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41st Banquet of Champions
January 26, 2008
Royale Orleans Banquet Center
Annual Award wording
Arnie Knepper – Ricky Stenhouse
The Knepper Award is given in memory of open-wheel racer Arnie Knepper and honors the USAC Silver Crown driver who turns in the best overall performance in the "big car" races held annually on two of the finest and most historic mile-dirt tracks in the United States, the "Springfield Mile" and the "Magic Mile" of the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. This year's winner is Ricky Stenhouse.
Bill Oldani – Frank Kimmel
The Oldani Award is given in memory of Bill Oldani, the long-time Director of Motorsports for the State of Illinois, a man who was considered by all a true gentleman and friend of the sport. This year we honor the racer whose overall performance on the mile tracks of Springfield and DuQuoin in the ARCA stock car series has won this award more than any other driver. Earning his eighth Bill Oldani and his ninth ARCA title in 2007 is Frank Kimmel.
Ambassador's – Don Hoener
Our Ambassador Award winner this evening is one of the driving forces behind the Sportsman Nationals races now held at Belle-Clair Speedway and I-55 Raceway. These two events are immensely popular with racer and fans from areas well beyond St. Louis. Now in his 25th year as an Allied Auto Racing Association official, he's helping to make the St. Louis area an even more important stop along the way for rising short-track racing talent and ensuring the continued longevity and success of Allied. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is delighted to present the Ambassador Award to Don Hoener.
Outstanding Media – Lenny Batycki
As Kenny Schrader says, "He's in it for the sport (of auto racing)!" It didn't take this gentleman long to fall in love with the history and diversity of racing that St. Louis has to offer. While helming the area's largest local racing facility hosting the largest quantity and diversity of racing events, he also spearheaded a new motorsports weekly radio show and helped racing receive more mainstream sports coverage than ever before. What has set him apart in St. Louis motorsports radio in 2007 is his dedication to showcasing all forms of local racing, featuring the local experts, and most amazingly promoting ALL the other racing radio shows and sources of motorsports information in town! The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is extremely proud to honor a great champion of the St. Louis racing community, Gateway International Raceway's Vice President and General Manager, Lenny Batycki.
Bob Mueller – Mike McGinnitey
The late Bob Mueller would be proud to see who's won this award tonight. As a little tyke, he idolized Bob Mueller and has followed admirably in his footsteps. He's helped the little guy go racing with advice, money, parts, you name it - just like his hero Bob - without fanfare or need for recognition. He's also worked the short tracks, just like Bob. He became an Allied Auto Racing Association board member, again just like Bob. He's also gone above and beyond that. His behind the scenes participation in the Shop N Save fundraiser for Special Olympics, bringing the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers to area racing and developing the biggest Sportsman National Show in the country is extraordinary. His 2007 "racing season" off the track was nothing short of phenomenal. He became the Chairman of the Board of Allied, spearheaded the Lake Hill Speedway Reunion, and as President of our Fan Club led a remarkable resurgence and growth. He's done all of this because he's a racer and it’s the right thing to do and exactly what his hero would have done: his grandpa, Bob Mueller. There is no doubt Grandpa would be proud to see how he's honored the family racing heritage and tradition. We know he has only just begun leaving his own legacy to St. Louis racing. It is with great distinction and honor that the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club presents the Bob Mueller Memorial Award to his grandson Mike McGinnitey.
Mechanics – Mark Weber
This is his 35th year of racing. He's competed in 435 Sports Car Club of America races and earned 56 national wins. A racing photographer by profession, he now holds a record as the driver who has competed in more SCCA National Road Racing Championships than any other competitor across the country. He's made 41 appearances at The Runoffs, 35 of those since 1987, in the same Austin Healey Sprite, often in two classes swapping engines between events. His record for engine swaps, set before the Speed Channel's TV cameras was 22 minutes with help from Paul Gilbert and Dan Meyer. He builds his own engines and does transmissions for other Sprite owners with machining help from Terry McKenna. A die-hard racer at heart he's working the Rolex Daytona 24 Hours tonight. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is proud to present the Mechanical Achievement Award to Mark Weber.
Curt Lehmann – Dr. Chris Sloan
The Curt Lehman Sportsmanship award is being presented to an individual who prevented a tragedy while at a race track this fall in Arkansas. This privateer campaigns two sprint-cars, besides his daughter's kart operation, and had just finished his race. The father in the family pitted next to him stumbled from the cab of their truck overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning. Recognizing the situation this hero pulled the mother and a daughter out of the vehicle and used his medical training to help them until the ambulance could transport them to the local hospital. The source of the carbon monoxide was three portable generators each parked outside the trailers of three teams pitted together. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is humbled to honor Dr. Christopher Sloan.
