Chase Austin was recently ranked 2nd in the National Drivers Poll, Rookie of the Year standings. Austin received 1050 points, only 150 in arrears of Joey Kramer who took the title. The fourteen year old who hails from Eudora, Kansas, won four weekly features in his rookie season and finished 11th in Topless Outlaw Racing Association (TORA) points. He also received the TORA's "Most Improved Driver Award." Other accomplishments include winning the Future DIRT TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE, a companion event for teenagers at the famed DIRT TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP at Bluegrass Speedway in Kentucky.
The National Dirt Late Model Drivers Poll and it's Rookie of the Year award is an offshoot of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame (NDLMHOF). The voting board is made up of Motorsports media members and representatives from the manufacturing, sanctioning and promoting branches of the industry. Voting members listed their top choice for rookie of the year based on performance during the 2003 racing season. A points system was utilized to determine the top vote getters.
2003 NDLMHOF sponsors include: Arizona Sport Shirts, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Dirt America Online, DIRT LATE MODEL Magazine, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Dirt America Online, Fisher Race Engines, Florence Speedway, Dirt-Racers, OnTheEdge Graphics, Mastersbilt Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, J&J Steel, Lehman Motorsports Services and Dirtwearmall.com. Parties interested in becoming an official sponsor of the NDLMHOF or wishing to receive additional information about the organization should contact Bill Holder at "billholder@webtv.net."
Official standings, National Dirt Late Model Drivers Poll, 2003 Rookie of the Year:
1. JOEY KRAMER 1200
2. Chase Austin 1050
3. Tony Musolino 600
4. Ron Delano, Jr 450
5. Eri
c Smitley 300
6. Jeff Choquette 150
7. Mike Marlar 150
8. Tim McCreadie 150
9. Jody Prince 150
