Shear Dominates Tisler Slavage Mid-Am
White Race
By Tom Wagner
(Marshfield, WI) July 19, 2008 – The fact that
Kyle Shear won the Mid-American Series Tisler Salvage White Race
Saturday night at Wisconsin International Raceway wasn't all
that surprising.
Afterall, the Series sophomore had entered the event third
in points, and had registered top five finishes in three of the
six races heading into the night, including a solid fourth during
the running of the "Red Race" at the historic venue
back in June.
But what did raise eyebrows was how he did it.
Shear proved to be the class of the field, leading 39 of the
40 laps without a serious challenge en route to his second career,
and first of the season, Mid-American feature win. He also became
the seventh different winner in the seven 2008 Series events.
The only other driver to share the spotlight at the point
was Jeremy Spoonmore, who paced the initial circuit. Shear wasted
little time dispensing with Spoonmore, slipping to the inside
on the second lap. From there he steadily built what turned
into an insurmountable cushion.
Spoonmore proved to be nearly as tough, breaking free from
the rest of the field while trying to keep Shear in his sites.
With the top two checking out, eyes focused on the battle
for third, where Kyle's brother, Troy Shear, Jr, held firm despite
heavy pressure from veterans Lyle Nowak, James Swan and Bill
Prietzel.
Chasing both Troy Shear and Nowak, Swan and Prietzel, the
two point leaders, swapped fifth and sixth back and forth, often
side by side by for nearly 20 laps.
Up front, Spoonmore appeared to have one last shot at the
leader as Shear encountered lapped traffic with the race heading
into the final 10 laps. He did manage to close somewhat, but
then got an even better break with six laps to go as Mikie Breiner
slipped from the highline in the second turn bringing out the
event's only caution.
Shear may have been a little nervous with the lead wiped out,
but probably didn't need to be. "I knew the restart was
going to go against me," he said. "But I took it slow
and got a good jump. Jeremy told me he didn't have anything
for me."
As the green flew, he steadily pulled away, breezing through
the final six laps unchecked.
Spoonmore stayed put in the second position with Nowak edging
Prietzel and Swan for third. Jake Finney, the winner of the
Red Race, was a factor late, moving up to finish sixth.
The run of the night may have come from the driver finishing
ninth, Kenny Smart. Forced to take a provisional, Smart started
the headliner in the 22nd spot on the grid.
The win solidified Shear as a bona fide title contender as
the Series heads into the second half of the season. But in
order to catch the two three-time champs ahead of him, there's
still some work to do.
"We've got to get the qualifying down a little better,"
he said. "We lose points qualifying."
The next race on the Mid-American schedule is the Hankscraft
Dells Duel Part II, July 26th, at the Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin
Dells. Prietzel took the checker at the Dells during the first
visit of the season there in May.
The Mid-Americans will return to Wisconsin International Raceway
for the Tisler Salvage Blue Race on August 16th.
For more information about the Mid-American Series including
results, current standings, the remaining 2008 schedule, and
driver info, visit www.midamericanracing.com.
SUMMARY
Mid-American Tisler Salvage White Race 40 Lap Feature:
(1-10) Kyle Shear, Roscoe, IL; Jeremy Spoonmore, Somonauk,
IL; Lyle Nowak, Wausau; Bill Prietzel, Richfield; James Swan,
Genoa City; Jake Finney, Sycamore, IL; Brian Back, Rudolph;
Bobby Gutknecht, Oak Creek; Kenny Smart, Eagle; Darren Wolke,
Belle Plaine, MN
(11-20) Rod Brewe, Menomonie; Tom McClintok, Onalaska;
Mark Pluer, Brookfield; Ross Zumbach, Racine; Andy Casavant,
Two Rivers; Travis Rodewald, Manitowoc; Kevin Damrow, Manitowoc;
Troy Shear, Jr, Roscoe, IL; Scott Null, Lake Mills; Ryan Gutknecht,
Oak Creek
(21-22) Mikie Breiner, Johnsburg, IL; Jim Thorson,
Sugar Grove, IL
Last Chance Qualifier: (1-10) Rodewald; Thorson;
Casavant; Null; Breiner; Ryan Gutknecht; Crystal Wood, Denmark;
Hank Tews, Batavia, IL; Tony Habeck, Black Creek; Mark Kissinger,
West Bend;
(11-14) Butch Mierendorf, Waterloo; Mark Brooner,
Warrens; David Verhagen, Green Bay; Mark VanRite, DePere
Consolation: Brooner; Kissinger; Mierendorf; Tews;
Habeck; Verhagen
Fast Qualifier: Prietzel
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