By Paul Schaefer, NASCAR
May 9, 2013 – 12:08pm

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. The program brings NASCAR-sanctioned racing to the hometown level at more than 50 tracks. By the end of May, all participating tracks in the U.S. and Canada are scheduled to be open for the series’ 32nd season.

Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering is the series’ title sponsor. Whelen Engineering is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting. NASCAR tracks and pace cars across North America are among the many showcases for Whelen products.

“The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series has always been the foundation for all of NASCAR,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring series. “NASCAR’s heritage was built on weekly short tracks. These drivers, teams and tracks are a vital part of NASCAR’s present and future.”

How It Works:

Each track operator designates their top weekly division as that track’s NASCAR Division I. The series’ national champion is the competitor who accumulates the highest total of Division I points over the course of the season. Division I drivers are able to compete for points at any NASCAR-sanctioned weekly track in North America. Each NASCAR Whelen All-American Series participant must have a current, valid NASCAR license to receive NASCAR points and be eligible for awards.

Pavement Late Model driver Lee Pulliam, 24, of Semora, N.C., won the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship. His racing record was 22 wins, 30 top-fives and 32 top-10s in 36 starts.

A NASCAR Division I driver’s best 18 results through the Sept. 15 closing date count toward their state and national point totals and the champions are decided on overall point totals. Once a driver reaches 18 starts, their point total increases incrementally as they replace some poorer runs with better results.

Under the point structure for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, a race winner receives two points for every car in the event up to 20 cars. Second place receives two fewer points and so on through the field. Race winners receive an additional five points. For example, if 20 cars are in the field, the winner receives 45 points, second place 38 and third 36. If there are 15 cars, the winner receives 35 points, second 28 and third, 26.

In addition to awards from NASCAR, Whelen and tracks, Division I year-end awards also include the Lunati Crew Chief Award for the national champion driver’s crew chief and the Lincoln Welders national champion car owner award. The UNOH Ultimate Mechanic Challenge recognizes a national winner from track award winners. Other special awards include state and national Rookie Of The Year Awards presented by Jostens; the Wendell Scott Trail Blazer Award; and the Mobil 1 Racing Oil Crew Chief Award for the Division I track champion crew chief at each track.

Division I track and state or provincial championships are also awarded.

Track champions are determined by local track points. A competitor does not have to win a track championship in order to win a state, province or national championship.

State and province champions are those who accumulate the most NASCAR points at any NASCAR-sanctioned track within a state or province. Points do not transfer between states or provinces, but a driver may compete for more than one championship.

Division I track, state and provincial champions, the top-three finishers in the national standings, and special award winners earn invitations to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards event.

NASCAR Finalist Division Program:

The NASCAR Finalist Division program recognizes drivers who compete in support divisions at NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks. With “Division I” being the top class, the NASCAR Finalist Division line-up at each track highlights drivers competing in their second, third, fourth and fifth tier divisions. A NASCAR-licensed driver’s best 14 finishes count toward their Finalist Division point total for the year. Points are kept separately for dirt and asphalt tracks. Track operators designate their support classes as NASCAR Divisions II-V.

The top three drivers in the four asphalt and four dirt track NASCAR Finalist Divisions also earn invitations to the series’ awards event where they will be recognized.

Per section 12-4K of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rule book, all drivers must display the series’ and contingency decals on their race cars to be eligible for state and province awards. The exclusive NASCAR Member website is www.nascarmembers.com.

NASCAR will begin the release of weekly NASCAR Division I Top 500 national standings on May 14, and the NASCAR Finalist Division standings on May 16. Those standings will be updated each Tuesday and Thursday respectively.

Kalamazoo Speedway is fully committed to promoting its drivers and teams, as well as the sponsors that make it possible for the drivers to compete week in and week out.  For the 2013 season Kalamazoo Speedway has added another way for teams to be able to promote themselves, as well as their sponsors, while providing their fans with another way to follow them also.  On the right side of the Kalamazoo Speedway website is now a link that teams can click and send a press release directly to the Kalamazoo Speedway staff.  The staff will then review the press release and might post it on the Kalamazoo Speedway website as well as Kalamazoo Speedway’s social media pages.  Drivers and teams should feel free to submit as many press releases as they wish.  Press releases could include, but are not limited to: event previews, event reviews, new sponsor additions, sponsor appearances, etc.  Please keep the releases professional.

