Racing Looses a Good Guy and Innovator. Jim Hullinger passes Away

Written By: RJ Cunningham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Scott R. Smith, (317) 387-7343

Lucas Oil Raceway Media Center Online: http://www.lucasoilraceway.com/media/login.asp

 

INDIANA DRAG RACING PIONEER, JIM HULLINGER PASSES AWAY

 

BROWNSBURG (Jan. 24, 2012) – Drag racing pioneer and founder of Indiana’s first permanent drag strip in Bunker Hill (Ind.) Jim Hullinger passed away Monday, January 23rd after a brief illness.

Hullinger, 86, constructed Bunker Hill Drag Strip in 1956, and along with his wife Mary and family, operated the track for 40-years before they sold it in 1997 and retired.  The track continues to operate as one of the oldest and longest running facilities in the country.

 

After he and other hot rodders in the area were run off of the Converse (Ind.) airport, Jim recognized the need for a permanent facility to provide an organized and safe racing environment.  That, along with having seen NHRA’s Safety Safari conduct events at a temporary site at Stout Field in Indianapolis, gave him the inspiration for building Bunker Hill Drag Strip.

 

Before building the drag strip, Hullinger was a prominent stock car and modified racer at dirt tracks at Kokomo Speedway, Warsaw Speedway and other Midwest tracks from 1950 – 1963.

 

In 1964, Hullinger designed and built roller platforms dubbed “Safe-Start” to eliminate the dangers of the practice of having to push start dragsters.  Due to the success of the units, over 40 were installed at tracks across the country.  Not only did the “Safe-Start” provide a safer method of starting cars, but it also made for a more efficient race operations and a better show for the spectators.

 

He served on the Steering Committee which laid the ground work for the NHRA North Central Division E.T. Racing Series.  The series, currently sponsored by Summit Racing Equipment, will be in its 36th year in 2012.  Hullinger was the first in the country to conduct an all Jr. Drag Racing national event for the new category of racing which was established for kids 8-17 years of age by NHRA in 1992.

 

His son Jay has served as the North Central Division Director since 1987.

 

One of five drag racing facilities owned and operated by the National Hot Rod Association, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis was built in 1960 and has presented organized racing events since 1961.  From March through October, the facility hosts more than 120 dates of racing on three tracks, a quarter-mile drag strip, a .686-mile paved oval and a 2.5-mile road course.  Home to drag racing’s biggest event, the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend, the drag strip runs more than 50 days of point-to-point action, from national events to street legal community programs.  The oval track draws racing’s biggest events including USAC, ARCA and CRA races.  The road course provides a home for several racing sanctions, while providing an ideal resource for driving schools, corporate outings and open-road tests for professional drivers.

- 30 -

New USAC Calender “Now Available”

Written By: RJ Cunningham

One of the good things about racing is the cool pictures… Gotta get this I think..

 

United States Auto Club
2012 USAC Calendar

The 2012 USAC Calendar is now on sale for $10.00!

Get yours today by clicking Purchase Calendar, or by calling 317-247-5151.

If you are not yet a friend of the USAC Racing page you can join by clicking the FACEBOOK link below:

 

FACEBOOK

 

 

New Sponsor in CRA Series

Written By: RJ Cunningham

This is just a quick note from RJ Cunningham

My origional goal in racing was not to do a full print magazine, nor a website , nor a radio show about racing.

However with that said the entire business plan in the past and in the future is totally to bring more sponsors into the sport of racing. And with that said all new sponsors are important to all divisions of racing and all race drivers.

This is just one of the new intelligent companies that have chosen to become involved in racing.

Champion Racing Association

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Glenn Luckett

812-883-0455

 

Widow Wax Becomes Newest CRA Supporter

 

Salem, IN (January 9, 2012) – Champion Racing Officials announced today that Widow Wax has agreed to become the newest supporter of Champion Racing Association for the upcoming 2012 race season. Widow Wax will use Champion Racing Association to market its products to CRA teams and the fans attending CRA events. Widow Wax will award the winner at each ARCA/CRA Super Series and JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by GM Performance Parts event with three bottles of Widow Wax. In addition, Widow Wax will award the 2012 ARCA/CRA Super Series and JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by GM Performance Parts Championship winning drivers with Widow Wax jackets.

