Tight Points Battle As Stacker2® Xtreme DirtCar Series Heads For LaSalle Speedway!!!

jdearing

Administrator
Staff member
Shelby,NC 7-23-04
By Bret Emrick

When the Stacker2® Xtreme DirtCar Series rolls into LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle,IL Saturday, July 31 the battle for the “2004 YJ Stinger Cup” points championship will certainly be shaken up after the running of the “Illinois Valley Challenge 50” at the high-banked ¼ mile speedplant. A scant 88 points separates the top three positions in the point standings while only 67 points separate sixth through tenth heading into the $42,000 purse event.

Current “YJ Stinger Cup” points leader Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound,WI will enter the event with 55 point bulge over Jacksonville,FL driver Earl Pearson Jr. with Donnie Moran of Dresden,OH currently third, 88 points behind Mars and 33 behind Pearson Jr. Sitting fourth is Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine,IA who is 149 points behind Moran but 246 points ahead of fifth place points driver Ray Cook of Brasstown,NC.



Cook currently holds a slim 2 point margin over Vienna,WV native Steve Shaver while Matt Miller, the 2003 Xtreme DirtCar Series “Rookie of the Year” from Waterville,OH is seventh in points, 10 markers behind Shaver. Leading “Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year” contending driver Shane Clanton of Locust Grove,GA is eighth in points sitting 26 points behind Miller but only 7 points and 29 points respectively in front of fellow “Lucas Oil R.O.Y.” contenders Darren Miller of Chadwick,IL and Billy Drake of Bloomington,IL.



Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning,MI, who is also shooting for the “Lucas Oil R.O.Y.” title is currently eleventh in the points standings 42 points ahead of Millersburg,OH resident John Mason and 48 points ahead of “Lucas Oil R.O.Y.” contender Eddie Carrier Jr. of Ona,WV. Completing the top 15 in the “YJ Stinger Cup” point standings are Sonny Conley of New Martinsville,WV (“Lucas Oil R.O.Y.”) and declared Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series point leader Davey Johnson of Greensburg,PA.



“All of us at LaSalle Speedway are looking forward to having the Stacker2® Series back”, stated promoter Kerrianne Izzo. “When they were here in May the whole experience for the fans was phenomenal. Having Speed Channel here, the ‘Pay Dirt 24’ promotion and simply awesome racing was a great experience for the fans. And, we’re sure we’ll have the same thing July 31. Speed Channel will be here again taoing the action for broadcast at a later date and the ‘Pay Dirt 24’ is happening again along with the other promotions. Plus the show on the track ought to be something.”



The very popular Stacker2® “Pay Dirt” promotion, giving one fan a $1,000 cash prize, will also be part of the “Illinois Valley Challenge 50”. Fans may simply fill out an entry form at the YJ Stinger Extreme Energy Drink “Splash Of Energy” Tour display. After entry’s have been closed, 24 names from all entry’s will be randomly drawn for the Stacker2® “Pay Dirt” $1,000 prize. The names drawn will receive a Stacker2®/YJ Stinger Gift Pack and will be matched with the first 24 feature starting drivers. If the lucky fan’s driver wins the feature event that fan wins the “Pay Dirt” $1,000 cash prize.



Pit gates are slated top open at 2:00pm CDT with spectator gates opening at 5:00pm. Warm-ups will begin at 6:00pm followed by RINGERS GLOVES Time Trials at 6:30pm. A complete racing program will start at 7:30pm with MSD IGNITION/JE PISTONS/WRISCO INDUSTRIES and BERT TRANSMISSION Heat Races, SUNOCO RACE FUELS “B” Mains and the YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINK Dash preceding the Main Event. Filling out the racing program will be the LaSalle Speedway Street Stock and Sportsman divisions.



Adult general admission is $25.00, children 11 years of age and under $5.00 and pit admission is $35.00.



LaSalle Speedway is located south of Interstate 80 on Interstate 39 to exit 57, then 1.5 miles east on U.S. Route 6. For more information phone Tuesday and Thursdays only at (815) 223-6939, race day only at (815) 223-6900 or visit the LaSalle Speedway website located at www.lasallespeedway.com.



