NASCAR REPORT:
CHRISTOPHER & SMITH WINNERS

LAKEVILLE, IN -- What was to have been one of the busiest weekends of the year in NASCAR regional racing, with four of five NASCAR divisions employing a Hoosier tire-rule in action, turned out to be only half of what was to have been as two events succumbed to rain. The NASCAR Southwest Series race at Tucson Raceway Park was postponed until October 10th as a result of persistent rains. While in the NASCAR Northwest Series, rain forced officials to cancel the race at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA. The decision sets up a one-race clash for the championship to end the exciting 2004 season as the top seven drivers in the standings are separated by less than 100 points. Garrett Evans currently is atop the rankings just six points ahead of last year's Rookie of the Year Travis Bennett. On Saturday in the NASCAR Southeast Series, Stanley Smith took the win at Kentucky Speedway. It was Smith's first win in the series in 11 years. Finally, in the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series, Ted Christopher (top photo) led 97 laps of the 100-lap race at New Hampshire International Speedway for his third win of the season. The race was run on Monday after rains Friday forced the rescheduling of the event. Ironically, Christopher also won the earlier race contested at Loudon (NH) in July.  

NASCAR SOUTHEAST SERIES

SPARTA, KY (September 18) -- Twenty-eight cars started Saturday's "V-Taps 100" at Kentucky Speedway with previous race winner and current series points leader Jeff Fultz starting on the pole. 

When the 100-lap race was over, Stanley Smith was the winner in front of a cheering crowd. Smith led 68 of the 100 race laps en route to his first win in 11 seasons. The driver of the Express Oil Change #49 earned $10,000 for the top finish. Finishing in second place was J.R. Norris who came back from an early race spin. Norris collected $6,900 for the runner-up finish. Bradley Reithmeyer was third followed by Joseph Miller and Kevin Clark to round out the top five.

Despite his day ending on lap 76 as a result of an accident and a disappointing 15th place finish, Jeff Fultz continues to lead the NASCAR Southeast Series driver standings with 1754 points over J.R. Norris (1687) and Erik Darnell (1684) heading into the final event of the season. That event is the "AutoZone 150" at Music City Motorplex in Nashville, TN.  

Hoosier's Terry Newton is the Product Manager for the four NASCAR AutoZone Elite Touring Series in which Hoosier is the sole supplier.

NASCAR FEATHERLITE MODIFIED SERIES

LOUDON, NH (September 20) -- In what was to be a Friday lead-in event for the NASCAR Nextel Cup event, the "Sylvania 100" became a follow-up race after rains pushed the 100-lap race back to Monday. The decision also saw five of the scheduled 41 starters scratched from the race because the driver, crew members, or both, had to return to their regular weekly jobs.

Ted Christopher, however, was not one of them. Christopher won the Bud Pole Award as the event's fastest qualifier and started from the pole. Reggie Ruggiero was to have joined him on the front row, but he was one of the five unable to stay through Monday for the rescheduled event.

Christopher captured the win leading 97 of the 100 race laps. The event featured four race leaders among three different drivers including Christopher (1-38, 42-100), Todd Szegedy (39) and Tony Hirschman (40-41).     

With the win, Ted Christopher pocketed $14,200. Following the Plainville, CT driver to the line was Todd Szegedy who started third. Tony Hirschman finished in third place followed by Donny Lia and Eddie Flemke who started 18th.

Tony Hirschman currently leads the driver standings by 20 points over Eddie Flemke. Jerry Marquis, Ted Christopher and Rick Fuller round out the top five in the rankings.

Irish Saunders is the Hoosier Product Manager for the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series.

NASCAR officials also announced on Friday the series will have a new title sponsor next season. Whelan Engineering, a Connecticut-based manufacturer of emergency lighting and equipment, will replace Featherlite Trailers which has been the title sponsor since 1993.

Two races now remain on the 2004 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series schedule with the next stop at Stafford Motor Speedway on September 26th.

Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. is proud to have been selected by NASCAR to be the exclusive tire provider to the series mentioned in this report. 

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 Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.

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