| Newberrytown, PA (February
23, 2013) – The Night of Honor and Awards Banquet for the
Susquehanna Speedway Park’s 2012 season on Friday night,
February 22 was filled with an atmosphere of fun, music,
enthusiasm and anticipation for the 2013 season. Nine track
champions were crowned and added to the prestigious SSP Hall
of Champions list that includes racing great such as Bobby
Abel, Johnny Mackison Sr., Gene Goodling, Ray Tilley and
Mitch Smith to name a few.
The Awards Gala was held at
the historic Valencia Ballroom in downtown York,
Pennsylvania in front of a full house of drivers, teams,
sponsors and supporters of the various classes that competed
at SSP last season. Music before and after the ceremonies
was provided by Professional DJ, Daniel Boone. The banquet
placed SSP's grassroots racers on center stage after
celebrating the track’s 58th year of operation, the ninth
season under the Fishers.
The Late Model division
crowned Carl Billet of York for the seventh time in his
career at SSP. Billet’s consistency and experience edged
out rookie driver, J.R. Rodriguez of Dover by 51 points at
season’s end. Billet collected three wins and ten top five
finishes in 2012. Last season’s champion Justin Ehrhart
finished third with three feature victories. Billet,
Rodriguez and Ehrhart provided very entertaining speeches to
the crowd after coming to the stage to collect their
awards. Chase Billet finished fourth with Billy Wampler
finishing strong in fifth place. Finishing sixth through
tenth in the points championship were John Moser Jr., Randy
Christine Jr., Bob Minnich, Denny Willey and Matt Adams.
John Moser Jr. also was
awarded the JR’s Paving Hard Charger Annual award for
claiming the Hard Charger of the Race twice in 2012. Moser
was given the choice of a concealed envelope with a check or
a 2013 Season Pit Pass (valued at $600). Moser claimed the
sealed envelope that contained a check for $300.
Littlestown’s Randy Zechman
took back the Street Stock championship from his son Dan
Zechman to claim his second career SSP Street Stock track
championship with one feature win, and fourteen top-5
finishes in 2012. Two-time track champion (1998 & 2009)
Scott Thunberg finished second with eleven top-5 finishes.
Mike Zeigler Jr. settled for third behind Zechman and
Thunberg. Zeigler picked up three feature wins. Jasen
Geesaman finished the season solidly in fourth with one
feature victory. Rookie driver, Jake Moser finished fifth
in the final standings. Jaynee Zeigler, Brian Rehbein, Doug
Bennett, Brandin Ort and Jim Palm Jr. finished sixth through
tenth respectively.
Patrick McClane of York won
two Xtreme Stock Car feature races en route to his first SSP
track championship in 2012. McClane’s twelve top-5 finishes
gave him the edge to take the crown over Donnie Broderick
who finished close behind in second by 23 points. Adam
Smith finished one point behind Broderick in third place.
Chad Stine and last season’s champion Cameron Benyou
finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The Madison House Recovery
Homes Season Hard Charger award went to Donnie Broderick for
claiming the most hard charger race awards throughout the
2012 season.
Carlisle’s Curt
McDade claimed his first Road Warrior track championship as
did Anthony Roberts in the Mini Van division. Other SSP
track champions honored on Friday night were
Jacob Feltch (Legends Cars),
Pete Neal (Classic Cars), Aaron Brommer (PENNMAR Vintage
Cars) and Logan Wagner (PASS Sprint Cars)
In special awards, Elmer
Keach, Tim Hahn and J.R. Rodiguez were also recognized by
the Fishers’ for their continued support of the speedway
since the Fishers purchased the run-down racetrack in 2004.
Carl Billet was also moved when he was presented the 2012
A.R.C.H. Sportsmanship Award for his help of other drivers
in his division. Billet claimed, “This is the first time in
my career that I have ever won a sportsmanship award.”
Before the awards
presentation, Todd Fisher, owner/promoter of the Susquehanna
Speedway Park, gave his annual “State of the Speedway”
address. Fisher began by reflecting on the past nine years
and thanked the many supporters of the speedway during those
years. Fisher also described how the entire electrical
mainframe will be updated with new equipment, the first time
since 1954. Fisher anticipates the lighting to be brighter
due to all of the resistance from the old system being
eliminated. The banking in turn four will also be changed
so that the high line does not force cars into the outer
wall when exiting the turn. This is a similar change that
was successful in turn two last season. Fisher finished up
by explaining some of the new additions to the schedule
which includes three visits by the Steel Block Bandits Late
Model Series, The USAC Wingless Sprint Series and the
two-day Go Kart show in May on the big track. Fisher
reiterated that the Stock Car Saturday Night Program was
once again very successful with the support of the families
of the various race teams.
Donations for the
drawing for door prizes was overwhelming as every person in
attendance went home with a prize. Door Prize donators
included Coca Cola; WIX Filters;
K&K Insurance; National Speedway Directory; Bruce McClane;
Haines Mini Van Racing; Aaron Brommer Racing; Daryl Sipe
Racing; Rehbein’s Garage; Joanne Slaseman;
www.rockauto.com and SSP.
The 2013 season opener of
Stock Car Saturday Night will be on Saturday, April 6, with
the Late Models, Street Stocks, Classic Cars and Super
Sportsman Tour. All point championships for each class
starts on April 6.
SSP will begin its
pre-season with four open practice sessions for any type of
racecar on Wednesday, March 27; Saturday, March 30; and
Wednesday, April 31. The gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with
practice sessions rotating for each class from 6:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m.
The Susquehanna Speedway
Park is located midway between Harrisburg and York off I-83
to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then
1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway
offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net.
On race day, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for
up-to-date information.
POST BANQUET NOTES – SSP
Late Model Champion Carl Billet of York suffered from a
severe stroke on Saturday night, the day after the
banquet and is currently receiving treatment at the Hershey
Medical Center. The thoughts and prayers from the entire
SSP family of employees, friends, drivers and crews are with
the Billet family in their time of need.
2012 SSP Track Champions:
Late Models: Carl Billet (York, PA)
Street Stocks: Randy Zechman (Littlestown, PA)
Xtreme Stock Cars: Patrick McClane (York, PA)
Road Warrors: Curt McDade (Carlisle, PA)
Mini Van: Anthony Roberts (Mt. Wolf, PA)
Legends Cars: Jacob Feltch (Hanover, PA)
Classic Cars: Pete Neal (Taneytown, MD)
PENNMAR Vintage Cars: Aaron Bromemr (Auburn, PA)
PASS Sprint Cars: Logan Wagner (Harrisonville, PA)
2013
Schedule of Events at SSP |
