DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- A shift in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series has opened up new possibilities for drivers at Holland (N.Y.) Speedway and Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pa. The two tracks are now in the same Division, meaning drivers can race at both facilities to collect points towards the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division III and national title.
Under a new points format that was established in 2005, participating tracks are grouped into one of four equal Divisions – I, II, III or IV. Competitors receive NASCAR points in each event and can earn points at any track in their Division. The driver with the most NASCAR points at each track is ranked and their best 16 points finishes determine their total. Additional races at neighboring tracks can help their chances, as drivers can “drop” their poorest finishes and only count the best 16 results.
Holland and Lake Erie use the same rules and tires for their Late Model classes, but were in different Divisions last season. By bringing them both into Division III, drivers can race at both tracks – Lake Erie on Fridays or Holland on Saturdays – and potentially improve their chances in the Division III championship race.
Mark Bliss, the 2005 Holland Speedway Late Model champion from Arcade, N.Y., is one of the top drivers expected to compete at both facilities. Bliss finished 14th in the NDWS Division II standings last season.
“We’ve got high expectations,” said Bliss. “We’re going for the Division championship.”
Bliss will race the same car that he used to win the 2005 Holland championship, along with a second car he calls a “twin” to his primary car. Although his schedule might exceed 30 races this year, Bliss is very optimistic.
“It’s a lot of work, but my team is looking forward to it,” said Bliss. “If you’re going to go for [a championship], you’re going to go 100 percent. You can’t go 90 percent. That’s the way we’re looking at it. If there’s anywhere else that’s having a big show and we can travel to it, we’re going to go there to.”
Bliss’ younger brother, Vern, is also a former Holland champion and won a NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional championship in 2001.
Bliss, 44, says he is prepared for the long haul ahead and is staying relaxed as the season begins.
“You’ve just got to run one day at a time,” said Bliss. “If you have a bad night, you have the rest of the season to make it up. You can’t get too discouraged.”
Other tracks in Division III include Colorado National Speedway in Erie, Colo., Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway, Dubuque (Iowa) Fairgrounds Speedway, Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway, I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway, Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio, LaCrosse (Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway, Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho, Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va., Peoria (Ill.) Speedway, Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway and The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Kevin Nuttleman, of Bangor, Wis., won the 2005 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division III championship while competing at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway.
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series points are tallied at each track, each week, until the season concludes Oct. 1. Each of the four Division champions can win a $25,000 year-end prize and become eligible for the national championship. The Division champion with the highest points total overall, based on their best 16 finishes, wins the national championship and a $50,000 bonus. Peyton Sellers, of Danville, Va., won the 2005 national title while competing at South Boston (Va.) Speedway, in Division I. Sellers, 22, was the youngest driver to win the national championship in series history.
