BETHEL MOTOR SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONS CROWNED

BETHEL, NY – Drivers, crew members, sponsors, and fans all turned out this past Saturday to honor the champions and competitors at the Bethel Motor Speedway 2011 awards banquet, hosted at The Lodge at Rock Hill.

 Several hundred attendees packed into the room, where the efforts of those who contributed to the successful season at the repaved speedway were recognized. 

The top ten in points in each of the track’s eight regular divisions were honored, with the champions receiving custom leather jackets and championship trophies that are nearly five feet tall. 

The championship battles in several of the divisions were among the tightest they have been in recent years, keeping drivers on their toes right up until the last regular points event, and keeping fans coming back week after week to take advantage of the affordable entry price to see the outcome of the season-long quests for the titles. 

In the end, Jeff Richardson walked away with the Sportsman title, in the closest race for the championship recorded since the division was brought to Bethel on a weekly basis.  

Teenage hotshoe Matt Pappa took home the Legends crown, capping off a successful first full season in the class which also saw him take the title at Albany-Saratoga (NY) Speedway and finish second in Young Lions national points following a close tie-breaker race during the INEX Legends Asphalt Nationals at Las Vegas (NV) Motor Speedway back in October.  

The youngest champion crowned at the speedway was Max Evans, the nine-year-old Bandolero talent.  

Ed Butler took home the Pro Stock crown in a close race against rookie Larry O’Donnell.

 In the Street Stock class, Bobby VanBlarcom was crowned champion, while the BMS Modified championship went to Skip LaPolt.

 The 4 Cylinder titles went to Ivan Guerra in the Advanced division, and Kody Welsh in the Novice class. 

Many special awards were also presented.

 Best Appearing Car awards were presented to: Bryanna Hurban (Sportsman), Matt Evans (Legends), Rudy Roth IV (Bandolero), Ed Butler (Pro Stock), Bobby VanBlarcom (Street Stock), Norm Barnes (BMS Modified), Patty Falkena (4 Cylinder Advanced), and Kody Welsh (4 Cylinder Novice).  The Rookie of the Year award recipients were: Dan Curry (Sportsman), Ronny Conklin (Legends), David French (Bandolero), Larry O’Donnell (Pro Stock), and Amber VanOrden (Street Stock).  

Pro Stock driver Gene Morton was honored with the Most Improved driver award.

 Mark Evans, crew chief on the championship-winning Bandolero of Max Evans and also the second-place Legends car of Matt Evans, was named the Crew Chief of the Year. With the 2011 season at Bethel Motor Speedway wrapped up, the focus will shift to the upcoming season.

 Reservations are already being taken for reserved parking spots, and Bethel licenses are available through the speedway office.  

For more information about the 2012 season at Bethel, visit www.bethelmotorspeedway.com during the offseason, or call (845) 319-7908.

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