By Brian Liskai
WALDO, Ohio – The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions
honored the top six sprint car drivers in its 2010 final points Sunday,
handing out point fund money and several special awards.
Besides the 2010 point fund money being handed out, Guy Webb discussed the
changes that will take place with the series in 2011. The All Stars sprints
are planning a regional concept, with a $20,000 point fund for the Ohio
region; $20,000 to win point fund for the eastern region; and a $10,000 to
win point fund for the western region. Webb announced at the banquet that
another $25,000 will be available to those teams who have the resources and
desire to compete in all of the All Star shows in 2011. He said he would
discuss with those teams how they would like to see the money distributed.
Webb thanked his staff of Owen Fritz, Kyle Keesy and Butch Sherwin for all
of their hard work.
“We are building a good team and with your help we will continue to make
the All Stars something everyone can be proud of,” Webb told the audience.
“I’m excited about the future.”
Webb also announced in 2011, transponder scoring will be utilized at each
event.
Eldora Speedway’s Larry Boos served as the afternoon’s emcee.
Tim Shaffer and the Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned team that took home
most of the accolades and the $50,000 champion’s prize.
Shaffer claimed his second consecutive All Star title. The Aliquippa, Pa.
driver was the hottest sprint car racer in the nation in 2010. Since
hooking up with mechanic Brian Kemenah in the middle of the 2008 season,
Shaffer and the CH Motorsports team have proven to be a force to deal with
everywhere they go. In 2010, Shaffer recorded 16 All Star wins to take his
career total to 35 with the All Stars, moving him into the 13th place on
the all-time series win list. Shaffer scored 21 feature wins overall in
2010, including the biggest sprint car event in the world, the 50th Annual
Knoxville Nationals. There was a stretch of 14 races this season where he
finished out of the top three only once. During that stretch he even posted
five straight wins, including against the World of Outlaws. Shaffer’s
overall earnings in 2010 are well over $300,000.
“We accomplished this as a team…I had some great people behind me starting
with Aaron and Janet giving us everything we needed to accomplish all of
this. Brian (Kemenah) and I just communicate so well together…then you
throw in all the guys who give of their time to help and that’s why we were
successful,” said Shaffer. “I have to thank Jack Elam from J&J Auto Racing
for great cars and Paul Kistler for the best engines.”
“This was just a dream season…no other way to describe it. I’ve never had
this much success in one season. It just goes to show if you keep banging
on the door…if you want it bad enough and work hard, good things will
happen,” added Shaffer.
Call and Holbrook both stressed the team concept was responsible for their
success.
“I don’t know how we were so lucky to put together such a team. We had the
Kistler team, the J&J team and All Pro (cylinder heads) team, the VRP Shock
team….everyone just contributed so much. Then you throw in all the guys who
volunteered their time in the shop and on the road…it’s just a very special
group of people,” said Call.
Holbrook, who has been involved in racing for many years, said 2010 was a
dream. “All of this didn’t happen by accident. We have a great group of
people and families involved and that’s what makes it happen. We aren’t
going to rest…we aren’t going to give up in 2011,” she said.
Shaffer’s chief mechanic, Brian Kemenah took home the All Star’s Mechanic
of the Year award for the fifth time in his storied career.
“I didn’t do this all myself…this is because of the three tables of people
sitting there (pointing to the crew and team owners’ tables). I have to
thank Aaron and Janet and of course Tim…the best driver in the world. I
really have to thank all these guys who showed up at the shop and at the
track and worked and sweated in the heat and their families for all the
sacrifices they made to accomplish all we did this season,” said Kemenah.
Benton Ridge, Ohio’s Greg Wilson finished second in the point standings for
the second consecutive year. The 2006 and 2007 All Star champion said his
Veryl and Sabrina Warnimont team is already busy working hard to unseat
Shaffer in 2011. Once again, like last year, Wilson came on strong towards
the end of 2010.
