Over 330 drivers, crews, and race fans reconvened at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds last Saturday to celebrate a much heralded 2012 campaign. UMP Promoter of the Year Tom Smith gave away not one, not two, but three crate motors throughout the course of the evening and the awards were steadily flowing out to much deserving drivers.
Smith introduced Fair Board President Pete Schafer, to the large audience who announced that the Fair Board and Smith have agreed to a long term deal. That’s good news to area race fans as Smith aims to spruce up the place in 2013 including colored flags around the facility. Painting the backstretch wall with Kankakee County Speedway on the wall and a totally revamped victory lane that will surely be hard to get to but easy to find. Smith has already added more dirt to the tracks front stretch and installed $30,000 in new lighting that will make it easier for drivers and fans alike to take in the action.
Throughout Smith’s four year tenure at the helm, attendance has increased yearly and the track averaged better than 114 cars per night with a season high of 141 entries on opening night of ROCKtoberfest III. In all, more than 400 drivers have passed through the gates over the course of the season.
It’s Smith’s goal to lure in a major traveling series to this area in the next year or two after track renovations are completed. With a new long commitment in place, Smith now has the flexibilty to make improvements that will benefit all events held at the fairgrounds.
Some of the highlights from the night’s banquet included Wilmington’s Kevin Lenzen winning a 602 crate motor for his perfect attendance in 2012 among about 20 eligible drivers. Jerry Skinner was the winner of a 604 crate motor dressed with a $900 K-B carb and a $450 set of Schoenfeld headers. Late Model driver Jay Morris of Pittwood concluded the night’s events with a winning bid of $3800 for a second 604 crate motor. Don Shryock of Gandrud Chevrolet in Green Bay, WI was once again on hand to present the winners with their motors and congratulate all ten of the Top 10 in UMP Pro Late Model points, the only division to have all of the Top 10 in attendance.
Champions honored during the night included Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, IL who tied a track record with 11 UMP Late Model feature wins during the year. Jamie Lomax of Lake Village, IN, earned his first UMP Modified track championship after scoring six feature wins on the season. Tim Provenzano was the first ever UMP Pro Late Model champion as well as Rookie of the Year, with a pair of wins in 2012. Papineau’s Don Hilleary picked up his second UMP Stock Car track championship in three years with two wins. Lowell, IN driver Mike Kingma nabbed his second consecutive I-Mod track title and third in four years with five feature wins on the season, while youngster Skylar Antonelli of Monticello, IN scored his first career track championship in the UMP Sport Compact division with six feature wins under his belt.
Smith also announced that the Summit Racing Modified Nationals will be running a stand alone event at Kankakee on June 14th, while the UMP Summernationals is at Cedar Lake, WI. The event is slated to pay $3,000 to the winner and will be the first half of the annual River City Shoot-Out for UMP Modifieds. The second of that two race series will be run on July 12th when the UMP Summernationals invades Kankakee for a $10,000 to win event, the first at Kankakee since 2009. The River City Shoot-Out overall winner will receive a special trophy along with possibly a cash bonus pending sponsorship for this mega event. More than 60 modified drivers are expected to invade the high banks of Kankakee including NASCAR veterans Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader. Mark your calendars now.
A tremendous night was had by all, and Smith wishes to thank everyone who supported the speedway all season long and looks to a promising 2013 season beginning with a pair of practice dates Sunday, April 21st & 28th from 1 – 6pm, followed by the 63rd season opener Friday night, May 3rd.
Paul D. Bayne
Director of Public Relations
Kankakee County Speedway
www.KankakeeCountySpeedway.com
kankakeecountyspeedway@gmail.com
815-401-5107 Office
219-508-9559 Mobile