PITTSBURG, California — The driver entry deadline is fast approaching for the 2009 DMS Driver Challenge, which will be held March 2-6 at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif.
The DMS Driver Challenge showcases the top young racing talent in a USAC National Midget in-front of influential industry insiders. The DMS Driver Challenge entrants will each get approx 45 laps at speed around the one-third mile asphalt oval.
Driver coaches include USAC Triple Crown champion Jerry Coons, Jr., Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing driver Bryan Clauson, and USAC driver Shane Hmeil.
Industry insiders who will be a part of the program include Lorin Ranier and Kirk Spridgeon from Motorsports Management International, along with Bryan Clauson Inc.¡¦s Tim Clauson.
Selected driver(s) will be presented with a contract to drive in select USAC Western and National Midget races for DMS.
As of February 6th the challenge has attracted a star-studded field of 36 drivers.
Headlining the roster is a highly-talented batch of drivers with resumes in the United States Auto Club.
Among the talent from USAC includes 2008 Western Sprint and 2007 Ford Focus Carolina champion Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif., 2008 Ford Focus California Pavement champion Ian Miille, 2008 Ford Focus National champion Alex Bowman, 2008 Western Sprint Rookie of the Year Porter Smith, and 2007 Western Midget Rookie of the Year Quintin Crye.
The Midwest will be highly represented in the driver challenge. Princeton, IN¡¦s Kyle Cummins, the 2008 MSCS Sprint champion leads the way.
Two-time UMRA runner-up David Byrne will be joined by Illinois driver Zach Daum who recorded two Midget wins in 2008. Shelbyville, IN¡¦s Adam Kramer was selected for the challenge on the strength of three Wolverine Midget wins.
Todd Kirkman from Kokomo, IN comes into the challenge with an impressive 18 Micro Sprint wins throughout the Midwest. Jordan Pennington from Mishawaka, IN had a pair of USAC Ford Focus wins to his credit last season.
Winged racing is represented by five-time Alaska champion Cameron McGahan and 2008 ASCS Rebel Region Rookie of the Year Samantha Taylor of Indianapolis.
From the Pacific Northwest, the challenge will welcome Ridgefield, WA¡¦s Paul Zimmerly who had a feature win in 2008, along with Dallas Melby from Ravensdale who picked up two wins.
Kellen Chadwick from Oakley, Calif. represents the dirt stockcar ranks, and had seven feature wins in 2007. From asphalt stockcar racing, Michael Newland of Roseville, Calif. was the Modified Rookie of the Year at All American Speedway.
Other California drivers represented in the combine include Matt Land of Elk Grove who had two Capital City Midget wins, Alex Schuette of Redding who recorded five SCCA Formula Ford wins, and cousins Jake and Cody Swanson. Jake was the 2008 PRA Jr. Ford Focus champion for Southern Calif. Jonathan Henry of Stockton recorded one feature win in the non-wing 360 class at Ventura Raceway.
Brett Miller of Chico put together a win in the 410 sprints at Silver Dollar Speeway and Alamo¡¦s Scott Pierovich won a USAC Western Sprint feature in 2008.
New Jersey¡¦s Nick Wean has also joined the challenge on the strength of a feature win in the ARDC Midgets.
Pennsylvania standout Ryan Smith won 15 features in 2008 running a wide-variety of open-wheel series on dirt.
Rounding out the roster of highly qualified drivers is Cale Bashing, Kyle Dickerson, Logan Hupp, Joe Liguori, Justin Melton, Levi Roberts, Kenzie Ruston, Christian Stover, James Sweeney, and Kevin Thomas, Jr.
To learn more about this exciting driver challenge, visit www.dmsdriverchallenge.com The entry deadline is approaching and spaces are filling quickly.
