2025 SSRA N3OCS Season Top 10 Championship Points Rundown!

 

Tuesday​, March 11th, 2025, 1:42 am.....

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    With the 21st anniversary 2025 SSRA N3OCS season now in the record books, here is a rundown of the drivers who finished in the top 10 in points during the 2025 SSRA N3OCS season, some info about their seasons, their prospects for 2026 and where possible some comments from the drivers on their seasons.

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    2025 SSRA N3OCS Champion & Bud Pole Champion- Gregg Rauscher- After winning 7 of 9 races during the 2024 season enroute to his 12th consecutive SSRA N3OCS championship, "Big" Gregg Rauscher earned his 13th title this past season. Although Rauscher didn't quite dominate like he did in 2024, he still was able to win 5 races and never finished worse than 4th in any race. He also won 3 pole positions which earned him the season-long Bud Pole championship for the 9th time in his career.. Starting out with the season with a win in Carolina Clash at Hickory Motor Speedway, Rauscher then finished a close 2nd to Todd Primerano at the LVMS dirt track before finishing a season's worst 4th in the inaugural race at Willow Springs Raceway. Then at New Smyrna, "Big" Gregg won the first 25 lapper and finished 3rd in the second feature. Down the stretch he would finish 2nd to Matt Yeager at the Daytona RC, then narrowly best long-time friend and rival Steven Hyde for the win at Daytona Beach, before ending the season with a dominant win in the Neil Bonnett/ Dale Earnhardt Memorial 150 at Daytona. The all-time career leader in wins (103), top 5's (339), starts (373) and poles (72), Gregg Rauscher is still the favorite to win the title again 2026, but given Todd Primerano's progression in 2025, earning title #14 might be more difficult.

 

    In his own words, "Anytime you win the championship you have to be happy with your season. So, I have no complaints, even though my stats weren't as good as they were in 2024. At Hickory and Daytona Beach I turned my fastest laps ever, at other tracks like New Smyrna and the Daytona I lost a very small amount of speed, not sure why that is. Overall though, I felt my pace was pretty good, the only track I was totally out to lunch at was Willow Springs, but I still had a decent points day. I hope to win another title in 2026, but the competition seems to have really caught up lately so it won't be easy. In closing I want to thank all my competitors for their efforts this past season. It's an honor to race against all of you."

 

    Runner-Up- Todd Primerano- Once known as a short track specialist who often produced inconsistent results 2012 IDEAL ROTY Todd "Primo" Primerano has evolved into one of the top drivers in the SSRA, finishing in runner-up slot to Gregg Rauscher for the 3rd consecutive year. For the first time in his career Todd won more than a single race in a season, scoring wins on the dirt at Las Vegas and in the 2nd race at New Smyrna. "Primo" also finished 2nd in the first feature at New Smyrna, finished a breakthrough 3rd in the season finale at Daytona (a track he normally struggled at) and also scored a trio of 4th place finishes, bringing his top 5 total to 7. Arguably Todd Primerano, might be the most improved driver in 2025 and he will undoubtably contend for championship in 2026. But if he wants to apply serious pressure to Gregg Rauscher he will likely need to finish every race in the top 5 and also improve his road course craft.

 

    In his own words, "2025 was a successful season for me, beating Gregg on the dirt was huge after being close there a couple times and winning at Smyrna was cool too, although I usually contend there. But I just wasn't consistent enough. The road courses are killing me, if only I could be as good as my uncle or Matt, but I'll keep working on getting better. That there aside it was a good season for Pr1mo Racing, being teammates with my Dad and Uncle Chris is a blast, hopefully we can bring home a title next year. Thanks for running the league."

 

    3rd Place- Ghostface Racer- A top 10 points finisher in all 21 years of the SSRA N3OCS' existence Ghostface Racer finished 3rd in the standings for the 2nd straight year and for the fifth time in his career. Despite enduring a long winless drought dating back to 2019 at the Springfield Mile, Ghost scored 5 top 5 finishes, including a 3rd place on the sands of Daytona and a 4th in the season finale at Daytona. In a season of consistency, he finished worse than 6th in only one race. Second in all-time starts only to Gregg Rauscher, Ghostface Racer has announced he will be back for yet another full-season in 2026. Although not lacking in consistency, Ghostface Racer will need to find more speed and starting contending for wins again if he wants to become a serious championship contender.

 

    In His Own Words, "The speed just wasn't there for me this year. The last 2 races we ran a bit better but not fast enough to be a real contender. Beating Todd, let alone Gregg in points is a tall order but I think I'm good enough to win races. I hope to accomplish that starting this fall. Congratulations to Gregg on his 13th championship and also to Todd and Matt on their wins."

