Champions Crowned at Whip City Banquet

By Mark McKeon

West Springfield, MA   Approximately 400 hardy souls braved the winter's
chill to gather at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center for the 14th
Annual Whip City Speedway Awards Banquet.  A points fund of more than
$9,000 was distributed and trophies were awarded to the top 10 finishers
in each class for both the afternoon and evening programs.

Special awards were presented to Matt Riding, for his work as Assistant
Starter during the afternoon program and to Lou Bruzzi for his
accomplishment in increasing the drivers point fund.  E. J. Adametz won
the prestigious Frank Lewis Award, which is presented to the young driver
who does the most without a great deal of resources.

The championships in 4 of the 6 evening divisions weren't decided until
the final night of competition last October.

Kevin Tefft of Wakefield, RI was the absolute model of consistency in the
270cc Mini Sprints all season long, pulling off the rare feat of winning
the championship without benefit of a single feature victory.  Tefft's 12
top ten finishes gave him the edge over Dylan Menditto, who also picked up
Rookie of the Year honors.

In the hard fought 600cc Mini Sprint contest, Anthony Nocella of Woburn,
MA won the championship with 1248 points and Rich Crooker claimed
runner-up honors with 1238. Nocella picked up 5 wins on his way to the
laurels.

High school students Peter Dance and John Virgilio have raced against each
other for years and each has had great success.  This year they battled
for points supremacy in the 750cc Mini Sprints until the last checkered
flag waved.  Warren, CT resident Peter Dance ended up as Champion with
1236 points to John Virgilio's 1220.  Impressively, Dance was also named
Rookie of the Year.

The competitive and combative Modified Lites ended the season with Ryan
Nicewicz and Brian Peterson each having 1338 points.  The number of
feature wins was used as the tie breaker and Nicewicz, of Stafford
Springs, CT, won the championship by virtue of six feature wins to
Peterson's five.  Rick Ashlaw was Rookie of the Year.

Jon Moore's 4 victories and 10 podium finishes allowed him to end the
season with a comfortable cushion over Jamie Beaudry in the 1200cc Mini
Sprints.  Moore, a resident of New Lebanon, NY, drove a steed from the
Clayton McCartney stable.

Robby Spino was Champion and Rookie of the Year in the 750 Sportsman.  His
awards were presented in absentia, since he and his family have moved to
North Carolina.  Kristen Phillips finished second.

Quad 4 Midget participation awards were presented to Bethany Viets, Kelly
Ferrell, Scott Viets, Thom Ring, Vince Jacobs, R.J. Tufano, Tony Montesi,
and E.J. Douville.

4 Cyl Street Stock Champ Ed Banach of Westfield, MA not only had four
wins, he also never finished farther back than fourth all season. It was
bridesmaid revisited for runner-up Jamie Beaudry and Dan D'Addario was
Rookie of the Year.

Participation awards in the 250 Youth Sprints went to Wayne Ibitz Jr.,
Alex Curley, Tyler Jackson, Jim Santa Maria and Kyle Abbott.

Final Points Standings

270cc Mini Sprint: KEVIN TEFFT, Dylan Menditto, Brian Boudreaux, Brayton
Round, Bryan Russo, Frank Russo, Seth Carlson, Shayne Prucker, Kurt
Conklin, Scott Franqueza.

600cc Mini Sprint ANTHONY NOVELLA, Rich Crooker, Matt Seymour, Greg Smith,
Like Greenwood, Ricci Hirth, Jim DeCambra, Paul Bigelow, Chris Lennox,
Ryan Bigelow.

750cc Mini Sprint: PETER DANCE, John Virgilio, Joe Platt, Rob Walendy,
Paul Rose, Mark Dupuis, Mike King, Michael Parolo, Kyle Spencer, Jay
Haviland.

750 Sportsman: ROBBY SPINO, Kristen Phillips, Jack Fogarty, Charlie Pease,
Matt Brown, John Missale, John Marangio, Darren Peterson, Lowbed Johnson,
Pete Michels.

1200cc Mini Sprint:  JON MOORE, Jamie Beaudry, Bob Dance, Jon Walts, Mark
Dupuis, Josh Walts, R.J. Tufano, Dennie Lamke, Marc Guerard, John Casazza.

Modified Lite:  RYAN NICEWICZ, Brian Peterson, Joe Anselmo, Brett
Crowther, Rick Ashlaw, Will Carter, Bob Poloski, Tim Johnson, Ryan
Charland.

4 Cyl Street Stock: ED BANACH, Jamie Beaudry, Dan D'Addario, Kyle Wayner,
Mike Ciammella, Fred Cheney, Stephanie Banach, Joey Tanguay.

Karts:
Novice: COREY LEMELIN, Dylan Irish, E.J. Adametz, Jake Higginson, Ryan
Fujimoto, Richard Jacobs.

Turquoise:  KYLE SMITH, Kate Lafreniere, Ryan Irish, Cullen Pike, Alex
Blanco, Jeffery Champagne, Kaitlyn Brice, Nora Lemelin, Alex Adamsky,
Michael Langevin.

Lite:  STEVE ROCKWOOD, Will Coons, Scott Kalber, Dylan Campbell, Josh
Dexter, Chris Tack, Scott Franqueza, Ryan Bigelow.

Heavy:  JAKE SAPOWSKY, Justin Dube, Tim Gallant, Eric Jorgensen, Bill Tack.

2 Stroke:  ERNIE WHIDDEN, Roger Angers, Jr., Don Wood, Jason Wood.

Limited:  RYAN BIGELOW, Steve Rockwood, Roger Fujimoto, Scott Kalber, Gary
Hublard.