ILLIANA MOTOR SPEEDWAY AWARDS BANQUET
Schererville, Ind., November 1 -Illiana Motor Speedway hosted its annual banquet and awards night at the Halls of St. George here Saturday evening with speedway owner-manager Mike Mikuly honoring top drivers in the track's four stock car divisions. More than 300 people were in attendance for the social gathering.
Taking home their fair share of trophies, point fund money and awards were division champions Dave Weltmeyer, Kevin Moenck, Kurt McKinney and Craig Amptmeyer.
Weltmeyer, the veteran racer from nearby Dyer, picked up his first Illiana late model track championship during a career that has spanned over 30 years.
"It took me 30 years to win an Illiana championship," said Weltmeyer, who had previously won five other area track championships in addition to numerous race victories both on local and national levels. Weltmeyer and his Monte Carlo scored a total of eight feature wins during the season at the half-mile paved oval.
Weltmeyer bested three-time Illiana titlist Mike White in the final points tally. Rounding out the top six in the standings were Joe O'Connor, Eddie Hoffman, Brian Schwartz and Rob Czerwsinski. Schwartz was crowned the division's rookie of the year, while Keith Parker received the "most improved driver" award.
For the second year in a row, Moenck grabbed top season honors in the track's Mid American Sportsman class. The Elwood, Ill. speedster and his Taurus won six main events during the year. Keith Sterkowitz finished second in the Mid American standings, followed by Jack Kalwasinski, Josh Nelms, Jeff Cannon and Stevie Campbell.
Cannon was named the class' rookie of the year with Jeff Treptow garnering "most improved driver" laurels.
Cannon, the former go-kart competitor, was also the recipient of the Ray Nichels Sportsmanship Award, honoring the auto racing hall of fame mechanic and northwest Indiana resident, who was on hand to present the award. During a career as mechanic and owner of midgets, Indy cars and USAC and NASCAR stock cars, Nichels' equipment garnered countless victories and championships
McKinney was the champion of the track's new Millennium late model division. The Hebron resident finished ahead of Mike Richardson, Jeff Mackowiak, Joe Fadke and Mike Carpenter Jr.
Amptmeyer was a dominant force in Turbo Stox action on the track's smaller quarter-mile oval. Amptmeyer of Lansing, Ill. wheeled a rapid-running Monte Carlo to five feature wins on his way to the title, grabbing his first career Illiana crown ahead of Tom Gasik, Bill Serviss, Cher Bryant, Dean Patterson and Larry Nolte.
Tom Prim was the division's rookie of the year and Steve Loper was the "most improved" Turbo Stox driver.
The 2003 Illiana contingency program sponsored by Appleton Rack, Bassett Wheel, Lefthander Chassis, Argo Manufacturing, FineLine Design, Howe, Diamond Racing, Tech One, SK Tools, Rhyne engines, SRC, Quartermaster, Impact Racing, Suspension Spring, B&B racing engines, Hinchman, Hypercoils, White Insurance, Glenn`s Car Care, Sonny`s Concessions, and Hoosier Tire awarded over $20,000 in cash and product certificates to competitors in all divisions
Keith Parker, Jack Kalwasinski, and Joe O`Connor were recipients of the Five Star Stockcar body award, each driver will receive a package "A" body courtesy of Five Star Bodies, Twin Lakes, WI.
The Harry Molenaar Award of Excellence went to Rhonda Alger for her tireless efforts in numerous areas at the speedway. The award is named in honor of the late Harry Molenaar, who built and then owned and operated the speedway for over 50 years.
