Weekly And Touring Series Champions Battle On Track

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Dec. 8, 2011) – Max Gresham added another trophy to his mantle on Wednesday after winning the Fourth Annual NASCAR Touring & Weekly Series Champions/Media Karting Challenge as Champions Week got into full swing.

Gresham, the reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion, started dead last in the 14-kart field and took the lead with just under two minutes remaining in the 15-minute contest at Charlotte’s Victory Lane Indoor Karting that pitted the seven NASCAR champions in town for the week against members of the local media.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Gresham, the 18-year-old out of Griffin, Ga. “It was cool to race against the champions from the other series and it was even more cool to beat them.”

George Brunnhoelzl III, champion of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, finished second and was the race leader at a competition caution with five minutes remaining in the race.

“If we didn’t have that competition caution, then I might have been able to hold Gresham off because I had a bit of a lead,” said Brunnhoelzl. “After that, he was just too fast.”

The NASCAR Mexico Series presented by Toyota champion Germán Quiroga finished third after a spirited battle with Brunnhoelzl down the stretch.

After a one-hour practice session to get used to the karts and track, everyone got lined up for the main event. The championship race was a timed event. The seven fastest media members started up front, followed by the NASCAR champions, inverted from slowest to fastest based on their best times during practice.

The event is part of a weeklong series of special activities in the Charlotte area for drivers and track representatives leading up to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 9, and the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala on Saturday, Dec. 10. Both ceremonies along with a Red Carpet pre-show will be streamed live on www.nascarhometracks.com in English, French and Spanish. Coverage will get underway at 5 p.m. ET each evening.

Among the champions Philip Morris, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion finished fourth followed by Greg Pursley (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), Ron Silk (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and Scott Steckly (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series). Jeff Wackerlin of the Motor Racing Network finished fourth overall and was the top-finishing media member.

“Getting to the front wasn’t too bad,” Gresham said. “I was really concerned with getting around (Quiroga). He was hitting every line that he needed to, but I eventually got by.”

Gresham joins Brian Loftin (2009), Ryan Truex (2010) and Bobby Santos (2011) as winners of the Karting Challenge.

Later Wednesday evening, the series champions were honored at a special dinner affair in The Great Hall within the NASCAR Hall of Fame complex.

For more information, contact:

Jason Christley, NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications, (386) 310-6094 orjchristley@nascar.com

West Springfield, MA. -- Chris Pasteryak, of Lisbon, CT., was crowned 2011 Valenti Modified Racing Series Champion last night at the 8th annual awards banquet. The event was held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Three wins, and 9 top-five finishes paved the way to the title for the 31 year old second-generation driver.  

Pasteryak thanked his wife, parents, family, friends, crew members, and sponsors, for their support in helping him reach his goal. The new two-time champion recognized and thanked series officials and the media. Pasteryak was the series champion in 2008.

Presentations were made to the top fourteen drivers for 2011. Les Hinckley, Rowan Pennink, Mike Holdridge, Norman Wrenn, Louie Mechalides, Rob Goodenough, Dwight Jarvis, Joe Doucette, Max Zachem, Timmy Jordan, Jon McKennedy, Jacob Dore, Kenny Barry and Todd Annarummo, were all recognized. 

The top 15 car owners were also recognized. CCP Inc (Charlie Pasteryak), CMR Racing (Chuck Montville), Gary Casella, M&D Racing (Holdridge), Advanced Gas Distributors (Wrenn), Kevin Stuart, Ron Goodenough,Daniel Cabral, Max Zachem, Patrick Jordan, Bonnie Jarvis, Jack Bateman, Jon McKennedy, Robert Worell, and Vinnie Annarummo.

The annual “Achievement” awards, chosen by series officials, were also presented. 

Joe Doucette, of Framingham, MA., was presented the “SPAFCO Most Improved Driver” award. Jack Bateman received the “Tough Luck” award. Max Zachem the “Sportsmanship”Award, and “Mechanic of the Year” was presented to Butch Shea, of  the CMR (#06) team. 

Timmy Jordan received the “Mountainside Graphix Rookie of the Year” award, Gary Casella, the “Dedication to Racing” award, and this year’s recipient of the “Above and Beyond” award was presented in memory of John Hoyt, to the entire MRS Staff. 

The prestigious “7-11” award, for professionalism on and off the track. was presented to Mike Holdridge by New England Hall of Fame driver Bob Polverari. 

A 15-race schedule was announced for 2012 with the first event scheduled for March 31, April 1, at the Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT. 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 29, 2011) – NASCAR announced today that the points system all NASCAR national series began using this year will be instituted in the regional touring level for 2012. 

The points system was simplified to make it easier for fans, competitors and the industry to understand. 

Beginning in 2012, the system will be integrated into the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and NASCAR Mexico Series. 

The new structure awards points in one-point increments. As an example, race winners earn 43 points, plus three bonus points for the win. Drivers also can earn an extra point for leading a lap and leading the most laps, bringing the race-winning total to a possible maximum of 48 points. 

All other drivers in a finishing order are separated by one-point increments. A second-place finisher earns 42 points, a third-place driver 41 points, and so on. 

“Implementing the simplified points system at the regional touring level will make the points structure consistent with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring series. “The change at the national level was welcomed in the industry this year and has provided a points system that is much easier for everyone to understand.” 

This year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup ™ demonstrated that use of the new points structure is viable with a shorter schedule, such as with each touring series. 

“Considering the tight competition in NASCAR’s touring series, we anticipate that with the new points system in place we will see close championship battles similar to the ones this year in all NASCAR national series,” Silbermann said. 

The move to bring the simplified points system from NASCAR’s national series to the regional touring level is part of an effort to integrate uniform race formats and procedures throughout the NASCAR ranks. Earlier this year, two race procedures were changed to bring the touring series in line with the national series. One of those procedures stipulated that if a green-white-checkered finish is necessary, a maximum of three attempts will be made. The other change directed that on all restarts, passing will not be permitted until the car reached the start-finish line. 

In some cases, race procedures developed at the touring level have been adopted at the national level. In 2009, the double-file restarts that had come about in the regional series, became a part of the national series race procedures.