1/27/08

WILL THOMAS AND RICH MICHAEL, JR. NAMED AS DRIVERS OF THE YEAR AT FRIENDS OF AUTO RACING AWARDS BANQUET

 
Bowmansville, NY: The Friends of Auto Racing (F.O.A.R. S.C.O.R.E.) Fan Club held their annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the Classics V Banquet Hall in Amherst, NY. A crowd of approximately 275 gathered for the affair which annually recognizes champions of speedways and traveling circuits in Western New York and Ontario's Niagara Region and presents specialty awards to deserving drivers and key racing supporters. The highlights of the evening included the induction of five members into the Friends of Auto Racing Hall of Fame and the presentation of Driver of the Year Awards to Rich Michael, Jr. of Ischua, NY (dirt racing) and Will Thomas of Sharpsville, PA (asphalt racing).

 

2008 FOAR SCORE Hall of Fame inductees from left: Ron Williams, Ron Martin (Miserantino), Pete Bicknell, Rick Wylie with Dean Layfield's nephew John Layfield accepting the award for his late uncle. Photographer: Captain History

Thomas won his second consecutive MAARA Late Model Series title, scoring two victories and finishing no worse than fourth in any series event. He swept all three Late Model special events at Holland and rolled to the Late Model Race of Champions victory at Oswego. In overall NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points, he placed 20th.

Michael had a career best season in E-Mod racing in the area, earning four track titles (Little Valley, Freedom, McKean, and Bradford-The Hill), picking up 20 wins along the way. Five of those wins came at Little Valley as he swept every E-Mod event held at the Cattaraugus County, NY fairgrounds oval.

A new annual award was debuted at this awards banquet: the Families in Racing Award. The award recognizes area families who have had long, successful involvements with the sport in the region; the families were presented with a recognition trophy while a permanent plaque will be housed at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen. The first two families to be recognized were the Pangrazio family and the Wylie family. The Pangrazios, with their home base in northern Genesee County, NY, have been in competition at virtually every speedway in the area at one time or another for over 45 years, and 21 family members have taken part in active competition. Three generations of the Buffalo, NY based Wylies have been racing in the area for 50 years earning wins and championships, and two members of the family, Ron and Rick, are in the Friends of Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Achievement Awards were presented to Paul Klager and Jeff McGinnis (dirt) and Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr. and Tony Hanbury (asphalt). Klager was Merrittvilles's winningest driver in 2007 with 11 Open Wheel Lite victories, while McGinnis was honored for his Lucas Oil 358 Modified Series title as a Modified rookie. Fiebelkorn was recognized for his Holland NASCAR SST Pro Modified championship in his first year in an open-wheeled racer, while Hanbury received the award in recognition of his great late season streak - clinching the Chemung SST Sportsman Modified title, and winning the SST Sportsman highlight events at Oswego (Race of Champions) and Wyoming County (Butch Drennan Memorial).

Rookie of the Year awards were presented to Ransomville Street Stock champion Ryan Susice (dirt) and first year Holland Pro Modified racer Jeff Price. Most Improved Driver awards went to Merrittville Sportsman champion and Lucas Oil Sportsman Shoot-Out champ Chad Chevalier and Freedom Street Stock titlist Justin Tatlow (dirt) and Lancaster Street Stock champion Andy Jankowiak (asphalt).

Holland Pro Modified driver Neil Hopkins was honored with the Sportsmanship Award, while Freedom E-Mod racer Carl "Dill" Ballinger received the Perseverance Award.

The Dick Hammond Dedication to Auto Racing Award was presented to long time are racing personality Hal Lawrence, in recognition of his 50+ years of involvement as a driver, mechanic, track official, and promotional assistant.

Joe Barber and the Barber Family received the Promotional Efforts Award for their success at Bliss International Speedway, most notably for the Gail Barber/Dave MacLeod Memorial Night, a highlight event in local Karting.

Erica Bicknell, General Manager of Merrittville Speedway was presented with the Woman in Racing Award, while Jack Dudkiewicz, crew chief for the Will Thomas Late Model racing team, was named as the Mechanical Achievement Award winner.

Mike Paz, nationally known Public Address announcer at such venues as Daytona, Watkins Glen, New Hampshire, and Phoenix, as well as PA voice for many race tracks in the Western New York area, received the Media Award.