 

Widow Wax is a thin-film polymer coating, created from NASA based technology to provide the ultimate, durable high-gloss protective finish for all types of vehicles. Widow Wax leaves a hard glass like finish on all painted surfaces. Widow Wax dries clear in cracks and crevices and is guaranteed not to leave behind a dusty chalky residue with the ultimate in sealers and conditioners. This White Brazilian Carnauba Wax/Polymer mix formula is safe for today’s paint jobs and all clear coats. Widow wax is known for its Easy on Easy off application while leaving behind an ultra-high gloss “Wet Look.”

 

Created from entirely synthetic materials, Widow Wax’s protective characteristics blow other waxes out of the water. Widow Wax is highly resistant to detergents, acids, chemicals, and UV, which cause paint to deteriorate and fade over time. Widow Wax is guaranteed to bring back a deep, lustrous high-gloss finish to your vehicle with its Hydrophobic Coating. The coating lasts longer than other synthetic waxes because it’s formulated to reduce surface tension causing water to bead and rolls away.

 

Serial entrepreneurs Justin Kuhn and CRA veteran racer Jason Dietsch have partnered together to offer customers the highest quality car care products money can buy. They have made it a point to go above and beyond all industry standards while choosing the key ingredients. They have brought customers products that offer the easiest application while delivering the most professional results. Widow products are sold with a 100% Money Back Guarantee, if customers are not satisfied. Widow Products are manufactured and packaged at their 65,000 sq. foot facility. Their products are successfully marketed and sold worldwide as a direct result of their commitment to high quality formulations and unsurpassed performance.

 

More information on Widow Wax is available at www.widowwax.com. More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.craracing.net.

 

Testing? Jan 6th and Shorts?

Written By: RJ Cunningham

Hey Fans.

Just a couple of things before work today.

I was drinking my pot of Joe and could have sworn I heard Testing at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis?

Up to 60 Degrees in Indianapolis today? I’m putting on shorts.. I’m working on website and Even though my Treee hugger Employee Shannon said there is Proof of Global Warming I just half to laugh as I listen to Talk Radio and Rush Limbaugh.

I want to also welcome to New Race Fans to the fold and they are:

Adora Miller and her son Larry

It will be very interesting to see what 2012 brings to racing and more.

I personally expect a GREAT YEAR !!

Despite the idiot we have in the White House.

RJ Cunningham

and yes you can consider this my first Blog of the year.  LOL

 

LUCAS OIL RACEWAY 2011 NASCAR EVENTS AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY NAMED AMONG TOP 10 OF THE SEASON BY SPEED.COM

Written By: RJ Cunningham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Scott R. Smith, (317) 387-7343

Lucas Oil Raceway Media Center Online: http://www.lucasoilraceway.com/media/login.asp

2011 NASCAR EVENTS AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY NAMED AMONG TOP 10 OF THE SEASON BY SPEED.COM

 

BROWNSBURG (Dec. 19, 2011) – Both the 30th annual Kroger 200, benefitting Riley Hospital for Children, NASCAR Nationwide Series race and  the AAA Insurance 200 Camping World Truck Series race held during Kroger SpeedFest were named as the Top 10 NASCAR races of the 2011 season by SPEED.com.  In articles written by Tom Jenson, senior NASCAR editor forRacer magazine and for TruckSeries.com, the two events were among the highlights of the ultracompetitive season.

 

“We are very proud to once again be recognized as holding two of the top events in the recently completed NASCAR season,” said Wes Collier, general manager of Lucas Oil Raceway.  “As home to the Nationwide Series for the past 30 years and the Camping World Truck Series since the inception of the series since 1995 we have prided ourselves on the high level of racing at the facility.”

 

Those in attendance at the 30th annual Kroger 200 witnessed a dominating performance by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who led the majority of the event.  As the laps drew to a close Brad Keselowski mounted a charge that placed near the front of the field and in a position to get his first career NASCAR win at Lucas Oil Raceway.  Because of the intense battle the article named the Kroger 200 as the ninth best race of season:

 

“Ricky Stenhouse Jr. dominated the night’s action at Lucas Oil Raceway, leading a race-high 189 laps around the Indiana short track. But defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Brad Keselowski ran down Stenhouse, making the winning pass with just seven laps to go. “We rubbed a little bit,” said Keselowski of his race-winning pass. “I didn’t take him out by any means. I just raced him hard like I’m sure he would for the win. Ricky deserved to win this race with the car he had, but things fell our way.””
The AAA Insurance 200 race was named the third highest race of the season in the Camping World Truck Series thanks in large part to the stunning win by Timothy Peters.  This was the only win of the season for Peters and helped propel him to a top five finish in the points. The article stated of the race:

“A mid-race flat tire caused Timothy Peters to spin, sending him to the pits and out of sequence with the leaders at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis. But the tide eventually turned and the unscheduled pit stop allowed Peters to have the advantage over the competition in the final laps and chase down James Buescher, had who led 97 laps, with six laps remaining to score the upset victory.”

