One major rule change: no bonus points for leading a lap or leading the most laps.

Driver/team changes:

#1 LordTech Ford: New sponsor, Joey Wilson replaces Billy Brett
#5 Big Belly Burger Toyota: Developmental driver Shannon Reincke added to drive limited races
#7 Hasbro Chevy: Mike Dawson replaces Danny Haack
#10 Lady Speed Stick Chevy: New team with rookie driver Monica Merrick
#16 Amazon Kindle Fire Chevy: Paul Chen returns after ’13 hiatus
#17 Yahoo! Dodge: New sponsor, same driver (Jordy Pettis)
#18 Zesti Cola Ford: Everett Davis replaces Greg Karl
#24 Google Chevy: New sponsor, new driver as Robby Pietrowski replaces Andy Courol
#45 Cooke’s Electronics Chevy: Rookie Trevor Trostel replaces Joey Wilson
#55 Hanso Foundation Dodge: Ryan Mooney replaces Charlie Brake
#60 Torchwood Institute Toyota: Carrol Worthington ‘semi retires’, most races will be driven by Ralph Roach
#63 Shadow Proclamation Toyota: Geoff Daly, Jr. replaces Bobby McKinnon
#66 Capsule Corporation Chevy: Bobby McKinnon replaces Brad Bennefield
#73 Soder Cola Dodge: Rookie Joey Plonka replaces Ralph Roach
#77 The Daily Bugle Ford: New team with rookie driver Austin Bigler
#88 Hikita-Banzai Toyota: Biggest move of the off-season, Billy Brett replaces Derek Vanderwyst

Inactive Teams:
#37 inactive, formerly driven by Everett Davis
#67 withdrew from SCRAM, formerly driven by Mike Dawson
#90 could not secure sponsor, formerly driven by Geoff Daly, Jr.

Inactive drivers:
Derek Vanderwyst: Returned to ‘B’ series
Andy Coursol: Returned to “B” series
Levi Fox: not offered contract
Charlie Brake: moved to TV booth for 2014 season
Danny Haack: dropped out of racing after unproductive rookie season
Ernie Maldonado: Re-retires after handful of ‘encore’ races in 2013
Greg Karl: Returned to “B’ series

I have a personal goal of starting and finishing this SCRAM season in the same calendar year, or at least not stretching it over 2 years.

So the actual goal is to start now and finish by April of 2027.

Stay tuned!

The Season Finale!

October20th, 2014: the Lone Star Financial 500 @ Texas National Motor Raceway.

Race results:

Marty Moen wins his first race of the season.

Final standings:

As expected, Tom Rossi wins the championship, after Parnell Drake unfortunately crashed out of the final race.  Ray Bob Walker managed to finish 3rd in the points after finishing 2nd and Wayne Montana’s equally bad 40th place finish.  Moen’s win secures 5th place in the points.

Dave Lilly, Vic Holder, Mark Forth, Stu Yurich and Mooch Thomas round out the Top Ten in the Points standings.

Next: the 2014 SCRAM season, with a shuffling of a few of the drivers, among other changes.

Stay tuned!

THE PENULTIMATE RACE!

WILL THE CHAMPIONSHIP BE DETERMINED TODAY?

October 13th, 2013: the A to Z Auto Parts 600 @ Desert Saguaro SuperSpeedway

Race results:

Robby Pietrowski wins his first race of the season.  A strong 4th place finish by Tom Rossi and a 27th place finish for Parnell Drake all but guarantees the championship for Rossi.

Current standings:

The point differential is between first and second place 42 points.

If Rossi fails to qualify (0 points) or finishes last without leading a lap (1 point) and Drake wins the race (43 points +1 point for leading a lap), the championship goes to Drake.

Next: FINAL RACE!  The Lone Star Financial 500 @ Texas National Motor Raceway.

Stay tuned!

October 6th, 2013: the Prospector 400 @ Golden Gate International Speedway.

Race results:

Wayne Montana wins his 7th race of the season, yet sits in 3rd place in the standings.

Current standings:

Despite poor finishes by both Tom Rossi (35th) and Parnell Drake (32nd), the pair maintain their positions atop the standings.  Wayne Montana is mathematically still alive in third place.

Next: the A to Z Auto Parts 600 @ Desert Saguaro SuperSpeedway.

Stay tuned!

Today I managed to run a race before I finished that baseball game.

September 29th, 2013: the Yolo Corn Chips 400 @ Gulf Coast Motor Speedway.

Race results:

Bobby McKinnon makes a last lap pass on Tom Rossi to win his first race of the season.

An unspecified problem for Parnell Drake and a late black flag for Wayne Montana send the two title contenders to finish back in the pack and allows Rossi to reclaim the points lead.

3 races to go and 21 points separated the two top drivers.

Next: the Prospector 400 @ Golden Gate International Speedway.

Star tuned!

September 22nd, 2013: the Pemoco 400 @ Great Lakes International Raceway.

Race results:

Jordy Pettis makes it back-to-back wins for his 3rd of the season.

Current standings:

Parnell Drake maintains his lead over Tom Rossi by 9 points.  While Wayne Montana maintains his spot in 3rd place, 4th to 9th get shuffled around.

Next: the Yolo Corn Chips 400 @ Gulf Coast Motor Speedway.

Stay tuned!

September 15th, 2013: the Heartland 500 @ Midwest Motor Speedway.

Race results:

Jordy Pettis wins his second race of the season as Parnell Drake and Tom Rossi continue to sit atop the points standing by finishing 5th and 6th, respectively.

Current standings:

While the top 3 remain the same, Vic Holder manages to hop ahead of Dave Lilly for 4th place in the standings.

Next: the Pemoco 400 @ Great Lakes International Raceway.

Stay tuned!

September 8th, 2013: the Good Snips 500 @ Northwest Empire International Raceway.

Race results:

Russ O’Casey wins his 4the race of the season.  Pole sitter and points leader Tom Rossi finished in 42nd after an engine failure.

Current standings:

Parnell Drake’s 10th place finish is enough to pull ahead of Tom Rossi in the standings.

Next: the Heartland 500 @ Midwest Motor Speedway.

Stay tuned!

September 1st, 2013: the Big Sky 400 @ Rocky Mountain Raceway.

Race Results:

Tom Rossi wins his 3rd race of the season and pulls ahead of Parnell Drake and Wayne Montana, after the two finish far back in the pack.

Current standings:

Next: the Good Snips 500 @ Northwest Empire International Raceway.

Stay tuned!

8 months later…

August 25th, 2013: the Daily Double Duel at OP @ Ocean Pacific International.

Race Results:

Wayne Montana wins his 6th race of the year, his 5th in in the last 8 races.

Tom Rossi returns after being injured during qualifying for the Signal Health Care 400, which kept him out of that race, and finishes 4th.

Current standings:

Tom Rossi finishes ahead of Parnell Drake and they are now tied for the points lead, with Wayne Montana moving up with each win.

Next: the Big Sky 400 @ Rocky Mountain Raceway.

Stay tuned!