One day after he became NHRA’s youngest world champion, LE Tonglet picked up two prestigious post-season honors – the $20,000 Automobile Club of Southern California’s Road to the Future Award and the Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award – during Monday night’s awards ceremony in West Los Angeles

He also collected the championship trophy and the $75,000 check that accompanied it.

The Road to the Future Award recognizes the top rookie driver of the year, and the 20-year-old Pro Stock Motorcycle champ’s stellar performance in the Countdown playoffs drew the most ballots from motorsports journalists. The other two candidates were Pro Stock driver Shane Gray and Jeff Diehl in Funny Car.

One day after he became NHRA’s youngest world champion, LE Tonglet picked up two prestigious post-season honors – the $20,000 Automobile Club of Southern California’s Road to the Future Award and the Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award – during Monday night’s awards ceremony in West Los Angeles

He also collected the championship trophy and the $75,000 check that accompanied it.

The Road to the Future Award recognizes the top rookie driver of the year, and the 20-year-old Pro Stock Motorcycle champ’s stellar performance in the Countdown playoffs drew the most ballots from motorsports journalists. The other two candidates were Pro Stock driver Shane Gray and Jeff Diehl in Funny Car.

“It was an honor to receive this award,” said Tonglet, who won four of the six playoff races.  “We have the opportunity to win more championships, but we only have one chance to get this Auto Club award.

“This is very special because my brother GT won the rookie of the year award in 2001.  Our dad (Gary) is a very happy man right now.”

Tonglet becomes the first professional since Gary Scelzi [1997] to win the Road to the Future Award in his championship season.

Team Tonglet – Gary, LE and GT – added another $5,000 to their coffers when fans voting via the Internet decided the Nitro Fish Suzuki team’s victory at the prestigious U.S. Nationals deserved the Hard-Working Crew Award.

“There are a lot of people I need thank,” LE commented, “but I wouldn’t have won anything without my dad, my brother and support from Kenny Koretsky and his Nitro Fish Gear.  I am surprised that we were able to accomplish so much in my first year in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.  

“It has been a fantastic season.”

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