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By Paul Warner
Monday, September
20, 2004
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Longs, SC - The Charlie Campbell Memorial BFGoodrich
Tires 250 presented by Hess Racing Products will be the
first race in the Championship Series that will
determine the 2004 Hooters ProCup Series National
Champion. And if last season’s race at Jennerstown
Speedway is any indication of things to come, the first
race in the five-race shootout will undoubtedly put the
Pennsylvania fans on the edge of their seats on Sept.
25.
Last season, Shane Huffman, who won the Southern
Division regular-season title and Championship Series
opener at Winchester, tangled with Mardy Lindley while
racing for the lead on Lap 111. The contact sent Huffman
spinning and brought out the race's third caution.
"That was probably the only opportunity that I was going
to have to lead, and I got out there and led a few
laps," said Huffman. "I guess Mardy didn't like it too
much. But if I was in his position, I might not have
liked it either.
"We got together. I don't know if I got into him or if
he got into me," said Huffman. "I guess it was just one
of those racing deals. The bad part is that we had the
best two cars here and we screwed around and took both
of us out of it."
Lindley's version was similar, but not the same.
"We'd been running beside each other for about five laps
and he kept crowding us into the outside wall," said
Lindley. "He got into my left rear and turned me across
the front of his nose. It's bad because we barely had
100 laps on the board."
With the two best cars out of the race, Benny Gordon
slid through to take the first win of his career and
thrust himself into championship contention.
Gordon went on to finish second to Shane Huffman in the
final standings, but the DuBois, Pa., driver did pick up
Miller Lite Rookie of the Year honors.
"Getting my first win at Jennerstown was a big load off
my shoulders, and that probably meant the most to me
last year," said Gordon. "Not only did it give us some
momentum, but the win also put us in the thick of the
title chase."
With the unique five-shootout, every driver that
qualifies for the Championship Series stands a chance of
walking away with the National Championship and the
lion’s share of the $1,000,000 points fund, which makes
for some bent racecars—and tempers.
This season should be no exception.
Gordon and Clay Rogers, who won the Northern and
Southern Division titles, respectively, will enter the
Championship Series with the top seed and 190 points,
but there is a throng of capable drivers wanting to
thwart their championship hopes.
Shane Huffman, Bobby Gill, Johnny Rumley, Jeff Agnew and
Jay Fogleman are ready—and able—to win on any given
week.
In addition to the winner of the Championship Series
opener getting a leg up on the competition in the
championship battle, he can put himself in position to
win an extra $100,000 for sweeping the Championship
Series.
The Charlie Campbell Memorial BFGoodrich Tires 250
presented by Hess Racing Products is scheduled for a
7:00 p.m. start on Sept. 25. For more information
regarding the race, please call Jennerstown Speedway at
(814) 629-6677 or visit www.usarprocup.com.
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