34 Raceway honors racers and more at 2015 season banquet
34 Raceway owner Amy Laue (left) crowns Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, Il. during the 34 Raceway 2015 Season Awards Banquet held in Burlington Saturday night, January 30. Four Cylinder racer, Abbott, was the first female to win a 34 Raceway track championship title and also was a three time track champion at three area tracks, 34 Raceway, Quincy Raceway and Lee County Speedway.
Photo by Dana Royer/34 Raceway
By Dana Royer/34 Raceway
BURLINGTON, IA (January 30, 2016) – 34 Raceway recognized track champions, racers, fans, sponsors and employees at the its 2015 Season Awards Banquet Saturday night January 30 in Burlington with nearly 300 in attendance. The evening began with the recognition of the 2015 Track Champions including two triple crown winners before a delicious meal served.
34 Raceway’s Track Champions included two drivers who won track championships at three different tracks last season. Joey Gower (IMCA Sport Mods), Quincy, Il., and 34 Raceway’s first female track champion Kimberly Abbott (4 Cylinders), Camp Point, Ill, both won track championships in their classes at 34 Raceway, Quincy Raceways and Lee County Speedway in the 2015 Season. Other 34 Raceway track champions introduced were Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Il., 2015 IMCA Modified Track Champion, winning his second straight championship. After announcing at the beginning of last season, Justin Newberry, Danville, announced it would be his last season of racing went out on a high note winning the 305 Sprint Track Championship. Shane Watts, Burlington, picked up his first IMCA Stock Car championship in a final night thriller. Brad Lucy, Galesburg, Ill was crowned the Miller Lite Mod Lite Champion and Aaron Schuck, Joliet, Ill. won the IMRA Midget track title.
34 Raceway paid out well over a half a million dollars to racers during its short six month racing season (including 8 rainouts). In order for drivers to receive recognition and point money they had to participate in a minimum of 80% of the point events at 34 Raceway in 2015. Thirty-eight drivers paticipated in 100% of the races. Cash and prizes for the evening totaled over $18,000.
34 Raceway continues to offer top payouts to the drivers who compete weekly on the 3/8 mile and boasts the biggest and best payout schedule in Iowa, Illinois or Missouri.
34 Raceway will begin its 2016 season with the Heartland Harley Davidson/34 Raceway Car Show & Roederers Season Kick Off Party on Saturday, March 19. The car show will be held at Heartland Harley Davidson from 11 am – 2 pm and the Kick Off Party will be held at Roederers Pit Stop starting at 6 p.m. The first race of the 2016 will be Saturday, April 2 with the Shottenkirk Sprint Invaders Special. For complete schedule go to www.34raceway.com.
A number of special awards, prizes and gifts were presented at the banquet to the following:
•Sponsors that also race: Gary Snyder, Bill Roberts, Tom Bowling Jr., Tom Lathrop, Jeff Waterman.
•Becks Towing & push truck crew
•Class Sponsors – Ward & Trina Gabeline with WT Gabeline & Sons Trucking, (305 Sprint Car class sponsor); Eric & Ashley Ryner from Ryner Transportation (IMCA Modified class sponsor), Linda & Crew from Casebine Credit Union (IMCA Sport Mod class sponsor).
•Perfect Attendance Drivers: (35 drivers received this award)
•Sponsorship awards – Beckman Towing/Larry Beckman; Casebine Credit Union; Cellular Concepts-Norm Gegner; Rick’s Sales & Service/Dixon Mowers; Riverview Designs; Roberts Tire Center; Ryner Transportation; Snyder Autobody; United Rentals; WT Gabeline & Sons Trucking.
•John Schulz – Officials Professionalism Award
•Brandyn Martin – Back in the Saddle Again Award
•Dillon Roth & Heath Bundy – Hard Luck Awards
•Jeff Waterman – Officials Professionalism Award
• Dugan Thye – Hard Luck Award
•Blake Woodruff & Dean McGee – Calm & Collected Award
• Joey Gower – Officials Professionalism Award
• Aaron Mitchell & Travis Hartman –Calm & Collected Award
• Ray Raker – Hard Luck Award
•Kevin Mortimer – Friend Till The End Award
• Todd Johnson – First to Arrive Every Race Night
• Crystal Raker – Sweetheart/High Five Award
• Brad Cahill & Matt Reynolds – Outstanding Performance Award
• Diane Rouse – Volunteer of the Year Award
• Turn 4 Crew – Carol, Marvin, Bob & Bob #1 Fans in the Stands Award
• Larry Beckman – Employee of the Year Award.
• SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS: 4 Cylinders-Jerrod Nichols; Mod Lites- Gary Snyder; IMRA Midgets – Brayden Gaylord; Stock Cars – Andrew Hustead; Modifieds – Bill Roberts Jr., Sport Mods – Tom Lathrop; 305 Sprints – Nick Guernsey.
• Kimberly Abbott – 1st Female Champion at 34 Raceway
• Alicia Pence – Organizing with the IMRA Midgets & Patience with the Drivers Award
• 34 Raceway employees Continuous Seasons Awards
•Rich Adams, retiring from 34 Raceway after the 2015 season was recognized for his service to 34 Raceway as track announcer.
•A special power point video was presented for sprint car racer and National Guardsman, Nick Guernsey, who, eleven years ago on January 30, was in a convoy that was ambushed in Iraq and took shrapnel to his face ultimately ending his deployment.
Category: 34 Raceway, Iowa