 

The NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Lucas Oil Raceway have been honored in the past as the 2003 race was named the top race of that year and of the 2000’s because of the duel between Brian Vickers and Shane Hmiel.

One of five drag racing facilities owned and operated by the National Hot Rod Association, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis was built in 1960 and has presented organized racing events since 1961.  From March through October, the facility hosts more than 120 dates of racing on three tracks, a quarter-mile drag strip, a .686-mile paved oval and a 2.5-mile road course.  Home to drag racing’s biggest event, the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend, the drag strip runs more than 50 days of point-to-point action, from national events to street legal community programs.  The oval track draws racing’s biggest events, including annual visits from USAC, ARCA and CRA and others.  The road course provides a home for several racing sanctions, while providing an ideal resource for driving schools, corporate outings and open-road tests for professional drivers.

 

Bryan Clauson holds off T-Mez in POWRi’s 2nd Battle at the Center on the Mini Magic Mile

Written By: RJ Cunningham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DU QUOIN, Ill. (Dec. 17, 2011)—The start of the indoor season of Midget racing couldn’t have had a more exciting finish as the 2nd annual Battle at the Center took place on Saturday night on the Mini Magic Mile. The POWRI Lucas Oil National Midget Series-sanctioned non-points event saw 51 cars unload for a stout purse and the action was intense for an excellent crowd at the Southern Illinois Center.

Bryan Clauson and Thomas Meseraull swapped the lead multiple times over the final 10 laps in a wheel-to-wheel battle to the checkered flag. Clauson was able to narrowly capture the victory in the 40-lap feature on the 1/5th-mile track with Meseraull finishing second. Chett Gehrke of Broken Arrow, Okla., was third, followed by defending champion Casey Shuman of Rattlesnake Bend, Ariz., and Brad Kuhn of Avon, Ind.

Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., and 2011 National USAC Driver of the Year, was excited about the victory and the battle with Meseraull to the finish.

“We were able to race wheel-to-wheel without an incident and that was phenomenal. We fell back to third, but we were able to find a passing lane over there in (Turns) One and Two. . .I can’t say enough about these guys behind me,” Clauson said regarding his team members. “They (POWRi) did a phenomenal job with the track, I don’t think I’ve seen this place that racy in a long time.”

Meseraull, though disappointed in finishing one spot short of his goal, was equally excited about the battle for the top spot.

“Once it built a cushion, you can start hauling it up top. Me and Bryan slide jobbing like that, you’d have thought we were at Little Belleville (Ill., Belle-Clair Speedway) with some banging.. What a show. POWRi does a great job,” the San Jose, Calif., pilot remarked on the front stretch following the finish.

The outcome was in doubt until the final lap as Clauson led much of the early stages of the race as the track began to widen out for the competitors. Meseraull, running second ahead of Austin Brown, Gehrke, Cameron Hagen and Tony Roney, had slipped back a bit as the caution flew for Hagen, who had banged the wall in Turn Two.

A promising run for Hagen was derailed with a flat right rear tire caused by the contact.

On the restart, Meseraull made his bid for the lead in the A.J. Felker-owned machine. He threw a solid slider at Clauson in Turn One that nearly stuck and followed with several more over the next couple of laps looking to take over the point. Meseraull got the final slid job to stick as Clauson nearly spun off of turn one and dropped back to third briefly.

The NOS Energy Drink, Curb Records No. 39 wasn’t going to stay there for long as he ratcheted up the attack and slipped back past Brown and on Meseraull’s tail tank for second before Brad Loyet brought out a red flag when his Vacuworx Spike-Esslinger got on its side off Turn Four.

With 10 laps remaining, Clauson made his final push as he and Brown fought for second, wheel-to-wheel ahead of Gehrke as Shuman and Kuhn tried to make up ground.

The final few laps was another war as Meseraull and Clauson battled for the top spot before Clauson was able to make a pass stick and hold on for the final few laps to record the $5,000 payday.

