by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs

Nichols, NY — The field for the third annual Drivers’ Championship at Tioga Downs is halfway down the lane and could end in a photo finish on Saturday night.

The top seven money winning drivers in North America at this point are, in order, Tim Tetrick, Jason Bartlett, Ron Pierce, Brian Sears, Dave Palone, Jody Jamieson, and George Brennan. Four days of racing remain until the cut off date of Sunday morning, July 26, to unveil who is in and who is out of the Championship, to be contested on Sunday, August 2.

Currently on the outside looking in are Andy Miller, who is less than $21,000 away from seventh place, but will have heavy favorite Lucky Jim in the rich Maple Leaf Trot on Saturday night at Mohawk. If he were to cop the winnner’s share of Saturday night’s C$730,000 purse it would catapult him into the middle of the pack and into the Drivers’ Championship for the third consecutive year.

Yannick Gingras currently sits in ninth place, less than $60,000 in back of seventh and will also have a chance at some big money this weekend. Gingras will drive Darlin’s Delight, who could be the post time favorite for the C$405,000 Roses Are Red final on Saturday night. He will also be driving Four Starz Speed in the C$730,000 Maple Leaf Trot for trainer Ron Burke. With the potential at C$500,000 or more in purses for Saturday night he is threatening to jump considerably up the list and defend his back-to-back Drivers’ Championship titles at Tioga Downs.

The leading money winning driver at Tioga Downs continues to be Jimmy Marohn, Jr., but not without a scare this past weekend as Jim Morrill, Jr. made up a remarkable amount of ground. After being more than $150,000 down going into last weekend he now sits less than $20,000 behind Marohn. However, with Morrill not competing at Tioga Downs this weekend Marohn will look to secure his spot in the Drivers’ Championship.

The nine drivers competing in the Championship will be on hand for a meet and greet along with an autograph session on the trackside apron beginning at 12:00 p.m. Also featured on Sunday, August 2, is the Yannick Gingras bobblehead giveaway, beginning at 12:00 p.m. on the trackside apron before the first post at 1:30 p.m.

Below in the top ten money earning drivers in North America:

1. Tim Tetrick — $7,569,463
2. Jason Bartlett — $5,101,709
3. Ron Pierce — $5,084,624
4. Brian Sears — $4,816,065
5. Dave Palone — $4,771,485
6. Jody Jamieson — $4,478,009
7. George Brennan — $4,390,135
8. Andy Miller — $4,369,874
9. Yannick Gingras — $4,330,901
10. David Miller — $4,329,846