From the NSCHoF, Muclodbob Photo
KNOXVILLE, IA – Levi Jones of Olney, Illinois, today was named the 2009 “Driver of the Year” by the North American Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll voting panel of media members, promoters, sanctioning officials and manufacturers for the second time. The United States Auto Club (USAC) national champion and 2005 “Driver of the Year” earned eleven (11) of the eighteen (18) first-place ballots cast in the year-end poll. His Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) car owner, NASCAR’s Tony Stewart, will receive the 2009 non-winged sprint car “Team of the Year” award for his third time. Tony had previously earned it in 2003 and 2004.
Those drivers ranked second through fifth, respectively, are Bryan Clauson of California, Cole Whitt of California, Dave Darland of Indiana, and 2006-2007 “Driver of the Year” Jon Stanbrough of Indiana. Rounding out the ‘top ten’ are USAC-California Racing Association (CRA) champion Mike Spencer, Damion Gardner, 2008 “Driver of the Year” Jerry Coons, Jr., David Cardey, and Tracy Hines, respectively. Bryan Clauson and Cole Whitt captured six (6) and one (1) first-place votes, respectively. Bryan Clauson, who now has residences in Noblesville, Indiana, and Charlotte, North Carolina, earned the “Wild Card Award” for his exciting sprint car performances in ’09.
According to poll coordinator Bob Baker, “The words ‘prepared’ and ‘professional’ are both great adjectives to describe Levi Jones and the entire Tony Stewart Racing team. It is fitting that we are able to honor them together for their remarkable achievements in traditional sprint car racing in 2009.”
Mike O’Leary, veteran author and publicist for the “King of Indiana Sprint Series” (KISS), will receive the North American Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll’s “Media Member of the Year” award for the first time. Indiana promoters Mike Miles of the Bloomington Speedway and Dave Rudisell of the Lawrenceburg Speedway will share the “Promoter of the Year” honors in ‘09. This is a first-time award for both gentlemen.
USAC/CRA racer Ronnie Gardner of California will receive the 2009 North American Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll “Rookie of the Year, presented by Jack & Sharon Jory” award from the voting panel. Open-wheel racer Danny Drinan of Drinan Racing Products and its Dri-Bar cockpit-adjustable anti-roll system will receive the “Builder/Manufacturer of the Year” honors for his first time ever.
The North American Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll is an annual awards program of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation, Inc., of Knoxville, Iowa. All awards will be distributed in the spring of 2010 at tracks throughout North America. The awards were announced on the first day of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Final 2009 North American Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll
rank, driver (first place votes), hometown, state/province, points
1., Levi Jones (11), Olney, IL, 1340
2., Bryan Clauson (6), Carmichael, CA, 910
3., Cole Whitt (1), Alpine, CA, 586
4., Dave Darland, Walton, IN, 417
5., Jon Stanbrough, Jamestown, IN, 393
6., Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA, 371
7., Damion Gardner, Concord, CA, 220
8., Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ, 165
9., David Cardey, Riverside, CA, 149
10., Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN, 109
11., Brady Short, Bedford, Indiana, 81
12., Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Brownsburg, IN, 70
13., Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ, 69
14., Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO, 65
15., Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA, 59
16., Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN, 46
17., Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, CA, 44
18., Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA, 38
19., Tony Jones, Garden Grove, CA, 18
20., Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK, 16
21., Tanner Swanson, Kingsburg, CA, 12
22., Bobby Santos III, Franklin, MA, 11
tie, David Steele, Tampa, FL, 11
24., Robert Ballou, Rocklin, CA, 10
25., Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA, 8
Also receiving multiple votes: Jeff Bland, Jr., Charles Davis, Jr., Nic
Faas, Peter Murphy, Danny Sheridan, Kevin Swindell.