Becker, Grabouski, Thompson and Nienhiser Are The "Best Of The Midwest" for 2019

The 2019 racing season is complete and over the past two months we have been sharing the state point standings for the fourteen states that we tracked this year. And since all of them were done using the 5-point scale for all events, specials and weekly shows, with the winner getting five points, second four, third three, fourth two points and one point for fifth we can now combine them to determine who is the "Best In The Midwest" for 2019. And, as a reminder, the state by state champions for each of the four divisions precede the combined point standings.

For Illinois and Indiana we track the Crate Late Models separately, but when it comes to this summary and the multiple rules packages that exist for the Late Model division in the region we combine all of them together as one. So in other words, if it looks like a Late Model, it is a Late Model no matter what the engine or shock rules may be and for 2019 the top spot on the list belongs to WISSOTA Late Model hot shoe Chad Becker. The South Dakota State Champion also put up points in Minnesota and North Dakota giving him eight more markers than the runner-up Cory Dumpert. The Nebraska State Points champion Dumpert also shared the IMCA National Late Model Championship with the All Iowa Points Champion Matt Ryan who is tied for fourth with this year's Illinois Crate Late Model Champion Dakota Ewing. Another Illinois Crate racer, Aaron Heck added in points from Indiana to climb over Ewing on this list to rank third.

We do the same thing for the Sprint Cars where essentially if it has a wing, it is scored as a Sprint Car with Iowa being the only state where we break the standings out based upon cubic inches. This year's Best is Illinois state champion Paul Nienhiser who scored points this year primarily in a 410, but also in a 360 and 305 as well.  Wisconsin State Champion Bill Balog and the 2019 World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet tie for the second spot with fourth going to former Outlaws regular Jason Martin who now races in both the 305 and 360 classes based out of Lincoln, Nebraska. There is a tie for the fifth position as well between the Kansas state champion Jake Bubak and the North Dakota king Wade Nygaard.

There are three major sanctioning bodies for the Modified division in the states that we cover and the IMCA National Champion Jordan Grabouski tops the Best of the Midwest standings for 2019.  Grabouski won our Nebraska state title this season and has also been a Kansas state champion in the past. Not far behind him is this year's Minnesota state champion Shane Sabraski and joining them on the podium is the Illinois champion Allen Weisser. Kelly Shryock who finished second in the 2019 All Iowa Points ranks fourth here with some added points from Minnesota and Arkansas while first-time All Iowa Points king Joel Rust completes the top five.

Our overall champion this year, the driver who earned the most points in his one division is Sioux City, Iowa's, Cody Thompson and the interesting thing is that Thompson did not even win a state title in 2019. He was the 2018 All Iowa Points Limited Modified champion and this year he finished third in Iowa, third in Nebraska, second in South Dakota, plus he scored points in Missouri, Kansas and North Dakota as well to accumulate an impressive total of 269. Second on this list is the driver who bested Thompson in South Dakota, Cole Searing who also did some traveling from his base in Huron as he earned points in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin during 2019. This year's All Iowa Points champion Tyler Soppe ties Searing for the second spot while Missouri's champion and last year's Best of the Midwest in this division Kris Jackson stands in fourth. Finishing fifth is Brayton Carter who was in the battle for the Iowa tile all the way until the final weekend.

From Cody Thompson's Facebook page - Memories Captured photo

To get a background on the state points and to follow the All Iowa Points throughout the racing season, check into the Points page at Positively Racing.

2019 Late Model State Champions

Arkansas - Mark Nichols, Bono

Illinois (Crates) - Dakota Ewing, Decatur

Illinois (Supers) - Brian Shirley, Chatham

Indiana (Crates) Marty O'Neal, Martinsville

Indiana (Supers) - Shelby Miles, Bloomington

Iowa - Matt Ryan, Davenport

Kansas - Dusty Leonard, Marysville

Kentucky - Zack Dohm, Cross Lanes WV

Michigan - Ryan Vanderveen, Six Lakes

Minnesota - Ryan Mikkelson, Jamestown ND

Missouri - Tommy Cordray, Browning

Nebraska - Cory Dumpert, York

North Dakota - Dustin Strand, Grand Forks

Oklahoma - Kip Hughes, Enid

South Dakota - Chad Becker, Aberdeen

Wisconsin - Jesse Glenz, Cadott and Nick Anvelink, Navarino (tie)

