SPOONMORE CAPITALIZES ON ANOTHER WILD ONE AT MIS

Topics:  Capitol Classic

Matt Panure
Mid-American Stock Car Series
September 25, 2011

NEWS RELEASE SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
Contact: Matt Panure – Public Relations Director
(920)-360-7618
Mid-American Stock Car Series
MidAmerMatt@yahoo.com
www.midamericanracing.com

OREGON, Wis. (September 25, 2011) – No matter what Madison International Speedway has in store for the Mid-American Stock Car Series, Jeremy Spoonmore is always ready to persevere. Spoonmore captured his second consecutive Capitol Classic win at MIS in a wild and caution-marred 40-lap main event.

As has been the case in past races at Madison, James Swan seemed to have the field covered. Swan survived numerous restarts and surged away from Spoonmore and the field each time the green was displayed.

Although Swan exorcized his MIS demons by winning the July 1 MASCS race this season, those very same demons returned to snatch another victory from the four-time Series Champion.

With 11 laps remaining Swan slowed slightly on the restart. Spoonmore dived to the inside to claim the lead from Swan entering turn one. Chasing his machine through the turns, Swan later discovered that his right rear tire had suffered damage and lost air pressure.

“I didn’t know what was going on. I knew our car was good and we could stay with him for a lap or so, and then he would get away from us,” Spoonmore said. “I knew that was my only shot, so I took it.”

Swan spun three laps later which gave him the opportunity to change the tire and rejoin the tail of the field. He recovered for an eighth-place finish.

It was the third time Spoonmore had capitalized on an ailing Swan. In 2007 Swan had a straightaway lead on the field only to have his engine expire. Spoonmore took the win in that event. In last year’s Capitol Classic Swan was involved in a massive wreck while racing for the lead. Spoonmore again took the win.

“I definitely do get some luck here,” Spoonmore said. “I knew we didn’t have the car to win. I was just following (Swan) and was ready to finish second, but we had a little more luck at Madison.”

Swan and Spoonmore surged to the front early in the feature. After following front-row starter Ryan Farrell on the outside line into second on lap two, Swan swung to the outside and took the lead from his former crew member on lap four.

Farrell was then left to deal with fellow front-row starter Tyler Bauknecht and Spoonmore.

The first caution of the race was displayed when Brian Back, Jay Foster and Tom McClintock tangled in turn two. The double-file restart placed Swan and Farrell in the front row with Spoonmore and Bauknecht tailing them to green.

A green-flag run was short-lived, however, as Butch Mierendorf lost a wheel. Although the run lasted only one lap, Spoonmore was able to dispose of Farrell and secure the runner-up spot.

Only one lap was run before another caution flag fell. After a three-wide display from third on back, a chain reaction pile up resulted when Bret Widdis made contact with Jay Foster. Paige Decker, Back, Dan Church, Jake Finney and Dick Behrendt were collected. Only Finney was unable to continue.

After the restart Swan was able to log laps up front. As he stretched out his lead over Spoonmore, Mark Pluer and Bill Prietzel were moving through the field. Prietzel, who had made repairs after the first caution on lap 8, worked the outside line to perfection and secured fifth behind Pluer by the halfway point.

Two more multi-car cautions set up the restart on lap 29 which claimed Swan’s chance at a win. With the lead being handed to Spoonmore, Pluer and Prietzel still played a factor.

On a single-file restart with 8 laps remaining, Pluer, Prietzel and Lyle Nowak filled the rear-view mirror of Spoonmore. While Pluer was content to stay on the bottom less than a car-length behind Spoonmore, Prietzel dared to try the high line. All efforts were for naught as Prietzel tucked back in third. The top four remained unchanged at the finish with Scott Null making a last-lap pass on Ryan Gutknecht to round out the top five.

Of the 24 drivers who started only Spoonmore, Pluer and Nowak were not involved in a caution in some form or fashion.

More bad luck for Swan led to another tightening of the points battle. Nowak tightened the gap to 73 points with two races remaining in the 2011 season.

The next stop for Mid-American is next Sunday, October 2nd at Rockford Speedway. Mid-American is scheduled to run a 75-lap feature event as part of the 46th Annual National Short Track Championships. Qualifying begins at 11:15 a.m. and racing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

Rockford Speedway is located at 9572 Forest Hills Road seven miles north of downtown Rockford, just two miles west of Interstate 90 at the intersection of Forest Hills Road and Highway 173 in Loves Park, Ill. For more information visit www.rockfordspeedway.com

For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series, including the full 2011 schedule, results, standings and driver information visit www.midamericanracing.com.

Full Results for the Capitol Class available at http://www.motorstats.com/series/98/results?event_id=2831