NASCAR-WRS: Awards banquet report
pr...@motorsport.com
By Dave Rodman
ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 17, 2000) NASCAR's grassroots racing family held its
ultimate celebration Friday night as Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa, was
honored as the 2000 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series national champion.
Webb, 51, a 29-year racing veteran, was feted at the Peabody Hotel's Grand
Ballroom by more than 1,000 of his peers, including competitors, track
operators, officials, sponsors, family and friends.
"Age -- what a mythical thing," said Webb, who walked off the stage with a
huge trophy, a check for $153,550 and the champion's diamond ring
presented by NASCAR executive vice president and secretary Jim France. "A
young driver races with no fear, lightning reflexes and a bright future.
"A driver with 10 years experience has reached his prime. A driver over 50
that is still winning races may just be called a savvy old veteran who
realizes his days are numbered.
"In my 29-year career I have run this spectrum and to be the 2000 NASCAR
Weekly Racing Series champion is an overwhelming accomplishment."
While he also competed with success in the O'Reilly Auto Parts All-Star
Series, NASCAR Touring, Webb dominated the Mid-America Region of the NWRS.
He began the NASCAR 2000 season with 15 straight victories and ultimately
won 16 times in 18 starts. In his career he has earned a lot of respect
from everyone from fans and officials to his fellow competitors.
"To be a champion of any kind you had to give a lot of commitment to your
sport," said 1986 NWRS national champion Joe Kosiski, the 2000 Midwest
Region champion, in praise of Webb. "I have raced against Gary on many
occasions and he contributes to the sport in only positive ways. It is a
pleasure having Gary as our national champion."
"A driver alone can seldom win championships," said Webb, who thanked his
wife Cindy, his son Brian and his crew. "My car owner, Larry Moring, has
provided us with the equipment, resources, leadership and the moral
support that this team needs to compete."
"Larry enjoys every aspect of this sport," Webb said of the owner that
also won the inaugural NWRS national championship with Tom Hearst in 1982,
"and he brings that into every faction of our team. He has also made this
a complete family effort."
On the evening, more than $1.7 million in point fund and contingency money
was distributed to drivers from the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series and the
Exide ShorTrack Series by NASCAR. Representatives from the 92 NWRS short
tracks located throughout the country participated in the event. Track
operators from the facilities hosting regional and national champions also
received appropriate awards.
Champions from each of the 10 NWRS regions were recognized and rewarded
with point fund and contingency checks totaling more than $40,000 each.
The top-10 drivers in each geographical area were also honored.
Jerry Robertson won the Great West Region championship racing in the Late
Model division at Colorado National Speedway in Erie. He raced to 10
victories in 18 starts.
"We took an 11-year-old chassis and started from scratch and my good
friend Kelly Boen offered us a trailer and an engine," Robertson said.
"After all I've been through this year maybe I'll write a book on how to
win races and championships with nothing more than resourcefulness, hard
work and a handful of good friends."
Finishing second through 10th in the Great West Region were Kyle Berck of
Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, Neb.; Lynn Hardy of Rocky Mountain Raceways in
West Jordan, Utah; John Bender from Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash.;
Steve Thompson of Tri-City Raceway in Kennewick, Wash.; Jason Jefferson of
Yakima (Wash.) Speedway; Steve Jones of Magic Valley Speedway in Twin
Falls, Idaho; John Nesmith of Kalispell (Mont.) Raceway Park; Jody Tanner
of Portland (Ore.) Speedway; and Nick Behn of South Sound Speedway in
Tenino, Wash.
Dick Cobb capped a career of more than 30 years by winning the Sunbelt
Region championship racing in the Late Model Division at The Bullring at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Cobb needed his fifth victory of the season on
the final night of racing to clinch the regional title.
Finishing second through ninth in the Sunbelt Region were Larry Hunter of
Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, N.M.; Tony Bennett of Lanier
National Speedway in Braselton, Ga.; Norman Uptain Sr. of Thunder Raceway
in Show Low, Ariz.; Jerry Williams of Summerville (S.C.) Speedway; Charles
Wares of Tucson (Ariz.) Raceway Park; Donny Horleka of San Antonio (Texas)
Speedway; Michael Murrer of Jax Raceways in Jacksonville, Fla.; and Kent
Strickland of Oglethorpe Speedway in Savannah, Ga.
Versatile Ted Christopher, who has driven everything from NWRS Modifieds
to NASCAR Winston Cup Series cars and everything in between in the last
several years, won the New England Region championship racing in the SK
Modified division at the Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs,
Conn. Christopher won nine times in 18 starts.
