Camargo, IL (11-11-09) – By Kelly Brown – 2009 was another break out season for the O’Reilly Midwest All Stars. In its third season of racing action the series the competition was fiercer that ever. The exhilarating schedule featured fifteen show stopping races with ten different drivers celebrating at the end of the night in Victory Lane. At the beginning of the season the point standings were up for grabs and the top spot changed several times, but towards the end of the season a familiar face emerged as Jerrod Hull celebrated his third title.

Like previous years, Hull did not begin the season on a strong note, but as time went on he got stronger and stronger with each race.

“Three championships in a row are hard to believe,” Hull said with a smile. “It just seems like yesterday we started the series and here we are three years down the road and everything is still going good.”

This year Hull began the season with a couple of issues, but the team held strong fighting through adversity.
“We had some issues with some torsion bars and we struggled for more than a month,” Hull stated. “We replaced them and from there on we have been really good.”

Once Hull hit his stride in August at Tennessee National winning his first race of the season, he went on a rampage scoring three other first place finishes. Also included in his season was a runner-up finish at the North/South Showdown a co-sanctioned event with the IRA Spring Car Series. Of the drivers competing full time in both series Hull came in second at a track he had not raced on before that night.

“Winning two nights in a row in Tennessee was what started our roll this season,” Hull explained. “Two nights, back-to-back wins is always great for momentum. Ever since then we have had a really good year.”

AJ Bruns who ran second in the point standings also had a slow start to the 2009 season, but with six top-ten finishes Bruns was able to hold on to the runner-up spot.

“2009 started a little bumpy for us, but now we are doing good,” said Bruns with a sly smile. “At the beginning of the season we came out of the garage and had a few wrecks, but now it has been a long time since, knock on wood. We had motor problems early in the year, but we ironed that out. We have been running really good. It is too bad we are at the end of the season and I feel like I am at the strongest point I have been at all year.”

Alex Shanks finished third in the point standings. He began his season with a seventh place run at Lawrenceburg and was consistent throughout the remaining races. His season best finish came at Tennessee National Speedway when he finished second. In the end Shanks would finish his season with six top-ten finishes.

Finishing fourth in the point standings was sophomore year driver and 2008 Rookie-of-the-Year Miranda Throckmorton. Throckmorton had three top-ten finishes with her top finish being a sixth place finish at Bloomington Speedway.
“The second year I definitely learned a lot more than I did last year, when we ran the wing for the first time,” stated Throckmorton. “I had some good finishes and I wish we could come up with the budget to run the full All Star Circuit of Champions Series. I think I would learn so much more traveling around and seeing more tracks. It has been an enjoyable year for us.” 

Finishing out the top-five in the points standings was Kody Kinser who scored four top five finishes in 2009 with his top finish being a second place at Thunderhill Raceway. Kinser is another driver whose season began slow and finished with a flourish.

“We definitely got better at the end,” said Kinser. “We started out awful. Actually that is an understatement, but we really got good here at the end even though we do not have much to show for it.  We have been real fast all season, but I wish we would have had something to show for it.”

With ten different winners in fifteen races, the only two drivers to win multiple races were Jerrod Hull and Dale Blaney. It has been a very competitive season and the Midwest All Stars are looking forward to continuing the non-stop action in 2009.

For the most up to date on the Midwest All Star Series visit www.midwestallstarseries.com.  

Camargo, IL (9-27-09) – By Kelly Brown –Public Relations Director – The fourth time was the charm for the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions. After rain postponing the O’Reilly All Star race at the Terre Haute Action Track three times, the drivers and teams finally saw the Green Flag fly tonight over the historic venue. On an evening that had many twists and turns, Terry McCarl emerged as the victor at the end of the night.

Coming to the Green Flag in tonight’s main event David Gravel “The Connecticut Kid” got a jump on the field grabbing the lead as he powered into Turn 1. Travis Rutz, Terry McCarl, Randy Hannagan and Todd Kane fell in line behind the rookie contender. Early on the driver that was on the move was Jason Johnson who was slicing through the field from his thirteenth place starting position. By Lap 5 Johnson had caught Tim Shaffer who was running sixth and was challenging for the position. 

Up front McCarl and Hannagan were fighting tooth-and-nail for the third position. Hannagan had it, but McCarl was in pursuit. On Lap 6, McCarl would slide under Hannagan to take the position. On the following lap, the first Yellow Flag would fall when Kody Kinser’s 4k car came to a stop in Turn 4. Leading the field on the restart was Gravel, Rutz, McCarl and Hannagan, but it would be short lived as the 65 of Jordan Goldesberry hit the restart cone and drug it into the first turn, forcing Goldesberry to restart at the tail end of the field.

When the Green Flag was unfurled again, Gravel got another jump on Rutz and took off stretching out his lead. Behind him Shaffer and Johnson were battling for the fifth position. At the front McCarl nosed his way under Rutz in Turn 4 to take over the second position and a lap later Hannagan would get around him for third.

On Lap 10, the top five were Gravel, McCarl, Hannagan, Shaffer and Rutz. On the following lap Johnson, would establish himself in the top five with a move coming out of the second turn. At the half-way point of the race lapped traffic would start to become a factor. McCarl would begin to reel in Gravel as the two sliced through traffic. At one point the two were side-by-side, and went three wide when they encountered a lapped machine. When two cars battling for position were ahead of the leaders, McCarl would have to get off the gas falling back into the second position and losing some ground on the leader.