We are very excited about this new opportunity for drivers and teams in 2013 and we hope that you will take advantage of it.  For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway and the season opening Intimidator 100 visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

Emotions are very much a part of short track racing as are heated tempers in the pits after on track incidents take place.  However, with this being said, Kalamazoo Speedway is announcing two new policies that will cater to the safety & wellbeing of every person in our very tight pit area.  We are pleading with our fans to come into the pit areas during or especially after the races…….we can no longer subject our fans to a bunch of foul language or fighting after our racing concludes.

Speeding in the Pits

Any car that is deemed by speedway officials as going too fast in the pit area will be handled with as such:

• If the speeding violation is deemed minimal, a onetime warning will be given to the driver.
• If the speeds appear to be at an unsafe speed deemed by speedway officials, that driver will be notified immediately that for the remainder of that day’s events as well as the next three events where that driver is participating at Kalamazoo Speedway, that driver will shut off their car and stop in the make ready chute before their car reaches two orange cones (that will be placed in a safe location for the said car to stop at) and their car will then be pushed by hand back to the pits by their crew. 

Leaving Your Pit Spot During an Altercation In the Pit Area of any Kind 

At any time while on Kalamazoo Speedway property, any person in a restricted pit area will be expected to follow the rules & behave in an orderly & safe fashion.   During any racing altercation on the track, the driver, their crew, the car owner, the spouse or any other person in the pits is expected to follow the following rules:

• When an altercation occurs on the track all people associated with any car in the pits will 100% stay in your own pit area.  No member of that team is allowed to go and talk to another driver or member of that driver’s team until 5 minutes after the completion of the event.
• If the other team is close to your pit area, you will be expected to act in a professional manor; you will keep your mouth shut & not be yelling & screaming at the other team or driver.
• No team member will leave their pit area to go and confront another person in the pits at any time, until the 5 minute cool down period has taken place.  This means No Drivers will get out of their car & march directly over to another driver to have a heated talk….None whatsoever!!!
• After the 5 minute cool down period has elapsed, the driver by themselves can then find a uniformed pit steward and together can go and talk with another driver.  No team members will be going along with the driver……this will be the two drivers talking it over by themselves.
• A warning will be given the first time for a minor infraction; however failure to follow these rules may result in a loss of money and or points for that event or a suspension from the track for a decided period of time.  If the first time infraction deems not to be minor, the first time infraction will go directly to loss of money & points and suspensions!!

USA Earthworks is a 100% family owned and operated commercial/residential excavating company based out of Martin, Michigan. Specializing in large scale commercial snow removal services during the winter, and focusing on finding new and innovative ways of using recycled materials in day to day operations , such as asphalt millings.

They specialize in everything from simple delivery to your local home owner, to installing driveways, parking lots, and roads utilizing the material. Additional services include installing septic systems, digging basements, along with creating buildings such as your local grocery to medical offices with almost 20 years experience.

Kalamazoo Speedway is proud to announce sponsorship from Phantom Racing Gear for the 27^th Annual Super Shoe Nationals!  Phantom Racing Gear will be providing the following awards to drivers during the event:

-Super Shoe Nationals Winner: $500 gift certificate towards “Full Tilt Shirt Package”

-Super Shoe Nationals Fast Qualifier: $300 gift certificate towards “Full Tilt Shirt Package”

-Mini Stock Nationals Winner: $100 gift certificate towards “Full Tilt Shirt Package”

-FWD Mini Shoe Nationals Winner: $100 gift certificate towards “Full Tilt Shirt Package”

Rob and Jereann Crowley from Phantom Racing Gear are very excited about meeting all of the drivers over Super Shoe weekend.  You can check out Phantom Racing Gear’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/prg2012 to see all of their latest designs.

For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

Be sure to become a fan of Kalamazoo Speedway for all of the latest news and contests at: www.facebook.com/KalamazooSpeedway.

