Stergios Achieves Lifelong Dream
Earns Track Title with Fourteen Top-5 Finishes
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – Jake Stergios has been going to Lee USA Speedway since he was a little boy. Now he’s the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I champion there.
Stergios captured the Supermodified Division title at the .375-mile New Hampshire oval.
“It was a great feeling,” said Stergios. “The win was a dream come true.”
Stergios finished with a win, 14 top fives and 14 top 10s in 14 starts.
Earning his track champion title didn’t come easy or without strategy for the 23-year-old.
“Lee Speedway has been around for a long time and is a difficult track to race on,” said the Candia, New Hampshire native. “It was last paved in the 80s and is very rough. Tires wear out after 5 laps or so. It makes it a real challenge to race on.”
2014 NASCAR WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES TRACK CHAMPIONS
This season was definitely different for the 2013 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series New Hampshire Rookie of the Year.
“Last season as a rookie the rule at the track is the rookie starts in the back the first three races,” said Stergios. “After a couple races I was 100 points back from the lead, then I started placing in the top-5 every race and ended the season only 70 points back.”
Stergios carried over his momentum into this season.
“We started right where we left off,” said Stergios. “We came in placing top five in every race and earned 23 consecutive top-five finishes (over the two seasons).”
The turning point was when he won his first race of 2014 on Aug. 8.
“It gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. I started near the back and didn’t think I would win,” said Stergios. “I moved to seventh and waited a couple laps. I was able to make a move to pass and earn third. With nine laps left we got a caution. I started on the outside and won the race. If it wasn’t for the caution, I wouldn’t have won.”
As for this season, Stergios is still celebrating his reign as track champion and not thinking too far ahead.
“Next season’s goals are up in the air. It’s still early.”
Stergios credits his father and brother PJ for their continued help and support.
“My dad and my brother are my biggest supporters. I couldn’t do it without them,” said Stergios. “My brother is my lead crew chief and my dad funds the whole budget. We don’t have any sponsors, we do it all ourselves. So without them, this title wouldn’t have been possible.”
Sources: Brooke Franceschini/NASCAR PR
2014 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Track Champions
October 6, 2014 – 4:34pm
Tweet
2014 NASCAR WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES TRACK CHAMPIONS
TRACK LOCATION FEATURE DIVISION CHAMPION HOMETOWN
Adams County Speedway Corning, Iowa Coors Light Late Model Chris Spieker Massena, Iowa
Airborne Park Speedway Plattsburgh, N.Y. J&S Steel Sportsman Modified Nick Heywood Plattsburgh, N.Y.
All American Speedway Roseville, Calif. Modified Jay Linstroth Citrus Heights, Calif.
Anderson Motor Speedway Anderson, S.C. Late Model Stock Car David Roberts Simpsonville, S.C.
Autodrome St-Eustache St-Eustache, Que. Lucas Oil Sportsman Jean Francois Bouvrette Mirabel, Que.
Barrie Speedway Barrie, Ont. Wahta Springs Limited Late Model Gord Shepherd Hawkestone, Ont.
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Scarborough, Maine Pro Dave Farrington Jay, Maine
Bowman Gray Stadium Winston-Salem, N.C. Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Danny Bohn Freehold, N.J.
Caraway Speedway Sophia, N.C. Late Model Robert Tyler Gainesville, Ga.
Cedar Lake Speedway New Richmond, Wis. Late Model Chad Mahder Eau Claire, Wis.
Chemung Speedrome Chemung, N.Y. Sunoco Modified Jimmy Zacharias Candor, N.Y.
Colorado National Speedway Dacono, Colo. Gillett Vet Clinic Super Late Model Dominic Ursetta Arvada, Colo.
Columbus Motor Speedway Columbus, Ohio O’Reilly Auto Parts Late Model Chad Pendleton Grove City, Ohio
Devil’s Bowl Speedway West Haven, Vt. Bond Auto Parts Modified Todd Stone Middlebury, Vt.
East Carolina Motor Speedway Robersonville, N.C. Late Model Stock Car Jeff Shiflett Moyock, N.C.
Edmonton International Raceway Wetaskiwin, Alta. Late Model Super Stock EricaThiering Sherwood Park, Alb.
Elko Speedway Elko, Minn. MN Corn Growers Super Late Model Jacob Goede Carver, Minn.
Evergreen Speedway Monroe, Wash. Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Model Mike Holden Snohomish, Wash.
