NASCAR future stars get to show their stuff
With the 2009 race season rapidly coming to a close, Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle Development drivers Jessica Brunelli, Bobby Grewohl, Jace Meier and Benny Moon recently got the rare opportunity to meet, interview and test a full day in front of leading NASCAR Sprint Cup and ARCA teams.
As part of a Driver Talent Combine, the foursome each got behind the wheel of a 650 horsepower, 3300 pound USAR Pro Cup Car (formerly called Hooters Pro Cup cars) owned and operated by NASCAR Nationwide & USAR Pro Cup squad Mac Hill Motorsports. The drivers tested in front of top NASCAR and ARCA teams at the famed 0.455-mile Caraway Speedway oval in North Carolina.
Under the watchful eye of Ron Sutton, NASCAR and ARCA team representatives, Brunelli, Grewohl, Meier and Moon each took to the track four times for 16-lap runs. Working with the crews to tune the cars – which are similar to a top tier NASCAR car with a truck arm suspension. The RSWC standouts not only impressed those on hand with their outright speed, but their consistency, communication skills and professionalism. At the end of the day’s activities, three of the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle drivers topped the timesheets of drivers participating.
“Each of our Drivers represented themselves well here today," commented Ron Sutton. “This is what these drivers have been working towards … getting their shot to show their talent and skills in front of top NASCAR Cup and ARCA teams. The teams spent 6-7 hours with the drivers today … evaluating their talent and their character … and were impressed with what they saw."
The 16 year-old Brunelli, the youngest and only female in this combine, entered the evaluation test following a successful season in NASCAR Grand American Modified competition driving for Nascimento Motorsports. The Hayward, California native, who is in her second year with the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle program, was a front runner in USAC Ford Focus Midget competition last year, having previously earned the 2007 Rookie of the Year award in Skip Barber Regional competition and been a two-time IKF Region 11 Regional Karting champion.
Grewohl, of Hollister, California, returned to the driver’s seat, having contested selected USAC Midget and NASCAR Modified races this past season with Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle race teams. The 23 year-old, won three consecutive USAC Midget Wins and scored a big NASCAR Open Late Model win in 2008, captured three NASCAR Late Model wins in 2007, earned two USAC Western States Midget Series wins in 2006, won the 2005 SCCA Western States Championship Formula Continental race, started on pole in his inaugural USAC Ford Focus Midget race in 2004, and captured both the SCCA Western States Formula Ford regional title with six wins and the Jim Russell 125cc Shifter Series kart title in 2003.
The 20 year-old Meier traveled to Caraway Speedway after racing select races in NASCAR Modifieds in 2009. The fourth year Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle development driver from Las Vegas, Nevada captured the pole position in his only NASCAR Late Model start of 2008, was the 2007 Auto Club Late Model Series runner-up and Rookie of the Year at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, earned the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway NASCAR Late Model Rookie of the Year award in 2006, won three USAC Ford Focus Midget races 2005-2006, earned the 2004 Rookie of the Year award in the Legends Semi-Pro division at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and was a multiple Rotax Junior Champion in 2003.
Moon, of Sacramento, California got behind the wheel of the USAR Pro Cup car following a season of selected races in NASCAR Modifieds in 2009. The 24 year-old, who has been part of the RSWC program for the past four years, scored a NASCAR Late Model pole position in 2008, won two NASCAR Late Model races in 2007, secured two NASCAR Late Model pole positions in 2006, captured three USAC Ford Focus Midget wins in 2005, including Turkey Night, won four times in the 2004 Skip Barber Formula Dodge championship, captured one Skip Barber Formula Dodge victory in 2003, and was a SKUSA Pro Moto race winner in 2002.