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Summit Motorsports Park Champions Take Center Stage

The impressive accomplishments of the 2017 Summit Motorsports Park champions were celebrated during the inspiring 44th Annual Edelbrock Banquet of Champions presented by Lincoln Electric, January 13, 2018 at LaCentre Conference and Banquet Facility in Westlake, Ohio.

“It was a terrific weekend,” said Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park. “There was a high amount of energy, and people were excited to be reunited after not seeing each other since the last race of the season in October. It was a perfect way to end 2017 and an even better way to begin 2018.”

The ceremony opened with side-by-side entrances by Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice champion Roman Iocoangeli and his father, Mike Iocoangeli; Intermediate champion Ava Lawson and her grandfather, Ray Bouman; Advanced champion MacKenzie Kerns and her father, Ron Kerns; Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation champion Larry Strohscher and his wife, Nancy Strohscher; Edelbrock Pro champion Damien Hazelton and his wife, Sara Hazelton, Edelbrock Super Pro champion Eric Manuel and his wife, April Manuel, and 2016 Bill Bader Sportsman of the Year, Dennis Hall and his wife, Leann. Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike champion Craig Adams was not able to attend.

Ethan Olaes performed a moving mix of music on the piano, and Chris Harben sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Bader Jr., his son and Summit Motorsports Park marketing specialist Evan Bader, and sister and Summit Motorsports Park sponsor sales and services specialist Bobbie Bader, began hosting the event, with Cary Redman from Edelbrock as their co-host.

Acknowledged were special guests and banquet sponsors, including Edelbrock, Lincoln Electric, Summit Racing Equipment, B’laster, Car Parts Warehouse, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Dornan’s Sales and Service, Racing RVs, McIlvain Race Cars, Norwalk Lions Club, Classic Trophy, Ink, Inc. and Hagerty Insurance.

Then, the spotlight turned to drivers who finished sixth through tenth in points, including Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered On Time by TFC Transportation drivers Dale Boyer, Owen Hoover, Jim Marcinowski, Derek Simon and Cody Hipp; Edelbrock Pro drivers Austin Lenz, Wes Buckley, Mike Willi, Nicholas Moss and AJ Buchanan and Edelbrock Super Pro drivers Tim Schmidt, Carl Keil II, Ryan Pickens, Dennis Hall and Alex Miller.

They were followed by drivers and riders who finished fifth in points, including Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice driver Nicholas Peters; Intermediate driver Cruz Schafer and Advanced driver Kaitlyn Curtis; Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation driver Jeff Gates, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike rider Rick McWaters; Edelbrock Pro driver Sean Dornan and Edelbrock Super Pro driver Randy Scheuer Jr.

Fourth place awards went to Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice driver Gabe Wojnowski; Intermediate driver Jesse Mitschke and Advanced driver Courtney Grisez; Edelbrock Super Pro driver John Boes, Edelbrock Pro driver Lee Newmeyer, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike rider John Weisz and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation driver Thomas Summers.

Third place honors were delivered to Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice driver Alena Schafer; Intermediate driver Zachary Smith and Advanced driver Aubrey Collins; Edelbrock Super Pro driver Lisa Boes; Edelbrock Pro driver Vic Ellinger; Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike rider Rick Poole and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation driver James Ring.

Second place saw Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice driver Peyton Novak; Intermediate driver Ava Tiburzi and Advanced driver Michael Crowell; Edebrock Super Pro driver Steven Schmidt; Edelbrock Pro driver Jaeden Durst; Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike rider Tim Walker and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation driver Jaeden Durst.

Applauded for representing Summit Motorsports Park at the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee were Roman Iocoangeli, Alena Schafer, Vince Tiburzi, Kyle Beno, Allie Harrison, Nicholas Peters, Jesse Mitschke, Ava Tiburzi, Ava Lawson, Zachary Smith, Cruz Schafer, Antonio Iocoangeli, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Martel, Riley Cole, Braden Peters, Ashley Etzel, Madison Shaw, Morgan Curtis, Bryce Buehrer, Kaitlyn Curtis, Aubrey Collins, Kevin Wait, Allyson Downs, Noah Rambow, Sarah Mitschke, Courtney Grisez, Peyten Jimenez, Callie Martel, Seth Jimenez, Adam Retford, Brinasia Pollard, Hannah Shaw, Brandon Lange, Amanda Shaw, Jacob Kulik and Kaitlin Zietlow.

