|
|
|
12/08/2012 |
|
|
NASCAR
TOURING SERIES CHAMPIONS HONORED IN CHARLOTTE
Top Performers Of
2012 Celebrate Successful Season |
 NASCAR
history was recognize and its future celebrated
Saturday evening as seven champions in NASCAR’s
touring series were honored at the Night of
Champions Touring Awards at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The ceremony featured the champions and top drivers
from the regional touring series in North America
and Europe, who gathered for the special year-end
event. It’s the first season a driver from Europe
has been honored at the event.
The 2012 champions included Kyle Larson (NASCAR K&N
Pro Series East), Dylan Kwasniewski (NASCAR K&N Pro
Series West), D.J. Kennington (NASCAR Canadian Tire
Series presented by Mobil 1), Jorge Goeters (NASCAR
Mexico Toyota Series), Ander Vilarino (Euro-Racecar
NASCAR Touring Series), Doug Coby (NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour) and George Brunnhoelzl III (NASCAR
Whelen Southern Modified Tour).
· * Larson, of Elk Grove, Calif., the
20-year-old open-wheel star burst onto the stock-car
scene this season by winning the championship and
rookie of the year honors.
· * Kwasniewski, of Las Vegas, Nev., at 17
years of age became the youngest champion in the
nearly 60-year history of the season.
· * Kennington, of St. Thomas, Ontario,
Canada, earned his second title in three years by
winning a series-record seven races.
· * Goeters, of Mexico City, claimed his
second championship, but first since the series came
under the NASCAR umbrella in 2007.
· * Vilarino, of Donostia, Spain, won six
races en route to the inaugural Euro-Racecar
championship.
· * Coby, of Milford, Conn., earned his first
championship on the power of five wins, the most by
a tour driver since 2007.
· * Brunnhoelzl, of West Babylon, N.Y., won
his third Southern Modified Tour title in the last
four seasons.
“The 2012 racing season for our U.S. and
international touring series was absolutely
remarkable,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice
president, regional and touring series. “All seven
championships came down to the last race; most down
to the last lap.
“Tonight reaffirms that NASCAR stock-car racing
transcends languages. It transcends origins and
ethnicities. It transcends borders and time zones,
and appeals to race fans everywhere. Tonight also
illustrates that the future of our sport is bright.”
In addition to the championship awards, each series
rookie of the year was honored. The Sunoco Rookie of
the Year Award winners were Larson from the NASCAR
K&N Pro Series East, Austin Dyne from the NASCAR K&N
Pro Series West, Keith Rocco from the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour and Danny Bohn from the NASCAR Whelen
Southern Modified Tour. Martin Roy of the NASCAR
Canadian Tire Series, Rubén Garcia Jr. and Javier
Villa of the Euro Racecar Series were recognized as
the top rookies in their series.
The Most Popular Driver Awards for each series were
also presented during the ceremony. The seven
drivers honored with the prestigious award were
Chase Elliott in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East,
Cassie Gannis of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, Ray
Courtemanche Jr. in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
presented by Mobil 1, Pepe Montaño of the NASCAR
Mexico Toyota Series, Freddy Nordstrom from the
Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series, Ryan Preece from
the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Bohn from the
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. Elliott was
the only repeat winner in the category.
The top 10 drivers and car owners from each of
NASCAR’s touring series also were recognized during
the gala event – which featured Mike Joy and Dr.
Dick Berggren of NASCAR on FOX along with Monica
Palumbo of SPEED as co-hosts. Simplified provided
the musical entertainment. The awards ceremony was
streamed live online at
www.nascarhometracks.com – the official
online home of NASCAR’s touring series – in English,
French and Spanish.
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. |
|
Source: Jason Christley / NASCAR
Posted: December
8, 2012 |
|
|
