Stout Competition in 2012

The 2012 season at the La Crosse Speedway is going to be one of the best, in my opinion.  Already in just the first two nights of action, we've seen some familiar faces, who haven't been around for a while and always are a threat to take the checkered flag.  Granted some of these characters aren't planning on running the full season, but they are still sure to create some real excitement when they do show up to run.

Take for example, the 2010 Sportsmen champion, Rick Schermerhorn.  When I'm videotaping at the track--I know to keep the camera on him. He's got a swagger behind the wheel that warrants capturing his brash moves on the track as he picks his way to the front of the field.  Rick has told us that he won't be running the full season, but you can bet that every time he pulls his car into the pits, his competitors know they will have to battle harder for a win.

In the Thunderstox division, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that Adam Moore is back after sitting out a whole year, due to lack of funding to move up to a higher division full time after winning the support division championship in 2010.  He's another one who the video camera seems to gravitate to, merely because he knows how to slice his way through traffic and set others up to get around them deftly.  Like Schermerhorn, he's just plain fun to watch.

Probably the most obvious face that has tasted a ton of success already is NASCAR Late Model driver, Mark Lamoreaux.  With two solid performances in the first two nights--Lamoreaux finds himself in second place in the points.  Lamoreaux, like Schermerhorn, has said he won't be running the full season.  As a matter of fact, he was originally not scheduled to run this coming Saturday, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him here.  It would take a lot of gumption to NOT come back and run after getting off to such a stellar start in the season.

Then there are those who are seemingly flying under the radar--like NASCAR Late Model driver, Brad Powell, who is returning full time after sporadic appearances over the past several years.  Powell came back with a big splash on opening night--despite qualifying getting rained out--he won his heat race and the feature.  He backed that up with a top five finish last weekend and finds himself perched on top of the points.  

Then there's Greg Scheck and last year's Rookie of the Year, Brian Hesselberg.  Both are having excellent success already this season--sitting second and third respectively in the points.  Chad Rosendahl, another dark horse, quietly grabbing great finishes.  And while he hasn't been a full time racer in the Sportsmen division for a while, he finds himself in the thick of the battle right now--sitting fourth in the standings, just eight markers behind leader, Randy Humfeld.

Humfeld is one who I believe everyone knows is capable of winning on any given night--and even the Sportsmen championship, but for whatever reason, the title seems to elude him.  Perhaps this will be his year?  That division is so thick with championship contenders--even without reigning champion, Danny Gilster, who has to sit the season out or move up to Late Models or his brother, Jimmy, who is expected to return at some point this season and is a contender in his own right.  The Sportsmen division is by far--my favorite for that very reason--such a deep pool of talent.

Like Humfeld, NASCAR Late Model driver, Todd Korish has been poised to win features and ultimately, the championship.  He's quietly plucking away at the season, posting the fastest qualifying effort last Saturday.  With a seventh and eighth place finish to his record this season so far, he is likely to flip the afterburners before too long and get himself into a position to be a threat for the championship.

There are more than a handful of drivers in all of the divisions this season who can be contenders for grabbing the checkered flag--or even the championship--and that is what makes this season shaping up to be the best in a while.  If I were a gambler, I'd be at a loss as to who to plunk my money down on for the 2012 titles.  What do you think?  Drop me an email.