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2011 Champion Honored
at Awards Luncheon
Record Point Fund Payout Highlights Event
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Story
by John Lemon, photo by
Phil Pace - Posted December 18, 2011
 Tulsa
Oklahoma (December 17, 2011) – The Oil Capital
Racing Series celebrated their 2011 racing season
with an all time record points fund payout supplied
by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio.
The fund of nearly $24,000 was handed out during an
awards luncheon held this Saturday afternoon.
The ceremony honored Tulsa Oklahoma’s Sean
McClelland as the 2011 series champion while several
other drivers were awarded their share of the record
payout for their successes during the run for the
championship. Rookie of the Year and Most Improved
Driver recipients were also honored. The awards
portion of the luncheon also included a look back
into the history of the “Champ Sprint” division and
its status in today’s market place.
Three Time Champion: Sean McClelland
By conquering the 2011 OCRS championship
in a seasonal tour that consisted of nineteen events
at a total of eight racetracks in Oklahoma and
Kansas, McClelland edged out Moore Oklahoma’s Whit
“The Gasman” Gastineau to claim his third OCRS
championship. The other two titles came in 2002 and
2003, which were the initial two seasons for the
organization started by Danny and Tina Smith.
For his achievement, McClelland received
$5,000 as the lion’s share of the point fund and he
also received the “Harold Leep Championship Trophy”
as part of his victory hardware. David Grace of
Carter/Maxwell in Bethany Oklahoma was on hand to
make the presentation to the champion. McClelland
won the championship in his own XXX chassis
sponsored by Lawton Auto Parts, Maxwell Oil,
Finishline and XXX Chassis.
Partnered with his engine
supplier Cliff Anderson and with crew chief Shane
Vandervliet as McClelland’s set up man, the team
went on to win a series leading eight main events
and sixteen top tens. The third OCRS title for
McClelland ties him with Mike Goodman (2004-’05-’07)
and Jamie Passmore (2008-2010).
Steve Gastineau received the runner-up award
for his son Whit. The team from Oklahoma City took
home $4,000 for their accomplishments. Matt Sherrell
of Owasso Oklahoma collected $3,000 for third place.
Rafe Essary of Stillwell Oklahoma pocketed $2,000
for fourth while Rose Oklahoma’s Jamie Passmore
earned $1,000 for fifth. Passmore’s crew chief Greg
Boney was in attendance to receive Passmore’s prize.
Other point fund honorees
include:
Andrew Deal (6th
place – Matt Sherrell accepting)
Tim Kent (7th place)
Josh Toho (8th place)
Shayla Waddell (9th
place)
Kyle Clark (10th
place)
Johnny “Hotrod” Kent: (11th
place)
Danny Smith (12th
place)
Fred Mattox (13th
place – Sara Kent accepting)
Beau Gastineau (16th
place – Steve Gastineau accepting)
Casey Willis (18th
place – OCRS accepting)
Toho was honored as the Brodix
Cylinder Heads “Rookie of the Year”
Deal was honored as the D&P
Escort “Most Improved Driver”
OCRS paid thanks to their multiple sponsors
over the course of the season and those sponsors who
contributed to the awards ceremony. These sponsors
include:
GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO:
(Akron Ohio)
JUSTIN FANTOZZI: "Marketing
Manager" of Global Race Tires
LEE ELDER: Goodyear Public
Relations
Carter/Maxwell (Bethany OK)
DAVID GRACE: Goodyear Engineer
SAME DAY AUTO REPAIR (SAPULPA
OK)
Danny / Tina Smith: Proprietors
GRAND PRIX AUTO PARTS (TULSA
OK)
Jon Brook: Proprietor
WESMAR RACING ENGINES (BIXBY
OK)
Bob / Kelly Wesphal: Proprietors
BRODIX CYLINDER HEADS: (MENA
AR)
GREG BROTHERTON: Proprietor
SHOENFELD HEADERS: (VAN BUREN
AR)
DON SCHOENFELD: Proprietor
CAR & FLEET PARTS: (TULSA OK)
MIKE / JUDY STEWART: Proprietors
LIGHTNING WINGS: (TULSA OK)
JIM / CINDY BAILEY: Proprietors
MAXWELL OIL: (TULSA OK)
BOYD MAXWELL: Proprietor
AMERIFLEX HOSE AND
ACCESSORIES (TULSA OK)
CORVAN ROBISON: Proprietor
KEIZER ALUMINUM WHEELS
(ORANGE CITY IOWA)
WADE HUISMAN: GENERAL MGR
D&P ESCORT (TULSA OK)
DON / PAT YOUNG: Proprietors
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