11/13/2004

BLISS, HOPKINS, WILSON, AND SLIPPY RECEIVE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES AT HOLLAND AWARDS BANQUET

Holland, NY: The Buffalo Raceway and Gaming Facility in Hamburg, NY was the sight of the second of Holland Speedway's two annual end-of-season awards banquets. The affair took place on Friday, November 12, and honored the top drivers in the Sunoco Late Model Pro Stock, Pro Modified, Charger, and Pro Four divisions. 

Top drivers in all divisions shared in the point fund monies raised through the Friends of Auto Racing (Foar Score) Fan Club, while Late Model Pro Stock and Pro Modified drivers also shared in point fund monies from Hoosier Race Tires. Late Model Pro Stock drivers also had their fund supplemented courtesy of Sunoco Race Fuels, while the Charger division also had point fund monies added through Towel City Tires. 

For the fourth consecutive season, and fifth time overall, Vern Bliss of Arcade, NY was crowned as champion of the NASCAR Sunoco Late Model Pro Stocks at Holland. Bliss rolled to five feature wins through the season en route to the title. Points runner-up George Skora III was presented with the division's Most Improved Driver Award, and was also selected as the Late Model's Most Popular driver, per fan balloting. Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr., who earned the first two feature victories in his career in 2004, was also a double award winner. Fiebelkorn's sharp looking Ford #50 was the winner of the McCool Paint Workz Best Appearing Car Award, and Mike was selected by his fellow drivers as the division's Most Sportsmanlike Driver. 

Other Late Model award winners included Jeff Brown, Jr., as the Hard Luck Driver, and Bill Matuszak, whose crew was deemed the division's Best Appearing Crew. 

Neil Hopkins of West Falls, NY was a busy driver in 2004. Hopkins drove to a fourth career Holland title in the open-wheeled Pro Modified division, while also debuting a Late Model ride. Hopkins had a top ten finish in Late Model points, and was named that division's Rookie of the Year. 

Pro Modified points runner-up Steve Kreitzbender, a six time feature winner in 2004, received the McCool Paint Workz Best Appearing Car Award. Sherri Hogan, who placed third in points in a season in which she won her first career feature race, received the Pro Modified Most Improved Driver Award, and was selected by the fans as the division's Most Popular Driver. Steve Hoxie, who won his first career Holland feature in '04 in the prestigious George Decker Memorial Challenge in June, placed fourth in points and also received the Best Appearing Pit Crew award. Jason Kline, another driver who earned a first career feature win in '04, was named the division's Rookie of the Year, while Chuck Anderson earned the Hard Luck Award for the class and Jim Loffredo was selected by his fellow drivers as the Pro Modified's Most Sportsmanlike driver. 

Two feature victories and a string of consistent top five finishes earned Dave Wilson, Jr. of Hamburg, NY his first championship crown in the Charger division. The Wilson crew was also named the division's Best Appearing Pit Crew. 

Rob Misczcak, who earned a first career feature win and placed fourth in points, was presented with the division's Most Improved Driver Award. Jerry Kosmowski's #69 was judged as the winner of the McCool Paint Workz Best Appearing Car award, and Jerry's mother, crew member Karen Kosmowski, won the annual Holland Woman in Racing Award. 

Ed Kicinski earned the Charger Hard Luck Award, past champion John Grandits was judged by his fellow drivers as the Charger Most Sportsmanlike Driver, Jason Dieter was named the division's Rookie of the Year, and Al Grimmer was the selection of the fans as the Most Popular Driver of the class. 

The leading feature winner at Holland in 2004, Bob Slippy of East Concord, NY drove to ten victories en route to the Pro Four title. Slippy was also chosen by his fellow drivers as the division's Most Sportsmanlike Driver, and his #10 Nissan was chosen as the winner of the McCool Paint Workz Best Appearing Car award. Points runner-up "Mad Mike" Eckam earned both Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Driver honors, and was selected by the fans as the division's Most Popular driver. Chad Pusloski, third in points, was presented with the division's Hard Luck Award. 

Late Model driver Mark Bliss was presented with a special award for his victory in the Upstate Automotive 50 lap Late Model special while Shawn Dunning was acknowledged with a special trophy by Budweiser and Try-It Distributing for his victory in the prestigious Budweiser 100. 

The Ray Greenan Award, to recognize individuals who take the extra step to enhance auto racing at Holland Speedway, was presented posthumously to Dick Dean. "Deano," a long-time tow truck operator at the Speedway, passed away this Fall after battling cancer. 

Craftsman Mechanic of the Year Awards were presented to Dale Kling, owner and crew chief of the Marty Kling Late Model, to Lisa Grimmer, crew chief of her husband Al's Charger, and to Charger owner/driver Marty Hughes, who also builds and wrenches numerous Figure 8 and 4-cylinder cars in competition at the Speedway. 

The Unsung Hero Award was presented to long-time Holland video cameraman Dale Miller. Media Awards were presented to Zoanne Good of Gater Racing News, Pete Loretto of the RaceTrack Radio Show from WSPQ-AM, Springville, NY, and posthumously to Joe Woytak. Joe, a long time race photographer and most recently, a columnist for Speedway Scene, passed away in September -- Joe's wife Susan accepted the award. 

Top Gun Race Team Sponsor Awards were presented to Martin Brothers Dealerships (Gold Award), Patrick Development (Silver Award), and McCool Paint Workz (Bronze Award). 

NASCAR Sunoco Late Model Pro Stocks - Top Ten in points: VERN BLISS, George Skora, III, Eldon King, III, Bill Matuszak, Dan Domanowski, Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr., Eric Sanders, Bill Catania, Art Logsdon, Neil Hopkins. 
Feature Winners: Vern Bliss (5), Shawn Dunning (3), Bill Matuszak (3), Mark Bliss (2), Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr. (2), and Bob Weber (1). Rain - 6. 

Pro Modifieds - Top Ten in points: NEIL HOPKINS, Steve Kreitzbender, Sherri Hogan, Steve Hoxie, Chuck Anderson, Randy Jazembak, Jason Kline, John West, Jim Loffredo, Dave Hannahs. 
Feature Winners: Steve Kreitzbender (6), Neil Hopkins (4), Steve Hoxie (2), Sherri Hogan (1), and Jason Kline (1). Rain - 6. 

Chargers - Top Ten in points: DAVE WILSON, JR., Marty Hughes, Tim Welshans, Rob Miszczak, Ed Kicinski, Jerry Kosmowski, John Grandits, Joe Fetzer, Jason Dieter, Chris Kline. 
Feature Winners: John Grandits (3), Joe Fetzer (2), Marty Hughes (2), Dave Wilson, Jr. (2), Jason Dieter (1), Ed Kicinski (1), Jerry Kosmowski (1), Rob Miszczak (1), and Craig Orr (1). Rain - 6. 

Pro Fours - Top Eight in points: BOB SLIPPY, Mike Eckam, Chad Pusloski, Dave Kirsch, Michelle Roberts, Damian Fisher, Jason Adams, Brian Slippy. 
Feature Winners: Bob Slippy (10) and Damian Fisher (3). Rain - 6. 

Source:  Rick Mooney/Holland Speedway PR
Posted:  November 15, 2004