Vermeer Manufacturing Night to feature a Contested Points Battle
Friday, June 30, 2006
by Bob Wilson
(sitting in this week for Bill Wright)
As we head into Vermeer Manufacturing Night at Knoxville Raceway this Saturday, it might be well to reflect where things stood one year ago.
In early July of 2005 Brian Brown sat in the fourth spot in our weekly points standings. This year the Higginsville, Missouri driver is leading in the points and has just over a 100 point margin over Kerry Madsen, who was leading one year ago. Looks like Madsen will be on the road this week with the World of Outlaws (WoO) while Blake Feese sits in the Tony Vermeer #55 for Knoxville action.
Billy Alley, who gave a strong showing in last Friday's WoO A Main, is currently in third place in the 2006 Knoxville points standings, just 255 markers out of first. Alley was sixth one year ago. In fourth place at this point is Skip Jackson who was fifth coming into the early July points standings in 2005. Jackson sits just ten points behind Alley.
Perhaps the biggest surprise in 2006 is the run of Clint Garner. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota driver was not in the top ten at all one year ago. Now, the Sunshine State native sits in a solid fifth.
Wayne Johnson and Ricky Logan, who were "top fivers" last year in early July are absent this time around. Johnson, who confesses to having the worst year of his life in racing is in sixth, a spot that does not show this driver's true potential. Logan who is currently not racing with us in the 410s could climb aboard a vacated ride and take the top money at any time. He is just that good.
Showing the way in the 360 points standings is two-time defending track champion Jake Peters. One year ago Peters was just 45 points out of first place. Larry Ball, Jr. led the points chase at that time and this year Ball chases around this half-mile oval in the 410 division.
Indianola, Iowa driver, Johnny Anderson is 49 points behind Peters. Anderson, who does nothing but improve on a weekly basis took two recent feature events here and sits poised to strike should Peters falter. Both features were non-points events and would have catapulted "The Lightning" to the top of the heap.
Jeff Mitrisin resides in the third slot in the 360 points standings. One year ago Jeff was running in the 410 division. Another new entrant to the top five points standings of 2006 is Josh Higday. Higday, who certainly is one of the hardest chargers here, was 9th one year ago. Rounding out the top five for this year is John Kearney. Kearney is exactly were he was at this point last year. Only Ball and Brett Mather (10th) do not show in this season's top five.
Hot laps get underway at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $12 (14 and under are $3). A pit pass is $20. We hope to see you this Saturday at Knoxville along with all the good folks from Vermeer Manufacturing. Visit us at www.knoxvilleraceway.com where there's always something new.
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