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NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series All-Time Top 25 Drivers
To commemorate the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series 25th season, NASCAR will honor its history by creating a list of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series “All-Time Top 25 Drivers.” The list will first be published in the July issue of NASCAR Insider, the official NASCAR membership publication that appears each month inside Dick Berggren’s Speedway Illustrated magazine.
We are asking for your help to choose the drivers for this exclusive list!
To vote, go to http://www.nascarmedia.com/dodge/AlltimeTop25DriverPoll.jsp and make your selections. You can vote for all 25, or just a few names if you’re not sure. The poll is open until March 31.
If you have not visited nascarmedia.com, simply go to the site and click on “apply for access.” A password will be e-mailed to you shortly. (You can also access the poll by going to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series page on nascarmedia.com.)
Forty-five drivers have been nominated, including past and present drivers from across the nation. A description of each nominee is listed below and also appears on the web site to help you make your selections.
The 25 drivers receiving the most votes will be named to the list. If you would like to vote for another driver not appearing on the list, simply enter their name under “Other.”
Thank you for your participation and helping us to honor these all-time great drivers!
All-Time Top 25 Driver Nominees:
Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa – Won 13 track championships … 2001 NDWS regional champion, driving Dirt Late Models at Farley (Iowa) Speedway, Dubuque (Iowa) Fairgrounds Speedway and other tracks.
Roger Avants, Littleton, Colo. – Earned his first NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional title in 2002 … Four-time track champion at Colorado National Speedway in Erie, Colo.
Barry Beggarly, Pelham, N.C. – 1993 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion ... Two-time regional champion … 1993 title was closest in series history; Beggarly and Dennis Setzer ended the season tied in points, but Beggarly had recorded one more second-place finish and thus won the championship under NASCAR’s tie-breaking rules.
Greg Biffle, Vancouver, Wash. – Two-time track champion at the former Portland (Ore.) Speedway and Tri City Raceway in Washington … Runner-up for 1995 NDWS Regional championship … From 1994-96, Biffle recorded 54 Late Model wins and 67 top-five finishes in 98 starts.
Ricky Bilderback, Rockton, Ill. – Won five consecutive Late Model track championships at the quarter-mile Rockford (Ill.) Speedway from 2001-05 … 2001 NDWS regional champion.
Kyle Berck, Marquette, Neb. – Won over 240 races in his 21-year career, along with 13 track championships … Two-time NDWS regional champion, most recently in 2003 while racing at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.
Steve Boley, West Liberty, Iowa – Two-time NDWS regional champion … Won 11 track championships between 1991-2005, at three different tracks.
Clint Bowyer, Emporia, Kan. – Won his first track championship in 2001, then came back to win two more in 2002 – one on dirt and another on asphalt in the same season … 2002 NDWS Regional champion.
Andy Bozell, Portage, Mich. – Won eight consecutive Super Late Model track championships at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway from 1998-2005 … 2004 NDWS Regional champion.
Dave Byrd, Los Gatos, Calif. – Won nine track championships at four different tracks … 1983 NDWS Regional champion
Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn. – 2001 NDWS national champion … Two-time NDWS Regional champion … Seven-time track champion at Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson International Speedway in Connecticut … Routinely competes in 85-95 races per year, at short tracks across the Northeast.
Charlie Cragan, Hopewell, Pa. – Won three consecutive NDWS Regional championships from 1992-94 … Competed primarily at Motordrome Speedway, in Smithton, Pa., and Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway, where he is ranked second on the track’s all-time Late Model victory list with 37 wins.
Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa – 1987 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion … Won nine Dirt Late Model track championships in a five-year span from 1983-87, at four different race tracks.
Richie Evans, Rome, N.Y. – Won four consecutive NDWS Northeast Region titles from 1982-84, while competing at tracks including Spencer Speedway in Williamson, N.Y., and Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway … Inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame, in Darlington, S.C., in 1986, and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, in Talladega, Ala., in 1996 .. Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
Bobby Gahan, Barrington, N.H. – 1998 NDWS Regional champion … Won more than 380 feature races in his career … Eight-time track champion, with titles at Lee USA Speedway and Star Speedway in New Hampshire.
Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill. – Won 10 track championships between 1989- 2004 … Four-time NDWS Regional champion … Has more than 300 career victories in Dirt Late Model competition.
