The All Star Circuit of Champions - Then and Now

During 1968 and 1969 businessmen Bud Miller, Wellman Lehman, Chris Economaki and several others came together to research the possibility of building a super speedway south of Youngstown, OH. After many meetings with public officials, attorneys and marketing specialists, the plans were eventually dropped when the group could not find enough land to suitably be utilized for their facility. But out of these meetings another idea was conceived that Bud Miller eventually carried out: a touring “outlaw” organization for Sprint Cars. In 1970 the All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) was born.

From 1970 through 1973 Bud Miller, of Sharon, PA, operated the first “outlaw” Sprint Car organization in modern times. The ASCoC became a huge success and attracted the biggest names in Sprint Car racing from across the country. The first All Star Circuit of Champions winner was colorful West Coast find Jan Opperman, whose hippie look created the "outlaw" image.

In 1973 the ASCoC went “national”, sanctioning events all across the country including the Knoxville Nationals. The "World Dirt Track Crown" went to the controversial Opperman who had won 44 features in 1972.

Despite the success and popularity of the series, Miller suspended operations when the first national gasoline crisis occurred. Coupled with a thriving and expanding business, Miller’s other commitments had to take top priority and the ASCoC ceased to exist.

But the ASCoC would return seven years later, in 1980. As Bud Miller explained: “Wellman had been on me to start the ASCoC up again. I wanted to, but didn’t have the time to give it what it required and deserved. Wellman recommended Bert Emick and you know the rest.” The circuit reformed in 1980 under new leadership.

In 1979, Bert Emick, a racing enthusiast from Columbus, OH, put together a new group called Midwest Outlaw Super Series (MOSS) for outlaw sprints and late models, running five races. They were so enthusiastically received by fans and drivers, the series expanded in 1980 to 22 sprint and 14 late model races. At the end of his second year Emick was joined by other strong supporters of auto racing and the All Star Circuit of Champions was revitalized. Including both sprint and late model divisions, the All Stars continued to add dates to their schedule and in 1981 brought 33 sprint races to Ohio and seven surrounding states. In 1982, the series expanded to 49 sprint car races with an incredible 20 different feature winners. In ' 1983, several prestigious big-paying events enhanced the schedule of 52 races; the first Ohio Outlaw Sprint Speedweek became an instant success; the famed Eldora Nationals were All Star sanctioned; and Pennsboro, WV, hosted the (then) largest-ever to win sprint event with $25,000 going to Bobby Allen. The popularity of the All Stars continued in 1984 with 265 drivers taking part in 48 events, sharing over a million dollars in purse money. The points championship was not decided until last race at Sharon, with Fred Linder beating out Kelly Kinser by only five points.

1985 saw an exciting new development which increased driver participation to 320 at 47 races: the enforcement of a new 410 cast iron engine rule which made competition even closer. Again, the points battle was a close one, but Jack Hewitt’s 12 feature wins helped put him on top over Kelly Kinser by 103 points.

The All Stars continued to grow in 1986 with over a million dollars paid out at 53 races in 9 states to 360 participating drivers. Fred Linder won the championship for the second time and there were 20 different feature winners.

By 1987, the purse was up to $15,000 with $4,000 going to the winner. 59 feature races had 16 different winners and 12 new track records. Points champion Joe Gaerte became the youngest champion at age 21.

In 1988, 20 different winners in 54 races continued the tradition of "you never know who'll win an All Star race.' The points championship was decided at the last race at Eldora when Gaerte won over Rocky Hodges by just 14 points. A major change took place late in the season when for the first time aluminum engines were allowed to run with 60-pound weights.

The biggest change in 1989 was the well received addition of a 6-race asphalt series. 55 races were held in '89 with 26 winners. Another young points champion was crowned when 21-year-old Robbie Stanley beat his nearest competitor by 350 points for the $10,000 prize.

After surviving one of the wettest summers in history in 1990, 58 races were run with 26 win ners, including nine first-timers. The points race again came down to the wire when Terry Shepherd nosed out Rocky Hodges by 22 points for the $10,000 top award.

Fierce competition for the points title in 1991 saw Frankie Kerr emerge as champion after a tight battle with Kevin Huntley and Rickey Hood. Sixty-one races in 13 states had 26 winners. For the first time, aluminum engines were allowed to compete without added weights.

With The Club joining the All Stars as their first major sponsor, 1992 saw the biggest schedule, purses and points payoff in their his tory. In another incredibly close points race, the top two from 1991 finished in reverse order when Huntley beat out Kerr by four points. After suffering 12 rain-outs, 60 races were run at 33 tracks in nine states.

