Thursday, February 19, 2009

O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Reveal 2009 Roster of Drivers

Camargo, IL (2-18-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – With the 2009 running of Winter Nationals in the record books, the stars of the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions are aligning for the rest of the 2009 campaign. Included in the unique roster of talented drivers are former Champions, infamous veterans in the 410 Sprint Car World, and promising rookie talent, which are all ready to battle for the 2009 series title. It promises to be an action packed season with some of best sprint car drivers on the track, dueling each weekend for racing supremacy. The 2009 roster of All Stars includes:

Dale Blaney:
Dale Blaney had a dominant season in 2008 recording 23 top-ten finishes, 19 top-five finishes and 9 victories. Blaney’s season may have gotten off to a somewhat uncharacteristic rough start, but once he notched his first victory of the season during Ohio Speedweek, he became unstoppable. Blaney went on to record 9 of his 68 career victories at: Skyline Speedway, Eldora Speedway, Millstream Speedway, Eagle Raceway, Waynesfield Motorsports Park, Benton Motor Speedway, Attica Speedway and the final two events of the season at Fremont Speedway and Lawrenceberg Speedway. The last time Blaney won a championship in 1995, he followed it up with another in 1996. Now that he has one in 2008, he will definitely be ready back it up with a run for a title in 2009.

Ryan Bunton:
Throwing his hat into the battle for 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year title is Ryan Bunton in his 6r Ryan Bunton Racing mount. Bunton joined the Midwest All Stars in 2007 and has two wins with the series at Morgan County Speedway and West Tennessee Motor Speedway. The Bloomington, Illinois native finished second in the Midwest All Star points standings in 2008.

Daron Clayton:
“The Modern Day Cowboy” Daron Clayton of Sikeston, Mo. will be competing with the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions this season with Deanthony Marketing Partners Race Team. Clayton who will be piloting the number 92 car will contend for the 2009 series championship, as well as Rookie-of-the-Year honors.

Randy Hannagan:
In 2009 Hannagan will return to All Star Series for a run at the championship, after finishing third in the points standings last year. Hannagan had a remarkable season in his THR Racing 1X finishing in the top ten in 80 percent of the races in 2008. When the season came to the end Hannagan finished in the top-ten 23 times, finished in the top-five 15 times, recorded two wins at Hilltop Speedway and Thunderhill Speedway, and won the Ohio Speedweek points standings.

Bret Mellenbrendt:
In 1992 Bret Mellenbrendt began racing quads on dirt, and living in the frozen tundra of South Dakota he also raced them on ice, which helped him hone his talents for driving on slick surfaces. In 2004 he made the move from quads to sprint cars and has competed in various USAC and unsanctioned sprint car events. In 2009 Mellenbrendt will put wing on and join the All Star Circuit of Champions, in the infamous 0 car Rick Ferkel made famous. He will also be competing for Rookie-of-the-Year honors.

Ryan Myers:
2008 All Star Circuit of Champions Rookie-of-the-Year title winner Ryan Myers ended his first year of competition in the seventh position in the points standings. The Eaton, Ohio native will be returning in his Garrett Racing 56r racing machine for the 2009 season.

Tim Shaffer:
Tim Shaffer “The Steel City Outlaw” joined the All Star series in June last season. In the twenty A-Main events Shaffer ran he finished in the top-ten 75% of the time. When the dust settled in September, Shaffer had collected 12 top-five finishes and 4 wins at the Terre Haute Action Track, Bellevue High Banks, Husets Speedway and at his “home track” Lernerville Speedway. Shaffer promises to be one of the top contenders in 2009 for the All Star Series crown as he returns to the Call Motorsports 83A for a full season of racing action.

Danny Smith:
In 1981 Danny Smith ran and won his first race with the All Star Series at Eldora Speedway. Since then Smith has run over 600 All Star Races, recording 28 wins, and 200 top-five finishes. Smith has feature wins on all of the major circuits including World of Outlaws, NCRA, All-Stars, GLOSS, IRA, USAC Sprint and USAC Silver Crown. This year Danny is looking forward to a promising season driving his own car racing with the All-Stars Circuit of Champions.

Greg Wilson:
Greg Wilson the 2006 and 2007 O'Reilly All Stars Series Champion will be joining the 2009 season roster in his Verl Warnimont Racing w20. In 2008 Wilson had a consistent season finishing in the top ten in over 75% percent of the events. At the end of the season Wilson had collected 20 top-ten finishes, 9 top-five finishes and a single victory. Wilson’s visit to Victory Lane occurred at Fremont Speedway where he recorded his 22 career All Star Victory.

Don’t miss out on a minute of the racing action. To view the full 2009 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions schedule and the latest news regarding the series visit www.allstarsprint.com.

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