Denny Hamlin, Chesterfield, Va. – Won more than 50 feature races from 1997-2004 … Youngest driver to win NASCAR Mini Stock track championship at Langley Speedway, at the age of 16 … 2003 Late Model track champion at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C. … Won pole for 2003 Bailey’s 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Bobby Hogge IV, Salinas, Calif. – Won six track championships from 1995-2003, along with two consecutive NDWS Regional titles in 1996-97 … Father, Bobby III, was a NDWS Regional champion in 1989.
David Into, Hardeeville, S.C. – Third driver to win the NDWS national championship in 1984, in the first season his home track, Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Ga., was sanctioned by NASCAR … Ten-time Late Model track championships at Oglethorpe.
Ed Kosiski, Ralston, Neb. –1998 NDWS national champion with 16 wins in 18 starts at his home track …Second of the three Kosiski brothers to win national title … Has 14 career track championships and more than 200 Dirt Late Model feature wins.
Joe Kosiski, Omaha, Neb. – 1986 NDWS national champion … Four-time NDWS Regional champion … Won 16 track championships and recorded more than 400 feature wins … Finished in the top 10 of the NDWS Regional/Divisional standings on 19 occasions, including 18 consecutive top-10 appearances from 1985-2002.
Steve Kosiski, Papillion, Neb. – Won 1985 NDWS Regional championship ... Won nine track championships at five different tracks, from 1986-99.
Mike Love, Pendergrass, Ga. – Two-time NDWS regional champion (1987 and ’92) … Won 10 track championships from 1986-96, including six at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Ga. … When he won his second regional title in ’92, Love actually tied national champion Larry Phillips in points earned, but was edged out in a tie-breaker as Phillips had more feature wins that season.
Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn. – Won multiple track championships, in several different classes, at the former Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Mass., Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. and Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Conn. … Two-time NDWS Regional champion in 1991 and ’99.
Jeff Martin, Elko, Minn. – Won three track championships in the Hobby Stock class and 10 titles in Elko (Minn.) Speedway’s Late Model class … 1997 NDWS Regional champion.
Doug McCoun, Prunedale, Calif. – Won his first Watsonville (Calif.) Speedway track championship in 1975, a the age of 18 … After the Dodge Weekly Series was established in 1982, became the first California driver to win the national championship in 1985, and followed-up that national title with a regional championship in ’86 … Has more than 125 feature wins.
Mark McFarland, Winchester, Va. – Won more than 90 feature races throughout the Southeast region … Won the 2003 NDWS national championship and the richest payout in series history, at $213,500 … A portion of his record point fund award included a $25,000 bonus from Dodge, as he drove to the national title in a Dodge Intrepid Late Model … Was the first Virginian to win the national championship, the third-youngest driver to win the title at age 25, and the first asphalt Late Model Stock Car driver to claim the title since ‘97.
Junior Miller, Pine Hall, N.C. – Over 130 career wins ... 62 wins at historic Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., second on Bowman Gray's all-time win list behind Ralph Brinkley’s 64 wins ... Five-time Modified track champion (1990, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2003) ... Voted the Bowman Gray Stadium’s “Most Popular Driver” by the fans in 1999 and 2000, and 2004.
Tom Moriarty, Monroe, Wash. – Won three Mini Stock championships at Evergreen Speedway before stepping up to the track’s premier Super Stock class … Won five Super Stock track championships and the 2001 NDWS Regional title.
Philip Morris, Ruckersville, Va. – Won six track championships at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. (1997-2001, 2005) … Won 2000 Bailey’s 300 Late Model Stock Car race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway … 2001 NDWS Regional champion … 2003 track champion at South Boston (Va.) Speedway.
Steve Murgic, Rosemount, Minn. – Six-time Late Model track champion at two Minnesota asphalt tracks, Elko Speedway and Raceway Park … Won two NDWS Regional titles in 1992 and ’98 … Won 13 of 19 races during his ‘98 regional championship run at Raceway Park.
Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, Wis. – Nine-time Late Model track champion at LaCrosse (Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway … Won 1989 NDWS Regional title in 1989 and a Divisional championship in 2005 … First driver to win NDWS championships in the old “regional” format, which was in place from 1982-2004, and the new “divisional” format established in 2005.
