By: TIM BALTZ – HOGANSBURG, NY – With only a few weeks remaining in the pursuit of track championships at the Mohawk International Raceway several drivers are eyeing their first career MIR titles.
The Twin Leaf Stores 358 Modified has seen many different winners through the 2019 campaign. Unlike last season that saw only 3 different drivers claim victory the field has literally been wide open with veterans and young stars toping the win column. 2011 track champion Chris Raabe is in control of the points lead with a 16-point lead on Michael Maresca and a 36-point cushion on last week’s winner and two-time track champion Tim Fuller. With 2 wins, 6 top 5 efforts and two top 5 finishes in the last two weeks the Alexandria native has all the momentum in his corner as he pushes for a 2nd Mohawk Modified championship.
In Crossroads Tobacco Sportsman division Shane Pecore has a comfortable 42- point cushion heading into this week’s action over Zack Arquiett. The St. Andrew’s native began the season winning the first two events of the year and with consistent finishes found himself at the top of the leader board with a season high three wins on the season. Pecore was second in the championship in 2016 and looks in great shape for his first track title while defending track champion Brianna Ladouceur who’s 66 points behind in 4th and is still well within striking distance.
Kevin Foster has been dominant in the Mod Lite division this year with three feature wins on the season. Foster, however was making headlines this year with his string of five consecutive runner up finishes and eventually found victory lane the last two weeks in a row and with a 71-point advantage over 2017 track champion Nick Mallette, the championship is almost his.
Matt Zira made a statement during the 2019 Bandit season with a run that will go unmatched this year. Zira ran to a season high five feature wins but the significant thing about it was they were all in succession which vaulted him firmly to the top of the points standings. Jeff Putnam sits 78 points behind in the 2nd spot and has been close to his first win of the year with Terry Green Jr. completing the top 3.
This week a full show in all five divisions will be on tap along with the ever popular endure qualifier which will see the winner claim a guaranteed spot into the end of the season Ironman Slick Track Enduro. The first green flag set to drop at 7:30pm. Reminder to all Canadian race fans that Canadian Money will be accepted at par at the main gate all season long. Also do not forget to grab a receipt at the toll booth in exchange for a free bridge pass that night.
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