Outstanding Achievement

These next awards have been put in place to recognize outstanding achievements or accomplishment throughout the past season.  Tonight three individuals will be receiving these awards.

The second “Outstanding Achievement” is being awarded to one of the sport’s true good guys, who just loves to race and always has a smile on his face.

This driver’s accomplishments along with our first Outstanding Achievement Award recipient may have been the season’s two biggest surprises.

The Ohio racer got his start with his 360 Sprint at Mercer and Tri-City Speedways back in the mid 90s.  Years later he became one of the Buckeye State’s top 360s winning multiple titles at Wayne County Speedway along with a big $5,000 payday at the Orrville oval.

When Mercer adopted its 360 program, the North Benton racer would always come to Mercer any chance he got.  When Wayne County then dropped the 360, “the cow car” became even more of a regular at Mercer.

In 2004 with his 360, he nearly won a 410 feature before being passed late in the race and a flat tire cost him a second or third place finish.  He did have 5 top 10s in 8 starts and also finished in a tie for 4^th in the 360 standings.

This past season, Doug Stanley mounted a 410 between the frame rails for the first time in his career.  He was rewarded with a stellar season finishing runner-up in points to veteran Rod George. 

Though he had 6 less top 5s than Rod George, he still had more than any other competitor with 8.     

His moment of glory came on July 23.  Hesitantly he took off the wings and attempted to make his first wingless start.  In the heat race, he was impressive as he got more comfortable each and every lap and passed the most cars coming from 6^th to 2^nd.  

He drew the number 2 pill and led all but the first lap holding off Rod George for the victory.  The $2,000 win marked a number of firsts- first 410 win, first wingless win, and first Mercer win.

Doug, we wanted to recognize your 2005 accomplishments with our second Outstanding Achievement Award.

Doug…