USAR Jennerstown Outlook

Winchester Recap and Jennerstown Outlook
Wednesday, October 1, 2003

Myrtle Beach, SC - The USAR Hooters ProCup Championship Series got underway with the running of the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Naturally Fresh Foods 250 presented by Astral Industries at Winchester Speedway on September 20th. Some drivers started the Championship Series on a good note, while others were off key. There are just four races remaining in the 2003 Championship Series. The Charlie Campbell Memorial Miller Lite 250 is the next one on the schedule.

Below is a list of the top - 20 in points after the first of five Championship Series events, a Winchester recap and a Jennerstown outlook.

1. Shane Huffman
Championship Series point total - 355
Points earned at Winchester - 175
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 1st
Point position after Winchester - 1st

Winchester Recap
The Southern Division champion backed up his regular season output with a dominating performance at Winchester. Huffman led every lap and collected all the bonus points en route to his sixth win of the season. Nobody had anything for Huffman at Winchester.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 1st
Lap 25 - 1st
Lap 50 - 1st
Lap 75 - 1st
Lap 100 - 1st
Lap 125 - 1st
Lap 150 - 1st
Lap 175 - 1st
Lap 200 - 1st
Lap 225 - 1st
Finish - 1st

Jennerstown Outlook
In three races at Jennerstown, Huffman is averaging a 9.3 finish. He has one win at Jennerstown and it came in the 2001 Championship Series. If he wins the Charlie Campbell Memorial MillerLite 250 this weekend, the trophy engraver may get a head start on the Championship Trophy.

2. Jason Sarvis
Championship Series point total - 280
Points earned at Winchester - 140
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 2nd
Point position after Winchester - 2nd

Winchester Recap
Sarvis had a second - place car and finished third. The 2002 USAR Hooters ProCup champion kept his nose clean until the final turn where he collided with Derrick Kelley. The contact cost Sarvis second and a clean nose.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 15th
Lap 25 - 9th
Lap 50 - 8th
Lap 75 - 7th
Lap 100 - 3rd
Lap 125 - 3rd
Lap 150 - 3rd
Lap 175 - 3rd
Lap 200 - 3rd
Lap 225 - 2nd
Finish - 3rd

Jennerstown Outlook
Out of all the tracks in the Championship Series, Jennerstown may be the toughest on the defending USAR Hooters ProCup champion. Sarvis is averaging a 20th - place finish at Jennerstown. He did not start his run to the title until Myrtle Beach last season, but he may need to start it at Jennerstown to stay in touch with Huffman this season.

3. Jeff Agnew
Championship Series point total - 278
Points earned at Winchester - 98
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 1st
Point position after Winchester - 3rd

Winchester Recap
Agnew qualified third and ran second for the first 90 laps at Winchester. However, the final 160 laps took their toll on the Northern Division champion. After being swept into an accident, Agnew finished 17 laps behind Huffman in 22nd position. Good News: Agnew had a 40 - point cushion over second coming into Winchester. Bad News: It is gone now.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 3rd
Lap 25 - 2nd
Lap 50 - 2nd
Lap 75 - 2nd
Lap 100 - 10th
Lap 125 - 13th
Lap 150 - 10th
Lap 175 - 11th
Lap 200 - 11th
Lap 225 - 21st
Finish - 22nd

Jennerstown Outlook
Agnew will need to rebound at Jennerstown in a big way as the Championship Series moves South after the event. Fortunately, he knows his way around slightly - banked track. In eight starts, Agnew has two wins, four top - 5 and seven top - 10 finishes at the track. It's not a must - win race for Agnew, but its close. Agnew is averaging a 7.75 finish at Jennerstown.

