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By: Rodney Rescott – March 11, 2007
New Lebanon, NY - Lebanon Valley Speedway celebrated two nights worth
of
champions and those that were honored for their efforts. With a near
record
$80,000.00 in point money to be handed out, all eyes were on the
champions
of each of the 6 different weekly divisions.
On Friday night, the festivities included all the “full fender”
divisions
that included the Pro Stocks, Limited Pro Stocks, and PureStocks. Rob
Yetman of Schodack, NY was honored as the Pro Stock Champion for the
second
year in a row. In the Limited Pro Stocks, Brian Keough captured the
honors
by dishing out 5 wins, and 18 top 5 finishes. And in the Pure Stocks,
Poughkeepsie’s Pete Wiegand drove his #78P to 11 wins, 16 top 5’s and
18 top
10’s to capture the PureStock Championship title for the second time.
Also on tap during Friday’s festivities was the Special Awards portion
of
the program. The first of the two awards was the PureStock Driver of
the
Year, which the Valley of Speed handed to Al Relyea. Al drove his #14P
to 1
win, 14 top 5’s and 16 top 10’s, but the numbers weren’t the whole
story.
He was on his way to a shot at the championship title, only have a very
serious racing accident with just 5 weeks left to race. While
suffering a
broken leg, and a totaled racecar, he returned the following week in a
Cannonball car he had out in the weeds, and never missed a week, to
finish
3rd in the Championship points Standings. The other award handed down
was
the Pro Stock driver of the Year Award. This was given to the driver
of the
#324 of Jay Casey. Jay had a pretty difficult year, which included
some
personal health issues that nearly sidelined him for the year,
destroyed his
primary car after rolling it down the front stretch only for it to
catch
fire too, that on top of running a two car team. His struggles were
made
evident as he took the stage to accept his award; the emotion of the
year
was heard through his voice during his acceptance speech.
Saturday Night brought the big guns to the Valley’s Club House, as the
open
wheelers took to the stage for their night of honors. The Sportsman,
358
Modifieds, and Big Block Modified Champions were on tap to accept their
share of the record payout.
Up first was the Sportsman division Champion Jeff Watson. Jeff
piloted his
#22 to 2 wins, 9 top 5’s, and 16 top 10’s to win his first championship
over
veteran racers KC Goewey and Chris Kokosa. His title garnered him not
only
the customary Champions Jacket furnished by Northeast Fuels, and the 4
foot
tall trophy, but he also received a check for just over $3,000.00.
Next were the 358 Modified title and the Big Block Modified Title,
coincidentally captured by the same driver. Sheffield, Massachusetts’
driver Andy Bachetti drove his number 4’s to the title with convincing
fashion in 2006. In the 358’s, he had 4 wins, 9 top 5’s, 10 top 10’s,
and
in the Big Blocks, he captured 3 wins, 7 top 5’s, and 11 top 10’s, to
take
home the honors in both divisions. For his efforts, he received his
two
Northeast Fuels Champion’s Jackets, along with a check for the lion
share of
the point money that toped just over $5,100.00.
The Special Awards handed out on Saturday included the Jeff Yasinsac
Mr.
Excitement Award, given to Jeff Watson. In addition, the Modified
rookie of
the year was awarded to Lorne Browe. And lastly, was the Lebanon
Valley
Speedway Hall of Fame Induction Award given posthumously to Maynard
Forrette, driver of the 78m “Queen’s Machine” for over 5 decades and
his
long time car owner and partner Marilyn Buanno. Marilyn accepted the
award
for her and the late Maynard Forrette, and her emotion acceptance
speech
reflected the nature of what made Maynard and Marilyn so successful at
the
High Banks.
With the Points Championships handed out, along with the all the other
awards, the 2006 season has finally come to a close.
2007 now brings the historic 55th Annual Opening Night of racing
scheduled
for Saturday April 14th, 2007. Also, the finalized schedule has now
been
printed, and posted on our website in order for you to mark you
calendars
with all the great racing events set for 2007.
In addition, you can see all the cars and stars of the local dirt
racing
scene at the Rolling Thunder Car Show at the Latham Circle Mall set for
Saturday and Sunday March 24th, and 25th.
For more information about Season Tickets, special events, of the
schedule
of events, please visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com, or call
the
Speedway Offices at (518) 794-9606, or (518) 794-9665 during normal
business
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