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2012 OCRS SEASON IN REVIEW: “THE RECLAMATION OF A CROWN" (PT. 2)
~~ Experience: “Worth More Than It’s Weight
In Gold” ~~
There were some impressive
improvements from a few drivers in 2012 over last season. The one common
denominator between these improving pilots? “Experience”. Nothing like getting
your racing education night in and night out and these drivers are proof that
practice makes perfect.
Fred Mattox: The Drumright Oklahoma
shoe keeps kicking on the front door for that initial OCRS victory. It’s only a
matter of time till the OSU college student kicks it all the way in. He finished
second twice and ironically, one of those was the “Oklahoma State Championship”
event at Oklahoma Sports Park. Its ironic in the sense Mattox just missed
winning the same event in 2011. Mattox completed the season in fourth place, an
improvement of nine spots from last season. Mattox garnered seven top five’s
and 12 top tens compared to one and four respectively last year.
Casey Wills: The mighty Casey stepped up
to the plate and took his cuts well this season. After one top five and one top
ten last year, Wills learned well from last season when the team was just
trying to figure out just how to set up a car. He started with double top fives
in the first two events, claimed seven top tens enroot to an eighth place
points finish vs. an 18th in 2011. Wills finished the year well with
a runner-up placement to Jeremy Allen in the last event at the Salina
Highbanks.
Johnny Kent: “Hotrod” started slowly but
when he went to a different Eagle chassis midway into the season, he began to
click. Like Mattox, Kent tallied two runner-up spots with one of those coming
in the Harold Leep Jr. Memorial at OSP. When the final numbers were in, Kent
was seventh in points (11th in 2011), and had five top fives to go
with 13 top tens compared to 3 and 8 last year. Everyone has taken note as to
how Hotrod has picked up his program.
Fred
Mattox (26m) – Colton Brewer (77) – Casey Wills (31) go wheel to wheel. / Sprintcarsis
photo
Tim Kent enjoying a moment
with wife Sara
Tim Kent: Cousin to “Hotrod”, TK was
one spot better in points than last year (6th over 7th),
but it was his performance that many gave notice to. There were five top fives
and 12 top tens compared to two & eight last year. It was TK’s best showing
since joining OCRS as a series regular. If one word could be placed for his
improvements, that word would be ‘consistency’. The Maxim #79 saw its nose
towards the front of the field more than it has in the past.
Danny Smith: “The Caretaker” has plenty
of racing experience (unlike the aforementioned racers). However, the
improvement in 2012 over 2011 was still huge. Smith did miss a few shows due to
injury last year which regulated him to a 12th place spot on the
points chart. He was runner-up in championship points to Passmore this year
with two victories, nine top fives and 18 top tens. To say Smith recovered from
his “off-season” would be an understatement. He was also the only driver to
accept the task of taking The Oil Medics “Back Row Challenge”, which he did
twice. For that, the great folks at the Oil Medics awarded the $1,000 cash
bonus that went unclaimed (for winning from the back) to Smith at the season
ending OCRS Awards Banquet. It pays to play.
~~ Special Award Recipients
~~
There
were multiple special award recipients that received acknowledgments for their
achievements made or earned over the course of the season. Some of these
special recognition awards were for off-track acknowledgments as well as
on-track. The drivers and/or individuals that received such honors included:
Johnny Kent: AmeriFlex
Hose and Accessories “Hard Charger of the Year”
Alex Sewell: Brodix
/ PM-PRO “OCRS Rookie of the Year”
Alex Sewell: D&P
Escort “Best Looking Car Award”
Casey Wills: “OCRS
Most Improved Driver”
Shayla Waddell: “OCRS
Perseverance Award”
Jamie Passmore:“OCRS
Sportsman of the Year Award”
Michael Bookout:“OCRS
Spirit of the Year Award”
Greg Boney &Kevin Fillingham: “Co-Mechanics of the Year”
~~ Rest Quickly Today As Tomorrow Is A Tick
Away ~~
The 2012 Oil Capital Racing
Series season has come and gone. The dirt-slinging warriors of the night will
rest until its time to wage battle once again. However, the rest will be short
as deep within their souls, they have an inner burn to return to the
battlegrounds where they are most at ease. They crave the challenge to be their
best, to defeat all comers that dare to defeat them. They crave to have the
warmth of adrenalin shoot up their veins when the vibration of shear horsepower
shakes and jostles at their very nerves as they sit strapped and bound to their
weapons of choice. Thus, rest must be quick, yet quantified for today, as
tomorrow’s battles are just a tick away.
The easy steady pace before
the wild and vigorous feature race / Mike Spivey Photo
www.ocrsracing.com
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