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WHITNEY HONORED AT IRA BANQUET Watertown, WI - 12/2/06 - The 47th annual Interstate Racing Association
Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series Awards Banquet was held Saturday night
at historic Turner Hall. A large crowd attended to honor first time IRA Champion
Travis Whitney and twenty-three of his fellow racers. $63,000 in cash awards
were presented. Contingency prizes galore were additionally presented, as all
twenty-four teams were present and rewarded for their season's accomplishments
and participation. Each team had to compete in atleast 75% of the scheduled 2006
events to be point fund eligible. Whitney, the first driver ever to win the IRA Championship from the state of
Minnesota, took home the lion's share of nights' record point fund, earning a
$10,000 check for his teams' accomplishments which included 3 feature wins (Deer
Creek, Cedar Lake, Echo Valley), 15 top 5 finishes, most A-main points earned, 2
heat wins, and 4 B-main victories. Additionally Whitney was awarded two
additional checks for his qualifying prowess, receiving $500 from Stevie B's
Landscaping for earning the Most Osborn & Son Trucking Fast Times (6), and
another $500 from TW Metals for accumulating the most qualifying points
throughout the campaign. Whitney was also awarded $200 from Behling Racing
Equipment for claiming the most B-Main wins of the season (4). Numerous
contingency prizes, and a pair of jackets completed the champion's prize closet. While son Travis claimed the night's top prizes, the 2006 IRA Championship
Trophy and the annual Frank Filskov Memorial IRA Championship Plaque, father and
car owner Walt Whitney appropriately received the Mechanix Wear Mechanic of the
Year Award. Second place point finisher Mike Reinke picked up a pair of additional
accolades, as he received checks for capturing the Weld Wheels Winningest Driver
Award, and from CJW Distributors/Miller Beer for being high point man at IRA's
Wilmot Speedway visits. Reinke led IRA drivers in A-main victories with five,
scoring wins at Powercom Park, Wilmot, Hancock Co. Speedway, Cedar Lake, and
Dodge Co.Speedway. Reinke also won the most heat races of the season (7) earning
himself an array of gifts from Wix Filters. Alex Bliesner was honored as IRA Rookie of the Year. Alex was awarded a
custom drivers suit courtesy of Awesome Racewear and R&H Enterprises, a new
Bell helmet, and a $1000 check from IRA presenting sponsor United Trailers. It
should be noted that this year's series champ Travis Whitney picked up that same
honor in 1998. Tenth place points man Dave Uttech won the 2nd annual James Bartz Memorial
Most Improved Driver Award in an emotional presentation as the Bartz boys, Tim
& Ty, presesented the award in honor of their father. Veteran John Sernett was recognized by IRA's Midwest Saftey Team as their
Persevearance Award winner. John ran a two-car team this season as he and
brother Tim piloted the 91 & 91t. Gil Radtke presented John a plaque and a
$500 check. The prestigeous Rick Schmidt Memorial IRA Member of the Year Award was
presented to long time IRA supporter Steve Meyer, and his family. Meyer who
finished fourth in the driver standings, also sits as a IRA Board of Director,
while his wife Andrea and their daughters Erica & Beth participate in
various capacities for IRA behind the scenes. IRA Dedication Awards were presented to series statistician and treasurer
Dick Symoens, souvenir vendors Kim & Tom Tennyson, long time IRA
photographer Mike Spitzer, and the Midwest Saftey Team. The uniqueness and
sincere appreciation of IRA's saftey staff drew a thunderous standing ovation as
founder Gil Radtke and crew accepted their honor. IRA Appreciation Awards were presented to Gordy Hubbard of Bumper to Bumper
Auto Parts, Mike Cline of Cummins Onan, and Dean Osborn of Osborn & Son
Trucking. O'Reilly Auto Parts, United Trailers, and TW Metals also received
awards, all have contributed greatly to IRA's success. McCroskey Chevrolet,
Arctic Cat, American Racer Tires, and Hoosier Tires were also recognized for
their outstanding support of the series, as were Behling Racing Equipment,
Gleason Equipment, and R&H Enterprises. Eighth and Twelveth place point finishers, Scott Biertzer and Ryan Irwin were
the big winners in nights' popular Maxim Chassis/Gleason Equipment Drawing, each
winning a 2007 Maxim. Appropriately each team participated in 100% of 2006 IRA
schedule. Each of the twenty-four teams were awarded multiple contingency products, big
winners included Scotty Neitzel (All-Pro Cylinder Heads), Wayne Modjeski (Brodix
Cylinder Heads), and John Sernett (Design 500 Racewear). MMZ Motorsports and driver Wayne Modjeski were voted the Justice Brothers
Best Appearing Car Award, each of the twenty-four teams attending cast a vote. IRA President Steve Sinclair and Knoxville Raceway's Justin Zoch co-emceed
the ceremony. A common statement heard throughout the evening during driver
speeches, was recognition of the great points battle throughout the season which
included Whitney, Reinke, and Scotty Neitzel. Sinclair opened by proudly announcing that all series point fund sponsors
were back on for 2007, and that another record IRA point fund should be
expected. Don Taft and Mark Cavil provided seperate video presentations, while Adam Sturycz provided the musical entertainment.
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