COPPER HILL, VA :: The 2012 short track racing season is far in the rear view mirror. However, RACE22.com wants to give you one last look at the “Best of” the 2012 season with the annual “22 Awards”.
This year we’ve went back to our old school way of giving out the awards as we’ve narrowed our categories down to just a handful. As always we’ve got the prestigious “Driver of the Year” award, which we award to the most accomplished driver of the season. We’ve also got our annual “Best Rookie Driver” award as well as the “Most Improved Driver” and “Best Rivalry”.
In addition to those awards we’ve brought back the “Best Original Drama” award for the best race or finish of a race. That award along with the “Best Stunt Scene” award for the best crash scene of the season. We haven’t given out by those names since 2009. We’ve also brought back the “Most Dominant Performance” award for the driver flexing the most muscle either in a single race or over the course of many races.
We hope you enjoy these awards and this trip down what is now memory lane as we bid one final farewell to 2012 and look to bring in 2013 as we kick off the season at Daytona International Speedway in just a few days.
“Driver of the Year”
This award goes to the driver who performed over and above the competition in the 2012 season. The winner of this award faced much adversity, coming back from a NASCAR suspension, getting a late start and overcoming to become the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion.
Lee Pulliam
Other nominees for this award included: Deac McCaskill, Nate Monteith
“Best Rookie Driver”
This award goes to the rookie driver who performed over and above his rookie competitors in the 2012 season. The winner of this award didn’t get off to a fast start, but as he continued to get seat time his skills improved and even found himself in victory lane before the season was over. He won the UARA-STARS Series Rookie of the Year award on the heels of two wins and finished second in the championship points battle.
Dillon Bassett
Other nominees for this award included: Pietro Fittipaldi, Sean Rayhall, Dylan Lupton
“Most Improved Driver”
This award goes to the driver who improved the most from the 2011 to the 2012 race season. The winner of the this award had never visited victory lane in a stock car in his life, but in 2012 put himself there on not one but two occasions. He also won on not one but two different venues including the always tough Langley Speedway. His other win came at South Boston Speedway early in the season as he drove his way to the track championship. This driver also led laps at Martinsville and looked to be on his way to winning the race before brake problems stalled his effort.
Matt Bowling
Other nominees for this award included: Adam Long, Josh Berry
“Most Dominant Performance”
This award goes to the driver who had a performance whether single race or a string of races that saw the driver dominate his competition. The winner of this award went on a tear during the midpoint of the season winning at four different venues in a short span of time. He was on fire and totally dominated everywhere he traveled during the late June early July period.
Lee Pulliam
Other nominees for this award included: CE Falk’s Season at Langley, Nate Monteith’s Season at Kingsport
“Best On (& Off) Track Rivalry”
This award goes to the two drivers (sometimes more) who battle on and off the track the most during the course of the season. This season there were several stout rivalries but none more strong than the rivalry that even got one of the drivers mom’s involved. This rivalry had been brewing back in the 2011 season but didn’t take flight until well … one of them took flight and landed across the hood of the others car in a mid-summer clash that nearly led to a fist fight altercation.
Nate Monteith vs. Daniel Pope II
Other nominees for this award included: Derrick Lancaster vs. Frank Deiny, CE Falk III vs. Greg Edwards
“Best Original Drama”
This award goes to the race or race finish that thrilled and entertained the most during the season. While there were many races that could have easily taken the top spot during the course of the 2012 season, there was a couple that stood out above the rest but one that took the cake. The winner of this award went to an unlikely race at an unlikely venue as one driver had qualified on the pole and had mechanical problems before the start of the race relegating him to last on the start. While another had been dominant already this season and look to be driving away until the pole winner caught him and got a lucky late caution that set up a door banging finish. The two crossed the finish line just inches apart as they nearly crashed and left the cars a little wrinkled but with a new winner on the season returning to victory lane for the first time in two seasons.
Tommy Lemons, Jr. and Lee Pulliam at Motor Mile Speedway (6/23/12)
Other nominees for this award included: Nate Monteith, Adam Long and Lee Pulliam three way battle at Kingsport, Ryan Wilson and Lee Pulliam in Sunday Twins at Caraway, Three-wide finish at Newport Speedway in UARA-STARS Series
“Best Stunt Scene”
This award goes to the best crash of the season. This season there wasn’t as many of those moments that made us hold our breath until the finish but there were enough to keep us on our toes. There was one that really stood out above and beyond all the rest as two of the young stars of the UARA-STARS Series battled for supremacy on one of the fastest tracks on the circuit. As the two touched while they battled for position late in the race, the two of them crashed hard into the outside wall in turns three and four with one of them setting sail outside of the racetrack. His car landed up on top of the wall in the most spectacular crash of the season.
Dillon Bassett and Sean Rayhall at Concord Speedway (8/4/12)
Other nominees for this award included: Anthony Anders taking flight over top of Daniel Pope who was already on top of Nate Monteith’s car (6/8/12)
