by Emily Gaskin for Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — The top ten drivers at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will take center stage on Saturday (Oct. 22) as they compete in a five-race challenge in the second and final round of the 2016 All-Star Driver Series. The All-Star Driver Series will once again pit the top ten drivers at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino against one another in a five-race challenge competing for the dream prize of their choice, a $10,000 cash prize, an exotic vacation, or their favorite “always wanted to have” toy.

Eight of the ten coveted spots in the second round of the series were based upon points earned in the first round of the challenge that was held at Hoosier Park on Saturday (July 23). With a total of 49 points, Sam Widger took home top honors and walked away with the lion’s share of the $5,000 prize after the opening round.

With their points from the first challenge carrying over to round two, Widger will lead the top eight finishers from Round One into Round Two followed closely by John DeLong and Dan Shetler who finished second and third, respectively.

With eight of the ten spots determined after Round One, Ross Leonard and LeWayne Miller will complete the final two positions as determined by the official Hoosier Park standings at the conclusion of the live racing card that was held on Saturday (Oct. 15).

In each of the challenges, the drivers selected the horses they will drive via a draft system for all five of the races in the challenge at a community luncheon held at Hoosier Park earlier this week. In the first race of the challenge, the top driver, Trace Tetrick, received first pick of the horse he wanted to drive and he selected G’s High Shooter from post seven for trainer Tyler George. Next the number two driver, John DeLong, selected and then continued through all 10 drivers.

For the second race of the challenge, the selection order was inverted and the number 10 driver, Dan Shetler, picked first and selected Big Better Best from post two for trainer Bernie Wolin. This drafting system continued through all five races of the challenge.

On Saturday, points will be awarded in each of the five races ranging from 15 points for the winners down to one point for the 10th-place finisher. Should a driver’s horse be scratched from one of the contest races, a driver will automatically receive five points.

The challenge races will be five consecutive races, races six through 10, and compliment the 14-race card slated for Saturday. After the dust settles and the points have been tallied from each of the five races, not only will one driver be crowned the champion of the 2016 All-Star Driver series, but also have their choice of a dream prize.

With a daily post time of 5:45 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 12. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.