2006 Champions Night preview

USAC'S "CHAMPIONS NIGHT" FRIDAY CELEBRATE'S 2006 RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Champions of the United States Auto Club's 2006 season of auto racing will be featured guests at Friday's (Jan. 19) "Champions Night" celebration as USAC presents its 51st National Awards Banquet at the Westin Hotel's Grand Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis.

Headlining the list of award recipients are 2006 National Driving Champions Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif. (K & N Silver Crown Series), Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif. (Sprint Car Series), Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. (Midget Series) and Michael Faccinto of Hanford, Calif. (Ford Focus Series). Regional Champions include Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Calif. (Western Sprints), Jerome Rodela of El Monte, Calif. (Western Midgets), Cory Kruseman of Ventura, Calif. (CRA Sprints), Jimmy Wysong of Salt Lake City, Utah (Young Automotive Rocky Mountain Sprints), Brian Olson of Puyallup, Wash. (Midgets), Chris Windom of Canton, Ill. (Kenyon Midgets) and Ford Focus Champions James Robertson of Indianapolis, Ind. (Indiana), Tate Martz of Rushville, Ind. (Midwest Pavement), Jordan Noblitt of Columbus, Ohio (Midwest Dirt), Tim Skoglund of Fresno, Calif. (California Pavement), Bobby Michnowicz of Torrance, Calif. (California Dirt), Ryan Smith of Kunkletown, Pa. (Northeast and Florida) and Chase Scott of Concord, N.C. (Carolina/Virginia). USRC Rally Champions Seamus Burke of Powder Springs, Ga. and Christine Beavis of San Diego, Calif. (4-Wheel Drive) and Bruce Davis of Granite Bay, Calif. and Jimmy Brandt of Lake Odessa, Mich. (2-Wheel Drive) will also be honored.

Car Entrant champions, "Rookies of the Year" and "Most Improved Drivers," top Chief Mechanics and Most Popular Drivers will also receive awards, along with numerous special award recipients, who will be cited for meritorious service and support.

The black-tie-optional affair continues a tradition begun in 1957 when champions of USAC's inaugural season of racing (1956), including National Champion Jimmy Bryan of Phoenix, Ariz., were toasted at the inaugural banquet at the Indianapolis Athletic Club.

Rob Klepper, USAC's chief announcer, will serve as the master of ceremonies for the banquet, which begins with cocktails at 6 pm presented by K & N Performance Filters and dinner at 7 presented by Hoosier Racing Tires.

Tickets, priced at $75.00 each, are available at the USAC Headquarters in Indianapolis by calling Brenda Stafford at (317) 247-5151.

-credit: usacracing.com