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The CASA Chronicles
(No. 22)
Keeping up with the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association
By Glenn Hopper
February 10, 2007
San Jose, CA.
The California Asphalt Sprintcar Association held its annual
Championship Honors Banquet Saturday February 10th at Jackson
Rancheria Hotel and Casino in Jackson, California. The Championship
honors also incorporated honoring the first ever “Best in West”
Series Champion.
The evening began with cocktails and appetizers as a huge
projection screen ran a photographic slideshow capturing the 2006
season in vivid color. Thanks go to both Big John’s Photos and
Dennis Mattish for their fine photography throughout the year.
After a fantastic steak and shrimp dinner and while dessert was
served, CASA President and CEO, Scott Clough welcomed Hall of Fame
announcer Kenny Takeuchi to the podium to serve as Master of
Ceremonies.
The awards ceremony began with the presentation of the “Driver’s
Choice Award”, an award given by drivers, crew chiefs, and the CASA
board members to an individual who best represents CASA and makes
significant contributions the club’s success. This year’s recipient
was a very surprised Joe Helberg who fielded two beautiful and
competitive cars for the bulk of the season and participated in
every event. For the last two seasons, the Helberg’s have
represented CASA in a very positive way. In accepting he was
clearly pleased to be chosen and noted he was anxious to begin the
2007 campaign.
Next, Glenn Hopper, Director of Media Relation and Publicity, and
head of CASA’s rookie program presented the 2006 “Rookie of the
Year” Award to 16 year old Joe Helberg who narrowly edged Jim
Kaiser for the top rookie honors. “Jo-Jo” thanked his family and
sponsors for all their support as well as the many veteran drivers
who offered him advice and encouragement.
CASA Secretary/Treasurer Carla McCreary presented all the hardware
throughout the evening and as the slideshow transitioned to driver
close-ups, Takeuchi introduced the top ten CASA drivers of 2006
beginning with Ryan Baumgartner who powered his Joe Hauck
Motorsports #24 to tenth in the season standings.
Greg Anderson was honored for his ninth place finish, Matt
DeMartini thanked car owner Ric Carr for his support and Carr in
turn thanked Matt and his family for their eighth place effort.
Seventh place Jeff Gardner was honored and sixth place finisher
Glenn Hopper thanked long time good friend and last season’s car
owner Earle Stanton for a fun season and 29 years of friendship
begun when Hopper bought his first race car from Stanton.
The top five awards began with CASA President/CEO Clough stepping
in as presenter to Carla McCreary who accepted the fifth place
trophy for her 2006 driver Tony Iacobitti.
Brian McClish was honored for his fourth place effort and third
place Jim Kaiser took to the podium to accept his trophy for third.
Jim thanked his brother Alan and family and crew for a great
campaign.
Second place hardware saw Helberg back at the podium where he
collected his trophy and gave duplicates to his sponsors and
supporters.
Despite the program moving along swiftly it was finally time to
honor the 2006 California Asphalt Sprintcar Association Champion.
Takeuchi read through the long list of season accomplishments which
included a four race win streak, a wedding, a dominating victory in
the second annual Mike McCreary Memorial, midget wins, and
capturing the prestigious Turkey Night Grand Prix. Noting that the
unfortunate cancellation of the last scheduled event denied our
Champion a chance to celebrate at the track, the celebration would
commence immediately as 2006 CASA Champion Tony Hunt was greeted
with a standing ovation.
At the podium Hunt was honored to be introduced by Hall of Famer
Takeuchi noting that he was introduced at the USAC national banquet
by Parnelli Jones and was in equally fine company tonight. Hunt
thanked CASA for all their efforts and related how proud he was to
participate in our series, thanking CASA officers, officials, and
members. He called car owner Alan Kaiser to the podium and they
recalled how they met to form such a dominating team.
Hunt was retained at the podium as there was one more honor to be
bestowed. CASA’s Scott Clough and USAC Western Stares Director of
Operations Tommy Hunt combined to award the inaugural CASA/USAC
“Best in the West” Series Championship trophy to Hunt who won the
opening race to take the unique series points lead which he never
relinquished throughout the campaign. The point format only awards
main event finishes and has only a single point differential per
position, making it imperative that every finishing position
counts. Hunt made every finish count and was pleased to accept his
award from both Clough and his own dad, Tommy. Said newly crowned
champion Hunt, “I know first hand how difficult it is to produce a
series like this and I appreciate all the efforts made so we can
race here.”
Takeuchi then closed out the evening which was enjoyed by many. A
large number of participants stayed the night at the hotel, enjoyed
the casino gaming and met for breakfast the following morning. The
2006 season now gives way to preparations for a busy 2007 which is
just around the corner. The CASA/USAC “Best in the West” Series
begins Saturday, April 14th at Madera Raceway.
Keep in touch with all CASA racing activity through the CASA
website: www.casaracing.com
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