2008 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.  Some of the past winners of this award are Matt Lux, Mike Pegher, Danny Holtgraver, and Eric Gabany- an impressive group of talented, young racers.

Tonight we recognize two more young racers that come from strong racing families and both have bright paths ahead of them.

Our second Horizon Award winner has a lot of the same characteristics as our first. 

His family has a rich racing history at Mercer, so it was only natural racing would be in his blood.  His great grandfather raced and so did his grandfather, great uncles, and many other relations. 

He began racing when his grandfather Carl would take him go-karting.  The go-karts have been a tremendous stepping-stone for many of today’s racing stars; however, it’s usually a little later before youngsters make the move to the big track; however that’s not the case for our second Horizon Award winner. 

When the Mini Stocks were added in 2007, one of the goals of the division was to give young racers an affordable option to compete and garner valuable experience.  With that, the minimum age to compete was lowered to 14.

Ironically our 2008 Mini Stock Champion didn’t even turn 14 until April 12.  The irony there is our first night of points was scheduled for April 5, but was postponed by the rescheduled Chiller Thriller.

It was quite a 2008 season for Dillon Kineston.  I guess we should have known it just might be a special season when he turned in a respectable 6^th on opening night.   From June 7th through August 9^th he only finished out of the top 3 once and that was a 6^th place!  During that span he won his first two career races on his way to becoming the youngest track champion in the 57-year history of Mercer Raceway Park!

He even finished 4^th in the KABOOM 150 Enduro on July 4^th, and by the way that supportive, racing family he comes from are the Wagners.

Dillon please come forward to accept the 2008 Horizon Award.