Proctor and AMSOIL Speedways Hold Joint Awards Banquet

Dec 15, 2012

By Jerry O’Brien

In an unprecedented move, the awards banquets for AMSOIL Speedway and Proctor Speedway were held together on December 8. Since both tracks were operated by the same corporation, it made sense to hold one banquet.

A wonderful three meat buffet provided by Pappa Don’s Restaurant & Catering greeted the crowd of racers and fans that filled the Superior Elk’s Club to near capacity. Responsible for the decorating for the combined banquets were Lisa Walkowiak; Tammy Lofdahl; Michelle Omundson and Joanne O’Brien.

After a few remarks by outgoing Lakehead Racing Association President Jerry “Crash” Carson, trophies and point fund checks were handed out by Carlson and incoming President Spike McDougall starting with AMSOIL Speedway.

The 2012 WISSOTA AMSOIL Dirt Track Series Late Model champion is veteran driver Tim McMann of Duluth over Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Gregg Hill, Eveleth, MN; Kyle Peterlin, Hibbing; and Todd Frank, Mellen, WI in the top five. Duluth’s Jody Bellefeuille topped the WISSOTA Modified ranks over Al Uotinen, Superior; Ross Lightner, Washburn, WI; Rick Rivord, Superior and Jeff Tardy, Hibbing.

The WISSOTA Super Stocks were topped by many time track champion Scott Lawrence of Superior over Dave Flynn, also of Superior. Trevor Wilson, Superior was third followed by Mike Bellefeuille, Duluth and Keith Kern, Superior who tied for fourth. Silver Bay, MN’s Deven VanHouse topped the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds in a close battle with Thunder Bay Ontario’s Cody Wolkowski. Neil Balduc, Bessemer, MI; Dan Kingsley, Superior; and Don Craig from Thunder Bay finished in the top five.

Josh Johnson of Superior was the 2012 Pure Stock track champion over Steve Udeen, Superior; Justin Madsen, Foxboro WI; Travis Zembo, Superior and Andy Udeen, also of Superior rounded out the top five.

The Proctor Speedway 2012 track champions are: Late Model Kyle Peterlin; Harry Hanson Eveleth; Tim McMann; Joey Ogston Duluth and Darrell Nelson Hermantown. Jody Bellefeuille of Duluth is the WISSOTA Modified champion ahead of Scott Heikkinen, Eveleth; E. J. Heitala, Cloquet MN; and Ryan Aho, Chisholm MN in the top five.

Scott Lawrence also won the Super Stock title, his third of the season having also won at Superior and ABC Raceway in Ashland. Kevin Salin, Iron, MN; Mike Bellefeuille, Duluth; Pat Heikkinen, Eveleth and Al Rapp, Saginaw were the top five. Deven VanHouse won the Midwest Modified title at the Proctor Speedway to go along with his AMSOIL Speedway title. Dan Kingsley; Josh Heavirland, Cloquet; Andrew Inman, Hermantown and Neil Balduc, Bessemer rounded out the top five.

Esten Nelson of Grand Marais, MN won his first Pure Stock title over Jeff Engelmeier of Saginaw. Craig Horak of Grand Marais, Justin Bassa of Hermantown and Jon Hammitt, Cloquet finished in the top five.

Rookies of the Year were named in each division at each race track. At AMSOIL Speedway Josh Overn was named Pure Stock RoY; Josh Haverlin, Midwest Modified RoY; Ashley Smith, Super Stock RoY; Jeff Tardy, Modified RoY and Zach Wohlers, Late Model RoY.

At the Proctor Speedway, all of the Rookies of the Year named at AMSOIL Speedway were the same except for Late Model who was Robbie Cooper. Also named was Sportsman of the Year in each division at each track. Sportsman of the Year at the Proctor Speedway included Esten Nelson, Pure Stock; Dan Doran, Midwest Modified; Brian Carl Super, Stock; Nick Musel, Modified and Tim McMann, Late Model. At AMSOIL Speedway, Sportsman of the Year in each division was Justin Madsen, Pure Stock; Deven VanHouse; Pat Heikkinen, Super Stock; Scott Heikkinen, Modified and Tim McMann Late Model.

The President’s award went to Clint Larson, who did a great job of track preparation when Don Roseen the regular track preparation operator suffered some health issues. The Overall Sportsman at Proctor Speedway was long time board member and Treasurer John “Gus” Omundson and at AMSOIL Speedway Gary Mattson and Al Devorac were honored.

Schedules, etc. for 2013 are in the preliminary planning stages. More information will be forthcoming soon.

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