“It feels really good to fall behind and then rally back,” Clauson said. “This place has kind of had my number. This is a place that I haven’t really run well at in the last few years. To come here and run as strong as we did is a really great boost heading into the indoor season with the Chili Bowl and I’m actually going to New Zealand, too. Kind of a great kickoff to the second part of my season. Those guys gave me a great NOS Energy Drink, Curb Records No. 39. It was just a matter of figuring it out. We kind of gave it away there earlier, we were fighting a little bit of a miss. We kind of cleared it up there towards the end of the race. I was able to figure out some things in Turns One and Two that I wanted to be able to make some passes.”

Meseraull praised the car delivered by owner Felker.

“We had a great car. (AJ) Felker builds great cars. This car right here is actually for the Chili Bowl. This car could win the Chili Bowl. We showed it tonight,” Meseraull said. “Felker builds some of the best race cars in the business and he is one of the best for obvious reasons. I’d like to think I put on a good show out there. I was running second and I didn’t have nothing, but I wanted to win so I started throwing sliders and putting on a show for you guys,” Meseraull said. “This place can be kind of boring, but that couldn’t have been boring!”

Meseraull started on the pole alongside Tyler Courtney followed by Olney, Ill. native Levi Jones and Clauson.

Clauson led early on in the main event before a pileup in Turn Three brought out a caution.

On a lap 14 restart, a pileup collected Jones, Courtney and Loyet along with Brett Anderson to shuffle the top-five.

When the feature went green again the duel between Clauson and T-Mez took shape for the remaining 20 laps of the 40-lap feature.

Ryan Blakeman produced one of the best efforts of the feature, making his way up from the 20th starting position to place 14th after he slipped back late. Shuman started ninth and crossed the line in fourth and Tim Siner came forward from a 19th starting spot to place 10th.

results
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series

2nd Annual Battle at the Center at the Southern Illinois State Fairgrounds
40-lap Feature

1.Bryan Clauson, 2. Thomas Meseraull, 3. Chett Gehrke, 4. Casey Shuman, 5. Brad Kuhn, 6. Danny Stratton, 7. Brett Anderson, 8. Shane Cockrum, 9. Mike Goodman, 10. Tim Siner, 11. Tony Roney, 12. Austin Brown, 13. David Gough, 14. Ryan Blakeman, 15. Zach Daum, 16. Kyle Neal, 17. Donald McIntosh, 18. Brad Loyet, 19. Levi Jones, 20. Tyler Courtney, 21. Cameron Hagen

Qualifier one
(Top-7 advance to feature)
1. Brad Loyet, 2. Tyler Courtney, 3. Brett Anderson, 4. Chett Gehrke, 5. Brad Kuhn, 6. Mike Goodman, 7. Tim Siner, 8. Tyler Thomas, 9. Taylor Ferns, 10. Colten Cottle, 11. Jody Rosenboom, 12. John Campbell, 13. Kara King, 14. Dave Camefield Jr., 15. Ryan Pace, 16. Andrew Felker, 17. Derreck King

Qualifier two
1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Levi Jones, 3. Tony Roney, 4. Shane Cockrum, 5. Zach Daum, 6. Danny Stratton, 7. Ryan Blakeman, 8. Tyler Reddick, 9. Glen Styres, 10. Tyler Millwood, 11. Trevor Kobylarz, 12. Hunter Schurenberg, 13. Darren Kingston, 14. Jesse Sobbing, 15. Andee Beirle, 16. Steve Stroud, 17. Daniel Robinson

Qualifier three
1. Thomas Meseraull, 2. David Gough, 3. Casey Shuman, 4. Austin Brown, 5. Kyle Neal, 6. Cameron Hagen, 7. Donald McIntosh, 8. Michael J. Koontz, 9. Isaac Chapple, 10. Andy Huston, 11. Tim Lynch, 12. Joey Moughan, 13. Rick King, 14. Chris Morgan, 15. Danny Frye, 16. Danny Smith, 17. Rich Camfield

For more information on POWRi Racing, go to www.POWRi.com.

–30–

Contact:

(Written by Carey Fox for)

Tim Tuttle

POWRi Racing Media Director

765 721-7599

timetuttle@aol.com

 

Power I Racing Press Release “Indoor Racing”

Written By: RJ Cunningham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Levi Jones, Shane Hmiel bring successful partnership in Midgets to POWRi’s Battle at the Center in Du Quoin

DU QUOIN, Ill. (Dec. 13, 2011)—Seven-time USAC National champion Levi Jones will try to build on his successful partnership with Midget car owner Shane Hmiel in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series’ second annual Battle at the Center on Saturday (Dec. 17) at the Mini Magic Mile at the Southern Illinois Center.

