Goodguys AutoCross 2019 Class Championships Coming Down to the Wire
As Goodguys gets ready for the second Kentucky Nationals in Lexington this weekend, there are battles brewing in several Goodguys AutoCross classes. Drivers are duking it out as they hit the final stretch of the racing season!
With only two events remaining to accumulate points and a maximum of 18 points up for grabs at each event for each class, these championship battles are going to come down to the wire! Points standings are guaranteed to get shaken up after this weekend with many of the top drivers on-site in Lexington for the Kentucky Nationals. Taking it a step further, some drivers have even committed to the long haul to Pleasanton for the Autumn Get Together in a couple weeks for a last-ditch effort to secure a 2019 Goodguys AutoCross championship title.
Here’s a quick overview of where we stand in each class.
PRO-X
Josh Leisinger has a strong lead in the PRO-X season points standings driving his Summit Racing-sponsored Corvette. With 102 total points, he’s 18 points ahead of the number-two contender – who just happens to be his brother, Jared. Another Leisinger family member, Karen (mother to Josh and Jared) is in third place with 50 points. 2017 AutoCrosser of the Year, Robby Unser, stands in fourth place with 45 points, but could jump into the top three with a strong performance this weekend in Lexington.
PRO
It’s a tighter matchup in the PRO rankings, where Corey Williams leads the pack in his Camaro with 58 points. The battle for second is tighter, with Bob Bertelsen currently holding 41 points and Ron Scott Jr. close behind with 39. If Chris Smith has a strong showing in Kentucky, he’s able to make the jump from fourth to second and put the pressure on the other three ahead of him. With all four drivers set to compete this weekend in Lexington – and 18 points available via class and shootout wins – there’s still plenty of opportunity for lead changes before these guys get to Scottsdale.
STREET MACHINE
The fight in the Street Machine class is what led to supplying this points rundown in all Goodguys AutoCross classes. Before the Colorado event in September it was anyone’s game in the top three with Bill Graves Sr. holding the top spot with 76 points, Tim Molzen in second with 62, and Chris Jacobs in third with 49. Graves slowly pulled away after the recent Colorado and Texas events by earning max points at both and stretching his current lead to 94 points. The fight isn’t over for Molzen and Jacobs, however, as Molzen is holding on to second place with 81 points, and Jacobs still in third with 64 current points. All three of these drivers have earned maximum points at earlier events this season, but with Graves and Molzen have both committed to Kentucky this weekend, and possibly Pleasanton as well, meaning Jacobs is going to have to be on his A-game to finish on top.
TRUCK
In the Truck class Patrick McGinnis is at the top of the field with 41 points but drivers in the 2-5 positions are capable of mixing things up in a hurry if they’re in Kentucky this weekend. McGinnis has a 13-point lead over second place Bill Kinsman who earned 28 points so far this season. But Brad Bedsaul is chomping at the bit in third place with 24 points, Jeff Dunlap right behind in fourth with 23 points and two drivers, Brandon Carter and Don Yarbrough, tied for fifth with 19 points apiece. We’ve seen McGinnis at Raleigh, Nashville, Columbus, and York so far this season so Kentucky isn’t out of the question, but if he’s a no-show this weekend and some of those racers below him show up things could get interesting really quick!
HOT ROD
The Hot Rod class is another one that could be shaken up this weekend if the right drivers do or do not show up. Morgan Martin sits in first place with 24 points with his bright red Model A coupe that has earned class wins at both Texas events this year. Christopher Haigler is a strong runner and close on Martin’s heels with 22 points after class wins in North Carolina and Nashville in his Factory Five roadster. Sam Matchett in third with 20 points, and Stan Martin (Morgan’s father) in fourth with 18 points. Geographically speaking, it’s possible to see some of these guys this weekend in Kentucky.
ALL AMERICAN SUNDAY
Sundays have produced some great racing this year with a point’s battle in the Spectre Performance All American Sunday Goodguys AutoCross class that’s tighter than ever! Cliff Elliott has run the table at the events he’s shown up to in his Mustang and leads the pack with 30 total points. Chris Wheelock is nipping at his heels with 27 points as well as Nelson Marrotte who has totaled 22 points this season. The next five drivers are tied for forth place with 16 points apiece and include Danny Popp (who won Kentucky last year), Eric Sheeley, Greg Paine, Josh Jones, and Tom Bergeron. If Popp shows up to Kentucky this weekend and repeats his efforts from last year, he can overtake the lead if the others don’t watch out.
