Camping World Series Banquet Notes By George Campbell
Despite the lousy weather, there was a healthy turnout for the NASCAR
Camping World Series East Awards banquet that was held at Mohegan Sun in
Connecticut last weekend. Here are a few observations and notes I made
during my stay at Mohegan Sun.
There was no schedule released at the event, as had been the case at the
last few awards banquets. We were told there is one track remaining to be
finalized, and that track is expected to be signed before Christmas and the
complete schedule released by then as well. No idea just what track that
might be, but I do not expect it to be Rockingham.
There were reports last fall that Andy Hillenburg's newly opened Rockingham
Speedway in North Carolina might be on the CWS radar for a race date in the
future. According to several people I spoke with, this is now a highly
unlikely scenario.
Hillenburg may have liked to add the NASCAR developmental series to his
schedule, at least before NASCAR announced the testing ban. Hillenburg makes
a substantial amount of money from NASCAR teams that use his facility to
test. The teams can still currently use his track for testing, since no
NASCAR events are held there now. However, if he were to add a Camping World
Series event in 2009, he would no longer be able to rent his track to NASCAR
teams for testing. The money he can potential make from race teams for
testing is much greater than he might earn by adding a Camping World Series
race.
The Toyota All Star Showdown was a favorite topic at the banquet. The
Mohegan Sun Team is looking forward to arriving at Irwindale Speedway with
the #1 parking spot, as CWS champions. They will be joined by several other
CWS east teams, but not all the top teams will attend.
One issue I heard raised by a couple teams involved NASCAR licenses.
Apparently, despite the race being on the 2008 schedule, it is considered a
2009 race, thus the teams will all need new licenses for this event. No
problem you say? Well what about the teams not planning to return in 2009?
There will be some teams that do not make the long haul to California since
they are not willing to spend the several thousand dollars it would take to
buy licenses for the team members. While it makes sense from NASCAR's eyes,
you must have a license to compete each year, it seems to me there must be
some way to resolve this for the teams that earned the invitation and had
planned the event as part of their 2008 schedule - the schedule released by
NASCAR prior to the 2008 season.
Eddie MacDonald will be among the teams attending the Showdown in Irwindale.
Team owner Rob Grimm has also committed to running the entire 2009 CWSE
season with Eddie behind the wheel. Eddie's Crewchief Rollie LaChance will
be driving out to Irwindale from his home in New Glouster, Maine. This will
likely be the longest haul of anyone driving out there anyway.
Rollie and his family are planning the trek by land in hopes of seeing the
country up close, including the Mississippi River and Grand Canyon along the
way. I can see Rollie & crew touring the world's largest ball of twine and
other such important lank marks along the way as well.
MacDonald was at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway award banquet the night
before the CWS banquet, picking up his trophy and $5000 check for winning
the NHMS Lincoln Electric/Airgas Track Championship track. Then he also
picked up some bonus money at the CWS banquet when he collected both the
POWERade Power Move of the Race Award and the Featherlite Most Improved
Driver Award.
The big award winner of course was Matt Kobyluck. Matt not only took home
the Championship honors and awards, he also collected the season-long Happy
Camper Award, the Goodyear Tire Award as well as the Champion Car Owner
Award. The team also earner the Sportsmanship Award and Mohegan Sun was
honored with the 2008 Champion Sponsor Award.
Matt's speech was emotional at times and included news that he had just
finished helping a family get their life back on track as he was a key
person in building a new home for a family on the ABC TV show, Extreme Home
Make Over. The episode will air on February 8th.
Ricky Carmichael took home the Most Popular Driver Award. Carmichael was
very gracious in accepting his award. The multi - motorcycle champion will
be moving up to the Camping World Truck Series in 2009.
Stub Fadden, Mike Olsen's grandfather and former racer, was awarded the Bunk
Sampson Memorial Award. Bunk Sampson's family presented the award to Mike
Olsen as Stub's health didn't allow his attendance at the banquet
Alisha Ziner and Stephanie Petfield were the recipients of the NASCAR
Camping World Series East Women's Auxiliary Award, which was presented by
Sue Santerre.
Jeff Anton of Russell, Mass., received the Driver Achievement Award and
thanked his father when he accepted the award.
One note I feel obligated to pass on: After the award portion of the evening
was complete, the champions party began and included dancing. Many people
were on the floor showing their best moves, but none were on their game like
just crowned CWS Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon. We may not see him on
Jack Roush's Gong Show down the road, but he is definitely a potential
candidate for Dancing with the Stars!
Austin's father Mike Dillon and grandfather Richard Childress were both in
the audience as Dillon was presented his Rookie of the Year trophy. Austin
warned that his younger brother was waiting in the wings for his crack at
the award in the near future.
There was also some talk about the 10th Annual Busch Sport Scene Snowmobile
Ride for Charity. Lots of interest and several teams are making plans to
attend the annual charity event in Rangeley, Maine. The date is January 31,
2009, make your plans now!
