Banquet Special Award Winners 1999-2009

Below is a list of all of our special award winners at our annual awards banquet.  You can click on the underlined recipients' name to view the speeches that were presented.  Unfortunately we do not have a copy of the 1999 speeches.  Note: Banquet was held at the Yankee Lake Ballroom near Brookfield, Ohio from 1999-2002 and at the Normandy Banquet Center in Hermitage from 2003-2009 Living Legend: Living Legends are those that will forever be held in high respect by those that enjoyed their excellence.  These people stand above the rest for their accomplishments, abilities, and the images they portray the moment you hear their name.   1999    Buddy Cochran 2000    Ralph Quarterson 2001    Ed Schaffer 2002    Vic George 2003    Mike Kristyak 2004    Keith Morrow 2005    Skinny Hall 2006    Ron Eperthener, Sr.           2007    Yip Robinson 2008    Andy Lutz 2009    Paul "Putzy" Kekich       Legacy Award: A legacy is a gift from a predecessor or the past.  This award holds special meaning to the Emig Family, as it is put in place to honor and remember the late Bill Emig.  It is his love of racing and people in general that has now laid the foundation that is now in place at Mercer Raceway Park.  Now, in turn, exceptional moments considered gifts that take place at Mercer Raceway Park and become part of the speedway’s history are now honored with the legacy award.   1999    Jimmy Hawley- three sprint car track championships (Lernerville, Mercer, Tri-City)             Bob Felmlee- 100th career win before career ending injuries in a sprint car at Tri-City the following night 2000    Lou Blaney- won the USNA preliminary big-block modified feature with a next-to-last lap pass of Billy Decker 2001    Tom Quarterson- first Mercer championship in the sprint car division on the 50th anniversary season as his father Ralph is the all-time Mercer winner and was recognized the year prior with the Living Legend Award 2002    Alan Dellinger- first career big-block modified win in his third start on the Bill Emig Memorial then debuted a new late model to become the first driver in the history of the speedway to win in four different divisions (late models, big-block mods, e-mods, stocks) 2003    Erin Crocker- broke the 360 sprint track record against URC then two and a half months later broke the 410 sprint track record against the All Stars   2004    Tommy Kristyak- won his 100th career Mercer feature on April 2 then his win on the Bill Emig Memorial on June 5 was his 50th career Mercer big-block win in his six-win championship season   2005    Rod George- won 17 features (18 as a car owner) leading all headlining divisions in the region, won the Mercer, Tri-City, and Cavalcade Championships and finished 2nd at Lernerville, and didn’t finish worse than 4th all season at Mercer in 14 starts   2006    Frank Guidace- won his first championship of any kind along with 4 358 modified wins including $2,000 victories in the Jeff Hoffman Memorial and the T3 All-Star Series “Little Guy Nationals” 2007    Hoover Bros. Racing/Brian Booher- won an unprecedented 3 straight Stock Car Championships from 2005-2007 & Booher became the all-time Stock Car feature winner with 32 victories 2008    Arnie Kent- Self-made racer with at least one feature win in each of the last 10 seasons.  Runner-up in points for 3 straight years and top 6 each of the past 12 seasons. 2009    Rodney Beltz- Most recent and final driver of the Emig #1 Modified.  Forged a 30-year friendship with Bill's daughter Vicki dating back to their prolific 6-Cylinder Modified battles.  Has probably turned more laps at Mercer than any other current racer.   Horizon Award: Shining brightly in the distance is the horizon- a spectacle that can make you mysteriously continue to look forward into the distance.  Our Horizon Award was put into place to recognize drivers, whose careers shine as brightly as the sun on the horizon. 1999    Don McKnight- first ever track championship in the sportsman modifieds in just his second season of racing; moved up to the big-block modifieds in 2000 2000    Matt Lux- won 9 stock car features (including first ever at Mercer plus the Little Guy Nationals); moved up to late models in 2001 2001    Brian Woodhall- won his first career race on July 28 in the sprint car feature at 16-years-old to become the youngest winner 2002    Chad Reitz- three wins, 13 top 10s, second in sportsman modified points, Tri-City Mod Madness win, and a near victory in the Little Guy Nationals in his first season in a full-size car 2003    Andy Paden- won his first career race on June 14 in a sportsman modified then added three additional wins, which all came on the last lap   2004    Jeff Banyas- 15 top 10s in 16 410 sprint car starts with several near wins on his way to a career best fourth in points for the