51 Awards: And The Winners Are....
More Then 5,000 Fans Cast Votes For the 2011 51 Short Track Awards
Results as voted by fans on Speed51.com - Winners' text written by 51 Staff
BEST FINISH
Snowball Derby
Experts often say that the one who goes last leaves the best impression. That was the case with our Best Finish of 2011 as several were exciting, but nothing could top the final five laps of the Snowball Derby. Chase Elliott and DJ VanderLey went door-to-door for the final five laps before Elliott pulled ahead coming to the checkers. That finish took the category by more than 20-percent of the vote and won over another finish that Chase Elliott was involved in, the Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway (IN). That night, Steve Dorer passed Elliott in the final set of turns. Third place in the voting went to a tight Winchester 400 finish that saw Boris Jurkovic beat Derrick Griffin and Elliott to the flag.
BEST SERIES/TRACK/DRIVER SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE
NASCAR Home Tracks
Social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter have forced racers, tracks and racing organizations to step up their online presence and their interactivity with fans. One such organization that the fans voted as having the Best Social Media Presence was the NASCAR Home Tracks program. With a team of PR professionals tweeting and posting articles to Twitter and Facebook almost daily, plus interacting with fans, tracks and their competitors perhaps better than anyone else, NASCAR Home Tracks was voted the best in the tightest voting of all the categories. Twenty-five votes separated the top four. NASCAR Home Tracks beat out racers Ross Kenseth and Kenzie Ruston, with ASA Racing finishing fourth in the close battle.
BEST SERIES/TRACK WEBSITE
Five Flags Speedway
While there's no substitute for going to the track, the other six days of non-action are just as important for series and tracks. That's why having a clean-looking, up-to-date website is crucial for fans and racers. In this year's edition of The 51's, fans voted Five Flags Speedway (FL) as having best series or track website. The home of the Snowball Derby stepped up their game in 2011 with a new design and topped the ASA Midwest Tour site and the Gresham Motorsports Park (GA) websites in the first year of this new category.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT
Bubba Pollard Wins Beau Slocumb Memorial
Bubba Pollard scored 18 wins prior to the Beau Slocumb Memorial at Gresham Motorsports Park (GA). He admitted he would’ve traded them all in to win the race in honor of his fellow Late Model friend who lost his battle with cancer earlier in the season. He didn’t have to trade, however, as Pollard took the win and captured the Most Inspirational Moment as voted by the fans. Pollard had a close battle with some other great stories like Kenzie Ruston becoming the first female CRA winner and Becca Kasten winning a Super Late Model race in memory of her sister at Speedweeks. Also in the mix was Jonathan Eilen’s win at Hawkeye Downs (IA) one year after breaking his back at the same track.
BEST APPEARING CAR
Daniel Hemric/Hillbilly Racing
The fans have voted and the Best Appearing Car, out of the 20 nominated by fans on our Five Star Race Car Bodies Facebook page, goes to Daniel Hemric and his pink Hill Enterprises No. 79 Modified. Hemric was the runaway winner in this category, besting Snowball Derby Best Appearing Car winner Dennis Prunty’s Super Late Model and the No. 4 Outlaw Late Model of Justin Schroder.
SURPRISE STORY OF THE YEAR
Chase Elliott Takes No Tires, Wins SpeedFest
He did what? The surprise story of 2011, according to the fans, came down to the fact that Chase Elliott took no tires, when his competition all took new rubber, at SpeedFest last January. Elliott was then able to hold off all challengers to win the race at Lanier National Speedway (GA). The Elliott win was about 80 votes better then Kyle Busch running out of gas at the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway (VA). Third-place in the voting was Wisconsin driver Chris Wimmer’s dominating performance at the World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park (GA)
BEST RIVALRY
Bubba Pollard / DJ VanderLey
They were two of the best when it came to Five Flags Speedway (FL) and the two waged some great battles with paint-trading and bumper-tagging that one night ended up costing them both a win. From there on the two were under a microscope by fans, but it never really escalated anymore. Pollard and VanderLey still took top honors by our fans. Eddie Hoffman and Erik Jones were second as the old veteran and the young kid battled for the JEGS Tour title. Third-place went to Lee Pulliam and Philip Morris, who battled each other in NASCAR Whelen All American Series points all year long. The final blow pushed the rivalry over the top when Pulliam spun and wrecked Morris on the cool down lap at South Boston’s 300 lap finale.
BEST ANNUAL RACE
Snowball Derby
The winner in this category captured more votes than any winner in this year's balloting. The fans of Speed51.com have spoken and the Best Annual Race in their eyes is the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway (FL). Taking in almost 40% of the votes in this category, the Snowball Derby beat out the Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway (IN). It was very tight behind the top two as 100 votes separated a pack of events that included Short Track National Championship at Rockford (IL), the Kalamazoo Klash in Michigan, Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville (VA) and the Spring Sizzler at Stafford (CT).
