Tue, 11 Jan 2005, 11:41 AM 2004 North Central Division Champions Honored at Awards Banquet

Courtesy of Jay Hullinger

INDIANAPOLIS -- The 2004 North Central Division champions were honored Saturday evening (Jan. 8) at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites. Over 400 racers and fans gathered for the annual “Land of the Winners” event that this year included a fun-filled post banquet Winner’s Party.

Champions in the North Central Division’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Jeg’s Super Quick Series and the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League were honored along with a number of other special awards. Linda and Chuck Scrimpsher were presented the “Winner’s Persons of the Year” award for their support and contributions to the continued success of the division’s Jeg’s Super Quick Series.

NHRA Summit Racing Series National Champions Mark Griffith in Super Pro and Dave Hill in Super Pro Bike were given special recognition. Griffith was also voted the Division ET Driver of the Year.

Bill Reichert, who wheeled his Bars’ Leaks A/Fuel Dragster to his fourth North Central Division championship and finished number two nationally was voted the Pro-Sportsman Driver of the Year. The Pro-Sportsman Mechanic of the Year honors went to Larry Snyder who acknowledged his entire crew for their efforts in winning the Top Alcohol Funny Car division title with his son Mick at the wheel.

The Coan family dominated the voting in the sportsman categories with Jason named Sportsman Driver of the Year and his dad Dave chosen as the Sportsman Mechanic of the Year. The Coan Engineering Competition eliminator entry won three Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional events during the year to claim their first division championship. Super Comp champion Rock Haas received the most votes in the Super Eliminator Sportsman Driver of the Year.

Chris McMahan, operations manager at Route 66 Raceway accepted the NHRA North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Track of the Year and Rich and Jacklyn Gebhardt were presented the Division’s NHRA Summit Series Track of the Year award for their Midstate Dragway in Havana, Ill.

Mike Coughlin of Jeg’s High Performance Mail Order joined NHRA Vice President – Publications Adriane Ridder and Jill Caliendo of NHRA’s Field Marketing department, Ritch Bowers, Leo Taugher, Dennis Winegar, Chuck Scrimpsher and Division Director Jay Hullinger in the presentation of awards.

2004 NHRA NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION “Land of the Winners” Awards Banquet
January 8, 2005 - Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONS

Bill Reichert           Top Alcohol Dragster
Mick Snyder             Top Alcohol Funny Car
Jason Coan              Competition
Steven Graham           Super Stock
Bryan Merkle            Stock
Rock Haas               Super Comp
Alan Bush               Super Gas
Linn Bebout, Jr.        Super Street
Mitch Smith             Top Sportsman Champion

NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Mark Griffith         Super Pro
Dave Hill             Super Pro Bike

NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPIONS

Mark Griffith               Super Pro
Jimmie Barrett              Pro ET
Dave Hill                   Super Pro Bike
Ray Block                   Sportsman
Chris Harrod                High School
National Trail Raceway      Team Champion
Chandler Motorsports Park   National DRAGSTER Team Spirit

NHRA JEG’S SUPER QUICK SERIES CHAMPION
Lynn Smalley

NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League

NHRA North Central Division Jr. CHAMPIONS

Joe Staats			13-17 Years Old
Lauren Lacy			10-12 Years Old
Jacob Blumenstein		8-9 Years Old

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS CHAMPIONS

15 Yr. Old Class		Ryan Haag
11 Yr. Old Class		Payton Filson
10 Yr. Old Class		Tyler Smith

“Winners” Persons of the Year
Linda & Chuck Scrimpsher

Pro-Sportsman Driver of the Year
Bill Reichert

Pro-Sportsman Mechanic of the Year
Larry Snyder

Sportsman Driver of the Year
Jason Coan

Sportsman Driver of the Year – Super Categories
Rock Haas

Sportsman Mechanic of the Year
Dave Coan

E.T. Driver of the Year
Mark Griffith

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Track of the Year
Route 66 Raceway

NHRA Summit Racing Series Track of the Year
Midstate Dragway

Be A Winner, Be A Member Track of the Year
National Trail Raceway

National DRAGSTER Contributor of the Year
Pam Lobb – Wabash Valley Dragway

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