WSS: Pittman named Aussie Driver of the Year

Pittman first American to claim Australian Sprint Poll "Driver of the Year" honors.

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (April 27, 2003) - 2002/03 World Series Sprintcars (WSS) point champion Daryn Pittman of Oklahoma has once again made history, becoming the first American to be named Australian National Sprintcar Poll "Driver of the Year" in the ten-year history of the poll. Pittman claimed seven first-place votes, the same number as Parramatta City Raceway Parts Plus $50,000 and Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic winner Joey Saldana of Indiana. Pittman, however, out-pointed his fellow American 1200 to 995 in the overall balloting by the select panel of Australian manufacturers, media members, promoters and sanctioning officials.

Ranked third and fourth in the final seasonal voting, respectively, are WSS rivals Robbie Farr of New South Wales and two-time defending "Driver of the Year" Max Dumesny of Victoria. Both Farr and Dumesny earned two first-place votes each. The fifth-ranked driver is current Australian Titlist Kerry Madsen of New South Wales. Rounding out the top ten competitors in the Down Under season are Australians Brooke Tatnell, Garry Brazier & Trevor Green, Stephen Bell, and Ryan Farrell & David Murcott.

Although Joey Saldana did not claim the number one ranking, he did impress the voters enough with his exciting sprintcar performances during his short Australian campaign to claim the poll's "Wild Card Award". Joey had previously been awarded the same honors in 1995/96. Shane Krikke, owner of Robbie Farr's Western Australia #2 machine, claimed his second-ever "Team of the Year" award.

Luke Dillon, a graduate of karts and Formula 500's from South Australia, earned the coveted "Rookie of the Year" award. Jon Evans and Phil Jordison, partners in the popular Oval Express magazine, again claimed the "Media Member of the Year" titles.

The "Promoter of the Year" is out-going Premier Speedway racing director Graeme Hose of Victoria. Hose successfully promoted both the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic and the Australian Sprintcar Title races in a period of eight days at the famed Warrnambool speedplant. Fellow Warrnambool resident John Cooley of Cool Chassis earned the "Builder/Manufacturer of the Year" honors for the first time.

Con Migro, retiring promoter of the Claremont-then-Kwinana dirt tracks in Western Australia, will receive the prestigious "Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award" for his years of service to speedway. All plaques will be awarded on Friday, August 15, during the Ford Dealers of Iowa Knoxville Nationals.

The Australian National Sprintcar Poll is an official awards program of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum Foundation of Knoxville, Iowa.

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