by Kelly Brown
Camargo, IL (1-25-10) “Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months, and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.” – T. Alan Armstrong.
This past weekend at the All Occasions Banquet Center in Waldo, Ohio, the stars were out in the middle of the day as the drivers, owners, sponsors, promoters, and special guests of the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions gathered to remember another thrilling season of racing action.
2009 All Star Champion Tim Shaffer was awarded a check for $50,000 for his accomplishments this season. He also took home a prize from All Pro Heads, which he won in a drawing during the banquet. In 2009, Shaffer collected eight wins at: Ocala Speedway, Lernerville Speedway, Elkins Speedway, Millstream Speedway, Fremont Speedway, Hartford Speedway, and Hilltop Speedway. Shaffer was also second in the point standings during the 2009 edition of Ohio Speedweek and won the finale of the grueling week at Fremont. Overall Shaffer accumulated 19 top-five finishes, which put him in the top-five in 50 percent of the races he ran with the All Stars. He also collected 29 top-ten finishes which placed him in the top-ten in approximately 80 percent of the All Star races he ran this year.
“The whole season was really fun for me,” stated Shaffer with a smile. “It had been a long time since I have had this much fun racing. My owners were wonderful and gave me great equipment which made me and the Call Holbrook team look fantastic. I cannot wait to get going again. These cars are really fun to drive with Brian (Kemenah) setting them up. This year communication was the key to our success and that is what makes this a great team to drive for.”
Also honored during the day was 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year Daron Clayton who won one of the closest rookie battles the All Star Circuit of Champions has seen, and also took home third in the point standings. Clayton clinched the title with an eighth place finish in the final race of the season at Terre Haute. Clayton may have had a slow start to 2009, but finished strong with two top-five finishes in the last five races of the season. His best finish of fourth came at Hilltop Speedway in September. In all Clayton would close the 2009 season with eight top-ten finishes.
“The first half of the year was tough, but once I got my head out of my butt, we looked at the points and said we have a chance to run in the top-three in points and win Rookie-of-the-Year,” said Clayton with a grin. “It was fun and the highlight of my career. I did go through a year in the school of hard knocks, but it all paid off for us in the end.”
Also honored was Clayton’s crew chief Anthony Knighten, who took home Mechanic-of-the-Year honors.
“I don’t know how we did it,” commented Knighten. “I have to thank Daron and send an extra special thank you to my wife Deanna who has been really understanding this year with the hours it took to make this team successful. I have come a long way since I started driving street stocks in New Jersey. Over the years I have to say I learned the most about racing watching Billy Paunch race in Pennsylvania.”
Looking forward to 2010, it promises to be another thrilling season for the All Star Circuit of Champions.
“Next weekend when we begin our season at Ocala Speedway, it will be a new day,” expressed Guy Webb, All Star Series President. This year the schedule will be bigger and better than last year with around 50 stand alone dates. In all this is going to be a great year for the All Stars.”
With the 2010 season under a week away, another exciting season is in the works. It will open next weekend with the 27th edition of Winter Nationals which will feature three unique Floridian tracks: Ocala Speedway, Volusia Raceway Park, and East Bay Raceway Park. For the most up to date information on the All Star Circuit of Champions and more information about the 2010 edition of Winter Nationals, bookmark www.allstarsprint.com on your computer.