Steve Peles, Glen Campbell, Pa. – Won two NDWS Regional championships in 1987 and ’90, while competing at Jennerstown Speedway and Motordrome Speedway in his home state …Was a Regional runner-up in ’88 and finished third in ’89 … Jennerstown Speedway’s all-time Late Model win leader, with 49 victories … Worked as Jennerstown’s promoter from 2000-02.
Timothy Peters, Providence, N.C. – Three-time track champion, at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C. (2002-03) and South Boston (Va.) Speedway (2004), all by the age of 24 … Two-time NDWS Regional championship runner-up … Won 2005 Bailey’s Invitational 300 at South Boston and 2005 Bailey’s 300 at Martinsville Speedway … Won 34 feature races from 2001-04.
Jim Pettit II, Prunedale, Calif. – From 1987-2000, Pettit claimed six track championships, on both dirt and asphalt tracks … Was a pioneer in the Dodge Weekly Series, winning a regional title in 1984 after recording 10 victories in a remarkable season in which he competed in 91 feature races.
Larry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. – Only driver to win five NDWS national championships (1989, ‘91, ’92, ’95 and ’96) … From 1989-99, Phillips recorded 220 wins, 257 top-five finishes and 268 top-10 finishes in 284 starts … During final national championship years in ’95-96, Phillips was as competitive as ever, winning 32 of 40 races in ’95, and 26 of 36 races in ’96 … Won 13 track championships at three different tracks, including both dirt and asphalt tracks.
Dale Planck, Homer, N.Y. – Won three consecutive NDWS Regional championships in 1994-96, all by the time he turned 26 years old … Won 42 feature races and six track championships during three-year championship span, which saw him competing in Dirt Modifieds in Fulton, N.Y. and Vernon, N.Y.
Charles Powell III, Goose Creek, S.C. – Won his first NDWS Regional championship in 1985, at the age of 21, while racing Dirt Late Models at Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Ga. and the former Summerville (S.C.) Speedway … Captured a second regional title in ’98, this time in asphalt Late Model Stock Cars at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway … In ‘98 he won 13 races in 19 starts … Won seven track championships during his career.
Robert Pressley, Asheville, N.C. – Won two consecutive NDWS regional titles in 1987-88 … Won three track championships while racing Late Model Stock Cars in Asheville, N.C. and other tracks.
Dennis Setzer, Newton, N.C. – Over 168 career victories in NASCAR Late Model competition … Five track championships, at Hickory (N.C.) Speedway (1983), Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C. (1988-90) and Wake County Speedway (1990) … Finished second to Barry Beggarly in closest-ever margin for NDWS national championship in 1993.
Jeff Strunk, Bethel, Pa. – Won five consecutive track championships at Grandview Speedway, in Bechtelsville, Pa., from 2001-05 ... Has recorded over 100 feature victories in his career.
Mel Walen, Shakopee, Minn. – Four-time track champion at Raceway Park in Shakopee … Won two NDWS regional championships in 1993 and ’95 … Won his first regional title by a one-point margin over another All-time Top 25 nominee, Steve Murgic … Finished 10 points behind ‘94 regional champion John Knaus before winning his second title (by 60 points) in ’95.
Mike Wallace, St. Louis, Mo. – 1990 NDWS Regional champion … Posted 21 wins and five second-place finishes in 29 starts during national championship season at Lebanon, Mo. and Bolivar, Mo. tracks … Over 160 feature wins in his short track racing career.
Phil Warren, Norfolk, Va. – Won back-to-back Late Model track championships at Langley Speedway in 1994-95, becoming the first time a driver to accomplish that feat since Elton Sawyer in 1983-84 ... Won a total of seven track championships including another set of back-to-back titles in 2000-01 … Won NDWS Regional championship in ’95, and won the 2001 Bailey’s 300 at Martinsville.
Gary Webb, Blue Grass, Iowa – 2000 NDWS national champion … Two-time regional champion … Has raced Dirt Late Models at several NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks across the Midwest, as evidenced by his collection of nine track championships: Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway (four), Peoria Speedway (two), and one each at Farley Speedway, West Liberty Raceway and Grant Co. Speedway … 2000 national championship season included 16 wins in 18 starts at Dubuque.