Special Recognition Awards were presented to asphalt Modified racer Erick Rudolph, in recognition of his first career Modified feature win in a Race of Champions Series event at Wyoming County in his first full season in a Modified; Wayne and Cheryl Turnbull for their long time support of Western New York TQ Midget racing from their Ontario home base; and racing historian Mark Southcott for his tireless efforts in researching and updating past statistics and documenting the history of racing in the region.

Contribution to Racing Awards were presented to Phyllis and Barry Decker, for their efforts in making the George Decker Memorial race for Pro Modifieds at Holland a resounding success; and to Dan Theil and Theil Motorsports for the sponsorship support of area racing, most notably asphalt 4-cylinder racing. Long time Friends of Auto Racing board member Robbie Robinson received the President's Award for exceptional service to the club.

2007 Track and Organizational Championship Awards were presented to:

Can-Am TQ Midgets: Todd Cresswell
Casey's TQ Midget Series: Dave Wollaber
Cup Lites Series: Scott Wylie
WNY Mini Cup Club: Jesse Hartloff
WNY Junior Mini Cups: Michelle Becker
SST Modified Sportsman Series: T.J. Potrzebowski
MAARA Late Model Series: Will Thomas
Lucas Oil Shootout Series - 358 Modifieds: Jeff McGinnis
Lucas Oil Shootout Series - Sportsmen: Chad Chevalier
BRP CanAM 360 Late Model Series: Jeff Chesebro.

Freedom Raceway: Late Models - Greg Oakes, E-Mods - Rich Michael, Jr., Street Stocks - Justin Tatlow, Mini Stocks - Steve Mowrey, Pure Stocks - John Ellwood.
Genesee Speedway: DIRTCar Sportsmen - Rob Pratt, 360 Late Models - Jim Johnson, DIRTCar Pro Stocks - Pete Stefanski, Street Stocks - Bill Weller, Mini Stocks - Ken Hixenbaugh.
Holland Speedway: NASCAR SST Pro Modifieds - Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr., Chargers - Jim Loffredo, Pro Fours - Brian Porebski; INEX Legends - Jeff Johnson; 4-Cyl. Hornets - Brandon Hirsch, Queen Bees - Ashley Kirchberger.
New Humberstone Speedway: DIRTCar Sportsmen - Wayne Conn, Street Stocks - Brad Sheehan, Mini Stocks - James Small, 4-Cyl Trucks - Ed McNamara.
Lake Erie Speedway: NASCAR Late Models - Mark Bliss.
Lancaster Raceway Park: Modifieds - Buck Catalano, Late Models - Bob Weber, SST Modified Sportsman - Nick Cappelli, Super Stocks - Wayne Bernhard, Street Stocks - Andy Jankowiak, TQ Midgets - Dave Wollaber.
Little Valley Speedway: Super Late Models - Bob Close, 360 Late Models/Super Stocks - Randy Hall, E-Mods - Rich Michael, Jr., Street Stocks - Chris Austin.
Merrittville Speedway: DIRTCar 358 Modifieds - Pete Bicknell, DIRTCar Sportsmen - Chad Chevalier, Hoosier Stocks - Rob Murray, Open Wheel Lites - Paul Klager, Mini Stocks - Abel Castelein.
Ransomville Speedway: DIRTCar 358 Modifieds - Todd Burley, DIRTCar Sportsmen - Don Spatorico, Street Stocks - Ryan Susice.
Wyoming County International Speedway: SST Modified Sportsman - Jim Pierce, Super Stocks - Kevin Herbert, 4-Cyl Wasps - Kevin Grom.

2007 Karting Championship Awards were presented to:

Bliss International Speedway: Spec Modified Pro/Spring - Tim Shelley, Spec Modified Pro/Fall - Tom Shelley, Spec Modified Amateur - Jacob Hannahs, Junior I - Fletcher Macomb, Junior II - Owen Bednasz.
Merrittville Speedway: Senior - Ron Spatorico, Junior Restricted - Cori Webber, Junior I - Jake Lutz, Junior II - Ben Werth.
Ransomville Speedway: Masters - Randy Mallory, Stock Medium - Jonathan Reid, Junior Restricted - Jacob Stefanski, Junior I - Brent Senek, Junior II - Ben Werth.

