JOE KOSISKI HAS $25,000 NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES DIVISION II
CHAMPIONSHIP IN HAND; AWAITS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OUTCOME
by: Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2006) – Joe Kosiski has wrapped up the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division II championship but his fate as the next national champion hangs in the balance – nearly 1,100 miles to the East.

Kosiski, of Omaha, Neb., has completed his racing season with the $25,000 NDWS Division II title firmly in hand. After racing full-time at both I-80 Speedway, in Greenwood, Neb., and Adams County Speedway, in Corning, Iowa, Kosiski amassed a combined record of 36 starts, 14 wins, 30 top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes. NASCAR’s championship points format ranks drivers based on their best 16 finishes of the season.

The NDWS Division II title is Kosiski’s sixth major NASCAR championship. He won regional championships (which were calculated using a statistical index, prior to the introduction of the current points format in 2005) in 1986, ’92, ’99 and 2000. In addition, Kosiski was the 1986 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion.

Whether he wins a second national championship is, for the moment, out of his hands.

Philip Morris, of Ruckersville, Va., clinched this year’s NDWS Division I championship while racing at Motor Mile Speedway, in Radford, Va. Motor Mile’s season has ended, but Morris has announced plans to compete at Caraway Speedway, in Asheboro, N.C., this Saturday. If he wins at Caraway this weekend, Morris could potentially claim the national title for himself.

If Morris does not win the race, however, the $50,000 national championship will be awarded to Kosiski, making him the second driver in NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series history to win more than one national title. The late Larry Phillips won five national championships during his career (1989 ‘91, ’92, ’95 and ’96).

2006 national championship or not, Kosiski’s record in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series remains one of the greatest of all time. Kosiski has won more than 400 races and 16 track championships since 1985. He finished in the top 10 of the NDWS Regional/Divisional standings on 19 occasions, including 18 consecutive top-10 appearances from 1985-2002.

Kosiski was named one of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series All-Time Top 25 drivers this season, based on a poll of media members and track operators to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the series.

NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series

Division II Leaders as of Sept. 25 (best 16 points finishes)

Driver, Hometown, Home track, NDWS points

1. Joe Kosiski, Omaha, Neb., I-80 Speedway, 1,112 points

2. Jonathan Bouvrette, St. Therese, Quebec, Autodrome St. Eustache, 1,068
3. Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa, Adams County Speedway, 1,030
4. Dave Byrd, Pacific Grove, Calif., Altamont Motorsports Park, 990
5. John Blewett III, Howell, N.J., Wall Township Speedway, 980
6. Rick Smith, Georgetown, S.C., Myrtle Beach Speedway, 918
7. Philip Baril Jr., Haverhill, Mass., Lee USA Speedway, 906
8. Guy Guibor, Manteca, Calif., Stockton 99 Speedway, 902
9. Craig Von Dohren, Oley, Pa., Grandview Speedway, 858
10. Shane Riner, Guyton, Ga., Oglethorpe Speedway Park, 834
11. Shane Brafford, Concord, N.C., Concord Motorsport Park, 820
12. Joe Aramendia, Schertz, Tex., San Antonio Speedway, 782
13. Terry Dowler, Spruce Grove, Alberta, Edmonton International Raceway, 782
14. Steven Gannon, Redding, Calif., Shasta Raceway Park, 742
15. Mike Leaty, Williamson, N.Y., Spencer Speedway, 676