Local drag racer picks up honor from National Trail Raceway

For the Madison Press

National Trail Raceway recently held its annual 2012 Banquet of Champions and local drag racer, Shawn Pitts, was recognized for his year of accomplishments.

Pitts was named the 2012 Rookie of the Year by the racers at National Trail Raceway.

He is the son of Steve Pitts and Rebecca Rogers of London. He raced in his last year of junior dragsters in the 2012 season and took the championship in his age group.

He received a champion’s jacket, a two foot golden trophy, $300 and a gold card that lets him race next season in points for free.

This is a very special award for him because this was the first season of racing his 2000 Camaro.

This is an award that can only be earned in your first season of driving a big car. He was chosen for this honor by a vote of all the racers at the track which made it even more special.

From his performance in the 2012 rookie season he earned second place in the Jeg’s ET Sportsman Class, second place in the Wednesday Night Street Fighter Class, and second place in the High School Class.

He received three plaques and $300 for his efforts along with the respect of fellow racers that he went up against for the first time.

It was a great learning experience and He made more passes down the track at National Trail Raceway than any other racer in any class.

Pitts has raced in the junior dragster points program at National Trail Raceway since the 2004 season.

The junior dragster series begins when racers are 8 years old and ends when they turn 18.

Pitts began racing at age 10 and has been an IHRA champion at Marion County Raceway and a three-time NHRA champion. He was the champion twice at National Trail Raceway and was the 2009 NHRA Division 3 Champion.

Pitts traveled to nine states this past year and raced his way to the championship in the S.E.J.R.A. series. This is a series of point races at different tracks in the Southeastern United States.

He started off the 2012 season in Alabama and ended on Thanksgiving back in Alabama, with a couple races in Tennessee and several other states.

Pitts won the 2012 All-Run Championship and received a champion’s jacket and a crystal trophy at the end of the season banquet at Montgomery Motorsports Park in Alabama.

Pitts has 4,000 passes down the track in his career and has won over 200 races in winning over 1,600 rounds of racing.

Every pass he makes down the track they announce him as “Shawn Pitts from London, Ohio.” He is proud to represent his hometown.

He is looking forward to representing London, Ohio as he races in his Camaro in the upcoming season.

Pitts is racing this season with no sponsors, but now that he is in the big car he is looking for local sponsors.

More information about Pitts can be found on the National Trail Raceway website or pittsdragracing.com

Shawn Pitts of London was named 2012 Rookie of the Year by the racers at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.

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