Summit Motorsports Park Edelbrock Banquet of Champions presented by Lincoln Electric Offered Enchanting Evening
Norwalk, OH – The tenacity and true grit of Summit Motorsports Park racers took center stage at the 49th Annual Edelbrock Banquet of 
Champions presented by Lincoln Electric, Jan. 28, 2023 at the completely remodeled Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio.
The compelling ceremony began with side by side entrances by Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice champion Ellieanna Oldenburg and her grandfather, Dan Johnson, Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Intermediate champion Keegan Beverly and his father, Adam Beverly, Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Advanced champion Logan Buckley and his father, Lucas Buckley, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike champion Jeremy Hicks and his friend and fellow racer, Aubrey Collins, Edelbrock Pro champion A.J. Buchanan and his wife, Amy Buchanan, Edelbrock Super Pro champion Carl Keil and his wife, Kourtney Keil, and 2021 Bill Bader Sr. Sportsman of the Year Larry Strohscher and his wife, Nancy Strohscher. Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation champion Codie Balcom was not able to attend, but was with us in spirit.
“Our team wanted this to be a magical and memorable night for all of our champions and everyone who attended,” said Bill Bader Jr., Summit Motorsports Park president. “It means the world to us to celebrate the accomplishments of those we care about and cheer for all season long, and we couldn’t be more proud of those who stood in the spotlight on stage at the very special 49th Annual Edelbrock Banquet of Champions presented by Lincoln Electric.”
2022 Summit Motorsports Park champions pictured front, from left, Keegan Beverly, Ellieanna Oldenburg and Logan Buckley, and rear, from left, A.J. Buchanan, Carl Keil and Jeremy Hicks
After Chris Harben performed our country’s national anthem, Bader, Jr. as well as his son and Track Manager Evan Bader, and his sister and Sponsor Sales and Services Manager Bobbie Bader, began hosting the event, with Edelbrock Contingency Coordinator Billy Carroll as co-host, Jeff Goretzki and the Rock & Roll Express Entertainment Company as the production team and Kelli Bader as production assistant.
Deb Bader, wife of the late and beloved Bill Bader Sr., was acknowledged as being in attendance along with other very special guests and banquet sponsors, including Edelbrock, Lincoln Electric, Summit Racing Equipment, TFC Transportation, Norwalk Lions Club, Dornan’s Sales and Service, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels and B’Laster.
The spotlight turned to racers who finished sixth through tenth in points, including Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racers Lance Oberg, Bob Spishak, Greg Klein, A.J. Buchanan and Thomas Summers; Edelbrock Pro racers John Boes, Taylor Young, Dave Klippel, Bobby Gill and Victor Ellinger and Edelbrock Super Pro racers Tim McGuire, Dennis Rock, Chris Wallin, Joe Soucek and Tim Schmidt.
They were followed by racers who finished fifth in points, including Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice racer Callie Moreland, Intermediate racer Trey Dean, Advanced racer Cruz Schafer, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Jim Marcinowski, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer Jason Keller, Edelbrock Pro driver John Gregory and Edelbrock Super Pro racer Mike Willi.
Fourth place awards went to Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice racer Jacob Vile, Intermediate racer Vince Tiburzi, Advanced racer Gabe Wojnowski,Edelbrock Super Pro racer Jono Gerber, Edelbrock Pro racer Paul Stephens, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer Craig Adams and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Larry Strohscher.
Third place honors were delivered to Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice racer Abigail Baehr, Intermediate racer Parker Novak, Advanced racer Leah Verner, Edelbrock Super Pro racer Justin Hardy, Edelbrock Pro racer Brian Cireddu, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike rider Eric Birchfield and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Chris Klein.
Second place saw Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice competitor Brayden Baehr, Intermediate competitor Kace Shupp, Advanced competitor Jess Mitschke, Edebrock Super Pro competitor Fred Krakora, Edelbrock Pro competitor Jaeden Durst, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike competitor Garreth Sheppeard and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation competitor Chas Lang.
Applauded for representing Summit Motorsports Park at the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee were Abigail Baehr, Dererk Peters, Ryland Lawrence, Kendall Mason, Megan Kassin, Braden Peters, Riley Cole, Roman Iocoangeli, Summer Gibson, Nick Kassin, Brayden Baehr, Morgan Pickens, Madison Pickens, Keegan Beverly, Autumn Gibson, Cruz Schafer, Leah Verner, Antonio Iocoangeli, Ava Lawson, Lizzie Martel, Callie Moreland, Kendall Moreland, Adeline Lawson, Vince Tiburzi, Nick Peters, Ava Tiburzi, Alena Schafer, Grant Welte and Sydney Mason.
