The race for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series championship is underway at tracks across North America. The following is a run down of the top 10 drivers in Division IV.
No. 1 – Jeff Malave (Thompson International Speedway, Thompson, Conn.). Hometown: Manchester, Conn. Points: 434. Previous ranking: 1. Malave suffered a disappointing 15th place finish last Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway, but collected enough points to stay on top of the Division IV standings this week. Malave’s home track, Thompson International Speedway, begins its weekly Thursday night NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series schedule June 2.
No. 2 – Todd Patnode (Twin State Speedway, Claremont, N.H.). Hometown: West Swansey, N.H. Points: 388. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Patnode, a regular competitor at Monadnock Speedway in recent years, headed to Twin State Speedway and recorded his first victory last weekend in the track’s Pro Late Model class. As a reward, Patnode is now in close contention for the Division IV points lead.
No. 3 – Wade Buttrey (Music City Motorplex, Nashville, Tenn.). Hometown: Fairview, Tenn. Points: 368. Previous ranking: 4. Buttrey won his fifth race of the season Friday night at Music City Motorplex and added 10 bonus points for racing in a field of 15 cars. The results boosted Buttrey one spot in the Division IV rankings.
No. 4 – Ted Christopher (Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Conn.). Hometown: Plainville, Conn. Points: 346. Previous ranking: 5. Christopher, the 2001 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion, collected his 79th career victory at Stafford Motor Speedway last Friday and advanced one position in the Division IV standings.
No. 5 – Donnie Bazemore Sr. (Oglethorpe Speedway Park, Savannah, Ga.). Hometown: Rincon, Ga. Points: 338. Previous ranking: 2. Bazemore’s home track, Oglethorpe Speedway Park, cancelled its May 20 events due to rain but resumes racing May 27. As part of the track’s “Race of Champions” event this Friday, NASCAR stars Bill Elliott, Matt Kenseth, Jimmy Spencer and Casey Mears are scheduled to appear at the track. Each of the drivers plans to sign autographs as well as race with the track’s Dirt Late Models. While Elliott has had experience behind the wheel of the powerful cars, it will mark Kenseth’s first dirt track race.
No. 6 – Todd Southwell (Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, Calif.). Hometown: San Marcos, Calif. Points: 336. Previous ranking: 3. Southwell started out the season by leading the Division IV standings so his slip to sixth place may seem troubling – but a closer look reveals Southwell’s title hopes are not lost. Irwindale’s Super Late Model class was idle last week, hence Southwell’s latest drop in the standings, and returns with twin 50-lap feature races May 28. Strong finishes in those events could boost Southwell back into contention.
No. 7 – Donny Reuvers (Raceway Park, Shakopee, Minn.). Hometown: Dundas, Minn. Points: 318. Previous ranking: 10. Reuvers continues to perform at Raceway Park, where he’s recorded three consecutive wins. Reuvers has also spent time at nearby Elko Speedway on Saturday nights, where he’s picked up two top-five finishes and additional points towards the Division IV title.
No. 8 – Rick Miller (Motordrome Speedway, Smithton, Pa.). Hometown: Dunbar, Pa. Points: 300. Previous ranking: 6. Miller, the reigning track champion at Motordrome Speedway, finished second in last Friday night’s Late Model race, yet dropped two positions in the Division IV point standings. No need for Miller to worry just yet – he has plenty of chances to make up lost ground at Motordrome, including twin feature races on June 17 and July 15. Miller’s son, Richie, is also a top driver at Motordrome and is leading the track point standings in the American Flyer class.
No. 9 – Dave Michel (Wall Township Speedway, Wall Township, N.J.). Hometown: Manahawkin, N.J. Points: 250. Previous ranking: 11. Michel, the 2003 Wall Township Speedway Modified champion, improved two positions in the standings this week, thanks to his fourth consecutive top-five finish.
No. 10 – Jon Lemke (Elko Speedway, Elko, Minn.). Hometown: Greenfield, Minn. Points: 242. Previous ranking: 15. Lemke, a former NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series competitor, resurrected his racing career by returning to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series at Elko Speedway last season. Lemke won the 2004 track championship after recording eight wins and is back for another season.
Outside the Top 10: 11. Joe Paladenic, Tucson (Ariz.) Raceway Park, 240 points, 12. Gary Webb, Grant County Speedway, Lancaster, Wis., 208 points, T12. Gary Webb, Farley (Iowa) Speedway, 208 points, 14. Mark Smith, Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway, 208 points, 15. Ron Yuhas Jr., Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl, 198 points, 16. Bill Kimball Jr., Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, N.H., 148 points.
