Powell III Wins Atlantic Seaboard Title

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 16, 1998)

For most drivers a NASCAR Winston Racing Series regional championship is the culmination of a successful racing career. For Charles Powell III of Goose Creek, S.C., once just wasn't enough.

The most telling fact of Powell's durability is a new record he holds in NASCAR Winston Racing Series regional champion history. His span of 13 years between regional championship seasons (his first came in 1985) breaks the old record of nine years between seasons held by Carl Trimmer (Sunbelt Region titles, 1987 & 1996). George Kent, the 1998 NASCAR Winston Racing Series Northeast Region champion, eclipsed Trimmer's record as well, with 12 years between his first title in 1986. Today, Trimmer is still racing competitively at age 60 while Kent is 49. Powell, 34, was 21 when he took his first title.

The past few years Powell has been racing Late Model Stock Cars. In 1997 he moved to the Goody's Dash Series, a part of the NASCAR Touring Division. Using the skills he developed in weekly competition, Powell won a Bud Pole, a race and the Goody's Dash Series Rookie-of-the-Year Award. Before the 1998 season started, however, what has turned into a mixed blessing occurred when the arrangements for another season in the Goody's Dash Series fell apart.

"I got back together with my crew chief Mike Hester and car owner Ricky Benton of Black's Tire Service about four weeks before the season started," said Powell. "It's worked out great. We've got a great team. No one person could do this. It's clicking right now and I hope it continues."

Chemistry. Powell indicates it is a key to a successful race team as it takes more than a great engine or great car, a combination of all the elements is necessary to successfully compete. "If your car isn't handling it doesn't matter how much horsepower you've got, you're not going to win," said Powell. "In fact, I think you have to have more car than motor to win."

Myrtle Beach Speedway has been good to Powell. The combination of his team and the equipment they prepare has been good for an impressive 13 wins in 19 starts.

"This is a dream come true for me," said Powell. "I always wanted to try for it again but I never thought I would have the chance. The way NASCAR and Winston have the points system now, every guy at every track has a chance. We wore out a calculator every week trying to figure out where we were in the region."

Even competing against every driver at each of the nearly 100 NASCAR Winston Racing Series tracks across the country, Powell accomplished what only 10 drivers can do each year -- win a regional championship. His fourth place national ranking among the regional champions speaks even more about his accomplishment.

"I'm going to be speechless at the champions' banquet," said Powell. "There's more money, more people, more tracks than the last time. It's totally different. Back then I was a lot younger and didn't really know what I had done. Now I know we accomplished a lot this year. I'll feel the relief and satisfaction of just knowing we were able to top the region."

Source: NASCAR Online