Wytheville, VA ~ The NASCAR and ASA National Points chases are in the final weeks for drivers to accumulate points, but it's not just the National and State titles that's got people buzzing as the season races to a close.

The NASCAR National championship will be decided between three drivers and two of them are Late Model Stock Car competitors, the heart and sole of RACE22.com. Brian Harris of West Liberty Speedway, a Dirt Late Model driver has accumulated 44 starts at West Liberty and

Ace Speedway - The best driver doesn't always win the championship even in a standard points system, but at Ace Speedway the champion could be anyone of the top twelve drivers no matter how many races they've competed in during the season or how many points behind when their version of the "chase" begins. The chase has been in place for the last two seasons and so far Rodney Cook, the guy who lead the points all season has pulled it out, but this season he may just be the guy who upsets that trend. Speedy Faucette, the points leader when the chase began still leads after having a dominant season, but with only a two point lead over Cook with two race weekends left. Cook isn't the only driver with a good shot at the title due to the "chase" format. Currently Faucette has 1074 points to Cook's 1072, but also in contention is Dean Fogleman(1060), Dustin Rumley(1050) and Robert Turner(1050). We'll see how this all plays out and we'll also have to see how it goes for the chase if National points title competitor, Philip Morris shows up to try and gain points in the final event to be held on September 19th with twin 50-lap races.

Caraway Speedway - Randy Benson has all but secured the championship at Caraway Speedway with a points lead of nearly 200 points on Pete Stewart and a few more over third place driver, Ryan Wilson. These three drivers are the only guys to compete in every

Hickory Motor Speedway - The Andy & Andy show will hit it's final two races over the next two Saturday's on the 3/8 mile track. Andy Loden unofficially the 2008 North Carolina State Champion, officially the 2008 Tri-County Motor Speedway champion and two-time and defending champion of Hickory Motor Speedway holds a very slim 10 point lead over arch rival, Andy Mercer, who has won eight features this season(820 to 810). Loden will have to step up his game over the final two races as he has been a little off his game recently, but a member of his team told me "don't count us out just yet!" and I don't, but if Mercer keeps doing his thing, Loden's going to have his hands full.

Langley Speedway - Nick Smith has been the story this season at Langley Speedway, but in the championship chase it's brothers battling it out for the title. Danny Edwards currently leads his brother Greg Edwards for the championship 596 to 580 with a lone 100-lap event left to settle it. Either way I guess the headline will read "Edwards Wins Langley Championship", but I'm not certain which one it will be out at the tricky flat 4/10 mile speedplant.

Lonesome Pine Raceway - Wayne Hale has got to be feeling sick right now. His track has been invaded and despite the fact that he and points leader, Nate Monteith have the same amount of wins(4)

race so far this season, but Benson has dominated to the point of finishing in the top ten in every one of the season's 16 races to date and only one short of that feat for top fives. Benson will have to wait a while to be officially crowned champ at Caraway as their season rolls on into October even after the NASCAR points officially come to an end.

Concord Motorsport Park - Kevin Love is currently leading the points standings at Concord Motorsport Park with 760 points to defending champion, Chuck Crump's 740 points. Crump and Justin Hill(710) are the only drivers within striking distance of Love, who won the last race at the 1/2 mile superspeedway of short tracks. Three races remain on the schedule with 75-lap races on September 12th & 27th and a 75-lapper on October 18th.

Franklin County Speedway - This season has been mostly about Jimmy Mullins and Rodney Cook, but only one of those two drivers is in a two way battle for the track championship. Mullins, who has led the points most of the season goes into the final race of the season with an 18 point lead over, Rick Sigmon. Sigmon has a slim chance to overcome the deficit this Sunday in the final 75-lap race of the season with the ASA National Championship also on the line.

Greenville Pickens Speedway - Marty Ward clinched his fifth track championship two weeks ago winning his first championship in five years. Ward, who is also competing for the NASCAR National Championship will have two final races in twin 50's at Greenville Pickens Speedway next week, September 13th. Ward won the title this season over 2007 track champion, David Roberts 1062 to 940 points.

he's twelve points back in the title chase. Hale, while he's looking ahead at Monteith has to also look back as there are several contenders right behind him. Monteith(472), Hale(460), Brian Blevins(458) and Josh Hale(408), that's how the championship battle is shaping up with four races remaining on the schedule ending on October 18th.

