From John Lemon
Tulsa OK — (December 8, 2014) — Andrew Deal and his Cagle Motorsports team were officially crowned as the 2014 Oil Capital Racing Series sprint car champions last Saturday night at the 13th Annual OCRS Awards Banquet held at the Clarion Hotel in Tulsa. Deal became the 5th champion in OCRS history and received the “Harold Leep Championship Trophy” which was presented by Geri Leep, Harold’s widow, on behalf of her National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee husband who passed away earlier this year.
Deal had not competed full time with OCRS since 2011 and chased eventual series runner-up Danny Smith for most of the season until passing Smith late in the year. Deal earned a single victory but was a level of consistency having produced multiple top five finishes throughout the 22-race season. The Cagle Motorsports team utilized an A.R.T. Chassis with power by Wornhor Racing Engines and received support from the following sponsors: OCRA Operating Company, Outlaw Dozier, Wheeler Metals, Burke Oil, DFR Discount Tire and Duvall Electric.
This was the third year in a row that Smith finished in the runner-up spot. Sophomore driver Kade Morton finished third in the standings with his brother Chance fourth while Brian McClelland was fifth. Kyle Clark, Alex DeCamp, Shayla Waddell, Cameron Hagin and Johnny Kent rounded out the top ten point collectors.
Smith did not leave empty handed on championship accolades as he was awarded the 2014 ‘Non-Wing’ championship for the topless events held during the season. Smith pilots the Tire Factory / Same Day Auto Repair F5 Twister sprinter with a DSO Engine. His awards included a free racing program at the Jimmy Sills School of Open Wheel Racing, a generous certificate from M&W Aluminum Products and cash.
The top five non-winged point earners received cash awards and plaques. Tim Kent was the non-wing runner-up with Kade Morton third and there was a tie for fourth between Alex DeCamp and Andrew Deal.
New Title Sponsor For OCRS
In a special announcement made to the banquet attendees, OCRS and AmeriFlex Hose and Accessories officials announced that AmeriFlex will be the “Title Sponsor” for the series beginning in 2015. AmeriFlex owner Corvan Robison has been a major supporter of the series with his Tulsa OK based business for the past few years.
With backing from AmeriFlex, there will be multiple venues and events that will pay OCRS teams extra cash during the 2015 season. Details on those events are still being addressed and will be announced at a later date. With this move, AmeriFlex vacates the sponsorship of the first heat race at each event as well as the popular ‘Hard Charger’ award.
The heat race sponsorship vacancy sign wasn’t needed as it was announced that Boyd’s Racing Engines of Norman OK; the same engine builder that supplied power to Harli White during her 2013 OCRS title run, will now become the sponsor of the first heat race at each OCRS event. In addition, car owners will receive even more bonus cash if a Boyd’s Racing Engine is under the hood in their sponsored heat race as well as extra cash if they win any OCRS A-Feature using their brand. Troy Green, a BRE co-owner, was in attendance for the announcement.
Several sponsors stepped up to assist with banquet door prizes for the top 10 overall teams and to those who competed in 75% of the scheduled events. These sponsors included:
Maxwell Oil Corporation, Shock Doc, Wesmar Racing Engines, Car & Fleet Parts,
Joe Dooling, Isky Cams, Manley Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, Sherrell Paint & Body, Finishline Powder Coatings, K&N Filters, Amsoil and Moroso
Additional awards and recognition went to:
AmeriFlex Hose and Accessories “Hardest Charger of the Year”: Danny Smith
Brodix / PM-PRO Rookie of the Year: Cameron Hagin
OCRS Spirit of the Year: Perry Pickard
OCRS Mechanic of the Year: Mike Deal
OCRS Sportsman of the Year: Blane Morton
OCRS Most Improved Driver: (Tie) Alex DeCamp and Johnny Kent
OCRS Perseverance of the Year: Mike Huard