CAMARGO, IL (09-29-08) by Robert Cortum - Midwest All Star Series

The 2008 season for the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series has drawn to a close, and what an exciting season it was. Jerrod Hull returned to defend his 2007 title and made good on his bid to win back-to-back titles. A recipe of wins and consistent finishes kept Hull in the mix of the point’s battle all season long.

Piloting the Ozarc Gas Welding Supercenter machine, Hull took his first checkered flag at Quincy Raceways on June 1. In front of a near-capacity crowd and against some tough competition, Hull was capable of holding on to the point and take home the $2,000. The second win came at Montgomery County Speedway in New Florence, Missouri on June 21.

Ryan Bunton would battle Hull up to the final event at Quincy Raceways. Bunton in the Morton Collision Center Maxim would carry his win from West Tennessee Motor Speedway on July 18 and his consistent finishes to lead the charge to attempt to dethrone Hull. Leading the way with the most dash event wins on the season, Bunton also took home the title of the First Annual Tennessee Stampede Champion, an event that the series looks to continue and become a mainstay in schedules to come.

Miranda Throckmorton driving the M&W Aluminum Products sprinter turned a lot of heads in 2008. Throckmorton, in just her first full year of driving winged sprint cars would lead the way for the Rookie of the Year title. Miranda continued to show improvement throughout the season and began to hold her own against some tough competition down the wire.

Brad Greer, the 2007 Rookie of the Year titlist finished the season comfortable in the fourth overall position. Driving his Greer Farms machine, Brad would prove that he learned a lot from his previous season success. Always a tough competitor, Greer would pick up his first dash victory of his career while at West Plains Motorspeedway on September 20. Like Throckmorton, Greer had a busy year juggling school work, racing, and teenage life.

Completing the top 5 in 2008 was AJ Bruns of Lincoln, Illinois. Bruns drove the Bruns Service Center Eagle in 2008 winning his first series event at Thunderhill Raceway on July 19 as part of the Tennessee Stampede. Bruns consistently finished in the top 3 all season until he was called away from racing for a little over a month for work duties out of the country.

Rookie candidate Kody Kinser would finish the season in 6th place after taking home his first career victory at Mount Vernon Speedway on May 24th. Tiffany Wyzard had an up and down season as she completes the season in the 7 spot. Tyler “Top Gun” Thompson found his way to an 8th place finish on the season. In 9th place, Jimmy Hurley would complete his 2008 season with the Midwest All Stars while taking victory at Spoon River Speedway on June 20. Rounding out the top 10 was Paul May from Terre Haute, Indiana, who tackled and tamed the reconfigured Lawrenceburg Speedway on June 7.

Danny Smith would take home the most victories on the season against the “Best in the Midwest.” Smith would invade the series early and often to garner top place finishes. Danny took the season opener at Benton Race Park on April 11. The winning ways continued as Smith defended his 2007 win at Paragon Speedway on July 5. Smith’s additional 3 wins came late in the season as the series took on Bloomington Speedway on August 22, West Plains Motor Speedway on September 20, and Quincy Raceways on September 21.

With the 2008 season in the books as a success, the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series is looking forward to an equally successful 2009 campaign. The series is looking forward to continuing to work with the tracks, supporters, and teams to bring the best in Midwest sprint car racing to the hard working fans.




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