SPOONMORE CONQUERS MADISON INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Topics:  Jeremy Spoonmore

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
July 7, 2007

(Oregon, WI) July 7 -- This time around it was Jeremy Spoonmore’s turn to be in the spotlight. After a runner-up finish to Bill Prietzel at Wisconsin International Speedway on June 9th, Spoonmore found the rest of the pack in his rear view mirror as the checkered flag waved over Madison International Speedway. Spoonmore emerged after a three lap side by side battle with Danny Powell to take the lead for good on lap 28 and held off the late charges of Jake Finney to take his first Mid-American win of 2007.

A pair of top Mid-American veterans paced the field to the green flag. Lyle Nowak used the inside line to lead early as Bobby Gutknecht faded on the outside after the green flag fell. Through the first eight laps, Powell was on the move as he advanced from his sixth starting spot to second. Coming back to lap nine, Powell took the lead away from Nowak using the inside line.

At the same time a trio of drivers were on the move to the front. Finney, Spoonmore and fast qualifier James Swan moved into third, fourth and fifth respectively. The group then dragged Nowak into the battle on lap 14. With Nowak holding the inside line, Swan used the outside to shoot past Finney and Spoonmore into third. On lap 16 he took away the second spot from Nowak. It took Swan only four laps to reel in Powell. Earlier in the evening Swan beat Powell by a matter of inches in the eight lap heat race. There would be no repeat of the epic battle as Swan moved past Powell on the inside as the two raced out of turn four on lap 20.

It looked as though Swan was headed for the clean sweep as he quickly stretched his lead out to nearly half a straightaway. However, Swan and lady luck have not been on the same page in 2007 and trouble struck the Berge racing machine once again. On lap 25, Swan suffered engine troubles for the third consecutive race. The engine expired and Swan spun in his own fluid, backing hard into the turn three wall. He was unharmed.

The restart handed the lead back to Powell with Spoonmore now in second and Finney in third. Spoonmore stole the lead away from Powell on lap 28 and began to check out as Powell and Finney tussled for second. Finney eventually took the spot from Powell but had almost a straightaway to make up on Spoonmore.

However, Finney caught a break as a lap 37 caution involving Maxwell Schultz and Dave Obermeyer set up a three lap shootout. After the restart, Finney stayed close to Spoonmore in turns one and two but Spoonmore began to pull away on the backstretch. Spoonmore would win with a healthy advantage over Finney who scored his career best Mid-American finish. Powell finished a Mid-American career best third, Gutknecht fourth and Andrew Kulka finished fifth, also a career best.

“This one is special,” said Spoonmore in victory lane. “This car was fast, once it got out in the open we couldn’t be beat,” he exclaimed. The events at MIS certainly should have a profound event on Mid-American points as Swan finished 20th. Bill Prietzel who was second in points, only one point behind Swan, finished seventh. Gutknecht was only four points out of the lead and Spoonmore only 17. Mid-American point standings will be officially posted on the Mid-American website.

The next event for the Mid-American Stock Car Series is next Saturday, July 14th as the series makes its debut at the Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells, WI. For more information about the Mid-American Series including results, standings, the 2007 schedule and driver info visit www.midamericanracing.com.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
40 Lap Mid-American Feature
1. Jeremy Spoonmore, Somonauk, IL; 2. Jake Finney, Sycamore, IL; 3. Danny Powell, Polo, IL; 4. Bobby Gutknecht, Oak Creek, WI; 5. Andrew Kulka, Deerfield, WI; 6. Scott Null, Lake Mills, WI; 7. Bill Prietzel, Richfield, WI; 8. Lyle Nowak, Wausua, WI; 9. Kevin Lee, Cedar Rapids, IA; 10. Adam Mass, Hebron, IL; 11. Kyle Shear, Roscoe, IL; 12. Dave Obermeyer, Slinger, WI; 13. Travis Rodewald, Manitowoc, WI; 14. Kevin Damrow, Manitowoc, WI; 15. Tim Schmitt, New Berlin, WI; 16. Maxwell Schultz, Reedsville, WI; 17. Troy Shear Jr., Roscoe, IL; 18. Gregg Marks, Maribel, WI; 19. Tony Habeck, Black Creek, WI; 20. James Swan, East Troy, WI; 21. Hank Tews, Batavia, IL; 22. Butch Mierendorf, Waterloo, WI; 23. Ross Zumbach, Racine, MN - DNS; DNQ - Louie Goss, Green Bay WI; Becca Kasten, Mequon, WI; Elliot Marquardt, Merrill, WI;

Lap Leaders: Nowak 1-8; Powell 9-19, 26-27; Swan 20-25; Spoonmore 28-40

8 Lap Heat Races
Heat One: Obermeyer; Mass; Rodewald
Heat Two: Schultz; Nowak; Prietzel
Heat Three: Swan; Powell; Spoonmore

Fast Time: Swan - 19.308 seconds