Shane Stewart Crowned Lucas Oil Sprint Car Champion
Ziehl & Davis Honored as Well for ASCS Regional Titles
TUCSON, Ariz. (November 22, 2009) -- A Lucas Oil
Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters record $250,000 point fund
plus contingencies and other prizes were distributed at the 18th Annual
ASCS Awards Banquet presented by Brodix on Sunday afternoon at Old Tucson
Studios.
Bixby, OK, native Shane Stewart and California car owner Paul Silva
reeled in the lion's share of the awards, collecting $60,000 for his
first Lucas Oil Sprint Car title, becoming the first Oklahoma native to
capture the ASCS National crown since Zach Chappell accomplished the feat
in 2001.
In addition to the 16 Lucas Oil Sprint Car honorees, the top ten from
both the winged ASCS Southwest Region and wingless Discount Tire Co. ASCS
Canyon Region were honored during Sunday's ceremonies, with Rick Ziehl
(Southwest) and Charles Davis, Jr. (Canyon) taking top honors.
Picking off three Lucas Oil Sprint Car feature wins over the course of
the season and finishing outside the top ten just once aboard Silva's
Wesmar-powered ProBilt Construction/Palmero Properties No. 57 A.R.T.,
Stewart took the title by a slim 25-point margin over 2008 series
champion Jason Johnson.
"This is amazing, there's so many people to thank it's unreal," Stewart
commented from the podium. "My wife, Kimberly, she's my backbone, Paul
(Silva) is a best friend..." Stewart continued on while overwhelmed with
emotion.
Joining Stewart as Lucas Oil Sprint Car honorees were runner-up Jason
Johnson (Eunice, LA), Gary Wright (Hooks, TX), fourth-ranked Travis Rilat
(Forney, TX), fifth-ranked Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN),
sixth-ranked Tim Crawley (Benton, AR), seventh-ranked Danny Wood (Norman,
OK), eighth-ranked Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS), ninth-ranked Jack Dover
(Springfield, NE), tenth-ranked Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO), 11th-ranked
Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK), 12th-ranked Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK),
13th-ranked Darren Long (Elida, OH), 14th-ranked Chad Corken (Highlands
Ranch, CO), 15th-ranked Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) and 16th-ranked Seth
Bergman (Snohomish, WA).
Thirteen drivers received awards for Perfect Attendance including
Stewart, Johnson, Wright, Rilat, McMahan, Crawley, Wood, Bruce, Dover,
Hockett, McClelland, Walker and Corken.
Stewart's car owner and crew chief, Paul Silva, picked up the Brodix Lee
Maier Crew Chief of the Year award.
Stewart also earned the Ronald Laney Hard Charger Award by accumulating
the most passing points during the 2009 season.
Paul McMahan got the nod in the Brodix Rookie of the Year battle, worth a
set of Brodix heads, by besting fellow rookie contenders Dover, Long,
Corken, Bergman, Brady Bacon and Ricky Logan.
Tony Bruce, Jr., who promoted events at the Jetmore Motorplex and
Riverside Speedway, was presented with the Sportsmanship Award for his
efforts in furthering the sport of Sprint Car racing and the Lucas Oil
Sprint Car Series.
Nineteen-year-old Jack Dover was presented with the Horizon Award, which
is annually awarded to a driver who displays promise of glory in future
seasons with ASCS.
Twenty-year-old Colorado shoe Chad Corken was presented the 2009 Young
Lion award, which is annually presented to a promising driver under 21
years of age for their support of the American Sprint Car Series.
Ohio's Darren Long picked up the Hard Luck Award, worth a set of Brodix
cylinder heads.
Danny Wood was presented with the Lowest Average Draw award, with Kenneth
Walker at the other end of the spectrum with the Highest Average Draw
award.
While the top 15 in driver and owner points all received cash prices
totaling $250,000, 16th-ranked Seth Bergman was presented with a complete
set of Brodix cylinder heads and other prizes worth approximately $3,500.
After recently celebrating his 20th birthday, Glenpool, OK, shoe Matt
Covington was presented with the Newcomer of the Year award, worth $1,000
in cash.
Rick Ziehl picked up ASCS Southwest championship honors for the second
year in a row, with other Southwest honorees including Ben Gregg, Joshua
Hodges, John Gaston, Ronnie Clark, Charles Davis, Jr., John Van Horn,
Mike Martin, Jessica Van Dyke and Joshua Williams.
Charles Davis, Jr., captured the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region
championship, delivering car owner Jim Massey his first series title.JJoining Davis and Massey among Canyon Region honorees were R.J. Johnson,
Nathan High, Stevie Sussex, Johnathon Henry, Ronnie Clark, Andrew
Reinbold, Mike Martin, Jeremy Sherman and Bruce St. James.
Fourteen-year-old Joshua Hodges of Tijeras, NM, who earlier in the season
became the youngest feature winner in ASCS history by posting a Rocky
Mountain Region triumph, picked up Rookie of the Year honors with a
ranking of third in ASCS Southwest points, while Johnathon Henry made the
most of the frequent 12-hour one-way trek from his Stockton, CA, home to
Arizona by collecting Rookie of the Year honors with the ASCS Canyon
Region.
Stevie Sussex collected Most Improved honors with the ASCS Canyon Region,
with Ronnie Clark earning Most Improved with the ASCS Southwest Region.
A number of dignitaries were on hand for the day's festivities at Old
Tucson Studios including representatives from Lucas Oil, Brodix Cylinder
Heads and Hoosier Tires.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is
available at www.ascsracing.com.
-credit: ascs
