Special Night of Recognition for Miami County Speedway

Peru native Braiden Black among 2010 track champions
Written By: Matt "Night" Rider
Photos By: Fred Patton(www.fredericsphoto.com)

PERU, IN.- On Saturday, November 20th, the VFW Building was the sight of the 2010 Awards Banquet for the Miami County Speedway. MCS crowned five new track champions in five different classes (Junior, Restrictor, Wing, Non Wing, and Senior), as well as recognizing it's track officials. Hardware for the Rookie of the Year was also awarded.

After a big dinner of ham and/or chicken and noodles, it was time to give out all the awards. First off was the recognition for the many track officials. Track officials being recognized included the Watts family (Eric, Mary Jo, Krista (Pictured Left), and Elizabeth), Kevin Ping, track officials (Ricky, Kelvin, EMS workers Wayne and John), announcer Rob, Fred Patton, John Wiedeman, and me (track reporter) was presented a certificate of recognition, along with a very nice winter jacket with the Miami County Speedway logo on the left side and the worker's name on the right side.

The program shifted to recognizing the track sponsors this year. Track sponsors being recognized for 2010 included;  Red Dot Trophys, Miami County Trucking, Thrifty Muffler, Bretzman, Finer Details, Maximum Power Sports (formerly Max Pitts), Drew Olsen Graphics, Brandt's Harley-Davidson, Kokomo Honda, OSR Bikes & Motors, Gamester Racing Products (GRP Chassis), Hyper Racing, Wooten Power, Southside Sales, Patio Furniture Enterprises, Factor One Racing, C&D Racing, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Kokomo (Indiana).

 After announcing the business sponsors for 2010, the program moved into the top tens for each of the five different classes of micro sprint racing this season. First up was the Junior Class. Taking tenth place honors was Devan Myers. Nineth went to Kiara Abbott, while Jacob Kernel ended the season in eighth. Seventh went to Kiara's bigger brother Stanley Abbott, while Jerrod Van Ness walked away with sixth. Kameron Butcher ended the season in fifth, while Jacob Bigger came home fourth. A pair of Denver natives finished second in third in the Junior points. Justin Harper ended the year in third, while second place honors went to Seth Ireland. Kokomo, IN. racer Kayaleb Bolton (Pictured Right) is your new 2010 Miami County Speedway Track Champion for the Junior Class.

After his big night, Bolton said, "My season was awesome. I'm happy to win the Junior Class Track Championship this year."

Bolton would like to thank his Mom and Dad, Ryan Kline, his Uncle Jimmy, Moser Automotive, Al Parigen (Parigen Engines), his Ma and Pa Bolton, Mama and Papa Joyce, Miami County Speedway and Tim McKey for all their support this season.

 Next up to be awarded was the top ten finishers in the very tough Restrictor Class. Gavin Taylor came home tenth, while Andrew Smith finished the year in nineth. Lauren Longbrake ended up eighth, while Dalton Walker took seventh. Barbie Kimmel walked away with sixth, while fifth went to Deavan Bolton. Cole Angle was fourth, while third belonged to Shelby Larson. Zach Shepler ended the year in second. Peru native Braiden Black (Pictured Left) was crowned as your 2010 Track Champion in the Restictor Class.

"We had a great season. It feels awesome to take home the Track Championship in the Restrictor Class this year," Black said.

"I would like to thank George and Tammy Gamester (GRP Chassis, my Dad (Todd Black) and my Mom (Michelle Black) and everyone that helped me this sesaon. I would also like to thank my girlfriend Katie Milroy," Black continued.

The Senior Class Top Ten followed the Restrictor Class. Finishing tenth in the Senior Class in 2010 was Tony Carlson, while Wesley Bigger finished nineth. Eighth went to Gary Miller, while Bob Baker ended the year in seventh. Joe Taylor came home sixth, while Clarance Hoch came home fifth. Greg Baer ended the season in fourth, while third went to Bruce Bretzman, while Mike Stahl took second place honors. Your new 2010 Miami County Speedway Track Champion for the Senior Class was Flora, IN. racer Cory Angle (Pictured Right).

After taking home the first Senior Class Track Championship at Miami County Speedway, Angle said, "My season went pretty good. My boy (Cole) never flipped. We had a pretty good season."

"I would like to than my Dad (Ed). My Dad also was the crew chief. I would also like to than my sister (Carla Tetralua), along with my sponsor Singletree Trucking Transportation for all their help this season. One more person I would like to than is Cole's friend Dylan Cromer for helping us in the pits."

The Wing Class was the fourth of the five classes to be recognized. Taking tenth place this season in the Wing Class was Joe Taylor. Sam Kimmel raced his way to a nineth place finish. Randy Shilling ended the year in eighth, while seventh went to Chris Smith. Tyler Courtney came home in fifth, while fourth belonged to Austin Mead. Ben Taylor took third place honors, while second went to Bob Bourff. Your new 2010 Miami County Speedway Track Champion in the Wing Class is Kokomo racer Logan Jarrett (Pictured Left).

"We had a pretty good season. This is my first Track Championship," Jarrett explained.

"I would like to thank all my sponsors, as well as my Mom and Dad, and Sister for all their support this season," said Jarrett.

The fifth and final class to be recognized was the Non-Wing Class. Aaron Davis ended the year in tenth, while Kris Knox took home nineth. Eighth place went to Sam Kimmel, while Zeke Lewis raced his way to seventh. Tyler Courtney ended the year in sixth, while Ben Taylor took home fifth. Brandon Rose came home third, while Laine Hite raced his way to second. Your new 2010 Miami County Speedway Track Champion in the Non-Wing Class is North Manchester, IN. native Jordan Lambert (Pictured Right).

After his big night, Lambert said, "We had a pretty successful season. I think we won six Non-Wing features this season."

"I would like to thank my Dad (Steve Lambert) and my Mom (Linda Lambert), Schrader Auto Parts, Ridge Company NAPA, and KC Hughes," Lambert continued.

Following the five class trophy presentions (Upper Center), it was time for the Rookie of the Year awards to be handed out. The first of the five Rookie of the Year awards went to Denver, IN. native Seth Ireland in the Junior Class. The Restrictor Rookie of the Year was next, and that went to Dalton Walker. There was no Rookie of the Year award handed out for the Senior Class, because they were all adults and this was the first full year racing for the class at Miami County Speedway. The Rookie of the Year in the Wing Class went to Randy Shilling, while Jordan Sterling brought home the Rookie of the Year in the Non-Wing Class.

The awards portion of the night ended with the presentation of the Max Lambert Sportsmanship Award. Brothers Austin and Chase Mead were both awarded the Max Lambert Sportsmanship Award. The voting for the award resulted in a tie for both the Mead brothers.

There will be no big changes to Miami County Speedway for next season. "We poured fifty more loads of dirt on the track two weeks ago," MCS Track Co-Owner Norm Bailey said.

"We added the fencing a week ago. Everything else should be the same as last year," Bailey explained.

 "The season went well. We would like to thank the racers, car owners, track staff, and fans for a great 2010," Bailey continued.

All in all it was very special night of recognition for all of Miami County Speedway. I would like to thank all the drivers, their fans, all the track officials, and fans for a great 2010. I would also like to thank my friend and Miami County Speedway Track Photographer Fred Patton for always supplying Through The Gears with awesome pictures throughout the year. I will be back at Miami County Speedway reporting all the action for my race column Through The Gears. I want to thank all the readers that take time to read Through The Gears. I can't wait to return to Miami County Speedway in 2010.