Last changed: 03/22/06
To commemorate the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series 25th season, NASCAR will honor its history by creating a list of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series “All-Time Top 25 Drivers.” The list will first be published in the July issue of NASCAR Insider, the official NASCAR membership publication that appears each month inside Dick Berggren’s Speedway Illustrated magazine.
We are asking for your help to choose the drivers for this exclusive list!
To vote, go to http://www.nascarmedia.com/dodge/AlltimeTop25DriverPoll.jsp and make your selections. You can vote for all 25, or just a few names if you’re not sure. The poll is open until March 31.
If you have not visited nascarmedia.com, simply go to the site and click on “apply for access.” A password will be e-mailed to you shortly. (You can also access the poll by going to the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series page on nascarmedia.com.)
Forty-five drivers have been nominated, including past and present drivers from across the nation. A description of each nominee is listed below and also appears on the web site to help you make your selections.
The 25 drivers receiving the most votes will be named to the list. If you would like to vote for another driver not appearing on the list, simply enter their name under “Other.”
Thank you for your participation and helping us to honor these all-time great drivers!
All-Time Top 25 Driver Nominees:
Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa – Won 13 track championships … 2001 NDWS regional champion, driving Dirt Late Models at Farley (Iowa) Speedway, Dubuque (Iowa) Fairgrounds Speedway and other tracks.
Roger Avants, Littleton, Colo. – Earned his first NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional title in 2002 … Four-time track champion at Colorado National Speedway in Erie, Colo.
Barry Beggarly, Pelham, N.C. – 1993 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion ... Two-time regional champion … 1993 title was closest in series history; Beggarly and Dennis Setzer ended the season tied in points, but Beggarly had recorded one more second-place finish and thus won the championship under NASCAR’s tie-breaking rules.
Greg Biffle, Vancouver, Wash. – Two-time track champion at the former Portland (Ore.) Speedway and Tri City Raceway in Washington … Runner-up for 1995 NDWS Regional championship … From 1994-96, Biffle recorded 54 Late Model wins and 67 top-five finishes in 98 starts.
Ricky Bilderback, Rockton, Ill. – Won five consecutive Late Model track championships at the quarter-mile Rockford (Ill.) Speedway from 2001-05 … 2001 NDWS regional champion.
Kyle Berck, Marquette, Neb. – Won over 240 races in his 21-year career, along with 13 track championships … Two-time NDWS regional champion, most recently in 2003 while racing at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.
Steve Boley, West Liberty, Iowa – Two-time NDWS regional champion … Won 11 track championships between 1991-2005, at three different tracks.
Clint Bowyer, Emporia, Kan. – Won his first track championship in 2001, then came back to win two more in 2002 – one on dirt and another on asphalt in the same season … 2002 NDWS Regional champion.
Andy Bozell, Portage, Mich. – Won eight consecutive Super Late Model track championships at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway from 1998-2005 … 2004 NDWS Regional champion.
Dave Byrd, Los Gatos, Calif. – Won nine track championships at four different tracks … 1983 NDWS Regional champion
Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn. – 2001 NDWS national champion … Two-time NDWS Regional champion … Seven-time track champion at Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson International Speedway in Connecticut … Routinely competes in 85-95 races per year, at short tracks across the Northeast.
Charlie Cragan, Hopewell, Pa. – Won three consecutive NDWS Regional championships from 1992-94 … Competed primarily at Motordrome Speedway, in Smithton, Pa., and Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway, where he is ranked second on the track’s all-time Late Model victory list with 37 wins.
Roger Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa – 1987 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion … Won nine Dirt Late Model track championships in a five-year span from 1983-87, at four different race tracks.
Richie Evans, Rome, N.Y. – Won four consecutive NDWS Northeast Region titles from 1982-84, while competing at tracks including Spencer Speedway in Williamson, N.Y., and Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway … Inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame, in Darlington, S.C., in 1986, and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, in Talladega, Ala., in 1996 .. Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
Bobby Gahan, Barrington, N.H. – 1998 NDWS Regional champion … Won more than 380 feature races in his career … Eight-time track champion, with titles at Lee USA Speedway and Star Speedway in New Hampshire.
Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill. – Won 10 track championships between 1989- 2004 … Four-time NDWS Regional champion … Has more than 300 career victories in Dirt Late Model competition.
