NASCAR announced Friday that beginning in 2008, Camping World would take over entitlement of the Grand National Division, Busch East and West Series, and will become the Camping World Series. To the left of the car is Kurt Hunt (Director of Sports Marketing for Camping World), 2007 Busch East champion Joey Logano, and George Silbermann (NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations). The remainder of the top 10 drivers in the 2007 Busch East Series standings are to the right. (Photo Credit: Chris Troutman/Getty Images For NASCAR)
From left to right: NASCAR champions LW Miller, Joey Logano, Steve Carlson, Ron Hornaday Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Andrew Ranger, Mike David and Donny Lia pose in front of the historic Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. (Photo Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)
MIKE DAVID CROWNED 2007 GRAND NATIONAL WEST SERIES CHAMPION
David Crowned 2007 Champion
PASADENA, Calif. – Mike David reached a goal he set more than seven years ago as he was crowned the 2007 champion of the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series during a special awards ceremony in the International Ballroom of the Hilton Pasadena on Sunday.
The 40-year-old veteran driver from Modesto, Calif., was presented the championship trophy and postseason team awards representing more than $147,572. The championship celebration culminated with NASCAR’s Managing Director of Racing Operations George Silbermann presenting David with the prestigious NASCAR championship ring.
“It’s a goal that we set out when we started this thing,” David said, recalling his entry into the West Series in 2001 with car owner Randy Lynch. “That was one of our goals – to win this championship.”
The end-of-season awards pushed David’s team winnings for this year to $236,537. In addition to a $60,000 bonus, he will receive more than $37,000 in team winnings from the NASCAR point fund. David was presented with the Aero Exhaust Lap Leader Award for 2007, along with a check for $5,000. In addition, he received a special trophy and $3,000 from Goodyear.
David, a second-generation driver who grew up watching his father race at Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway, clinched the West Series championship by a 114-point margin in the final race of the season.
Other championship awards in Pasadena included the presentation of the Champion Owner trophy to Randy Lynch. He also received the Champion Sponsor trophy on behalf of his Bennett Lane Winery. The Lunati Champion Crew Chief Award, along with $2,500, went to the team’s crew chief, Mario Isola.
The awards ceremony featured many other special honors. Two-time series champion Mike Duncan of Bakersfield, Calif., was presented with the Most Popular Driver Award. He also received the Bud Pole Award for the third time in four years. In addition, Duncan was presented with the driver and car owner trophies for finishing second in the championship standings.
The prestigious Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award went to Ontario, Calif., driver Jason Bowles, who finished third in the overall championship standings.
Brian Ickler of San Diego received several honors. The second-year driver was presented with the HDNet Performance Award, along with $10,000. The award also included a high definition wide-screen television. In addition, Ickler was presented with the POWERade Power Move Award, earning him $7,500. Ickler also took home the Driver Achievement Award for a second consecutive year, while being recognized for scoring the most wins (three) in 2007.
Long-time car owner Dick Midgley was honored with the Sportsmanship Award for 2007. Series rookie Alex Haase of Las Vegas was presented with the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award, along with $6,000.
Eric Hardin of Anaheim, Calif., was presented with a special award, named in honor of Spencer Clark.
This year’s awards ceremony featured Mike Joy of Fox Sports as master of ceremonies.
Logano Wins Busch East Championship
LOGANO CROWNED 2007 CHAMPION
IN NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH EAST SERIES
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (Dec. 15, 2007)– Teenage NASCAR phenom Joey Logano returned to his home state to be honored as the 2007 NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series at the series’ awards ceremony at the Mohegan SunResort in Uncasville, Conn. Saturday night.
The 17-year-old rookie driver from Middletown, Conn., was presented the championship trophy and postseason team awards. Logano’s winnings, bonus awards, and point fund earnings pushed his season total to $233,978. The championship celebration culminated with NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations George Silbermann presenting Logano with the prestigious NASCAR championship ring.
“This has been a dream year for me, winning six races, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year, and the NASCAR championship,” Logano said. “Thanks to J.D. and Joe Gibbs for taking this chance on me and giving me this great opportunity.”
Saturday night’s awards ceremony also included two major announcements by NASCAR. Starting in 2008, the long-standing Grand National Division will become the Camping World Series. The Busch East will be known as the Camping World Series East. In addition, the 2008 schedule was announced, featuring a 13-race calendar that will take the Camping World Series East to 12 tracks in nine states.
Logano’s awards for 2007 included the $6,000 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award bonus, as well as $5,000 for winning the Aero Exhaust Award.He also collected $33,284 by winning the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
Other award winners at the banquet included the presentation of the Champion Owner and Sponsor trophies to J.D. Gibbs. The Lunati Champion Crew Chief Award, along with $2,500, went to the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Driven crew chief, Mike Sibley.
The awards ceremony featured many other special honors.
Busch East Series rookie Jeffrey Earnhardt of Mooresville, N.C., was also presented with the Most Popular Driver Award. Sean Caisse won the Busch Pole Award and HDNet Award. In addition, Caisse was presented with the driver trophy for finishing second in the championship standings, while Peyton Sellers of Danville, Va., received the third-place driver’s trophy.
Rogelio Lopez of Aquascaliente, Mexico won the $6,000 Featherlite Driver Improvement Award and Jesus Hernandez won POWERade Power Move Award.
Other award winners were:
Bunk Sampson Award – New Hampshire International Speedway founder Bob Bahre.
Busch East Series Women’s Auxiliary Award – retiring series official Billy Rider.
Sportsmanship Award – Dion Ciccarelli.
Most Improved Driver Award – Rogelio Lopez.
This year’s awards ceremony featured NASCAR race broadcaster Mike Joy of Fox Sports as master of ceremonies.
Welcome to GRANDNATIONALWEST.COM
Welcome to the grandnationalwest.com, This site will cover the NASCAR Grand National West Series and the BUSCH North Series.
It would be easy to follow the pattern set by other web-sites with chat rooms that have become bitch sessions, posting boards and the posting of other peoples news. My goal when I started Racing News West was to bring the Winston West Series (one of the many names it has gone by) to the fan. A way to get to know the drivers, teams and the many different people that make up the series on the positive side. I don't have to like every decision that is made, we can discuss it and try to come up with a better answer by working within the system. "My two cents" will be that forum, I will bring up subjects and try to get the answers, talk about news and what way the series is headed. I hope you like what you will read and I'm open to your comments and imput (tim@grandnationalwest.com).
Another site you might find of interrest is; www.stockcarreunion.com this is a site that covers the history of west coast stock car racing.