FRIENDS OF AUTO RACING INDUCT BICKNELL, LAYFIELD, MISERANTINO, WILLIAMS, WYLIE INTO HALL OF FAME

Bowmansville, NY: At their annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 26th, the Friends of Auto Racing (F.O.A.R. S.C.O.R.E.) Fan Club inducted five new members into their Hall of Fame. The honorees included Pete Bicknell, Dean Layfield, Ron (Martin) Miserantino, Ron Williams and Rick Wylie.

The annual banquet fetes top drivers in Western New York and Ontario's Niagara Region, and introduces the newest members to the select Hall of those who have had a significant impact in the region's rich motorsports history. Each of the inductees received a recognition award, while the permanent Hall of Fame trophy and display is housed at the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen. The banquet was held at the Classics V in Amherst, NY. Masters of Ceremonies Rick Mooney and Dave Buchanan presided over the inductions.

Pete Bicknell continues to add to his racing record as a championship racer, a leading race car builder, and a track owner. With longtime business partner Randy Williamson, his BRP Racing Products has become one of the top dirt Modified fabricating operations in the northeast, and the Bicknell-Williamson owned Merrittville Speedway has become a racing showplace in the region since the acquisition in 2002. However, it is his accomplishments as a racer that ensured his spot in the Hall of Fame: career race wins approaching 400, 39 Modified track championships, including 19 at Merrittville and 10 at Ransomville, two Mr. DIRT 358 Modified crowns, and five 358 Modified victories at Super DIRT Week. Former racer and current area dirt track race official Jeff Anstett made the presentation.

The late Dean Layfield was part of a family legendary for their racing exploits in the Southern Tier of New York State and Northern Pennsylvania. In the formative days of stock car racing post World War II, he amassed at least 50 victories in competition at numerous tracks in the area. His record includes a 12th place finish in the final Daytona 500 run on the old beach course in 1958. Sadly, his racing career and life were cut short in 1961, when a rock kicked up by another racer at Perry Raceway struck him in the head and he succumbed to the injuries a few days later. Dean's nephew John accepted the award; Friends of Auto Racing board member Pete Loretto made the presentation.

Ron Miserantino was a police officer by trade and racer by the weekend from the mid-fifties until retiring from weekly racing in 1981. He has made sporadic appearances on the track in the 25+ years since that retirement though, most recently in 2006, so that his record shows competition in each of the past six decades. Competing under his racing name of Ron Martin, he counted career wins at multiple venues including Buffalo's Civic Stadium, Lancaster, Spencer, and Cayuga, and was the 1973 Lancaster Modified Champion. He served a four year stint as Lancaster's Race Director in the ‘80s, and has been a long time member of the Friends of Auto Racing Board of Directors. Retired racer and Foar Score Hall of Fame member Jerry Gradl made the presentation.

The racing career of Ron Williams has spanned over 40 years and he continues to be in active competition. He has earned six track championships at Perry/Wyoming County (2 Late Model, 4 Modified Sportsman) and two Late Model crowns at Holland. Overall, he has over 125 career victories at over 10 different speedways winning on both dirt and asphalt. His record includes 45 Late Model wins at Holland alone. He has also had success in a Modified, with 14 career Lancaster Modified wins and eight top five point finishes. His racing machines are well known in the area for his signature racing number, "Evil 1." Retired racer and former Friends of Auto Racing Club officer Mary Rembold made the presentation.

Rick Wylie grew up around racing, watching his father and uncles compete. He started out in competition himself in the mid-seventies, and quickly became a top driver in the Holland Charger division, earning two divisional titles. Moving up to the Late Model ranks in 1982, he earned Holland Rookie-of-the-Year honors, and proceeded to become one of the top drivers in Holland Late Model history. Teaming with car owner Vince Fullone for most of his Late Model career, he scored seven Holland Late Model titles, with four in a row in the late nineties, and had sixty Holland Late Model victories, including six wins in the Fall Late Model classic, the Budweiser 100. He also won three Late Model US Open titles at Lancaster. With his father Ron already in the Hall of Fame, they have become the third father-son combination so honored. Retired racer and current Friends of Auto Racing Club President Roger McCabe made the presentation.

This induction class brings the total membership in the Friends of Auto Racing Hall of Fame to 96.

(Contact – Rick Mooney: Rmooney@aol.com or Roger McCabe: 716-655-1593)

[Photo Gallery by M.M Sports Photos: added 1/28]

Source: Rick Mooney/FOAR SCORE PR
Additions & Corrections: Mark Southcott/NYRaceZone.com
Posted: January 27, 2008; updated: January 28, 2008