GARDNER HEADLINES WESTERN AWARDS BANQUET

Damion Gardner, the 2014 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Champion, led a procession of USAC Champions and other special award recipients who were honored at Saturday night’s annual USAC Western Awards Banquet in Paso Robles. Calif.

Emceed by Chris Kearns with a special address by long-time USAC supporter Ed Justice, Jr. of Justice Brothers, the ceremony played out before an audience at the Woodland Auto Display at the Estrella Warbirds Museum.

Gardner, of Concord, Calif., repeated his 2013 USAC/CRA laurels and was joined by 2014 USAC Champions Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda, Calif. (West Coast Sprints), Ryan Bernal of Hollister, Calif. (Western Classic Sprints), Ronnie Gardner of Norco, Calif., (Honda Western Midgets), Chad Nichols of Colma, Calif. (Honda Western Pavement Midgets), Shawn Buckley of Simi Valley, Calif. (HPD Midgets) and Ashley Hazelton of Chatsworth, Calif. (HPD Dirt Midgets).

Rookie of the Year honors went to Logan Williams of Yorba Linda, Calif. (CRA Sprints), Trent Carter of Terre Bella, Calif. and Garrett Long of Porterville, Calif. (West Coast Sprints). Trevor Schmid of Stockton, Calif. (Western Classic Sprints), Jarid Blondel of Orange Calif. (Honda Western Midgets) and Joel Rayborne of West Covina, Calif. (HPD Midgets).

USAC prestigious “Race Organizer of the Year" award went to Kevin Montgomery.

Special awards were also presented to: John C. Anderson (the Bruce Bromme Mechanic of the Year), Jake Swanson of Anaheim, Calif. (Most Improved Driver of the Year), Julie Tanaka and Lance Jennings (the Evelyn Pratt Award), Damion Gardner (the Wilkerson Award) and Chad Nichols (the Joe Lynch Award).