The “Goodyear Eagle Driver Assurance Program”, a collaborative effort between the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Weld Wheels and Xtreme DirtCars,Inc., will also be offered for the “Illinois Valley Challenge 50”. The program offers two front Goodyear Eagle Racing Tires and two front Weld Wheels to the first 25 ‘local/regional’ raceteams who pre-register for the Stacker2® XDCS sanctioned event. Raceteams eligible for the program must contact the the Xtreme DirtCars,Inc. office and pre-register to take part in the program. Raceteams may either phone 704-487-1169 or e-mail to xdcs@xtremedirtcars.com to pre-register.



Raceteams are reminded that the Goodyear Eagle Racing Tire X-300 is the only compound of Goodyear Racing Eagle Tires permitted for the LaSalle Speedway event. Race teams should contact Xtreme DirtCars,Inc. Goodyear Racing Tire program co-ordinator Mike Franklin at 704-487-1169 for further information on the Goodyear Racing Tire program.



Mars, aboard the Stacker2®/Heeg Well Drilling/Deppe Enterprises No. 28M Jimmy Mars Racing MasterSbilt Race Cars/Pro Power Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo, is one of seven drivers in the top 15 in points who has started all 17 main events leading up to the LaSalle Speedway date. Mars has amassed 5 victories, 13 Top 5 finishes and 16 Top 10 finishes to currently sit atop the points leader board. Mars is currently second in feature laps led with 175 and has earned over $98,000.



Pearson Jr. has driven the Lucas Oil/Dunn-Benson Ford No. 1 Team L Corporation Rocket Chassis/Larry Wallace Racing Engines Ford Taurus to 3 wins, 12 Top 5 finishes and 15 Top 10 finishes in his 17 starts. Pearson Jr. has scored 7 “Ringers Gloves Time Trial Fast Qualifier Awards”, 10 heat race wins and 2 “Gemini Auto Care Centers Hard Charger Awards” while earning over $84,000.



Moran has earned over $100,000 in his 17 starts driving the Eddie’s Sunoco/Well-Pict Berries/Hamricks of Gaffney No. 99 Donnie Moran Racing MasterSbilt Race Cars/SMS Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo to 5 wins, 12 Top 5 finishes and 14 Top 10 finishes. Moran has also nailed 4 “YJ Stinger Extreme Energy Drink Dash” events, has led 199 feature laps and pocketed 10 heat races.



Currently fourth in points, Birkhofer has yet to taste victory lane in his 17 starts but has chalked up 10 Top 5 finishes and 14 Top 10 finishes driving the Daufeldt’s Transport/J&J Steel/Simon Trucking No. 15B Brian Birkhofer Racing MasterSbilt Race Cars/Pro Power Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Birkhofer has earned 4 “Ringers Gloves Time Trials Fast Qualifier Awards” and a series leading 12 heat race wins.



Cook, who sits fifth in points, has driven the Dodge/Bill Elliott Racing/Ray Evernham Motorsports No. 53 Ray Cook Racing MasterSbilt Race Cars/Gaerte Racing Engines Dodge Intrepid R/T to 16 feature starts piling up 4 Top 5 finishes and 10 Top 10 finishes.



Other drivers who have started all 17 previous Stacker2® XDCS main events include Shaver, Matt Miller and Mason. Shaver has nailed 5 Top 5 finishes and 9 Top 10 finishes in the Bill Bland Motorsports/The Farm Used Auto Parts No. 0 Steve Shaver Motorsports Rocket Chassis/Malcuit Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Miller has 2 Top 5’s and 10 Top 10’s to his credit driving the McCullough Enterprises/Lo-Temp Brazing No. 7 DSI Enterprises Rocket Chassis/Russell Baker Racing Engines Pontiac Grand Prix. Mason, driving the Bert Transmission/Mason Starters/Mason Racin’,Inc. No. 72 C.J. Rayburn Race Cars/Malcuit Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo has 1 victory, 1 Top 5 and 2 Top 10 finishes on his scorecard.



The “Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year” contenders are led by Clanton, who sits eighth in points. Starting 15 main events Clanton has notched 4 Top 5’s and 10 Top 10’s while also earning 2 “Gemini Auto Care Centers Hard Charger Awards” driving the RSD Enterprises/SAE Parts No. 25 RSD Enterprises Rocket Chassis/Custom Race Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo.



