Monadnock Speedway Crowns Champs
Holyoke, Ma: Monadnock Speedway Competitors, Car Owners and Race Teams joined together on Saturday, November 20th at the Log Cabin located in Holyoke, Ma to celebrate the 2010 race season and officially crown the champions. Over 400 people were present to reflect on the 2010 season including the New England Truck Series who were in attendance to accept their hardware.
Michelle Cloutier, the speedway’s General Manager, welcomed the race teams and thanked all of them for their dedication and support throughout the 2010 season even in these tough economic times. She also addressed the teams on how they all work together to make the speedway one of the best and most competitive short track in the East.
The first to accept awards was the new Young Gun division. This division was created in 2010 allowing 12-15 year olds to compete and gain valuable track time before moving up to a NASCAR divsision, the awards were presented to Tyrell Dugre, Matt Parmenter, Falisha Lambert, Joe Boivin, JT Cloutier, Adam Manley, Cordell Colon and Hillary Renaud.
Next to accept the top ten awards (2nd through 10th) were 4-cylinder Enduros, Full Size Enduros, New England Race Trucks, Mini Stocks, Super Stocks, Outlaw Pros, Sportsman Modifieds and Tour Type Modifieds.
Special Awards were handed out and the recipients are as follows: Rookie of the Year Eric Dejackome (Mini Stocks), Geoff Rollins (Outlaw Pros) and Matthew Mead (Modifieds), Most Improved Chris Davis (Mini Stocks), Bill Johnston (Super Stocks) and Jim Boniface (Modifieds), Best Appearing Kim Rivet (Mini Stocks), Nick Boivin (Super Stocks), Barry Gray (Outlaw Pros), Russ Hersey (Sportsman Modifieds) and Kirk Alexander (Modifieds) and Sportsmanship Joe Kendall (Mini Stocks), John Lavoie (Super Stocks), Steve Gauthier (Outlaw Pros), Bill Kimball (Sportsman Modifieds) and Eric LeClair (Modifieds).
The final presentations of the evening were the 2010 Champions. First to be honored was the first female 4-cylinder Enduro Champion, Julia Raymond. Julia thanked her family and friends for all their support including legendary Roger Raymond for his genes. Julia also stated the best part of being a champion is making her father, Chris Raymond, proud.
Duane Stonier accepted his Full Size Championship award thanking his crew, family and fellow competitors stating he had a great time throughout the 2010 season. Stonier will be taking a break in 2011 but will be assisting his brother Blaze in hopes of bringing home another championship to the Stonier family.
Andy Lindeman, the 2010 New England Truck Series Championship received his award thanking race series director Lorraine Pard for keeping the division together and stating the Monadnock Speedway is one of his favorite tracks to compete at.
Mini Stock Champion Chris Davis was on stage next as he thanked his crew, girlfriend and sponsors for making this title possible. Davis stated he will be back again next season to defend his title. Davis is eager for the 2011 season and already has plans to start working on his race machine immediately.
Bill Johnston, the 2010 Super Stock, accepted his award after many years of pursuing the championship. In his speech, he gave a huge thanks to his wife and stepdaughter who have been very supportive and stated family support is the most important ingredient in racing, he also thanked his crewmember stating how talented they are and the speedway for providing a great track to race at. He announced he will be back in a brand new car to defend his title.
Sportsman Modified Champion Bill Kimball accepted the very first Championship Title for the new division created in 2010. He started by thanking all of his family, crew and sponsors then thanked the many competitors with whom he raced within the Pro Stock division years back for making him a better driver.
Multiple time champion Barry Gray was next to be awarded as the Outlaw Pro Champion. As with all the champions, he also thanked his wife, family and crewmembers along with their wives for all the hard work they have put in at the shop to make the championship possible.
The final champion called to the podium to accept his hardware was the 2010 Modified Champion, Kirk Alexander. Alexander stated he has competed at many tracks all over the Northeast and agreed with Gray and Kimball that Monadnock Speedway is a track where you can have fun competing at with a great bunch of racers and staff. He also stated that racing is so much a part of him that he has thought about retiring but just can’t give it up. He also thanked his crew and family for their support.
The announcement for the opening date for 2011 was made and will be scheduled on April 30th with the traditional 100 lap Modified Racing Series Season Opener.