Albany Saratoga Speedway Regulars Recieve NYSSCA Awards
Story By: Toby LaGrange/Albany Saratoga Media Photos By:Dave Dalesandro/Racersguide.com
MALTA, NY….The New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) held its annual Banquet Saturday evening at the Polish Community Center in Albany, New York. The night featured a delicious dinner and the awards presentation for numerous drivers. There were two types of awards handed out, first by track and then some special awards. Of the nine special award categories, Albany-Saratoga Speedway track regulars brought home four of them.
The Overall Outstanding Performance of the Year Award was awarded to a pair of drivers for the first time in the 28 year history of the award. The 2015 award winners were Stewart Friesen and Rocky Warner. Warner was a track regular in the Sportsman division during the 2015 season.
Warner, who could not make the event due to a serious health issue, won 29 feature events during the 2015 season in 93 starts. Those wins came at 12 different tracks and a part of four different series. Warner piloted the Jake Spraker owned number 1J to track titles at the Fonda Speedway and Utica-Rome Speedway and a second place finish at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, despite missing two events.
He also claimed the inaugural King of Dirt Sportsman Series, GRIT Sportsman Series, SUNY Canton Sportsman Series and Troyer Cup titles. Warner won three of the biggest events for the division, the Northeast Crate Nationals at Albany-Saratoga, the Sportsman portion of the Outlaw 200 Weekend and the Finale at the Fairgrounds event as part of Super DIRT Week on the Syracuse Mile.
The Car Owner of the Year Award went to Kenny Tremont, Sr. The 2015 season was Tremont’s fourth time winning the award. With Ken, Jr. piloting the famed 115, Tremont stood in victory lane seven times at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway where they would be crowned DIRTcar Modified Track Champion. They also won five times at the Lebanon Valley Speedway in DIRTcar Modified competition and four times in Small Block Modified competition. Tremont won the Small Block Track Championship. Tremont, Sr. has the amazing record of having perfect attendance at the Lebanon Valley Speedway for the past 54 years. In those 54 seasons, his car has finished in the top ten in the final point standings 50 times.
The Dedication to Racing In Memory of Harry Peek Award was presented to Mike Perrotte. Perrotte is well known as both a racer and promoter. The Elizabethtown, New York resident started racing in 1973 at the Airborne Speedway in the Street Stock division. He then moved to the Dirt Modified ranks on the CVRA circuit. Perrotte claimed the 1986 Airborne Modified title and has wins at all three CVRA tracks (Airborne, Albany-Saratoga and Devils Bowl). He is also a three time Mohawk Speedway champion.
Perrotte then turned his attention to promoting the Airborne Speedway and currently is the Director of Series and Sanctioning for the World Racing Group/DIRTcar Northeast. He still competes in the DIRTcar Modified division at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway when time allows.
The Jim Langenback Memorial Award was awarded to Robbie Speed. Speed won four races this season (three at Albany-Saratoga and one at Lebanon Valley), including the DIRTcar Series race at Albany-Saratoga and the Bubba Tanner Classic at Lebanon Valley. He has 16 winning seasons at Lebanon Valley and finished fourth in points despite missing three weeks due to health issues. He also finished fifth in the final Albany-Saratoga standings. Speed finished third in points in the final DIRTcar standings and second in the final King of Dirt Pro Stock Series standings.
Bringing home the Albany-Saratoga Speedway NYSSCA Driver of the Year awards were Kenny Tremont, Jr. (DIRTcar Modified), Derrick McGrew (Sportsman), Andrew Buff (Limited Sportsman), Kenny Martin (DIRTcar Pro Stock), Randy Miller (Street Stock), Steve Ryan (Four Cylinder Dual Cam) and Mike Parodi (Four Cylinder Single Cam).
The Albany-Saratoga Speedway NYSSCA Outstanding Performance awards were given to Brett Hearn (DIRTcar Modified), Rocky Warner (Sportsman), Chris Ronca (Limited Sportsman), Robbie Speed (DIRTcar Pro Stock) and Bill Duprey (Street Stock).
Earning the NYSSCA Rookie/Newcomer of the Year awards for the Albany-Saratoga Speedway were Jessey Mueller (DIRTcar Modified), David Schilling (Sportsman), Mike Coffey (Limited Sportsman), Daniel Sanchez (DIRTcar Pro Stock) and Mike Arnold (Street Stock).
The Albany-Saratoga Speedway will return to action in April for their 51st season of racing. The annual awards banquet will take place on February 6th. For more information about Albany-Saratoga Speedway and the upcoming banquet please log on to www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com.
