Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The NHRA West Central Division honored its Division Champions at its annual High & Mighty Awards Ceremony held at the Overland Park, Kansas Marriott on January 12th. Honored were the Lucas Oil Series Champions, Fineline/MADCAP Top Dragster and Jerry Haas Top Sportsman Champions, Summit Racing Series ET Champions, Long Motorsports Performance Transmissions Shootout Champion, Harley Davidson Sportsman Motorcycle Champion, Jr. Drag Racing Champions, the Taylor-Vertex High and Mighty Hall of Fame Inductee, as well as Special Awards recipients form the past racing season.
Among those being honored that night were father & son racing team Joe & Jeff Cunningham who were inducted into the High and Mighty Hall of Fame this year. Also taking home many honors throughout the evening were Phil Unruh taking home four separate awards Top Qualifier in Super Stock, Top Dragster Champion, Sportsman Driver of the Year, & the TEK Headers Top Points Earner Bonus. Chris Brown also took home Super Class Driver of the Year on top of his Super Comp Division Championship.
Sportsmanship Award
Monty & Cheryl Jones with Bobby Devine
Person of the Year
Mike Voss Dedication to the Sportsman Motorcycle Series for many years.
Lucas Oil National Champion
Bruno Massel Competition Eliminator
Summit ET Series National Champion
Tom Klemme Super Pro Motorcycle
Lucas Oil Divisional Champions
Gordon Gingles Top Alcohol Dragster
Kirk Williams Top Alcohol Funny Car
Bruno Massel Comp Eliminator
Justin Jenkins Super Stock
Nick Siebert Stock Eliminator
Chris Brown Super Comp
Kevin Moore Super Gas
Gary Stinnett Super Street
Kyle Olson Harley Davidson Sportsman Motorcycle
Phil Unruh MadCap Racing Engines & Fineline Graphics Top Dragster
Tom Schmidt Jerry Haas Racecars Top Sportsman Presented by Aeromotive
TEK Headers Bonus Winner
Phil Unruh
Summit Racing ET Racing Series Division Champions
Travis Smiley Super Pro
Steve Marquis Pro
John Dost II Sportsman
Tom Klemme Super Pro Bike
Brian Hurley High School
Summit Racing ET Racing Series Race of Champions Winners
Anthony Layne Super Pro
Josh Peterson Pro
Darrel Goheen Sportsman
Steve Klemme Super Pro Bike
Drew Beale - High School
Aeromotive Fuel Systems Serious Top Qualifiers
Pat Nahan Comp Eliminator
Phil Unruh Super Stock
Bob Johnson Stock Eliminator
Long Motorsports Super Shootout Champion
Jeremy Demers
Jr. Drag Racing League Division Champions
8 - 9 yr old Zachary Halverson
10-12 yr old Valerie Steffens
13-14 yr old Devin Isenhower
15-17 yr old Isaac Richter
Jr Drag Racing League Western Conference Champions
Jr. Comp Lerae Jacobs
Taylor-Vertex High & Mighty Hall of Fame Inductees
Joe & Jeff Cunningham (click to view slideshow & bio)
Special Awards
Lucas Oil Pro Sportsman Driver of the Year Randy Meyer
Lucas Oil Sportsman Driver of the Year Phil Unruh
Lucas Oil Super Class Driver of the Year Chris Brown
Summit Racing Equipment ET Driver of the Year Tom Klemme (not pictured)
Jerry Haas Pro Sportsman Mechanic of the Year Justin Jacobson
MADCAP Racing Engines Sportsman Mechanic of the Year Brad VanLant (not pictured)
Aeromotive Rookie of the Year Michael Brand II
Eagle Eye Photography Best Appearing Vehicle of the Year Kyle Olson