Indianapolis, IN (January 6, 2013) – The 2012 Champion Racing Association Awards Banquet was held Saturday night at the Caribbean Cove Hotel and Conference Center located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The top 10 in 2012 ARCA/CRA Super Series points, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance points, Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman points and CRA Street Stocks points were all honored at the banquet along with several special awards.
The Kaos Motorsports Team with driver Johnny VanDoorn and car owner Jim Tenbrink were officially crowned the 2012 Champions of the ARCA/CRA Super Series, it was the third series Championship for the team tying Scott Hantz and his car owner, the late Dick Poe, with the most series Championships.
“It was truly a great season after having a terrible 2011,” remarked VanDoorn. “I have to thank my car owner Jim Tenbrink who has given me the greatest four years of my life! We could not have won this Championship without our great crew and our awesome sponsors!”
Jay Niewiek was the 2012 A.T. Performance/Acro-Tech Sportsman of the Year Award winner for the ARCA/CRA Super Series. The Kenzie Ruston Racing team and car owner Darren Ruston were honored as the winner of the 2012 Darrell Teal Outstanding Dedication Award for traveling from North Carolina and Oklahoma to every series event during the 2012 season. VanDoorn was awarded the Harris Products Group Lap Leader Awards for the 100/125 lap events. Niewiek was awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Charger Award, his third straight season of claiming that award, while Kenny Tweedy was awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Luck Award.
Kyle Benjamin was honored as the 2012 ARCA/CRA Super Series Southern Tour Champion, the 14 years old became the youngest winner of an ARCA/CRA Super Series event during the 2012 season and is also the youngest ever CRA Champion.
Daniel Hemric and the Scott Neal Racing team were honored as the 2012 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champions, winning a record eight series events along the way to claiming the Championship.
“What started out as a part time ride turned into an unbelievable Championship Season,” remarked Hemric. “I have to thank Scott Neal, Richard Clarke and Hoyt Demis for putting this Championship deal together, also all the guys on our crew that worked so hard, all of our sponsors and my fellow competitors for a great year!”
15 year old Anderson Bowen was honored as the Howie Lettow Rookie of the Year Presented by Howe Racing Award winner. Tom Woodin was the Race Cover-all’s Sportsman of the Year Award winner. Anderson Bowen Racing and car owner David Bowen received the series Dedication Award for traveling from their home in Suwanee, Georgia to compete in every series event during the 2012 season.
KC Spillers was honored as the 2012 Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman Champion. It was the first ever CRA Championship for Spillers who also got his first ever series victory in 2012 at Winchester Speedway.
“We came into this season just planning on running a few races and trying for some wins and we somehow ended up as the Champions,” remarked Spillers. “I got out of racing for about five years, decided to get back into it and I’m really glad I did. It was a great season with a bunch of old guys on our team who just went out and did our best every race!”
Robert Amos Jr. was the 2012 Rookie of the Year award winner in the Late Model Sportsman Division. Tommy Cook was the Harris Products Group Sportsman of the Year Award winner. Greg Rogers, who fielded two full-time series cars in 2012 for drivers Tommy and Dean Cook, was awarded the 2012 Dedication Award for the series.
Jimmy Kirby was crowned the 2012 CRA Street Stocks Champion, in a season when he also claimed the Anderson Speedway Street Stock Championship. It was Kirby’s first CRA Championship, he also got his first CRA victory during the 2012 season.
“This was truly a remarkable season,” remarked Kirby. “These Street Stocks are a blast to drive and the drivers in this division are the best around. We had a lot of fun racing this year and claiming two Championships, I couldn’t have done it without my wife’s support, my team and my sponsors!”
Tyler Marsh was awarded the 2012 Rookie of the Year Award for the CRA Street Stocks. Veteran CRA competitor Brian Hopkins was awarded the Harris Products Group Sportsman of the Year Award. The Schafer Racing Team received the series 2012 Dedication Award, for overcoming several setbacks during the season to be at every event and finish fourth in Championship points.
Several special guests were in attendance including Mark Gundrum from ARCA who addressed the group on Saturday night, talking more about the continued partnership between ARCA and CRA with the ARCA/CRA Super Series for the upcoming 2013 season.
Drawings for prizes were held for all divisions. The big winners included Brent Downey who won a racecar chassis from Victory Circle Chassis. Five Star Racecar Bodies were won by Lorz Motorsports, Scott Neal Racing and Jason Atkinson. Stan Rosen won a seat from ButlerBuilt Racing Seat Systems, while Tom Woodin and Josh Timmerman claimed $750 Product Certificates from ButlerBuilt Racing Seat Systems. Schoenfeld Header Product Certificates were won by Lorz Motorsports, Trey Craig, and Blaine Miller Motorsports. Brian McFadden won a $1000 Product Certificate from McGunegill Engine Performance while J.J. Schafer won a $500 Product Certificate from McGunegill Engine Performance. Wes Griffith Jr., Johnny VanDoorn, Dean Cook and Justin Burge all won a set of wheels from Aero Racing Wheels. Kenny Tweedy, Travis Braden and Brandon Hermiller all won a set of wheels from Bassett Racing Wheels.
In all over $104,000 in cash and product awards were distributed to 40 CRA teams at the 2012 CRA Awards Banquet. There were also several women’s prizes given away Saturday night that were sponsored by Phil Harper Motorsports. Also JEGS, K & N Filters and Hoosier Tire Midwest provided special giveaway’s for all in attendance.
More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.craracing.net.