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Best 9 of '09: Best Drivers
9th - Kevin Leicht/Newport
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Newport isn't exactly a hot bed for breeding extreme competition, but on 3/10 mile high banked bullring, the track itself can be considered your stiffest competition. Kevin Leicht turned in a tremendous performance on the Newport, TN track as the former UARA winner was forced to race weekly due to the affects of the economy. He won eight races there and seized his biggest win of the season at Tri-County during the Firecracker 150, a mid-season special on the NASCAR sacntioned track.
8th - Marty Ward/Greenville Pickens
Marty Ward and Greenville Pickens Speedway are synonymous together, you can't talk about one in this era without mentioning the other. That didn't change in 2009 as Ward won 13 races on the flat half mile track, but fell short in his run at his sixth track championship after failing to pass post race inspection on atleast one occasion. Ward's place in Greenville's history is solified and his place in Late Model Stock Car racing history is as well, but this season despite having the second most wins, he can't be better than 8th best.
7th - Dexter Canipe, Jr./Tri-County
Easily the only rookie to make this list of "Best 9 Drivers of '09", Dexter Canipe, Jr. followed in his famous father's footsteps as he claimed seven wins and the track championship at Tri-County. He also collected two late season wins at Hickory after coming up short to Andy Mercer on many occasions. Canipe, whose father is a former NASCAR National Champion certainly showed that he's a chip off the ole' block and cemented his place among the Best Driver of the 2009 Late Model Stock Car season.
6th - Travis Swaim/Caraway
Caraway Speedway had fallen on hard times in recent seasons with ten car fields being on the high side, but when they raised their purse to $5,000 to win and ran 200-lap events this season the cars came. However it was former track champion, Travis Swaim, who stood up to all challengers in a challenging season on the 4/10 mile track. Swaim, who with his 2009 championship became a three-time LMSC track champion and also cemented himself in this list by winning the Tri-County season finale to take home the NASCAR North Carolina State Championship with six wins on the season.
5th - Brandon McReynolds/UARA
Brandon McReynolds didn't win any championships, in fact he didn't come close, but what he did do was face all adversity in the toughest competition possible in Late Model Stock Car racing. McReynolds started off the season strong, but handicapped with five blown engines in the first six races, but after that he scored more points and more wins than anyone on the UARA tour with three wins on the season. He also turned in a second place finish at Martinsville Speedway in the Bailey's 300 which was easily enough to place him among the seasons best.
4th - Philip Morris/Motor Mile
Philip Morris is easily the best Late Model Stock Car driver in the first decade of the 2000's, but in 2009 he wasn't himself, but of course most drivers would trade with him anyway. Morris won the Motor Mile Speedway championship with six wins on the 4/10 mile track and picked up an additional three wins at South Boston, the two most competitive weekly tracks in this region. Morris also picked up the NASCAR Whelen All-American National Title and Virginia State Title. However, he went on what was probably close to his longest win streak this decade at two months and that was the least wins he's had in recent years at nine.
3rd - Andy Mercer/Hickory
The "New King" of Hickory nearly became the "New King" of Late Model Stock Car racing, but he missed out on some key opportunities. Andy Mercer's reign over the historic Hickory, NC track borders on legendary with 14 wins this past season and the track championship, but it was his performances and ultimately finishes outside of the 3/8 mile speed plant that landed him third on this list instead of first. His 14 wins were the most by any driver this season, but failing to make Martinsville and failing to win any big races at his home track sealed his fate.
2nd - CE Falk/Langley Speedway
29 races with 12 wins and an average finish slightly under 3.0 is impressive to say the least. While Falk was dominant picking up 11 of those wins on his home track of Langley Speedway, the competition there isn't as noted as Motor Mile, South Boston or even the UARA. However, what helped really put the Langley track champion on this list was performances at South Boston, where he picked up his 12th win and a top five finish at Motor Mile. Falk's performances were incredible and it was a hard choice not make him the number one driver this season.
1st - Matt McCall/UARA-STARS
Matt McCall is within striking distance of Philip Morris and Jamey Caudill as the best drivers of the last decade in Late Model Stock Cars and this season was really no different. McCall picked up five wins this season, which pails in comparison to Mercer and Falk in numbers, but when you take into account that they were won on five completely different tracks. Bristol, Orange County, Lonesome Pine & Tri-County on the UARA tour and a NASCAR sanctioned big show, the Dwight Huffman Memorial at Hickory. Impressive wins dominating against the best competition in all of LMSC racing in the UARA and from last to first in the DHM race featuring over 40 of the best LMSC drivers in the region.
JUST MISSING THE LIST ...
These Guys are in no particular order:
~Roger Powell/Greenville Pickens Champ(5 Wins at Greenville[4] & Newport[1])
~Wayne Ramsey(4 Wins at South Boston[3] & Motor Mile[1])
~Jesse LeFevers(4 Wins at Hickory[2] & Tri-County[2])
~Alex Yontz(3 Wins at Caraway[2] & Myrtle Beach[1])
~Coleman Pressley(3 Wins at Hickory[2] & Concord[1])
~Dylan Presnell(3 Wins at Lonesome Pine[2] & Newport[1])
~Justin Johnson/South Boston Champ(3 Wins at South Boston[2] & Orange County[1])
~Jamey Caudill(2 Wins at Tri-County & Newport)
~Jake Crum(2 Wins at Lonesome Pine[1] & Martinsville[1])
~Jerame Donley(2 Wins at Caraway & Motor Mile)
~Paddy Rodenbeck(2 Wins at Concord & Hickory)
~Brent Brinson/Myrtle Beach Champ(9 Wins at Myrtle Beach)
~Speedy Faucette/Ace Champ(7 Wins at Ace)
~Rodney Cook(6 Wins at Ace)
~David Triplett, Jr./Orange County Champ(6 Wins at Orange County)
~Nick Smith(5 Wins at South Boston)