SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS SUNDAY AT CRESCO
By Jeff Nun

CRESCO, Iowa (Sept. 9) - Season Championships for four classes -- USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Outlaw Hobbies -- is this Sunday, Sept. 10, at the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa. In addition to the battles for the 2006 track titles, fans will also get a full program of USRA Modifieds with drivers earning national points in the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series and racing for a $1,000 top prize.

Defending track champ Tom Schmitt of Independence holds a slim advantage (1297 to 1269) over Brian Gjere of Mabel, Minn., in the race for the USRA Stock Car track championship. Tory Riecks of Waucoma sits third with just a seven-point cushion over Protivin's Lynn Panos. Shawn Peter of Mabel, Minn., rounds out the top five heading into Sunday's finale.

Another close battle exists in the USRA B-Modified division where Brian Kunkle of Oelwein clings to a 21-point bulge over Elgin's Jeremy LaPlant. Third in the USRA B-Mod rankings is Junior Boyer of Calmar, followed by Chris Fretheim of Decorah and Jimmy Broszeit of Postville.

The closest chase for the crown is in the USRA Hobby Stock class. Chris Hovden of Cresco leads Elma's Brandon Hare by a paltry five points going into the 2006 curtain-closer. Mitch Hovden of Decorah is a distant third, with Kyle Buxengard of Spring Grove, Minn., and Andy Stinson of Ridgeway rounding out the top five.

the Outlaw Hobby division is led into Sunday's event by Patty Fosaaen, who holds a 26-point lead over her fellow Waukon competitor Austin Curtin. Third in the standings is Ben Moudry of Protivin, with Josh Ludeking of Decorah sitting in fourth and Decorah's Dillon Anderson in fifth.

Gates open 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6:15 and racing at 6:30.

The Cresco Speedway is located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds). For more information log on to www.crescospeedway.com or call the track hotline at (563) 547-3400.


POINTS STANDINGS
USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series
Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa


USRA Modifieds
1. 26p Kevin Pittman .... 1269
2. 5w Darrin Walch .... 1150
3. 7m Michael Darnall .... 989
4. 55m Alan Mondus .... 893
5. 35 Ron Konkel .... 890
6. 66 Dan Bohr .... 854
7. 32 Larry Schmidt .... 788
8. 28t Todd Ihde .... 673
9. 55 Larry Hall .... 660
10. 41 Keith Pittman .... 652


USRA Stock Cars
1. 18 Tom Schmitt .... 1297
2. 23 Brian Gjere .... 1269
3. 27t Tory Reicks .... 1156
4. 97 Lynn Panos .... 1149
5. 27 Shawn Peter .... 1119
6. 40 Shay Curtin .... 1022
7. 62 Kevin Bidne .... 910
8. 20 Gary Rothenberger .... 889
9. 29 Scott Bauer .... 744
10. 69 Jake Ludeking .... 566

USRA B-Modifieds
1. 20 Brian Kunkle .... 1348
2. 47j Jeremy LaPlant .... 1327
3. 42 Junior Boyer .... 1249
4. 82 Chris Fretheim .... 1147
5. 88x Jimmy Broszeit .... 1095
6. 96 Raymond Lundry .... 1013
7. 32 Jeremy Schaufenbuel .... 767
8. 58 Shane Panos .... 638
9. 19L Ron Liddiard .... 611
10. 14 Brian Schrage .... 557


USRA Hobby Stocks
1. 70 Chris Hovden .... 1305
2. 56h Brandon Hare .... 1300
3. 15 Mitch Hovden .... 1163
4. 72 Kyle Buxengard .... 1114
5. 7k Andy Stinson .... 1072
6. 83 Dave Lickteig .... 1069
7. 38 Nick Schwebach .... 1062
8. 101 Bernie Adams .... 988
9. 8 Bill Meyer .... 404
10. 29 Cody Cook .... 374


Outlaw Hobbies
1. 9 Patty Fosaaen .... 1351
2. 40 Austin Curtin .... 1325
3. 85 Ben Moudry .... 1211
4. 81 Josh Ludeking .... 1155
5. 44 Dillon Anderson .... 1125
6. 41 Carissa Wagner .... 1085
7. 83b Brady Halverson .... 1031
8. 82j Jason Brosheim .... 996
9. 37 Carl Colsch .... 901
10. 23 Matt Jones .... 822