By Tom Blakeley
Saturday January 23, 2010, (Bradenton, FL.) Today was the perfect day to have the annual awards banquet at Desoto Super Speedway. The weather was great, the food was delicious, and there was no drama. It was like the old days when families used to have huge family reunions, and everybody got along.
It was great to see how excited the Magic 4’s got when they received trophy’s that were taller and bigger than they are. The school bus figure 8 drivers were so appreciative of the track and staffs support all year long. Friends having a beer with their racing buddies and race family. Drivers breaking bread together, and telling stories about how they watched their fathers and grand father’s race at this track. It was a real heartwarming experience.
It was great to see the track owner John thanking the crowd for all of the cards, flowers, and well wishes he received when he had open heart surgery just last month.
While 2009 was filled with challenges and issues we all seemed to have survived and are bravely looking to 2010 to be better for racing and for our families. The following drivers will forever have the word “Champion” as part of their racing legacy; it can never be taken away.
The 2009 Champion’s List:
Super Late Model Division Anthony Campi Car # 81
Street Stock Division Dennis Wilson Car # 42
Desoto Pro Trucks Stephen Darvalics Truck # 41
Open Wheel Modified Bobby Baldwin Car # 4
Rockem Sockem Bombers Jody Collins Car # 32C
School Bus Figure 8’s Ernest Helfrick Bus # 4
Flyin 4’s Division Alex Patton Car # 13
Magic 4 Division Brittany Barr Car # 81
Modified Mini Division Chad Rose Car # 0X
Pure Stock Division Robert Crisp Car # 2
The entire staff of ASA sanctioned Desoto Super Speedway congratulate the 2009 Champions for a great year. The loyalty and commitment are what really makes for true Champions, and you all are true Champions.
The 2009 Division Rookies of the year list:
Open Wheel Modified Division Kyle Cooper #40
Pure Stock Division Andrew Moon #31
Modified Mini Division Dennis Colletti Jr. #4
School Bus Figure 8 Division Robert Latinka #47
Racecar Engineering Late Model Richard Sapp Jr. #44
Magic 4 Division Dallas Troyer #01
Flyin 4 Division Dalton Baldwin #4
Desoto Pro Truck Division Nick Hernandez #37
Rockem Sockem Bombers Tom Blakeley #96
Congratulations to the rookies and we all look forward to great things from them in the future.
The sponsor of the year went to Len McCue of Q Auto and Attorneys who sponsored the Pure Stock Division for 2009. A big thank you goes out to Len McCue for his generosity and kindness throughout the year.
The drivers that finished in the top of each division are to be congratulated on taking home a huge trophy for their hard work, commitment, and loyalty.
Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite Late Model Division:
- Anthony Campi (Champion) car # 81
- Joe Boyd Car # 5
- Robert “Showtime” Yoho Car # 0
- Richard Sapp Jr. Car # 44
- Jeff Scofield Car # 21S
- Brandon Anderson Car# 21
- Scott Holley Car # 1
- Marty Pierce Car # 75
- Scot Walters Car # 55
- Brad Bischoff Car # 53
Street Stock Division:
- Dennis Wilson (Champion) Car # 42
- Derek Lucas #88
- Duane Best #3
- Jimmie Best #67
- James Nanney #6
- James Brenner #57
- Joey Barnes #66
- Robert Haygood #84
- Jonathan Heidenthal #27X
- Will Elliott #9
Desoto Pro truck Division:
- Stephen Darvalics (Champion) #41
- Nick Hernandez #37
- Brent Huber #64
- Lance Dubach #77
- Tyler Lau #12
- Charlie Montgomery #12
- Danny Anderson #50
- Todd Bontrager #8
- Blair Pontious #39
- Michael Smith #23
Open Wheel Modified Division
- Bobby Baldwin (Champion) #4
- Ralph Bowman #2
- Pat Nanney #60
- Kyle Cooper #40
- David Grogan #101
- Edward Ditges #1
- L B Skaggs #71
- Ricky Coffin #8
- Bill Davis #15
- John Shields #37
Rockem Sockem Bombers
- Jody Collins (Champion) #32C
- Steve Elder #42
- Michael Crooks #33
- John Stewart #2
- Randy Spicer #83
- Todd Jacobs #44
- Tom Blakeley #96
- Lou Russell #3
- Clint Roberts #95
- Dean Butrum #32
School Bus Figure 8 Division
1. Ernest Helfrick (Champion) #4
2. Peter Bohn #11
3. Mark Jackson #25
4. Michael Gamache #0
5. Christopher Dodson #21
6. Robert Latinka #47
7. Eugene Helfrick #44
8. Larry Saffold #88
9. James Volk #76
10. Craig Jackson #26
Flyin 4 Division
- Alex Patten (Champion) #13
- Randy Johnson #1
- Dalton Baldwin #4
- Rob Boos #21B
- Jessica Ostrovskis #91
- Arthur Danielson #38
- Ken Paul Smith #11X
- Billy Carlbert Jr. #11
- Michael Gamache #85
- Brad Steger #2
Magic 4 Division
- Brittany Barr (Champion) #81
- Dallas Troyer #1
- Zac Campilonga #30
- Austin Cavey #20
- Joann Danielson #38
- Shanna Clark #44
- Mark Bartimac #21
- Amy Gamache #85
- Justine Carlbert #11
- Kyle Best #3
Modified Mini Division
- Chad Rose (Champion) #0X
- Mike Birk #10
- Dennis Colletti #22
- Andy Fischer #22X
- Richard Nelson #80
- Dennis Colletti Sr. #21
- Mitchell Webb #6
- Brian Dorer #97
- Marty Neikens #70
- Chris Zimmerman #29
Q Auto and Attorneys Pure Stock Division
- Robert Crisp (Champion) #2
- Troy Thiem #18
- Austin Craig #10
- Darrin Ellis #71
- Billy Carlbert Jr. #47
- Chelsea Lau #13
- Richard Shepherd Sr. #30A
- Andrew Moon #31
- Mark Picklesimer #17
- George Bartimac #21X
Congratulations and Thank You to all the top 10 drivers and car owners. The entire staff of Desoto Super Speedway appreciates you for your support, loyalty, and dedication. The 2010 season is approaching and we wish everybody the best for the coming season.