NASCAR Champions Honored In Night Of Champions Touring Awards Gala

Inaugural Event Celebrates Accomplishments Of 2009

CONCORD , N.C. (Nov. 14, 2009) – Five champions in NASCAR's developmental series were honored during the inaugural Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala in the Concord (N.C.) Convention Center on Saturday night.

The festivities featured the champions and top drivers from all of NASCAR's North American regional touring series, who gathered for the special year-end celebration at the hub of stock-car racing.

The 2009 champions included Ryan Truex (NASCAR Camping World Series East), Jason Bowles (NASCAR Camping World Series West), Donny Lia (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), George Brunnhoelzl III (NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour), and Andrew Ranger (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1).

• Truex, of Mayetta, N.J., became just the second driver in the history of the NASCAR Camping World Series East to win the championship and the rookie title in the same year.
• Bowles, of Ontario, Calif., won the NASCAR Camping World Series West title in his third season of competing in the series.
• Lia, of Jericho, N.Y., captured his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship in the past three seasons.
• Brunnhoelzl, of Babylon, N.Y., won his first NASCAR championship in taking the title in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
• Ranger, of Roxton Pond, Que., captured his second series crown in three seasons – having also won the championship in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in its inaugural season of 2007.

“We are very proud of our developmental series and the tradition that all of you in this room represent,” NASCAR's Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O'Donnell told those in attendance. “These series mean so much to us, as the showcase for our next generation of racing talent – and an important bridge from local weekly short tracks to the national series level.