The second season of the fiercest mini series in the Northeast is nearing the halfway point for 2008 and there is still a number of competitors that could become the King of Central New York.

With two feature races complete and another event with the qualifying events completed, only two points separate the top three in the standings, equivalent to the difference in a position on the race track. Those two points are also equivalent to the final margin between the top two in 2007.

Current ASCS Patriot point leader Bryan Howland holds that slim two point lead with two of the six features in the 315 Area Code completed. “Flyin’ Bryan” rebounded from a flat tire to place fifth at Canandaigua and then broke into Victory Lane at Brewerton this past Friday.

Jared Zimbardi and Chuck Hebing find themselves tied, just two back of Howland. While each of the top three have averaged third place finishes, Howland is ahead because of his win giving him an extra two points. Zimbardi and Hebing were the top two in Patriot points in 2007 and have strong starting spots for the make-up feature at Fulton in September.

Only 10 back of Howland is Central New York resident Bobby Breen. A second-place showing at Canandaigua set him up well, and he was able to keep himself in the chase with an eighth place at Brewerton after crashing on the first lap.

Part of the reason for this special series is to give competitors that aren’t running the full Patriot tour a chance to be involved in a points battle. Doug Norrie, of West Suffield, CT, has put himself squarely in the battle as he currently rounds out the top-five.

Blake Breen, Doug Emery, Mike Stelter, Chris Muhleisen and Jared Fink are the second five atop the standings; they are also the only other five drivers to qualify for all three features. With only minimum feature points tabulated for Fulton’s make-up feature, they will only strengthen their position within the point fund eligible spots after Labor Day.

In just three races, 48 different competitors have already competed in the 2008 A-Verdi King of CNY Series. Fifteen drivers have attempted each event, which has helped to make the average car count a healthy 29.33.

The final four features will be run at only two tracks: Fulton and Cayuga County. CCFS will play host to the next event on July 27, for a special A-Verdi Night at the Races. The Weedsport oval will also be the site of the Championship event on October 10 during Super DIRT Week.

Fulton’s two features will both be run on September 6 as part of the newly confirmed event. While the first feature order has already been determined, the second race will be wide open and should be highly challenged.

At least $3,000 will be in the point fund at the end of the year for those in the Top-10. That does not even include the point fund established by Walton’s Farm and Auto Repair for the Hard Charger of Central New York, tabulating point for drivers that pass car only in the King of CNY Races.

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Place Current Standings Total
1 Bryan Howland 396
2 Chuck Hebing 394
3 Jared Zimbardi 394
4 Bobby Breen 386
5 Doug Norrie 364
6 Blake Breen 358
7 Doug Emery 356
8 Mike Stelter 354
9 Chris Muhleisen 354
10 Jared Fink 322
11 Scott Kreutter 315
12 Daniel Lampron 309
13 Dave Wickham 301
14 Bubba Broderick 272
15 Joe August Jr. 260
16 Jason Barney 256
17 Tommy Wickham 238
18 Don Adamczyk 236
19 Brandon Warner 234
20 Geoff Quackenbush 230

2008 A-Verdi Storage Containers King of CNY Events:
May 3 Fulton Speedway Feature Postponed Until 9/6
June 7 Canandaigua Speedway Jason Barney
July 11 Brewerton Speedway Bryan Howland
July 27 Cayuga County Fair Speedway (Weedsport, NY)
Sept 6 Fulton Speedway (x2) (Fulton, NY)
Oct 10 Cayuga County Fair Speedway (Weedsport, NY)