WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – DIRTcar Northeast presented Rookie of the Year awards to four up and coming driving drivers competing on the Northeast’s premier race tracks against elite competition this year.
The Rookie of the Year awards are made possible by Norm Dunn and Number One Speed/Motorsports Safety Systems.
Robbie Johnston, from Ransomville, N.Y., challenged some of the best DIRTcar big-block modified drivers there are at the appropriately named Land of Legends Raceway. Johnston had to contend with a lot of muscle every Saturday including Super DIRTcar Series drivers like track champion Larry Wight, local hero Justin Haers, Jimmy Phelps, and many more.
The 19-year-old rookie finished 18th in track points at the historic Canandaigua, N.Y., oval. Johnston kept his program rolling for the postseason and attempted to qualify for the hotly contested DIRTcar OktoberFAST presented by DIRTVision Features. He hung tough throughout the week tallying Last Chance Showdown finishes of 11th, 11th, fifth and 10th at Fulton Speedway, Can-Am Speedway, Land of Legends Raceway and Weedsport Speedway respectively.
His tenacity is rewarded with the $1,000 DIRTcar Big Block Modified Rookie of the Year title.
DIRTcar 358 Modified driver Corey Cormier had a monster year at new-to-DIRTcar Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y. The Middletown, N.Y., driver of the black No. 20 DIRTcar 358 Modified captured his first checkered flag at Thunder Mountain in early June. He went on to finish the season with one win, seven top fives, and 10 top 10s.
The young driver finished an fifth in points at Thunder Mountain who also found a way to live stream their Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship action via SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Dirt Track Digest TV. Cormier made two showings in 358 competition during OktoberFAST finishing fifth at Can-Am in the Last Chance Showdown and thirteenth in the Last Chance Showdown at Fulton Speedway.
Matt Meade also contested the new DIRTcar Racing Thunder Mountain facility. He wheeled his DIRTcar Sportsman Modified to one win and a fifth-place finish in points. Meade receives $500 for his excellent rookie season.
The DIRTcar Pro Stock Rookie of the Year is Canadian phenom Bruno Richard from Outaouais, Quebec. Richard took his No. 72 Pro Stock to an incredible four feature wins split between Autodrome Granby and Cornwall Motor Speedway. Richard picks up $250 for next year’s race season.