4. Mardy Lindley
Championship Series point total - 270
Points earned at Winchester - 145
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 5th
Point position after Winchester - 4th

Winchester Recap
Lindley was the only driver to pressure Huffman at Winchester, albeit only for 10 laps. He appeared to be en route to a 3rd - place finish, but the Taylors, SC driver grabbed second on the last lap when Sarvis collided with Derrick Kelley.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 5th
Lap 25 - 5th
Lap 50 - 4th
Lap 75 - 4th
Lap 100 - 2nd
Lap 125 - 2nd
Lap 150 - 2nd
Lap 175 - 2nd
Lap 200 - 2nd
Lap 225 - 3rd
Finish - 2nd

Jennerstown Outlook
Lindley has two wins and six top - 5 finishes in seven races at Jennerstown. Lindley knows the track well from the years he spent in the Northern Division and will need to use that knowledge to slow Huffman's momentum. Lindley is averaging a 3.7 finish at Jennerstown.

5. Jay Fogleman
Championship Series point total - 260
Points earned at Winchester - 130
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 5th
Point position after Winchester - 5th

Winchester Recap
Fogleman was all smiles after Winchester. After starting 30th in the 41 - car field, the Durham driver finished 6th. It was his first top - 10 finish at the high - banked track. The surprising finish gives Fogleman renewed confidence heading into the last four races.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 30th
Lap 25 - 18th
Lap 50 - 15th
Lap 75 - 14th
Lap 100 - 12th
Lap 125 - 10th
Lap 150 - 8th
Lap 175 - 7th
Lap 200 - 7th
Lap 225 - 6th
Finish - 6th

Jennerstown Outlook
Fogleman finished 24th at Jennerstown earlier this season, but he does have two 2nd - place finishes there. Fogleman will need to post another career - best finish to move up in the standings. In seven starts at Jennerstown, Fogleman is averaging a 8.3 finish.

6. Brian Ross
Championship Series point total - 259
Points earned at Winchester - 119
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 2nd
Point position after Winchester - 6th

Winchester Recap
Many thought that Ross would be tough to beat at Winchester, but he never threatened. He spent most of his night hovering at the tail end of the top 10. On the bright side, he missed the big wreck and finished on the lead lap. But those aren't things to take solace in when you're Brian Ross.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 14th
Lap 25 - 12th
Lap 50 - 10th
Lap 75 - 10th
Lap 100 - 7th
Lap 125 - 7th
Lap 150 - 7th
Lap 175 - 8th
Lap 200 - 8th
Lap 225 - 8th
Finish - 8th

Jennerstown Outlook
Ross has two wins in 2003, and one came at Jennerstown. After his lackluster finish at Winchester, he'll be looking to make up some points, and Jennerstown may be just the place to do it. Ross has three top - 5 and four top - 10 finishes in five starts at Jennerstown. Ross is averaging a 6.2 finish at Jennerstown.

7. Steven Christian
Championship Series point total - 252
Points earned at Winchester - 117
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 3rd
Point position after Winchester - 7th

Winchester Recap
Like Ross, Christian hovered around the top - 10 all night at Winchester. It wasn't a great run, but it was a solid effort. He lost a lap early, never made it up and finished 10th. But after tearing his car apart at Hickory, the important things were that he finished and the car fit back in the hauler.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 19th
Lap 25 - 10th
Lap 50 - 9th
Lap 75 - 11th
Lap 100 - 11th
Lap 125 - 12th
Lap 150 - 9th
Lap 175 - 10th
Lap 200 - 10th
Lap 225 - 10th
Finish - 10th

Jennerstown Outlook
Like most of the Southern Division drivers, Christian doesn't have a lot of seat time at Jennerstown. He has one top - 5 and three top - 10 finishes in three starts at the track. If he can come out of Jennerstown with a another top five, it will give him some momentum heading back South for the final three events. He'll need to win to gain some attention from the leaders, however. Christian is averaging a 7th - place finish at Jennerstown.