Akron University freshmen                 Jeremy Paup- the big-block modified college student improved from 18th in points with 1 top 10 in 2003 to 8th in points with 6 top 10s included a career best 4th in just his second season in 2004   2005    Brad Rapp- the 358 modified high school student’s first season at Mercer resulted in his 1st career win, a 10th in points despite missing 5 shows, and only 2 finishes out of the top 10 (an 11th in the T3 All-Star Series Little Guy Nationals and a DNF while getting in a mishap on a restart battling for the lead)                 Bryan Shaffer- the strictly stock high school student tied for a division-high 4 wins, had a division-high 7 heat race wins, and finished 4th in points despite missing 2 events   2006    Mike Pegher, Jr.- led the track with 8 wins in the stock car division and finished 4th in points in his first year as a Mercer regular despite missing 4 shows             Bryan Wager- tied for a division-high 7 wins and won the strictly stock championship in his rookie season as a high school senior             Danny Holtgraver- 9 top 10s including a runner-up on May 27 and finished 6th in points in his rookie sprint car season at just 17 years old 2007    Eric Gabany- won his career 1st race on August 11 in the 358 Modifieds in just his 9th career start and finished 6th in the T3 All-Star “Little Guy Nationals”   2008    Dillon Kineston- Won first two career race and Mini Stock Championship in his rookie season at 14 years of age.                 Bud Watson- Won his first career Mercer feature and first track championship in his first full season at Mercer in the Mod Lites at just 15 years of age. 2009    Joe Martin- Won a heat race his 2nd night out and won his 1st career feature in the FASTRAK Late Models in his rookie season.                 Lee Lehnerd- Won first career wins, had 5 runner-ups, 6 heat race wins and finished 2nd in points in the Mini Stock division all as an 18-year-old rookie.             Outstanding Achievement Award: Has been put in place to recognize an outstanding achievement or accomplishment throughout the past season. 1999    Randy Ferguson- 14 top 5s and 15 top 10s in 17 six-cylinder modified races, both tied track highs             Mike Kekich- 15 top 10s (tied track high) in 16 races with a worst finish of 11th in the sprint car division 2000    Mark Murphy- first career win after 15 years of trying on August 26 in the sprint car feature with a complete homemade car Brian Turk & Keith Shilling- instrumental in making Mercer the first dirt track in the state of Pa. to receive certification as Motor Sports Safety Workers trained to the Operations Level from the office of the Pa. State Fire Academy 2001    Shaun Hooks- 17 top 10s in 19 races with two worst finishes of 11th and finished the year with 9 straight top 5s in the stock car division in his first full season at Mercer Nick Ritchey- 18-year-old rookie recorded 5 top 10s, finished 14th in points in the big-block modifieds with just a 358 c.i. engine despite missing the first three events, and qualified for both the Bill Emig Memorial & the Little Guy Nationals 2002    BRW Racing- Ralph Spithaler set fast-time over a 47-car field on the July 6 URC 360 show and ran in the top five before a broken wing mount                 Rick Kress- Perfect attendance over the last four seasons             Carl Murdick- 13 straight years in the top 10 of the big-block modified points along with a top 10 35 years ago in 1967 2003    Mike Shearer- won his first career race after four years of trying on June 20 at Lernerville Speedway then added a second win less than 24 hours at Mercer                 Lonny Riggs- became the second driver in the speedway’s history to win in four different divisions (big-block mods, 358 mods, sportsman mods, & stocks) and won the two biggest modified races of the year in the Bill Emig Memorial for the big blocks and the Little Guy Nationals for the 358 mods             Jerry Schaffer- all feature finishes in the top 11 in the sportsman modifieds, which propelled him to his first ever track championship 2004    CJ Rombold Engine Builders- has built the championship sportsman modified engine for each of the past four season                 Jeff Schaffer- finished in the top 5 in 16 of the 17 sportsman modified features with his worst finish being a 7th on August 14 in his championship season             Gary Smoker- won 6 sportsman modified features to become the division’s all-time winner at 28 plus won two 358 modified features to end the season including the $2,000 Little Guy Nationals for his biggest career win 2005    Bob Felmlee- returned after 6-year absence with 2 special 25-lap wins and also won 4 races at Tri-City Speedway plus set fast time against the WoO at Sharon Speedway                 Doug Stanley- in his first season