Eldora’s 4-Crown To Determine $80K All Star Sprints Team Championship; Closest Battle In Series History
News Director 
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / ALL STAR CIRCUIT OF CHAMPIONS – BROWNSBURG, IN – It has been a long road to the 2023 Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 team championship, but the battle is far from over, as two teams are still in the hunt for the $80,000 payday, which will be determined in Eldora Speedway’s coveted 4-Crown Nationals on Saturday, September 23.
The championship points finale, the Series’ second appearance of the season at the “World’s Greatest Dirt Track,” will not only crown an All Star champion, but also award a $10,000 payday, officially capping All Star competition in the Buckeye State for 2023.
Only four points separate the two teams remaining in the All Star team championship chase. Rudeen Racing’s Rayce Rudeen Foundation/Sundollar Restoration No. 26, piloted by Angola, Indiana’s Zeb Wise, is currently on top of the standings with 5350 points, followed Clauson Marshall Racing’s NOS Energy Drink No. 7BC with 5346 points, driven by two-time and defending champion, Tyler Courtney.
Should Rudeen Racing’s Zeb Wise finish second or better, even with a win by Courtney, Rudeen Racing will clinch the team championship. A win by Courtney and a runner-up finish by Wise would tie the two with eight point-earning All Star victories each this season, and with each team also owning an identical number of point-earning runner-up finishes, the next championship tiebreaker is third-place finishes. Rudeen Racing leads Clauson-Marshall Racing by two (five versus three).
“I’m excited for Eldora,” Zeb Wise acknowledged. “It’s been an incredible year. Our team has worked so hard to be at the top and it’s been great to see them earn what they’ve worked so hard to achieve. They really do make my job easy, and although Eldora hasn’t been too kind to me, I’m confident our momentum going in will help us earn a championship.”
If Courtney, a former Kings Royal champion, wins Eldora’s 4-Crown Nationals and Wise finishes third or worse, a third-straight title would be secured for Clauson Marshall Racing. A championship can also be clinched with a finish of second or worse by Courtney, with Wise finishing at least three spots behind Courtney.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to battle with Zeb and Rudeen Racing for a championship. When I got hurt earlier this year, I wasn’t sure I was even going to be able to come back, let alone be in this position,” Courtney said. “I respect Zeb a lot, which makes this entire scenario even better. I’m ready to get to Eldora and leave it all out there.”
Champion Scenarios:
Rudeen Racing:
- A runner-up finish or better secures the team championship.
OR
- A finishing position within two spots of Clauson Marshall Racing, if Clauson Marshall does not finish first.
Clauson Marshall Racing:
- A first-place finish, with Rudeen Racing finishing third place or worse.
OR
- A second-place finish or worse, with Rudeen Racing finishing at least three spots behind Clauson Marshall Racing.
Vermeer Racing, and driver, Kerry Madsen, are currently third in the All Star team chase, followed by Lane Racing and Chris Windom who are fourth in the standings, and Bryan Grove Racing and New Jersey wheelman, Kyle Reinhardt, stand fifth in the standings. All three teams have secured their final position in owner points and cannot improve their respective positions, nor fall in the standings, if all teams attend on Saturday.
Seeling Motorsports and driver, Brandon Spithaler, and McCandless Motorsports and driver, Carl Bowser, represent the second points battle to be determined Saturday night, as both teams are fighting for sixth in the final owner points. Seeling Motorsports currently leads McCandless by 12 points.
D3 Motorsports and driver, Connor Morrell, finish their respectable rookie campaign with the All Stars with an eighth place finish in the owner points.
Eldora Speedway pit gates are scheduled to open at noon on Saturday, September 23. The All Star team meeting will commence at 4:30 p.m. followed by engine heat and hot laps.
