POWRi Champions Crowned, Rookie of the Year Drivers Honored
St. Louis, MO – It was an eventful night at the annual POWRi Racing season ending banquet crowning 2016 Champions and Rookies of the Year. Zach Daum was crowned in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series, while Nathan Benson took home his fourth (consecutive) championship in the POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series. Patrick Bruns captured the inaugural POWRi Lucas Oil ILLINI Division II Midget Series championship. Carson Macedo took Rookie of the Year honors with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series, while Aidan RoosEvans received the Rookie of the Year honors with the POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series. Tyler Vantoll took Rookie of the Year honors for the POWRi Lucas Oil ILLINI Division II Midget Series.
Pocahontas, Illinois native, Zach Daum, received his third POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series championship, as he has continually proven to be a threat on the track wherever he unloads. Daum’s championship came with the help of four wins, an astounding 19 top-fives, and 22 top-ten finishes. Daum’s championship run concluded with a 670 point advantage over second place Justin Peck. 2016 victories for Daum include Jacksonville Speedway during Illinois SPEED Week, Fairbury American Legion Speedway, the Ironman Finale, and Lincoln Speedway.
“First off I’ve got to thank POWRi for giving us a great series to race with,” stated Zach Daum. “I’ve got to thank Toyota for coming back on board; without them, we wouldn’t be able to chase points, that’s for sure. My dad and Ronnie, they don’t miss too many races; it’s a lot of work to do it. Most don’t understand how much work it is to prepare a car, to work on a car. They don’t get enough credit for what they do.”
Nathan Benson of Concordia, Missouri captured his fourth consecutive POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series championship, notching his way into the history books as he became the only driver to win championships four years in a row. Benson’s five victories helped thrust him to the 2016 championship, rounding out the year with 21 tallied on the all-time win list.
“I say this every year, but we log a lot of miles up and down the road for micro sprint racing,” commented Nathan Benson. “I’ve raced [POWRi] four years now, almost every race, and a lot before that, hit and miss. You show up, you draw your pill, you go race. That’s why we keep doing it. I really enjoy it. I’ve got to thank everybody that helps us. Boss Chassis was a new deal this year for us and it’s been a great relationship. There’s a lot of different cars, motor builders, shock packages, and I’ve got really good people in my corner with Michael Schure, FTZ Engines, DDI Fab, Hoosier Tire Midwest, and everybody that helps us. But, my wife and my kid are definitely my biggest supporters.”
Patrick Bruns of Champaign, Illinois won the inaugural POWRi Lucas Oil ILLINI Division II Midget Series with a staggering 10 wins. Bruns proved that experience goes a long way towards capturing a championship, narrowly holding a 70 point advantage over second place Tyler Vantoll. Bruns had 17 top-fives and 23 top-ten finishes throughout the course of 2016.
“First off, thanks to POWRi and all the officials for what they’ve done for the D-II Division,” Patrick Bruns said. “A lot of you, a year ago, probably didn’t know what a D-II was. It’s just an affordable way to go full midget racing and control the cost. I’ve got to thank my wife for being understanding and allowing me to go do it. Paul, Andrew, Scott, Brad, Dan and everybody that made it possible; these guys worked just as hard on a D-II midget as a national midget, we just don’t have the motor bill or the motor expense. I’m really proud of where this is going and I’m looking forward to what this year will bring.”
Carson Macedo took Rookie of the Year honors for the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series. With a total of three victories throughout 2016, Macedo notched ninth place in the standings. 10 top-fives and 14 top-tens propelled the driver out of Lemoore, California to capture the honors.
O’Fallon, Illinois native Aidan RoosEvans captured Rookie of the Year honors in the POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series, taking eighth place overall. RoosEvans had four top-ten finishes and one top-five in 14 feature starts.
“I’ve got to thank POWRi for putting these races on, and my sponsors: FRA Trust, Kelso Autobody,” said Aidan RoosEvans. “I’m really excited we accomplished this and look forward to this year.”
Tyler Vantoll of Belleville, Illinois notched the Rookie of the Year honor in the POWRi Lucas Oil ILLINI Division II Midget Series after a hard fought season with champion, Patrick Bruns. Vantoll squeezed Bruns’ point cushion down to a mere 70 points, after four wins, 20 top-fives, and 22 top-ten finishes.
“I want to thank POWRi for putting on this series,” Tyler Vantoll said. “I’ve got to thank my twin brother, Austin. Two years ago he was diagnosed with cancer. He quit racing and decided to help me. I know it’s a big step for him because he watched me race and have all the fun while he sat on the sidelines. I’ve got to thank all the competitors and all the tracks and I want to thank my family for letting me do it every weekend.”
The 2017 POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League kicks off at I-44 Riverside Speedway in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for the two-day Turnpike Challenge on March 24th and 25th. The event will be co-sanctioned with the POWRi Lucas Oil West Midget Series.
The POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro League will be at I-44 Riverside Speedway at the end of March, but this will be the first showing for the micros in the Fourth Annual Turnpike Challenge.
The POWRi Lucas Oil ILLINI Division II Midget Series starts 2017 at Lincoln Speedway on April 21st for the Season Opener.
For further information, visit www.powri.com, “Like” POWRi on Facebook and follow @POWRi_Racing on Twitter.