Continuing upon the successes of the inaugural edition in 2014, Hoosier Park announced the second annual Champion Driver Series for the 2015 harness racing season.
The 2015 Champion Driver Series will pit the top-ten drivers at Hoosier Park against one another in a five-race challenge not once, but twice, throughout the season with the champion driver racing away to a Hawaiian excursion for four.
“When we embarked upon last year’s Driver’s Challenge we knew we were going down a road that had yet to be traveled,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing, Rick Moore said. “Would the format that we chose work or would we need to rethink the way drivers drafted their horses?”
“Well, the answer to that question was that the format was a resounding success as witnessed by the wild and unpredictable outcome to last year’s competition. We are excited that the 2015 Driver’s Challenge is almost upon us and hope everyone will join us on Saturday July 25, as we kick off the first of two great rounds of competition.”
In the first of the two challenges, the top ten drivers will compete in a five-race competition on Saturday, July 25 for their share of $5,000. The rankings will be based on number of wins at Hoosier Park as of Saturday, July 18, 2015. The drivers will pick their horses via a draft system to be held in the following order:
- 1st race: Number 1 ranked driver picks first, number 2 picks second, etc.
- 2nd race: Number 10 ranked driver picks first, number 9 picks second, etc.
- 3rd race: Same as first race
- 4th race: Same as second race
- 5th race: same as first
The top eight finishers from Round 1 will return for Round 2 on Saturday, October 17 with the final two positions being determined by the official Hoosier Park standings at the conclusion of racing on Saturday, October 10.
While the second go-round will be conducted in the same manner as the first, the winner of the final challenge will be awarded a Hawaiian vacation for four, valued at $15,000.
LeWayne Miller took home top honours in the inaugural edition of Hoosier Park’s Champion Driver Series in 2014. Miller won both rounds of the challenge and was awarded his share of the $5,000 Round 1 prize and then a one-year lease of a 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray after Round 2.
“I’m definitely excited,” Miller said. “I thought it would be hard to top the car but a vacation to Hawaii would undoubtedly top that. Hopefully I can do as well as I did last year. It was a lot of fun and I know this challenge is something all of us (drivers) are looking forward to again.”
Qualifying for the 2015 Champion Driver Series began on Friday, March 27 and will continue through Saturday, July 18 for Round 1. Each of the drafts will take place at a community luncheon to be held at Hoosier Park.
(Hoosier Park)