The battle for driving supremacy at Monticello Raceway has been a back-and-forth affair between Bruce Aldrich, Jr. and Zeke Parker nearly all season long.
However, courtesy of a hot streak in early December, Aldrich drew off and had the title well in hand by the end of the month. Aldrich had a 25-win lead on Parker, which prompted the track to announce that Aldrich would win his second consecutive driving title.
Although Parker had been relegated to the runner-up position, he’s not going quietly.
On Monticello's Tuesday December 27 card of live racing, the 'bearded wonder' reined four winners; and Parker put on a driving clinic over a 'muddy' racetrack on December 28 when he won six races.
On the December 28 card, Parker won the third race with Speedcentric ($4.90) and then the fourth with Prince Rudyard ($10.40). His hat-trick victory came in Race 5 with Cosmic Illusion N ($11.80). Win No. 4 came courtesy of Major Speed ($4.00) in Race 9. Parker then proceeded to win Race 10 with Valcyon Days ($7.20). He capped his muddy afternoon by winning Race 12 with Zero Boundaries (14.00).
Though he closed the gap on Aldrich, the 17-time Monticello Raceway driving champion still will be second-best in races won this season at the 'Mighty M.'
(With files from Monticello)