| ERICK RUDOLPH AND
DAVE DUBOIS NAMED AS DRIVERS OF THE YEAR |
| AT FRIENDS OF AUTO
RACING AWARDS BANQUET |
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Bowmansville, NY: The
Friends of Auto Racing (F.O.A.R. S.C.O.R.E.) Fan Club
held their annual awards dinner on Saturday January 24,
2009 at the Elks Club in Lancaster, NY. A crowd of
approximately 200 gathered for the affair which annually
recognizes presents specialty awards to deserving
drivers and key racing supporters from Western New York
and Ontario's Niagara Region. The highlights of the
evening included the induction of four members into the
Friends of Auto Racing Hall of Fame and the presentation
of Driver of the Year Awards to Erick Rudolph of
Ransomville, NY (asphalt racing) and Dave DuBois of
Corfu, NY (dirt racing).
DuBois had a career best season in 360 Late Model
racing, recording multiple wins and track titles at both
Black Rock Speedway and Genesee Speedway. Among his
Black Rock wins was a victory in the BRP CanAm 360 Late
Model Series. His Genesee record showed only one finish
worse than sixth for the year.
Rudolph had a phenomenal year, becoming the first driver
to ever win the Modified and SST Sportsman titles at
Dunn Tire Raceway Park (formerly Lancaster Speedway) in
the same season. Rudolph also became the youngest driver
ever to win a Dunn Tire Modified feature race. His '08
wins included the US Open SST Sportsman 75 at Dunn Tire,
and SST specials at Wyoming County International and
Spencer Speedways. In addition, in nine rookie starts on
the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, he had five top ten
finishes.
Rudolph, in addition, earned a unique double in awards -
he was also the recipient of the Achievement on Dirt
award, in recognition of his victories in the Town
Mechanical 30 for DIRTCar Sportsmen on the Syracuse mile
in October (in his first ever race on the mile) and in
the Empire State Modified Midget Championship at Genesee
Speedway.
Todd Hoddick of Cheektowaga, NY was honored with the
Achievement on Asphalt award, for his major Late Model
victories in the Budweiser 100 at Holland and the Race
of Champions 75 at Oswego, in addition to his impressive
top 15 showings in his first forays into ARCA racing at
Berlin, MI and Toledo, OH.
The Families in Racing Award, which recognizes area
families who have had long, successful involvements with
the sport in the region, was presented to two families:
the Barber Family and the Friesen family. The Barbers,
based in Bliss, NY, have a four generation, 55 plus year
history in area motorsports, as owner/mechanics and
racers. They have collected numerous track championships
around Western New York, with the late Gail Barber, a
two-time Lancaster Modified champ, in the Friends of
Auto Racing Hall of Fame. In addition, the Barbers built
and operate the very successful kart track, Bliss
International Speedway. Joe, Madonna, and Camden Barber
received the award on behalf of the family.
Likewise, for three generations, the St. Catharines, ON
based Friesen family has had a proven success record
both on the speedway and in operating racetracks, with
Ransomville Speedway under their current ownership.
Patriarch Stan, with multiple track titles to his
record, and the late Alex Friesen, an energetic race
promoter, are in the Friends of Auto Racing Hall of
Fame. Joel and James Michael Friesen received the award
on behalf of the family. The families were presented
with a recognition trophy while a permanent plaque will
be housed at the International Motor Racing Research
Center in Watkins Glen.
Rookie of the Year awards were presented to Ransomville
and Merrittville 358 Modified racer Tom Flannigan (dirt)
and Dunn Tire and Spencer Modified Sportsman driver Andy
Jankowiak (asphalt). Most Improved Driver awards went to
Genesee Pro Stock points runner-up Mike Martin (dirt)
and Lake Erie Late Model points runner-up George Skora,
III (asphalt).
Dunn Tire Raceway Park Modified driver Karl Hehr was a
popular choice for the Perseverance Award, marking his
return to health and racing in 2008 after a devastating
wreck two seasons earlier. Modified and Sportsman racer
and 2Kwik chassis builder Rick Kluth was presented the
Sportsmanship Award.
The Dick Hammond Dedication to Auto Racing Award was
presented to long time area racer Bill Torrisi, in
recognition of his 50+ year involvement in the sport.
Mae Urban, who in 2008, was the first woman to win a
Holland points title in a predominantly male racing
division, earned the Woman in Racing Award. The
Mechanical Achievement Award was presented to TQ Midget
team owner Vince Christiano, Sr. Buffalo radio station
WEDG-FM (103.3 The Edge) was presented the Promotional
Award for their successful Wednesday evening Cruise
Nights at Dunn Tire Raceway Park.
