In a place where NASCAR history is on display, its future was celebrated as
six champions in NASCAR’s developmental series were honored during the Night
of Champions Touring Awards Gala in the Crown Ballroom at the NASCAR Hall of
Fame on Saturday night.
The festivities featured the champions and top drivers from all of NASCAR’s
North American regional touring series, who gathered for the special
year-end celebration in the heartland of stock-car racing.
"It's really rewarding, from our perspective to come to an event like
tonight, at a facility like the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in a great city like
Charlotte, to recognize so many NASCAR champions," said Steve O'Donnell,
NASCAR senior vice president for racing operations. "This year's
championship lineup is impressive to say the least."
The 2010 champions included Bobby Santos (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), Ryan
Truex (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), Eric Holmes (NASCAR K&N Pro Series
West), DJ Kennington (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1),
Burt Myers (NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour) and Germán Quiroga (NASCAR
Mexico Series).
"We are proud we can call you six drivers NASCAR champions," O'Donnell said.
"You've earned it."
·
Santos of Franklin, Mass., won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title and is
the youngest champion in the 26-year history of the Tour at 25 years of age.
· Truex, of Mayetta, N.J., collected his second straight NASCAR K&N Pro
Series East crown giving him two championships in his only two full seasons
of competition in the division.
· Holmes of Escalon, Calif., captured his third NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
title having also won championships in 2006 and 2008 and becoming the
seventh driver in West
Series history to win three or more titles.
· Kennington of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, earned his first NASCAR
Canadian Tire Series championship after finishing second in 2007 and 2009
and third in 2008.
·
Myers of Walnut Cove, N.C., won his first NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified
Tour with a thrilling win in the season’s final race at Charlotte (N.C.)
Motor Speedway.
· Quiroga of Mexico City, Mexico, picked up his second consecutive NASCAR
Mexico Series championship and became the first driver in series history
with multiple titles.
In addition to the championship awards, the Most Popular Driver Awards for
each series were also presented during the ceremony. The five drivers
honored with the prestigious award were Ted Christopher in the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour, Burt Myers of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour,
Andrew Ranger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Moses Smith of the NASCAR
K&N Pro Series West and Ryan Truex from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. It
was the third consecutive year in which Christopher and Smith earned Most
Popular Driver honors.
The top 10 drivers and car owners from each of NASCAR’s developmental series
also were recognized during the gala event – which featured Mike Joy and Dr.
Dick Berggren of NASCAR on FOX as master of ceremonies. The awards banquet
was streamed live online at www.nascarhometracks.com – the official online
home of NASCAR’s developmental series.
The awards celebration capped a week of festivities in the Charlotte area
aimed at providing the top drivers and track operators in NASCAR’s weekly
and touring series an up close and personal look at the hub of stock-car
racing. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards Banquet on Friday
honored champions from across North America in the series that is NASCAR’s
grassroots foundation. |