40th anniversay Don Gramlick Christmas Race.
Jayson Hanks won the 40th anniversary
Don Gramlick Christmas Race saturday night at ProRail Speedway in Central City, IL.
It was Jaysons first win of the year.
The 100 lap feature event for Late Model Stock cars, began with Ed Holtz needing a win for a shot at the Driver Championship. Ed ran into trouble early crashing while leading on lap 7 and pulled out on lap 26 finishing 6th.
Rick Fair crashed out on lap 67 leaving this years Rookie of the year Blake Sabo, and defending champ Scott Hanks as the only cars left on the lead lap with Jayson.
J. Hanks would crash on lap 72, to go one lap down, but a caution brought out by 06' Rookie of the Year, JT Worley, while Jayson was ahead of the leaders, allowed Hanks to get back on the lead lap.
The next 12 laps were side by side between the 3 leaders before wrecks from Sabo on laps 90 and 92.
Scott was able to get around Jayson and lead with 4 to go but Jayson regained the lead with a pass and held on at the line.
Jayson #24 Dupont finsihed the season 3rd in points.
Ed Holtz came into the last race of 09 with 21 wins, already breaking Gary Boyds 2007 mark of 20 season wins.
Ed added to his total, by winning the Sportsman, Late Model Sportsman and Indy Features.
Ed now has 40 career UTAC wins, good for 7th on the alltime list.
Holtz won the Driver and Owner Championships in Sportsman, Late Model Sportsman and Modified this year.
With one race to go in the Indy car Championship
it couldnt get any closer. Eric Holtz lead Scott Hanks by 5 points in the Owner Points and by a 2nd place finish in the Driver Standings.
The final 26 laps of the feature were run under green. Ed Holtz had built a comfortable lead with Hanks running 2nd and Eric 3rd, if it finished like that, Eric would win the Driver Championship by a 6th place finish and the two would tie for the Owner Points, but with 2 to go, Hanks caught Ed for the lead only to crash out of turn 4 on the last lap finishing 3rd.
Eric won the Driver Championship with just 2 wins and the Owner Points by just 10 points. 4 drivers finished the season with 2 wins.