DAYTONA BEACH, FL – The wait is over, the results have been tabulated and a phone call was made. That call was from American Speed Association President Dennis Huth to Cary Stapp of San Marcos, TX that he is the 2008 Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Champion.
“You are kidding me,” Stapp stated when Huth informed the 32-year-old competitor from Thunderhill Raceway located in Kyle, TX. “I have been waiting for this call since Saturday night. I knew what Linny White did and I got a little nervous that he may have passed me. I still don’t believe this. I was sitting here working just waiting for the phone call and now I am pacing just wondering what I am going to do.”
Stapp had a good reason to be concerned as he had a final point average of 5.1794 to White’s 5.0947.
Stapp ended his 2008 championship run on a high note this past Saturday night as he won the 50-lap feature making it his eighth feature win and 15th top-five finish for the season in the ASA A-Line Super Stock division at Thunderhill.
Linny White, the Highland, CA driver who competes at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, CA, did everything he could to overtake Stapp in the championship race as he took home a win and a second place finish in their twin 50-lap feature events this past Saturday night. He also set a new track record in qualifying as well.
White started shotgun on the field in both feature events to attempt to overtake Stapp in the overall standings, but came up short.
The last few days haven’t been easy for Stapp as he was hoping to get the phone call. The 32-year-old electrician considers racing as a hobby and never thought he would get an opportunity like the ASA Member Track Championship will give him. That chance being a tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing.
“This is a once in a lifetime chance,” Stapp stated as he was pacing back and forth at a job site. “I never thought that I would get to do something like this. Just being a local Texas guy, I never thought I would get a chance to show my talents to Joe Gibbs and his team.”
“On behalf of Joe Gibbs Racing, we would like to congratulate Cary Stapp on being the first Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track champion,” JD Gibbs, Team President of Joe Gibbs Racing stated. “We are very proud to sponsor this season long event and look forward to giving Cary a chance to get behind the wheel of a Joe Gibbs Toyota and make the most of the opportunity.”
Circle Track Magazine will follow the new champion around during his tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing and do a “Day in the Life of” feature story in an upcoming issue.
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