"Capturing this year's NASCAR Weekly Racing Series New England Region
championship is something very special," Christopher said. "I'm proud to
accept this award tonight and it will always be one of my highlights when
my racing days are over."
Finishing second through 10th in the New England Region were Dennis Gada
from Waterford Speedbowl in New London. Conn.; Larry Gelinas of Lee (N.H.)
USA Speedway; Dwight Jarvis of Claremont (N.H.) Speedway; Jeff Strunk of
Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa.; Roger Raymond of Monadnock
Speedway in Winchester, N.H.; Roger Godin of Thompson (Conn.)
International Speedway; Mike Maietta Sr. of Beech Ridge Speedway in
Scarborough, Maine; Fred Astle of Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway; and Bobby
Gahan of Star Speedway in Epping, N.H.
Jim Leka, whose nephew Jeff Leka won the 1999 NWRS national championship,
won the Heartland Region championship racing in the dirt Modified division
at Macon (Ill.) Speedway. He won nine times in 18 starts.
Finishing second through ninth in the Heartland Region were 1998 Heartland
Region champion Joe Buford of Nashville (Tenn.) Speedway USA; Chad Lyle of
Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.; Jeff Klem of I-70 Speedway in
Odessa, Mo.; Jerry Lee of Louisville (Ky.) Motor Speedway; Robbie Dean of
Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway; Andy Bozell of Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway;
Kris Stump of Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio; and Tim Swearengin of
Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway.
Richard Mitchell won his second straight Northeast Region championship
driving in the Late Model division at Motordrome Speedway in Smithton, Pa.
While he dominated the division in 1999, in NASCAR 2000 he waited until
the last night of competition to clinch with a second place finish. He won
10 times in 20 starts this season.
Finishing second through ninth in the Northeast Region were T.J.
Potrzebowski of Tioga Speedway in Owego, N.Y.; Jim Crawn of Five Mile
Point Speedway in Binghamton, N.Y.; J.R. Kent from Spencer Speedway in
Rochester, N.Y.; Steve Whitt of Flemington (N.J.) Speedway; Frank
Vigliarolo of Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway; Keith Hoffman of Big Diamond
Raceway in Minersville, Pa.; Barry Awtey of Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway;
and Matt Alix of Holland (N.Y.) International Speedway.
Wade Day won the Blue Ridge Region championship racing in the Late Model
Stock Car division at Kingsport (Tenn.) Speedway. He won 14 times in 20
starts.
"Racing is such a team sport," Day said. "What happens at the race track
is such a small part of what determines the outcome of our sport, and fans
do not have the opportunity to see what happens at the shop -- the sweat,
hard work and the fellowship. My crew puts in long hours at the shop and
without them I couldn't be here."
Finishing second through ninth in the Blue Ridge Region were Chad Harris
of New River Valley Speedway in Radford, Va.; Mark Vineyard of Atomic
Motor Speedway in Knoxville, Tenn.; Gene Morgan of Greenville-Pickens
Speedway in Greenville, S.C.; Jason York of Caraway Speedway in Asheboro,
N.C.; Kevin Love of Concord (N.C.) Motorsport Park; Todd Massey of Ace
Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C.; Junior Miller of Bowman Gray Stadium in
Winston-Salem, N.C.; and Jason Welsham of Smoky Mountain Motor Speedway in
Knoxville, Tenn.
Mark Welch won his second consecutive Pacific Coast Region title racing in
the Modified division at Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway, where he won 14
times in 21 events.
Finishing second through ninth in the Pacific Coast Region were Jim Pettit
of Madera (Calif.) Speedway; Bobby Scott of Watsonville (Calif.) Speedway;
M.B. Duncan of Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.; Jeff Anthony of
Altamont Raceway Park in Tracy, Calif.; Greg Voigt of Irwindale (Calif.)
Speedway; Gary Tamborelli of Cajon Speedway in El Cajon, Calif.; Corey
Lacosta of North Star Speedway in Palmer, Alaska; and Greg Scheidecker of
Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, Calif.
Kosiski went across the NWRS Awards Banquet stage for the 16th straight
time after winning the Midwest Region championship racing in the dirt Late
Model division at Sunset Speedway in Omaha, Neb., where he won 11 times in
19 starts and had only one finish outside the top-5.
Finishing second through ninth in the Midwest Region were Mark Noble of
Crawford County Speedway in Denison, Iowa; John Anderson of Park Jefferson
(S.D.) Speedway; Webb of West Liberty (Iowa) Raceway; Dave Storck of
Madison (Minn.) Speedway; Jeff Aikey of Farley Speedway in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa; Rick Thoennes of Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minn.; and Denny
Osborn of Butler County Speedway in Allison, Iowa.
