Posted by Mid Am Stock Car Series on 3/7/2005, 2:54 pm
Board Administrator

Wide open Mid-American Stock Car Series rookie race begins at Rockford ROCKFORD, IL -- The race for rookie of the year in the Mid-American Stock Car Series for 2005 begins are the Rockford Speedway in Rockford, IL April 2-3. Practice for the series opener begins at noon Saturday with racing at 7 p.m. Sunday's slate includes and autograph / photo session at 11:30 a.m. and racing at 1 p.m. on the banked quarter-mile paved oval for the annual Spring Classic Weekend. Two names that pop out of the rookie eligible list are Troy Shear and Jeff Steenbergen. Shear, of Roscoe, IL, is the nephew of former ARTGO and Red, White & Blue Series late model champion Joe Shear. Steenbergen, of Waupun, WI, is a former rookie of the year and champion in the Mid-Am Super Truck series with a victory at Road American. But neither Shear nor Steenbergen are expected to run a full schedule, which leaves the door wide open for over 20 other rookie eligible drivers. Other rookies with plans to compete in series events include: Bill Neering of Cedar Lake, IN; Greg Marks of Maribel, WI; Jason Taghikhani of Franklin, WI; Mike Skaja of New Prague, MN; Johnny Senerchia of Orland Park, IL; Pete McVey of Appleton, WI; Andrew Ruthenbeck of Virgina, MN; Daryl Gerke of Whitelaw, WI; Josh Higgins of Morris, IL; Collin Banke of Slinger, WI; Chad Olafson of Prior Lake, MN; Dave Obermeyer of Allenton, WI; Paul Dirks of Elkhart Lake, WI; Darrell Phillips of Esmond, IL; Brad Keith of West Bend, WI; Clifford Adee of Lakeville, MN; Rod Dart of Luxemburg, WI; Hank Tews of Batavia, IL; Jack Clark of Delafield, WI; Tom Roney of Ridgefield, IL; Scott Scholl of Pewaukee, WI and Phillip Meier of Schiller Park, IL. Rookie of the year awards will be made at the series banquet Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Leathem Smith Lodge in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Among the largest rookie of the year awards already pledged is a Pro Radio System from Zander Radio Systems of Shawano, WI. For additonal information about the series or any of the five Mid-Am Stock Car, Inc divisions consult the group's website at asl-midamracing.com or phone the series office at 920-823-2856. Schedules for all five divisions have been posted on the website.