By Charlie Brown, Dover, DE – Drag racers and fans returned to the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino on Friday night to celebrate the 47^th consecutive season of racing at the U.S. 13 Dragway.  Sterling Clough of Marion, Md. demonstrated that after four decades of racing he still has what it takes as he earned his 11^th point championship in Super Pro. Dover, Delaware’s Roger Ridgeway, Jr. drove to his first track championship in Pro and James Farmer of Felton, Del. added his fourth championship in Pro Bike. Other champions honored were Crystal Hudson of Millsboro, Del. who posted her third consecutive title in Street Eliminator, Paul Riddle, Jr. of Millsboro in Jr. Dragster 1 and Shelby Bireley of Salisbury, Md. in Jr. Dragster II.

            The Super Pro division had its most competitive season with a record 18 different drivers taking final round wins. Sterling Clough got his only final round win in August but his consistent presence in the final rounds earned him an amazing 11^th point championship with a total of 823 points.

            Receiving awards for finishing in positions second through tenth were: Mike Jones (797); Danny Bastianelli (785); Frank Lecates (730); David Tucker (699) WR Ketterman (685); Carlton Mason (616); Lewis Jones (615); Bobby Insley (594); and Clayton Byerly (582). Rounding out the award recipients in positions 11^th through 19^th were: Daryl Beauchamp (565); Mike Hooper (538); Ben Parks (537); Don Teague (535); Mary Passwaters (529); Jerry Russell (526); Mike Larkin (521); Chris Wigfall (513) and Vic Gordy (500). Trophies were presented by Pepsi Bottling Ventures.

            Rodger Ridgeway, Jr. drove his Mustang to the 2009 Pro championship. Ridgeway, who finished fifth in points last season, posted three wins during the season to earn his first championship with 1074 points. Veteran Jesse Truitt finished second with 1034 and Glenn Groton was third with 927. Fourth through tenth were last year’s champion Jim Williams (877), Vincent Wade who also won the King of the Track (824), Phillip Truitt (789), Jesse Long (776), Ryan Groton (740), David Hornsby (683), and Steven Truitt (682). Awards for positions 11 through 19 went to Tim Foskey, Jr. (646), Charles Moore (643), Ernie Fisher (642), Steve Long (598), Ben Garnett (561), Buddy Layfield (520), Doug Sylvester (517), Frank Parks (512) and Eric Fairbee (497). Trophies were presented by The Cheswold Connection.

            The top six in Pro Bike were honored with James Farmer dominating the division with 10 wins on the year. It was Farmer’s fourth point crown in the division and he earned 911 points.  Doug Thomas finished a solid second with 703 points and Sean Tilghman finished third with 573. Fourth through sixth were D.J. Lockwood (525), John Bartkovich (455) and Charles Nock (441). Trophies were presented by Insinger Performance, Inc

            Crystal Hudson was on top of her game for the third straight year in Street Eliminator. Hudson recorded four wins and 1145 points in her “three-peat”. Second went to Andy Davenport with 788 points and Sean McEntegert finished third with 725. Fourth through sixth were Chelsea Williams (649), Holly Passwaters (616) and Brian Riebert, Jr. (612). Trophies were presented by Insinger Performance, Inc.

            Third generation driver, Paul Riddle, Jr. was runner-up last season but this year he had three final round wins including back to back wins to earn 748 points and his first point championship. Riddle also won a friendly game of chance among all 2009 champions and received a diamond necklace. Kody Mariner finished in the second spot with 653 points and Herby Sullivan came on strong in the later part of the season to finish in third with 588. Fourth went to Jerel Davis with 561 points and Ryan Jackson rounded out the top five with 507. Sixth through tenth were Katelyn Muir (467), Taylor Cox (380), Timothy (T.J) Williams (374), Sydney Larkin (371) and Alexis Truitt (343), Trophies were presented by C&P Service Center.

            Last year’s Jr. 1 champion. Shelby Bireley posted her first championship in Jr. Dragster 2. Shelby drove to five final round wins and earned 668 points.  Rounding out the top ten were Chris Kahler (524), Rebecca Bireley (508), Cortney Cathell (454), Susan Lecates (439), Ashley Parsons (437), Amy Jo Jackson (416), Trevor Post (320), Brandon Layfield (297) and Taylor Pavone (193). Trophies were presented by C&P Service Center.

            Dustin Lecates was also honored for being the High School Eliminator.

            The point fund for 2009 was largely due to the following sponsors: Delmar Pizza, Brownie’s Package Store, Delmarva NAPA, R.C. Holloway Company, Goodyear & Competition Tire East, NuCar Connection, Pepsi of Delmarva, Harley Davidson of Seaford, Insinger Performance, Inc, L&D Suzuki, C&P Service Center, the Cheswold Connection and the NHRA Summit Racing Series. All champions received their championship jackets and “gold cards” that give them free admission during the season. ”

            A special service award was presented to Allen Jones for 10 years of service.

            A memorial tribute was paid to Pro racer Andre Blades who died unexpectedly last week. Blades, who was originally from Crisfield, Md. and was now living in Fruitland, Md., had won the last Pro event of the season. He will be deeply missed.