Banquet for Friday Night drivers a Huge Success!
By Dale Erdmann

January 29, 2001; Lake Geneva, WI. - A crowd of nearly 200 drivers, crew members, sponsors and family came out for the first to be annual awards banquet for the new Friday night race program that turned into a huge success for it's
first season at Lake Geneva Raceway, held at Rumpoles Banquet Hall.

The big news given by Kevin Dawson, owner of the raceway, there would be a point fund established for the Friday night cars. The new millennium late models, now in their second season would have at least a $1000 fund. The mini modifieds will be sponsored by Herb's Inc. out of Antioch, Illinois, with owner Bill Damron making a committment for these popular race cars and their local drivers. The friday nights season will begin on May 18th, one week earlier than previously announced, due to the overwhelming response by drivers and fans to this program. There will be four anchor divisions with
this program, the Jasper engines millenium late models, Herb's mini modifieds, BIC cars and legend cars, plus the added classes each night.                   
             
First up for their plagues were the mini modifieds, thirteen drivers made 75 % of the scheduled shows with " Doctor Tooth" Ken Johnson of Paddock Lake, pulling off his third straight championship in a battle down to the last night, with runner up and good friend Duck Wack of Salem. Third place went to Jeff Schultz the youngest member of the racing family from Silver Lake, a second generation driver, who happened to be the youngest member of the class was named rookie of the year,seventeen year old, Lee Morrison of Antioch,IL. finished fourth .A driver who helped get this class started here, after having no home track, Hermie Schultz, the father of his family was fifth. Earlier in the season the Schultz's race cars were covered with six foot of water by one of those late spring storms, that flooded their garage,but two days later thanks to some friends and fellow drivers, they were at the raceway that Friday night. Joe Miller, Tommy Sexton Jr. Mike Huess, Joe Christenbury, Mike Hennessey, Mike Van Houton," Racing Rich Musgrave and Bruce Brandonburg completed the top thirteen.

Up next were the legend cars, with Waterford's Jeff Way winning the championship, just in front of Gary LaMonte who was second. Al Smith, Curt Gnatzig, Ron Stroher, Herman Grenig, "DA" Bob Jambois, Brent Dixon,Sam Saccullo and Rob Duffek rounding out the top ten.

The sport trucks had the spot light next, with James Olson of Woodstock,IL. chalking up his first title. Olson took over the microphone and thanked everyone for being at his side after tragedy struck on June 2nd. when his son, a fellow race driver Jim Jr. was killed on the last lap of the feature race opening night for the Friday night program.. Olson also gave praise to the EMT's ,safety crew, his crew and everyone involved  with the raceway. Jim also stated he would be in a super late model for the 2001 season. Chad Phillips who traveled the most to be there for each program finished runner up. Todd Ross was third,Vincent Merry, Chad Ross, sportsman driver Eric Roberts, RJ Ross, Lance Ross,Bill Olson and Kurtis Gutowski completed the top ten, who make 75 % of the scheduled shows.

The BIC cars made their debut this season, with eleven cars opening night. The final night there were forty two that qualified. Bob Koch of McHenry,IL.became the first champion of the newest division  Koch already announced he'd be in a sport truck this season.Todd Booker was runner up,with" Racing" Butch Aissen only afew points behind in third. Randy Schneider, Kent Metzger, T-Bone Fell, Dale Gustum, Nick Kalties, Rob Schiebel, Mark Richardson, third generation driver John Curcio, LeRoy Brown and Ray Caswell, all making the 75% needed for a trophy.

The Jasper engines and transmission Millennium late models were next, with former Jefferson late model driver and LGR super late model driver Russ Blakley a second generation driver from Palmyra the first champion of this new division. Luke "The Duke" Westenburg, a regular at Jefferson Speedway was runner up. Jack Kossow founder of this group was third, Jeff Goodwin a former open wheel racer and Allison Legacy driver was fourth, with two other Jefferson late model drivers, James Glessing and Eric Gerlach fifth and sixth respectively.

Some special awards were presented, as BIC driver Don Emrick, who along with his wife, made a full color book on the new division, featuring all the drivers in the class. Todd Booker, besides racing BIC cars, was the "king" of the roll over contest, that was held twice during the season, with a plaque for his efforts of promoting that group into nearly fifteen strong. Russ Blakley received a hot wheels set, after flying high off of the turn three corners during practice.