Atlanta Dragway 2005 Track Champions crowned at Banquet
by Tim Glover
Atlanta Dragway racers enjoyed a new venue for the 2005 edition of the Summit Racing Series Banquet of Champions, presented by Snap-On Tools, at the Best Western Lanier Center hotel in Gainesville, Ga..
The evening began with a social hour, followed by an invocation by Racers for Christ pastor Lloyd Shanks. Atlanta Dragway's general manager, Ray Wilkings, emceed the evening, beginning with giving away a lot of door prizes.
Banquet attendees noticed a large number of trophies to be awarded in the front of the room. New for 2005, the top finishers in each class were awarded trophies as well as the cash awards. Trophies were awarded to the top 15 Super Pro racers, the top 10 Sportsman and Jr Dragster contestants, and the top five Trophy Street participants.
After dinner, Wilkings announced all the top finishers, beginning with the younger contingent of Jr Dragster competitors. The top three 8-12 Jr Dragster racers were Joshua Sisson, the 2005 champion, Ashton Shubert, second, and Jacquelyn Lastinger, who finished the year in third place. Sisson first thanked God and the soldiers fighting for our freedom. He then thanked the people who made his repeat championship possible, including Mom, Dad and Bill Gillen.
The next group recognized was the 13-17 Jr Dragster racers. The top three were Lauren Turner, the 2005 champ, Kyle Denton, second place, and Matt Gillen, who ended his year in third. At the podium, Turner thanked her competitors for forcing her to bring her "A" game to every time trial, every round and every race. She then thanked them for making her repeat championship fun. She gave a big thanks to her mom and dad, her fellow Team PTI members, Bill Gillen and Lennon Martin.
The top three contestants in Trophy Street were Mardy Kennedy, champion, Mel Abney, second, and Ashley Dumas, who finished third. Kennedy said, "I want to thank the good Lord above for the opportunity and the competition. If you can compete at Atlanta, you can compete anywhere."
Repeat Sportsman champion Chris Carlile thanked his fellow racers for their friendship. He then added, "I can see the Juniors coming up. Y'all take it easy on me when you get there!" Dickey Forrester finished the year in second, just one round win out of first, and Chuck Conaway finished third.
Tommy Motes, the new Super Pro champion, told the crowd, "I've been running at Atlanta Dragway since 1990. Great people, great track. Y'all look out next year." Stacy Blanton finished second, and Thomas Bell ended his year in third place.
Motorcycle racers were recognized. Jay "Bird" Rhyne is the 2005 Champion, followed by Jimmy "Cha Cha" Heisler, second and Don "Chaos" Chavous, who finished third.
Wilkings then announced the special awards, some of which were voted on by racers. The following racers won the Best Appearing Car award. Joe Haddon in Super Pro, Bill Boomhower, Sportsman, Mel Abney, Trophy Street, Thomas Davis-Cox, Jr Dragster and Jay Rhyne, Motorcycle.
Debbie Blackwell, a former racer who ran the staging lanes very well in 2005, was awarded the Employee of the Year plaque. Super Pro racer Gary Dunn, who was a championship contender earlier in the season, won the Most Inspirational award, and Trophy Street racer Mel Abney won the Sportsmanship award. Former Jr Dragster racer Heath Snelgrove, who now competes in Super Pro, was recognized as the Most Improved Driver. Kyle Denton won the Junior Sportsmanship award, and Jake Swaim was recognized as the Junior Dragster Rookie of the Year and thanked his Team PTI members for helping him race. Bill Gillen, who helps everyone in Jr Dragster, was voted Jr Dragster Parent of the Year, and added, "First, I want to thank my Lord and Saviour for making all this possible. Second, I want to thank my son Matt, who is a
former champion, a straight A student, and won third place in the wrestling tournament earlier today. He makes this fun."
After the awards were handed out, Wilkings announced a minor change to the class names at Atlanta Dragway, designed to bring the classes in line with the Summit Series. For 2006 and beyond, Sportsman will now be called Pro, and Trophy Street will be called Sportsman. Super Pro, Motorcycle, and Jr Dragster class names will remain the same. He then mentioned the season would start March 11, 2006 with the Hayes Fan Fest, and end November 11 at the 2006 banquet.
Ray Wilkings gave a special thanks to all the sponsors who make the 2005 season even better with donations of merchandise, certificates and services, all of which were awarded to Atlanta Dragway racers and / or their families. The list includes Applebee's, American Janitorial Supplies, Best Western Lanier Center, Coca-Cola, Foundry Park Inn, Georgia-Carolina Auto Auction and Detailing, Giftworks at the Joy Shopper, Hayes Family Dealerships, Holiday Inn Express at Chateau Elan, Mr. Bill's Souvenir Shack, Outback Steakhouse, Red Roof Inn, Ruby Tuesday's, Snap-On Tools, Stringers, VP Racing Fuel and Year One.
