34 Raceway’s Season Awards Banquet honors drivers
Jeff and Amy Laue (right) present Jessi Mynatt and Brad Stevens with the “Event of the Year” award at the 34 Raceway 2016 Season Awards Banquet held Saturday night, january 7 at the Comfort Inn Suites in Burlington. Mynatt and Stevens are the Slocum Foundation and spend numerous hours promoting the Slocum 50 race held at 34 Raceway each year.
Photo and Story by Dana Royer -34 Raceway
WEST BURLINGTON, IA (1-7-2017) – 34 Raceway held its 2016 Season Awards Banquet in Burlington Saturday night January 7. The evening included a banquet meal, recognition of top ten drivers, sponsors and also included a number of special aware recipients as well.
34 Raceway completed another successful year at the local 3/8 mile track and are looking forward to another great year in 2017 with some familiar and new events coming this year.
Drivers that finished in the top ten and were eligible for money and awards were recognized as well as the 2016 track champions. In order to receive recognition and point money each driver had to participate in a minimum of 75% of 34 Raceway’s point events in 2016. In 2016 34 Raceway paid out just over a half of a million dollars to racers during the six month season. In 7 divisions of cars, 50 drivers were eligible to receive money and awards. Over $12,000 was paid out .
2016 Track Champions include Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Il (IMCA Modifieds), Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington (305 Sprints), Jeff Mallonee, Bettendorf (IMRA Midgets), Mike Morrill, Pleasant Hill (mod lites) and Ron Kibbe, Danville (4 cylinders. This hear 34 Raceway also recognized a two class champion in John Oliver, Jr., Danville, winning the championship in both the IMCA Sport Mods and IMCA Stock Cars.
Coming up in 2017 Jeff and Amy Laue, Scott and Lorrie Parish and Tom and Sue Bowling will be in their eleventh year of ownership of 34 Raceway. Although the track continues to be for sale, the owners have yet to find a buyer willing and able to take on the tremendous task of owning and operating a race track.
The 2017 season begins on March 18th with the much anticipated and popular Heartland Harley Davidson Car Show There is no need to register, just bring your cars to show off and get your sponsors recognition.
The Saturday night of the car show we’ll kick off the season at Roederers Pit Stop in Burlington.
Test and Tune will be held on Saturday, March 25th, with the first racing event on Saturday, April 1st.
Along with its regular Saturday night weekly program this year will be the return of the 360 Sprint Invaders and for the first time in about 6 years will be the Deery Brothers IMCA Latemodel Series will be back to take on the 3/8 high bank. Also on the schedule is the IRA 410 Outlaw Sprints Series, The Slocum 50 Super Latemodel Special, and announcing the Tony Stewart Arctic Cat Circuit of Champions 410 Outlaw Sprints.
Awards and Honors presented include:
Event of the Year – Slocum 50 (Jessi Mynatt and Brad Stevens).
6 feature wins – Kimberly Abbott.
Rookie of the Year and Million Miles Traveled award – Bailey Goldesberry.
7 feature wins – Mike Morrill.
Double Class Champion and 6 feature wins – John Oliver, Jr.
Keep On Rac’n Award – Larry Miller, Nathan Murders, Brandon Lambert.
Young Ones Award – Tanner Gebhardt, Wyatt Wilkerson and Dillon Morley.
Havin’ Fun Award – Dean McGee.
Rookie Driver award – Austin Bowling.
Always Smiling and Body Guard Award – Ray Raker.
Hard Luck Award Scott Williams.
Compassionate Son & Driver Award – Dugan Thye.
Sponsor Awards went to:
Casebine Credit Union, Rick’s Sales, WT Gabeline & Sons Trucking (Ward and Trina), LaVeine Sanitation (Dennis LaVeine), Beckman Towing, United Rentals (Tom Bowling, Jr), Roberts Tire Center (Bill & Ed Roberts), Cellular Connections (Norm Gegner, Positively Racing (Jeff Broeg), Pyramid Graphics (Tom Lathrop) and Outdoor Power (Jeff and Sandy Waterman).
Special
Recognition/
Appreciation Awards:
Above and Beyond Award – Ward and Trina Gabeline.
Appreciation Award – Ron Laue.
Commitment and Dedication Award – Nick Parish and Ryan Parrish.
Appreciation Award – Retiring after 28 years as track photographer and taking care of press releases – Dana Royer (picgirl34).
Appreciation Award – Retiring after 25 years at 34 Raceway, most being in the ticket booth and selling 50/50 tickets – Deanna Connolly.
For more information on the upcoming 2017 season go to www.34raceway.com.
Category: 34 Raceway, Iowa