WORST LUCK
Johnny VanDoorn
It was year full of absolute horror for Johnny VanDoorn and his only positive outlook on the year was the fact he knew he could win this award. VanDoorn earned the honor, if there is such an honor for "Worst Luck," after a season full of engine problems, mechanical woes and strange events that left him on the sidelines more often than in victory lane. Coming home second was Becca Kasten who ran out of fuel at Dixie Motor Speedway (MI) on the final lap and had several other near misses along the way. Coming in third in this category was another Super Late Model driver, Donnie Wilson.
ACTION PHOTO OF THE YEAR
Jamie Williams / Derek Thorn's Snowball Flip
It was long season of shooting for photographer Jamie Williams. He was looking for that one shot he could submit for the 51 Photo of the Year contest and he got it five laps from the finish of the 2011 Snowball Derby. Williams captured the image of California native Derek Thorn flipping in the air after a late-race tangle. The fans felt that Williams’ work was the best for the second time in the past few years. Right behind Williams was Jim DuPont’s Modified action and Chuck Gonzalez’s action against the Indiana night sky.
BEST PERSONALITY
Daniel Hemric
Often times in short track racing, the “bad boys” are the ones who make the headlines. The tough guys who are hard-nosed on the track and in the pit area with fans and crews are the ones who make news, but the nice-guys in the sport certainly can win just as much as, if not moreso than the tough ones. In this category, the fans voted NASCAR Modified racer and Super Late Model standout Daniel Hemric as having the best personality in short track racing. Hemric is as intense as it gets about his racing efforts, but he almost always can be found with a smile and is among the most friendly and cordial young racers to come along in a while. Plus, the guy gets it done on the track, too. Hemric won out over another NASCAR Modified fan favorite, Burt Myers. Third went to ASA Midwest Tour regular and fan favorite Jonathan Eilen.
SHORT TRACK "BAD BOY"
Eddie Hoffman
One good thing about being bad is that everyone knows who you are. Fans are truly aware of the 2011 51 Short Track Bad Boy award, veteran Eddie Hoffman. The Late Model ace was the runner-up in the JEGS All Stars Tour inaugural season and won several races along the way, but also had some rather well-publicized on-track feuds with a few different racers around the Midwest. Hoffman beat out Ted Christopher for the honors by less than 100 votes, while tough-as-nails Deep South tech man Ricky Brooks came home third.
COMEBACK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Boris Jurkovic
It was nice to see this driver rebound from such a tough loss, but at the same time it was nice to see Boris Jurkovic become a big-time contender again this season. The fans felt the same way. Jurkovic lost the lead in the final laps of the CRA event at Lucas Oil Raceway (IN) when he ran out of fuel. He then came back from several laps down to win the Winchester 400 in October. Jurkovic beat out Jonathan Eilen for the top spot after Eilen won at Hawkeye Downs Speedway (IA) after suffering a broken back there the year before. Erik Darnell, who returned to the short tracks after a few years in the NASCAR national series, was third in the voting.
MOST IMPROVED SHORT TRACK DRIVER
Kenzie Ruston
The top three drivers in the Most Improved Short Track Driver category all opened some eyes in 2011. Getting the most votes was Kenzie Ruston, who improved leaps and bounds over the course of the season that included a win at Lucas Oil Raceway (IN). Coming home in second was Becca Kasten, who won at Speedweeks and also led laps at the Slinger Nationals. Third in the category was World Crown 300 pole sitter and Easter Bunny 150 winner Stephen Nasse. All three will run for championships in 2012 and could be contenders for Driver of the Year.
BEST PROMOTER
RJ Scott & Glenn Luckett, CRA
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of series, tours and track operations that the race fans don’t get to see much of. Those who look beyond the results find the names that made our ballot for Promoter of the Year. At the top of the list as voted by the fans were CRA’s tag team of RJ Scott and Genn Luckett. The two manage both the CRA Super Series and the JEGS All Stars Tour. They will now step up their program in 2012 as they start their partnership with ARCA. Second in the rundown was the ASA Midwest Tour team of Steve Einhaus and Tim Olson, who beat out Five Flags Speedway owner and promoter Tim Bryant.
BEST RACE TRACK
Five Flags Speedway
The fans have spoken and the best venue for the 2011 season goes to the Five Flags Speedway (FL). The track operates and races on selected Friday nights down on the Florida panhandle and gets all the attention at the season’s year end event the Snowball Derby. Five Flags pushed past the historic Bowman Gray Stadium (NC) and new comer State Park Speedway (WI), which returned to the limelight after surviving a near shut down.