8. Kertus Davis
Championship Series point total - 250
Points earned at Winchester - 115
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 3rd
Point position after Winchester - 8th

Winchester Recap
If USAR issued a mulligan, Davis would have used his at Winchester. After posting the fourth - quickest lap in the practice session, Davis looped his machine during the first lap of qualifying and nearly did it again on his second lap. He started 25th, fought an ill - handling car all night and finished the race in 11th place.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 25th
Lap 25 - 17th
Lap 50 - 14th
Lap 75 - 15th
Lap 100 - 15th
Lap 125 - 14th
Lap 150 - 12th
Lap 175 - 12th
Lap 200 - 12th
Lap 225 - 11th
Finish - 11th

Jennerstown Outlook
Davis' disappointing run at Winchester killed his late - season momentum. Davis will need to regroup quickly to regain his position among the contenders. He finished fourth at Jennerstown earlier this season and will need a repeat performance or better this time around. In three starts at Jennerstown, Davis is averaging a 15.7 finish.

9. Jason McLellan
Championship Series point total - 247
Points earned at Winchester - 135
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 8th
Point position after Winchester - 9th

Winchester Recap
McLellan was the first driver from the Northern Division to take the checkered flag. The Canadian driver was also the first driver to cross the finish line in a Chevrolet. It was a good night for the Canuck, eh.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 21st
Lap 25 - 14th
Lap 50 - 11th
Lap 75 - 9th
Lap 100 - 6th
Lap 125 - 6th
Lap 150 - 6th
Lap 175 - 6th
Lap 200 - 6th
Lap 225 - 4th
Finish - 4th

Jennerstown Outlook
McLellan doesn't have a great track record at Jennerstown in the past, averaging just a 19th - place finish in eight starts. Don't look for that to deter McLellan, however, as he's turned into a threat to win at any track on any weekend.

10. Mart Nesbitt
Championship Series point total - 241
Points earned at Winchester - 121
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 6th
Point position after Winchester - 10th

Winchester Recap
Nesbitt has become a fixture in the top - 10 of late and the same held true at Winchester. After starting 28th, Nesbitt hung around the top 10 all night and finished eighth. It wasn't flashy, but the solid run at Winchester puts Nesbitt in good position to surpass his 14th - place finish in 2002 Championship Series.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 28th
Lap 25 - 21st
Lap 50 - 17th
Lap 75 - 16th
Lap 100 - 13th
Lap 125 - 9th
Lap 150 - 11th
Lap 175 - 9th
Lap 200 - 9th
Lap 225 - 9th
Finish - 8th

Jennerstown Outlook
Nesbitt only has three starts at Jennerstown in his 107 races in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series. His best finish at Jennerstown is a 5th on May 21, 2001. If he finishes in the top-5 this weekend he�ll move up in the points, but it may do little to close the gap on Huffman. In his three starts at Jennerstown, Nesbitt is averaging a 9th-place finish.

11. Eric Corbett
Championship Series point total - 238
Points earned at Winchester - 113
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 5th
Point position after Winchester - 11th

Winchester Recap
After starting in 8th, Corbett lost a lap early in the race and fell to 28th. He spent most of the night trying to find the handle on his car. Corbett did find enough speed late in the race to move into the top - 15, but his 12th - place finish wasn't exactly what he was looking for at Winchester.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 8th
Lap 25 - 28th
Lap 50 - 18th
Lap 75 - 17th
Lap 100 - 18th
Lap 125 - 17th
Lap 150 - 13th
Lap 175 - 13th
Lap 200 - 13th
Lap 225 - 12th
Finish - 12th

Jennerstown Outlook
Corbett has been tough at Jennerstown in the past, notching four top - 5 finishes in five races at the track. His best finish at Jennerstown came earlier this year when he finished second to Brian Ross. Corbett will need the same effort this weekend to get back in the title hunt. Corbett is averaging a 5.5 finish at Jennerstown.

