Schott Dominates Mid-Summer Shootout

Chatfield, MN's Lucas Schott proved his dominance once again and showed how he'd built up a nearly 100 point advantage over the competition in the Rivercity Manufacturing USRA Modified Division. Coming into the two-day Mid Summer Shoot Out at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY, Schott enjoyed a 96 point cushion over over Hank Rollinger, Jr. who himself is enjoying a strong 2012. But while Rollinger, Jr. has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence in 2012 with strong top-5 finishes, Schott had four feature wins entering the weekend - by the end of Saturday, the number of visits to the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Victory Lane by the youngster and his Schott's Hardwoood Floors #69 had increased by two.

On Friday night, after winning the first USRA Modified heat race of the program, Schott jumped from his pole position starting spot to lead every trip across the finish line of the 25-lap feature. Second heat-race winner, and defending 2011 Track Champion, Bob Timm provided the best challenge for Schott as he followed the youngster from his inside second row starting position at the drop of the green flag and dogged him for the lead for the first 20 laps. While Timm was definitely a threat, Schott did not give up the lead even once, on the way to picking up his fifth feature win of 2012 at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY.

After running a hard second for the first 20 laps, Timm was relieved of the position by 2010 Track Champion Josh Angst who finished second. Bob Timm ended up holding off a challenge by his son Jake Timm who'd battled from his starting spot on the inside of the sixth row - the father-son duo finished third and fourth, respectively, just ahead of third heat race winner Adam Hensel.

On Saturday night, Schott did it again; despite being beaten to the checkered flag by Bob Timm in the third heat race, Schott turned a pole position starting spot in the evening's 25-lap feature into his 6th feature win. Saturday night's feature win came down to working past back-markers at the tail end of the lead lap and keeping a cushion between his #69 and the #33 of Adam Hensel. Hensel had worked toward the front of the field from his starting position on the outside of the fourth row, finally moving into second after #24 of Brad Waits dropped out of the main event on lap 13.

Despite Hensel's near flawless run, he was unable to catch the young superstar and was forced to settle for second as the checkered flag waived. Veteran racer Doug Hillson enjoyed a strong Saturday evening; after dropping as low as sixth in the running order, he enjoyed a satisfying third place finish with his #72.

"This year has been pretty great," commented Schott after the feature win Saturday night, "The car has been strong every night, the racing out front has been hard but clean, and I'm just happy every night that I can race for a win."

When asked about the points advantage he holds over the competition, Schott replied that he can't let it change the way his races through the closing weeks of the 2012 season, "It's nice having a points lead like that, but we'll bring the car back every weekend and still race like we always do, for feature wins."