SACRAMENTO, California — A total of seven drivers from the 2008 Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle program excelled, and have been retained by the renowned driver development program this season. With continued support from Lucas Oil, K & N Filters and Sunoco Race Fuels, Jessica Brunelli, Bobby Grewohl, Jace Meier, Benny Moon, Jimmy Moon, Jeff Oleen and Nick Romano will be back with Sutton’s development program to compete in a variety of oval racing series in 2009.
As part of the 2009 Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle program, which is designed to identify and develop the future stars of NASCAR via a long term comprehensive racing system, seven drivers from last year’s program will unite with the recently-selected 11 new drivers from RSWC Shootout when they get behind the wheel of RSWC or alliance team car in 2009. In their continued pursuit of a career in NASCAR, the seven program returnees will race in one of six race categories this coming season (USAC Ford Focus Midget, USAC Midget, NASCAR Grand American Modified, NASCAR Late Model, NASCAR Super Late Model and ARCA).
Brunelli, a native of Hayward, Calif., will part of the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle once again in 2009, after first joining the prestigious program last year. In her first season competing under the RSWC banner, she raced a USAC Ford Focus Midget, becoming the youngest driver to capture a pole position in series history (Irwindale Speedway). Prior to joining the RSWC program, the Californian was the 2007 Skip Barber Western Regional Rookie of the Year and a two-time IKF regional karting champion. The 16 year-old will pilot a NASCAR Grand America Modified in 2009.
In 2009, Grewohl renews his association with the RSWC for an eighth season. The Hollister, Calif., was a regular visitor to victory lane last year, winning one NASCAR Late Model race and three of four USAC Midget races. Grewohl previously won three NASCAR Late Model races in his 2007 class debut, won two USAC Midget races in 2006, scored the win in his SCCA Formula Continental debut in 2005, and captured the pole position in both his 2004 SCCA Formula Ford and USAC Midget debuts. The
22 year-old Grewohl is scheduled to race an USAC Midget this coming season.
A resident of Las Vegas, Nev., Meier will be part of the RSWC program for a fifth season in 2009. For the past two years, the 20 year-old has competed in a variety of Late Model series, winning two main events (Irwindale Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway), three pole positions and the Rookie of the Year award at Irwindale Speedway. Meier, a former championship-winning karter in the Rotax class, previously earned the NASCAR Late Model Rookie of the Year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring in 2006, won four USAC Ford Focus Midget class in 2005-06, and was awarded the Legends Semi-Pro Rookie of the Year in 2004, This coming season, Meier will race a NASCAR Super Late Model.
Benny Moon rejoins the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s circle program for a fifth year this coming season. Last year, the Sacramento, Calif., resident raced a NASCAR Late Model, earning one pole position. Over the course of the past two years, Benny Moon scored two wins and three pole positions in NASCAR Late Model stock car competition. The now 24 year-old made his oval racing debut in 2005, winning three USAC Ford Focus Midget races, including the famous Turkey Night event. Having previously won four races in Skip Barber National Racing competition and multiple karting championships. Moon is testing an ARCA stock car in 2009.
The 2009 race season will mark the third year Jimmy Moon is associated with the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle. Last year, the Shingle Springs, Calif., driver began racing on ovals, getting behind the wheel of USAC Junior Ford Focus Midget. The 16 year-old former race-winning karter first began racing cars in 2006, with the highlight being four wins in the Skip Barber Western Region series. Jimmy Moon will race a USAC Ford Focus Midget this coming season.
Oleen rejoins the RSWC in 2009 after a success first season in the program last year. The Bethesda, Md., race pilot, in his inaugural season of oval racing, scored one main and six heat race wins in the
2008 USAC Ford Focus Midget competition. Prior to making the switch to ovals, the now 19 year-old was a multiple World Karting Association race winner and a race winner in both Skip Barber National and Regional competition. Oleen is scheduled to drive a USAC Ford Focus Midget in 2009.
The 18 year-old Romano will be part of the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle program for a second consecutive year in 2009. In his first season in the driver development program, the Atherton, Calif., native won six SCCA Regional races in the Formula Ford class en route to the capturing the San Francisco Region championship title and Rookie of the Year award. Romano, previously won the 2006 600 Micro Sprints Rookie of the Year award at Delta Speedway, as well as the 2005 and 2004 Baylands Quarter Midget Racing Association Heavy 160 class titles. In 2009, Romano will pilot a USAC Ford Focus Midget.
Additional information on the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle can be obtained from the program website @ www.winners-circle-racing.com. For direct contact, please contact Ron Sutton at ron@winners-circle-racing.com
About Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle:
Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle is an established talent scout and development program, providing long term, comprehensive racing and career development for up and coming drivers focused on NASCAR careers.
RSWC drivers are raced, coached, groomed, trained and molded, within a professional racing environment, into what top pro teams look for when hiring drivers. Drivers involved in the program race in a variety of cars, including USAC Junior Ford Focus Midgets, USAC Ford Focus Midgets, USAC Midgets, USAC Sprint cars, Skip Barber Race Series, SCCA Regional & National Formula Ford and F2000, NASCAR Grand American Modifieds, NASCAR Late Model stock cars and NASCAR Grand National stock cars.
