Chad Finley to sit the rest of the season due to an injury. Leslie, Michigan veteran, Tom Fedewa to step into the Team Finley Racing machine for Oktoberfest.
By Team Finley Racing/M.P.H. Promotions

Dewitt, Michigan (10/04/2007): The 2007 ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts Shootout Season Championships are this Saturday October 6, 2007 during the 38th annual Oktoberfest Weekend at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway, located East of the Minnesota/Wisconsin state line in West Salem, Wisconsin.

Team Finley Racing will be heading out to the fast 0.545 Mile Progressively Banked Paved Oval, but once again without its’ primary driver; 15-year-old Chad Finley, who is still recovering from a severe break to his Left Thumb suffered in a crash at the Hawkeye Downs (IA) Speedway back on September 1, 2007.

The break to Finley’s thumb tore it completely away from the joint and still hasn’t healed enough to allow the DeWitt, Michigan teenager to compete forcing Car Owner/Crew Chief, Jeff Finley, Chad’s Father to park his son for the remainder of the 2007 season.

With Team Finley Racing sitting 11th in the ASALMS Northern Division Owners Points thanks to the efforts of Columbus, Ohio veteran, Robbie Pyle and Kansas City, Missouri teenager, Mike Vannoy Jr., in the event that Chad has missed, the team will head to Oktoberfest Weekend with a driver they feel very comfortable with behind the wheel.

Leslie, Michigan veteran, Tom Fedewa will climb into the drivers seat this weekend and fill in for the injured 15-year-old during the Oktoberfest 100. Fedewa is no stranger to the traveling Late Model circuits as a former competitor in the now defunct Iceman Super Car Series. Over the last several seasons, Fedewa has raced in the Auto Value Super Sprints Series where he has won Three Series Championships in 2002, 2003, and more recently in 2006.

“I’m really looking forward to this race, I love the longer races and this will bring back some good memories from my Iceman days.” Fedewa stated as he prepares for his ASALMS Debut. “ They’ve (Team Finley Racing) have had an up and down year and hopefully I can help them out this weekend, put the car in the show and be running at the end.” He added.

Earlier this season, Fedewa took the win in the Harvest 100, a special Outlaw Bodies Super Late Models event at the Spartan (MI) Speedway, located South of Lansing in Mason, Michigan back on September 2, 2007. Fedewa drove the car vacated by the late Stan Perry, who tragically passed away on May 4, 2007 while competing at the 0.250 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval.

As for Chad Finley; “Chad still is not 100%. Chad and I talked it over and thought this late in the year and this being the last race of the year we are better off to let him get healthy and be a 100% for next year!" Stated Car Owner, Jeff Finley after making the decision to park his son for the remainder of the season.

“We’ve spent the whole year building this team and one more race is not going to be that big of a deal. We will put Tommy Fedewa in the car. He is someone both Chad and this race team have a lot of faith in. Tom knows what he needs in the car and should be good right off the bat.” The elder Finley continued.

“With Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil and ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products coming on board this weekend for Oktoberfest, we need a good solid run and we think Tom can deliver that for us.” Finley ended.

"There’s nobody else I’d rather have in the car.” Added Chad Finley, who earlier this season captured the 2007 Rookie of the Year title in the Spartan Speedway’s weekly Super Late Models division. “Tommy has been a great mentor to me and I’ve learned a lot watching and listening to him. I hope he can come home with a good finish to keep us up there in owners points and we will come back full throttle next year.” Chad added.

In 1984 he began his racing career at the Spartan Speedway and over the years, Fedewa has driven just about anything with four wheels. After making some select ARCA appearances in early 90s, Fedewa ran full-time with the now defunct Iceman Super Car Series from 1994-1997.

Even with traveling full-time with the Toledo, Ohio based series, Fedewa found time to run weekly at Spartan and captured the 1996 Super Late Models Track Championship. In 2000, Fedewa won his first Harvest 100 at Spartan.

A move to the high powered Pavement Sprint cars was next for the 39-year-old and he made his presence known in a hurry. Fedewa won the Auto Value Super Sprints Championship in 2002, 2003, and again in 2006 and is amongst the all-time leaders in nearly every statistical category in AVSS history.

As for 15-year-old Chad Finley, In Six ASALMS Northern Division Races in 2007, he has recorded one Top 10, which came at the I-70 (MO) Speedway back on June 9, 2007. Overall the 15-year-old racked up Two Top 15 finishes and despite missing the last two races, still sits 15th ASALMS Northern Division Overall Drivers Points Standings and can’t fall no further than 22nd depending on what happens at Oktoberfest.

Finley has carried sponsorship on the side of his Team Finley Chevrolet Monte Carlo and occasionally a Ford Fusion throughout the year from; Carquest Auto Parts as well as Northside Service, Annie Rae Chevrolet, Nalett Trucking, Howe Racing Enterprises, J.D.’s Racing Design, M.P.H. Promotions, Team Rensi Motorsports, and Team Finley Racing.

For Oktoberfest, Joe Gibbs Racing Driven Racing Oil and ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products have climbed on board to support Team Finley Racings’ efforts.

To learn more about Chad Finley and Team Finley Racing and to inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the 2008 season, log onto the website at: http://www.chadfinley.com