Five Flags Speedway Media
Pensacola FL –January 24, 2011- An overflow crowd filled the Hadji Shrine Temple on Saturday Night as 5 Flags Speedway paid tribute to the top competitors in the Pro Late Model, Super Stock, Modified, Sportsman, and Bomber Divisions.
The evening got off to an appropriate start as Track Chaplain Wayne Butts delivered the invocation, and paid tribute to several members of the local racing community who were lost in 2010.
After a delicious dinner, served by the staff from Wayne’s Family Diner, the attention shifted to center stage, where 5 Flags GM Tim Bryant started things off by introducing the many Special Guests in attendance. Among those guests were Mobile International Speedway owner Ida Fields and South Alabama Speedway owner John Dykes. Many of the Track Sponsors were on hand and were recognized next on the program.
Bryant followed with some brief remarks relating to the 2010 season, and outlined the upcoming 2011 schedule as well.
Although the Blizzard Series drivers had received their awards at the Snowball Derby and were not in attendance at the Banquet, the crowd gave a rousing ovation to Chase Elliott for winning the 2010 Championship, and to Johanna Long for winning the 43rd Annual Snowball Derby.
Track announcer Robbie Harvey began the Awards ceremony, with the top ten drivers in each division coming to the stage where they were received by track officials Steve Stokes, Jimmy Wiggins, and Dan Spence. Mike Goraum, (Bomber) Steve Buttrick, (Sportsman) Randy Thompson, (Super Stock) Ryan Redmon, (Modified) and DJ VanderLey (Pro Late Model) were honored as the 2010 Champions in their respective divisions, and each delivered very elequent acceptance speeches, thanking all the people whom had helped them achieve their rewards.
The highly anticipated “Rex E. Brooks Iron Man Award” was presented to longtime videographer Ted Baber.
In a touching moment near the end of the program, VanderLey opted to pass on one of his many rewards, a $200 Product Certificate from VDL Fuel Systems, (his family’s business) to a very surprised runner-up, Ronnie Smith.
At the end of the night, thousands of dollars in cash and awards had been given out, and most in attendance had won something from the long list of door prize contributors.
The Banquet after party moved just up the street to Roper’s Nightclub, where many stories of the night and the season were most likely told.