New Points System, Locals Running Well; Motorsports News and Notes

After two weekends of racing NASCAR’s top three touring series have had six different winners.

Kurt Busch wrapped up Speedweeks by winning the Daytona 500. Ryan Reed earned the win at Daytona in the XFinity Series with Kaz Grala capturing the checkered flag in the Camping World Truck Series opener.

This past weekend three more drivers earned victories in Atlanta. Brad Keselowski in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Kyle Busch in the NXS and Christopher Bell in the NCWTS.

The new points system in NASCAR has paid off for a pair of drivers who have yet to win. After two races, Kevin Harvick sits atop the standings in the Monster Energy Cup Series with Elliot Sadler on top in the NXS. A trio of stage wins has Harvick in front of Kurt Busch by four points.

Sadler has a pair of stage wins and a three point lead over William Byron. Christopher Bell became the first driver to win both stages and a race in the same weekend when he did it Saturday at Atlanta.

That has Bell seven points ahead of Johnny Sauter in the NCWTS standings. Stage wins and race wins helping drivers earn much valued playoff points.

Buckeye State Connection

Sandusky based ThorSport Racing has all four of its drivers in the top 11 in points after two races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Ben Rhodes sits 3^rd, Matt Crafton 5^th, Grant Enfinger 9^thand Cody Coughlin 11^th.

The NCWTS is off until April 1^st when they visit Martinsville Speedway.

A pair of top 12 finishes has Matt Tifft sitting 5^th in points after two races in the NASCAR XFinity Series. The Hinckley, Ohio native finished 11^th in the season opener at Daytona and came home 12^th this past weekend at Atlanta.

Tifft and his Joe Gibbs Racing team are back to work this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Dirt News and Notes

World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series rookie Sheldon Haudenschild earned his best career finish in the series with a P3 at the East Texas Lone Star State Shootout Friday night.

The Wooster, Ohio native qualified 2^nd, won his heat race and finished 2^nd in the dash. Haudenschild currently sits 11^th in points.

Car count could impact the purse when the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series helps open Atomic Speedway (Chillicothe, OH) on Friday, March 17^th.

If the total car count reaches 75, the winner of the Buckeye Spring 50 would go home with $12,000, up from the current $10,000 to win purse.

The Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions resume their season Saturday, April 8^th at Atomic Speedway. The series has been idle since wrapping up a five-night swing through Florida in February. Donny Schatz was the story, winning three features and finishing runner-up in another.

The trip to Chillicothe on April 8^th will be the first of three straight stops in Ohio with the All Stars scheduled to visit Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH) on Saturday, April 15^th and Wayne County Speedway (Orrville, OH) on Saturday, April 22^nd.

The new website for Mansfield Motor Speedway is now live.

The track also announcing earlier this month they are taking applications for workers for the upcoming 2017 season. Visit mansfieldmotorspeedway.com for more information.