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NASCAR SJAPS: Slim Jim All Pro Series Finale This Weekend

12 November 1998

Homestead, Fla. -The 19th and final race of the 1998 Slim Jim All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring, schedule is set to take place this Saturday afternoon at Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex in Homestead, Fla.

The $92,650 Greased Lightning 150 will get the green flag at 1:15 p.m. EST and represents the second series visit to the 1.50 mile oval in 1998.

Back in March, Mooresville, N.C.'s Freddie Query, from his outside front row starting position, grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag and proceeded to lead all 50 laps to capture his first win of 1998. Since that time the 46-year-old Query has garnered eight more wins and sits atop the point standings by a comfortable 160 point margin over 1997 champion Hal Goodson. Query must simply start this weekend's race to earn his first career NASCAR Touring Series championship.

Even though Query has virtually locked up the series championship, several point positions remain to be settled. Goodson leads Derrick Gilchrist by 42 points for the runner-up position and Gilchrist has been the model of consistency this year. In 18 starts the Raleigh, N.C. native has garnered 10 top five and 15 top 10 finishes, more top 10's than any other driver. The fourth and fifth positions are also still up for grabs as Steven Christian, in his last ride for departing sponsor BellSouth, attempts to hold off Billy Bigley, Jr. Bigley trails Christian by 37 points.

The second half of the top 10 could change measurably. Zephyrhills, Fla.'s David Reutimann leads Conyers, Ga.'s Ron Young by a mere 17 points for the sixth position while leading rookie Scott Kilby trails Young by only 14 points. Although the final order won't be determined until the checkered flag waves, these three drivers will likely hold down the sixth through eighth positions.

The ninth and 10th positions are also be subject to change as Sean Studer, rookie Ronnie Burkett and Randy Gentry are separated by just 13 points.

Bud Pole qualifying for the Slim Jim All Pro Series will take place on Friday afternoon, following NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division time trials. Forty starting spots will be up for grabs, with the top 36 positions going to the 36 fastest drivers. Four additional starting spots will be available to any of the top 30 drivers in the current 1998 Slim Jim All Pro Series Championship point standings, who have not qualified for one of the original 36 starting positions.

The Greased Lightning 150 will air on a tape delayed basis on ESPN2 on November 15 at 7:30 p.m. and on ESPN on November 22 at Noon EST.