“You know, I’m bullheaded and I’ve tried to do everything myself and to be
honest, was getting a little burned out. Then we brought A.J. (Havens) in
the later part of the season and with my buddy Floyd, I began to loosen up
control a little bit and trust them with the car and that took a lot of
stress off me,” said Wilson.
“I have the best car owners in the world in Veryl and Sabrina. They trust
me to take care of their equipment and they give me everything I need to
succeed. I have to thank my wife, McKenzie for mellowing me out and keeping
me grounded. I’m so blessed to be surrounded by so many good people. I want
to congratulate Tim and the 83 team…they set the bench mark for sprint car
racing. I’m not ashamed to say I finished second to Tim Shaffer,” added
Wilson.
Watertown, Connecticut’s David Gravel finished third in the 2010 All Star
points. It was a break-out year for the 18-year-old who celebrated his
birthday in grand style during the Ohio Sprint Speedweek, claiming the
title and his first All Star win in the process at Limaland Motorsports
Park. Gavel proved the Speedweek title was no fluke by impressing the
sprint car world on its biggest stage, claiming the 2010 Knoxville
Nationals Rookie of the Year award. Since teaming up with mechanic Rob
Hart, Gravel has been impressive and could be a threat to unseat Shaffer
for the 2011 All Star title.
“I went to my first sprint car race five years ago at Lincoln (Pa.) and
fell in love with them. Rob has meant everything to me as a friend and
teacher. I have to thank Paul Kistler from Kistler Engines. We started the
year by blowing two motors and he stepped in and helped us get back on
track. I have to thank my dad and owner Ray for all they have done…they
have put a lot into this for me and I truly appreciate it,” said Gravel.
“I’m really excited to get going in 2011.”
Finishing fourth in the All Star points and taking home the 2010 Rookie of
the Year title was Cap Henry of Bellevue, Ohio. Henry, who paid his dues
against the tough weekly competition at Attica Raceway Park and Fremont
Speedway, claiming the rookie of the year awards at both tracks in 2009,
said this year was a great learning experience. The 20-year-old had several
top five finishes in 2010 on tracks he had never laid eyes on before.
“I learned so much this year…it was a ton of fun. The highlight was
Belleville (Kansas) where we set fast time and finished second in the
feature. I basically did that on my own as we didn’t have a crew chief at
that time. The low-point of the season was Speedweek. We made all nine
features but we crashed a lot of stuff,” said Henry, who thanked his dad
and mom for all of their support. “I have to thank A.J. Havens who started
the year with me and taught me a lot…I didn’t know anything about set-ups
until he came aboard. I want to thank Maxim chassis and Stanton engines who
is coming on board in 2011.”
Finishing fifth was veteran Bill Rose of Plainfield, Indiana. The
46-year-old driver was the model of consistency in 2010, scoring many top
10 finishes. A driver-owner who first broke into the top 10 in All Star
points in 2002, Rose continues to prove he can win with both a nonwing and
winged sprint car. No one worked harder on the 2010 All Star tour than
Bill.
“We have a great bunch of people who travel with the All Stars…they make it
so much fun. I have to say I enjoy working on these cars as much as I love
driving them,” said Rose, who also won a special prize in a drawing from
All Pro Cylinder Heads.”
Finishing sixth was rookie Jared Ridge from Snohomish, Washington. Trying
to race a sprint car for a living is hard enough, let alone being young, on
the road away from family and friends and trying to do it without the
benefit of a major sponsor. Ridge, 22, decided to leave the great Northwest
where he began his racing career just five years ago and finished second in
the ASCS Northwest Points in 2008, and pursue the All Star’s Rookie of the
Year title, finishing runner-up to Cap Henry. There’s no doubt, despite
tough breaks, crashes, long hours in the shop, Ridge learned valuable
experience in 2010.
“It was tough being away from my family and friends. But I’m committed to
doing this and that requires sacrifice and hard work. I have to thank
Shirley Kear and her family for all their support and all the help from all
the teams this year. We will be back in 2011 with a new sponsor…Triple X.
We’re building cars right now and we’re excited to get going,” said Ridge.