Summit Motorsports Park drivers who qualified for the North Central Division NHRA Summit Racing Series Team Finals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis also were feted. Representing Edelbrock Super Pro were Eric Manuel, Steven Schmidt, Lisa Boes, John Boes, Dennis Hall, Alex Miller, Tyler Schneider, Matt Dadas, Nick Reber, Abbie Cottrill and Kristen Kiger. The Edelbrock Pro team consisted of Damien Hazelton, Nicholas Moss, Austin Lenz, Sean Dornan, Lee Newmeyer, Mark Moreland, Mark Frazier, Kim Moritz, Jeff Pishnner, Frank McCullough and Mike DuMonte, while the Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation team included Larry Strohscher, Derek Simon, James Ring, Jaeden Durst, Dale Boyer, Len Searl, Owen Hoover, Tyler Shields, Jeremy Murray and Jordon Halbisen. Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike featured Craig Adams, John Weisz, Tim Walker, Rick Poole, Ed James and Mike Wagner. Brittany DuMonte was the park’s High School category driver, and the team accomplished a third place finish while competing against 16 other tracks.

Best Appearing awards went to Edelbrock Super Pro driver Dennis Hall; Edelbrock Pro driver Ron Kerns; Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation driver Larry Strohscher; Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike rider Nicholas Shaw; Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice driver Vince Tiburzi; Intermediate driver Zachary Smith and Advanced driver Bryce Buehrer.

Among the many highlights of the night was Bader Jr. reading the name of each Bill Bader Sportsman of the Year back to 1975 before asking those in attendance to join him on stage. There, they all welcomed Edelbrock Pro driver Rick Guenther as the 2017 Bill Bader Sportsman of the Year, and the obviously touched Guenther accepted his trophy from last year’s Bill Bader Sportsman of the Year, Edelbrock Super Pro driver Dennis Hall.

Additional award recipients included Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike rider John Weisz for Most Improved; Edelbrock Pro driver Austin Lenz for Rookie of the Year; Drag Illustrated for Media of the Year; Vanessa Lowe for Appreciation Award; Mike Iocoangeli for Guy of the Year; Kelly Services for Sponsor of the Year and Edelbrock for Manufacturer of the Year.

Phil Smida was recognized as the 2017 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 3 Super Comp and Super Street champion, and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Sportsman of the Year in Super Eliminator Categories, and his dad, Phil Smida Sr., was recognized as the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 3 Mechanic of the Year.

Additional attention was directed to the Edelbrock Super Series, which awarded the top performers with over $53,000 in cash, and the McIlvain Race Cars Super 64, which awarded qualifiers the chance to win a total purse of $20,300 with $10,000 going to the winner.

Also acknowledged were unique programs including the R&R Auto Body Paint-My-Ride Program, which awarded Edelbrock Pro driver Steven Schmidt a custom car makeover; the Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation Bonus, which awarded a minimum of $500 to racers laying down perfect passes in Edelbrock Pro and Edelbrock Sportsman, plus $100 to the runner-up, and a scholarship to attend the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School.

Additionally, Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco offered a thrilling opportunity for young drivers ages eight through eighteen to compete in the 2017 season-long points chase for $3,000 in cash and awards, and the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster Shootout last summer allowed the top eight junior dragster drivers in Novice, Intermediate and Advanced to race for a share of $7,000 in cash and prizes.

Those programs, paired with an expansive contingency program, bonuses and incentives, awarded Summit Motorsports Park racers with nearly half a million dollars in cash and prizes.

“I’m very proud of our champions, and I want to congratulate them and our award recipients, including our 2017 Sportsman of the Year, Rick Guenther,” said Bader Jr. “He’s a very humble young man, and I’m happy to have him in our Sportsman of the Year Hall of Fame.”

 

Photos by Moto Lenz
1) Champions Ava Lawson (left), Larry Strohscher, Roman Iocoangeli, Eric Manuel, Damien Hazelton and MacKenzie Kerns
2) Bill Bader Jr. (left), Bobbie Bader and Evan Bader
3) Bill Bader Jr. (left), Roman Iocoangeli and Chris Bear of Bear Motorsports
4) Bill Bader Jr. (left), Chris Bear of Bear Motorsports and MacKenzie Kerns
5) 2017 Sportsman of the Year Rick Guenther (front), with Bobbie Bader and previous Sportsmen of the Year

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