ALEX BRIGHT IS NOMINATED BY EMPA
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ARDC
Contact - Deb Smith
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ALEX BRIGHT IS NOMINATED BY EMPA
Bright Is Nominee for John Blewett III Young Gun Award
As Collegeville, PA driver, Alex Bright prepared to head to the 'land down under' he received word that he is one of five nominees for the John Blewett III Young Gun Award presented annually by the Eastern Motorsports Press Association (EMPA).
Bright, who races a midget with the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) has received recognition on both a national and international level during the past year.
Bright came to ARDC in 2010 as the driver of his grandfather's, Joe Hemler, Lightcap Electric #77. The new team picked up their first win the following season and have been a threat ever since.
Last January, Bright and Hemler drew national attention when Alex wheeled the #77 to a podium finish on his qualifying night for the 2014 Chili Bowl. His third place finish placed Bright in the redraw for what is often referred to as the Super Bowl of Midget racing on Saturday night. After dropping back in the early going, Bright fought his way back to battle with Christopher Bell and Kevin Swindell in the closing laps of the Chili Bowl. While Bryan Clauson raced to the checkered, Bright raced to a fourth place finish. After five days of competition and nearly three hundred competitors, Bright raced the same car that he uses in ARDC competition to achieve one of the highest finishes ever by an ARDC driver in the main event in Tulsa.
Just one year ago, Bright garnered international headlines when he captured the Magic Man 34 while racing on the Speed Car circuit in Australia. The Magic Man 34 is one of the most coveted races in Australia as it pays tribute to former Speed Car competitor, Mike Figliomeni. Bright and four time Magic Man 34 winner, Davey Ray, exchanged the lead back and forth and had the fans in the Perth Motorplex on their feet until Ray was finally sidelined seven laps from the checkered. Bright went on to take the win - certainly one of the biggest of his career.
Bright returned to Australia just a week ago to prepare to race a brand new entry for car owner, Graham Jones.
"I was really surprised to be selected as a nominee for this award," Bright related. "I had a lot of bad luck this year (motor issues) but at the same time, I made all the races I did finish count!" Bright finished fourth in the ARDC points chase for the 2014 season, collecting 5 wins, including three consecutive wins during July and August. Bright collected ten podium finishes in fifteen scheduled events.
The winner of the John Blewett III Young Gun award will be decided by members of EMPA and will be honored at the annual EMPA Convention weekend in Valley Forge on January 2-4, 2015.
