By Matt Panure
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 (Loves Park, IL) – For the past two years, Johnny Senerchia has been the headline driver of the Mid-American Stock Car Series at the Rockford Speedway in Love’s Park, IL. Senerchia, who’s absence was well noticed in the Spring Opener will return to Rockford this Sunday, September 30th to defend his Chicago International National Short Track Championships feature win.

Senerchia won his first NSTC feature in 2005 in dominating fashion. In the 2006 Spring Opener Senerchia charged his way to the front of the pack only to fall short of catching Wausau WI’s Lyle Nowak. In last year’s NSTC feature Senerchia won in thrilling fashion. He was forced to pull into the pits and change a right rear tire on lap fifteen of the 75 lap event. Senerchia was able to rejoin the field before the green flag flew again and marched his way to the front unimpeded.

The success that Senerchia and J Thunder Racing have enjoyed at Rockford is of no surprise to them. “I’ve always liked small track racing. That is my background,” said Senerchia. “I used to practice at Raceway and Blue Island a few times a week,” he added.
The driver from New Lenox, IL has had quite a busy season off the race track planning his wedding, but still found time and resources to compete at Illiana this summer. It was a very successful season for Senerchia as he won five of twelve features, finished second on five other occasions, added a third and fourth place finish and took six fast qualifier honors on his way to a championship.

However, the decision to go to Rockford this weekend was one that was not made until after the Illiana season ended. “We weren’t actually going, but we had a little money left over from sponsors so I decided to go racing,” Senerchia explained.
If Senerchia is to repeat at the NSTC, it may be with a completely different set up to his number 77 Monte Carlo. “We’ll go out there and see what happens. I’m going to try a few new things and we’ll see if it works out,” said Senerchia.

Even if the set up does throw a loop into Senerchia’s weekend, fans can be confident that he will be contending for a win. “We’ll just have to wait and find out,” said Senerchia as an offering of a prediction for Sunday’s race.

Sunday’s 75 lap feature at Rockford will be the second to last points event for Mid-American’s 15th season. Defending champion James Swan padded his point lead after his first feature win of 2007 last Saturday at the Marshfield Super Speedway. Bill Prietzel is in second 42 points behind Swan, Bobby Gutknecht is third 73 points back, Jeremy Spoonmore stands fourth 84 points back and Lyle Nowak rounds out the top five 123 points out.

After Mid-American’s visit to Rockford this Sunday the series will wrap up the 2007 campaign at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem Wisconsin as part of the 38th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend. The Series will then hold its First Annual Fall Classic in association with the Annual Cancer Run/Walk at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI on October 27th. More details on the Fall Classic are forthcoming. For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series including results, standings, the remaining 2007 schedule and driver info visit www.midamericanracing.com.