Denny Hamlin, Chesterfield, Va. – Won more than 50 feature races from 1997-2004 … Youngest driver to win NASCAR Mini Stock track championship at Langley Speedway, at the age of 16 … 2003 Late Model track champion at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C. … Won pole for 2003 Bailey’s 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Bobby Hogge IV, Salinas, Calif. – Won six track championships from 1995-2003, along with two consecutive NDWS Regional titles in 1996-97 … Father, Bobby III, was a NDWS Regional champion in 1989.
David Into, Hardeeville, S.C. – Third driver to win the NDWS national championship in 1984, in the first season his home track, Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Ga., was sanctioned by NASCAR … Ten-time Late Model track championships at Oglethorpe.
Ed Kosiski, Ralston, Neb. –1998 NDWS national champion with 16 wins in 18 starts at his home track …Second of the three Kosiski brothers to win national title … Has 14 career track championships and more than 200 Dirt Late Model feature wins.
Joe Kosiski, Omaha, Neb. – 1986 NDWS national champion … Four-time NDWS Regional champion … Won 16 track championships and recorded more than 400 feature wins … Finished in the top 10 of the NDWS Regional/Divisional standings on 19 occasions, including 18 consecutive top-10 appearances from 1985-2002.
Steve Kosiski, Papillion, Neb. – Won 1985 NDWS Regional championship ... Won nine track championships at five different tracks, from 1986-99.
Mike Love, Pendergrass, Ga. – Two-time NDWS regional champion (1987 and ’92) … Won 10 track championships from 1986-96, including six at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Ga. … When he won his second regional title in ’92, Love actually tied national champion Larry Phillips in points earned, but was edged out in a tie-breaker as Phillips had more feature wins that season.
Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn. – Won multiple track championships, in several different classes, at the former Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Mass., Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. and Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Conn. … Two-time NDWS Regional champion in 1991 and ’99.
Jeff Martin, Elko, Minn. – Won three track championships in the Hobby Stock class and 10 titles in Elko (Minn.) Speedway’s Late Model class … 1997 NDWS Regional champion.
Doug McCoun, Prunedale, Calif. – Won his first Watsonville (Calif.) Speedway track championship in 1975, a the age of 18 … After the Dodge Weekly Series was established in 1982, became the first California driver to win the national championship in 1985, and followed-up that national title with a regional championship in ’86 … Has more than 125 feature wins.
Mark McFarland, Winchester, Va. – Won more than 90 feature races throughout the Southeast region … Won the 2003 NDWS national championship and the richest payout in series history, at $213,500 … A portion of his record point fund award included a $25,000 bonus from Dodge, as he drove to the national title in a Dodge Intrepid Late Model … Was the first Virginian to win the national championship, the third-youngest driver to win the title at age 25, and the first asphalt Late Model Stock Car driver to claim the title since ‘97.
Junior Miller, Pine Hall, N.C. – Over 130 career wins ... 62 wins at historic Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., second on Bowman Gray's all-time win list behind Ralph Brinkley’s 64 wins ... Five-time Modified track champion (1990, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2003) ... Voted the Bowman Gray Stadium’s “Most Popular Driver” by the fans in 1999 and 2000, and 2004.
Tom Moriarty, Monroe, Wash. – Won three Mini Stock championships at Evergreen Speedway before stepping up to the track’s premier Super Stock class … Won five Super Stock track championships and the 2001 NDWS Regional title.
Philip Morris, Ruckersville, Va. – Won six track championships at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. (1997-2001, 2005) … Won 2000 Bailey’s 300 Late Model Stock Car race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway … 2001 NDWS Regional champion … 2003 track champion at South Boston (Va.) Speedway.
Steve Murgic, Rosemount, Minn. – Six-time Late Model track champion at two Minnesota asphalt tracks, Elko Speedway and Raceway Park … Won two NDWS Regional titles in 1992 and ’98 … Won 13 of 19 races during his ‘98 regional championship run at Raceway Park.
Kevin Nuttleman, Bangor, Wis. – Nine-time Late Model track champion at LaCrosse (Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway … Won 1989 NDWS Regional title in 1989 and a Divisional championship in 2005 … First driver to win NDWS championships in the old “regional” format, which was in place from 1982-2004, and the new “divisional” format established in 2005.