Motor Mile Speedway - Philip Morris maybe in a tight battle for the NASCAR National title, but no one at Motor Mile Speedway has even made him think about points since he took the lead early in the season. Kelly Kingery in 150 points back(888 to 738) with Davin Scites trailing even further behind at 680 points. Morris will go into the season points finale this weekend with the track championship in hand, but no doubt will be all out for the National points.

Music City Motorplex - Andy Johnson easily scored the championship at Music City Motorplex over Mark Day with a margin of 105 points(1846 to 1741). Johnson dominated most of the season and is the 50th anniversary champion at the fairgrounds track.

Myrtle Beach Speedway - SamYarbrough, winner of the season ending Myrtle Beach 400 in 2007 has come full throttle into 2008 and currently leads defending track champion, Rick Smith by 40 points(854 to 814). Yarbrough has won five wins this season with Smith claiming only three, a huge difference from his dominant 2007 season. Justin Milliken is also with striking distance only 58 points back from the leader with two races remaining.

Newport Speedway - Kaleb Pressley seems to have the Newport Speedway(TN) track championship in hand with only a few races to go as he leads Jeff Myers by 75 points(1160 to 1085). Pressley will have to hold on to the points lead through two races the first on September 13th and the final on September 20th.

Orange County Speedway - One of the best points battles going is going on at Orange County Speedway(NC) where six drivers could win the championship. Stacy Puryear has been the points leader for much of the 2008 season, but Terry Dease is making his move now only six points behind(402 to 396). Other drivers still in the mix include Leigh Caruthers(354), Ryan Gray(344), David Triplett, Jr.(328) and Craig Moore(316). Four races remain in the 2008 season September 13th, October 4th & 18th as well as the 300-lap finale on November 1st.

Southern National Raceway Park - Corey Strickland has been crowned the 2008 champion at Southern National Raceway Park just before big changes have been announced for the tracks top division. SNRP will go to UARA-STARS rules for the remainder of the 2008 season as well as for 2009 including the Thanksgiving Classic 300. The changes go into effect with the next race on September 20th. Strickland won the championship by fifty points over Kyle Hall.

South Boston Speedway - Wayne Ramsey currently holds a 31 point lead over Justin Johnson at South Boston Speedway. Ramsey is looking to win his first NASCAR track championship and with one final race on September 13th for points he will likely lock up the title by simply starting the event. Johnson, who lead the points standings early in the season hit a rough patch July 4th week with crashes at South Boston and Caraway Speedway and it's been downhill since then.

Tri-County Motor Speedway - Andy Loden secured the championship at Tri-County Motor Speedway with a few races to go in the 2008 season, but now with the season over and the driver currently leading the NASCAR North Carolina State Points with little to no chance of being passed, Loden proved he's the man. Loden, who now is a three time track champion, two at Hickory Motor Speedway(2006, 2007) and one at Tri-County Motor Speedway(2008), but he's still got a fight that could allow him to be the 2008 champion at Hickory Motor Speedway(read more above). Loden won the TCMS championship over former UARA-STARS drivers, RA Brown and Lee Tissot. Loden with his 948 points won the championship over Brown(864) and Tissot(854).

UARA-STARS Series - With only four races left in the 2008 season we've seen a lot of changes from race number one at Concord Motorsport Park in March to Tri-County Motor Speedway just a few days removed. One thing that hasn't changed much throughout the season is the guy at the top of the points standings as Jake "The Snake" Crum continues to hold his slim lead over six others driver still in contention for the title. Crum, who had the season in hand

just a few races ago has slipped tremendously recently and now only has a five point lead over the most consistent racer of the season, Richard "Boz" Boswell(1072-1067). Late Model Stock Car veteran, Jamey Caudill, an eleven time series winner, remains in the hunt with 1051 points only 21 points out of the lead and only one point ahead of Alex Yontz(1050). "Wild Man" Roger Lee Newton(1013) also is still in the hunt as well as seven time series winner, Jamie Yelton(964) and Rookie of the Year points leader, Darrell Wallace, Jr.(946), who missed the first race of the season. We'll have plenty more on the battle in the UARA-STARS Series as the season rolls on.