Todd Feutz leads pack at I-96 Speedway finale

By The Grand Rapids Press
September 17, 2009, 9:00AM

Cannonsburg's Todd Feutz already has clinched the Modified crown at I-96 Speedway ahead of this weekend's season championship races.

That's about the only thing that has slowed him down this year. Neither the pressures of being the track's defending champion nor being laid off from work since December has managed to interfere with Feutz's quest to repeat.

I-96 Speedway will host season championship races for its six weekly divisions Saturday, and Feutz already has clinched his class title.

The track hosted double features last weekend, and after being forced to the pits in the first race, Feutz returned to win the second to lock up the track championship. He leads Travis Stemler by 206 points.

"We had a make-up feature last Saturday, and I was running third when I cut a tire and wasn't able to finish the race," said Feutz, 37. "It was the only race I haven't finished all year. I have completed almost every lap they have raced out there, and that's what you need to do to win championships." Saturday's races will serve as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Feutz has seven victories entering the 7:30 p.m. program after winning eight times a year ago. He said this year's title has been much tougher to reel in, especially since he has been laid off from Brower & Miedema of Jenison.

He decided to keep his racing program going while he continues to search for work. "I worked harder this year than I ever had because of the money and economy," Feutz said. "OMM Engineering (of Grand Rapids) came on board last year as a sponsor, and if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't be able to have raced as much as I have. They help me enough to get me back to the track every week."