Ellenberger

BUTLER TWP — Step One turned out well enough that Brian Ellenberger is ready to take Step Two.

Beyond that, the Butler driver of the No. 22 World of Outlaws Sprint car offers no promises.

Ellenberger, 43, recently was named the 2009 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year.

"It'd definitely an honor to win that award. It was a goal of mine going in," Ellenberger said. "It was exciting racing on so many tracks for the first time — definitely a learning experience."

Ellenberger raced in 24 states on 42 different tracks, including 32 for the first time. He finished 11th in points with 6,699 and earned $46,990.

Ellenberger posted an Outlaws career-best third-place finish in June at Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas.

"We're getting closer and closer (to an Outlaws win)," he said. "We got better as the year went on. Tracks are different in shapes, size, banks. You have to be able to figure out the necessary car adjustments.

"The veteran drivers have that edge. You just have to close the gap."

Ellenberger plans to return to the Outlaws series in 2010. The season begins Feb. 5-7 with the 39th annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.

"There's not much time for relaxation in there," Ellenberger said. "I'm taking my family to Florida over Thanksgiving break and that's about it.

"We're getting our truck and trailer serviced now. We're working on building new cars, different shock packages, a new tire deal, looking to tweak some things with our motor builder — there's a lot going on," he added.

Ellenberger is entering next year with definite goals in mind. He wants his first Outlaws feature win and a top-10 finish in points.

He had only four top-10 finishes during his rookie season.

"Once I get that first win — and it won't come easy — I'm hoping a few more will follow," Ellenberger said.

"I'm ready to return to this series in 2010, but doing this for the next five or six years? I'm not ready to make that type of commitment.

"But I love racing and competing against those guys," he added.

Donny Schatz won the Outlaws points championship in 2009, edging Jason Meyers by 19 and Joey Saldana by 70. Schatz (12), Meyers (9) and Saldana (20) combined to win 41 features. Danny Lasoski was the only other driver to win as many as five.

"Those three guys, and The King (Steve Kinser) is no slouch, set the bar," Ellenberger said. "They have the program everybody else is trying to chase down."

Ellenberger has 15 Sprint feature wins in a career that began in 1996. He finished fifth in points in the All-Star Series in 2008, posting his first All-Star win at Riverside International Speedway in Arkansas.

<b>Year - Winner</b>2009 - Brian Ellenberger2008 - Lucas Wolfe2007 - Kerry Madsen2006 - Chad Kemenah2005 - Shane Stewart2004 - Kraig Kinser2003 - Jason Sides2002 - No award issued2001 - Jeff Shepard2000 - Danny Wood1999 - Tim Shaffer1998 - Dale Blaney1997 - Donny Schatz1996 - Joey Saldana1995 - Randy Hannagan1994 - Sid Blanford<b>Year - Winner</b>1993 - Greg Hodnett1992 - Aaron Berryhill1991 - Jim Carr1990 - Stevie Smith1989 - Joe Gaerte1988 - Andy Hillenburg1987 - Chris Eash1986 - Johnny Herrera1985 - No award issued1984 - Mark Kinser1984 - Greg Wooley1983 - No award issued1982 - Brad Doty1981 - Jeff Swindell1980 - Bobby Davis Jr.1979 - Tim Green