CAPACITY CROWD SALUTES 2015 FIVE MILE POINT SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONS AT ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER ON SATURDAY.
Story By:Andrew Harpell/FMP Media Photos By:D&J Photo/FMP
KIRKWOOD, NY…Five Mile Point Speedway held the 65th Annual Champions Award Dinner this past Saturday evening at the Claude Garrison Memorial Post Legion in Binghamton, NY. Shaun Walker took center stage and was honored as a first time Modified Track Champion in front of the capacity crowd while receiving his $5,000 championship funds and awards.
Walker, from Masonville, NY emerged in 2015 as not only the Five Mile Point Speedway Modified Track Champion but a driver to watch for years to come. Walker compiled one point victory during the championship battle while being the model of consistency. He held off a late season charge by point runner-up Tyler Siri to post his championship honors.
Walker then put an exclamation mark on his season by winning the Southern Tier 65 American Racer Cup Modified Championship event. That victory was worth over $5,000 after charging from the twenty-first starting spot and defeating some of the biggest names in Modified racing. Siri completed his second full year of racing at the quarter mile and was honored for his second place finish in the point standings. P.J. Goodwin recorded two wins which included the 50 lap Season Championship to post a third place in the final standings. Jeff Crambo and Mike Colsten were fourth and fifth in the final point tally.
Brian White was honored for his back to back Sportsman Track Championship honors on Saturday. The Candor, NY driver recorded an impressive six feature wins this past season on the way to solidifying his second straight title. Randy Green, from Wallkill, NY was the Sportsman division runner-up and indicated he will be moving in to the Modified division for 2016. Mike Austin, Eddie White and Jordan Siri were honored as part of the top five point earners. Austin will be moving in to the new weekly Crate Sportsman division while Siri will join Green in the move up to the Modified weekly ranks in 2016.
Randy Fox was also saluted for back to back titles as he earned the 2015 Street Stock Track Championship. The Forest City, PA driver had two feature wins during the season and held off Randy Marsh to post the championship. Fox will be making the move in to the weekly Crate Sportsman division at Five Mile Point Speedway in 2016. Marsh was honored on his runner-up efforts in the class with Tom Hampton introduced with a podium third place finish in the final standings. Ricky Davis, Sr. and Ryan Codington were top five honorees.
Matt Cole followed the trend of back to back championships as he was honored for his IMCA Modified title season. Cole, from Binghamton had one feature win and held off Jason Benjamin by 8 points to capture the title honors. Benjamin was honored as the runner-up in the class with James Cornell, KC Cole and Tyler Stoddard receiving top five honors.
Burt Maynard was saluted as the Lightning Cat Expert Track Champion in a season that saw him finish in the top five in all but four of the point feature events in 2015. Andrew Brigham, Adam Gilbert, Tucker Harpell and Chad Uplinger were honored for their top five point standings.
Chuck Culbertson was honored as the first Factory Stock Track Champion. The driver known as the “Thrill billy” recorded four feature wins this past season. Ryan Brockner, Phil Clapper, Ron Snow and Kasey Meghley were recognized for their top five season long efforts in the class.
Matt McKernan was introduced as the Lightning Cat Novice Track Champion after winning an incredible 14 out of 15 feature events in 2015. McKernan, from Monroeton, PA will move in to the expert division this season. Jason Colwell, Jr. and Ronnie Welch were recognized for their second and third place honors.
The Tobias Slingshot division made their first full season of competition and Dalton Maynard was honored on Saturday as their 2015 Track Champion. Maynard from New Albany, PA had a division high 5 feature wins. Mackenzie Marsh finished second with Bob Boughton third and Alex Boughton fourth. Marty Kelly, III towed from Vermont throughout most of the season to finish fifth.
A number of special awards were presented throughout the evening the Best Appearing Car Award Winners were: Chris Wood (Modified), Ryan Higgs (Sportsman), Ricky Davis Sr. (Street Stocks), Tyler Stoddard (IMCA Modifieds), Burt Maynard (Lightning Cat Experts), Jason Colwell, Jr. (Lightning Cat Novice), Bob Boughton (Slingshots), Ryan Brockner (Factory Stocks).
The Most Improved Drivers for 2015 were: P.J. Goodwin (Modifieds), Mike Austin (Sportsman), Tom Hampton (Street Stock), Ray McClure (IMCA Modifieds), Rick Lunn (Lightning Cat Expert).
Rookie of the Year honors went to Jesse Kline (Modifieds), Jordan Siri (Sportsman), Tom Hampton (Street Stocks), Bobby Maynard (IMCA Modifieds), Jeremy Warren (Lightning Cat Expert).
Two special awards always culminate the evening of presentations. The “Head of the Class Award” is awarded each season to the individual that helps to make the speedway environment better by helping others either in the pits or on track. Duane Batzel a member of the Five Mile Point Fire Department was announced as the recipient.
The Glenn Knapp Owner of the Year Award is chosen each year by the Knapp family. Glenn Knapp was a long time competitor, track official and life time supporter of the speedway. Current Modified driver Glenn Knapp and his family presented the award to Modified Track Champion Shaun Walker.
Banquet Notes…The term “class” was used often throughout the night as all of the honorees saluted their families, teams and sponsors upon receiving their championship honors. Shaun Walker made an impressive acceptance speech while being recognized for his first Modified Track Championship at the speedway. Walker emphasized how important the title means with the history of the speedway and going to his first ever race with his family at Five Mile Point Speedway. Walker received a loud ovation after his championship acceptance speech. Donations were collected for former Street Stock driver Mike Frederick who is having health issues. Lightning Cat Expert driver Dave Simms added $200 to the amount collected and Factory Stock driver Rob Snow added an additional late $60 bringing the grand total to $747 collected. There will be a benefit for Mike Frederick on Saturday, February 27th at the West Windsor Fire Company. Five Mile Point Speedway owner Andrew Harpell concluded the evening with several announcements. The 360 Patriot Sprint Car Tour will make their first return to the speedway since 2005. They will be in action on May 1st. The Modifieds and Crate Sportsman will be running on the same tires and compounds next season at Five Mile Point Speedway and Penn Can Speedway’s. The American Racer 44 and 48 tires will be used in those classes weekly. A loud ovation was given when it was announced that the two speedway’s will have a weekly joint program that will award the feature winners with free pit passes to the other track to help promote the cross-over between the two popular facilities.
It was also announced that Five Mile Point Speedway will begin the 66th consecutive year of racing on Sunday, April 3rd with an “Open vs. Crate” Sportsman special event. The Modifieds will compete in their first event on Sunday, April 10th with the annual Spring Break special.
For additional information please phone the Five Mile Point Speedway offices at 607-775-5555 or log on to www.5milepointspeedway.com.
