Knoxville, TN (1/17/11) The 2010 Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series Awards were handed out on Saturday night January 15th at Ramsey’s in Knoxville, with over $25,000 in cash and prizes distributed among the top five in 2010 final standings.

Veteran Chattanooga (TN) driver Ronnie Johnson, who topped sixty-plus career wins in 2010 on the twenty-eight year old touring series, was the latest driver to be inducted into the Southern All Stars Hall of Fame. “Well I guess anytime you’re inducted into a Hall of Fame it means you’ve been around a long time” Johnson joked. “But in all seriousness I am truly honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and just thankful that I’ve been able to do this for so long and hopefully I can keep it up for a few more years” added Johnson.

Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN, who was honored for his second straight series title with a big championship trophy and a check for $10,000, dedicated his 2010 championship to the late Calvin Cheek, a long-time supporter of his racing career who fielded cars for Weaver among other drivers for several years dating back to the 1980s. Cheek, former promoter of Crossville Raceway in Tennessee, passed away early in 2010 just a few months after being inducted into the East Tennessee Dirt Racing Hall of Fame.

In capturing the 2010 title, Weaver earned thirteen top ten finishes, eight top fives, two feature wins and a couple of poles en-route to winning his second consecutive series title by eighty points.

Scott Creel of Franklinton, LA, who finished second in the final standings, was also honored for Rookie of the Year and earned a pair of big trophies, second place prize money and a $1,000 Rookie bonus to take his total points fund winnings to $6,500.

Creel, at the tender age of nineteen, managed six top ten finishes, two top fives and one second place finish. Creel also earned the perfect attendance bonus to add to his final tally but still fell short of the overall series title by just eighty markers.

Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN, known as the ‘Southern Gentleman,’ battled it out for second with Creel for most of the season with the two flip-flopping the spot for much of the way until Smith had a series of mechanical failures toward the end of the season that dropped him from contention for the spot but he still managed to retain third place in the final standings. His efforts included twelve top fifteen finishes, eleven top tens and two top fives including one third place finish. Smith earned $3,500 in points money for his efforts.

Doug Smith of Somerset, KY captured fourth place honors and was also awarded the Sportsmanship Award. Smith battled Daniel Baggerly of Rural Retreat, VA most of the season for the fourth spot before sewing it up on the final event of the season.

Smith had six top fifteen finishes and one top ten but demonstrated consistency in finishing races and earned himself the fourth place cash prize of $3,000.

Daniel Baggerly of Rural Retreat, VA, another nineteen year old venturing out on tour early in his career, rounded out the top five in the final standings. ‘Bagz’ battled with veteran racer Doug Smith for fourth throughout the 2010 campaign and managed nine top fifteen finishes, two top tens and two top fives but fell from contention in a couple of events and ended up twelve points out of fourth place but earned $2,500 in capturing fifth place honors.

The 2011 Series schedule was also announced during the festivities along with the new tire rule for the upcoming season. The series has sixteen total confirmed dates with at least four additional dates expected to be added over the next few days.

The tire rule will still be Hoosier only but the number of compounds permitted into competition will be limited. The tire compounds permitted include the Hoosier 1300, 1350, 1450, 1600 and D70 as a right rear option. These compounds include open and spec tires. The Spec 21s and 55s will also be permitted. All tires must durometer a minimum of 40 and must pass random chemical inspection and lab analysis.

To view the 2011 schedule visit the series website at www.SouthernAllStarsRacingSeries.com