DAYTONA BEACH, Forida -- The race for the Division IV championship in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series grew closer this week as Jeff Malave moved within 22 points of Donny Reuvers.
Reuvers continues to hold down the top two spots in this week’s Division IV rankings. The Dundas, Minn., driver is ranked twice in the standings, by virtue of leading the NASCAR points at both facilities where he competes – Raceway Park in Shakopee, Minn., and Elko (Minn.) Speedway. Reuvers, who captured the Division IV championship and both track titles last year, has topped the division standings for eight consecutive weeks this season. He leads with 908 points.
Malave, of Manchester, Conn., is just 22 markers back with 886 points. Malave finished seventh over the weekend at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway and now has one win, nine top-five and 13 top-10 finishes so far in 2006.
Meanwhile, a victory by Nashville’s Willie Allen at Music City Motorplex over the weekend vaulted him to fourth in the NDWS Division IV standings with 698 points. Rounding out the top five with 692 points is Bill Leighton Jr., of Omaha, Neb. He also visited victory lane on Saturday, winning in the Crate Latemodel class at I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park.
Reuvers, Malave 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 IV 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 IV Leaders as of July 18 (best 16 points finishes)
Driver, Hometown, Home track, NDWS points
1. Donny Reuvers, Dundas, Minn., Raceway Park, 908 points
2. Donny Reuvers, Dundas, Minn., Elko Speedway, 908
3. Jeff Malave, Manchester, Conn., Thompson International Speedway, 886
4. Willie Allen, Nashville, Music City Motorplex, 698
5. Bill Leighton Jr., Omaha, Neb., I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park, 692
6. Ron Barker, Dubuque, Iowa, Farley Speedway, 662
7. Guy Caron, Lempster, N.H., Twin State Speedway, 650
8. Dennis Gada, Salem, Conn., Waterford Speedbowl, 578
9. Van Knill, Tucson, Ariz., Irwindale Speedway, 566
10. Todd Patnode, West Swanzey, N.H., Monadnock Speedway, 476
11. Eric Berndt, Rocky Hill, Conn., Stafford Motor Speedway, 466
12. Ron Bolduc, Plaistow, N.H., Star Speedway, 376
13. Mark Poole, Eighty Four, Pa., Jennerstown Speedway, 370
14. Richard Mitchell, Bruceton Mills, W V, Motordrome Speedway, 302
15. Ron Norman, Tucson, Ariz., Tucson Raceway Park, 196
New to the Top 15:
Willie Allen, Nashville, Tenn.
Dropped out of the Top 15:
Mark Day, Clarksville, Tenn.
