Oshkosh, October 22 – The Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway officially closed the 2016 season with their annual dinner and awards program held at LaSures Banquet hall on Saturday night, October 22 in Oshkosh.
The six weekly divisions were all well represented, along with their families, crews and sponsors to fill the hall for all of the presentations.
Following the dinner, the track started the awards portion of the program by presenting several track appreciation awards to sponsors and employees.
The track point fund was distributed along with trophies for the top 10 in each divisions.
Division awards were:
AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY COMPANY IMCA MODIFIEDS
The division again boasted one of the strongest fields of cars throughout the season in the country. A total of 86 different drivers took laps at the weekly programs. There were 10 different feature winners. Defending champ, Marcus Yarie claimed 1 feature win this season but was the most consistant driver claiming a second straight title.
6th thru 10th Matt Klenz, T.J. Smith, Dan Roedl, Kevin Baldry and Chad Bartel.
5th Mike Wedelstadt
4th Ed Lemay
3rd Brian Drexler
2nd Steve Schneider
CHAMPION Marcus Yarie
JIM’S AUTO REPAIR IMCA STOCK CARS
There were 46 different drivers that competed in 2016. There were 4 drivers that shared the feature wins with defending champion, Travis Van Straten, following up his 10 win season in 2015 with 8 feature wins this year to clinch a second straight title.
6th thru 10th Karly Stadler, Chase Parker, Cory Wegner, Chris Lowenhagen, Kevin Heebe
5th Steve Hiles
4th David Hoerning
3rd Aaron Stolp
2nd Jerry Winkler
CHAMPION Travis Van Straten.
NOLTE’S AUTO REAPIR AND TOWING IMCA SPORT MODS
The second highest car total at the track this season belonged to the Sport Mod division with 59 different drivers competing. There were 7 different feature winners with Tom Schneider collecting 6 feature flags on route to claiming his first ever SpeedZone track title. The other 6 feature winners won one each.
6th thru 10th Brekken Kleinschmidt, Bernie Miller, Grant Plonske, Brock Saunders, Chase Randerson
5th Tim Sheppard
4th Scott Besaw
3rd Jeff Schmuhl
2nd Kevin Bethke
CHAMPION Tom Schneider
OUTLAW CHASSIS STREET STOCKS
There were 53 different drivers that competed in the Street Stock division in 2016. There were 8 drivers that picked up feature wins. Defending champion, Steven Gawaresky picked up the opening night feature victory for his only win of the year but consistantly in the top 5 earned him his second straight track title.
6th thru 10th Lexii Ashcraft, Jason Fairbank, Frank Knaus, Dan Knaus, Adam Crapser
5th Jeff Wicinsky
4th Jeff Jungwirth
3rd Alex Crapser
2nd Jesse Krahn
CHAMPION Steven Gawaresky
GOLD STAR RAING PRODUCTS GRAND NATIONAL
A total of 31 different drivers raced on Friday night this season. Of those, 7 drivers shared feature wins. Larry Richards and his son, Jeff, each took 3 checkers but Jeff claimed the track tie by a mere 4 points over his dad. It was his second Zone track title.
6th thru 10th Don Schumacher, Team Koch/Henry, Rich Garb, Chase Solomon, Tim Reichenberger
5th Tm Doehling
4th Derek Schrauth
3rd Brian Vinney, Jr
2th Larry Richards.
CHAMPION Jeff Richards
ELLINGTON MUTUAL INSURANCE DIRT DEVILS
Chris Maas bested a season total of 32 different drivers by winning a division high 3 feature wins on his way to collecting his first career track title. There were 7 other drivers who won features,
6th thru 10th Seth Hickman, Wes Lungwitz, Mark Pawlak, Brian Seger, Mike Meier
5th Jordan Klemmer
4th Mitchell Lee Fairbannk
3rd. Taylor Becher
2nd Kasey Gross
CHAMPION Chris Maas
2016 Rookies were:
IMCA MODIFIED Mitch Stankowski
IMCA Stock Cars Karly Stadler and Aaron Stolp
Street Stocks Adan Crapser
Grand National Nick Goemann
Dirt Devils Mark Pawlak
Racing will return to the SpeedZone in 2017, The kick off will be the Annual Car Show on April 8th. The first race of the season will be on Friday, April 28.
The management and staff of the Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway would like to THANK all of the drivers, crews, fans and sponsors for their support this season and look forward to offering another exciting season of racing in 2017 at the ZONE.