This is a LONG read from the website racestud BUT..Its the news I have had to keep secret!!! MY SON Travis Creech WON Western PA Rookie of the year and will be presented the award opening night at Sharon Speedway!! He so deserved this!!! Thats my baby and I am so proud!!!! RHOADES AND CREECH TO SHARE WESTERN PA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Butler, PA, March 15, 2014....For only the second time in the 45 year history of the award, two drivers have tied in the balloting for the annual Western PA Rookie of the Year honor. Ballots were sent out to over 80 members of the media and track officials in the western Pennsylvania area and when all were tallied up, Ty Rhoades of Guys Mills, PA and Travis Creech of Niles, Ohio were tied for the award. And it was even closer than that as the third driver in the balloting, Jerod Brougher of Mt. Pleasant, was only a single vote behind the winning pair. Down the line the voting was the closest ever in the long history of the award with a tie for fourth between Joey Zambotti of Kittanning, and Cody Hummel of Morrisdale, only three votes back. Of the 14 drivers nominated for the award, two others, Makayla Guidance of Mercer and Matt Eckman of Osterburg had significant number of votes. The only other tie in the history of the award was in 1995 when Wayne Tessean and Rusty Whitmore polled the same number of votes from the panel. Not only was a tie for the award not expected, the amazing thing is that both winning drivers race weekly at the same track, the Sharon Speedway just across the Ohio border, but named for the western PA city. The two drivers raced in two different classes, so never were on the track together. Creech raced in the Mini-stock class for four-cylinder cars while Rhoads ran in the more advanced Econo-Mod class for open wheel racers with V-8 engines. Creech in his yellow No. 75t car won six races out of the 20 run and the track point championship. Rhoades never won, but had nine top five finishes and finished third in points against more experienced drivers in higher powered race cars. The 23 year old Rhoades is a second generation driver whose father Tim Rhoades raced for many years in the Late Model and limited Late Model classes in western Pennsylvania. The elder Rhoades is both the car owner and crew chief of the Econo-Mod No. 12R car which was powered by a 350 Chevy engine. Crew members include Sam & Steve Henry, Ron, Shawn and J.R. Rhoades and A. J Foriska. Helping out sponsor wise on the orange and white racer were Trace Lawn and Landscaping, Village Auto, AMP Electric, Borderline Towing, Anchor Beer Distributor, 955 Automotive and Froggys Lawn Care. Rhoades is employed by Moody and Associates, Inc. in Meadville, PA as a Geologic Technician. The Rhoades car was built in 2008 by Bob Pierce Race Cars in Illinois, a well respected car builder in the sport. Creech is just a bit older at 26 years of age, but had a car that had already seen its share of victories at the Sharon race track. The 1998 Dodge Neon was the top point car at Sharon in 2010 with Michael Scharaba behind the wheel before Creech bought the car. In addition to six wins, Creech had eight runner-ups and third place finishes for 14 times in the top three in Sharons 20 races for the class. Creech is a tow truck driver, employed by Mays Towing, which is also one of his sponsors along with Elite Auto Sales and Coleman Auto Sales. The crew chief on Creechs winning car is 18 year old Tyler Harrell with additional help from Tim Deutsch and Dave Bass. Creech will be a busy guy in the coming 2014 season as in addition to his Mini-stock, he will also race in the E-Mod class with the Jim White owned No. 53 car, which he has helped crew in the past. The annual Western PA Rookie of the Year award was originated in 1968 by Western Pa writer/announcer Walt Wimer. Over the past 44 years some of the winners have been very successful in western Pennsylvania racing and a couple have even gone on to be nationally known such as the Blaney brothers from just across the border in Ohio. Dave Blaney won the Rookie award in 1981 then went on to win the World of Outlaws Sprint Car championship in 1995, before spending the past decade plus running nationally in the top NASCAR circuit. Brother Dale won the award in 1990 and since then has won three All Star Circuit of Championships Sprint car titles including 2013. Second generation driver Ed Lynch, Jr. won the award in 1983 and later became the all time top Sprint Car winner at the Lernerville Speedway and beating the nationally known World of Outlaws drivers in the 2002 Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup race at the track. Other well known area drivers who won the award include Dave Murdick, Kevin Bolland. Bob Felmlee and current Late Model star Jared Miley.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 20:44:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015