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Peters and Johnson to Battle for NCRA Sprint Title Saturday Night FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 21, 2008 - Park City, Kansas - It all comes down to this. With just one race remaining on the 2008 O'Reilly/NCRA sprint car presented by ICM/Ethanol campaign, veteran Mike Peters and C.J. Johnson will lead the division into 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas this coming Saturday night (September 27) and the end result will crown the 2008 NCRA sprint car champion. Peters, the Wichita, Kansas veteran who has competed in NCRA action in each the past of thirty-plus years, comes into the weekend with a 65 point advantage over 2000 series champion Johnson and looks to capture his first championship since the final year of 1987 champ dirt car season. Peters has two victories on the season, including the last race held at the speedway back in mid-August. Johnson's first and only victory on the year came back in May at the Jetmore Motorplex. Through the ten races that has been completed, eleven of the sixteen drivers in the point standings have competed in all events while three drivers have only missed on show. The series has also seen eight different feature winners with at least one victory. They include Peters, Johnson, Mike Chadd, Derek Drown, Koby Bardsdale, Don Droud, Jr., Billy Alley and Jack Dover. The battle two driver battle for the championship won't be the only thing up for grabs as drivers will also be competing for positioning in the final top ten in the point standings. Amarillo, Texas driver Drown currently sits third in the series point standings, 165 points behind Peters but only 40 points ahead of Chadd, who sits fourth in points. J.D. Johnson is 10 points behind Chadd in fifth, followed by Gavin Punch, Jon Freeman, rookie Barksdale, Luke Cranston and David Wheeler. Barksdale, who picked up his only win at Dodge City Raceway Park, is leading the rookie point standings and has virtually locked up rookie honors over Cody Forshee. Close to thirty drivers from three states are expected for the division finale for 2008 with the race being held in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Bill Hall Memorial. The Memorial will feature close to 100 restored vintage cars from jalopies to midgets to modifieds to super modifieds and sprint cars. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with racing set to begin at 7:00 p.m. 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas. is located north of Wichita on I-135 to exit 16, then 0.7 miles west on 77th in Park City. For more NCRA race information or information concerning the Bill Hall Memorial, contact the 81 Speedway office (316) 755-1781. An added incentive for sprint car drivers in 2008 comes from three year series presenting sponsor ICM/Ethanol. All drivers competing with a 360 cu. inch motor, finishing in positions 16-20, will earn $400 to start the sprint car feature finale, up from $350 from last season. All 360 drivers not making the "A" feature will earn $150, up from $100 in previous seasons. The extra money provided through the incentive package presented by ICM / Ethanol will not be paid out at each race track, but will be mailed out from the NCRA offices in Park City, Kansas once official results are posted on the O'Reilly/NCRA web site. NCRA is closing out its 38th consecutive season sanctioning races throughout the Great Plains region and will have completed 37 races in their sprint car, modified and late model rain-plauged season combined. Officials with the series are already making plans for the 2009 season their biggest in series history. If your interested in scheduling an event or climbing aboard as series sponsor, presenting sponsor or contingency sponsor, please contact David Smith, Jr. (4050 740-4769 or the NCRA office (316) 755-1781. The O'Reilly/NCRA presented by ICM/Ethanol would like to thank the following contingency sponsors in the sprint car division for the 2008 race season: O'Reilly Auto Parts, ICM/Ethanol, Sunoco/Simons Petroleum, Hoosier Racing Tire, Arizona Sports Shirts, Triple X Race Company, Racetech, Brodix, Vertex Magnetos, Outerwears, KSE, Maxim Chassis, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing Motorsports, Winters Performance, Eagle Chassis, QA1, Ultra-Shield, Taylor Wires, Auto Meter, Schoenfeld Headers, Racing Optics and Design 500. (David Smith, jr./www.oklahomatidbits.com) NCRA Sprint Car Top Ten 1. Mike Peters 2600 2. C.J. Johnson 2535 3. Derek Drown 2435 4. Mike Chadd 2395 5. J.D. Johnson 2385 6. Gavin Punch 2125 7. Jon Freeman 2075 8. Koby Barksdale 2065 9. Luke Cranston 2035 10. David Wheeler 1940
David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com
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