2/4/2023
Topless Outlaw Late Model Series
Topless Outlaws Awards Banquet See’s Great Turnout
Knoxville, Tenn. (2-4-23) Rothschild’s Banquets & Catering in West Knoxville was the site of the 2022 Topless Outlaws Dirt Late Model Series Awards Banquet on Saturday. Multiple drivers, teams, sponsors and racetrack representatives were on hand to see over $10,000 in cash and awards handed out including $5,000 to 2022 Series Champion Chase King, $2,500 second place award to Brad Lowe and $1,500 checks to 3rd place Jason Manley and Rookie of the Year Jake Whitehead among other awards.
The evening began with an extensive meeting regarding the 2023 tire rule and after much discussion the rule was announced as open tires on the front and Hoosier 3s and 4s along with American Racer 48 and 56 across the rear.
After a delicious meal was served the awards ceremony began with Series Announcer Brad Byrd recognizing the series staff including Mike Price, John ‘Gilly’ Gilmore, Mason ‘Butter’ Moorfield and Lynn Palmer before recognizing Michael and Cindy Robinette as series founders and operators. Michael spoke and thanked many sponsors past and present that has helped the series get to where it’s at today and paid homage to current series title sponsor Stanley Best of Stanley Best Heat & Air.
Engine Builder of the Year - The first award was presented to B&B Performance Racing Engines as Engine Builder of the year; their third in a row for the series. B&B representatives John Lefond and Scott Pass accepted the award: “we are honored to be a part of the series and congratulations to Chase (King) for winning your second championship while running a B&B Performance engine”, said Lefond.
10th – Skip Arp (Georgetown, TN) Car owner Stanley Best spoke on his behalf “We appreciate it, Skip thanks you and we’re glad to be a big part of it and looking forward to a big year”.
9th - Ronnie Johnson (Chattanooga, TN) “I enjoy racing with all of ya’ll, hopefully we will get the tire situation worked out. I’m not sure we are racing all of the series races this year but I know we will race several if not all of ‘em. Got a lot of people to thank; Roger Dixon and John Leatherwood. I couldn’t do it without ’em. They take away from their personal lives and their families to do this. I love doing this and have been doing it a long time and hope to do it for a while longer. Thank all of ya’ll for being a part of this from the fans to car owners, engine builders or whatever. These are the people I love being around so thank ya’ll”.
8th – Jason Trammel (Mascot, TN) Not present
7th - Noah Phillips (Seymour, TN) “Just want to thank everybody who helps out on the car. Thank you!”
6th - Jed Emert (Maryville, TN) Not present
5th/Rookie of the Year - Jake Whitehead (Maryville, TN) “I’ve got lots of people to thank, especially everyone he just mentioned, I couldn’t do it without everyone of ‘em, especially Brad with Precision Welding & Fab, Eagle Race Engines. I look forward to next year. Thanks to Michael Robinette and everything they do.”
4th - Kyle Courtney (Knoxville, TN) Not present
3rd - Jason Manley (Loudon, TN) “I enjoyed racing with everyone this year. I always love racing with Ronnie (Johnson) Skip (Arp) the King family. We have a scuffle every now and then but I guess that’s a part of the business but I appreciate what we’re doing here and how far it’s grown. It’s enjoyable. Before this, we just raced every Saturday night at our local tracks for whatever we get paid. I appreciate it and want to thank all of our sponsors for helping us get up and down the road and I can’t wait to start this year. Thank you!”
2nd - Brad Lowe (Knoxville, TN) “I want to thank Mike and everybody with the series and what they do. Thanks to my father-in-law, my sons Dillon and Dawson. Really appreciate all of my sponsors and we’re just ready to get going next year.
Champion - Chase King (Seymour, TN) “Well, I was nervous before Noah did his speech and Jason forgot my name but I’m good now. Congratulations to B&B Performance Racing Engines, you guys have been there for me through my whole career. Ronnie (Johnson) you can go ahead and retire and that goes for Skip (Arp) too and maybe I can get some wins. All jokes aside, where else can you race against guys like that? It’s awesome. Mike (Robinette) and everybody involved with the series, thank all of ya’ll.
“Thanks to everyone at this table (front of room) for all that you do. It may not mean a lot in the grand scheme of things but it sure means a lot to me. Thanks to my sponsors; Tolliver Heat & Air, Stinger Race Cars, King Machine & Welding, Cogdill Motor Company, Jason Lewis Automotive, Clifton Construction, Doug Ott with ACS, hopefully we can get you on for more races and maybe a full-blown rookie deal and thank you Stanley (Best) for your support in the future, just looking forward to all of it. Thank you!”
The banquet concluded with an invitation to everyone to compete at the next event on February 18th at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn. for a $4,000 to win, non-points event that will kick off the 2023 racing season which boasts a fifteen race schedule.
2023 TOPLESS OUTLAWS SCHEDULE
- FEB 18TH DUCK RIVER $4,000 - NON POINTS
- MAY 5TH BOYD’S $3,000
- MAY 6TH TAZEWELL $3,000
- MAY 20TH CROSSVILLE $2,500- FRIDAY
- JUNE 3RD NORTH GEORGIA $3,000
- JUNE 10TH DUCK RIVER $4,000
- JULY 3RD WARTBURG $3,000
- JULY 8TH SMOKY MOUNTAIN $3,000
- JULY 22ND VOLUNTEER $4,000
- AUG.12TH DUCK RIVER $4,000
- AUG.18TH TRI-COUNTY $2,500 - FRIDAY
- AUG. 19TH CROSSVILLE $TBA
- AUG. 26TH TALLADEGA $3,000
- SEPT. 9TH MOUNTAIN VIEW $3,000
- OCT. 20TH BOYD’S $5,000
Submitted By: Clint Doll