Jones won the Gold Crown Midget Nationals at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill., in October in his second start for Hmiel, a former NASCAR and USAC race-winning driver who was paralyzed from the waist down in a crash in October, 2010, and made a return to racing with his team last summer.

Jones set a USAC record with his fifth Sprint Car National Championship this year, breaking the record of four he had shared with Steve Butler. Jones had three feature victories in 2011. He’s won three consecutive titles for Tony Stewart Racing and also won in 2007 for Stewart. A former basketball star at East Richmond High in Olney, Ill., who lives in Swansea, Ill., Jones won his first Sprint Car title for Benic Enterprises in 2005.

Jones also has won four USAC National championships the past two years. He’s driven to back-to-back crowns in USAC’s Silver Crown division.With seven titles, he’s tied for second on USAC’s all-time list with Rich Vogler and Mel Kenyon. A.J. Foyt is first with 10.

Sprint Car star Hunter Schurenburg of Sikeston, Mo., will also be competing in the Battle at the Center. He had four victories and finished fourth in the points in USAC’s Sprint Car National championship this season.

The POWRi-sanctioned and –organized non-points event has attracted an all-star cast of drivers that includes three-time POWRi National Midget champion Brad Loyet and two-time USAC Midget and overall National Champion Bryan Clauson. It will pay $5,000 to win.

The one-day Battle at the Center will feature a 40-lap main event on the 1/5th-mile indoor track at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Gates open at 3 p.m. and hot laps begin at 5 p.m. with racing immediately following. General admission tickets are $20 and children 12-and-under are free.

The event is being taped by NEWAVE Productions for delayed broadcast on SPEED Channel LUCAS Oil on the Edge.

Casey Shuman won the inaugural running of the Battle at the Center, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. taking second and Dave Darland third.

Entries for POWRi’s Lucas Oil National Midget Series 2nd Battle at the Center (as of Dec. 13): Levi Jones, Swansea, Ill., Hunter Schurenburg, Sikeston, Mo., Danny Smith, Decatur, Ill., Joey Moughan, Springfield, Ill., Mike Goodman, Broken Arrow, Okla., Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, Ind.,  Tony Roney, Herculaneum, Mo., Donald McIntosh, Dawsonville, Ga., Tyler Milwood, Kingston, Ga.,  Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, Mo., Mario Clouser, Auburn, Ill., Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, Mo., Daniel Robinson, Mt. Vernon, Ill., Shane Cockrum, Benton, Ill., Andee Beierle, Bismark, N.D., Michael J. Koontz, Bloomington, Ind., Trevor Kobylarz, Birdsboro, Pa., Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, Jonathan Halford, Tulsa, Okla., Andy Houston, Roseville, Ill., Colten Cottle, Kansas, Ill., Zach Daum, Pocohontas, Ill., Danny Frye III, St. Charles, Ill., David Gough, Machnesney, Ill., Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, Austin Brown, Millstadt, Ill., Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, Okla., Brett Anderson, Belleville, Ill., Tim Siner, Dupo, Ill., John Campbell, Belleville, Ill., Steve Stroud, St. Charles, Mo., Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla., Tim Lynch, Columbus, Ind., David Budres, Beloit, Wis., Stephen Arnold, Seymour, Ind., Kyle Neal, Ewing, Ill., Jake Blackhurst, Mapleton, Ill., Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, Ind., Isaac Chapple, Wilkinson, Ind., Taylor Ferns, Shelby Township, Mich., Kara King, Vienna, Ill., Tyler Thomas, Collinsville, Okla., Rick King, Vienna, Ill., Dereck King, Vienna, Ill., Darren Kingston, Vandalia, Ill.

For more information on POWRi Racing, go to www.POWRi.com.

