Joe honored by Oklahoma Governor Fallin

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A veteran of more than 30 years of dirt track racing received a career high honor Tuesday.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin welcomed 2011 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series state champion Joe Duvall to her state capitol office in Oklahoma City. In addition to the state title, Duvall won the 2011 dirt Modified track championship at the NASCAR-sanctioned Salina (Okla.) Highbanks Speedway.

“Gov. Fallin is very personable,” Duvall said. “It was nice to meet her in person. She’s not just a face on TV to me anymore. I already liked her as our governor. I’ve been for her 100 percent.”

In public service since 1990, Fallin just finished her first year as Oklahoma’s 27th governor and is the first woman to be elected to the state’s highest office.

Duvall won the Salina track title and state championship despite missing two race nights at two tracks in July.

“I took July 1 and 2 off to celebrate the birthdays of my wife, Shelley and our daughter Addison who turned two,” Duvall said. “We set racing aside and spent the weekend together at Grand Lake about 20 miles from home and I wouldn’t have changed it.”

Despite missing the races, he won the championships by comfortable margins.

Duvall, 39, of Chelsea, Okla., is proud to be champion at the newly reopened Salina track, which had been dormant for three years prior to 2011.

“When the new ownership bought the speedway the track itself was nothing but tall weeds,” Duvall said. “It was in bad shape. They turned it into a premier facility.”

Accompanying Duvall to Oklahoma City were track owner Dave Bohannon and promoter Brian Ruth. Keith Sanders and Bob Goins are also on the management team.

“It was their first year ever running a race track and you would not have known it,” Duvall said. “They’re just good people and they staffed the track with good people.”

Duvall said Salina’s .375-mile high-banked clay oval is one of the most demanding he’s ever raced on.

“For a driver Salina Highbanks is as intense as they come,” Duvall said. “It keeps you busy. From the drop of the green flag, you’re working.”

His overall NASCAR racing record for 2011 in 25 starts is six wins, 20 top-fives and 23 top-10s. He ranked 187th in the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Top 500 in 2011.