Finalist Program Top 3 Earn Spotlight
Efforts To Be Recognized At Whelen All-American Series Awards
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Twenty-four drivers representing 15 different NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks have earned top honors in the 2013 Finalist Program.
The NASCAR Finalist Divisions recognize drivers who compete in support divisions at NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks. With “Division I” being each track’s top division, the NASCAR Finalist Division line-up at each track highlights drivers competing in their second, third, fourth and fifth tier divisions. Through Sept. 15 a NASCAR-licensed driver’s best 14 finishes counted toward their final point total for the year. Points are kept separately for dirt and asphalt tracks.
“The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series features exciting racing in every division at local short tracks across North America,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring series. “NASCAR congratulates the men and women, and boys and girls who fought hard throughout the season to earn NASCAR Finalists spots in 2013.”
The top three drivers in the four asphalt track and four dirt track NASCAR Finalist divisions receive invitations to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards event where they will be recognized. The ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame/Charlotte Convention Center.
The top NASCAR Finalist asphalt track drivers include:
Division II: 1. Ricky Martin, Farmington, Minn., figure-8 track champion, Raceway Park, Shakopee, Minn. 2. Adam Gray, Granby, Mass., Late Model track champion, Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway. 3. Zack Clifton, Walkertown, N.C., Sportsman, Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Division III: 1. Blake Dorweiler, Montgomery, Minn., Mini Stocks, Raceway Park. 2. Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., SK Lights, Stafford; 3. Brent Kane, Lonsdale, Minn., Thunder Car track champion, Elko (Minn.) Speedway.
Division IV: 1. Jeff Watkins II, Columbus, Ohio, Compact track champion, Columbus Motor Speedway, also raced at Kil-Kare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio; 2. Arlyn Roush, Woodstock, Ill., RoadRunner track champion, Rockford (Ill.) Speedway; 3. Terrance Robinson, Beloit, Wis., RoadRunners, Rockford.
Division V: 1. M.J. Reed Jr., Perry, Ohio, Renegade track champion, Lake County Speedway, Painesville, Ohio; 2. Jack Cook, Plainwell, Mich., Cyber Stock track champion, Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway; 3. Johnny Walker, Ludlow, Mass., DARE Stocks, Stafford.
The top NASCAR Finalist dirt track drivers include:
Division II: 1. Tyler Iverson, Albion, Neb., Modified track champion, Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.; 2. Sean Merkel, Boyertown, Pa., Late Models, Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa.; 3. Andy Wilkinson, York, Neb., Junction and I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.
Division III: 1. Jared Umbenhauer, Richland, Pa., Sportsman track champion, Grandview; 2. Tony Rost, Utica, Neb., B Modifieds, Adams County Speedway, Corning, Iowa, Junction and I-80; 3. Jon Plowman, Woodbine, Iowa, B Modified track champion, Adams County.
Division IV: 1. Jason VandeKamp, Seardia, Minn., Midwest Modified track champion, Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, Wis.; 2. Tony Hardisty, Corning, Iowa, Pro Stock track champion, Adams County; 3. Joe Zadina, Corning, Iowa, Pro Stocks, Adams County and I-80.
Division V: 1. Jeremy Purdy, Bedford, Iowa, Hobby Stock track champion, Adams County; 2. Robert Muhlhauser, Chouteau, Okla., Pure Stocks, Salina (Okla.) Highbanks Speedway; 3. Andy Davison, Clarinda, Iowa, Hobby Stocks, Adams County.
The program provides the ability to spotlight efforts of drivers like Purdy.
The 34-year-old won his first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship in the Hobby Stock division at Adams County this year. His 15-race record for the season was seven wins, 14 top-fives and 15 top-10s.
The fourth-year driver was in the running for the track title last year. A mechanical problem and a racing incident spread over the last two race nights of the season stopped his drive. He went from being six points out of the track point lead to a third-place finish in the final standings.
He took a bit of a risk in the off season. Purdy set aside his proven chassis and engine that had showed so much potential in 2012. He built a new Victory Chassis and switched to a standard GM 602 crate engine from a purpose-built racing engine.
“The first night out we finished eighth and I momentarily wanted to kick myself for all the changes,” Purdy said. “During the week after opening night, we changed the car from the mid-line set-up it came with to what I knew. We adjusted the rear springs and shocks to what I had on last year’s car. The second night we won the feature by eight seconds.
“Because we contended for the track championship last year, I was set on the goal of winning it this year,” Purdy said. “I didn’t expect to get seven wins, not in a million years.
“We had a lot of good finishes and good luck. I never had to pit during a feature and come from the rear of the field. I didn’t wreck or tear anything up. I had the best season anyone could dream of.”
Purdy said a typical Hobby Stock field is 24 cars for 15-lap features at Adams County. After qualifying heat races, the feature field is set by inverting the top 12 in a four-week point average so he started 12th on all but opening night.
Purdy got some satisfaction to replace the sting of last year’s late season point race collapse.
“We won a few races in the last couple of laps. My favorite win was taking the lead from last year’s champion Jeremy Auten on the last lap.”
Purdy has been racing for four years. His track point race finishes improved annually from ninth to sixth to third on the way to this year’s championship.
Purdy got an education in racing by working as a crewman for three-time Adams County Street Stock champion Mike Garner. Then he bought his own car and went racing in 2010. Brad Larson is his crew chief and crewman Matt Peterman helped build the chassis in the shop. Sponsors include Motor Inn, Peterman Carpentry, and the Rew Crew. The driver’s uncle Jack Rew and family sponsor the team’s engine.
Purdy and his wife Katie have four children including Zayne, 10, Gage, 9, Shay, 8 and Graham, 6.
Purdy is a production supervisor for Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. in Maryville, Mo. The massive 700,000 square-foot facility builds general purpose engines for industrial equipment.
Sources: Paul Schaefer/NASCAR PR