WSORR: Bark River II: Rounds nine, ten preview

KINCAID, FEDERICO DUEL FOR POINTS LEAD AT WSORR'S BARK RIVER "THE DEUCE"

BARK RIVER, Mich., (August 4, 2008) -- What a difference a month makes.

When the Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing (WSORR) visited Bark River International Raceway in July, off-road superstar Jeff Kincaid, of Argonne, Wisc., looked to be cruising to his sixth PRO Light Pickup championship undefeated in his first four races. His Forest County Potawatomi Traxxas. BFG Toyota hasn't visited the podium since and now his points lead is the smallest of any World Series class.

Steve Federico, in his Invisible Glass P F Changs Sticker Dude Hankook Toyota has raced to within just five points of the leader. It sets up an intriguing rematch at Bark River "the Deuce" for WSORR Rounds IX & X and the Island Resort & Casino Boss Snowplow Off-Road Shootout on August 9-10.

And it isn't just Federico making a big mid-season run at Kincaid. Federico's teammate, Lee O'Donnell has a win and a third in his last two outings and is third in the points chase. Jon Probst, in his E3 Sparkplugs Team Lucas Oil Toyo Nissan, finished second in both of the earlier Bark River rounds and is fourth in the points. Randy Eller in the Maxxis Ford is coming off his first World Series class win in a sparkling performance during Round VIII action and has moved up to fifth. Kincaid will be tested by a confident group of World Series PRO Light Pickup drivers who are all still in contention for a class championship.

The margin is nearly as tight in the PRO Super Buggy class where John Mason, Plymouth, Wisc., has a narrow 12-point lead over Tim Lemons. Mason and his Mendeola Goodyear Honda have an amazing streak of eight straight podium finishes, which is just one better than Lemons and his Goodyear Toyota. Last year's class champ, Gary Nierop in another Goodyear Toyota, is third.

Dan Vanden Heuvel, of Appleton, Wisc., hopes his dream season continues in the PRO 2WD class. Back-to-back wins in the Maxxis Chevrolet his last time out have given him 24 points of breathing room over Kevin Probst in the E3 Sparkplugs Team Lucas Oil Toyo Chevy. Evan Evans in the Potawatomi BFG Chevy is in third and Bark River has proven to be one of his most successful tracks. Dave Waldvogel in the Bendix Toyo Chevrolet, Ross Hoek in the Skyjacker Goodyear Ford, Zane Roberts in the Buffalo Wild Wings Goodyear Chevy and Rhonda Konitzer in the Konitzer Racing Chevy all add to the talented PRO 2WD field that will line-up for a showdown at Bark River "the Deuce".

Kent Brascho, Pell City, Ala., is the country's leading money winner in off- road racing circles having already won more than $40,000 this season in the PRO 4x4 truck class. Brascho's Lucas Oil Chevy has won three races in a row and has a 45 point bulge over Jerry Daugherty in the Racin' Dirty Goodyear Chevy and Al Drews in a Ford.

In the World Series SRT (Sportsman) Division, Keith Steele, of Madison, Wisc., is undoubtedly the hottest driver at the moment, winning five of the eight Super Truck races in 2008 in his Monster Energy Goodyear Chevy. Dan Baudoux's Mole Lake Casino BFG Ford is second in the points chase 19 points back and local favorite Ben Wandahsega, Bark River, Mich., in the Potawatomi Toyo Chevrolet is third.

It took him eight rounds of racing but another Bark River favorite, Scott Beauchamp in a Goodyear Chevy, has moved to the top of the Stock Truck points lead. He is eight points up on Eric Ruppel in the Phil's Inc. BFG Ford, with former class leader Craig Metz in a BFG Ford in third. Beauchamp is the defending Stock Truck champion and has won two races in a row.

There has also been a change at the top of the 1600 Buggy points chase with Mike Seefeldt, of Sussex, Wisc., assuming the top spot in his BFG machine. Six podium visits in a row, including a Round VII win have pushed him to the top above Mark Steinhardt's BFG buggy by nine points. Brad Erickson of nearby Wilson, Mich., is third in the points in his Goodyear buggy. Mike Vanden Heuvel, of Appleton, Wisc., has racked-up four consecutive 1600 Light Buggy wins in his Toyo buggy. Matt Gerald, in the Potawatomi Goodyear buggy is 19 points behind the class leader with upstart Chad Dewall on Goodyear's now third.

Defending Formula 4x4 class champion Dave DeMaegd, of Mishawaka, Ind., also has a streak of eight straight podium finishes in his Goodyear Jeep and now enjoys a 26-point lead over Jim Ridderbush in a BFG Chevy and Tim Moeller in a Goodyear Ford in third. Rob Weiland in his Goodyear Chevy leads the Classix class points chase with Marc Rogaczewski in a Goodyear Ford tops in Enduro Trucks.

Practice is scheduled at Bark River International Raceway for 5 PM on Friday, August 8, with racing Saturday and Sunday scheduled to start at 11 AM. More information about the Island Resort & Casino Boss Snowplow Off- Road Shootout is available at www.barkriveroffroad.com and info on the World Series is available at www.wsorr.com.

-credit: wsorr