The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is also announcing this evening a joint effort with Dr. Sloan to begin a carbon monoxide detector awareness campaign. We encourage each racer here this evening to add a carbon monoxide detector to your must have safety equipment in your haulers and ask that you encourage all of your fellow competitors to do the same.
Founder's – Sam Driggers
Following in the footsteps of the late Bob Memmer the winner of this years Founder's Award has expanded the UMP Dirt Car racing lineup from five to eight exciting divisions while increasing UMP sanctioned tracks to over 100 throughout the United States and Canada providing an arena for dirt track racings weekend warriors to shine. He's incorporated uniform technical rules, cost cutting measures and added year end point funds for the entry-level classes. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is pleased to present this year's Founder's Award to UMP's Dirt Car Racing Director Sam Driggers.
George – Grace vonHatten
The "George" Award is named in honor of the late Fan Club member Frank Suggs who never forgot a name because he called everyone George. The award is being presented this evening to a name everyone knows. He challenged the Fan Club at last year's Banquet of Champions to become bigger and better. He also stepped up and helped organize the Lake Hill Reunion and had more fun than everyone else combined that day at the Reunion. He became an integral part of the turnaround and growth of our Club. With our sincerest thanks for all he's done our most active member who lead the charge this year is the incomparable Kenny Wallace.
Lifetime – Bob Quinn
The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is proud to present a Lifetime Membership to a dedicated, loyal, and unheralded race fan who supports our Club and area racers as well. Mr. Bob Quinn.
Dale Mueller – Joyce Standridge
The Dale Mueller is being presented this year to a self-described "very, very lucky racing fan" that doesn't think she's a media type. She began working for Dick Berggren 30 years ago as a writer, becoming a Senior Editor at Stock Car Magazine. She wrote for Open Wheel magazine from its inception until 1999. When Speedway Illustrated was born in 2000 she began writing a column and has been an Editor-at-Large ever since.
She opened a new chapter in her career with Ken Schrader's "Gotta Race" in 2005, followed by Kenny Wallace's "Inside Herman's World" in 2006 and 2007. She will start work next week on "Win It or Wear It, The Great Characters of Sprint Car Racing" before adding a Late Model book.
This award winner loves all forms of racing, but especially enjoys short-track racing and the feeling of being part of an extended family. In her words, "I've been hugely blessed to be able to write and photograph -- and get paid a little along the way – but it's always been about the racing". Race fans across the country have been enormously blessed as well to read her work.
The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is delighted to present the Dale Mueller Award to Joyce Standridge.
41st Banquet of Champions
January 26, 2008
Royale Orleans Banquet Center
Annual Award wording
Arnie Knepper – Ricky Stenhouse
The Knepper Award is given in memory of open-wheel racer Arnie Knepper and honors the USAC Silver Crown driver who turns in the best overall performance in the "big car" races held annually on two of the finest and most historic mile-dirt tracks in the United States, the "Springfield Mile" and the "Magic Mile" of the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. This year's winner is Ricky Stenhouse.
Bill Oldani – Frank Kimmel
The Oldani Award is given in memory of Bill Oldani, the long-time Director of Motorsports for the State of Illinois, a man who was considered by all a true gentleman and friend of the sport. This year we honor the racer whose overall performance on the mile tracks of Springfield and DuQuoin in the ARCA stock car series has won this award more than any other driver. Earning his eighth Bill Oldani and his ninth ARCA title in 2007 is Frank Kimmel.
Ambassador's – Don Hoener
Our Ambassador Award winner this evening is one of the driving forces behind the Sportsman Nationals races now held at Belle-Clair Speedway and I-55 Raceway. These two events are immensely popular with racer and fans from areas well beyond St. Louis. Now in his 25th year as an Allied Auto Racing Association official, he's helping to make the St. Louis area an even more important stop along the way for rising short-track racing talent and ensuring the continued longevity and success of Allied. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is delighted to present the Ambassador Award to Don Hoener.
Outstanding Media – Lenny Batycki
As Kenny Schrader says, "He's in it for the sport (of auto racing)!" It didn't take this gentleman long to fall in love with the history and diversity of racing that St. Louis has to offer. While helming the area's largest local racing facility hosting the largest quantity and diversity of racing events, he also spearheaded a new motorsports weekly radio show and helped racing receive more mainstream sports coverage than ever before. What has set him apart in St. Louis motorsports radio in 2007 is his dedication to showcasing all forms of local racing, featuring the local experts, and most amazingly promoting ALL the other racing radio shows and sources of motorsports information in town! The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is extremely proud to honor a great champion of the St. Louis racing community, Gateway International Raceway's Vice President and General Manager, Lenny Batycki.
