Michael Kanke, of Pinion Pines, sports a record of the most wins and top-5 finishes in the former NASCAR Southwest Series.

Last year he had to sit out the season, following injuries that required multiple surgeries.

But the wait was worth it. This year, Kanke, 47 is on his way to winning what is now called the SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. He has 208 points, after winning three of the first four races in the series this season.

Kanke won the season opener at All-American Speedway in Roseville and then won the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. He dropped one, saying, "that’s why they call it a race, ’cause you can’t win them." But three weeks ago, at Madera’s Fourth of July race, he rebounded with another win. He leads Greg Voigt of Goleta by 42 points.

The series will run 100 laps at Irwindale Saturday.

This is part of the July 10, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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