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

Nichols, NY — The third annual Drivers’ Championship at Tioga Downs is rounding into shape as the stakes season rolls on. The top seven moneywinning drivers in North America, along with the top moneywinning driver at Tioga Downs, and one sponsor’s exemption will battle it out in Nichols, N.Y., on Sunday, August 2, for more than $43,000 in prize money.

The winner of the event will take home $25,000, second place $5,000, third place $4,000, and places four through nine will each receive $1,500.

If the field were set today the following drivers would be competing in the 2009 Drivers’ Championship:

Tim Tetrick: The “Bionic Man” has a $2 million lead on the field with more than $6.4 million in purse earnings this year. A few of Tetrick’s main victories have come with Passmaster Hanover in the $500,000 New Jersey Classic at The Meadowlands; Southwind Tempo, who has been untouchable this year in the open mare ranks; and Not Enough, who captured the Fan Hanover final at Mohawk.

Jason Bartlett: Yonkers Raceway’s leading driver has had a sensational year to this point with more than 300 wins and more than $4.4 million in earnings. Bartlett also represented the United States in the World Driving Championship where he finished sixth back in May.

Brian Sears: The “White Knight” rolls in at third place in the drivers’ earnings and is no stranger to the Drivers’ Championship event as in 2007 he was co-champion with Yannick Gingras. Although Sears has the least amount of starts of all the top drivers he still finds himself among the top of the rankings because of consistency. He pilots early Hambletonian favorite Muscle Hill, and also drives top free for all pacer Mister Big.

Dave Palone: HTA’s 2008 co-driver of the year along with Tim Tetrick currently sits in fourth place with more than $4 million in earnings. Racing mainly at The Meadows, Palone races in 16 races a day, four days a week, and pilots most of leading trainer Ron Burke’s horses at The Meadows. Some of his main mounts in 2009 are Ginger And Fred, Sheer Desire, and sophomore trotting filly Timelesswinner Two, when she is competing in sire stakes competition at The Meadows.

Ron Pierce: Pierce catapulted himself into the top seven moneywinning drivers after his victory with Well Said in the $1.3 million North America Cup. He has also been the pilot of early season standout pacer Winbak Speed, who has banked more than $450,000 for owner/trainer Wayne Givens.

Jody Jamieson: Pilot of top trotting colt Federal Flex, a definite contender for the 2009 Hambletonian. Jamieson and Federal Flex captured the $289,884 final of the Goodtimes Trot at Mohawk Raceway, where he currently leads in the drivers’ standings. His 396 wins leads the list of eligible drivers for the Drivers’ Championship.

George Brennan: The “Minister Of Speed” rounds out the top seven moneywinning drivers in North America. He steered If I Can Dream to victory in the $421,850 final of the Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers Raceway in mid-June. Brennan also captured the $200,000 NJSS final for 3-year-old trotting fillies with Margarita Momma at The Meadowlands the same night.

Jimmy Marohn, Jr.: Marohn currently leads the drivers’ standings in wins and earnings at Tioga Downs in 2009. He also recently captured his 1,000th career driving victory on June 10 at Tioga Downs with Spill The McBeans. He captured the $39,400 final of the M&J Oil and Lube pace on Sunday, June 28, at Tioga with P H Tornado, who equaled the track mark for a 4-year-old gelding pacer in 1:51.3.

Sponsor’s Exemption: Who will the 2009 sponsor’s exemption be? There is plenty of racing left to be done and plenty of money to be won, so stay tuned to see which nine drivers will compete for $43,000 in prize money on Sunday, August 2, at Tioga Downs.

We would like to thank our sponsors who make this event possible: Allerage Farms, All Events Engraving, Big Dee’s Tack and Vet Supplies, Bow River Jewelry, CGL, Community Press Paper, Delaware County Fair, Horsemen and Fair World, Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, LP Ciminelli, L.V. Harkness & Company, Maine Source, NTRA, Oneida Print Shop, Roberts Communication Network, STHHA, Tioga Downs, Towne Law Office, VIP Structures, and Winbak Farm.