In the early weeks of the 2005 racing season, defending NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series champion Justin Diercks supplemented his racing program by entering into a few NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series events. Diercks traveled to Houston (Tex.) Motorsports Park in May and stole a win from the Southeast Series regulars.
On Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile, the favor was returned, with two "visiting" drivers from the Southeast and Southwest Series taking top-five finishing positions in the longest and richest Midwest Series event of the year.
J.R. Norris, a Southeast Series star from Mulga, Ala., won the Milwaukee 200, scoring his first win in the Midwest Series to go along with three he's already won in the Southeast this year. Home-state driver Tim Schendel finished second in the 200-lap race. Eddie Hoffman was third followed by Josh Vadnais and Eddy McKean, who was also visiting from the Southwest Series, in fifth place.
Norris began his Midwestern adventure by winning the Bud Pole award and starting in first place. Schendel grabbed the lead on the first lap but yielded to Norris on lap 15. By the 35th lap, Norris, Schendel and Vadnais had opened a two-second lead over the chase group led by Hoffman and Todd Hansen. Norris, with Schendel and Vadnais still in tow, continued to build a sizable lead until a second yellow flag slowed the field on the 66th lap.
During the caution period that ensued, the race leaders stopped on pit road for fresh right-side tires and fuel, with Norris leading group back on to the race track. Dave Finley did not pit and temporarily inherited the lead, with Norris restarting the race in second position. Hoffman and Diercks lined up behind Norris, thanks to fast pit stops by their crews.
By the halfway point of the race, the front of the pack took on a familiar feel with the cars of Norris, Schendel and Hoffman occupying the first, second and third positions once again.
Just prior to the halfway mark, Steve Carlson made an unscheduled pit stop to replace a faulty battery. The lengthy delay cost Carlson valuable track position and dealt a substantial blow to his championship hopes. Carlson finished 11 laps down on the field in 18th place, placing him 44 points out of the championship lead with just two points races remaining.
On lap 119, Norris made a bold decision to make a second pit stop for another set of right-side tires and fuel. Norris blended back into the field while Schendel and Hoffman remained out front. The race was brought under caution on lap 130 and the leaders once again went to pit road. Norris was able to stay out and restarted in ninth position, the last car on the lead lap at the time.
After two more restarts, Norris began his final charge back towards the front. He took over the third position from McKean on lap 151, dispatched Hoffman a few laps later and was soon challenging for the race lead. Norris returned to the front after passing Schendel in turn four, with 28 laps remaining.
The Midwest Series will participate in a special combination race with the Southeast Series, Sept. 10 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ken., before wrapping up its 2005 season at LaCrosse (Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway Oct. 8.
Unofficial Results
Milwaukee 200
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, MIDWEST SERIES
Milwaukee Mile August 28, 2005
(Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver name, hometown, manufacturer, laps completed, winner's average speed, reason out-if any and money won)
1. (1) J.R. Norris, Mulga Ala., Ford, 200, 98.160 mph, $8,900
2. (2) Tim Schendel, Sparta Wis., Chevrolet, 200, $5,500
3. (6) Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton Ill., Chevrolet, 200, $5,000
4. (4) Josh Vadnais, White Bear Lake Minn., Chevrolet, 200, $4,500
5. (11) Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac, 200, $4,000
6. (9) Justin Diercks, Davenport Iowa, Chevrolet, 200, $4,300
7. (8) Nathan Haseleu, Arlington Wis., Ford, 199, $3,600
8. (10) Todd Hansen, Minneapolis Minn., Chevrolet, 198, $3,000
9. (17) Andrew Morrissey, Deforest Wis., Chevrolet, 198, $3,300
10. (21) Dexter Bean, Westby Wis., Chevrolet, 198, $3,950
11. (15) Dave Finley, Brighton Colo., Dodge, 197, $3,100
12. (13) Nick Joanides, Woodland Hills Calif., Chevrolet, 197, $3,000
13. (19) Josh Bauer, Random Lake Wis., Chevrolet, 196, $2,900
14. (18) Greg Fowler, Longmont Colo., Chevrolet, 195, $2,800
15. (22) Tony Bagstad, Cashton Wis., Chevrolet, 195, $2,100
16. (25) David Finney, Sycamore Ill., Chevrolet, 194, $2,500
17. (24) Ronnie Hawley, Winona Minn., Chevrolet, 192, $2,450
18. (5) Steve Carlson, West Salem Wis., Chevrolet, 189, $2,350
19. (23) Jeff Way, Burlington Wis., Chevrolet, 166, Handling, $2,300
20. (20) Russ Blakeley, Whitewater Wis., Ford, 118, Suspension, $2,250
21. (16) Ryan Carlson, Loves Park Ill., Ford, 109, Rear End, $1,700
22. (7) Erik Darnell, Beach Park Ill., Chevrolet, 95, Rear End, $2,150
23. (12) Eric Fransen, West Bend. Wis., Chevrolet, 84, Vibration, $1,600
24. (27) David Tomczak, Franklin Wis., Pontiac, 60, Engine, $1,550
25. (14) Brent Kirchner, LaCrosse Wis., Chevrolet, 41, Clutch, $2,000
26. (28) Mark Kraus, Stratford Wis., Chevrolet, 19, Engine, $1,950
27. (26) George Prentice, Jr, Milwaukee Wis., Chevrolet, 14, Accident, $1,400
28. (3) Dan Fredrickson, Lakeville Minn., Chevrolet, 1, Transmission, $1,350
Time of Race: 2 hrs., 2 mins, 15 secs
Average Speed: 98.160 mph
Margin of Victory: 1.872 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: J.R. Norris, 5 Victor Ford/ UPI Painting Ford
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Justin Diercks, 29 Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Dexter Bean *, 25 5 StarTelcom/Badger Environmental Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE: Richie Wauters, 5 Victor Ford/ UPI Painting Ford
Caution Flags: Laps 4-6; 16-21; 67-74; 130-135; 139-142. 5 for 27 laps.
Lap Leaders: Tim Schendel 1-14, J.R. Norris 15-69, Dave Finley 70-74, J.R. Norris 75-101, Tim Schendel 102, J.R. Norris 103-116, Tim Schendel 117-132, Eddie Hoffman 133-136, Tim Schendel 137-172, J.R. Norris 173-200.
Total Laps Led: J.R. Norris 124, Tim Schendel 67, Dave Finley 5, Eddie Hoffman 4. 9 changes involving 4 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points (unofficial):Justin Diercks 1154, Steve Carlson 1110, Tim Schendel 1039, Andrew Morrissey * 1035, Eddie Hoffman 975, Brent Kirchner 951, Dexter Bean * 939, Josh Bauer * 917, Greg Fowler 884, Russ Blakeley 882
Next Race: Sept. 10 at Kentucky Speedway (combination race with NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series)
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