–30–

Contact:

Tim Tuttle

POWRi Racing Media Director

765 721-7599

timetuttle@aol.com

 

Sponsorship’s Both Large and Small are important to Racing

Written By: RJ Cunningham

Champion Racing Association

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Glenn Luckett

812-883-0455

Speed Media Making CRA Look Good Again in 2012

Salem, IN (December 13, 2011) – Speed Media, the Official Graphics and Sign Company of Champion Racing Association, will continue making CRA look good for the upcoming 2012 season, as announced today by officials from Speed Media and CRA. Racers and fans got to see great examples of Speed Media’s work during the 2011 season with the graphics packages on the CRA Official Pace Vehicle, CRA Tech Trailer and on the CRA Back Drop Board used for driver introductions and victory lane photos. Speed Media has been a sponsor with CRA and the ARCA/CRA Super Series since the 2002 season and became a sponsor of the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by GM Performance Parts beginning with the 2011 season.

“We greatly appreciate the support Kurt Dietrich and his Speed Media Company has given CRA over the past ten seasons,” remarked Glenn Luckett, Managing Partner with CRA. “The graphics packages on the Pace Vehicle and Tech Trailer last season looked great, it gives us great visibility and exposure at each event and whenever they are on the road. The Back Drop Board looks very professional and will give CRA great exposure each time it is displayed.”

Speed Media will award the 2012 ARCA/CRA Super Series and JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Champions with $800 Product Certificates towards racing graphics as well as 1000 full color hero cards. Speed Media will award each series Rookie of the Year with $500 Product Certificates towards racing graphics as well as 500 full color hero cards.

“I can’t think of any other racing series that I would rather sponsor than the ARCA/CRA Super Series and the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour,” stated Dietrich. “Every CRA race I ever attend is always exciting with great car counts!”

Speed Media, located in Grand Rapids, MI is a full service design agency that caters to Motorsports teams as well as commercial business. From award winning graphic design to custom racecar graphics, hero card designs and production, Speed Media can make sure your team gets noticed. Any registered CRA team that orders graphics, hero cards, or wraps will receive 10% off those services for the entire season.

“We feel like it is very important that the drivers and teams have access to these items as they are a great way to attract sponsors and fans as well as keep the current ones happy. In this day and age you have to give back to your sponsors in an effective way so they can see a return on investment and see the importance of advertising in stock car racing, this will in turn bring in more sponsor dollars down the road,” Dietrich said.

For more information about Speed Media and their services contact them at 616-822-9422 or via email at info@speed-media.com. To see some of the latest work from the Speed Media shop check out their website www.speed-media.com. Speed Media is also on Facebook.

 

 

USAC AWARDS Night

Written By: RJ Cunningham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    DECEMBER 10, 2011
Contact: DICK JORDAN

CLAUSON AGAIN HEADLINES LIST OF USAC CHAMPIONS
AT FRIDAY’S 56th “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” CELEBRATION


Friday night’s 56th USAC “Night of Champions” National Awards Dinner held at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis, Ind. sported a somewhat familiar theme to the previous year’s function. Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. once again headlined the list of award recipients after claiming his second consecutive USAC National Drivers Championship.
Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., raked in a $40,000 year-end cash bonus, along with a $300,000 scholarship from INDYCAR.
Also accepting checks as members of the National Drivers Championship “top-10” were runner-up Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, Calif., Chris Windom of Canton, Ill., Levi Jones of Olney, Ill., Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind., Bobby East of Brownsburg, Ind., Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz., Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif., Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston, Mo. and Jon Stanbrough of Avon, Ind.
Clauson, as he did in 2010, also claimed the 2011 USAC Mopar National Midget title and was again the top USAC Midget driver on dirt.

 

Tony Stewart Racing teammate Levi Jones of Olney, Ill. repeated as the 2011 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown and AMSOIL National Sprint Car Champion. The Silver Crown title was Jones’ second, while his fifth Sprint car title broke the previous record of four set by Steve Butler.

