Champions Honored at Whip City Banquet
BY MARK McKEON
WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA
ā?" Plummeting temperatures and falling
snow couldnā?Tt chill the enthusiasm of more than 350 people
on hand to honor the champions at the 15th Annual Whip City
Speedway Awards Banquet, held at the Clarion Hotel and
Conference Center. Competitors, staff members and volunteers
who have been with the speedway since its inception 15 years
ago were singled out for recognition. Top point earners
shared in a total point fund in excess of $ 7,500.
The past season will be
remembered as one featuring very close
competition; most championships were not decided until the
final night of racing action.
Brian Boudreau emerged
victorious in the tightest points
battle of the season, inching ahead of Seth Carlson, 1082 to
1080; each having made three trips to 270cc Mini Sprint
victory lane. Matt Galko was third.
Kyle Spencer defeated
John Virgilio in the 750cc Mini Sprints
by just 16 points, 1164 to 1148. Once again, both Spencer and
Virgilio had three wins. Mike King was third.
Tyler Jackson was not
only the 750 Sportsman Champion, he was
rookie of the year as well. The 14 year oldā?Ts five wins
allowed him to defeat sexagenarian Jack Fogarty 1118 to 1096.
Fogarty went winless, but demonstrated remarkable consistency
with 12 podium finishes. Makayla Lucia finished third in her
rookie year.
Last season, Peter
Dance won the 750cc championship; this year
he moved up to the headliner 1200cc Mini Sprints and once
again won the laurels, defeating Jamie Beaudry by just 62
points, 1158 to 1096. Charlie Pease was a close third with
1072 points.
Rich Crooker had a
comfortable cushion in the quest for his
first 600cc Mini Sprint crown; he finished 94 points ahead of
former champ Ricci Hirth. Matt Seymour finished third.
Modified Lite Campion
Ryan Nicewicz had the largest margin of
victory of all the evening competitors, finishing 98 points
ahead of Joe Anselmo. Eric Bacon finished third.
270cc BRIAN BOUDREAU, 2. Seth Carlson, 3. Matt Galko, 4. Kendall Segar, 5.
Frank Russo, 6. Wayne Ibitz, 7. Scott Franqueza, 8. Shayne Prucker, 9.
Kelly McCarthy, 10. Joe Scanlon. Rookie of the Year: Matt Galko.
600cc RICH CROOKER, 2. Ricci Hirth, 3. Matt Seymour, 4. Ryan Bigelow, 5.
Jim DeCambra, 6. Luke Greenwood, 7. Greg Smith, 8. Anthony Nocella, 9.
Paul Bigelow, 10. Chris Lennox.
750cc KYLE SPENCER, 2. John Virgilio, 3. Mike King, 4. Kristen Phillips,
5. Rick Stone, 6. Mark Taylor, 7. Michael Parolo, 8. Dan Schaubert, 9.
Chris Haskell, 10. John Cole. Rookie of the Year: Mark Taylor.
750 Sportsman TYLER JACKSON, 2. Jack Fogerty, 3. Makayla Lucia, 4. John
Missale, 5. Shelby Klekotka, 6. Brandon Hunt, 7. Nikki Ouellette, 8. David
Williamson. Rookie of the Year: Tyler Jackson.
1200cc PETER DANCE, 2. Charlie Pease, 3. Jamie Beaudry, 4. Paul Rose, 5.
R.J. Tufano, 6. Doug Norrie, 7. Jon Moore, 8. Joseph Szczapa, 9. Justin
Phillips, 10. Chris Haskell. Rookie of the Year: Joseph Szczapa.
Modified Lites RYAN NICEWICZ, 2. Joe Anselmo, 3. Roger Angers Jr., 4.
Eric Bacon, 5. Rick Ashlaw, 6. Bob LaForge, 7. Bob Poloski, 8. Bill
Carter, 9. Ryan Charland, 10. Casey Ouellette. Rookie of the Year: Roger
Angers Jr.
Quad 4 Midget Participation David Blaze, Jim Close, Don Douville, Kelly
Ferrell, Vincent Jacobs, Joe Krawiec, Doug Meyer, Jamie Spalding, R.J.
Tufano, Bethany Viets, Scott Viets.
250cc Youth Sprints Participation Alex Adamsky, Michelle Dumas, Kara
Franqueza, Andrew Mullen, Derek Robie.
4 Cyl Street Stock: STEPHANIE BANACH, 2. Jamie Beaudry, 3. Ed Banach, 4.
Keith Holtman, 5. Darren Sallee, 6. Dan Dā?TAddario, 7. Fred Cheney, 8,
Mike Tkacz. Rookie of the Year: Keith Holtman.
Novice Karts: SPENCER BROCKMAN, 2. Kacie Heath, 3. Jake Ellis, 4. Matthew
McCuin, 5. Kayla Heath. Rookie of the Year: Spencer Brockman.
Lite: KARA FRANQUEZA, 2. Dylan Campbell, 3. Anna Coons, 4. Will Coons,
5. Steve Rockwood, 6. Josh Rutola. Rookie of the Year: Joshua Bucchere.
Turquoise: COREY LEMELIN, 2. Ryan Irish, 3. Dylan Irish, 4. Nora Lemelin,
5. Jeffrey Champagne, 6. Kaitlyn Brice. Rookie of the Year: Tyler Kirley.
Heavy: BILL TACK Gary Sokoloski Jr., 3. Jake Sapowsky, 4.Tim Gallant, 5.
Bruce Dodge, 6. R.J. Currey. Rookie of the Year: Arthur Martelle.
Junior: KYLE SMITH, 2. Kate Lafreniere, 3. Cullen Pike, 4. Mike Hauser,
5. Steven Banach. Rookie of the Year: Steven Banach.
2-Stroke: JASON WOOD, 2. Ernie Whidden, 3. Bruce Dodge, 4. Roger Angers Jr.
Modified Karts: ANNA COONS, 2. Gary Hublard, 3. Justin Dube, 4. Eric
Jorgenson, 5. Scott Kalber, 6. Roger Fujimoto, 7. Kelly Ferrell, 8, Ryan
Bigelow, 9. Jason Wood.