in a 410 sprint car, finished 2nd in points, won his 1st career 410 feature in his first ever wingless start for his 1st career Mercer win             Mike Anderson- in his first season in the 358 modifieds, finished 3rd in points with 14 top 10s in 16 starts (only finishes out of the top 10 was an 11th and a 19th in the T3 All-Star Series Little Guy Nationals) 2006    Riki Likowski- towed 9 hours and 580 miles each way every week with his sprint car and never missed any of the 18 shows despite breaking his foot and destroying a race car in a midweek WoO show in New York                 Andy Buckley- His 22nd career win put him atop the stock car win list since the track reopened in 1994 and has won at least one feature for each of the last 6 seasons- a feat unmatched. 2007    Angie Grezlek- finished 7th in Mod Lite points with 5 top 5s and 13 top 10s including a 2nd place at 19 years of age Dillion Barr- became the youngest feature winner in the history of Mercer Raceway Park at the age of 14 on August 11 winning the Mini Stock feature and finished 9th in points                 Kotie Kirkbride- finished 9th in points with 4 top 10s in her rookie season at 17 years of age. 2008    Frank Guidace- became first driver to win 2 track championships (358 Mods & FASTRAK Late Models) since 1980 plus won a career high 7 features & became the 1st driver in the history to win in 5 different divisions. 2009    Taylor Racing- Campaigned a 4-car Sprint team with Jeff Taylor, Jack Helget, Johnny Beaber, and Tony Beaber all finishing in the top 8 in points.  Made the 6-hour tow each way every week Johnny & Tony Beaber- Made the 3-hour tow from Fremont, Ohio every week and were Mercer regulars for the first time since Mercer reopened in 1994.     Majestic Award: Look up the word majestic in the dictionary and you will find the following description: grand, noble, dignified.  The people we choose to honor with this special award are those that have made grand, noble, and dignified gestures on behalf of Mercer Raceway Park and general.    We are extremely lucky to know that these type of people at any time can grace our presence at Mercer Raceway Park. 2001    Dr. John Crawford- donated all $5,000 of his sprint car winnings from the Chuck Marsh Memorial on Sept. 15 to the Red Cross             Family of Chuck Marsh- in 5 years have donated over $20,000 to the drivers in the Chuck Marsh Memorial event 2002    Bill Beck- for his mechanical and spiritual guidance each and every Saturday night 2003    Curtis Farster- countless hours of dedication and professionalism to the operations of Mercer Raceway Park 2004    Bob & Carol McClay- for their dedication, loyalty, and friendliness over the                  years at Mercer Raceway Park 2005   Ken & Charlene Turner- in appreciation of their work ethic & dedication to Mercer Raceway Park over the past 7 years 2006    Walter & Eleanore Patton- in appreciation of their dedication to Mercer                  Raceway Park over the past 5 years 2007   Bill Bauer- in appreciation of his loyalty and dedication to Mercer Raceway Park & the Mod Lite division Dave Mesaros- in appreciation of his professionalism & dedication with his wrecker service to Mercer Raceway Park 2008    Randy & Joyce Myers- in appreciation of their outstanding service & dedication in tech inspection & scoring over the past 10 years. 2009    Dave & Ruth Shields- in appreciation of their dedication to Mercer Raceway Park & support of their daughters Vicki and Jody (Emig) over the past 11 years   Appreciation Award: 2003    Butch Beasley- dedication to sprint car racing in western Pa. and eastern Ohio by fielding two cars, running over 70 races, and competing at least three nights per week with his low-budget operation                 Chris Shuttleworth- extraordinary support of towing three and a half hours to compete weekly with a 360 sprint against the 410s 2006    Marilyn Benic- in appreciation of her dedication and professionalism to the speedway over the past 10 years   "Leland Haylett Memorial" Award: 2008   Wally Stearns, Jr. 2009    Pete Blazaczak      First Career Win Plaques: 2000    Jason Jacoby (Sprint Cars), Mark Murphy (Sprint Cars), Rick Ryder (Sportsman Modifieds) 2001    Brian Woodhall (Sprint Cars), Mike Aley (Stock Cars) 2002    Bob Dorman (Big-Block Modifieds), Mike Mathieson (Stock Cars) 2003    Andy Paden (Sportsman Modifieds), Lynn Hostetler (Stock Cars), Andy Thompson (Stock Cars), Tim Deutsch (Stock Cars) 2004    Steve Toth (Sportsman Modifieds), Terry Kroner (Stock Cars),               Rick Norco (Stock Cars) 2005    Travis Shingledecker (358 Modifieds), Brad Rapp (358 Modifieds) 2007    Gale Ruth, Jr. (Sprint Cars), Eric Gabany (358 Modifieds), Chris Haines (Stock Cars), Garrett Krummert (Mod Lites) 2007    Dan Kuriger (Sprint Cars), Joe Martin (FASTRAK Late Models)