Nick Woodward won his first Atlantic Seaboard Region championship racing
in the Late Model Stock Car division at Southampton Motor Speedway in
Capron, Va., where he won 14 times in 18 starts.
Finishing second through ninth in the Atlantic Seaboard Region were Mark
McFarland of Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va.; 1988 NWRS national
champion Robert Powell of Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway; Eddie Johnson of
Southside Speedway in Richmond, Va.; Barry Beggarly of Orange County
Speedway in Rougemont, N.C.; James Kelley of Southern National Speedway in
Kenly, N.C.; Phil Warren of Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va.; Rodney
Sawyers of South Boston (Va.) Speedway; and Mack Best of Coastal Plains
Raceway in Jacksonville, N.C.
Finishing second through ninth in the Mid-America Region were Bert
Cheatham of Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill.; Bobby Wilberg of
Rockford (Ill.) Speedway; Donald Reuvers of Elko (Minn.) Speedway; Carl
Edwards of Capital Speedway in Columbia, Mo.; Kevin Nuttleman of LaCrosse
(Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway; Steve Murgic of Raceway Park in Shakopee,
Minn.; Michael Cothron of Peoria (Ill.) Speedway; and Darrell Garman of
Rockford Speedway.
Mike Reynolds of Nashville Speedway USA won the Exide ShorTrack Series
national championship trophy and a check for more than $6,500. The Exide
ShorTrack Series by NASCAR recognizes a second division at each NWRS
facility with regional and national championships.
"Nashville Speedway USA in my opinion is the best short track in America,"
Reynolds said, citing the sport's rich heritages. "To put my name in the
Nashville Speedway record book alongside past champions like Darrell
Waltrip, Sterling Marlin, NWRS national champion Mike Alexander, Bobby
Hamilton and Jeff Green puts me in very elite company."
Exide ShorTrack Series regional champions included Mid-America Region's
Rodney Bowman from the Modified division at Peoria Speedway, Great West
Region's Lex Johnson from the Street Stock division at Evergreen Speedway,
Northeast Region's Wayne Lent from the Sportsman Modified division at
Tioga Speedway, Midwest Region's Mary Whyman from the Modified division at
Corning (Iowa) Speedway, New England Region's Jay Stuart from the American
Challenge Series at Waterford Speedbowl, Blue Ridge Region's Kevin Kenly
in the Mini Stock division at Southern National Speedway, Atlantic
Seaboard Region's Jamie Goode in the Grand Stock division at Langley
Speedway, Sunbelt Region's Jamie Driggers in the Street Stock division at
Summerville Speedway and Pacific Coast Region's James Westin in the Late
Model division at Irwindale Speedway.
Darrell Poe of Caraway Speedway won the True Value Mechanic of the Year
Award, which was voted by the NASCAR membership. Each of 10 regional award
winners gets $1,500, while the national award winner gets an additional
$5,000.
"This award provides the opportunity to say 'thank you' to the people
behind the scenes of each of the champions seated here tonight," said Poe,
who also won the Atlantic Seaboard Region mechanic's award, "as well as
the hundreds of race teams who compete in this wonderful sport we call
auto racing."
The True Value regional award winners included Terry Meads of the Great
West Region, Debbie Bedard of the Sunbelt Region, Jim Crowell of the New
England Region, Bob Korn of the Heartland Region, Ralph Werley of the
Northeast Region, Timothy Evans of the Pacific Coast Region, Scott
Koraleski of the Midwest Region, Richard Bowers of the Mid-America Region
and Lane Goodwin of the Atlantic Seaboard Region.
Among other awards that were distributed was the Gatorade Front Runner
Award, which was presented to McFarland, who led the NWRS national
championship point standings at the midway point of the season.
Two longtime NASCAR Weekly Racing Series promoters who passed away in 2000
-- Pete Blackwell of Greenville-Pickens Speedway and Al Frieden of West
Liberty Raceway, Farley Speedway and Dubuque Speedway -- were remembered
during the affair.
As the celebration ended, outgoing 1999 NWRS champion Jeff Leka offered a
postscript to Webb and his fellow competitors.
"Gary, congratulations on your national championship" Leka said. "I know
what it is like to stand in your shoes. Look out into the audience and
take a look, remember it and cherish it.
"It's an honor to do this once in a lifetime and it's something we will
always aim to do again. Congratulations."
-nascar.com-
---
motorsport.com -- your source for motorsport news on the Internet