Monticello: Taggart Jr., Petrelli nab year-end honors

After 199 days of racing in the 2022 Racing Season, James Taggart Jr and Christopher Petrelli garnered top honors at Monticello Raceway for leading Dash winning driver and trainer.

Taggart outdistanced himself from his closest rival by 37 wins, and for Petrelli it was a very tight battle that went down to the wire to decide who would get top honors.

Jim Taggart Jr. went on a wild win spree in the final 6 weeks of the year to take top honors over former multiple dash-winning Driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. Taggart would finish the year with 235 wins and $1,119,090 in purses over Bruce Aldrich Jr., with 198 wins and $1,110,045 earned in purses. Brandon Parker rounded out the top 3 with 176 wins and $959,694.

24-year-old Christopher Petrelli enjoyed his best year ever in his young career in 2022. The title for leading dash-winning trainers went down to the wire as Petrelli narrowly defeated Laura Aldrich Jr. by only 3 wins. Laura ended the season with 89 winners and $485,004 in purses and had a UDRS of .338. Gary Messenger was third with 75 trip to the winners circle with stable earnings of $362,575.

Christopher's career began in 2017 when he had 10 starts and 1 win; progressively he has climbed the ladder. 2021 was his breakout year when his barn won 96 races and in 2022, he won 102 races. He has amassed 289 wins with career earnings of $1,317.360 in his short 7-year career.

-edited release (Monticello Raceway)