You can also follow Kalamazoo Speedway on our official Twitter page: www.twitter.com/kazoospeedway.

Super Shoe Saturday saw twelve practice sessions, three qualifying sessions and twenty seven races which set the stage for Sunday’s main event.  Mike Brooks held on to quick time while nineteen other drivers locked into the ‘A’ Feature through qualifying while four more transferred through the Last Chance.  The starting lineup for the 27^th Annual Super Shoe Nationals looks like this:

1. 71-Jake Hopwood

2. 21-Tim Greene

3. 23-Jacib Maynard

4. 57-Corey Woods

5. 131–Nick Pressler

6. 21-Dave Simpson

7. 16-Brandon Zachary

8. 4-Jerry Drake

9. 97-Matt Frazier

10. 32-Cory Pressler

11. 1-Kelli Jo Hofacker

12. 15-Chuck Greer

13. 09-Marc Casey

14. 9-Luke Krick

15. 16-Billy Shannon

16. 6-Mike Shewchuk

17. 14-Mark Shook

18. 27-Corey Ryman

19. 29-Roger Northrup

20. 84-Mike Brooks

21. 14-Brandon Maynard

22. 88-Andrew DeVreese

23. 45-Robby Henderson

24. 2-Adam VanAvery

Saturday night’s race winners in the Super Shoe division were:

Heat #1-Tim Vatali

Heat #2-John Culp

Heat #3-Ryan Beadle

Heat #4-Jerry Pierman

Heat #5-Mitch DeWitt

Heat #6-Wade Berger

Heat #7-Bobby Stremme

Heat #8-Rodney Smith

Heat #9-AJ Foote

Heat #10-Zach Henderson

Heat #11-Nick Pressler

Heat #12-Matt Frazier

‘D’ Last Chance-John Culp

‘C’ Last Chance-Steve Emmans

‘B’ Last Chance-Bobby Stremme

‘A’ Last Chance-Brandon Maynard

Dash for Cash – Matt Frazier

Donnie Brest was the quickest of 36 Mini Stocks in qualifying and will start dead last in the eighteen car feature tomorrow.  Mini Stock winners from Saturday included:

Heat #1-Dennis Zimmerman

Heat #2-Dustin Kline

Heat #3-Dave Raley

‘B’ Feature-Dennis Zimmerman

Fifty one FWD Mini Shoe cars took qualifying laps with Jerry Jansen emerging as the fastest.  He will start 26^th in his feature Sunday.  Other FWD Mini Shoe winner from Saturday included:

Heat #1-Andy Bozell Jr.

Heat #2-Ricky Beebe

Heat #3-Jami Larner

Heat #4-Dion Vrooman

Heat #5-TC Burgess

‘B’ Feature-Troy Andrews

Action kicks off tomorrow at 12:30 with the ‘A’ Feature for the FWD Mini Shoe followed by the ‘A’ Feature for the Mini Stock Nationals.  Then it will be on to the Super Shoe features starting with the D and culminating with the running of the 27^th Annual Super Shoe Nationals ‘A’ Feature.

For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

Be sure to become a fan of Kalamazoo Speedway for all of the latest news and contests at: www.facebook.com/KalamazooSpeedway.

You can also follow Kalamazoo Speedway on our official Twitter page: www.twitter.com/kazoospeedway.

Mike “Bubba” Brooks was the quickest qualifier on the opening day of Super Shoe Nationals XXVII with a lap of 12.565 seconds.  Roger Northrup was second fastest ahead of Corey Ryman, Mark Shook and Mike Shewchuk.  Billy Shannon led the second half of the top ten over Luke Krick, Marc Casey, Kelli Jo Hofacker and Cory Pressler.

Qualifying for the Mini Stock Nationals saw Donnie Brest set quick time over Chaz Hook, Mike McKee, Sie Sharp and Matt Morton.  Mike Freese was sixth fastest ahead of Marcus Vitali, Cody Zimmerman, Curtis Towne and Chad Lindsey.

