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RSWC Top 4 Developed Drivers Meet & Test with Top NASCAR Cup & ARCA Teams

Charlotte, North Carolina – Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle further established itself as the leading NASCAR focused driver & career development program for talented young drivers, with four of its top developed drivers showcasing their talent in front of top NASCAR Sprint Cup & ARCA Teams in a private Driver Talent Combine on October 21st, at Caraway Speedway in North Carolina.

With the 2009 race season rapidly coming to a close, Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle Development drivers Jessica Brunelli, Bobby Grewohl, Jace Meier and Benny Moon recently got the rare opportunity to meet, interview and test a full day in front of decision makers from top teams.

Heads of Driver Development, Team Managers and Crew Chiefs from top NASCAR Sprint Cup and ARCA teams participating in evaluating the talented drivers from RSWC and other non-RSWC drivers placed in the combine by the Cup teams. The teams spent 6-7 hours with the drivers … evaluating their driving talent and off track skills as well.

As part of an invitation only Driver Talent Combine conducted by Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle, the foursome each got behind the wheel of a 650 horsepower, 3300 pound USAR Pro Cup Car (formerly called Hooters Pro Cup cars).  

The championship caliber cars were owned and operated by NASCAR Nationwide & USAR Pro Cup squad Mac Hill Motorsports. The drivers tested in front of career decision makers at the famed 0.455-mile Caraway Speedway oval in North Carolina. Jack McNelly, Team Owner & Manager, oversees the experienced crew and ultra competitive Pro Cup operation.  With Driver Brandon Ward, the team has won two races and currently sits second in the USAR Pro Cup Car championship chase.

Each Driver worked with the crews to call the tuning changes they wanted on the Pro Cup cars ... which are similar to a top tier Cup car with a truck arm suspension, radial racing slicks, similar weight and horsepower.

Under the watchful eye of Ron Sutton & team representatives, Brunelli, Grewohl, Meier and Moon each took to the track four times for 16-lap runs, for a total of 64 laps each.

The RSWC standouts not only impressed those on hand with their outright speed, but their consistency, communication skills and professionalism. At the end of the day’s activities, three of the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle drivers topped the time sheets of drivers participating.

“Each of our Drivers represented themselves well here today,” commented Ron Sutton. “This is what these drivers have been working towards … getting their shot to show their talent and skills in front of top Cup teams.  

All four of the RSWC Drivers did amazingly well, with each of them leading the speed charts at different times through out the day.  Having never raced cars with this much power and weight … our drivers adapted quickly and ran blazingly fast laps.  On the track and off, the RSWC drivers impressed the teams leaders here evaluating them.”

The 16 year-old Brunelli, the youngest and only female in this combine, entered the evaluation test following a successful season in NASCAR Grand American Modified competition driving for Nascimento Motorsports. The Hayward, California native, who is in her second year with the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle program, was a front runner in USAC Ford Focus Midget competition last year, having previously earned the 2007 Rookie of the Year award in Skip Barber Regional competition and been a two-time IKF Region 11 Regional Karting champion.

Grewohl, of Hollister, California, returned to the driver’s seat, having contested selected USAC Midget and NASCAR Modified races this past season with Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle race teams. The 23 year-old, won three consecutive USAC Midget Wins and scored a big NASCAR Open Late Model win in 2008, captured three NASCAR Late Model wins in 2007 & earned two USAC Western States Midget Series wins in 2006.  

In 2005 Bobby won the SCCA Western States Championship Formula Continental race, started on pole in his inaugural USAC Ford Focus Midget race in 2004, and captured both the SCCA Western States Formula Ford regional title with six wins and the Jim Russell 125cc Shifter Series kart title in 2003.

Meier, 20, came to Caraway Speedway after racing select races in NASCAR Modifieds in 2009. The fourth year Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle development driver from Las Vegas, Nevada captured the pole in his only NASCAR Late Model start of 2008, was the 2007 Auto Club Late Model Championship Runner-up and Rookie of the Year at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale with several wins.

Jace earned the NASCAR Late Model Rookie of the Year award at Las Vegas Bullring in 2006, won three USAC Ford Focus Midget races 2005-2006, earned the 2004 Rookie of the Year award in the Legends Semi-Pro division, also at the Bullring, and was a multiple Rotax Junior Champion in 2003.

Moon, of Sacramento, California got behind the wheel of the USAR Pro Cup car following a season of selected races in NASCAR Modifieds in 2009. The 24 year-old, who has been part of the RSWC program for the past four years, scored a NASCAR Late Model pole position in 2008, won two NASCAR Late Model races in 2007 & secured two NASCAR Late Model pole positions in 2006.  

Benny captured three USAC Ford Focus Midget wins in 2005, including Turkey Night, won four times in the 2004 Skip Barber Formula Dodge championship, captured one Skip Barber Formula Dodge victory in 2003, and was a SKUSA Pro Moto race winner in 2002.