Penn Can Speedway honors 2010 champions

The beautiful Montdale Country Club was the setting for the final event for the 2010 Penn Can Speedway season. A large crowd assembled for the annual speedway banquet honoring the top teams and drivers from the recently completed season.

Drivers in the modified, late model, Hornbeck Chevrolet crate sportsman, S&W Awards street stocks, and four cylinders were all presented handsome plaques to go along with the generous point fund that was distributed by Co-promoters Al Wilcox and Reed Miller compliments of American Race Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and Trackside Products.

Announcers Al Robinson and Brett Deyo kept the activities moving along with presentations made to the top drivers in all divisions. Mike Gular claimed the top honors in the modified division after returning to Penn Can Speedway for the season. He was involved in a spirited point battle the entire year with Brett Tonkin and Kevin Hartnett. The championship was not decided until the last race of the season with Gular claiming his second championship at the track.

“I have to thank all those people sitting at table three. I would not be standing here tonight without all their hard work throughout the season,” explained Gular. “My owner Terry Fasnacht gave us what we needed to win this title.”

Brett Tonkin and Kevin Hartnett settled for second and third in the modified final standings with Mike Colsten and Mike Schane rounding out the top five.

In the late model division Tracy Gregory repeated as champion. Gregory won the title the last two seasons. Dave Zona was the runner-up in 2010 with Jim O’Hara, Ben Whitaker, and Curt Tunilo finishing out the top five.

The new Hornbeck Chevrolet crate sportsman division had third generation driver Mike Nagel Jr take home the top prize after running a very spirited point battle with 2009 champion Grant Hilfiger. Three time feature winner Adam MacGeorge came home in the third place followed by Bob Janesky, and Butch Green.

The S&W Awards street stock point championship was another one that was not decided until the last race of the season. 2008 street stock champion Butch Green made a late season charge and held off nine time feature winner Shane Wolf Jr to claim another point championship at the speedway. Shane Wolf Sr , Ryan Stone, and Ken Sparks Jr rounded out the top five.

In the four cylinder division six time feature winner Andy Brigham held off a late season charge by Joe Warner to win his first speedway four cylinder championship. Andy Colwell, Klem Underwood, and Justin Welch followed in the final point rundown.

Special awards were also a big part of the program. The Rookie of the Year Awards were presented to Kevin Hartnett in the modified division. VP Fuels sponsored this award with Hartnett walking away with the $500 prize. The other Rookie of the Year Awards went to Paul Rooney in the late model division, Butch Green in the sportsman, and Brady Stark in the street stocks.

The S&W Award Best Appearing Car Awards went to Hartnett in the modifieds, Curt Tunilo in the late models, Mike Nagel Jr in the sportsman, and Ryan Stone in the street stocks.

The annual Horizon Awards for special achievements at the speedway in 2010 were won by Mike Schane in the modifieds, Jim O’Hara in the late models, Alex Stanton in the sportsman and Shane Wolf Jr in the street stocks.

The annual pit awards presented by Brian Cochardo were won by Ryan Stone and Marty Deinhardt while Dedication Awards were handed out to Adam Diaz and Sarah Case. An Appreciation Award was presented to Barnes Kasson Hospital for all their great service to the speedway.

A very special presentation was made by Miller and Wilcox in honor of the late Jane Kennerup. The first annual Jane Kennerup Outstanding Performance Awards were presented to Mike Gular and Brett Tonkin. Martin Kennerup and JR Kennerup made the presentations to the drivers.

Special events promoter Brett Deyo explained to the crowd the Four Crown Series of races that will be held in 2011. Three of those big races are scheduled at Penn Can with the blockbuster Clash at the Can scheduled June 7th paying $8000 to win. Wilcox concluded the program stating that there will be new excitement and enthusiasm back at Penn Can with many new and exciting programs filled with incentives planned for the new year.

Announcements of news about 2011 can be found on the speedway website at www.penncan.com.