Johnson Edges Falk For Commonwealth Crown … Justin Johnson successfully defended his Late Model championship at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. In the process, he achieved another goal. The 23-year-old from Durham, N.C., edged CE Falk, 724-720, to win his first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Virginia championship. Johnson, who finished fourth in the national standings, joined drivers such as Ned Jarrett, Wendell Scott, Neil Bonnett, Ray Hendrick, Richie Evans, Geoff Bodine and Philip Morris as Virginia champions. Pepper Martin won the first Virginia championship in 1952.
Close Battles Determine State Championships … Johnson was one of two state champions to win by just four points, the smallest margin among the 2010 champions. Pat Doar of Wisconsin also won the state title by just four points. Mike Rowe (Maine) and Ronnie Hults (Colorado) won by five points and Donald Maheffey Jr. (Ohio) won by six.
Mahder Nations Top Rookie … Craig Mahder, a 25-year-old from Eau Claire, Wisc., earned the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national Rookie of the Year Award presented by Jostens. In his first year racing Division I, Mahder had six wins and 13 top fives in 19 starts. He won the Impact Printing Late Model Division at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisc., and finished 16th in the nation.
Three Times The Charm For Rocco, Ward, Bozell and Reuvers … Keith Rocco, Marty Ward (South Carolina), Andy Bozell (Michigan) and Donny Reuvers (Minnesota) each claimed their third state titles in 2010. Rowe and John Fortin (New York) will be recognized for their second straight titles. Twenty-five U.S. state and Canadian provincial champions that will be recognized at the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards Banquet.
Henderson Makes Her Mark … Sloan Henderson won at Columbus Motor Speedway in July, on her 18th birthday, to become the first female to win a Late Model feature at the 62-year-old Ohio track. Henderson finished 97th in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series top 500 standings and will be honored in Charlotte with the Wendell Scott. Trailblazer Award.
Morris Finishes Strong … Despite seven wins and finishing seventh in the nation, Virginia’s Philip Morris considered 2010 a down year. The three-time national champion, however, finished strong as he captured the postseason Late Model extra-distance features at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and South Boston. It was Morris’ second win at Martinsville, with the other coming in 2000.
Four Tracks Join Series For 2011 … Since the conclusion of the season, NASCAR announced four more tracks will join the series next season: Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio; Kingsport (Tenn.) Speedway; Reno-Fernley Raceway in Nevada; and Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, Texas.
Learner's Permit License … NASCAR announced in 2010 a new license category to allow drivers under 16 to gain experience in entry-level divisions. The result was track records for the youngest feature winners fell at many tracks as the young drivers made their mark almost immediately.