Summit Motorsports Park racers who qualified for the North Central Division NHRA Summit Racing Series Team Finals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, and helped lead the team to a dramatic second-place finish also were feted. Representing Edelbrock Super Pro were James Boos, Aubrey Collins, Shannon Compton, Blaine Hurst, Carl Keil, Alex Miller, Dave Paone, Dennis Rock and Joe Soucek Jr. The Edelbrock Pro team consisted of Matt Ball, John Boes, A.J. Buchanan, Mark Frazier, John Gregory, Dave Klippel, Steve Obertanec, Nathan Schultze and Bryan Workman, while the Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation team included Codie Balcom, Sandy Hensley, Greg Klein, Chas Lang, Ava Lawson, Jim Marcinowski, Adam Phillips, Jim Ring and Larry Strohscher. Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike featured Jeremy Hicks, Ed James, Jason Keller, Garreth Sheppeard and Scott Sheppeard. Securing extra success at that event were 2022 Edelbrock Super Pro champion Carl Keil, who won in Super Pro, 2022 Edelbrock Pro champion A.J. Buchanan, who won in Pro, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike rider Garreth Sheppeard, who won in Motorcycle and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation champion Codie Balcom, who won in the Sunoco Sportsman Race of Champions. Additionally, Keil, Buchanan and Sheppeard were commended for advancing to race at the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship at the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas, where Keil and Sheppeard emerged as World Champions. As a special surprise during the banquet, Summit Racing Equipment and R&R Auto Body presented Keil and Sheppeard with beautiful custom-painted trophy helmets.
Best Appearing awards went to Edelbrock Super Pro racer Adam Albright, Edelbrock Pro racer Jason Kruse, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Larry Strohscher, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer TJ Davis, Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice racer Derek Peters, Intermediate racer Keegan Beverly and Advanced racer Summer Gibson.
Carefully-chosen awards were given to Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer Eric Birchfield for Most Improved; Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Kaden Compton for Rookie of the Year; Billy Carroll of Edelbrock Group for Appreciation;Cornwell Quality Tools for Manufacturer of the Year; University Hospitals for Sponsor of the Year and Sam Hamilton of Hamilton Foods for Guy of the Year.
Johnny Camp was recognized for earning the 2022 championship in R&R Auto Body/DeCerbo Construction Rumble Wars, an action-packed series contested at select events at Summit Motorsports Park, and longtime Summit Motorsports Park racer Phil Smida, was recognized for earning the 2022 NHRA Division 3 Super Street championship.
Attention was directed to the Edelbrock Super Series, which awarded the top performers with over $54,000 in cash, and the Edelbrock Super Series Elite presented by American Race Cars and Lucas Oil, which offered the top 32 racers in Edelbrock Super Pro, Edelbrock Pro, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation and the top 16 racers in Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike, the opportunity to race for a share of a substantial $75,000 guaranteed purse at the Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire.
Also acknowledged were unique programs including the R&R Auto Body Paint-My-Ride, which in 2022 awarded 2022 Edelbrock Super Pro champion Carl Keil 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, Edelbrock Super Pro, Wiseco Cycle Tech Super Bike and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation, plus $100 to the runner-up; a scholarship for a driver to attend the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School and the Trick Flow Specialties Ultimate Performers race at the TransTec Halloween Classic presented by Harland Sharp, where competitors raced for trophies and gift certificates from Trick Flow Specialties and Summit Racing Equipment.
Also noted were Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco, which offered a thrilling opportunity for racers ages six through eighteen to compete in the 2022 season-long points chase for $4,500 in cash and awards, and the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster Shootout, which allowed the top eight junior-dragster racers in Novice, Intermediate and Advanced to compete in front of fans at the Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire for a share of cash and prizes. Collectively these programs, along with an expansive contingency program, bonuses and incentives, awarded Summit Motorsports Park racers with nearly half a million dollars in cash and prizes.
During the ceremony, the Jacob Wasko Scholarship Fund and Thumb’s Up Award for Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco racers were announced in loving memory of fellow racer Jacob Wasko, who passed away last year.
Among the many inspiring moments of the evening was Bader Jr. reading the name of each Bill Bader Sr. Sportsman of the Year back to 1975 before those in attendance joined him on stage. Then, in a touching and terrific tribute, Bader Jr. announced Gene Lampshire as the 2022 Bill Bader Sr. Sportsman of the Year before delivering a heartfelt speech about his honorableness and humility. Lampshire received a standing ovation as his family gathered to hug him on stage, and it was especially emotional as the presence of Bader Sr., who passed away last year, was felt by those gathered.
“It was truly an honor to welcome Gene Lampshire to our Bill Bader Sr. Sportsman of the Year Hall of Fame,” said Bader Jr. “Gene is a sportsman through and through. He is good-hearted and gracious, and charitable and compassionate. He loves his family, friends and fellow racers, and he holds them in high regard. We are blessed to have him in our Summit Motorsports Park family.”
Summit Motorsports Park offers a sincere congratulations to each champion and award recipient on their incredible accomplishments.
Summit Motorsport Park is at 1300 State Route 18, Norwalk, Ohio. For more information, please call 419-668-5555 or visit www.summitmotorsportspark.com.
Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos by Moto Lenz Photos
