CHAMPIONS CELEBRATE AT RIVERSIDES
“BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS”
Close to four hundred race team members, family members, sponsors, employees media, and management closed out the P.A.S.S. sanctioned Riverside Speedway’s 2009 racing season with the Annual Banquet of Champions held at the Town and Country Motor Inn, located in Gorham, New Hampshire. Over $24,000 worth of point fund monies, trophies and specialty awards were handed out at the festive occasion.
All seven divisional champions were honored, plus all drivers in attendance were presented with awards, plus each Daredevil Youth racer received special accolades. The 2009 list of champions included back to back winners in the North Country Ford Late Models, Bryan Mason, The Brothers Used Furniture Angels, Joanna Christman, and Twisted Tea Dwarf Cars, Eric Hall. Jesse Switser grabbed the River Bend RV championship, while Luke Shannon walked away with the Budweiser Super Stock crown. Derek Ming had a near flawless season in the Optical Expressions Berlin Outlaw Sportsman, and Andy Simpson wore the crown for the Jiffy Mart Cyclones.
Many specialty awards were handed out. Those included MVP awards to Heather Hodge and Diane Roy for helping the point fund by doing a tremendous job selling 50/50 tickets.
Rookie of the Year honors went to Cody Leblanc in the North Country Ford Late Models and Optical Expressions Berlin Outlaw Sportsman. Dilyn Switser was named Budweiser Super Stock top rookie, while Jesse Switser grabbed the title in the River Bend RV Street Stocks. Trevor Roy led the way in the Dwarf Car rookie race, while Chris Ouellette was the top rookie in the Jiffy Mart Cyclones. The 2009 Rookie of the Year honors were shared in the Brothers Used Furniture Angels as Lyndsay Christman was honored as Rookie of the Year, as well as Mandi Mason. Mason received her honor as she was forced to miss two events due to being in the National Guard and on duty. It was felt by the awards committee that she should also be honored.
Most Improved Drivers awards were presented to Paul Schartner III in Late Models, Matt Carbone in Super Stocks, Kevin Whittum Jr., Street Stocks, Lindsy Ball, Angels, Jim Barker, Dwarf Cars, Anthony Mason, Cyclones, Dan Sidney, Outlaw Sportsman and Nick Gilcris, Daredevils.
The Sportsman of the Year award went to crewmember, Tege Randall, while Promoters awards were handed out to Dawn Pelletier, Min Kennett, Bob Wright and Dan Benoit for their tremendous efforts at Riverside Speedway.
Garnering the coveted Jake McDowell Sportsman of the Year awards were Kyle Pembroke in the Street Stocks, and Jerrad Ainsworth in the Daredevils. Paul Schartner was honored with the 2009 Bobby Shores Award of Excellence.
Bryan Mason was also honored with the 2009 championship trophy and check for the Bond Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, and the ARP Bodies qualifying heats point champion.
New Riverside Speedway Managers, Jane and Jean Leblanc presented
The first Riverside Speedway Hall of Fame award to Pete Marshall, plus free cement pads for 2010 awards to Bryan Mason, Derek Ming, Luke Shannon and Jesse Switser. They also presented free 2010 track licenses to all the 2009 champions.
The next event on the Riverside Speedway calendar is Saturday, January 2nd, the annual Rick’s Renovations, Dan’s Contracting and Mobile Home Works, Pre-Hangover 150. Entry blanks and rules for this fun winter event can be found on the tracks website at www.riversidespeedway.org. Riverside Speedway is located on the Brown Road, off of Route 3 in Groveton, New Hampshire.