LEX SHINGLEDECKER IS A FAVORITE IN LADIES MOD TOUR CHARITY RACE
by Brian Spaid

June 17, 2005 

   This Sunday night, girls rule the DIRT Modified world at Tri-City Speedway as the track hosts the 4^th Annual Victim’s Resource Center Ladies Modified Tour charity race.

   Since 2002, for one night, the regular DIRT Modified drivers turn over their driving suits and helmets to their wives, girlfriends and female team members for one night on the fast half-mile Venango County oval.

   “The race is very popular among competitors and fans,” said track co-promoter Mike Graham. “This year, we expect a lot of support for the race. In 2004, the racers raised over $6,700, and they hope to do even better this year with more sponsors and donors.”

   One driver expected to compete is Alexis Shingledecker of Polk. Driving her husband Jeremiah’s car, Shingledecker is a favorite to collect the race win for two reasons. First, she runs well in this event. Second, the car is wicked fast.

   Entering this weekend’s race, the team has four top five feature finishes in a row. Last Sunday, Jeremiah had the best run of his career. An early spin forced him to restart the race at the tail end of the field, but he came back to finish second behind Del Rougeux Jr. At one point, Shingledecker’s Bicknell No. 37MD was two seconds faster than the rest of the field.

   “This season has been great,” said Jeremiah after the race. “I was really hoping for a caution at the end because I was catching Del. The crew has worked real hard to get us here. This is the best I’ve ever run.”

   This weekend, he will put his full support behind his wife to score the team’s first win. Normally, Lex is one of the crew for Jeremiah, but they’ll reverse roles for this one time in 2005.

   “One of the things that’s nice about this race is that the drivers respect all of us enough to let them drive their race cars,” said Lex. “I feel that way about Jeremiah. We have all this money in this race car and I could wreck it, but he’s giving me this opportunity to have a lot of fun and help a great cause.”

   Lex is of the favorites to win the race given her past performance. She has two heat race wins and her top finish was third in 2004. She also finished fourth in 2003. Both times, Megan Greenlee of Cooperstown won the race, and Lex was there to challenge for the win. Cheri Schiffer won the inaugural event in 2002.
   “Another reason I like this race is that it’s a good way to get the women involved with racing a little bit more and allows us to get to know each other. It’s been nice that we all formed a relationship around this race. I’ve become friends with the other competitors like Megan, Cheri, Cindy Moore, Sis King and Sue Priest.”

   Lex is not your ordinary racing wife. She loves every facet of motorsports. She helps obtain sponsors for her husband’s efforts. She serves as his most visible public relations spokesperson. Yet, her talents also include mechanical work as well.

   “Jeremiah’s dad, Mike, builds the engines. Jeremiah and his brother, Travis, work on the setups. I work with John Milliron on just about everything else. I change out radius rods, change gears, change transmission fluid. Anything that needs to be done on the car I can just about do it. I can even get the engine out of the car in about two hours and start to take it apart.”

   With all that mechanical knowledge, she is more than qualified to assess the reasons for the team’s success in 2005.

   “Jeremiah’s dad has worked real hard on our motors. Last Sunday, he stayed up late and freshened a motor with a lot of laps on it. That motor ran the best it ever did. Jeremiah’s also learning to read the track better and he works well with his brother, Travis, on race setups. I really don’t know that we’re running any faster than before, but we’re chasing points now. We’re dedicated to doing well in the points at Tri-City and on the BRP Modified Tour. We haven’t missed three or four races like we did in the past.”

   That focus seems to have worked. Shingledecker is currently sixth in points at Tri-City, only 75 markers behind Rougeux for the lead. On the BRP Modified Tour, Shingledecker sits third after four races.

   “Jeremiah had such a great run on Sunday that I cried when they let him out on the frontstretch after the race for an interview. That first win is so elusive. He could have won that race.”

   Although Jeremiah’s time in the spotlight will be delayed one week while Lex makes her run at glory, the couple believes that victory is just around the corner.

   “We’re real excited about how we’ve done this season. We know that Jeremiah’s first win will happen soon. I can’t wait.”

   The sponsors on the Shingledecker DIRT Modified include Lou Heath & Son Excavating & Trucking of Cooperstown, Quaker Steak & Lube of Hermitage, MD Racing Engines of Stoneboro, Hilltop Beverage, Fastenal, Shingledecker Welding and Jone’s Party Magic of Franklin, Double Decker Vinyl of Polk.