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Whitney Honored At IRA Banquet
12/2 Watertown, WI The 47th annual Interstate Racing Association
Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series Awards Banquet was held Saturday
night at historic Turner Hall. A large crowd attended to honor first time IRA
Champion Travis Whitney and twenty-three of his fellow racers. $63,000 in cash
awards were presented. Contingency prizes galore were additionally presented,
as all twenty-four teams were present and rewarded for their season's
accomplishments and participation. Each team had to compete in at least 75% of
the scheduled 2006 events to be point fund eligible.
Whitney, the first driver ever to win the IRA Championship from the state of
Minnesota, took home the lion's share of nights' record point fund, earning a
$10,000 check for his teams' accomplishments which included 3 feature wins
(Deer Creek, Cedar Lake, Echo Valley), 15 top 5 finishes, most A-main points
earned, 2 heat wins, and 4 B-main victories. Additionally Whitney was awarded
two additional checks for his qualifying prowess, receiving $500 from Stevie
B's Landscaping for earning the Most Osborn & Son Trucking Fast Times (6),
and another $500 from TW Metals for accumulating the most qualifying points
throughout the campaign. Whitney was also awarded $200 from Behling Racing
Equipment for claiming the most B-Main wins of the season (4). Numerous
contingency prizes, and a pair of jackets completed the champion's prize
closet.
While son Travis claimed the night's top prizes, the 2006 IRA Championship
Trophy and the annual Frank Filskov Memorial IRA Championship Plaque, father
and car owner Walt Whitney appropriately received the Mechanix Wear Mechanic
of the Year Award.
Second place point finisher Mike Reinke picked up a pair of additional
accolades, as he received checks for capturing the Weld Wheels Winingest
Driver Award, and from CJW Distributors/Miller Beer for being high point man
at IRA's Wilmot Speedway visits. Reinke led IRA drivers in A-main victories
with five, scoring wins at Powercom Park, Wilmot, Hancock Co. Speedway, Cedar
Lake, and Dodge Co. Speedway. Reinke also won the most heat races of the
season (7) earning himself an array of gifts from Wix Filters.
Alex Bliesner was honored as IRA Rookie of the Year. Alex was awarded a custom
drivers suit courtesy of Awesome Racewear and R&H Enterprises, a new Bell
helmet, and a $1000 check from IRA presenting sponsor United Trailers. It
should be noted that this year's series champ Travis Whitney picked up that
same honor in 1998.
Tenth place points man Dave Uttech won the 2nd annual James Bartz Memorial
Most Improved Driver Award in an emotional presentation as the Bartz boys, Tim
& Ty, presented the award in honor of their father.
Veteran John Sernett was recognized by IRA's Midwest Saftey Team as their Perseverance
Award winner. John ran a two-car team this season as he and brother Tim
piloted the 91 & 91t. Gil Radtke presented John a plaque and a $500 check.
The prestigious Rick Schmidt Memorial IRA Member of the Year Award was
presented to long time IRA supporter Steve Meyer, and his family. Meyer who
finished fourth in the driver standings, also sits as a IRA Board of Director,
while his wife Andrea and their daughters Erica & Beth participate in
various capacities for IRA behind the scenes.
IRA Dedication Awards were presented to series statistician and treasurer Dick
Symoens, souvenir vendors Kim & Tom Tennyson, long time IRA photographer
Mike Spitzer, and the Midwest Saftey Team. The uniqueness and sincere
appreciation of IRA's saftey staff drew a thunderous standing ovation as
founder Gil Radtke and crew accepted their honor.
IRA Appreciation Awards were presented to Gordy Hubbard of Bumper to Bumper
Auto Parts, Mike Cline of Cummins Onan, and Dean Osborn of Osborn & Son
Trucking. O'Reilly Auto Parts, United Trailers, and TW Metals also received
awards, all have contributed greatly to IRA's success. McCroskey Chevrolet,
Arctic Cat, American Racer Tires, and Hoosier Tires were also recognized for
their outstanding support of the series, as were Behling Racing Equipment,
Gleason Equipment, and R&H Enterprises.
Eighth and Twelveth place point finishers, Scott Biertzer and Ryan Irwin were
the big winners in nights' popular Maxim Chassis/Gleason Equipment Drawing,
each winning a 2007 Maxim. Appropriately each team participated in 100% of
2006 IRA schedule.
Each of the twenty-four teams were awarded multiple contingency products, big
winners included Scotty Neitzel (All-Pro Cylinder Heads), Wayne Modjeski (Brodix
Cylinder Heads), and John Sernett (Design 500 Racewear).
MMZ Motorsports and driver Wayne Modjeski were voted the Justice Brothers Best
Appearing Car Award, each of the twenty-four teams attending cast a
vote.
IRA President Steve Sinclair and Knoxville Raceway's Justin Zoch co-emceed the
ceremony. A common statement heard throughout the evening during driver
speeches, was recognition of the great points battle throughout the season
which included Whitney, Reinke, and Scotty Neitzel.
Sinclair opened by proudly announcing that all series point fund sponsors were
back on for 2007, and that another record IRA point fund should be expected.
Don Taft and Mark Cavil provided separate video presentations, while Adam
Sturycz provided the musical entertainment.
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