USST CHAMPION MCCLINTOCK TO JOIN MID-AMERICAN

Topics:  Tom McClintock

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
August 22, 2007

(Fort Atkinson, WI), August 22 -- The stellar traveling contingent of the Mid-American Stock Car Series will have a new combatant when the series heads to the Milwaukee Mile this Saturday, August 25th. Defending United States Super Truck (USST) champion Tom McClintock of Onalaska, WI recently purchased a Mid-American stock car and plans on making his series debut at the Mile..

“I first thought about Mid-Am racing when Gary Vercauteren was still around. I talked to him a couple of weeks before Oktoberfest and planned on talking to him there. When he passed on, it put all that on hold. In the meanwhile, I hooked up with the USST truck series and went from there. So this has been something that has been in the making for a while,” said McClintock.

McClintock, a former NASCAR late model driver at La Crosse, has enjoyed a very successful career with the USST. He is the current point leader of the northern division capturing two wins and four top fives. En route to his championship in 2006, McClintock celebrated victories at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway as part of the Oktoberfest race weekend and at the Lake Geneva Raceway as part of the Victor Ford Final Fall Classic.

A mid-season switch for McClintock made sense as things finally fell into place. “It just came to be when I finally found what I was looking for in a car. We're starting yet this year just to get our feet wet heading into next season. I want to see what we have for a car and go from there. We plan on running Milwaukee, Marshfield and Oktoberfest this year, but I haven't ruled out 141 or Rockford yet,” he said.

The Mid-American Stock Car Series seems like a place where McClintock was destined to be. “I look forward to the increased level of competition and the new people. I've heard very good things about the Mid-Am folks and I look forward to meeting them. I do know Bill Prietzel fairly well, but outside of that, I'll definitely be the stranger in the crowd,” McClintock stated. Richfield, WI’s Prietzel, who is currently tied for second in Mid-American points, also competed in select USST races in the past against McClintock.

McClintock may not be the “stranger in the crowd” for very long as he enters Milwaukee with a distinguishing marker on his resume. He already has visited victory lane at the Milwaukee Mile in 2007. McClintock won the USST Milwaukee 50 at the Mile on June 23rd.

Yet McClintock has identified a few hurdles to jump before he can confidently say that he’ll return to the Mile’s victory lane in 2007. “As far as winning at Milwaukee, I don't even know if my car runs yet! The test session on Friday will be the first time I drive it. A top ten would make me very happy, but I don't know if that is even a reasonable goal at this point.”

Should McClintock pull off an amazing feat and top all Mid-American drivers this Saturday, there surely will be a party welcoming the veteran. “If we do pull of a miracle win, there won't be enough Miller Lite and Big Macs in Milwaukee for that celebration,” joked McClintock.

Another article on McClintock’s decision to join Mid-American was written by La Crosse Tribune sports editor Jeff Brown. The article can be found here.

This Saturday’s event should see a season high car count for the series. The number of pre-entries for Milwaukee has already surpassed the previous season high car count of 32 drivers which took place the last time Mid-American was in action on July 21st at the Wisconsin International Raceway for the Tisler Salvage White Race. That event was won by Oak Creek, WI’s Bobby Gutknecht. Due to a rain out on August 18th the series has been idle for four weeks.

Gutknecht is the current point leader of the Mid-American Stock Car Series. He holds an eleven point edge over Prietzel and James Swan of Genoa City who are currently tied for second. Swan was the winner of last year’s Governor’s Cup 40 at the Milwaukee Mile and Prietzel won the Mid-American invitational “Dash for Cash” the next day. However, the Governor’s Cup 40 is a non-points event for the series. Each contestant will receive 25 appearance points.

Following the trip to the Mile the Mid-American Stock Car Series will hold its next points event at the 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, WI. The event at 141 will also honor series founder Gary Vercauteren. For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series including results, standings, the remaining 2007 schedule and driver info visit www.midamericanracing.com.