		Best In The Midwest 2019
		Late Model
Pos.		Driver	Hometown	Points
1	.	Chad Becker	Aberdeen SD	154
2	.	Cory Dumpert	York NE	146
3	.	Aaron Heck	Mt. Vernon IL	139
4	.	Dakota Ewing	Decatur IL	137
5	.	Matt Ryan	Davenport IA	137
6	.	Denny Woodworth	Mendon IL	132
7	.	Jeremiah Hurst	Dubuque IA	118
8	.	Logan Moody	Catlin IL	117
9	.	Bobby Pierce	Oakwood IL	114
10	.	Brian Shirley	Chatham IL	113
11	.	Jeff Aikey	Cedar Falls IA	111
12	.	Pat Doar	New Richmond WI	111
13	.	Torin Mettille	Cullom IL	105
14	.	Brandon Sheppard	New Berlin IL	100
15	.	Daryn Klein	Fairview Heights IL	99
16	.	Don Shaw	Ham Lake MN	98
17	.	Tyler Bruening	Decorah IA	97
18	.	Tommy Cordray	Browning MO	95
19	.	Rusty Schlenk	McClure OH	89
20	.	Andy Nezworski	Buffalo IA	87
21	.	Mike Chasteen Jr.	Peoria IL	86
22	.	Jake Little	Springfield IL	82
23	.	Ryan Mikkelson	Jamestown ND	82
24	.	Jesse Glenz	Cadott WI	80
25	.	John Kaanta	Eau Claire WI	80
26	.	Justin Kay	Wheatland IA	79
27	.	Ryan Vanderveen	Six Lakes MI	77
28	.	Aaron Marrant	Richmond MO	76
29	.	Ben Wolden	Fergus Falls MN	76
30	.	Nick Anvelink	Navarino WI	73
31	.	Shelby Miles	Bloomington IN	73
32	.	Brandon Eskew	Ashland IL	72
33	.	Kyle Peterlin	Hibbing MN	72
34	.	Dan Gullikson	Roberts WI	71
35	.	Deven VanHouse	Silver Bay MN	71
36	.	Mike Spatola	Manhattan IL	70
37	.	Tommy Elston	Keokuk IA	69
38	.	Darrell Nelson	Hermanton MN	67
39	.	Lance Hofer	Cochrane WI	67
40	.	Ryan Unzicker	El Paso IL	67
41	.	David Mielke	Gladwin MI	65
42	.	Cole Henson	Russellville MO	64
43	.	Dona Marcoullier	Houghton Lake MI	64
44	.	Greg Cantrell	DeKalb IL	64
45	.	Derek Vesel	Hibbing MN	63
46	.	Eric Spangler	Lake City MI	62
47	.	Zach Zentner	Cedar Rapids NE	62
48	.	Brandon Thirlby	Traverse City MI	61
49	.	Jake Redetzke	Eau Claire WI	61
50	.	Brad Seng	Grand Forks ND	60
51	.	Jacob Brown	Omaha NE	60