CANDID PHOTO OF THE YEAR
Michael Fettig / Kasten Honors Sister
When the action slows down we tend to find the best images frozen in time. Michael Fettig captured an image of Becca Kasten showing her pleasure not just for winning, but also in a salute to her fallen sister in victory lane at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) during Speedweeks. Kasten lost her twin sister just a few weeks prior to the February event. Then, with her sister as her co-pilot, Kasten won her first race of 2011. Tom DeVette’s Berlin Raceway victory lane photo of Chris McKinley’s victory lane kiss from his son. Coming in third was Jim Carson’s snap of Ryan Blaney watching Jeff Fultz do a burnout in a race that Blaney had all but clinched in the final laps.
BEST NASCAR SHORT TRACK SERIES
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
We figured it was only fair that the NASCAR development ranks got their own category as they provide a high amount of the places for short track drivers to test their skills. In the opinion of the fans, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour took the top prize with nearly 29-percent of the vote. Coming in second was the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East division that was less then 75 votes off the lead. Rounding out the podium was the NASCAR Whelen All American Series that operates in well over 20 states and Canada.
BEST TOURING SERIES
CRA Super Series
The award for the overall best Series or Tour goes to the CRA Super Series for another year. The Super Late Model series based out of Indiana is the home for the Winchester 400, the Rowdy 251, Redbud 300 and other big races in the Midwest. CRA beat out the ASA Midwest Tour who continues to strengthen each year. Third place was another Super Late Model tour, the PASS South Series.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Erik Jones
It’s hard to top the list of Rookie of Year contenders in only two starts, but Erik Jones managed to do just that after he went south and scored the win in the Governor’s Cup 200 at New Smyrna Speedway (FL). Prior to that week, Jones was fifth at the World Crown 300. Jones was not a Pro Late Model rookie, but he was good there too, winning the JEGS All-Stars title. ASA Midwest Tour rookie Skylar Holzhausen was second, winning the Elko 250 in July. CRA Champion Derrick Griffin was third in his first full season of Super Late Models.
BEST WEEKLY TRACK DRIVER
Phil Bozell
Our fans really did their homework on this one and made sure that Phil Bozell was given his proper respect after he won the Super Shoe Nationals and the Kalamazoo Klash at Kalamazoo Speedway (MI) Bozell won the track championship as well, posting 11 top-10’s in 11 starts. Elko Speedway (MN) track champion Donny Reuvers was second after three wins and just one finish outside the top 10. South Boston Speedway (VA) Track champion Philip Morris was third as voted by the fans.
SHORT TRACK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Bubba Pollard
For the third-straight year a driver who calls the Georgia home has taken home the honor as the Speed51.com Short Track Driver of the Year. For the second time in the past three years, the honor goes to Bubba Pollard from Senoia, Georgia. Pollard’s season consisted of 19 wins and four championships, including the Sunoco Gulf Coast title and the CRA South Championship. Pollard also broke the track record at the Snowball Derby in December and won the pole for the Snowflake 100, as well. Pollard narrowly beat out Ross Kenseth in the fan voting. Kenseth won the Red White Blue title at Wisconsin International Raceway, several ASA Midwest Tour Races and posted podiums at the World Crown 300 and the Snowball Derby. Chase Elliott, winner of the Snowball Derby, was third after taking the Driver of the Year honors in 2010.
Bubba Pollard rode 19 wins to the top of the short track world in 2011 and was voted the 2011 51 Short Track Driver of the Year.
Erik Jones was the top rookie in 2011 after only two Super Late Model starts. He won the Governor's Cup 200 and was fifth at the World Crown.
Becca Kasten got the candid photo of the year from Michael Fettig's lense as she honors her sister who passed away just weeks before this victory in New Symrna.
Kenzie Ruston picked up the Most Improved Honors for 2011.
Eddie Hoffman Jr. was picked by the fans as the 2011 Short Track Bad Boy.
Our Action Shot of the year went to Jamie Williams for this snap of Derek Thorn at the Snowball Derby.
Best Annual Race went to the Snowball Derby.
Chase Elliott took no tires at SpeedFest and won back in 2011 and that took the honors in our Surprise Story of the Year.
This car was picked as the 51 Best Appering Car of 2011. It's driver Daniel Hemirc works the machine around Charlotte.
The boisterous fans of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour voted it as the best of the NASCAR Touring Series. (Rick Ibsen Photo)
Michigan's Phil Bozell scored some big race wins and the most votes from 51's fans for "Best Weekly Track Driver."