Darren Miller holds down the ninth spot in points courtesy of 1 victory, 6 Top 5 finishes and 11 Top 10 finishes in 14 starts driving the Seubert Calf Ranches No. 32D Darren Miller Motorsports MasterSbilt Race Cars/Pro Power Racing Ford Taurus.



In 16 main event starts Drake has scored 3 Top 5’s and 12 Top 10’s aboard the Steidinger Construction/Creative Kitchens and Baths/Executive Homes No. 9 Billy Drake Racing MasterSbilt Race Cars/Gaerte Racing Engines Pontiac Grand Prix.



Van Wormer, driving the Bayline Fire Protection No. 55 Van Wormer Motorsports Warrior Race Cars/Pro Power Racing Ford Taurus and currently eleventh in points, has started 16 events with 1 Top 5 and 4 Top 10 finishes.



Sitting thirteenth in points Carrier Jr. has 16 starts with 3 Top 10 finishes driving the Grover Motorsports/Engines,Inc. No. 28 Carl Grover Motorsports Rocket Chassis/Grover Ford Taurus.



Conley, fourteenth in points, has started 11 feature events but his still searching for his first Top 10 finish aboard the Conley Enterprises No. 1x1 Conley Enterprises Lazer G-2/Emery Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo.



Starting all 12 events he has entered, Johnson has tallied 3 Top 5 finishes and 5 Top 10 finishes as well as 2 “Gemini Auto Care Centers Hard Charger Awards” driving the Reliable Painting No. 19J Beitler Enterprises MasterSbilt Race Cars/Malcuit Racing Engines Pontiac Grand Prix.



2004 Stacker2® Xtreme DirtCar Series "YJ Stinger Cup" Point Standings (after 7-10-04)

Position Car # Driver Name Residence Entered Starts Wins Top 5's Top 10's Earnings Points
1 28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI 17 17 5 13 16 $98,300.00 2,802
2 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville,FL 17 17 3 12 15 $84,050.00 2,747
3 99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 17 17 5 12 14 $107,750.00 2,714
4 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine,IA 17 17 0 10 14 $57,200.00 2,565
5 53 Ray Cook Brasstown,NC 17 16 0 4 10 $33,650.00 2,319
6 0 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 17 17 0 5 9 $37,850.00 2,317
7 7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH 17 17 0 2 10 $43,225.00 2,307
8 25 Shane Clanton® Locust Grove,GA 17 15 0 4 11 $35,450.00 2,281
9 32D Darren Miller® Chadwick,IL 17 14 1 6 11 $38,525.00 2,274
10 9 Billy Drake® Bloomington,IL 17 16 0 3 12 $35,000.00 2,252
11 55 Jeep Van Wormer® Pinconning,MI 17 16 0 1 4 $23,925.00 2,053
12 72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 17 17 1 1 2 $29,125.00 2,011
13 28 Eddie Carrier Jr.® Ona,WV 17 16 0 0 3 $22,675.00 2,005
14 1x1 Sonny Conley® New Martinsville,WV 17 11 0 0 0 $14,325.00 1,701
15 19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 12 12 0 3 5 $16,000.00 1,514
16 C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond,IN 13 8 0 0 1 $7,550.00 1,397
17 95 Buckshot Miles Evans,GA 14 6 0 0 0 $5,025.00 1,268
18 59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH 12 9 0 0 0 $7,375.00 1,134
19 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville,IN 7 6 2 3 6 $31,100.00 1,059
20 64 Sean Cosgrove Catharpin,VA 12 4 0 0 0 $3,575.00 1,056
21 2* D.J. Troutman Hyndman,PA 9 8 0 0 0 $6,025.00 947
22 7T Dave Troutman Hyndman,PA 9 4 0 0 0 $3,300.00 798
23 18 Keith Berner Millersburg,OH 5 5 0 1 2 $7,125.00 679
24 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney,SC 5 5 0 0 3 $6,925.00 667
25 A1 Duke Whiseant® Texarkana,AR 6 4 0 1 1 $4,400.00 652
 




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