Steve Peles, Glen Campbell, Pa. – Won two NDWS Regional championships in 1987 and ’90, while competing at Jennerstown Speedway and Motordrome Speedway in his home state …Was a Regional runner-up in ’88 and finished third in ’89 … Jennerstown Speedway’s all-time Late Model win leader, with 49 victories … Worked as Jennerstown’s promoter from 2000-02.
Timothy Peters, Providence, N.C. – Three-time track champion, at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C. (2002-03) and South Boston (Va.) Speedway (2004), all by the age of 24 … Two-time NDWS Regional championship runner-up … Won 2005 Bailey’s Invitational 300 at South Boston and 2005 Bailey’s 300 at Martinsville Speedway … Won 34 feature races from 2001-04.
Jim Pettit II, Prunedale, Calif. – From 1987-2000, Pettit claimed six track championships, on both dirt and asphalt tracks … Was a pioneer in the Dodge Weekly Series, winning a regional title in 1984 after recording 10 victories in a remarkable season in which he competed in 91 feature races.
Larry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. – Only driver to win five NDWS national championships (1989, ‘91, ’92, ’95 and ’96) … From 1989-99, Phillips recorded 220 wins, 257 top-five finishes and 268 top-10 finishes in 284 starts … During final national championship years in ’95-96, Phillips was as competitive as ever, winning 32 of 40 races in ’95, and 26 of 36 races in ’96 … Won 13 track championships at three different tracks, including both dirt and asphalt tracks.
Dale Planck, Homer, N.Y. – Won three consecutive NDWS Regional championships in 1994-96, all by the time he turned 26 years old … Won 42 feature races and six track championships during three-year championship span, which saw him competing in Dirt Modifieds in Fulton, N.Y. and Vernon, N.Y.
Charles Powell III, Goose Creek, S.C. – Won his first NDWS Regional championship in 1985, at the age of 21, while racing Dirt Late Models at Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Ga. and the former Summerville (S.C.) Speedway … Captured a second regional title in ’98, this time in asphalt Late Model Stock Cars at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway … In ‘98 he won 13 races in 19 starts … Won seven track championships during his career.
Robert Pressley, Asheville, N.C. – Won two consecutive NDWS regional titles in 1987-88 … Won three track championships while racing Late Model Stock Cars in Asheville, N.C. and other tracks.
Dennis Setzer, Newton, N.C. – Over 168 career victories in NASCAR Late Model competition … Five track championships, at Hickory (N.C.) Speedway (1983), Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C. (1988-90) and Wake County Speedway (1990) … Finished second to Barry Beggarly in closest-ever margin for NDWS national championship in 1993.
Jeff Strunk, Bethel, Pa. – Won five consecutive track championships at Grandview Speedway, in Bechtelsville, Pa., from 2001-05 ... Has recorded over 100 feature victories in his career.
Mel Walen, Shakopee, Minn. – Four-time track champion at Raceway Park in Shakopee … Won two NDWS regional championships in 1993 and ’95 … Won his first regional title by a one-point margin over another All-time Top 25 nominee, Steve Murgic … Finished 10 points behind ‘94 regional champion John Knaus before winning his second title (by 60 points) in ’95.
Mike Wallace, St. Louis, Mo. – 1990 NDWS Regional champion … Posted 21 wins and five second-place finishes in 29 starts during national championship season at Lebanon, Mo. and Bolivar, Mo. tracks … Over 160 feature wins in his short track racing career.
Phil Warren, Norfolk, Va. – Won back-to-back Late Model track championships at Langley Speedway in 1994-95, becoming the first time a driver to accomplish that feat since Elton Sawyer in 1983-84 ... Won a total of seven track championships including another set of back-to-back titles in 2000-01 … Won NDWS Regional championship in ’95, and won the 2001 Bailey’s 300 at Martinsville.
Gary Webb, Blue Grass, Iowa – 2000 NDWS national champion … Two-time regional champion … Has raced Dirt Late Models at several NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks across the Midwest, as evidenced by his collection of nine track championships: Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway (four), Peoria Speedway (two), and one each at Farley Speedway, West Liberty Raceway and Grant Co. Speedway … 2000 national championship season included 16 wins in 18 starts at Dubuque.
Last changed: 03/22/06
