|
$621,000
handed out to CORR Lucas Oil Series drivers
at
the 2004 Champions Banquet
Green
Bay, WI (November 11, 2004)-The culmination
of the 2004 CORR Lucas Oil Series took place
last weekend as 77 of 80 drivers collected cash
and prizes totaling over $621,000. Following
a rugged 2004 campaign, 450 people attended
the season ending banquet.
All
eight division champions, Jason Baldwin (Pro-4),
Scott Taylor (Pro-2), Kyle LeDuc (Pro-Lite),
Dan Baudoux (Sportsman 2), Keith Steele (Stock),
Steve Krieman (Super Buggy), Mark Steinhardt
(Single Buggy), and Ben O'Connell (Light Buggy)
were in attendance to collect their final payout,
trophies, champion jackets, photos and commemorative
ink pens.
With
checks, trophies, and other prizes in hand,
it was the future of Championship Off Road Racing
and the CORR Lucas Oil Series that took center
stage. Tom Fredrickson, Director of Motorsports
with Lucas Oil, announced that Lucas Oil will
continue as the Series Title Sponsor through
2007. Since getting involved with CORR, Lucas
Oil's unyielding support included added contingency
programs for both the Pro and Sportsman Series.
It
was also announced that Championship Off Road
Racing signed a new two year contract extension
with Speed Channel, the television home of the
CORR Lucas Oil Series. As it has been this year,
each Pro and Sportsman Round will air three
times, totaling 84 hours of coverage in 2005
and 2006.
Kumho
Tire, which joined CORR in 2001 as an Associate
Sponsor and Rookie of the Year sponsor, will
become the Official Tire of the Series in 2005.
In three years, Kumho now sponsors more than
15 teams in all eight CORR Lucas Oil Series
divisions.
In
the 2004 Manufacturer's Championship, it was
Ford Trucks who took top honors in the Pro-4
and Pro-Lite divisions. For the fifth season
in a row, Ford Trucks successfully defended
the Pro-4 manufactures trophy, compiling 6 wins
and 238 points, 23 points in front of Chevrolet.
For the first time since 1998, Ford won the
Pro-Lite Manufacturer's Championship, ending
Toyota's reign over the last five seasons.
For
the fourth year, Kumho Tires honored the Rookie
of the Year in the Pro and Sportsman divisions.
Kumho presented a $2,500 check to Brian Hinman
(Pro-2). Hinman finished 8th in the 2004 Pro-2
standings with seven top-five finishes in 12
starts. His best finish of the season was 3rd
place in Round 12 (Crandon).
Scott
Beauchamp finished 5th in the Stock division
during his first season with the CORR Lucas
Oil Series. In 12 starts, Beauchamp had five
top-four finishes, including a best of second-place
in Round 2 (Antigo). Beauchamp collected a check
for $500 from Kumho.
Guiding
him to his first CORR Lucas Oil Series division
title, Pro-4 champion Jason Baldwin's Crew Chief,
Kevin Pence, won the 2004 Mechanic of the Year
Award. Edging out his brother-in-law and defending
Pro-4 champion Carl Renezeder, Baldwin had 4
wins and 13 top-four finishes in 14 starts.
Pence received a check for $500.
Six
time defending Pro-2 champion Scott Taylor won
the Pro Precision Gear Driver of the Year Award
for the fourth straight season. In 2004, Taylor
had 4 wins and 12 top-five finishes in 14 starts.
Taylor was awarded $7,500 along with a plaque
honoring his historical season.
Dan
Baudoux collected several additional year-end
awards other than his Sportsman 2 championship
trophy. Baudoux won $1,000 and a plaque from
Precision Gear as the 2004 Sportsman Precision
Gear Driver of the Year. Mastercraft Seats awarded
Baudoux $500 as the Mastercraft Year-end Championship
winner.
KC
Hilites awarded $3,000 in checks to the top-three
drivers in the 2004 KC Hilites Year-end Championship.
Stock champion Keith Steele beat out Mark Steinhardt
(Single Buggy) and Michael Seefeldt (Single
Buggy). KC Hilites presented a $1,500 check
to Steele. Steinhardt (2nd place) won $1,000,
and Seefeldt (3rd) won $500.
With
thoughts quickly shifting to the 2005 CORR Lucas
Oil Series Season, Antigo (June 11-12), Crandon
(June 25-26 & Sept. 3-4), and Bark River
(August 13-14) will continue their tradition
of hosting the CORR Lucas Oil Series. Championship
Off Road Racing will return to Heartland Park
Topeka for two night races Friday and Saturday,
July 8-9. The Pro Series will return to the
Unadilla Valley Sports Center for the fourth
year September 17-18. CORR also announced that
discussions are in place for a new event in
2005 to be announced at a later date.
For
more information on Championship Off Road Racing
and the CORR Lucas Oil Series, visit www.corracing.com. |
