2011 Champions crowned, Browells honored as ‘Winners Persons of the Year

2011 Champions crowned, Browells honored as ‘Winners Persons of the Year

12/12/2011

The 2011 North Central Division champions were crowned at the 45th annual Land of the Winners Awards Banquet held at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites with special guest Morgan Lucas. Along with the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Summit Racing Series, Jegs Super Quick Series and NHRA Jr. Drag Racing champions being recognized a number of other special awards were presented.

Brian and Deb Browell were announced by Division Director Jay Hullinger as the Land of the Winners “Winners Persons of the Year to close out the evening. The couple was honored for their contributions in creating the Competition Eliminator class shootout and bonus program.

Bill Reichert claimed his ninth Top Alcohol Dragster crown and was voted the Division’s Pro-Sportsman Driver of the year, as well as the Crew chief of the Year.

Other Driver of the Year honorees through voting on the division’s website were David Rampy as Lucas Oil Sportsman Driver of the Year, Steve Mikus as Lucas Oil Super Eliminator driver and Derick Troxell as ET Driver of the Year.

Other special award winners included Barry Davis as Lucas Oil Sportsman Mechanic of the Year while Summit Motorsports Park and Lyons Raceway Park once again were recipients of NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Summit Racing Series Tracks of the Year, respectively.

Reichert accepted his sixth Spitzer Race Cars top qualifier award in Top Alcohol Dragster and Joe Cheeseman accepted as crew chief on Thomas Carter’s Top Alcohol Funny Car, the team’s first, from Mike Spitzer. Spitzer presented each with $1,000 and a stunning lead-crystal award vase.

Three of the four 2011 NHRA Top National Class Performers in Super Stock and Stock were from Division 3. Gary Summers the Super Stock Stick Top Performer, Keith Lynch in Stock Automatic and Charles Downing in Stock Stick were recognized during the awards ceremony and presented special Wally awards by NHRA’s Bruce Bachelder and Travis Miller. The three also collected more than $10,000 in year-end contingency award bonuses.

Mike Fornataro accepted the National DRAGSTER Be A Winner, Be A Member Track of the Year on behalf of National Trail Raceway and Pam Lobb once again received the National DRAGSTER Contributor of the Year award, her twelfth.

The Winners’ Party celebration followed the awards ceremony well into the early morning hours at the Sheraton.

2011 Champions and Award Winners

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Champions

Top Alcohol Dragster – Bill Reichert

Top Alcohol Funny Car – Chris Foster

Competition – Rick Brown

Super Stock – David Rampy

Stock – Bo Butner

Super Comp – Steve Mikus

Super Gas – Rusty Cook

Super Street – Scotty Rienschield

NHRA Summit Racing Series Champions

Super Pro – Aaron Witsman, Lyons Raceway Park

Pro ET – Tammy Lovitt, Edgewater Sports Park

Sportsman – Edmond Richardson, Beech Bend Raceway Park

Super Pro Bike – Kevin Adams, Summit Motorsports Park

High School – Austin Eveland, National Trail Raceway

Team Champions – Summit Motorsports Park

National DRAGSTER Team Spirit – Mid-Michigan Motorplex

NHRA Top Sportsman Champion

John Scali

NHRA Spitzer Race Cars Top Dragster Champion

Troy Galbraith

NHRA Jegs Super Quick Series Champion

Bobby Small

NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Division Champions

13-17 Year Old – Kenny Carson, National Trail Raceway

10-12 Year Old – Blake Lee, Coles County Dragway USA

8-9 Year Old – Bobby Bode, Route 66 Raceway

Division 3 VP Racing Fuels Jr. Race of Champions

13-17 Year Old – Royce Osborne, Muncie Dragway

10-12 Year Old – Ashley Patrick, Tri-State Dragway

8 & 9 Year Old – David Giovanini, Crossroads Dragway

NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League

Eastern Conference Champion

15-Year Old – Rylee Stufflebeam, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis

13 Year Old – Ashley Coles, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis

12-Year Old – Brandon Gowan, Ohio Valley Dragway

11-Year Old – Meredith Miller, Route 66 Raceway

10-Year Old – Kammon Simpson, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis

Spitzer Race Cars Top Alcohol Qualifier Winners

Top Alcohol Dragster – Bill Reichert

Top Alcohol Funny Car – Thomas Carter

NHRA Super Stock and Stock Top Class Performers

Super Stock Stick – Gary Summers

Stock Automatic – Keith Lynch

Stock Stick – Charles Downing

Land of the Winners Person of the Year

Brian & Deb Browell

Pro-Sportsman Driver of the Year

Bill Reichert

Pro-Sportsman Mechanic of the Year

Bill Reichert

Sportsman Driver of the Year

David Rampy

Sportsman Mechanic of the Year

Barry Davis

Super Eliminator Driver of the Year

Steve Mikus

ET Bracket Driver of the Year

Derick Troxell

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Track of the Year

Summit Motorsports Park

NHRA Summit Racing Series Track of the Year

Lyons Raceway Park

National DRAGSTER Be A Winner, Be A Member

National Trail Raceway

National DRAGSTER Contributor of the Year

Pam Lobb – Crossroads Dragway