by Roby Helm
WOODSTOCK, Ga. (Dec. 4, 2002) - The United Dirt Track Racing Association will hand out over $185,000 in cash and contingency awards this Thursday night at the Annual UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series Awards Banquet at the Radisson Hotel City Centre in Indianapolis, IN. Rick Eckert of York, PA will pick up the lion's share of the loot, as he celebrates his second straight UDTRA title.
Along with Eckert, the top 10 point drivers, the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year, the Crew Chief of the Year, UDTRA Chassis Manufacturer and Engine Builder Challenge winners will also be honored.
Among the awards Eckert will pocket include the $50,000 that goes to the UDTRA Champion in point fund awards. In 38 events, Eckert had six wins in 2002 UDTRA competition, 23 top fives, a series leading 34 top tens, a series leading seven fast times, and also completed the most laps during the season with 2,337 of a possible 2,340. His worse finish of the season was 14th.
The laps completed by Eckert also earned his engine builder, Jack Cornett of Cornett Racing Engines, the $1,000 JE Pistons Measure of Performance Engine Builder Award.
The 1999 UDTRA Champion Dale McDowell of Rossville, GA is the 2002 UDTRA Points Runner-Up, and will receive $32,000 out of the UDTRA point fund. McDowell posted a series leading nine wins this season, a series leading 24 top fives, 30 top tens, and two fast times. McDowell will also receive the $1,000 Muddslinger Magazine Most Laps Led Award, leading 524 laps.
Steve Francis of Ashland, KY will collect the third-place points fund check of $22,000. Francis had two wins, 20 top fives, 30 top tens, and four fast times. Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI will receive $12,000 out of the point fund for his fourth-place effort with two wins, 20 top fives, 30 top tens, and one fast time.
Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL finished fifth in the UDTRA point standings and will earn $10,000 out of the point fund. Pearson had one UDTRA victory in 2002 with eight top fives, 22 top tens, and four fast times.
The 1996 UDTRA Champion Freddy Smith of Knoxville, TN will collect $9,000 out of the point fund, and $1,000 for earning the Advance Auto Parts Hard Charger Award. Smith posted one win, four top fives, and 20 top tens in 2002.
Randy Korte of Highland, IL finished seventh in UDTRA points with two wins, four top fives, 7 top tens, two fast times, and will pocket $8,000 in point fund cash. Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC will be honored for his eighth-straight top ten points finish. Cook finished eighth and will collect a $7,000 check. In 2002, Cook had 2 top fives, 9 top tens, and one fast time.
Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, TN finished ninth in the point standings and will earn $6,000 out of the point fund and was highest finishing rookie driver in 2002. That will earn Ogle a $10,000 check for being the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year. This season Ogle has one top five, and two top ten finishes.
Shane Tankersley of Morganton, GA will receive a $5,000 check out of the point fund for finishing tenth in the UDTRA point standings in 2002, and an additional $2,500 for being the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Runner-Up. Tankersley had one top ten finish this season.
Rocket Chassis will win the $2,500 UDTRA Chassis Manufacturer's Challenge for the third straight year. Eckert, Francis, Pearson, and Chub Frank of Sugar Grove, PA combined for 11 UDTRA wins this season using Rocket Chassis manufactured by Mark Richards and Steve Baker.
Custom Race Engines won the JE Pistons Engine Builders Challenge in 2002, and Larry Clark of Custom Race Engines will pick up a $2,500 check. McDowell, Smith, four-time UDTRA Champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, and Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN combined for 13 UDTRA wins this season with a Custom Race Engine under the hood.
The Ringers Gloves Chris Francis Memorial Crew Chief of the Year Award winner will be announced at the banquet. The winner will receive a $500 check and a jacket from Ringers Gloves.
The doors to the banquet will open for a reception at 7 p.m., with dinner served at 7:30 p.m., and the awards presentations beginning at 8:15 p.m.
The Clarion Hotel Waterfront Plaza will be the Official UDTRA Host Hotel for the Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis, IN on December 5-7. The Clarion Hotel Waterfront Plaza is located at 2930 Waterfront Parkway West Drive in Indianapolis and will be offering UDTRA PRI attendees a special discount rate.
The Clarion Hotel Waterfront Plaza is on the west side of Indianapolis, just minutes from the PRI Show, off I-465 on Crawfordsville Road (U.S. Highway 136) at exit 16a. Their special UDTRA rate will be $74 per night plus tax. To make reservations call (317) 299-8400 and ask for the special UDTRA discount rate.
The Clarion Hotel Waterfront Plaza features spacious rooms, The Trackside Rib House & Sports Bar, Indoor Pool, and Whirlpool.
