November 26, 2007

TOP 2007 DRIVERS HONORED AT BREWERTON & FULTON SPEEDWAY AWARDS BANQUET

EAST SYRACUSE, NY – The 2007 race season for both Brewerton and Fulton Speedways came to a close last Friday as over 350 people attended the annual sister track Season Awards Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in East Syracuse. The top ten drivers in each weekly division were honored along with Rookies of the Year, Most Improved, and also several special awards.

Willy Decker of Vernon won his first ever Brewerton Speedway DIRTcar Big Block Modified championship in just his first season of competition at the “D-Shaped DIRT Demon”.  Decker finished just twenty points ahead of young Kevin Bates in the standings, followed by four-time defending champion Alan Johnson.  Chuck Bower, Jim Witko Jr., Dan Vauter, Tom Sears Jr., Roy Bresnahan, Tim Sears, and Kyle Lewis completed the top ten finishers.

In the tough IMCA Modified division at Brewerton, Kevan Cook of Bernhards Bay won his first ever track. Dale Caswell and Greg Kimball tied for second, followed by Pete Anderson, Rich Riggs, Rob Keller Jr., Rich Townesend, J.J. Courcy, Bill Anderson, and Dave Talbot.

Doug Williams of Pennelleville won his first ever ESDCA Mod Lite championship at Brewerton. Lowell Zehr, Dan Williams, Tim Devendorf, Rocco Leone, Jeff Barker, Justin Crisafulli, Matt Magner / Ken Gamlen, and Joe Garafolo completed the top ten. Lowell Zehr was presented an Ironman Award by his crew and friends for completing every lap of every feature the last two seasons. 

The 4-Cylinder Super Stock division at Brewerton Speedway found teenager Claude Hutchings Jr. of Sauquoit winning his first ever title.  Completing the top ten, it was defending champion Chuck Powelczyk, Matt Wetterer, Chris Kranz, Chad Dupra, Aron Backus, Jessica Herbert, Lorraine Powelczyk, Sam Carista, and Matt Fay. In the 4-Cylinder Enduros, Josh Herbert won his first ever championship over father Jerry Herbert and Devon Rookey.

At the Fulton Speedway high banks in the headline DIRTcar Modified division, Jimmy Phelps of Baldwinsville won his second career track championship, this time behind the wheel of a Big Block. Defending titlist Alan Johnson was second followed by protégé Kevin Bates. Dale Planck, Brian Weaver, Vinnie Vitale, Chad Phelps, Tom Sears Jr., Roy Bresnahan, and Tim Sears.

Jeremy Pitcher of Fulton finally got the monkey off his back and won his first career Fulton Speedway DIRTcar Sportsman crown. Pitcher beat out last season’s champion Shawn Donath, John Pietrowicz, Sammy Reakes IV, and Dave Reilley in the top five. Completing the top ten, it was Anthony Steiner, Gregg Carner, A.J. Kingsley, Alan Fink, and Matt Hulsizer. Second generation driver Timmy Sears Jr. won the first ever championship for the new Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman division. Sears beat out Sean McCarthy, Mike Fowler, Katelyn Kane, and Brad Godshalk in the standings.

Billy Clark Jr. of Fulton won his second consecutive UMP Pro Stock Championship at Fulton Speedway. Clark was closely followed by Jason Parkhurst, Jack Terrell, Dale Guernsey, Rusty Marsden, Jim Evans, Adam Hunt, Pat Hobbs, Rob Seavy, and Dave Briggs.

In the always exciting UMP Street Stock class, Ron Hawker of Jordan won his first ever championship at the Route 57 track. Gary Barton, Jim Wallace, Dan Hofmann Sr., Steve Woodworth, Nick Rizzo, Steve Crouse, Dan Hofmann Jr., Quentin Burton, and Matt Henderson were the remainder of the top ten.

Dan Williams of Pennellville won the ESDCA Mod Lite Fulton championship, followed by Tim Devendorf, Lowell Zehr, Jeff Barker, Rocco Leone, Ken Gamlen, Justin Crisafulli, Doug Williams, Andrew Schartner, and Mike Virginia. Mark Johnston won the 4-Cylinder Enduro championship over Jon Shumway and Jerry Herbert.

Rookies of the Year were declared for both sister speedways. At Brewerton, it was Roy Bresnahan in the DIRTcar Modifieds, Mike Jones in the IMCA Modifieds, Mike Mullen in the ESDCA Mod Lites, and Chad Dupra in the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks. At Fulton, it was Roy Bresnahan again in the DIRTcar Modifieds, Anthony Steiner in the DIRTcar Sportsman, Scott Conover in the UMP Pro Stocks, and Matt Henderson in the UMP Street Stocks.

Each division at both tracks also had a driver honored as Most Improved. Brewerton Speedway honored Jim Witko Jr. in the DIRTcar Modifieds, Greg Kimball in the IMCA Modifieds, Justin Crisafulli in the ESDCA Mod Lites, and Claude Hutchings Jr. in the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks. At the Fulton Speedway the most improved drivers were Vinnie Vitale in the DIRTcar Modifieds, A.J. Kingsley in the DIRTcar Sportsman, Dale Guernsey in the UMP Pro Stocks, and Jim Wallace in the UMP Street Stocks.

The most prestigious and emotional award of the evening was the annual J.J. Michaels Memorial Award, which went this season to Fulton Track Champion Jimmy Phelps. The yearly award goes to the driver who closely resembles the late J.J. Michaels on and off the speedway. Phelps, a close friend and competitor of Michaels, humbly accepted the award in his honor.

Media Appreciation Awards were given to Jeremiah Fish of Luvracin.com and also Mike Mallett from Area Auto Racing News. An Appreciation Award was also given to John and Laura Wight of Gypsum Express who graciously sponsored the Gypsum Express Crate Sportsman beginner’s class.

Door prizes were graciously provided by Leaf Racewear, Gater Racing News, Area Auto Racing News, JR Motorsports, Bicknell Racing Products, Performance Bodies, and Can-Am Enterprises. Winning Leaf Racewear firesuits were Brewerton drivers Dan Vauter, Tony Finch, Jeff Barker, and Sam Carista while the Fulton drivers winning were Brian Weaver, Dave Reilley, Dave Briggs, and Gary Barton.

With the conclusion of the banquet, the 2007 race season at Brewerton and Fulton Speedways is now complete. Many exciting announcements about the upcoming 2008 campaign at both tracks will be coming over the winter months. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 668-6906 or visit www.brewertonspeedway.com or www.fultonspeedway.com.