by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s 2015 Champion Driver Series highlighted the 14-race card on Saturday, July 25 and it was Trace Tetrick who took home top honors and won his share of the $5,000 round one prize. In its second year, the 2015 Champion Driver Series pitted the top-ten drivers at Hoosier Park against one another in a five-race challenge with the ten coveted spots being based upon wins during the 2015 season.

Linscott photo

Trace Tetrick was the winner of Round One of the 2015 Champion Driver Series Saturday night at Hoosier Park.

Tetrick, a 28-year-old, Illinois native earned one win, one second, one third and two off the board finishes during the five-race competition for a total of 39 points to secure the win. LeWayne Miller, last year’s Champion Driver Series winner, finished second with 38 points followed by Sam Widger finishing third with 36 points.

Tetrick kicked things off with a win in the first leg of the challenge behind Pipecreek Yankee for trainer Walter Haynes Jr., earning 15 points. He finished sixth in the next race but was able to guide Humble Hero to a second place finish to earn nine points in the third leg of the challenge.

After the fourth race of the series and just one race left to go, Tetrick was tied for first with LeWayne Miller at 31 points. Dillander moved into second place after a win with Endeavors Lady Luck while Ed Hensley had accumulated 29 points for third.

Tetrick was able to clinch the trophy and the lion’s share of the $5,000 prize in the final race by steering Jagger Blue Chip to a third place finish, earning eight points. LeWayne Miller secured second place after a fourth place finish with Steviescooter while Sam Widger moved into third place after a decisive win with Major Starlight.

“I was feeling pretty good about the horses I picked coming into tonight,” Tetrick noted after the win. “Luckily, the trips worked out and the horses showed up. A couple of my horses raced really well, a few of the others didn’t, but it all worked out.”

Tetrick currently leads all drivers for the 2015 season at Hoosier Park with 159 victories and over $1.5 million in purse earnings through the first 85 days of live racing. Tetrick recorded his first win at Hoosier Park in 2006 and has been a mainstay atop Hoosier Park’s leader board ever since. In 2008, Tetrick became the youngest driver or jockey to ever win a title at Hoosier Park after garnering 117 victories that season. Tetrick took home the leading driver title in 2014 and also earned a spot in Hoosier Park’s record books once again as he re-established the record for most wins in one season, a record that was previously held by Tony Morgan during the 1998 season with 262 victories.

“This was a lot of fun,” he continued. “We’re always a competitive group and we always have fun with each other but when you have a challenge like this, it really brings out the competitiveness in all of us. I know it’s something we’ve been looking forward to all week.”

Tetrick will look to defend his title in round two of the Champion Driver Series slated for October 17 at Hoosier Park. 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.