by Brian J. Mazurek, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Last season on opening night at Batavia Downs, there were three top drivers nationally ranked racing on the program. They included Jim Morrill, Jr. (5,500 career wins), Dan Noble (3,330 career wins) and defending champion Shawn Gray (2,996 career wins). That’s nearly 12,000 wins. All three are gone for now.

John Cummings, Jr. will be giving everyone a head start as he starting out the meet in the penalty box. Ray Fisher, Jr. won the 2013 Buffalo Raceway championship but he’s out injured along with Jack Flanigen. Both were hurt during a spill earlier in the month at the Hamburg track. Neither is expected back in the race bike anytime soon.

That’s a lot of talent driving elsewhere or on the sidelines.

So the question is…who is favorite to take dash leading driver honors at the Downs this season?

Some potential candidates include Kevin Cummings who won Batavia Downs driving crowns in 2009 and 2010. He registered 117 and 108 wins while taking home the titles in the past. He has 2,572 victories, including 103 thus far at Buffalo Raceway, and $10.2 million in career earnings.

Jim McNeight has 60 wins at Buffalo but his 3,163 career wins and $10.6 million in earnings makes him a threat. He finished third last season at Batavia Downs with 89 wins.

Ron Beback, Jr. has been on a hot streak of late and has 1,516 career wins and $5.4 million in career winnings.

Jack Rice is moving in from Vernon Downs and has 1,440 trips to the winner’s circle in his lifetime and $4.9 million in winnings.

A couple of new faces with more than 2,000 wins each include Fern Paquet, Jr. and Elliot Deaton.

There’s also a chance one of the ‘young guns’ in Western New York could battle for the crown. David McNeight III has 104 wins currently at Buffalo and Shawn McDonough has 68.

So take your pick. Nothing is certain this season and it all begins to unfold on Monday night when the nine-race card kicks off the 72-day meet at 6:30 p.m.