BAKERSFIELD, California — This Saturday at the world renowned Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, the top teams of the 2010 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series will be honored. At the top of the honors list will be the 2010 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series champion, Jonathan Gomez. The Twin Falls, Idaho driver and his entire Heritage Cattle Company-Century Boatland team under the ownership of Bob Strandwold will be recognized on center stage. While on stage Gomez will be presented with a championship jacket presented by Hoosier Tire, his championship winnings and the 2010 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series Championship Cup. Additionally, Gomez’s crew chief Ron Copeland will be presented with the “Mo’sGold Championship Crew Chief Award”.
Gomez earned his championship title by putting together wins at Stockton 99 and Toyota Speedway; along with a string of eight top five finishes to close out the year with an average finish of 5.2. Gomez, in his first full season in the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series, had to fend off the challenges of three-time Southwest Tour champion Jim Pettit II to claim the title.
“I just want to thank everyone again for the opportunity they gave me this year, Bob Strandwold, my team and my sponsors; Century Boatland, Heritage Cattle, United Oil and my Dad for all he’s done,” stated the 2010 champ. “I’m just so thankful for the opportunity to be in a position to win a championship in a major series like the SRL. Ron (Copeland) and Craig (Raudman) did an excellent job preparing the car all year, with no mechanical failures all season which is what it took to win this championship against all these great teams in the SRL.”
At this Saturday’s SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series Championship Banquet, the top 20 drivers, the top 10 in the owner’s championship and the top drivers of SRL Legends Tour will all be honored, including 2010 Legends series champion Cale Kanke.
Jacob Gomes and Brennan Newberry will both be honored for their respective titles of “Victory Circle Chassis Rookie-of-the-Year” and the “K&N Young Guns” champion. Gomes beat out a rookie class of more than 15 drivers, the largest in series history. Gomes won the title by 15 points over runner up Ross Strmiska. Newberry won the “K&N Young Guns” title by accumulating the most points of all SRL drivers 23 years of age and younger in 2010.
Three special awards will be presented on Saturday: the “Jeff Anthony Spirit of 76”, the “Bob Elliff Award” and the “Ron’s Rear Ends Perseverance Award”. The “Jeff Anthony Spirit of 76” is presented in honor of the late Jeff Anthony, the 2002 SRL champion, awarded each year to an individual who has exemplified unparalleled support and commitment to the sport within the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series. The “Bob Elliff Award” is presented in honor of SRL Chaplain Bob Elliff who lost his battle with cancer in 2009. Bob’s presence at the racetrack made the SRL a “better place” and with that distinction, the award is presented annually in his name. The “Ron’s Rear Ends Perseverance Award” will be presented to a team or driver who showed the spirit of pure determination in the face of adversity during the race season.
The SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series will be celebrating its 10th season at this weekend’s banquet, with more than 200 people in attendance.