Bob Mueller – Mike McGinnitey
The late Bob Mueller would be proud to see who's won this award tonight. As a little tyke, he idolized Bob Mueller and has followed admirably in his footsteps. He's helped the little guy go racing with advice, money, parts, you name it - just like his hero Bob - without fanfare or need for recognition. He's also worked the short tracks, just like Bob. He became an Allied Auto Racing Association board member, again just like Bob. He's also gone above and beyond that. His behind the scenes participation in the Shop N Save fundraiser for Special Olympics, bringing the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers to area racing and developing the biggest Sportsman National Show in the country is extraordinary. His 2007 "racing season" off the track was nothing short of phenomenal. He became the Chairman of the Board of Allied, spearheaded the Lake Hill Speedway Reunion, and as President of our Fan Club led a remarkable resurgence and growth. He's done all of this because he's a racer and it’s the right thing to do and exactly what his hero would have done: his grandpa, Bob Mueller. There is no doubt Grandpa would be proud to see how he's honored the family racing heritage and tradition. We know he has only just begun leaving his own legacy to St. Louis racing. It is with great distinction and honor that the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club presents the Bob Mueller Memorial Award to his grandson Mike McGinnitey.
Mechanics – Mark Weber
This is his 35th year of racing. He's competed in 435 Sports Car Club of America races and earned 56 national wins. A racing photographer by profession, he now holds a record as the driver who has competed in more SCCA National Road Racing Championships than any other competitor across the country. He's made 41 appearances at The Runoffs, 35 of those since 1987, in the same Austin Healey Sprite, often in two classes swapping engines between events. His record for engine swaps, set before the Speed Channel's TV cameras was 22 minutes with help from Paul Gilbert and Dan Meyer. He builds his own engines and does transmissions for other Sprite owners with machining help from Terry McKenna. A die-hard racer at heart he's working the Rolex Daytona 24 Hours tonight. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is proud to present the Mechanical Achievement Award to Mark Weber.
Curt Lehmann – Dr. Chris Sloan
The Curt Lehman Sportsmanship award is being presented to an individual who prevented a tragedy while at a race track this fall in Arkansas. This privateer campaigns two sprint-cars, besides his daughter's kart operation, and had just finished his race. The father in the family pitted next to him stumbled from the cab of their truck overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning. Recognizing the situation this hero pulled the mother and a daughter out of the vehicle and used his medical training to help them until the ambulance could transport them to the local hospital. The source of the carbon monoxide was three portable generators each parked outside the trailers of three teams pitted together. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is humbled to honor Dr. Christopher Sloan.
The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is also announcing this evening a joint effort with Dr. Sloan to begin a carbon monoxide detector awareness campaign. We encourage each racer here this evening to add a carbon monoxide detector to your must have safety equipment in your haulers and ask that you encourage all of your fellow competitors to do the same.
Founder's – Sam Driggers
Following in the footsteps of the late Bob Memmer the winner of this years Founder's Award has expanded the UMP Dirt Car racing lineup from five to eight exciting divisions while increasing UMP sanctioned tracks to over 100 throughout the United States and Canada providing an arena for dirt track racings weekend warriors to shine. He's incorporated uniform technical rules, cost cutting measures and added year end point funds for the entry-level classes. The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is pleased to present this year's Founder's Award to UMP's Dirt Car Racing Director Sam Driggers.
George – Grace vonHatten
The "George" Award is named in honor of the late Fan Club member Frank Suggs who never forgot a name because he called everyone George. The award is being presented this evening to a name everyone knows. He challenged the Fan Club at last year's Banquet of Champions to become bigger and better. He also stepped up and helped organize the Lake Hill Reunion and had more fun than everyone else combined that day at the Reunion. He became an integral part of the turnaround and growth of our Club. With our sincerest thanks for all he's done our most active member who lead the charge this year is the incomparable Kenny Wallace.
Lifetime – Bob Quinn
The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is proud to present a Lifetime Membership to a dedicated, loyal, and unheralded race fan who supports our Club and area racers as well. Mr. Bob Quinn.
Dale Mueller – Joyce Standridge
The Dale Mueller is being presented this year to a self-described "very, very lucky racing fan" that doesn't think she's a media type. She began working for Dick Berggren 30 years ago as a writer, becoming a Senior Editor at Stock Car Magazine. She wrote for Open Wheel magazine from its inception until 1999. When Speedway Illustrated was born in 2000 she began writing a column and has been an Editor-at-Large ever since.
She opened a new chapter in her career with Ken Schrader's "Gotta Race" in 2005, followed by Kenny Wallace's "Inside Herman's World" in 2006 and 2007. She will start work next week on "Win It or Wear It, The Great Characters of Sprint Car Racing" before adding a Late Model book.
This award winner loves all forms of racing, but especially enjoys short-track racing and the feeling of being part of an extended family. In her words, "I've been hugely blessed to be able to write and photograph -- and get paid a little along the way – but it's always been about the racing". Race fans across the country have been enormously blessed as well to read her work.
The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club is delighted to present the Dale Mueller Award to Joyce Standridge.