WOODSTOCK, Ga. (Dec. 4, 2002) - The United Dirt Track Racing Association will hand out over $185,000 in cash and contingency awards this Thursday night at the Annual UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series Awards Banquet at the Radisson Hotel City Centre in Indianapolis, IN. Rick Eckert of York, PA will pick up the lion's share of the loot, as he celebrates his second straight UDTRA title.
Along with Eckert, the top 10 point drivers, the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year, the Crew Chief of the Year, UDTRA Chassis Manufacturer and Engine Builder Challenge winners will also be honored.
Among the awards Eckert will pocket include the $50,000 that goes to the UDTRA Champion in point fund awards. In 38 events, Eckert had six wins in 2002 UDTRA competition, 23 top fives, a series leading 34 top tens, a series leading seven fast times, and also completed the most laps during the season with 2,337 of a possible 2,340. His worse finish of the season was 14th.
The laps completed by Eckert also earned his engine builder, Jack Cornett of Cornett Racing Engines, the $1,000 JE Pistons Measure of Performance Engine Builder Award.
The 1999 UDTRA Champion Dale McDowell of Rossville, GA is the 2002 UDTRA Points Runner-Up, and will receive $32,000 out of the UDTRA point fund. McDowell posted a series leading nine wins this season, a series leading 24 top fives, 30 top tens, and two fast times. McDowell will also receive the $1,000 Muddslinger Magazine Most Laps Led Award, leading 524 laps.
Steve Francis of Ashland, KY will collect the third-place points fund check of $22,000. Francis had two wins, 20 top fives, 30 top tens, and four fast times. Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI will receive $12,000 out of the point fund for his fourth-place effort with two wins, 20 top fives, 30 top tens, and one fast time.
Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL finished fifth in the UDTRA point standings and will earn $10,000 out of the point fund. Pearson had one UDTRA victory in 2002 with eight top fives, 22 top tens, and four fast times.
The 1996 UDTRA Champion Freddy Smith of Knoxville, TN will collect $9,000 out of the point fund, and $1,000 for earning the Advance Auto Parts Hard Charger Award. Smith posted one win, four top fives, and 20 top tens in 2002.
Randy Korte of Highland, IL finished seventh in UDTRA points with two wins, four top fives, 7 top tens, two fast times, and will pocket $8,000 in point fund cash. Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC will be honored for his eighth-straight top ten points finish. Cook finished eighth and will collect a $7,000 check. In 2002, Cook had 2 top fives, 9 top tens, and one fast time.
Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, TN finished ninth in the point standings and will earn $6,000 out of the point fund and was highest finishing rookie driver in 2002. That will earn Ogle a $10,000 check for being the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year. This season Ogle has one top five, and two top ten finishes.
Shane Tankersley of Morganton, GA will receive a $5,000 check out of the point fund for finishing tenth in the UDTRA point standings in 2002, and an additional $2,500 for being the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Runner-Up. Tankersley had one top ten finish this season.
Rocket Chassis will win the $2,500 UDTRA Chassis Manufacturer's Challenge for the third straight year. Eckert, Francis, Pearson, and Chub Frank of Sugar Grove, PA combined for 11 UDTRA wins this season using Rocket Chassis manufactured by Mark Richards and Steve Baker.
Custom Race Engines won the JE Pistons Engine Builders Challenge in 2002, and Larry Clark of Custom Race Engines will pick up a $2,500 check. McDowell, Smith, four-time UDTRA Champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN, and Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN combined for 13 UDTRA wins this season with a Custom Race Engine under the hood.
The Ringers Gloves Chris Francis Memorial Crew Chief of the Year Award winner will be announced at the banquet. The winner will receive a $500 check and a jacket from Ringers Gloves.
The doors to the banquet will open for a reception at 7 p.m., with dinner served at 7:30 p.m., and the awards presentations beginning at 8:15 p.m.
The Clarion Hotel Waterfront Plaza will be the Official UDTRA Host Hotel for the Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis, IN on December 5-7. The Clarion Hotel Waterfront Plaza is located at 2930 Waterfront Parkway West Drive in Indianapolis and will be offering UDTRA PRI attendees a special discount rate.
The Clarion Hotel Waterfront Plaza is on the west side of Indianapolis, just minutes from the PRI Show, off I-465 on Crawfordsville Road (U.S. Highway 136) at exit 16a. Their special UDTRA rate will be $74 per night plus tax. To make reservations call (317) 299-8400 and ask for the special UDTRA discount rate.
The Clarion Hotel Waterfront Plaza features spacious rooms, The Trackside Rib House & Sports Bar, Indoor Pool, and Whirlpool.
