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Drivers Honored At MIS Banquet
Monday, February 19, 2007 (Oregon, WI) - Drivers from five weekly racing
divisions were honored at the annual Madison International Speedway banquet
that was held on January 29th at The Heights in Verona, Wisconsin.
A crowd of nearly four hundred was on hand for a special night that recognized
the accomplishments of the 2006 racing season. Scotty Ernst served as
emcee.
Bobby Wilberg of Orfordville, Wisconsin, was crowned as the 2006 Weaver Auto
Parts Madison Late Model track champion and became the first repeat winner in
the division. Wilberg also has track championships in both the Super
Late Models and Midwest Modfieds at MIS. Wilberg thanked his sponsors
along with several of his fellow competitors by saying, "It's great
to know there are guys out there who are your friends."
Earning runner-up honors in the Madison Late Model division was Travis Sauter
of Necedah, Wisconsin. Sauter entered the final night of the season with
the point lead only to discover that anything that could go wrong did go wrong
as he was forced to drop out of the feature. Sauter also received the
2006 Hard Luck Award. Rounding out the top five were Nathan Haseleu of
Marshall, Wisconsin, Dan Lensing of Rockford, Illinois, and Andrew Morrissey
of DeForest, Wisconsin.
Rookie of the Year in the Weaver Auto Parts Madison Late Models was Jason
Erickson of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. The "Favorite Driver" award
was presented to Zack Riddle of Brooklyn, Wisconsin, with Erickson picking up
the award for "Best Appearing Car." A total of sixty-seven
drivers earned points in 2006 in the division.
Jeremy Miller of Rockton, Illinois, was crowned champion of the Rockweiler
Insulation Limited Late Models. The championship was Miller's first at
MIS. Miller saved his best effort for the last night of the season when
he won his only feature of 2006 and edged out runner-up Bobby Wilberg
546-522. Miller thanked his car owner, sponsors, and crew for making his
championship possible. Following Wilberg and Miller in the final points
standings were Bill Baumeister of Janesville, Wisconsin, Jerry Gille of
Rockford, Illinois, and Beau Sanden of Janesville, Wisconsin.
Cottage Grove, Wisconsin's Cliff Rucks was honored as Rookie of the Year with
Miller recognized as "Favorite Driver." Twenty-five drivers
earned points this season.
Scott "Chico" Riedner of Waunakee, Wisconsin, led from start to
finish in the Bryden Motors Area Sportsman division enroute to his second
track championship at MIS. Riedner won the Sportsman divison back in
1998 while racing on the half-mile. He captured five heat wins and six
feature victories on the way to his title. After thanking his sponsors,
Riedner reminded everyone in attendance to "...thank anyone who ever
sponsored a racecar because without money from other people it just can't be
done."
For the second year in a row, Scott Lawver of Roscoe, Illinois, was runner-up
followed by Casey Burns of Edgerton, Wisconsin, Ryan Goldade of Stoughton,
Wisconsin, and Chris Ehrhart of Deerfield, Wisconsin.
Rookie of the year was Shaun Scheel of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, with Goldade
honored as "Favorite Driver." A total of twenty-five drivers
won points in 2006.
Mike Storkson of Evansville, Wisconsin, picked up one heat and three feature
wins in 2006 on his way to the track championship in the Club La Mark Hobby
Stocks. Storkson edged Johnny Robinson II of Beloit, Wisconsin, 831-807
to win his first-ever title. "I want to thank my parents...this
one's for you guys," said Storkson.
Rounding out the top five were Nick Newton of Jefferson, Wisconsin, Kyle Stark
of Waterloo, Wisconsin, and Rodger Stephenson of Cambridge, Wisconsin.
Stark won Rookie of the Year honors while Storkson was voted "Favorite
Driver" by the fans. Twenty-five drivers won points in 2006.
Fifteen year old Tyler Kelley of Oregon, Wisconsin, became the youngest track
champion ever at MIS by winning the Roto Rooter Bandits by leading the points
from start to finish. Kelley had three feature wins in 2006 including
the first race of the season. Kelley thanked his sponsors and especially
thanked his mom and dad for making his championship run possible.
Finishing runner-up was Stephen Scheel of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, followed by
Rory Padfield of Stoughton, Wisconsin, Kyle Riedner of Waunakee, Wisconsin,
and Alex Jones of Middleton, Wisconsin.
Rookie of the year honors went to Scheel with Riedner receiving the
"Favorite Driver" award. A total of forty-nine drivers earned
points in the division in 2006.
Wayne Forsythe of Wayne's Custom DIECAST presented the Hard Charger Awards to
Jeremy Miller and Bobby Wilberg and the Dash Seies award to Bill Baumeister.
Forsythe indicated that he will once again be sponsoring his awards program
for the limited late models in 2007 and will expand his dash series to six
events.
Scott Lawver was the lucky winner of a Lefthander Chassis with Chris Quam and
Travis Sauter winning gift certificates from Five Star.
The 2007 season will open on Sunday, May 6th when the Wisconsin Challenge
Series comes to MIS. The Friday night season opener will be May 11th.
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