Grandview Speedway Bechtelsville, Pa. 358 Modified Jeff Strunk Boyertown, Penn.
Greenville Pickens Speedway Greenville, S.C. Late Model Stock Car Anthony Anders Easley, S.C.
Hickory Motor Speedway Hickory, N.C. Bojangles Late Model Josh Berry Hendersonville, Tenn.
Holland Motorsports Complex Holland, N.Y. Pro Modified Amy Catalano Ontario, N.Y.
Houston Motorsports Park Houston, Texas Fiesta Modified Joe Aramendia Seguin, Texas
I-80 Speedway Omaha, Neb. Super Late Model Tad Pospisil Norfolk, Neb.
Irwindale Speedway Irwindale, Calif. Lucas Oil Late Model Ryan Partridge Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Junction Motor Speedway McCool Junction, Neb. Late Model Cory Dumpert York, Neb.
Kalamazoo Speedway Kalamazoo, Mich. Outlaw Super Late Model Mike Brooks Kalamazoo, Mich.
Kern County Raceway Park Bakersfield, Calif. Citgo Late Model Brian Richardson Bakersfield, Calif.
Kil-Kare Raceway Xenia, Ohio Late Model Cody Robinson Kettering, Ohio
Kingsport Speedway Kingsport, Tenn. Late Model Stock Car Kres Vandyke Claypool Hill, Va.
LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway Salem, Wis. Kwik Trip Late Model Steve Carlson West Salem, Wis.
Lake County Speedway Plainsville, Ohio Lincoln Electric Pro Street Stock Scott Skufca Mentor, Ohio
Lake Erie Speedway North East, Pa. Plyler Overhead Door Modified Randy Culver North East, Penn.
Langley Speedway Hampton, Va. ComServe Verizon Wireless Late Model Stock Car Greg Edwards Poquoson, Va.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas, Nev. Super Late Model Scott Gafforini Las Vegas, Nev.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway Lebanon, Mo. O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model Kaleb Allison Mexico, Mo.
Lee Usa Speedway Lee, N.H. Super Modified Jake Stergios Candia, N.H.
Limaland Motorsports Park Lima, Ohio Reineke Modified Todd Sherman Churusbusco, Ind.
Lonesome Pine Raceway Coeburn, Va. Wallace KIA Late Model Stock Car Chad Finchum Knoxville, Tenn.
Magic Valley Speedway Twin Falls, Idaho Mountain Dew Late Model Kristopher McKean Jerome, Idaho
Monadnock Speedway Winchester, N.H. Sportsman Modified Todd Patnode Richmond, N.H.
Motor Mile Speedway Radford, Va. Late Model Stock Car Lee Pulliam Semora, N.C.
Motordrome Speedway Smithton, Pa. Late Model Bobby Henry Connellsville, Penn.
Myrtle Beach Speedway Myrtle Beach, S.C. Late Model Sam Yarbrough Myrtle Beach, S.C.
New Smyrna Speedway New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Super Late Model David Rogers Orlando, Fla.
Revolution Park Racing & Entertainment Complex Monroe, La. Bumper To Bumber Pro Late Model Kody Brusso Pensacola, Fla.
Riverhead Raceway Riverhead, N.Y. Modified Howie Brode East Islip, N.Y.
Rockford Speedway Rockford, Ill. Stanley Steemer Late Model Jon Reynolds, Jr. Rockford, Ill.
Salina Highbanks Speedway Salinas, Okla. Salina Highbanks Modified Jeran Frailey Chouteau, Okla.
South Boston Speedway South Boston, Va. Late Model Peyton Sellers Danville, Va.
Southern National Motorsports Park Lucama, N.C. Late Model Stock Tommy Lemons, Jr. Troy, N.C.
Spencer Speedway Williamson, N.Y. Sunoco Modified Rusty Smith Oxford, N.Y.
Stafford Motor Speedway Stafford, Conn. SK Modified Ted Christopher Plainville, Conn.
Stockton 99 Speedway Stockton, Calif. Grand American Modified Justin Philpott Tracy, Calif.
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Thompson, Conn. Sunoco Modified Ryan Preece Berlin, Conn.
Tucson Speedway Tucson, Ariz. Super Late Model Ron Norman Tucson, Ariz.
Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, N.Y. Modified Stewart Friesen Sprakers, N.Y.
Waterford Speedbowl Waterford, Conn. SK Modified Keith Rocco Wallingford, Conn.