NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES: DIVISION II TOP 10 - Canadians just outside of Top 10

From Jeremy Davidson / NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 21, 2005) – The race for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series championship continues at tracks across North America. The following is a rundown of the top 10 drivers in Division II.

No. 1 – Chris Spieker (Adams County Speedway, Corning, Iowa). Hometown: Massena, Iowa. Points: 748. Previous ranking: 1. Spieker, a multi-time track champion, continues to hold first place in NDWS Division II as he does double duty each week. He competes at his home track of Adams County Speedway on Saturday nights, where he finished in the runner-up spot this past Saturday, and at I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park on Sunday nights, where he finished 10th on Sunday.

No. 2 – Ed Kosiski (I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park, Greenwood, Neb.). Hometown: Ralston, Neb. Points: 732. Previous ranking: Not ranked. A fierce battle is brewing in the Midwest, with Ed Kosiski bumping his brother, Joe Kosiski, out of the NDWS Division II standings this week. Ed charged from 12th on the grid to win his third consecutive race at I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park on Sunday, June 19. Ed – who trails Chris Spieker by just 16 points in the division standings – also traveled to Adams County Speedway, where he edged Spieker for the win on Saturday.

No. 3 – Travis Sharpe (Concord Motorsport Park, Concord, N.C.). Hometown: North, S.C. Points: 538. Previous ranking: 4. Sharpe moved up one spot in the NDWS Division II points standings to third, with his runner-up finish over the weekend at Concord Motorsport Park. He has five wins, nine top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 11 races this season.

No. 4 – Jeff Strunk (Grandview Speedway, Minersville, Pa.). Hometown: Bethel, Pa. Points: 526. Previous ranking: 5. The multi-time track champion charged from the back of the pack to score a win in a 30-lap feature race for the Modified class at Grandview Speedway over the weekend. The victory fueled his move to fourth in the NDWS Division II standings.

No. 5 – Eric Richardson (Mesa Marin Raceway, Bakersfield, Calif.). Hometown: Bakersfield, Calif. Points: 500. Previous ranking: 3. Richardson continues to set the pace at Mesa Marin Raceway – with three wins, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes in nine races. He faces some tough competition this week with a 100-lap race for NASCAR Late Models on Thursday, June 23, that will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series star and Bakersfield native Kevin Harvick making a return to his hometown track.

No. 6 – Robert Barker (San Antonio Speedway, San Antonio, Tex.). Hometown: Boerne, Tex. Points: 470. Previous ranking: 6. Barker continues to hold down the sixth position in the NDWS Division II standings, with consistent finishes at San Antonio Speedway. To go along with his five victories this season, he has finished in the top five in all nine races this season.

No. 7 – Mike Hansen (Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D.). Hometown: Alton, Iowa. Points: 458. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Hansen moved into the top 10 of the NDWS Division II standings this week, after coming home with a fifth-place finish in the Late Model class at Park Jefferson Speedway. Although he only has one win, Hansen has scored a top five finish in all seven races he has competed in this season.

No. 8 – Pete Anderson Jr. (Stockton 99 Speedway, Stockton, Calif.). Hometown: Stockton, Calif. Points: 434. Previous ranking: Not ranked. After coming from the back of the pack to finish fifth at Stockton 99 Speedway on Saturday, June 18 – Anderson moved back atop the track standings and back into the top 10 of the NDWS Division II point standings.

No. 9. Alan Pyszora (Shasta Raceway Park, Anderson, Calif.). Hometown: Redding, Calif. Points: 394. Previous ranking: 10. Pyszora gained one position in the division standings this week, moving to ninth in points. He has one win, seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes in nine races this season.
No. 10. – Stacey Gerken (Lorain Speedway, South Amherst, Ohio). Hometown: LaGrange, Ohio. Points: 388. Previous ranking: 9. Gerken used the outside groove in the late stages of the race to finish third in the Modified class at Lorain Speedway over the weekend. He remains in the top 10 of the NDWS Division II standings.

Outside the Top 10: 11. Jeremy Lapainis, Edmonton (Alberta) International Raceway, 368 points, 12. Robert Powell, Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway, 362 points, 13. Jonathan Bouvrette, Autodrome St. Eustache, St. Eustache, Quebec, 348 points, 14. Pete Vanderywest, Delaware (Ontario) Speedway, 286 points, 15. Dennis Pelphrey, Watsonville (Calif.) Speedway, 280 points, 16. Mike Leaty, Spencer Speedway, Williamson, N.Y., 212 points, 17. Eldon King Jr., Holland (N.Y.) International Speedway, 206 points, 18. Scott Bonney, Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway, 166 points.