DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- For the last several weeks, NASCAR Late Model driver Dick Dunlevy Jr. has been watching Donnie Hill creep up behind him in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division III standings. Five weeks ago, Hill was ranked third in the NDWS Division III standings, 182 points out of the lead that Dunlevy held. After picking up his fourth win of the season last Saturday at Columbus, Hill is now ranked second, just 82 points behind.
Both drivers compete full-time at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway and Dunlevy also includes nearby Kil-Kare Speedway, in Xenia, Ohio, on his racing schedule. Dunlevy’s extra events at Kil-Kare give him a slight edge on the competition – but under NASCAR’s points format, only their best 16 finishes will ultimately be counted towards the NDWS Division III title. This means slowly, but surely, Hill and the rest of Dunlevy’s rivals can make up the difference in the coming weeks.
Hill did just that last Saturday, winning the race at Columbus while Dunlevy finished fifth.
A few spots behind the points leaders, the biggest mover on this week’s leaderboard was Rick Sexton Jr., of Mattawan, Mich. Sexton, who competes in the Super Late Model class at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway, finished sixth last Saturday and advances two positions, to fifth, in this week’s NDWS Division III standings.
Dunlevy, Hill, Sexton and the rest of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series championship contenders will collect NASCAR points in each race until the season concludes Oct. 1. The 2006 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division III champion can win up to $25,000 in post-season awards and become eligible for the $50,000 national championship bonus.
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series
Division III Leaders as of July 18 (best 16 points finishes)
Driver, Hometown, Home track, NDWS points
1. Dick Dunlevy Jr., New Carlisle, Ohio, Kil-Kare Speedway, 950 points
2. Donnie Hill, Columbus, Ohio, Columbus Motor Speedway, 868
3. Justin Johnson, Las Vegas, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 768
4. Frank Deiny Jr., Mechanicsville, Va., Old Dominion Speedway, 754
5. Rick Sexton Jr., Mattawan, Mich., Kalamazoo Speedway, 698
6. Andy Mercer, Gastonia, N.C., Hickory Motor Speedway, 692
7. Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, Wis., LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway, 690
8. Scotty Backman, Parker, Colo., Colorado National Speedway, 680
9. Mark Bliss, Arcade, N.Y., Lake Erie Speedway, 622
10. Steve Jones, Meridian, Idaho, Magic Valley Speedway, 534
11. Steve Lance Jr., Cuba, Ill., Peoria Speedway, 518
12. Dan Shelliam, Hazel Green, Wis., Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway, 470
13. Chuck Steuer, Bohemia, N.Y., Riverhead Raceway, 442
14. Brock Behnke, Poplar Grove, Ill., Rockford Speedway, 408
15. Bill Matuszak, Freedom, N.Y., Holland International Speedway, 302
New to the top 15:
Chuck Steuer, Bohemia, N.Y.
Dropped out of the top 15:
Chris Young, Calverton, N.Y.
