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(Photo courtesy of Mike Howard)
David Smith, Jr.
NCRA Press and Contingencies
(405) 740-4769
[email protected]
Weaver Conqueres Inaugural NCRA Oklahoma Modified Championship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Midwest City, Oklahoma - November 21, 2009 - For the past several years there had been talk of starting an Oklahoma based series for modifieds in an area where the division had plenty of drivers but no touring organization. Just so happened that the main talk was from a person who done work for the O'Reilly Auto Parts/National Championship Racing Association and after a couple of phone calls to series president C Ray Hall, the new division was born. And although only five events were scheduled and completed, the inaugural year for the O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma modified division was a huge success with a Texas resident Gene Weaver taking home the points championship.
Weaver kicked off his championship run at the series opener at Elk City's I-40 Speedway in Elk City, Oklahoma on March 21st by picking up the Hard Rock Hotel-Casino feature victory. "We looked at the schedule before the season started and decided to run this deal because it looked like fun," according to Weaver, a second generation driver. "It gave us a chance to race at different tracks and different drivers and it really turned out well."
Two straight third place finishes, one coming at Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker, Oklahoma on a Wednesday night special event and the other at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Wainwright, Oklahoma helped pad his points lead before two disappointing finishes to close out the season. However, he was able to hold on to his points lead at the end to pick up the inaugural season champion for the Oklahoma modified division by 95 points. "It was a fun season and glad NCRA got this deal together we got to do it. We will look at the 2010 schedule when it comes out but we will more than likely come back and defend the title. We just go out, race hard and let the point's fall where they may."
"I especially want to thank my dad (Barry) for being with me all through my career. Yeoman Race engines really helped us out a bunch. I would also like D&M Race Cars, Butlerbuilt Seats, Southwest Speed Equipment and BSB Manufacturing."
While Weaver kicked off the 2009 series campaign with the victory, it was Chris Roach of Warr Acres, Oklahoma the early division point's leader. Weaver would take over the points lead after a third place finish in the next event at Brill Motor Speedway, an event won by Bryan Rowland from Woodward, Oklahoma. Another third place finish at Outlaw Motor Speedway in June padded his lead going into the next scheduled event at Elk City's I-40 Speedway where he finished tenth. It was a disappointing thirteenth place finish at Brill Motor Speedway on October 3rd for the season finale but enough to take home the championship.
Other drivers picking up victories in the first season for the O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma modified division were Chad Wheeler (Outlaw Motor Speedway), Bryan Rowland at Brill Motor Speedway to sweep both sanctioned events held at the track and Travis Penrod of Davis, Oklahoma who ended the season with a victory in Elk City.
An astounding 99 different drivers competed in at least one O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma modified event with eleven drivers making all five events and six drivers only missing two shows. The average car count per show was 37 with a season high of 43 cars at the first two shows and 42 cars on the third race on the schedule. Drivers competing in all five events include Weaver, Alan Oliva, Penrod, Logan Cabbell, Cam Case, Chris Roach, Brad Worley, Kerry Davis, Brian Wolfe and Ron Gould. Drivers only missing one event were Casey McClaskey, Chad Davis, Jason Hilliard, Jason Redmond, Thomas Tillison, Jr. and Kyle Sweeney. McClaskey done double duty this year on both NCRA modified trails as he also finished a strong fourth in the Kansas based division.
This concludes the inaugural season for the O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma modified division with sights already set on 2010, which will be the 40th year for the series. The series currently sanctions five divisions, consisting of not only the Oklahoma modifieds but late models, 360 sprint cars, modifieds, and sport modifieds. In years past the series has sanctioned the old 100 inch super modifieds and modifieds and outlaw sprint cars and point standings, series records, driver profiles and more can be found on the official NCRA website www.ncraracing.org. The series would also like to thank the following sponsors and contingency sponsors that climbed aboard as partners with the O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma modified division in 2009. If you are interested in climbing aboard for the 2010 race season, contact David Smith, Jr. (405) 740-4769 or [email protected]. If you're interested in hosting an Oklahoma modified event for 2010 or would like more information on the series, contact NCRA steward Chris Smith (918) 625-6200.
Official 2009 NCRA late model Series Sponsors: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hard Rock Casino-Hotel.
CONTINGENCY: Design 500, Hoffman Race Cars, Billsbuilt Chassis, Racing Optics, BSB Manufacturing, Belleville Motor Sports, Schoenfeld Headers, Hatfield Racing Engines, Taylor Cable Products, Bassett Wheels, Pro Shocks, Ultra Shield, Pro Motor Sports, AFCO Race Products, The Brake Man, C&E Performance, Arizona Sport Shirts, On Another Level Design and M&M Custom Creations & Designs.
Final 2009 O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma Modified Point Standings
Rank Driver Points
1 Gene Weaver 1365
2 Alan Oliva 1270
3 Travis Penrod 1260
4 Logan Cabbell 1205
5 Cam Case 1150
6 Chris Roach 1090
7 Brad Worley 1005
8 Casey McClaskey 945
9 Kerry Davis 940
10 Thomas Tillson, Jr. 815
David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com
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