Atlanta Dragway racers enjoyed a new venue for the 2005 edition of the Summit Racing Series Banquet of Champions, presented by Snap-On Tools, at the Best Western Lanier Center hotel in Gainesville, Ga..
The evening began with a social hour, followed by an invocation by Racers for Christ pastor Lloyd Shanks. Atlanta Dragway's general manager, Ray Wilkings, emceed the evening, beginning with giving away a lot of door prizes.
Banquet attendees noticed a large number of trophies to be awarded in the front of the room. New for 2005, the top finishers in each class were awarded trophies as well as the cash awards. Trophies were awarded to the top 15 Super Pro racers, the top 10 Sportsman and Jr Dragster contestants, and the top five Trophy Street participants.
After dinner, Wilkings announced all the top finishers, beginning with the younger contingent of Jr Dragster competitors. The top three 8-12 Jr Dragster racers were Joshua Sisson, the 2005 champion, Ashton Shubert, second, and Jacquelyn Lastinger, who finished the year in third place. Sisson first thanked God and the soldiers fighting for our freedom. He then thanked the people who made his repeat championship possible, including Mom, Dad and Bill Gillen.
The next group recognized was the 13-17 Jr Dragster racers. The top three were Lauren Turner, the 2005 champ, Kyle Denton, second place, and Matt Gillen, who ended his year in third. At the podium, Turner thanked her competitors for forcing her to bring her "A" game to every time trial, every round and every race. She then thanked them for making her repeat championship fun. She gave a big thanks to her mom and dad, her fellow Team PTI members, Bill Gillen and Lennon Martin.
The top three contestants in Trophy Street were Mardy Kennedy, champion, Mel Abney, second, and Ashley Dumas, who finished third. Kennedy said, "I want to thank the good Lord above for the opportunity and the competition. If you can compete at Atlanta, you can compete anywhere."
Repeat Sportsman champion Chris Carlile thanked his fellow racers for their friendship. He then added, "I can see the Juniors coming up. Y'all take it easy on me when you get there!" Dickey Forrester finished the year in second, just one round win out of first, and Chuck Conaway finished third.
Tommy Motes, the new Super Pro champion, told the crowd, "I've been running at Atlanta Dragway since 1990. Great people, great track. Y'all look out next year." Stacy Blanton finished second, and Thomas Bell ended his year in third place.
Motorcycle racers were recognized. Jay "Bird" Rhyne is the 2005 Champion, followed by Jimmy "Cha Cha" Heisler, second and Don "Chaos" Chavous, who finished third.
Wilkings then announced the special awards, some of which were voted on by racers. The following racers won the Best Appearing Car award. Joe Haddon in Super Pro, Bill Boomhower, Sportsman, Mel Abney, Trophy Street, Thomas Davis-Cox, Jr Dragster and Jay Rhyne, Motorcycle.
Debbie Blackwell, a former racer who ran the staging lanes very well in 2005, was awarded the Employee of the Year plaque. Super Pro racer Gary Dunn, who was a championship contender earlier in the season, won the Most Inspirational award, and Trophy Street racer Mel Abney won the Sportsmanship award. Former Jr Dragster racer Heath Snelgrove, who now competes in Super Pro, was recognized as the Most Improved Driver. Kyle Denton won the Junior Sportsmanship award, and Jake Swaim was recognized as the Junior Dragster Rookie of the Year and thanked his Team PTI members for helping him race. Bill Gillen, who helps everyone in Jr Dragster, was voted Jr Dragster Parent of the Year, and added, "First, I want to thank my Lord and Saviour for making all this possible. Second, I want to thank my son Matt, who is a
former champion, a straight A student, and won third place in the wrestling tournament earlier today. He makes this fun."
After the awards were handed out, Wilkings announced a minor change to the class names at Atlanta Dragway, designed to bring the classes in line with the Summit Series. For 2006 and beyond, Sportsman will now be called Pro, and Trophy Street will be called Sportsman. Super Pro, Motorcycle, and Jr Dragster class names will remain the same. He then mentioned the season would start March 11, 2006 with the Hayes Fan Fest, and end November 11 at the 2006 banquet.
Ray Wilkings gave a special thanks to all the sponsors who make the 2005 season even better with donations of merchandise, certificates and services, all of which were awarded to Atlanta Dragway racers and / or their families. The list includes Applebee's, American Janitorial Supplies, Best Western Lanier Center, Coca-Cola, Foundry Park Inn, Georgia-Carolina Auto Auction and Detailing, Giftworks at the Joy Shopper, Hayes Family Dealerships, Holiday Inn Express at Chateau Elan, Mr. Bill's Souvenir Shack, Outback Steakhouse, Red Roof Inn, Ruby Tuesday's, Snap-On Tools, Stringers, VP Racing Fuel and Year One.
posted by David @ 2:11 AM
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