Lou Ensworth, who has been a writer, photographer, and
racing historian for over 60 years, was presented the
Media Award.
Special Recognition Awards were presented to Pete
Bicknell, in recognition of his 11th career Ransomville
358 Modified title and his 2008 Mr. DIRTCar 358 Modified
crown; Joe Evans, in recognition of his first career SST
Sportsman feature race wins and his overall SST Touring
Series championship in just his second year of racing;
and James Michael Friesen, for his accomplishments dirt
sportsman racing, with feature wins at six different
speedways and a first career track title (at
Ransomville) in 2008.
Contribution to Racing Awards were presented to Friends
of Auto Racing Club member Sandy Boczar for her extra
efforts in fund raising for the Dunn Tire Raceway Park
points fund, and to Dunn Tire Raceway Park Director of
Stock Car Events Lori Overdorf for her work maintaining
a successful oval track program at the Lancaster
speedplant.
FRIENDS OF AUTO RACING INDUCT JOHN JULICHER, JACK VEACH,
TURNER BROTHERS INTO HALL OF FAME
Bowmansville, NY: At their annual awards banquet on
Saturday, January 24th, the Friends of Auto Racing (F.O.A.R.
S.C.O.R.E.) Fan Club inducted four new members into
their Hall of Fame. The honorees included Late Model
star John Julicher, long-time track official Jack Veach,
and top level race car owners/builders, the Turner
Brothers, Don and Ray.
The annual banquet fetes top drivers in Western New York
and Ontarioʼs Niagara Region, and introduces the
newest members to the select hall of those who have had
a significant impact in the regionʼs rich
motorsports history. Each of the inductees received a
recognition award, while the permanent Hall of Fame
trophy and display is housed at the International Motor
Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen. The banquet was
held at the Elks Club in Lancaster, NY. Masters of
Ceremonies Rick Mooney and Dave Buchanan presided over
the inductions.
Over the course of a 30 year racing career, John
Julicher raced his way to 84 career wins and ten track
titles. 74 of those wins and nine of those championships
were at his home track of Lancaster Speedway. He was
part of the relatively new Lancaster Street Stock class
in the mid-'70s which evolved into the current Dunn Tire
Raceway Park Late Model division, and was a winner and
titleist in all phases of that evolution. He was a
two-time winner of the Late Model Race of Champions at
Oswego Speedway (1998 and 2002), and was the 1988
Spencer Speedway Late Model champion. His victory total
at Lancaster puts him fourth on the ovalʼs all-time
winnerʼs list. Retired racer and Foar Score Hall of
Fame member Ron Martin made the presentation.
The late Jack Veach was a well-respected area racing
official for over 35 years. He handled virtually every
official's job at some point in his career, from
registering to flagging to serving as race director, and
at numerous tracks, both dirt and asphalt. He was a
regular at the Syracuse mile as part of the Super DIRT
Week officials staff, and assisted at major special
events on both sides of the American/Canadian border.
His efforts were recognized by DIRT in 2000, as he was
the recipient of the Leonard J. Sammons Contribution to
Racing Award. Jackʼs wife Bonnie, daughter Dawn,
and son John accepted the award; Foar Score Recording
Secretary and Historian Mark Southcott made the
presentation.
From the mid-'50s to the late-'70s, the Turner Brothers
were considered among the leading
race car builders and owners in the northeast. Their
successes were the result of imagination, innovation,
and a strong work ethic, producing some top notch
equipment in their Scottsville, NY shop. The roster of
drivers who competed and won in their equipment reads
like a whoʼs who of area racing, and includes Elmer
Musclow, Dutch Hoag, Lee Osborne, Bobby Merz, Mike
Miller, and Gary Reichert. Notable among their well over
200 wins were the 1967 Race of Champions at Langhorne,
with Hoag behind the wheel, the initial Modified Bud 150
at Oswego in 1969 with Merz driving, and the amazing 28
victory 1967 season for Osborne. Track championships at
such venues as Monroe County, Hemlock, Spencer, and
Shangri-La are part of their record. Gail Turner
accepted the award on behalf of her late husband Ray,
while Ken Turner accepted the award on behalf of his
father Don. Modified car owner Dave DeLange made the
presentation.
This induction class brings the total membership in the
Friends of Auto Racing Hall of Fame to 100.
Source: Rick Mooney/FOAR SCORE Club PR rmooney@aol.com
Posted: January 25, 2009
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