No News is Bad News At Whip City Banquet
BY MARK McKEON
WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA – Whip City Speedway co-owner Dave Pighetti opened the 16th Annual Whip City Speedway Awards Banquet by the by telling the turnaway crowd of 450 that he had no news about the possible sale of the speedway.
“There are still some people interested and we’re still hopeful, I just have to ask you to be patient a little while longer,” he said.
Earlier this year, the current owners announced that they were retiring and that the track was for sale. Since then, they’ve held discussions with several interested parties, but a sale has not yet taken place.
Despite the uncertainly – or perhaps because of it – the large crowd was in an especially festive frame of mind.
Champions were crowned for both the afternoon and evening programs, points money was distributed, and the highest finishing season long competitors in each class received trophies.
College student Seth Carlson, who will be racing a NEMA Lite Midget next season, was the 270cc champion. Ricci Hirth, who is retiring from racing after a 12 year career, won his second 600cc championship. Phil Bessette delivered an emotional acceptance speech for his 750cc title. Jon Moore became a two time 1200cc champ, while Kyle Smith was both Rookie if the Year and Champion in the 750 Sportsman Mini Sprints. Points were tallied for Quad 4 Midgets for the first time this year, and Joe Krawiec was the inaugural champion. In the Modified Lites, Ryan Nicewicz captured his third consecutive crown.
The awards program ended with a commemorative presentation to Dave and Lois Pighetti and Frank Ferrara from the employees and volunteers at the track, expressing thanks and wishing them well in the future.
270cc: SETH CARLSON, 2. Kurt Conklin, 3. Kendall Segar, 4. Wayne Ibitz, Tara Galko, Grant Sabo, Brain Boudreau, Frank Russo, Bryan Russo. Ben Martelle.
600cc: RICCI HIRTH, 2. Rich Crooker, 3. Jim DeCambra, 4. Greg Smith, 5. Chris Lennox, 6. Jay Coppo, 7. Luke Greenwood, 8. Brandon Igo, 9. Dylan Campbell.
750cc: PHIL BESETTE. 2. John Casazza, 3. Tyler Jackson, 4. Mark Taylor, 5. Rick Stone, 6. Nikki Ouellette, 7. Mike King, 8. David Williamson, 9. Dan Schaubert, 10. Jack Fogarty.
750 Sportsman: KYLE SMITH, 2. Makayla Lucia, 3. Timothy Stick, 4. Shelby Klekotka, 5. Cori Tufano, 6. Kurt Conklin, 7. Wayne Bush.
1200cc: JON MOORE, 2. John Virgilio, 3. Jamie Beaudry, 4. Mark Taylor, 5. Jerry Sehn, 6. Peter Dance, 7. Joe Szczapa, 8. Paul Rose, 9. Kristen Phillips.
Quad 4 Midget: JOE KRAWIEC, 2. Tim Gallant, 3. Scott Viets, 4. Jamie Spaulding, 5. Denny Zimmerman, 6. Vince Jacobs, 7. Dana Shaw, 8. Jim Mossman, 9. Greg Olson, 10. Scott Holcomb.
Modified Lite: RYAN NICEWICZ, 2. Brett Crowther, 3. Roger Angers, Jr., 4. Bob Polaski, 5. Rick Ashlaw, 6. Dale Shallow, 7. Casey Ouellette, 8. John Durst.
250cc Youth Participation Awards: Alex Adamsky and Cullen Pike.
4 Cyl. Street Stock: STEVEN BANACH, 2. Stephanie Banach, 3. Brian Hohenstein, 4. Darren Sallee, 5. Michael Pierce, 6. Keith Holtman
Karts: Novice: TANNER CORREIA, 2. Kerriann Adamsky, 3. Aidan Pike, 4. Jake Ellis, 5. Darren Taylor.
Turquoise: COREY LEMELIN, 2. Spencer Brockman, 3. Dylan Irish, 4. Matthew McCain.
Junior: RYAN IRISH, 2. Jeff Champagne, 3. Nora Lemelin, 4. Travis Snow, 5. Connor Leighton.
Lite: KATE LAFRENIERE, 2. Steven Banach, 3. Mike Hauser, 4. Josh Rutola, 5, Stephanie Banach.
Heavy: JAKE SAPOWSKY, 2. David Comeau, 3. Bill Tack, 4, Gary Sokoloski, Jr., 5. Tim Gallant, 6. Bruce Dodge.
2 Stroke BRUCE DODGE, 2. EWrnie Whidden, 3. Stece Rockwood, 4. Roger Angers, Jr., 5. Eric Snow, 6. Jason Wood.
Modified: RICK ASHLAW, 2. Scott Kalber, 3. Eric Jorgensen, 4. Roger Fujimoto, 5. Gary Hublard, 6. Craig Hublard, 7. Paula Lunetta, 8. Jim Close.
Rookies of the Year: 270cc Jake Sapowsky, 600cc, Dylan Campbell, 750 Sportsman Kyle Smith, Modified Lite Dale Shallow, 4 Cyl Street Stock Steven Banach. Karts: Novice Tanner Correia, Turquoise Timothy Shallow, Junior Travis Snow, Lite Stephanie Banach, Heavy David Comeau, 2 Stroke Eric Snow.