12. Mike Laughlin
Championship Series point total - 227
Points earned at Winchester - 123
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 10th
Point position after Winchester - 12th

Winchester Recap
Laughlin had one of his strongest runs of the season at Winchester. He qualified 10th and stayed in there all night long. He ran as high as fourth and finished seventh. It was his best run since his 6th - place finish at Fairgrounds Speedway in July.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 10th
Lap 25 - 6th
Lap 50 - 6th
Lap 75 - 8th
Lap 100 - 4th
Lap 125 - 4th
Lap 150 - 4th
Lap 175 - 4th
Lap 200 - 4th
Lap 225 - 7th
Finish - 7th

Jennerstown Outlook
Laughlin doesn't have a top - 10 finish at Jennerstown. His best finish is an 11th - place finish in 2001 and that may not bode well for his chances this weekend. But if Laughlin can carry over the momentum from Winchester, he could make things interesting. Laughlin is averaging a 14.5 finish at Jennerstown.

13. Michael Ritch
Championship Series point total - 223
Points earned at Winchester - 93
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 4th
Point position after Winchester - 13th

Winchester Recap
Ritch celebrated the birth of his child just before leaving for Winchester, but he would have little to celebrate the rest of the weekend. Ritch was caught in the big crash at lap 13 and limped home in 27th spot.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 16th
Lap 25 - 39th
Lap 50 - 36th
Lap 75 - 36th
Lap 100 - 35th
Lap 125 - 34th
Lap 150 - 32nd
Lap 175 - 30th
Lap 200 - 30th
Lap 225 - 29th
Finish - 27th

Jennerstown Outlook
Ritch finished 10th in his only start at Jennerstown. He came into the Championship Series fueled by a 3rd - place finish in the Southern Division season finale and will be looking to get back on the right track at Jennerstown. He will need some luck and a win to get there.

14. Benny Gordon
Championship Series point total - 222
Points earned at Winchester - 130
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 14th
Point position after Winchester - 14th

Winchester Recap
Gordon was strong all night at Winchester. He missed the big wreck and picked up his first top - 5 finish since the second race at USA International. By doing so, Gordon took over the Rookie of the Year standings.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 17th
Lap 25 - 8th
Lap 50 - 7th
Lap 75 - 6th
Lap 100 - 5th
Lap 125 - 5th
Lap 150 - 5th
Lap 175 - 5th
Lap 200 - 5th
Lap 225 - 5th
Finish - 5th

Jennerstown Outlook
Bad News: Gordon has never raced at Jennerstown in the ProCup Series. Good News: He'd never been to Winchester before his top - 5 finish.

15. Joe Gaita
Championship Series point total - 217
Points earned at Winchester - 101
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 8th
Point position after Winchester - 15th

Winchester Recap
Gaita's late - season struggles continued at Winchester. He started 26th and finished 16th. It was Gaita's third finish outside the top - 15 in as many races, and it may have killed his championship hopes.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 26th
Lap 25 - 15th
Lap 50 - 16th
Lap 75 - 27th
Lap 100 - 21st
Lap 125 - 25th
Lap 150 - 22nd
Lap 175 - 21st
Lap 200 - 19th
Lap 225 - 17th
Finish - 16th

Jennerstown Outlook
Gaita will be looking to break out of his slump, but the Yorktown, VA driver doesn't have much in his notebook to draw from. Gaita only has one race at Jennerstown, but at least it was a good one. Gaita finished seventh in last year's Championship Series event.

16. Danny O'Quinn
Championship Series point total - 212
Points earned at Winchester - 96
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 7th
Point position after Winchester - 16th

Winchester Recap
O'Quinn was another driver caught in the 10 - car melee. After qualifying seventh, O'Quinn lost most of his sheet metal in the crash and limped around the apron for the rest of the evening en route to a 24th - place finish.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 7th
Lap 25 - 32nd
Lap 50 - 31st
Lap 75 - 30th
Lap 100 - 29th
Lap 125 - 27th
Lap 150 - 25th
Lap 175 - 25th
Lap 200 - 25th
Lap 225 - 23rd
Finish - 24th

Jennerstown Outlook
It will be O'Quinn's first trip to Jennerstown, but he's faced that almost every week during his rookie season. O'Quinn will need a top - 10 finish to get back in ROTY contention.