A precedent-setting tie in All Star points saw Kevin Huntley and Frankie Kerr share the championship at the end of 1993. With The Club continuing as major sponsor, the series continued to grow to 64 races, paying out over a million and a half dollars in purses, $100,000 in cash points money, and $105,000 worth of contingency prizes.

With the Club and 53 other sponsors on board, the 1994 season saw $265,000 in points fund and contingency awards go to racers, in addition to purse money Frankie Kerr again emerged as champion after 12 feature wins in 64 races.

The Club All Star series grew in 1995 to a record-set ting 81 events, paying out over 1.7 million in prize money and points fund and contingency awards of $295,000. Dale Blaney earned the championship by almost 300 points over Frankie Kerr. The All Stars expanded west for the first time with the "Thunder through the Plains Tour".

The 1996 season highlight was obtaining United Expressline as major sponsor, in addition to 43 other sponsors. Dale Blaney again topped Frankie Kerr for the championship, after a record setting 17 wins. Payouts to teams reached the two million dollar mark. Television coverage expanded to TNN, ESPN, ESPN2, and regional sports networks.

Under the major sponsorship of the Frigidaire Company, the All Stars paid $50,000 to their champion Frankie Kerr in 1997. An additional $90,000 points fund money came from Frigidaire plus 45 other sponsors. Sixty-seven races had 21 different winners with purse money of over 2 million dollars paid out.

Kenny Jacobs captured his first series title in 1998, driving for the Tim Hughes Motorsports team.

In 1999 the All Stars celebrated their 20th anniversary season by completing 54 races with over 400 cars participating. Since 1980, a total of 1100 races have been run with 120 different winners. Kenny Jacobs pulled off his second championship as both driver and owner. The four associate sponsors of United Expressline, Commercial Truck & Trailer, TW Metals and GM Powertrain were joined by 30 additional contingency sponsors.

In continuing effort to keep down the cost of racing, a 1,200 lb. weight rule was initiated in 2000. It proved very successful, with many tracks and other sanctioning bodies joining in. Kenny Jacobs earned his third points championship in a row. TW Metals and Commercial Truck & Trailer continued as corporate sponsors.

In 2001 Kenny Jacobs set records by winning an unprecedented fourth championship, with a total of 95 feature wins. The weight rule continued to gain followers. Haulmark Trailers joined TW Metals as major sponsors of 46 races with 24 different winners.

June 17, 2002, marked the next chapter in All Star Circuit of Champions history with Guy Webb, an Illinois car owner and businessman. Webb's main focus was to bring America’s Series to new racing venues so that fans across the states could finally see the best sprint car drivers in the country. The previous weight rule of 1,200 lbs. was changed to 1,375 lbs. including the driver. This rule became the "Sprint Car Norm" across the country in 2002. Chad Kemenah won his first All Star Championship driving for car owner Jim Harble picking up 2 wins along the way.

The 2003 season saw 46 races at 25 speedways with 22 different winners. It also included the largest point fund In the history of the series with $50,000 to the winner, an amount that was paid in CASH to the series Champion Chad Kemenah at the 2003 Banquet and Awards Ceremony. Kemenah won an impressive 5 features events (tying with Jason Johnson) while also picking up the Huggins Cams Fast Time Award for 7 Fast Time efforts on the year.

In 2004, the All Star Circuit of Champions celebrated its Silver Anniversary Season with a total of 44 races completed. Chad Kemenah won his 3rd consecutive Championship for car owner Jim Harble. Kemenah was "Mr. Consistency" as he captured 18 Huggins Cams Fast Time Awards as well as 6 feature wins during the season. Jeremy Campbell was our Rookie of the year taking home $10,000 cash for the honor.

In 2005, the All Star Circuit of Champions saw Chad Kemenah win his 4th consecutive Championship for car owner Jim Harble adding him to an elite list of 4-time champions. Canadian driver Cody Geldart the Rookie of the year taking home an additional $10,000 cash for his efforts.

The big story in 2006 was rain. Eleven rain outs plagued the All Star schedule. In addition to a very wet season, the newly formed National Sprint Tour caused turmoil in the 410 sprint car world splitting the World of Outlaws group into two sanctions. The All Stars aligned with the World of Outlaws and teamed up for several co-sanctioned events throughout the season. In the end it was Greg Wilson who wore the crown as he captured his first championship. Chad Blonde was the All Star Rookie of the Year.

2007 was one of the most exciting seasons in All Star history as Greg Wilson repeated as Champion, edging out Danny Smith by just 2 points on the final night of the season.  Smith, however, would win the owner's points championship due to an incident during Ohio Speedweek where Wilson was forced to race a team backup car.  Brian Paulus won Rookie of the Year and also finished third in season points.