 

     4th Place- Steven Hyde- After finishing 6th in points the past 3 seasons, 7-time championship runner-up (most recently in 2021) Steven Hyde was hoping to return to title contention in 2025. Despite not accomplishing that goal, he was able to finish in the 4th position, after going into the season finale tied for 3rd. The Camillus, NY campaigner had an up and down season often finishing in the bottom half of the top 10, however 2 out of the 3 top 5 finishes he recorded were runner-up results. The 2nd place efforts came in the season opener at Hickory and at Daytona Beach, where he won the pole position and narrowly lost the race to Gregg Rauscher. His other top 5 finish was a 5th place at the ultra-tough Willow Springs Raceway. After showing some glimpses of his old form this past season, Hyde aided by more time to run races properly (due to his upcoming retirement from his day job) could at the very least be considered a darkhorse contender for the 2026 championship.

 

     In His Own Words, "Despite finishing 2 places higher in the final standings than last year, I didn't feel very competitive this year with the one lone exception of the pole and second place finish at the Daytona Beach. Hyde Motorsports is poised for a better season next year. There will be a change (not including the new sponsor and body style) in the summer which I hope will yield more seat time and better results. It's always been fun racing in the SSRA and I applaud Gregg's efforts to keep the league alive and racing in the greatest sim made!"

 

    5th Place- Chris Primerano- Once considered Pr1mo Racing's top driver "Chicago" Chris Primerano has seen his on-track performance drop off slightly the past few seasons, finishing 2nd-3rd-4th from 2022 to 2024 before falling to 5th this past season. "Chicago" claimed four top 5 finishes, with solid 3rd place results on the dirt at Las Vegas and in both road courses and a 5th place finish at Daytona Beach. However, he also had his share of struggles including a pair of 10th place efforts. Returning in 2026 for his 14th full season, Chris Primerano will likely contend for another top 5 points finish, but if he wants to return to the top 3 in the standings, he will need to improve his performance in the double points events and on the (paved) short tracks.

 

     In His Own Words, "Congratulations to Gregg Rauscher on yet another championship and of course to my nephew on his strong 2nd place finish. I think next year might be his year. My season was up and down. There were a few races I felt totally out to lunch and a few others I felt I could possibly win at and the others somewhere in between. If I would have finished better in 2 double points races I could have been 3rd, but I really want to win races and hopefully apply some pressure on Gregg and Todd on a more consistent basis. I'm going to try to up my game for 2026. Thanks to my Pr1mo Racing teammates for all their help during the season. It's truly a family affair. We all work together and have fun trying to beat each other. Thanks Gregg for keeping the series going."

 

    6th Place- Tony Plumadore Jr.- After finishing 7th last season, 2016 IDEAL Brake Parts ROTY Tony Plumadore Jr. was hoping to return to the winning form that seen hm win a race and finish in the top 3 in standings back in 2022. Although "T-Plum" did move up one spot to tie for 6th, his 2025 season was somewhat disappointing. On the plus side his short track game was strong like usual, earning a season's best 3rd place at Stockton and scoring 4th place finishes on the dirt at Las Vegas and in both New Smyrna races. Likely to return for another full schedule in 2026, Tony Plumadore Jr. will be one of the unknowns going into next season. If he can find enough speed on the bigger tracks and the road courses to at least contend for top 5's and also return to victory lane on the short tracks, he could easily contend for a top 3 points finish, if not it could be another season of struggles for the driver who carries the #24 of SSRA legend Joshua Stephens.

 

    In His Own Words, "It was a pretty tough season. At most of the short tracks we were good but not great, but luck played a part in that. At Hickory and everywhere else I was usually was one of the last cars running. Next season I'm really going to try to test more. Hopefully that and my trick new Lake Michigan Car Ferry scheme courtesy of Matt Yeager will help me run better."

 

    6th Place- Eddie Sedlacek- A top 10 points finisher and race winner in the SSRA N3OCS' inaugural season back in 2005, Eddie Sedlacek had a similar season to his 2024 campaign, although he did slip one spot in the standings to a tie for 6th. Sedlacek scored 2 top 5 finishes including a 4th place  at the Stockton bullring and a very strong runner-up finish in the season finale at Daytona (which awarded double point and helped him in the standings). However, the rest of "Steady" Eddie's season was a struggle. Outside of 6th place finishes in race 1 at New Smyrna and at the Daytona Beach RC, he finished 8th or worse in all the other races. Returning for another full season in 2026 Eddie Sedlacek will need to find more speed at many of the tracks on the schedule, especially the road courses, if not it will be difficult for him to end the season in the top 5.

 

    In His Own Words, "Thank you running the SSRA N3OCS. There were a few races I felt competitive in. Daytona was oh-so-close. One of these days I think we'll win that one! But overall, I really need to practice more, but sometimes it's easier said than done working 2 jobs. If I can win a race or finish a couple spots better next season I'll consider that a success."

