MAUMEE, Ohio -- It's hard to believe, but the 2009 racing season is past the midway mark and only 6 more points races remain on the inaugural Kistler Racing Products FAST Championship schedule. As we prepare for FAST events #17 and #18 this weekend, Craig Mintz leads Byron Reed by 72 points in the quest for the Kistler Cup and the $10,000 payday at the end of the season. Mintz, who now has 4 wins in FAST competition, has had a banner year in his young racing career. Byron Reed has remained consistent week after week, but is still searching for that first elusive win of the 2009 season.

Mintz's 72 point lead is a healthy margin, but he has certainly not locked up the championship just yet. Reed holds several track championships at Attica and Fremont and it could come down to the wire as Reed historically comes on strong through the second half of the season. Mintz will have to maintain his consistency as Reed chases him down.

Brandon Martin has quietly climbed back into the third spot and sits 132 points behind Mintz and just 14 points ahead of fourth place Mark Keegan. Both could mix it up with Reed and shuffle the Top 3 over the next six events. Chris Andrews rounds out the Top 5 and has his hands full sitting just 40 points ahead of 10th place.

With only 13 points still separating 6th through 10 place, the remaining 6 events should prove to be exciting and intense as these teams duke it out to move up the ladder. Mike Linder (1067 pts), Cap Henry (1063 pts), Caleb Griffith (1061 pts), Bryan Sebetto (1057 pts), and Lee Jacobs (1054 pts) have all been tough this season and they are all clawing their way toward a shot at the Top 5.

Cap Henry leads the FAST Rookie of the Year chase by 61 points over Kevin Lee and 230 points over Duane Zablocki. All three drivers have had impressive runs this season in the 410 ranks, but Henry has been the most consistent finisher each weekend.

For more information on FAST, visit www.fastondirt.com to get the latest news and information. Also, visit www.atticaracewaypark and www.fremontohspeedway.com for all the latest on both tracks from week to week. We hope to see you all in attendance at the next FAST event. Get to the track before the season winds down to a close.

FAST by the Numbers Through 7-24-09 (by Chris Kettman)

99...the number of drivers to have appeared in 410 compettion at the two F.A.S.T. tracks to this point in the 2009 season...

72...the number of points that separate point leader Craig Mintz from second place Byron Reed in the quest for the Fremont / Attica Sprint Title...

66...66 of those 99 drivers have gained points in at least one F.A.S.T. event making them eligible for the 2009 Kistler Cup...

61...number of points that separate first place Cap Henry and second place Kevin Lee in F.A.S.T. rookie of the year points...

53...by starting Friday's feature at Attica, Sam Hafertepe Jr became the 53rd different driver to have qualified for an A main in F.A.S.T. competition...

30...30 is the average car count on F.A.S.T. point nights...

20...20 different drivers have recorded podium finishes with the F.A.S.T. series this season...with four wins, a second, and a third, Craig Mintz leads the way with 6...others with multiple podium finishes include Tim Shaffer with four...Chad Kemenah, Mark Keegan, and Greg Wilson all with three...and Lee Jacobs and Byron Reed with two...

13...the number of points separating 6th through 10th place in the F.A.S.T. Championship point standings...(Mike Linder 6th with 1067, Cap Henry 7th with 1063, Caleb Griffith 8th with 1061, Bryan Sebetto 9th with 1057, and Lee Jacobs with 1054)...

12...12 drivers have competed in all 12 F.A.S.T. point races (Chris Andrews, Caleb Griffith, Cap Henry, Mark Keegan, Kevin Lee, Mike Linder, Brandon Martin, Craig Mintz, Byron Reed, Bryan Sebetto, Brian Smith, and Duane Zablocki)...

11...Byron Reed has 11 finishes of tenth or better in twelve FAST events...following him in top ten finishes are Craig Mintz with 10 and Brandon Martin with 8...

9...there has been 9 different winners in F.A.S.T. competition...Friday's winner Craig Mintz is the only multiple winner with four (two wins at Fremont and two at Attica)...others winners are Brian Smith, Tim Shaffer, Brooke Tatnell, Brock Mayes, Chad Kemenah, Chris Andrews, Dale Blaney, and Lee Jacobs...

8...point leader Craig Mintz has 8 top five finishes at this point in the F.A.S.T. season to lead the way...Tim Shaffer has six...while Chad Kemenah and Greg Wilson with four are the only other drivers to have recorded more then three top five finishes...

6...only 6 chances to gain valuable F.A.S.T. points remain on the 2009 schedule...the weekends of July 31st / Aug 1st and Aug 7th / 8th...followed by the Kistler Racing Products Season Championship nights at both tracks - (Attica - August 29th) and (Fremont - September 12th)...

3...Byron Reed, Brandon Martin, and Mark Keegan continued their streaks of being the only 3 drivers to start every F.A.S.T. A main to be contested to this point in the season...

1...one driver and team will be awarded the winners share of over $50,000 in cash and prizes when the inaugural Kistler Racing Products Fremont / Attica Sprint Title Champion is named at Fremont Speedway on September 12th...

Win A Trip For Two To The World Finals in Charlotte:

Hoserville Ohio & the Kistler Racing Products F.A.S.T. Series have teamed up to give some lucky fans the chance of going to the 2009 World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Lowes Motor Speedway (Nov. 5th-7th) in Charlotte, NC. The prize package includes: 2 tickets & pit passes to ALL 3 NIGHTS of racing action featuring the World of Outlaw Sprints & Late Models. Plus a 3-night stay at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel near the track & a $50 gas card to help get you there. Raffle tickets can be purchased online for $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. You do not need to be present to win this drawing & the winner is responsible for transportation to and from Charlotte. You can purchase raffle tickets online at www.fastondirt.com.

FAST on Dirt, Inc. would like to thank the following contributors to the 2009 FAST Championship Series point fund:

Kistler Racing Products, All Star Plumbing & Heating, KS Sales & Service, Engler Machine & Tool, Henry MotorSports Inc., Black Swamp Media Group, MyHeroCards.com, Banshee Graphics, Kears Speed Shop, Computer Man, Inc., SCS Gearbox, The Hideaway Inn (Bucyrus), RockAuto.com, Hoserville Ohio, Hoseheads.com, RacingFansDirect.com, Level Performance, R&R Auto Wrecking, Reebar Diecasting, Performance Metals, Inc., FSR Radiator, Real Geese, Buckeye IT Services, High Vista Video, Racers Racing for a Cure, Gressman Powersports, NAPA of Bryan, OH, Gaerte Engines, Bobby's Truck & Auto Repair, Tiffin Brake & Wheel, Action Photos, Golden Graphics, Goofy Golf, African Safari, and Ghostly Manor

Also, a very special thanks to all of our contingency award sponsors:

Rod End Supply, Hank's Performance, Hepfner Racing Products, TQ Fiberglass, GME Nields Steering, Race Coveralls, Speed Meets Art, SuperShox, Callies, Astro Titanium, G-Force Racing, Fuel Safe, Racing Optics, Rocket Headers, Wings Unlimited, VRP Shocks, Kinsler Injections, RAM Engineering Midwest, PRO Shocks, DJ Safety, C&R Racing Products, ButlerBuilt, Permatex, Movement Arts Sponsor Disk, Zemco Headers, Kinser Filters, Outerwears, DMI Race Components, Keizer Wheels, Linders Speed Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, RacingJunk.com, Triple X Race Components, Randy's Racing Filters, Hinchman Indy Uniforms, VMAC/BR Motorsports, Awesome Signs, KSE Steering, CGS Imaging