On Lap 21, is when everything went south for the young driver of the 89g car. While leading Gravel’s racing machine began to smoke. On the following lap the smoke seemed to start to billow out of his car as it began to slow on the track. McCarl would grab the lead coming off of Turn 4 as Gravel’s car limped down the front stretch. What happened next would end tonight’s main event just shy of the Checkered Flag.

A red flag was then issued as a three car collision occurred on the front stretch, affecting the cars of David Gravel, Miranda Throckmorton and Travis Rutz. Miranda Throckmorton has been treated and released from medical attention. David Gravel is under medical observation. The condition of Travis Rutz is unknown at this time.

After surveying the incident the track and O’Reilly All Star officials made the difficult decision to conclude the race eight laps shy of the end, due to extensive damage to the grandstand fence and flag stand.

At the time of the incident McCarl was in the lead and Hannagan, Shaffer, Smith and Johnson rounded out the top-five. This is McCarl’s first win at the Terre Haute Action Track, his fourth All Star win this season. In fact this was the first race McCarl had competed in at the famed track since he ran second there in 2000.

With and eighth place finish tonight Daron Clayton officially clinched the 2009 All Star Rookie-of-the-Year title. Clayton had a consistent season scoring two top-five and seven top ten finishes. His best finish of the season came at Hilltop Speedway earlier this month when he finished fourth.

Also claiming a title tonight was Jerrod Hull who became the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Champion for the third time in his career. Hull would have a slow start of the season, but finish with a flourish. After a pair of wins in Tennessee, Hull would go on to win four of the five Midwest All Star races.

For up to date information for the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and Midwest All Star Series visit www.allstarsprint.com or www.midwestallstarseries.com.

Camargo, IL (9-26-2009) by Kelly Brown – Public Relations Director – As predicted rain hit the Terre Haute Action Track just at the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and Midwest All Star Series race was getting ready to begin. The race will be run tomorrow Sunday, September, 27th with hot laps starting at 4:00pm.

Ticket Information

Adult reserved grandstand tickets for the race are $25, with general admission grandstand running $20, bleacher seats running $15 and Adult infield running $10. A child’s reserved grandstand seat is $15, with general admission grandstand running $10, child’s bleacher and infield tickets are $5. The track is also offering a $25 family pack, which will get two adults and up to four children infield seats. For more information call 812-236-7951 or visit www.theactiontrack.com

Camargo, IL (9-24-2009) by Kelly Brown – Public Relations Director – As the season comes to a close the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions wants to ensure the 2009 season ends on the same breath taking note that it started out on. This weekend as the teams and drivers make the trek to the Terre Haute Action Track for the final race of the season on Saturday September 26th. Due to the chance of rain in the forecast the series has scheduled a rain date the following night on Sunday night September 27th.

Ticket Information

Adult reserved grandstand tickets for the race are $25, with general admission grandstand running $20, bleacher seats running $15 and Adult infield running $10. A child’s reserved grandstand seat is $15, with general admission grandstand running $10, child’s bleacher and infield tickets are $5. The track is also offering a $25 family pack, which will get two adults and up to four children infield seats.

The track is also running promotions with local vendors where you can get free children’s reserved grandstand or general admission grandstand seats free at any First National Bank or with your Kroger Plus Card at the track. The ticket office will be opening at 3:00 pm with the gates opening to fans at 4:00 pm and hot laps beginning at 6:00 pm. For more information call 812-236-7951 or visit www.theactiontrack.com.

Camargo, IL (9-20-2009) by Kelly Brown – Public Relations Director –There is one last step in the voyage to the 2009 O’Reilly Midwest All Star Championship. After a thrilling season, there is just one night left to decide everything. On Saturday night September 26th the Midwest All Star will be battling alongside the Circuit of Champions as they take on the legendary Terre Haute Action Track.

The track that is simply known to open wheel fans as “The Action Track” will be providing racing fans with their only chance to see winged sprint car races this season. This will be first time that the Midwest All Stars have raced at this legendary track which has hosted many famed events over the years. This weekend it will be the Indiana Union Construction Classic presented by MISCO. Waiting at the finish line of this event for the victor will be a unique trophy featuring a bald eagle.

Last year several Midwest All Stars mixed it up with the senior series at “The Action Track.” The top finishing Midwest All Star was three time champion Jerrod Hull who finished in the tenth position. Third in points Alex Shanks also has a lot of experience at Terre Haute, but it is predominantly without a wing. In ten starts he has five top-ten finishes. Currently sixth in the points Bill Rose has several starts at Terre Haute with and without the wing on the top of his 410 sprint. He has two top five finishes without a wing and one with.  With several of the Midwest All Star competitors seeing this famed track for the first time this weekend, it will be interesting to see who will be able to adjust to the 1/2-mile track the quickest.

Ticket Information

Adult reserved grandstand tickets for the race are $25, with general admission grandstand running $20, bleacher seats running $15 and Adult infield running $10. A child’s reserved grandstand seat is $15, with general admission grandstand running $10, child’s bleacher and infield tickets are $5. The track is also offering a $25 family pack, which will get two adults and up to four children infield seats.

The track is also running promotions with local vendors where you can get free children’s reserved grandstand or general admission grandstand seats free at any First National Bank or with your Kroger Plus Card at the track. The ticket office will be opening at 3:00 pm with the gates opening to fans at 4:00 pm and hot laps beginning at 6:00 pm. For more information call 812-236-7951 or visit www.theactiontrack.com.