Tucker Named ALMS Rookie of the Year

Scott Tucker's first season in the American Le Mans Series keeps getting better and better. In addition to his historic inaugural championship in the LMP Challenge class, Tucker has also been named the series' Rookie of the Year for 2010. The award was presented by ALMS CEO Scott Atherton at the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón's "Night of Champions" at Chateau Elan during the Series' annual championship awards banquet.

Tucker beat an outstanding, talented lineup of first-year drivers -- which included all classes in the series -- to win the award.

"To win this award, going up against so many phenomenal drivers, is an unbelievable honor," Tucker said. "All of those guys are veteran, accomplished drivers who have proven themselves in other series. It was a lot of fun, and a pleasure not only to race against them, but to beat some of them for the championship as well."

"Scott had a great deal of strong competition for the Rookie of the Year award," said Level 5 Motorsports Team Manager David Stone. "Coming into this year, he had already proven himself as a driver in other series, and he was well-respected.

"This is a tough series to win a championship. Scott deserves every accolade he gets."

Christophe Bouchut, Tucker's teammate in the No. 55 Microsoft Office Level 5 Motorsports ORECA FLM09, concurred with Stone.

"I want to congratulate my teammate on a tremendously successful season," Bouchut said. "It was a pleasure to drive the No. 55 car as his teammate. He now knows not only what it takes to win races, but also a major series championship. We had a lot of fun this year together on the track."

Tucker's 2010 championship season included five victories. He and his Level 5 Motorsports teammates began the campaign by winning the 12 Hours of Sebring. He followed up with triumphs at Mazda Laguna Seca, Miller Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and in the season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

Tucker never lost the lead in the standings the entire season. The Microsoft Office Level 5 Motorsports team's dominant victory in the Petit Le Mans clinched the LMPC title for him.

"It got kinda nerve wracking over the last couple of months," Tucker said. "We had our ups and downs. But, then, that shows what kind of team we have. We had to overcome a great deal of adversity and had some tough breaks come our way. We got over those hurdles and we were able to bring home a championship. That was our goal from Day 1."

Tucker will take a few weeks off before jumping back in a race car. But then, he is back in action on an international stage as he will compete in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in Zhuhai, China, Nov. 5-7, 2010. Level 5 Motorsports will campaign the No 55 ORECA FLM09 in that series' Formula Le Mans Class.

Following that, he will participate in the Ferrari Challenge International Finals November 25-28, 2010, in Valencia, Spain, at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.