 

    8th Place- Dusterman- A perennial underdog, 2014 IDEAL Brake Parts ROTY and 2 -time Neil Bonnett/ Dale Earnhardt Memorial 150 winner Dusterman finished 8th for the second consecutive season. Although he only posted a single top 5 finish (a 4th place in round 3 at Stockton 99 Speedway) Dusterman was a consistent mid-pack finisher in the first 2/3 of the season, finishing in the top 8 in all races and still in contention for a top 5 points finish if he could end the season strong. However, the final 3 events were a huge struggle for the driver of the #69 Mountain Dew Spark Dodge. After a dnf at the Daytona RC which resulted in a 10th place finish, Dusterman struggled to a 9th place on the sands of Daytona before finishing in last (11th) in the season finale at Daytona after being caught up in a wreck. Dusterman has proven himself to be a serious threat, for victory at the Daytona International Speedway and also for occasional strong finishes on the short tracks. But if hopes to be a top 5 championship finisher like he was back in 2020, he needs to become more consistent and improve his performance at the other speedways and especially his Achilles' heel, the Daytona RC.

 

    In His Own Words, "I enjoyed racing this season, even though it didn't turn out very well. I look forward to next season."

 

    9th Place- Randy Cowen- Unable to return to a level of competitiveness he experienced in the pre-winter league era of the SSRA N3OCS, 10-time SSRA N3OCS race winner "Rocket" Randy Cowen finished 9th in points for the 4th straight year. The "Rocket" had a miserable season finishing last in each of the first 7 races, before improving only slightly to a 2nd to last place in the next round at Daytona Beach. However, Cowen ended his season on a high note by finishing 5th in the season ending Dale Earnhardt/ Neil Bonnett Memorial 150 at Daytona, his first top 5 since the 2021 season opener at Phoenix. Outside of his Daytona result, I don't think it's possible Randy Cowen could have a worse season in 2026. The only question is whether there will be only a slight improvement or if he will find more time to better prepare for the races and return to being a top 5 points contender and a race winner.

 

    In His Own Words, "Another disappointing season. I take full responsibility. Hopefully, we can turn it around next season. I'm looking forward to it! Thanks to the Commissioner, "Big" Gregg Rauscher for all of his efforts and congrats to him on winning another championship!"

 

    10th Place- Jeff Hill- After sitting out all of last season, former Midvale and New Smyrna winner Jeff Hill ran 3 races during the 2025 season, earning podium finishes in all 3 events. Hill finished 3rd in the season opener at Hickory, then backed that up by finishing 3rd and 2nd in the twin 25's at New Smyrna. His 10th place points finish was the 3rd top 10 points finish of his career and his first since 2014. Hill was also the highest points finisher amongst part-time drivers in 2025. If Jeff Hill decides to compete again in 2026 it will likely be on the short tracks and if this past season is any indicator, he will likely be a serious threat for victory.

 

    In His Own Words, "I wasn't expecting to be top 10. When I decide to show up I want to be a contender and I think we were. I'm not sure what next year holds. It'll depend on the SSRA schedule and my schedule. Thanks for putting on the races."

 

    The Rest of the Field- In addition to the top 10 finishers in the standings, 4 other drivers also competed during the 2025 season. 2019 Heartland Park race winner and 5-time top 10 points finisher Jeff Primerano competed in 4 races, scoring a strong runner-up finish at Willow Springs Raceway and a 5th place at the Daytona RC, which was good enough for 11th in the final standings. The "Qualifying Machine" Matt Yeager finished 12th in points, competing in both road course events. Yeager who is known for his road course prowess, had a perfect season winning both Willow Springs and the Daytona RC from the pole, bringing his career totals to 69 poles (2nd all-time) and 33 wins (4th all-time). 13th place points finisher Kyle Corey made his initial foray into SSRA competition, running 6 races, with a best result of 5th on the dirt at Las Vegas, which led to him claiming the IDEAL Rookie Of The Year award. SSRA legend Steve "Gabby" Gabbert who wound up 14th in points, came out of retirement at 72 years of age to compete at Stockton 99 Speedway. Despite not racing in the SSRA N3OCS in a decade, "Gabby" was a serious contender for the win, until steering problems allowed Gregg Rauscher to squeak out a narrow victory.

   

    Overall, in 2025 there were 4 different pole winners and 3 different race winners, among the 14 drivers that entered at least one event. Proving the league's competitiveness, 2025 marked the first season in SSRA N3OCS history in which every driver that competed was able to score at least one top 5 finish. 9 drivers started all 9 races held during the SSRA N3OCS' 21st season. The 14 drivers scoring points, was the most since the start of the winter league era in 2020.

 

    This write-up puts an official wrap on the 2025 season. Congratulations and thank you to all 14 drivers that competed throughout the course of the season. I have already updated the SSRA N3OCS website's all-time career stats page and also posted the official 2025 SSRA N3OCS car set. In the next couple weeks, I hope to post the 2026 schedule, which will kick off this coming November (2025) and also post some new NASCAR Cup Series biglogo's on the N3 utilities page. So be on the lookout for that. In closing I want to thank everybody for their support of the SSRA N3OCS (and N3 in general) the past 21 years. Have a great off-season! See everybody at the track in November, as we kick off season #22!

 

Thank you and God Bless,

Gregg :-)