race there.”

Although the performance may have been a shock, the forty lap race was pretty well dominated by Shear before Swan reeled him in for the final laps. Shear used an open outside line to take the lead from Danny Powell on a lap 11 restart. “On the restart I just remember Danny jumping into the throttle hard in the middle of three and four, and when we got to the front stretch Danny got way sideways. I hesitated for a second to jump back into the throttle but I knew I had the whole field coming behind me so I just went around him on the outside,” said Shear. From there on out Shear was on cruise control.

However, Shear’s comfort level started to deteriorate as Swan got closer and closer. “I said it in my interview in victory lane; you can never feel comfortable when James is behind you just because he is so good. At the same time, I was confident that I could hold him off because I hadn't been using my car up before that,” said Shear. “But I was extremely nervous on the last two laps of the race just because it was so close,” he added.

With the confidence of revisiting the location of his first win, Shear hopes to be the guy to beat on the final day of May 2008. “I feel like we have just as good of a chance as anybody. It would be cool to go two for two and be the only Mid-American winner at the Dells, but with such strong competition it’s going to be hard,” said Shear.

Along with the usual suspects Bobby Gutknecht, Bill Prietzel, Lyle Nowak and Mid-American’s defending champion and current point leader James Swan, several other drivers may pose a challenge to Shear. Making their Mid-American debuts at Dells Raceway Park will be Tom McClintock and Brian Back. McClintock, the 2006 United States Super Truck Champion, is starting to get the hang of the car he purchased from Andrew Ruthenbeck last year as he qualified third at La Crosse. Former super stock ace Brian Back, who set fast time at La Crosse, will also be looking to head to victory lane for the first time in a Mid-American stock car at DRP. “Really it could be anyone. There are a lot of good cars this year in the Series,” explained Shear.

Shear and the rest of the Mid-American Stock Car Series will replace the Dells super late models this Saturday. The super late models have the night off to prepare for Sunday’s ASA Midwest Tour race. The pit area opens at 3 p.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Dells Raceway Park is located on Smith Road just outside of Wisconsin Dells, WI.

Mid-American drivers and fans will have the opportunity to purchase a video of the Dells Duel Part One for $15 from Jake Roth. Jake's contact information is available through his website miraclevideojake.com. More information will also be available on race day.

For more information on Dells Raceway park visit www.dellsracewaypark.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.