Nick Drake of Mooresville, N.C. also claimed his second consecutive USAC National Ford Focus crown and will have his name again emblazoned on the permanent Henry Ford Sweepstakes Trophy, along with 2011 USAC National Focus Young Guns Champion Cole Custer of Kannapolis, N.C. Drake also claimed the Eastern Ford Focus title.
Champions of USAC’s 2011 The Off Road Championship (TORC) series honored Friday included Ricky Johnson of Trabuco Canyon, Calif. (Pro 4×4), Bryce Menzies of Las Vegas, Nev. (Pro 2WD) and Andrew Caddell of Graham, Wash. (Pro Light 2WD).
Keys to the City of Indianapolis from Mayor Gregory A. Ballard were presented to Jones, Clauson and Drake in recognition of their 2011 National Championships.
Emcees Jim Tretow and Meghan Kolb (TORC) orchestrated the presentations, which included driver and car entrant champions, Rookies of the Year, Most Improved Drivers and special award recipients.
Among items presented to the 2011 champions were trophies, plaques, Oakley timepieces, Hoosier jackets, medallions and personalized remote-control TRAXXAS Trucks.
USAC President Kevin Miller and Famous Rhodes, Senior Director of eBay Motors, outlined special eBay Motors/Mopar PACE Awards presented to Famous Rhodes II, Taylor Ferns, Mitch Hoffses and R.J. Anderson, while Tommy McCarthy and Tyler Shullick received Arrive and Drive Awards.
Driving champions in addition to the aforementioned included Mike Spencer of Temecula, Calif. (AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprints), Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Calif. (AMSOIL Western Sprints and Western Classic Pavement Sprints), Geoff Ensign of Sebastopol, Calif. (Western Classic Sprints), Cory Kruseman of Ventura, Calif. (Mopar Western Midgets), Jim Waters of West Jordan, Utah (Rocky Mountain Sprint and Utah Ford Focus), Richard VanderWeerd of Visalia, Calif. (West Coast 360 Sprint), Taylor Ferns of Shelby Township, Mich. (Mopar D1 Midget), Joe Krawiec of Bristol, Conn. (DMA Midget), Ross Rankine of Willard, Ohio (Midwest Ford Focus), Brodie Kostecki of Roseville, Calif. (Western Ford Focus and Focus Young Guns), Jared Irvan of Midland, N.C. (Eastern Focus Young Guns) and Sam McGhee of Camby, Ind. (Midwest Focus Young Guns).
Lyn St. James, founder of the Women in the Winners Circle program joined 2004 USAC Speedrome Midget Champion Sondi Eden in celebrating along with newly-crowned USAC Mopar D1 Midget Champ Taylor Ferns. Ferns became USAC’s second female driving champion in 2011 while Jessica Clark claimed a pair of Western Ford Focus titles to expand the list of USAC female driving champs to three.
Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif. was honored as the top USAC pavement Midget driver, while Bobby Santos of Franklin, Mass. was honored as the top pavement Sprint driver of 2011.
Honored as USAC .25 Midget National Champions as a result of their “Generation Next Tour” titles were Harrison Burton of Huntersville, NC (Light 160), Tyler Clem of St. Petersburg, FL (Junior Honda), Bryant Dawson of Phoenix, AZ (Mod and Heavy AA), Michael Fanelli of Rio Rancho, NM (Unrestricted Animal), Carson Hocevar of Portage, MI (Junior Stock and Junior Animal), Jared Irvan of Midland, NC (Senior Honda), Garrett Jones of West Palm Beach, FL (Light World Formula and Senior Animal) Ryan Krachun of Neshanic, NJ (B), Mark Miller of Mooresville, NC (Heavy 160), Wil Raber of Allegan, MI (Heavy Honda), Katlyn Stanley of Concord, NC (Heavy World Formula) and Gage Walker of Fairland, IN (Light AA).
Ford Racing was presented the Midget Engine Manufacturer of the Year award, while Mopar received the TORC Engine Manufacturer of the Year honors. B.F. Goodrich earned the TORC Tire Manufacturer of the Year award.
Andrew Caddell of Graham, Wash. accepted the TORC TRAXXAS MAXX Award for posting the most “fastest laps” during the 2011 Pro Light 2WD campaign.
R.J. Anderson of Riverside, Calif., also a Pro Light 2WD participant, was named TORC “Rookie of the Year,” and Mark Jenkins of Fairview, Texas, a Pro 4×4 participant, was named the “Most Improved” TORC driver.
Oakley Bomb awards went to Bryce Menzies (Pro 2WD) and Ricky Johnson (Pro 4×4).
The second annual “Jack Flannery Award” recognizing determination and perseverance went to Scott Taylor of Belvidere, Ill. The TORC “Crew Chief of the Year” honors went to Mike Krahling of Red Bull Team Menzies.
A special USAC “Spirit of Youth Award” was presented to Melissa Osborne of Winston Salem, N.C. for her many contributions to the sport of quarter-midget racing.
National car entrant champions included Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing of Brownsburg, Ind. (Silver Crown), Tony Stewart Racing (National Sprint Car) and Corey Tucker Racing/BCI/Curb-Agajanian of Noblesville, Ind. (National Midget).
USAC President Kevin Miller presented USAC Special Appreciation Awards to Traxxas (corporate) and Gary Reed of Toyota (individual) for their contributions and dedicated service to the racing community.
Randy Bernard, Chief Executive Officer for INDYCAR, was named as the recipient of USAC’s prestigious Roger McCluskey Award of Excellence, recognizing his commitment to USAC and its grass-roots racing endeavors.
USAC’s 2011 “Race Organizer of the Year” awards were presented to Bob Miller for the Sprint Eastern Storm series (National) and Dennis Gage of Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. (Western).
Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, Calif. earned the 2011! USAC Silver Crown “Rookie of the Year” honors as well as the Bob Stroud Memorial National Midget “Rookie of the Year” Award. Coleman Gulick of Binghamton, N.Y. received the National Sprint Car “Rookie of the Year” honors.
Casey Riggs of Shelbyville, Ind. and Zach Daum of Pocahontas, Ill were named USAC “Most Improved” National Drivers of 2011.
The Jim Blunk Award for contributions to the sport of Midget racing went to three-time USAC National Midget Champion Jason Leffler in recognition of his commitment to the history of the sport of Midget auto racing.
USAC’s 2011 “Mechanical Achievement of the Year” awards went to Tony Stewart Racing’s John Sayne and Brad Mariscotti.
Second and third-place drivers and car entrants in USAC’s National racing series also received their year-end recognition and awards.
All USAC driving champions were also presented one-year memberships by the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa.
Joe DeFabis of DeFabis Photography, USAC’s Official Portrait Studio, presented Championship Photos to the 2011 National driving champions.
Floral decorations were provided by Jockish Flowers of Indianapolis. Tim Spillman of Auto Racing Ministries delivered the invocation.

