NASCAR REPORT:
NIESSNER, LEWIS & HIRSCHMAN WINNERS
FULTZ & JEFFERSON WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS

LAKEVILLE, IN -- Three of the five NASCAR regional racing series which compete exclusively on Hoosier tires were in action over the weekend with two series contesting their final events of the year. In the NASCAR Southeast Series, Zach Niessner won Saturday's "AutoZone 150" leading the final seven laps of the 150-lap race at Nashville's Music City Motorplex. Despite a 13th place finish, Jeff Fultz (photo) claimed the NASCAR Southeast Series championship by 21 points over rookie J.R. Norris. In the NASCAR Northwest Series, Gary Lewis captured the season-ending race at Washington's Wenatchee Valley's Super Oval, while Jeff Jefferson repeated as series champion by just one point over Travis Bennett. In the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series, it all comes down to the final race at Thompson International Speedway in October after Sunday's race at Stafford was won by current series point leader Tony Hirschman. With the win, Hirschman increased his lead in the driver rankings to 30 points over Eddie Flemke who finished runner-up to Hirschman in Sunday's Carquest Fall Final.

NASCAR SOUTHEAST SERIES
NASHVILLE, TN (September 25) -- The NASCAR Southeast Series contested their 12th and final race of the 2004 campaign on Saturday at Music City Motorplex. Entering the race, Jeff Fultz (above photo) commanded a 67 point lead over J.R. Norris for the series title. Fultz, the 2002 series champion, narrowly missed repeating as series champion last season despite winning six of the series' 10 races. Fultz ended the season runner-up to Charlie Bradberry.

Twenty-five cars started the 150-lap "AutoZone 150" with J.R. Norris capturing the Bud Pole Award and starting eighth after the inversion. Justin Wakefield and Greg Pope started on the front row with Wakefield getting the jump at the green flag. 

Wakefield led through lap 25 before fast qualifier J.R. Norris moved into the lead from the eighth starting spot. Norris, knowing he needed a top finish and to have any shot at the title, set a blistering pace leading through lap 143, before seventh starting Zach Niessner moved into the lead with seven laps to go. Niessner, making his first series start of the year, used a strategy of conserving his tires until the mad dash for the finish. The decision worked to perfection as the Royal City, WA driver won by .201 seconds over Norris earning $4,200 for the top finish. Pole-sitter Justin Wakefield finished in third place followed by Kevin Prince and Jason Hogan.

Jeff Fultz, fighting an ill-handling race car all night, finished in 13th place. The finish was still good enough to give the Cincinnati, OH driver the NASCAR Southeast Series championship by 21 points over J.R. Norris. In the 12 races contested in the series this year, Fultz amassed over $48,000 in earnings while winning five races. It was Fultz's second career title in the series. Finishing in third place in the final standings behind Rookie of the Year J.R. Norris was Erik Darnell followed by Kevin Prince, Jason Hogan, Chris Davidson, Robert Richardson, Justin Wakefield, Greg Pope and Allen Karnes.

Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. congratulates Jeff Fultz on winning the 2004 NASCAR Southeast Series championship and also extends their deepest appreciation to all the teams, drivers and fans who have supported our efforts to provide them the best race tires in the world.

NASCAR NORTHWEST SERIES

EAST WENATCHEE, WA (September 25) -- The final event of the year in the NASCAR Northwest Series would determine this year's champion as Garrett Evans entered Saturday's "KKRV 150" with a slim six point lead over Travis Bennett and just a 15 point margin over defending series champion Jeff Jefferson. 

Sadly, Garrett Evans' hopes for championship were dashed when he was caught up in an accident on just the fourth circuit of the 150-lap race. That left the title in the hands of Bennett and Jefferson. When the race was over, Gary Lewis had claimed the $2,400 win followed by Jeff Jefferson in second place. Jason Jefferson finished in third followed by Travis Bennett in fourth and Joe Benedetti in fifth. 

When the points had been awarded, Jeff Jefferson, with his second place finish, had claimed the NASCAR Northwest Series championship by just one point over fourth place finisher Travis Bennett. It was Jefferson's second consecutive title in the series. The Naches, WA driver compiled four wins in 11 events in 2004 earning over $21,000 in the process.

The final driver rankings had Jeff Jefferson claiming the championship followed by runner-up Travis Bennett, Jason Jefferson, Garrett Evans, Gary Lewis, Pete Harding, Brandon Riehl, Wes Rhodes, Joe Benedetti and Steven Howard in second through tenth place, respectively.

The entire Hoosier organization wishes to congratulate Jeff Jefferson on winning the 2004 NASCAR Northwest Series championship for the second consecutive year on Tires Designed for Champions made by Hoosier Racing Tire Corp.

NASCAR MODIFIED SERIES

STAFFORD, CT (September 26) -- Forty-eight cars attempted to make the 32-car field for Sunday's Carquest Fall Final at Stafford Motor Speedway. The event is the last race before the season-ending race at Thompson International Speedway in mid-October. Donny Lia was the Bud Pole Award winner, but started seventh after the inversion. Previous race winner Ted Christopher started from the pole alongside Mike Stefanik.

The fans in attendance saw six race leaders among five different drivers including Ted Christopher (1-10, 24), Mike Stefanik (11-23), Chuck Hossfeld (38-74), Eddie Flemke (75-86) and Tony Hirschman (87-150). 

Eighth starting Tony Hirschman, who earned $6,100 for the win, was followed to the line by Eddie Flemke. Mike Stefanik finished in third place followed by Jerry Marquis and Chuck Hossfeld in fourth and fifth, respectively. Amazingly, Jerry Marquis started way back in 26th before finishing in fourth place.

Rounding out the top ten was last year's point champion Todd Szegedy in sixth place followed by Ken Barry, Jamie Tomaino, Donny Lia and Ted Christopher in seventh through tenth place.

With the win, Tony Hirschman increased his lead to 30 points over Eddie Flemke heading into the final race at Thompson in three weeks. 

All NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series events are serviced by Hoosier Tire East based in Manchester, CT.  

Copyright © 2004 Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. All rights reserved.
 Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.

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