Anderson, IN (January 11, 2008) – The 2008 Champion Racing Association Awards Banquet was held this past Saturday night at the beautiful Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Indiana. The Top 15 in 2008 CRA Super Series points, and the Top 10 in the 2008 Howe CRA Sportsman points, CRA Street Stocks points and the Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts were all honored at that banquet along with special awards for all four divisions.

The Richard Poe Motorsports Team with driver Scott Hantz was officially crowned 2008 Champions of the CRA Super Series. It was a record third series Championship for car owner Richard Poe and driver Scott Hantz, they previously won Championships during the 2000 and 2006 seasons.

"I never would have believed we would be a three time Champion in this series," remarked Hantz. "I have to thank a lot of people including my car owner Richard Poe who has supported my racing all these years. My Crew Chief Pat Anderson and all my crew for there help. I never won any Championships on the local level, but I am proud to have won the CRA Super Series Championship three times now!"

Aaron Pierce was honored as the 2008 K & N Filters CRA Super Series Rookie Of The Year. Robert Maynor was the 2008 Winchester Speedway Sportsman Of The Year Award winner. Long time series car owner and driver Rick Turner, runner-up to Hantz in points in 2008, was honored as the winner of the 2008 Darrell Teal Outstanding Dedication Award for his contributions to the series since it began in 1997. Chris Gabehart and Scott Hantz were awarded the Harris Products Group Lap Leader Awards. Robert Maynor was awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Charger Award while Kenny Tweedy and Adam Purdy were co-awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Luck Award.

Tony Dager was honored as the 2008 Howe CRA Sportsman Champion as well as the series Rookie Of The Year. Dager started off the 2008 season with four wins and never relinquished the point’s lead through out the season. In 2009 the series as been renamed the Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman Series.

"This is truly an honor," remarked Dager. "This is definitely a team sport, I think the driver is always overrated in racing, if it wasn’t for my team giving my a great car to drive at each event I wouldn’t be up here. I also have to thank Tony Barcus and Steve Minich Jr. for letting me borrow their racecars to race when I had problems with mine to help me keep my points lead!"

Charlie Hanna was the Harris Products Group Sportsman Of The Year Award winner for the Howe CRA Sportsman Series while car owner Tony Barcus, who fielded up to three cars at times in the series including fifth place finisher Eric Barcus, his son and Al Cook Jr. who finished sixth in points, was awarded the Dedication Award for the Howe CRA Sportsman.

Third generation driver Bret Miles Jr. was officially crowned the 2008 CRA Street Stocks Champion Saturday night, a hard fought Championship he didn’t claim until the series last event in 2008 after a tough battle with two time series Driver Champion Joe Beaver.

"I have to thank the large group of people sitting over there at our tables for this Championship," remarked Miles Jr. "It was a lot of fun and we look forward to trying to win it again in 2009!"

Josh Burton was awarded the Rookie Of The Year Award for the CRA Street Stocks. Patrick O’Connor was awarded the Harris Products Group Sportsman Of The Year Award and Carl Muffley received the Dedication Award for the CRA Street Stocks.

Rex Zimmerman was crowned the 2008 Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts Champion Saturday night. Zimmerman won a tight points battle over second place Brian Redmond and teammate Bill Charles that wasn’t decided until the last laps of the season’s last event.

"I always wondered if I was a racecar driver," remarked Zimmerman. "I think this Championship proves that I can drive a racecar!"

Redmond was awarded the Winchester Speedway Sportsman Of The Year Award and series sponsor, car owner and driver Steve Vore received the Dedication Award for the Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts.

Drawings for prizes were held for all four divisions. The big winners with the CRA Super Series included Brandon Fagin and Kenny Tweedy who won complete bodies from Five Star Racecar Bodies. Rick Turner won a racing seat from ButlerBuilt Racing Seat Systems, Jeff Lane a $500 Product Certificate from ARP Stock Car Bodies, Scott Hantz an $800 Product Certificate from Quick Change Exchange, Jason Shively won a welder from Lincoln Welders and Zach Taylor a drivers suit from Impact Racing.

In the Howe CRA Sportsman Series Tony Barcus was a winner getting a complete body from Five Star Racecar Bodies, Billy Hutson won a $500 Product Certificate from ARP Stock Car Bodies, Eric Barcus won a welder from Lincoln Welders, Charlie Hanna who won a $400 Product Certificate from McGunegill Engine Performance and Justin Alsip who won a Driving Suit and Racing Shoes from Impact Racing.

The CRA Street Stocks big winners were Jason Thompson who won a welder from Lincoln Welders and Jeff Perry who won a Driving Suit and Racing Shoes from Impact Racing. Rex Zimmerman was the big winner in the Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts getting a welder from Lincoln Welders.

The evening was capped off with a 2008 season Highlight Video and Champions Video prepared by Brian Duncan, including the work of CRA photographer Ron Harner and CRA video producer Adam Mackey.