2019 Winged Sprint Car State Champions

Arkansas - Dale Howard, Byhalia MS

Illinois - Paul Nienhiser, Chapin

Indiana - Eric Saunders,  Lakeville

Iowa 305's - Tyler Drueke, Eagle NE

Iowa 360's - Jack Dover, Springfield NE

Iowa 410's - Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO

Kansas - Jake Bubak, Golden CO

Michigan - Ryan Ruhl, Coldwater

Minnesota - Bill Johnson, St. Peter

Missouri - Tyler Blank, California

Nebraska - Tyler Drueke, Eagle

North Dakota - Wade Nygaard, Fargo

Oklahoma - Tanner Conn, Oklahoma City

South Dakota - Daniel Nekolite, O'Neill NE

Wisconsin - Ball Balog, Brrokfield

		Best In The Midwest 2019
		Winged Sprints (All)
Pos.		Driver	Hometown	Points
1	.	Paul Nienhiser	Chapin IL	77
2	.	Bill Balog	Brookfield WI	75
3	.	Brad Sweet	Grass Valley CA	75
4	.	Jason Martin	Lincoln NE	73
5	.	Jake Bubak	Golden CO	70
6	.	Wade Nygaard	Fargo ND	70
7	.	Dale Howard	Byhalia MS	67
8	.	Mike Houseman Jr.	Des Moines	66
9	.	Mike Moore	Des Moines IA	65
10	.	David Gravel	Waterford CT	63
11	.	Sam Hafertepe Jr.	Sunnyvale TX	61
12	.	Tyler Blank	California	60
13	.	Blake Hahn	Sapulpa OK	58
14	.	Jack Dover	Springfield NE	56
15	.	Travis Arenz	Sheboygan WI	56
16	.	Mark Dobmeier	Fargo ND	54
17	.	Jack Potter	Lees Summit	53
18	.	Tyler Drueke	Eagle NE	53
19	.	Robbie Standridge	Springfield IL	51
20	.	Bill Johnson	St. Peter MN	50
21	.	Scotty Thiel	Sheboygan WI	50
22	.	Jake Martens	Fairview OK	49
23	.	Terry McCarl	Altoona IA	49
24	.	Brian Brown	Grain Valley MO	48
25	.	Lee Grosz	Harwood ND	48
26	.	Jeremy Schultz	Beaver Dam WI	47
27	.	Joey Montgomery	Fredericktown	47
28	.	Wayne Johnson	Oklahoma City OK	47
29	.	Eric Saunders	Lakeville IN	45
30	.	Jonathan Cornell	Sedalia	44
31	.	Ryan Ruhl	Coldwater	44
32	.	Donny Schatz	Fargo ND	44
33	.	Miles Paulus	Marshall	43
34	.	Logan Schuchart	Hanover PA	43
35	.	Bob Dvorak	Stuart NE	42
36	.	Daniel Nekolite	O'Neill NE	42
37	.	Trevor Grossenbacher	Hickman NE	42
38	.	Phil Gressman	Helena OH	41
39	.	Austin Pierce	Grand Forks ND	40
40	.	Gregg Dalman	Bellevue	40
41	.	Tanner Conn	Oklahoma City OK	40

2019 Modified State Champions

Arkansas - Drew Armstrong, Benton

Illinois - Allen Weisser, Peoria

Indiana - Jamie Lomax, Lake Village

Iowa - Joel Rust, Grundy Center

Kansas - Clay Money, Penokee

Kentucky - Victor Lee, Stanford

Michigan - Matt Szecsodi, Clio

Minnesota - Shane Sabraski, Rice

Missouri - Dennis Elliott, Mount Ayr IA

Nebraska - Jordan Grabouski, Baetrice

North Dakota - Tom Berry Jr., Newburg

Oklahoma - Tanner Mullens, Wichita KS

South Dakota - Trevor Anderson, Watertown

Wisconsin - Mike Anderson, Jim Falls

		Best In The Midwest 2019
		Modified
Pos.		Driver	Hometown	Points
1	.	Jordan Grabouski	Beatrice NE	253
2	.	Shane Sabraski	Rice MN	217
3	.	Allen Weisser	Peoria IL	193
4	.	Kelly Shryock	Fertile IA	176
5	.	Joel Rust	Grundy Center IA	170
6	.	Jeff Larson	Freeport IL	153
7	.	Mike Harrison	Highland IL	152
8	.	Ricky Thornton Jr.	Chandler AZ	152
9	.	Brandon Davis	Medford MN	148
10	.	Jamie Lomax	Lake Village IN	141
11	.	Rodney Sanders	Happy TX	141
12	.	Anthony Roth	Columbus NE	139
13	.	Mike Anderson	Jim Falls WI	136
14	.	Johnny Broking	Grand Rapids MN	131
15	.	Tommy Sheppard Jr.	New Berlin IL	129
16	.	Tyler Nicely	Owensboro KY	129
17	.	Dan Ebert	Lake Shore MN	123
18	.	Will Krup	Mt. Carmel IL	123
19	.	Nick Hoffman	Mooresville NC	121
20	.	Tom Berry Jr.	Newburg ND	118
21	.	Jeff Aikey	Cedar Falls IA	117
22	.	Cayden Carter	Oskaloosa IA	114
23	.	Derek Losh	Rensselaer IN	113
24	.	Drew Armstrong	Benton AR	112
25	.	Jesse Dennis	Corning IA	111
26	.	Tyler Wolff	Fayetteville AR	108
27	.	Dustin Sorenson	Rochester MN	108
28	.	Casey Arneson	Fargo ND	104
29	.	Tim Ward	Gilbert AZ	103
30	.	Justin Oestreich	Elk River MN	102
31	.	Aaron Johnson	Brainerd MN	98
32	.	Jeremy Mills	Garner IA	98
33	.	Brandon Beckendorf	Danube MN	93
34	.	Danny Vang	Deerwood MN	93
35	.	Matt Szecsodi	Clio MI	92
36	.	David Wietholder	Liberty IL	91
37	.	Jordan Weaver	Bloomington IN	91
38	.	Darrell Nelson	Hermantown MN	90
39	.	James Walters	Brazil IN	88
40	.	Jody Bellefeuille	Duluth MN	86
41	.	Mike McKinney	Plainfield IL	85
42	.	Donovan Lodge	Moline IL	84
43	.	Shane Demey	Denison IA	84
44	.	Jeff Taylor	Cave City AR	83
45	.	Myron DeYoung	Stanton MI	83
46	.	Clay Money	Penokee KS	82
47	.	Dennis Elliott	Mount Ayr IA	82
48	.	Tanner Mullens	Wichita KS	82

