Two Races Remain to Determine the 2015 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Champion

Bakersfield, CA – In the fifteen-year history of the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, there has never been a tighter battle for the series title this late in the season. With two races left in the 2015 season, the top seven drivers are separated by only 104 points heading into the October 17^th race at Kern County Raceway Park.

“Typically, the championship is down to two drivers by this point in the season, but this year we have seven drivers still with a legitimate chance at the championship,” stated the SRL’s Larry Collins. “Just 20 points separate the top four drivers, with only 11 points separating the top three.”

The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series points system awards 180 points to the winner of each race, 170 for second place, followed by 165, 160, 155, 150, 146, 142, 138, 134, 130, 127, and then drops three points per position from 13^th on down the finishing order.

Current Championship Contenders:

1. Greg Voigt, Goleta, CA 1042 points – NTS Motorsports/Smitty’s Towing #29: Voigt has battled for championships in the SRL before. In 2009, he was the series runner-up to M.K. Kanke by a mere 44 points. Voigt has three top 3 finishes in four SRL starts at Kern County Raceway Park.

2. Jacob Gomes, Manteca, CA 1034 pts – Dell’Osso Family Farms/Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats #16: Gomes has six career wins in the series, with two of those wins coming at the last two series events. Gomes was the 2010 Rookie-of-the-Year and second in the championship to Jim Pettit II in 2011.

3. Carlos Vieira, Livingston, CA 1031pts – 51 FIFTY Energy Drink/Fresh & Easy #51: Vieira has not finished outside the top 10 in 2015, and finished a career high 3^rd at Rocky Mountain Raceways on September 12^th. Carlos finished a career best eighth in points in 2011.

4. Parker Stephens, Olympia, WA 1022 pts – NTS Motorsports #28: Stephens, a first year driver in the series, who currently leads the 2015 Rookie-of-the-Year standings, had consecutive 2^nd place finishes at Eureka and Stockton. Stephens, like Gomes, has found some momentum in the second half of the season.

5. Ryan Cansdale, Laguna Beach, CA 989 pts – MC Erectors/High Point Racing #31: Cansdale, who is also in his rookie season in the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, is a former SRL S2 Series champion. He had a season best third place finish at Irwindale Speedway in June and was the fast qualifier at Stockton 99 Speedway in August.

6. Blaine Rocha, Oakdale, CA 949 pts – NTS Motorsports #21: After debuting with NTS with a fourth place finish in the Winter Showdown, Rocha suffered some bad luck in the first half of the season, but has rallied back to still have a shot at the 2015 title with 2 top 5 finishes in the last 3 events.

7. Keith Spangler, Porter Ranch, CA 938 pts– Ron Rear’s End/Retro Custom Metals #37: A true veteran of the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, Spangler will be making his 70^th career series start at the upcoming event at Kern County Raceway Park. Spangler is 2^nd all-time in top 10 finishes, with 48, three of which have come this year.

Two races remain to determine the 2015 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series championship, Kern County Raceway Park on October 17^th and The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on November 21^st. One thing has already been determined; it will be the 2015 champion’s first SPEARS Southwest Tour Series title.

For more information go to www.SRLSouthwestTour.com.