From K.J. Motorsports
On January 9, 2009, the Checkered Flag Sprint Series held its award banquet Brandon, Florida. This gave Keith, Amanda and the crew an opportunity to celebrate their championship and Rookie of the Year titles, away from the racetrack.
The evening went very well. Most of the crew and sponsors were able to make it. One notable exception was Rick Gabor of Eagle Jet International that was going to fly up from Miami that afternoon. Due to a weather system over the state of Florida, it was unsafe for Rick to fly up. We’ll be seeing Rick at a race soon enough.
After eating dinner, the program proceeded with the awards for the top 15 drivers and then moving on to the top 15 car owners. Winning both the drivers and owners championship, Keith was last to receive his awards. In addition to the championship trophy and ring, Keith was co-winner of the “Barfield’s Clean Sweep Award” for winning the most Clean Sweeps this season. Keith then gave a speech thanking the other competitors, sanction body officials and his supporters and sponsors for such a great year. After his speech, Keith asked the rest of the crew to join him at the podium, where he handed out plaques commemorating the 2009 season.
Amanda also received her Trophy for finishing 5th in points. She then asked Keith, Jenn and members of the crew to join her at the podium. Amanda handed out thank you gifts to the crew and gave a speech covering her first full year in sprint cars. During her speech, she thanked her fellow competitors, race officials and sponsors. Later in the night, Amanda received her award for winning the Rookie of the Year title.
Everyone had a great time and special thanks goes to the members of the sanctioning body that helped to setup this night and were able to put on such a great event. As with racing, an event like this takes many people behind the scenes that do not get thanked as much as they should for the effort they put in, but from everyone at KJ Motorsports, a big thank you to all those who work hard to put on a great racing season and an outstanding banquet.
Season Preview
The 2009 season is over and the 2010 season is only a few weeks away. In fact from the date of the Banquet, the first race is only 3 weeks later. We wanted to take this opportunity to inform everyone about what has been going on since the last race and tell you about some of our announcements; we are ready to make for the new season.
In 2010, Keith Butler will contest his 18th year in sprint cars by defending his 2009 Checkered Flag Sprint Series Championship. Amanda Ferguson will run a full season in a dedicated asphalt car and looks to improve on her 5th place points finish.
They will run the entire Checkered Flag Sprint Series schedule, select ASCS dirt, USCS asphalt races and high profile televised asphalt sprint car races as schedule allows.
Since the last scheduled race of the 2009 season, both Keith and Amanda’s primary cars have been stripped down and sent out to Atlantic Powder Coating (A New Team Sponsor) for a fresh new appearance. The chassis’s are back and currently being assembled in time for the first race of the year at Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda, Florida on January 30-31st.
To start the new season Keith will again be in the chassis named “Ms Liberty”. This is a Shaw Chassis that the team acquired in the middle of last season. Amanda will again be campaigning the KJ Motorsports built chassis “Geraldine”. The primary backup car, to start the season, will be the fill-in car from 2009, this is the chassis called “Foxie”. Amanda’s dirt chassis will also provide a second backup chassis if needed. As time allows, a new Shaw chassis will be added to the fleet this season. That chassis will be named as it gets closer to its debut.
In addition to the regular race schedule, Amanda has also taken on some other activities this season. She has been awarded a scholarship to a driver development and education program called “Race 101”. This program is full year program that focuses on all aspects of improving a driver. These areas include vehicle dynamics, driver coaching, safety, PR, public speaking and marketing. Amanda will also be one of the featured drivers in a traveling exhibit that will displaythe growing achievements, and the future growth of women in racing. This exhibit, put on by Lyn St James, will travel to 10 races across the country this year. Amanda has been asked to be in Daytona Beach, Florida for the premier unveiling on February 10th.
New Sponsors:
In this abbreviated off season, we have added some excellent new supporters of the program. Atlantic Powder Coatings is one of North East Florida’s leaders in the coatings industry. They combine 12 years of experience with a modern facility that utilizes only high-end materials. They are able to provide quality service as well as offer a wide variety of durable finishes and colors for the product you wish to have coated.
In addition to Atlantic Powder Coating, KJ Motorsports is proud to have the support of Sander Engineering. Sander is a Hallmark name in the open wheel industry. In addition to their line of driveline, brake and suspension components, we are looking forward to getting the Sander Wheels on the cars. The time and extra effort that Sander’s puts into their wheels really shows through in the final product.
First Race:
The Checkered Flag Sprint Series opens its 2010 Season on January 30-31at the Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda, Florida. This will be a 2 day show. For more information about the KJ Motorsports race schedule please visit our web site at KeithButler.Homestead.com.