From Rich Vleck
TULSA, Okla. — In a season that went about as well as was possible, the Lucas Oil ASCS Patriots Awards Banquet is sure to have laughs and smiles abound.
After the completion of the 25-race schedule, a record 31 drivers will be awarded cash prizes at the 2009 Lucas Oil ASCS Patriot Awards Banquet on Saturday, November 14. For the first time ever, the banquet will be held at the Wildwood Country Club in Rush, NY, just south of Rochester.
Thanks to the newly-instituted “2009 Five Crown Tour”, more than just the 12 drivers that ran 67% of the races will be cashing in on the massive point fund. As was declared the 2008 Awards Banquet, a record $30,000 Cash Point Fund will be paid out, with many drivers receiving double what they got in their envelope last year.
For the second year in a row, Bryan Howland will walk away with the largest of the checks. Howland, of Auburn, NY will sit at the head table for the third time in his impressive career. Howland not only captured the championship, he also snagged the King of OH/PA $heriez and the Riverside Bar and Grill King of the St. Lawrence Titles.
Jared Zimbardi will pick up the check for second place for the third straight year. In addition to the bridesmaid honors though, the Little Valley, NY driver will also be taking home the honor as PJ Motorsports King of the Southern Tier.
Don Adamczyk and Bubba Broderick had impressive 2009 campaigns and for their committed effort and perfect attendance will be rewarded handsomely on the second Saturday in November.
The Breen Brothers, Bobby and Blake, finished fifth and sixth in points for the second year in a row, this year will Bobby coming out on top. Bobby captured the 2009 A-Verdi Storage Containers King of Central New York, the longest running and most lucrative of the legs of the Five Crown Tour. Blake became the inaugural King of the Golden Horseshoe this season.
Gordy Button and Derek Jonathan were both Patriot regulars for just the second time in their career, while Chris Muhleisen and Scott Kreutter found themselves inside the top-10 once again in 2009.
Veteran Dave Wickham and Sophomore Brandan Warner each finished in the money, while Devin Caron will be honored as Insinger Race Fuels Rookie of the Year.
Trevor Lewis will also be a special award recipient as he was the Gater Racing News Hard Charger of the Season, despite making only half of the races. The Upper Black Eddy, PA driver will also be picking up his bonus for winning multiple races in the Holiday Weekend Bonus Program.
Along with these drivers be rewarded for their dedication throughout the entire 2009 season, 17 other competitors will also take home checks for their work in a single leg of the “Lucas Oil Five Crown Tour”.
As is customary, an informational meeting for drivers and teams will be held at 3:30 p.m. Early notes about the 2010 season will be touched on, along with rules changes and format modifications that are being made heading in to next season. Teams will have also have an opportunity to let their opinion be known and a number of issues.
To add to the fun, five of the Quicktime Simulators that have been present and many of the Lucas Oil ASCS Patriots will be inside the banquet hall and available for all in attendance to play for free. The competition between racers, owners and officials should be pretty intense.
Tickets are still available for this year-end celebration, and can be secured by sending $35 per ticket to: ASCS Patriots, 64 Straub Road, Rochester, NY 14626. Check may be made out to ASCS Patriots. The deadline for ordering tickets is November 7.
The Wildwood Country Club is located just five miles south of the New York State Thruway in Rush, NY. For more information, visit www.GolfWildwood.com.
The banquet will kick off with a cocktail hour at 6:00 p.m., with Champion Howland once again buying the first round. For more information, visit www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.