The "grand finale" of the CRSA Sprint Car Tour 2015 season was held at the Holiday Inn in Oneonta, NY this past Saturday, November 14th.
Over ninety people were in attendance to participate in the CRSA Annual Awards Banquet and to witness the crowning of the 2015 Tour Champion, KYLE SMITH, among others receiving their awards of the season. Twenty of the top CRSA drivers were in attendance along with many family and crew members. Also in attendance was two time CRSA Champion MATT TANNER, representing the New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA), TOM COUGHLIN, promoters of the I-88 Speedway, JAMIE and DENISE PAGE and the Voice of the I-88 and Thunder Mountain Speedways, LEON ANDRUS, who also was the "MC" of the awards presentation.
After a brief recap of season statistics...the Perfect Attendance Awards were handed out to six loyal members that attended every race all season long. Receiving an embroidered fleece pull over was, KYLE SMITH, CHAD MILLER, THOMAS RADIVOY,JOSH PIENIAZEK, JOSH FLINT and JOHN MATRAFAILO.
Fifteen year old, TYLER JASHEMBOWSKI, received the "Most Improved Driver" Award for his efforts on the year.
JOSH FLINT was given the "New Comer" award after making the transition from the Modified ranks to sprint cars with an A-Main win and a fifth in the overall point standings.
The CRSA "Outstanding Achievement Award" was presented to SCOTT GOODRICH. He captured NINE A-Main wins, SEVENTEEN top tens, and FIFTEEN top fives! He also won the "Southern Tier Challenge" point title.
The overall "Magsarus Hard Charger Award" went to CHAD MILLER for moving up through the field, passing thirty four cars and collecting three Magsarus Hard Charger weekly awards.
The three "mini-series" awards were next in line and receiving them were:
Algonkin Motel Challenge-
1st place, BRETT JAYCOX and tied for second place was, BRIAN KRUMMEL and THOMAS RADIVOY
Kennedy Towing of Troy "Northway-90 Challenge"-
1st- JOSH PIENIAZEK, 2- CHAD MILLER, 3- DALTON HERRICK
E&H Services and Esposito Lawn Care "Southern Tier Challenge"-
1st- SCOTT GOODRICH, 2-KYLE SMITH, 3-JOSH PIENIAZEK, 4- CHAD MILLER, 5- THOMAS RADIVOY
There were three "First Time Feature Winner" awards given out, and all three were rookies to sprint car racing, they were:
JOSH FLINT, CHAD MILLER and BRIAN KRUMMEL
The 2015 "Rookie of the Year Award" went to CHAD MILLER finishing third in the overall point standings.
Receiving product from M&W Aluminum Products for the dreaded "Hard Luck Award" was DANA WAGNER and the Kelly Racing Fuels, "Heart Break Award" went to THOMAS RADIVOY.
DANIELLE DICKERSON of "Snowflake Photography" presented the award for the "Best Appearing Car" and it went to EMILY VANINWEGEN for her beautiful #19em
The Top Ten in the overall point standings were then awarded their trophies:
CRSA 2015 Tour Points Champion... KYLE SMITH
JOSH PIENIAZEK, CHAD MILLER, DALTON HERRICK, JOSH FLINT, THOMAS RADIVOY, SCOTT GOODRICH, BRIAN KRUMMEL, EMILY VANINWEGEN, and JOHN MATRAFAILO were the CRSA top ten drivers
HANK KATZ took the stage for a small "roast" of two time CRSA Champion, JOHN MATRAFAILO", who announced he was hanging up his helmet after his long sprint car driving career. He said he will still remain active as a car owner and has a driver in the seat already ( so save your calls) to take the reins of the #17 machine. That driver will be announced a little later on.
Kenny Marshall then entertained the crowd with a few gag gifts, pointing out a few embarrassing moments throughout the season.
The last award of the night was the "Dedication to CRSA Award" and this year's recipient was M&W ALUMINUM PRODUCTS and PANTHER FRAMEWORX for sponsoring product and donating a brand new "Panther" sprint car chassis for a raffle in which all proceeds went into the drivers point fund. And the winning ticket holder for the Panther Frameworx chassis is :
SHIRLEY SMITH of Great Barrington, Massachusetts! (Champion Kyle Smith's grandmother!)...guess what he will get for Christmas!
None of this would be possible without support from our year long sponsors:
American Racer/ Lias Tire
M&W Aluminum Products/ Panther Frameworx
Snowflake Photography
Kelly Racing Fuels
Kennedy's Towing of Troy
I-88 Speedway and the Algonkin Motel of Bainbridge
E&H Services LLC
Esposito's Lawn And Garden
Ed Monger's Magsarus
Kreitz Oval Track
Bob Hilbert Sportswear
The final stop for the CRSA Sprint Car Tour is coming up as the CRSA booth will be at the Parts Peddler Trade Show on November, 20,21,22 at the Syracuse Fair Grounds! Come out and see what's new and hot for next year as many vendors will be on display along with some bargains for early Christmas shopping.
Stop by and say "Hello"...