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Midlothian, Illinois (Wednesday, August 17, 2009): Jordan Sims knows he's in for a battle in the chase for the 2009 ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Rookie of the Year title with Lockport, Illinois driver, Josh Nelms.

The young Canadian had two chances to make a push at the rookie of the year points lead currently held by Nelms with Border Wars. On Friday, July 24th, Mother Nature had other ideas for Madison International Speedway and postponed the event there to Sunday, July 26th. So Rockford Speedway on Saturday, July 25th would be first up on the weekend agenda.

Unfortunately for the 19-year-old, the fast 1/4 (0.250) mile high-banked paved oval in Loves Park, Illinois didn't treat him so well despite an eighth place finish. As a caution flag was waving, Sims was slowing down when another car slammed into the back end of Sims. Despite the heavy damage and a long pit stop, Sims still managed a top 10 finish in a race won by fellow rookie, 16-year-old Ross Kenseth, the son of Daytona 500 winner, Matt Kenseth.

Because of the damage to Sims' #99 Gorilla Glue Chevrolet Impala from the incident at Rockford, the Lorz Motorsports Team elected to bring out the back-up ride, the #76 Lorz Motorsports Ford Fusion for the rescheduled race at Madison's 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval, the next day, Sunday, July 26th.

After getting acclimated to an unfamiliar car, Sims matched his career high finish of a fourth and in the process, closed the gap on Nelms in the chase for the 2009 ASALMS Northern Division Rookie of the Year title.

"Mike decided, to be competitive, we would have to bring the #76 car to Madison," Explained Crew Chief, Dan Lorz. "So after the race in Rockford, we scaled the car and got ready for Madison the next day,
which turned out to be good for Jordan even though he had never turned any laps in the #76 car, we still came out of the gate fifth fastest in Practice!"

"The guys did a great job this weekend getting the back up car ready for Sunday after the wreck in Rockford. When we brought out the 76 car, I had no clue what to expect," Explained Sims. "We were really fast in practice and the car was balanced really well. I wasn't really concerned with qualifying because I knew we had a fast race car and we showed it."

After Qualifying 10th, Sims started the Mayor of Madison 100 on the outside of the fifth row and steadily worked his way through the field and was on Joey King's back bumper at the end of the century grind before finishing fourth. "A few, more laps and we could've had the 29, but I'm really happy finishing fourth in a backup car. I'm really proud of the crew."

Lorz then added; "Jordan showed a lot of patience in the race passing cars to finish fourth, I can%u2019t say enough about these guys on the team and Jordan has a great attitude in this up and down sport -all the guys are excited and ready for Birch Run." Lorz ended.

The next race on the 2009 ASALMS Northern Division schedule is on Friday, August 21st as the fast 4/10s (0.400) mile progressively banked d-shaped paved oval of the Dixie Motor Speedway, located South
of Saginaw in Birch Run, Michigan is up next with the Mid-Michigan Dixie Challenge 100.

I'm really looking forward to Dixie where I'm sure we will have a good car and we'll have a ton of fans." Sims ended. The young Canadian will only have to make a small (considering the travel so far this season) four hour drive down the interstate on I-75 to Birch Run, Michigan.

After seven races on the 2009 ASALMS Northern Division schedule, Sims is sitting sixth overall in the title chase, just 20 points shy of the Top Five. As for the chase for the 2009 Rookie of the Year title. Sims trails current leader, Josh Nelms by just 58 markers (1038-980) while Rockford winner, 16-year-old Ross Kenseth is just 20 points back of Sims.

To learn more about Jordan Sims and how to get involved with the entire Lorz Motorsports operation for the remainder of the 2009 racing season, please call Mike Lorz at: 1 (708) 212-1665 or Dan Lorz at: 1(708) 323-9509. You can also log onto the team website at: Lorz Motorsports.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 at 3:00 pm.