Anderson, IN (January 9, 2010) – The 2009 Champion Racing Association Awards Banquet was held Saturday night at the Indiana Downs in Shelbyville, Indiana. The top 15 in 2009 CRA Super Series points, and the top 10 in the 2009 Howe CRA Late Model 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 Kaos Motorsports Team with driver John VanDoorn and car owner Jimmy Tenbrink were officially crowned 2009 Champions of the CRA Super Series. It’s the first CRA Championship for VanDoorn, the 2007 CRA Rookie of the Year, and for Tenbrink in his first season as a car owner with the CRA Super Series.

John VanDoorn and Jim TenBrink accept trophy as 2009 CRA Super Series Champion

"I had no idea what we were getting into 11 months ago when we started putting this together," remarked TemBrink. "A friend of mine called and said we should look at this. We were a low budget team all year, Johnny went out and bought a lot of the things we needed himself, including an F-250 truck. When we were at Concord, NC, another team was helping us push the car back to the trailer and one of them on seeing the truck said 'Wow, you don't even have a dually'. But our 36' gooseneck trailer and F250 hauled us everywhere and we did well."

"When Jimmy TenBrink called I was not sure a guy who sells fertilizer and salt was the right guy to own a car," remarked VanDoorn. "But it worked out and we won the Championship. The drivers in this series are the best and the Sportsmanship they have at each event is awesome. I couldn’t have won this with out the help of my great sponsors, my awesome crew and my family who has been behind me my whole life!"

Tyler Roahrig was honored as the 2009 K & N Filters CRA Super Series Rookie Of The Year. Terry Fisher Jr. was the 2009 A.T. Performance/Acro-Tech Sportsman Of The Year Award winner. Long time series car owner Floyd Fehl was honored as the winner of the 2009 Darrell Teal Outstanding Dedication Award for his contributions to the series since it began in 1997. Scott Hantz were awarded the Harris Products Group Lap Leader Awards. Brandon Fagin was awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Charger Award while Kenny Tweedy and Damon Ecoff were co-awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Luck Award.

Charlie Hanna was honored as the 2009 Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman Champion as both the car owner and driver of the green #68. Hanna has become a crowd favorite and one of the most respected drivers in this

Charlie Hanna speaks after receiving the 2009 Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Champion trophy.

 series.

"I am truly honored to be a CRA Champion," remarked Hanna. "We started out the season with $250 in our racing account and didn’t know how long we could race. We won that first race and had good finishes and some luck the rest of the season. This is the place to be, you read the racing magazines and on the Internet and you know how good these guys are. Everyone knows it is fair to race here. I have to thank my sponsors, my help and my family for their support, we couldn’t have done it with out them!"

Steve Stacy was the 2009 Hinchman Rookie of the Year award winner in the Late Model Sportsman Division. Stacy also received the Harris Products Group Sportsman Of The Year Award. Fourth place points finisher Ric Pfiefer was awarded the 2009 Dedication Award for the series.

Veteran Central Indiana driver Joe Beaver was crowned the 2009 CRA Street Stocks Champion Saturday night, it was the third Championship in that division for Beaver. It was the first Championship for car owner Tim Bennett.

Joe Beaver accepts trophy as 2009 CRA Street Stock Champion.

"I don’t have much to say except thanks to my car owner Tim Bennett for giving me the car to driver," remarked Beaver. "I also want to thank all my crew and family for there help!"

Jason Drummond was awarded the Rookie Of The Year Award for the CRA Street Stocks. Veteran racer Rich Boyer was awarded the Harris Products Group Sportsman Of The Year Award. Josh Burton received the series 2009 Dedication Award.

Tim Dilg was crowned the 2009 Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts Champion Saturday night. Dilg had a great season with consistent finishes and completing every lap to hold off 2008 series Champion Rex Zimmerman to get the Championship.

Tim Dilg accepts the trophy for the 2009 Vore's Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts Series Champion trophy.

"I want to thank the CRA, all the different tracks we get to race at, and thank Steve Vore from Vore's Welding and Steel for sponsoring our series," remarked Dilg. "We all appreciate what he has done. I also want to thank all my competitors, they are great to race with. Without them it would not be fun, they are the reason I cannot wait to come back next year. I lost a great friend this year, Steve Smith and I want to dedicate this championship to him, without him I would not here."

Justin Brown was awarded the first ever CRA FWD Compact Hinchman Rookie of the Year Award. Cary Abrell was awarded the Winchester Speedway Sportsman Of The Year Award. Rookie competitor Jeff Williams received the 2009 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 were JR Roahrig who won complete body from Five Star Racecar Bodies. Johnny VanDoorn won a racing seat from ButlerBuilt Racing Seat Systems, Brandon Fagin won a $500 Product Certificate from AR Stock Car Bodies, Scott Hantz an $800 Product Certificate from Quick Change Exchange, Kenny Tweedy a set of headers from Schoeneld Headers, Rick Turner a set of wheels from Bassett Racing Wheels, Tyler Roahrig a set of wheels from Aero Racing Wheels, Aaron Pierce a set of RacerSpacers and Jason Dietsch a Canopy from Race Cover-alls.

In the Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Charlie Hanna was the big winner getting a complete body from Five Star Racecar Bodies and a $1000 Product Certificate from McGunegill Engine Performance, Steve Stacy won a $500 Product Certificate from AR Stock Car Bodies, Adam Hudson a helmet from Impact Racing, Ric Pfiefer a pair of racing shoes from Impact Racing, Billy Hutson a set of wheels from Aero Race Wheels, Steve Minich Jr. a set of wheels from Bassett Racing Wheels, car owner Katie Jackson a set of headers from Schoenfeld Headers and Mark Lambert a Canopy from Race Cover-alls.

The CRA Street Stocks big winners were Jason Thompson who won a $500 Product Certificate from McGunegill Engine Performance and a helmet from Impact Racing, Jason Drummond a set of racing wheels from Aero Race Wheels and a pair of racing shoes from Impact Racing, Larry Matillo a set of racing wheels from Bassett Racing Wheels, Josh Burton a set of headers from Schoenfeld Headers and Larry Lathan a Canopy from Race Cover-alls.

For the Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts Brian Redmond won a Canopy from Race Cover-alls, Winchester Speedway pit passes were won by Rex Zimmerman and Cary Abrell, Plymouth Speedway pit passes by Nathan Thomas and Brian Brewer and Motion Motor product certificates by Justin Brown and Jeff Williams.

The evening was capped off with a 2009 season Highlight Video and Champions Video prepared by Brian Duncan, including the work of CRA photographer Ron Harner.