from Harness Tracks of America

Tucson, AZ — Dave Palone, the 51-year-old Waynesburg, Pa., native is Harness Tracks of America’s Driver of the Year, the formidable achievement that remains the most difficult award in the sport of harness racing to win.

The evidence of the accomplishment is clear in the fact that of the 3,156 drivers who competed for purses in North America in 2013, only six were able to finish in the top 25 in money won, races won and UDR in-the-money percentage.

Under the HTA formula, points are awarded on the basis of 25 for first down to one for 25th in the standings in money won, races won, and UDR, with a 25-point bonus for finishing in the top 25 in all three categories.

Palone previously won the award outright in 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004 and tied in 2008 (with Tim Tetrick) and in 2009 (with Jody Jamieson).

Palone’s 2013 Driver of the Year trophy will be presented as part of the United States Harness Writers’ 2014 Dan Patch Awards Banquet Night of Champions, on Sunday (Feb. 23) at Dover Downs in Dover, Del.

Here are the complete standings for 2013 for the top 25 drivers in North America:

Drivers–Wins (Rank)–Earnings (Rank)–UDR (Rank)–Bonus–Total Points
Dave Palone–645 (2T)–$6,128,869 (12)–.385 (3)–25–85.5
Yannick Gingras–537 (8T)–$14,231,476 (2)–.367 (8)–25–84.5
Tim Tetrick–582 (5)–$16,164,822 (1)–.320 (13T)–25–83.5
Brian Sears–507 (12T)–$13,737,691 (3)–.368 (7)–25–80.5
George Napolitano Jr.–551 (7)–$6,068,813 (14)–.315 (18)–25–64
George Brennan–450 (14)–$9,134,699 (7)–.311 (20T)–25–61.5
Corey Callahan–619 (4)–$9,708,323 (6)–.281 (unranked)–42
Ronnie Wrenn Jr.–714 (1)–$2,480,373 (unranked)–.361 (10)–41
Trevor Henry–529 (10)–$2,458,956 (unranked)–.392 (2)–40
Ron Pierce–537 (8T)–$11,550,300 (5)–.281 (unranked)–38.5
Michael Oosting–511 (11)–$3,535,283 (unranked)–.373 (5)–36
Jim Morrill, Jr.–343 (unranked)–$6,116,760 (13)–.383 (4)–35
Bruce Aldrich, Jr.–645 (2T)–$2,764,419 (unranked)–.316 (17)–32.5
Matt Kakaley–446 (15)–$7,527,717 (8)–.287 (unranked)–29
David Miller–388 (22)–$12,230,914 (4)–.268 (unranked)–26
Winston Campbell–321 (unranked)–$835,983 (unranked)–.416 (1)–25
Aaron Merriman–568 (6)–$4,165,510 (24)–.292 (unranked)–22
Bruce Ranger–254 (unranked)–$1,216,733 (unranked)–.369 (6)–20
Jason Bartlett–362 (24)–$7,136,699 (9)–.260 (unranked)–19
Jim Marohn Jr.–390 (21)–$1,762,040 (unranked)–.331 (12)–19
Jody Jamieson–352 (unranked)–$6,300,192 (11)–.307 (23T)–17
Andy Miller–354 (25)–$7,122,058 (10)–.254 (unranked)–17
Luke Plano–262 (unranked)–$765,014 (unranked)–.363 (9)–17
Heath Campbell–202 (unranked)–$817,779 (unranked)–.349 (11)–15
Chris Page–428 (16)–$2,478,072 (unranked)–.308 (22)–14