–USAC–

USAC National Midget PRELIMINARY 2012 MOPAR NATIONAL MIDGET SCHEDULE

Written By: RJ Cunningham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    DECEMBER 8, 2011
CONTACT: Dick Jordan

PRELIMINARY 2012 MOPAR NATIONAL MIDGET SCHEDULE
SHOWCASES TRADITIONAL EVENTS

Twenty-four preliminary dates have been released for USAC’s 2012 Mopar National Midget Series, with “traditional events” spanning the calendar.

Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C., which hosted USAC Ford Focus events in 2011, joins the Mopar National Midget calendar in 2012, offering series openers in late-March, while the series concludes with the 72nd running of the “Turkey Night Grand Prix” at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, Calif. in November.

In between, highlights include the “Hut Hundred” at Haubstadt, Ind., the “Night Before the 500” in Indianapolis, Ind., Indiana Midget Week, the “4-Crown Nationals” at Rossburg, Ohio and the “Gold Crown Nationals” at Pontoon Beach, Ill.

New to the calendar is the two-night “Plymouth Palooza” at Plymouth (Ind.) Speedway in July with the first night’s events on the track’s 1/3-mile paved oval and the following night’s races on a newly-constructed dirt oval inside the paved oval.

2012 USAC MOPAR NATIONAL MIDGET SCHEDULE

Date    Location/Track

March 30    Altamahaw, NC/Ace Speedway
March 31    Altamahaw, NC/Ace Speedway
May 4    Dodge City, KS/Dodge City Raceway Park
May 5    Dodge City, KS/Dodge City Raceway Park
May 26    Indianapolis, IN/Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
June 2    Haubstadt, IN/Tri-State Speedway
June 13 @Gas City, IN/Gas City I-69 Speedway
June 14 @Putnamville, IN/Lincoln Park Speedway
June 15 @Bloomington, IN/Bloomington Speedway
June 16 @Lawrenceburg, IN/Lawrenceburg Speedway
June 17 @Kokomo, IN/Kokomo Speedway
June 22 Newton, IA/Iowa Speedway
June 29 Toledo, OH/Toledo Speedway
June 30 Morris, IL/Grundy County Speedway
July 6    Plymouth, IN/Plymouth Speedway
July 7    Plymouth, IN/Plymouth Speedway
July 8    Sun Prairie, WI/Angell Park Speedway
July 27 Indianapolis, IN/Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
August 19    Sun Prairie, WI/Angell Park Speedway
September 22    Rossburg, OH/Eldora Speedway
October 4    Pontoon Beach, IL/Tri-City Speedway
October 5    Pontoon Beach, IL/Tri-City Speedway
October 6    Pontoon Beach, IL/Tri-City Speedway
November 22    Irwindale, CA/Toyota Speedway at Irwindale

@=Indiana Midget Week