Qualifying for the FWD Mini Shoe Nationals saw Jerry Jansen run a lap of 15.933 seconds to set quick time over Jack Cook, Todd Metz Sr., Travis Loop and Ryan Vist.  Rounding out the top ten was Barry Jenkins, Allie Hufford, TC Burgess, Nick Ross and Andrew Losey.

Super Shoe Nationals XXVI continues tomorrow with Late Arrival Qualifying, Heat Races, Last Chance Races and the fan favorite Dash for Cash.  Then on Sunday all ‘A’ Feature events will take place culminating with the 75 lap Super Shoe ‘A’ Feature.

For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

Be sure to become a fan of Kalamazoo Speedway for all of the latest news and contests at: www.facebook.com/KalamazooSpeedway.

You can also follow Kalamazoo Speedway on our official Twitter page: www.twitter.com/kazoospeedway.

Teams participating in Super Shoe Nationals XXVII are highly encouraged to print out a copy of the Super Shoe XXVII Driver Packets to keep up on everything going on over Super Shoe Nationals weekend.  These packets include all the procedures for the weekend including break-out rules, practice groups, driver and crew conduct policies, etc.  The packets also contain the complete schedule of events for all three days.

For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

Be sure to become a fan of Kalamazoo Speedway for all of the latest news and contests at: www.facebook.com/KalamazooSpeedway.

You can also follow Kalamazoo Speedway on our official Twitter page: www.twitter.com/kazoospeedway.

Details have been announced for the 27th Annual Super Shoe Nationals at Kalamazoo Speedway.  The event will take place September 27th, 28th and 29th with a rain date for the next weekend (October 5th and 6th).  The event will once again be split into three divisions: Super Shoe, Mini Stocks and FWD’s.  Complete details for all three divisions can be found below:

2013 Super Shoe Information Sheet

2013 Mini Stock Nationals Information Sheet

2013 FWD Mini Shoe Information Sheet

For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

Be sure to become a fan of Kalamazoo Speedway for all of the latest news and contests at: www.facebook.com/KalamazooSpeedway.

You can also follow Kalamazoo Speedway on our official Twitter page: www.twitter.com/kazoospeedway.

• Due to the growing popularity of this event as well as the limited amount of space, there will be no saving excessively large camping spots for extra room or an area to park your car haulers.  If you are roping off an area for 6 camper units, you must pay for all 6 campers units at the time you are saving these 6 spots.  Each camping spot is going to be figured at approximately 20’ wide x 50’ deep.   We will not allow a 100’ x 100’ area to be roped off for 3 or 4 campers……we no longer have the room to do this.  We have an area across the street that many of the haulers will be parked at; there is simply not enough room to save huge area’s for just 3 or 4 camper units as well as 4 pickups & 4 enclosed trailers.  Anyone claiming to sleep in their car trailer; this will then be treated as a camper unit & be assessed the $50 clean up fee (includes two grandstand tickets to Saturday’s races).
• Super Shoe XXVII will be a fantastic weekend but there are rules that must be followed to keep this event alive & well!!  The Kalamazoo County Mounted Division, the Kalamazoo County Sherriff’s Department, as well as the Alamo Fire Department (to keep a check on camp fires, fireworks & fire lanes throughout the camping area) will be patrolling the campground the entire weekend.
• All Golf Cart/ATV rules will strictly be enforced; no drivers under the age of 14 will be allowed-no driving over 10mph-all cars will be parked at midnight on every night.  If you are caught going against these rules, your cart/ATV will be impounded for the weekend or you will be ask to leave the property for the remainder of the weekend.
• The Kalamazoo Speedway Staff as well as the Kalamazoo County Sherriff’s Department has the right to have you escorted off our property for Super Shoe Weekend.  Absolutely no fighting or under aged drinking will be tolerated or allowed on Kalamazoo Speedway property!
• There will be a $50 Clean-up fee charged for each camper which will include two grandstand passes to Saturday’s races.

For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

Be sure to become a fan of Kalamazoo Speedway for all of the latest news and contests at: www.facebook.com/KalamazooSpeedway.

You can also follow Kalamazoo Speedway on our official Twitter page: www.twitter.com/kazoospeedway.