2009 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, Eric Gabany, and Bud Watson- an impressive group of talented, young racers.

 

Tonight we recognize two more young racers were relative newcomers to The Park that have bright paths ahead of them.

 

Our second Horizon Award winner certainly turned a lot of heads throughout the region.

 

And while 2009 was his rookie season like our first winner, his start in racing came in a different manner…by turning wrenches on one of the region’s standout Late Model racers. 

 

And even though he never got behind the wheel to turn an official lap prior to April 4, I guess the value you put on spending years around a guy like Mike Blose is immeasurable. 

 

And when this year’s Horizon winner finished sixth in the highly competitive FASTRAK Late Model division in his maiden voyage…something told us that this just may be a special season.  He showed that finish was no fluke the following week when he took the checkered flag in his heat race.  He matched that opening night sixth place effort again on May 30 and then again the next time he returned to Mercer on July 18. 

 

You see this racer wasn’t just getting his experience at Mercer, he was racing all over the region accumulating those valuable FASTRAK National Weekly Series points. 

 

August 22 would be a night this young lion would never forget!   Starting from the ninth position, he methodically worked his way to the front taking the lead away from Mike Anderson, Jr.  and winning his first feature event four and half months after getting behind the wheel of a race car for the very first time. 

 

He dedicated this very emotional win to his grandfather, who passed away one year prior and whom would have celebrated a birthday the day before. 

 

His outstanding efforts weren’t just confined to Mercer either.  As we stated earlier he finished 5th in the Northeast Touring Series race in September at Sharon, and also had 10 top 7 finishes at Dog Hollow, McKean, and Tri-City Speedways.   

 

There’s little doubt there’s a great career on the horizon for this year’s second Horizon Award recipient…Joe Martin.