17. Danny Sammons
Championship Series point total - 211
Points earned at Winchester - 107
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 10th
Point position after Winchester - 17th

Winchester Recap
Sammons never got going at Winchester. He had the 22nd - quickest lap in practice, qualified 24th and finish 15th. It wasn't the kind of race many expected from Sammons.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 24th
Lap 25 - 16th
Lap 50 - 21st
Lap 75 - 20th
Lap 100 - 20th
Lap 125 - 19th
Lap 150 - 17th
Lap 175 - 17th
Lap 200 - 16th
Lap 225 - 15th
Finish - 15th

Jennerstown Outlook
Sammons has a wealth of experience at Jennerstown, competing in all eight events at the track. But he'll need to use that knowledge better this time around. Sammons is averaging a 21.25 finish at Jennerstown and has just one top - 10 finish in eight starts.

18. Hal Goodson
Championship Series point total - 207
Points earned at Winchester - 91
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 7th
Point position after Winchester - 18th

Winchester Recap
Goodson had a good start at Winchester, picking up his second pole of the season. However, things got progressively worse from there. The Darlington driver lost the lead in the first turn and second place moments later. He ran third for 90 laps before crashing into Agnew. Goodson's night finally ended with a mechanical failure on lap 194. It was the sixth time Goodson recorded a DNF in 2003.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 1st
Lap 25 - 3rd
Lap 50 - 3rd
Lap 75 - 3rd
Lap 100 - 9th
Lap 125 - 8th
Lap 150 - 16th
Lap 175 - 15th
Lap 200 - 20th
Lap 225 - 28th
Finish - 29th

Jennerstown Outlook
After spending much of his career in the Southern Division, Goodson moved to the Northern Division in 2003. He had a chance to visit Jennerstown earlier this year and finished sixth. Goodson has an average finish of 7.29 at Jennerstown.

19. Joel Kauffman
Championship Series point total - 207
Points earned at Winchester - 87
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 6th
Point position after Winchester - 19th

Winchester Recap
Winchester wasn't the homecoming Kauffman was looking for. He started 11th on the grid and finished in 33rd position, but it wasn't due to a poor performance on his part. Kauffman was involved in the big one as well. He lost his ROTY point lead and most of his front end due to the accident.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 11th
Lap 25 - 40th
Lap 50 - 40th
Lap 75 - 40th
Lap 100 - 38th
Lap 125 - 37th
Lap 150 - 37th
Lap 175 - 37th
Lap 200 - 36th
Lap 225 - 34th
Finish - 33rd

Jennerstown Outlook
Kauffman finished eighth in his only start a Jennerstown. He will be looking to avenge his poor finish at Winchester and get back in the ROTY race. If he can finish in the top - 5, he'll do both.

20. Don Satterfield
Championship Series point total - 201
Points earned at Winchester - 103
Point position before Winchester - Tied for 12th
Point position after Winchester - 20th

Winchester Recap
Satterfield didn't make any headlines or cause any at Winchester. He kept his nose clean and came home with a 17th - place finish. It may not be much brag about, but it was more than 24 other drivers could say.

Winchester Breakdown in 25-lap increments
Start - 34th
Lap 25 - 30th
Lap 50 - 28th
Lap 75 - 26th
Lap 100 - 25th
Lap 125 - 22nd
Lap 150 - 21st
Lap 175 - 20th
Lap 200 - 18th
Lap 225 - 18th
Finish - 17th

Jennerstown Outlook
Satterfield finished 27th in last season's Championship Series event at Jennerstown. He may not break into the top - 10 at Jennerstown. Nevertheless, if it turns into a battle of attrition like Winchester, Satterfield could move up in the point standings again.