2019 Limited Modified State Champions

Arkansas - Brandon Ball, Texarkana

Illinois - Tim Hancock Sr., Mount Olive

Iowa - Tyler Soppe, Sherrill

Kansas - Tyler Kidwell, Chanute

Kentucky - David Colyer

Minnesota - Matthew Looft, Swea City IA

Missouri - Kris Jackson, Lebanon

Nebraska - Shawn Harker, Nebraska City

North Dakota - Kelly Henderson, Minot

Oklahoma - Clint Johnson, Neosho MO

South Dakota - Cole Searing, Huron

Wisconsin - Shane Halopka, Greenwood

		Best In The Midwest 2019
		Limited Modifieds
Pos.		Driver	Hometown	Points
1	.	Cody Thompson	Sioux City IA	269
2	.	Cole Searing	Huron SD	202
3	.	Tyler Soppe	Sherrill IA	202
4	.	Kris Jackson	Lebanon MO	194
5	.	Brayton Carter	Oskaloosa IA	188
6	.	Matthew Looft	Swea City IA	176
7	.	Dan Hovden	Decorah IA	170
8	.	Skeeter Estey	Kelly Lake MN	160
9	.	Jake McBirnie	Boone IA	154
10	.	Shane Halopka	Greenwood WI	150
11	.	Andy Bryant	Fort Scott KS	145
12	.	Ryan Gillmore	Springfield MO	140
13	.	Tyler Kidwell	Chanute KS	135
14	.	Jared Boumeester	Ellendale MN	129
15	.	Clint Johnson	Neosho MO	124
16	.	Jackie Dalton	Carthage MO	123
17	.	Tony Olson	Cedar Rapids IA	123
18	.	Doug Smith	Lake City IA	122
19	.	Austen Becerra	Carthage IL	113
20	.	J.C. Morton	Springfield MO	113
21	.	Logan Anderson	Eddyville IA	112
22	.	Luke Stallbaumer	Tecumseh KS	107
23	.	Tim Hancock Sr.	Mount Olive IL	106
24	.	Hunter Longnecker	Woodward IA	101
25	.	Dakota Sproul	Ellis KS	100
26	.	Calvin Iverson	Eleva WI	98
27	.	Cody Olsen	Omaha NE	98
28	.	Colby Fett	Algona IA	94
29	.	Elijah Koenig	Fox Lake WI	94
30	.	Kyle Olson	Cedar Rapids IA	94
31	.	Shawn Harker	Nebraska City NE	94
32	.	Jake Richards	Edwardsville KS	92
33	.	Adam Birck	Canton MO	91
34	.	Ed Roley	Mattoon IL	91
35	.	Kadden Kath	Owatonna MN	90
36	.	Chris Budzban	Luxemburg WI	89
37	.	Jake Hagemann	Fort Ripley MN	87
38	.	Jared Baird	Woodward OK	87
39	.	Rusty Montagne	North Sioux City SD	87
40	.	Jerry Miles	Dubuque IA	85
41	.	Chase Galvan	Bonner Springs KS	83
42	.	David Siercks	Princeton MN	83
43	.	Blaine Walt	Collyer KS	82
44	.	Brock Gronwold	Fergus Falls MN	82
45	.	Mark Martini	Avon MN	82
46	.	Kelly Henderson	Minot ND	81
47	.	Matthew Andrews	Seward NE	81
48	.	Robert Elliott	Clinton OK	80