By staff of The Mountain Enterprise

Local stock car racing hero Michael Kanke’s team is in the lead for the SRL Southwest Tour Series after taking the cup at Irwindale before 3,300 fans on Saturday, Oct. 10. He will be returning to the Bullring in Las Vegas for the season finale on October 31.

Kanke won at the Bullring earlier this season. In addition to that and Irwindale, his four wins out of nine starts this season include the All-American Speedway in Roseville and the Madera Speedway.

Kanke, wife Chris and his family are Mountain Community residents with an office in Lake of the Woods next to Mike’s Pizza.

Kanke, 47, has been racing stock cars since he was 17 years old. He drove his No. 33 Chevy Monte Carlo to a “convincing triumph,” Saturday, said RacingWest, adding that “the victory should clinch his first touring division championship.”

Kanke entered the race 39 points in front of Stockton winner Greg Voigt. With 50-points for first place and qualifying points, Kanke has a 46 point lead unofficially, RacingWest said, as SRL teams head for the final race in Las Vegas.

This is part of the October 16, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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