From Port Royal Speedway
Port Royal, PA – Port Royal Speedway honored the 2011 track champions and top point finishers Saturday night with the annual awards banquet held at the Port Royal Community Building.
Mike Wagner of Harrisonville took home top prize in the Aumillers Insurance 410 sprint car division. The title was the second of his career at Port Royal, also having claimed laurels in 1991.
Scott Haus of Hamburg was honored as AB Auto Glass late model titlist for the fifth season in a row as part of his eight total career crowns at the Juniata County oval where he is the winningest all-time late model pilot.
Brian Towsey of Port Royal was feted as the 2011 Millers Auto Parts pro stock champion. The title is Towsey’s first in the class although he was a co-champion in the former street stock class in 1994.
Jen Powell of Mifflintown claimed the title in the Juniata Tire Sales enduro dash division.
The 2012 Port Royal Speedway season opener featuring 410 and 358 sprint cars is slated for March 17 at 6 PM.
Aside from their corresponding paychecks, each champion was presented with his or her own championship rings at the banquet ceremony as produced and donated by Foss Jewelers of Mifflintown and Lewistown.
The title winners also each took home more than one beautiful, personalized championship jacket.
Competition Tire East/Goodyear presented jackets to both the sprint car titlist and winning car owner.
Lias Tire/American Racer awarded a jacket to the late model champion.
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic/Hoosier awarded a jacket to the pro stock victor and Goshorn Racing Supplies produced a jacket for the enduro dash champion.
Championship jackets were also awarded to all four crown winners by Insinger Racing Fuels.
While Wagner was never able to break through for a win during the 2011 sprint car season, his accrual of four top-five finishes along with nine top-tens netted him the title aboard his familiar, self-owned No. 55 sprint car.
His battle for the title wasn’t settled until the checkers flew in the season-ending Tuscarora 50, where he came up with a narrow 15-point margin over the point leader the majority of the season, Ryan Taylor of Perkasie.
Taylor finished second in points with 5,170 to Wagner’s 5,185. Mike Erdley finished third with 5,065 followed by Chad Layton, 4,960; Lance Dewease, 4,925; Keith Kauffman, 4,680; Davey Sammons, 4,275; Rick Lafferty, 4,155; Justin Henderson, 4,014; and Todd Shaffer, 3,935.
Taylor claimed the Most Improved Driver award in the sprint car division while Sammons was honored as Rookie of the Year. Cliff Brian was honored with the Sportsmanship award.
Haus piled up one win and 10 other top-five finishes to earn his unprecedented eighth title in the late model class. And with the addition of a sixth and 10th place finish in the rest of his 15 appearances, the veteran ace assured himself another title to go along with those in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Haus’ closest pursuer in the title race was Mitch Hack, who finished some 310 points back of his list topping 4,850. Gary Beward was third in points, 4,480; followed by Tim Wilson, 4,430; Terry Naugle, 4,355; Waylon Wagner, 4,210; Andy Haus, 4,075; Mike Lupfer, 3,835; Bob Dunn, 3,780; and Patrick Bryner, 3,315.
Naugle was honored as Most Improved Driver in late models. Bryner was Rookie of the Year and Wilson was Sportsman.
Veteran Towsey copped four wins on his way to the pro stock crown along with finishes of second, third, sixth and eighth to end the season with 2,965 points.
Josh Angle was second in pro stocks with 2,855; Harold Ranck was third with 2,845; Dan Berry was fourth with 2,825; Derrick Garman was fifth with 2,555; Lucas Bryner was sixth with 2,515; Keith Garman was seventh with 2,265; Jason Davis was eight with 2,255; Scott Landis was ninth with 2,180; and Dave Bowsman rounded out the top 10 with 2,060.
Jen Powell was first in her class in enduro dash competition, finishing outside the top-five only once in seven shows although falling short of a victory.
Behind Powell’s 2,275 points was Trent Brenneman, 2,150; Deron Henry, 2,130; Rick Adair, 2,125; and Craig Imes, 2,085.
Special appreciation awards were also presented to speedway sponsors.
Recognized was John Sheaffer Dodge, Aumillers Insurance, AB Auto Glass, Millers Auto Parts and Juniata Tire Sales.
Season pit and general admission passes for 2012 are on sale at the speedway office along with season seat tickets.
Season general admission passes, priced at just $300 and good for all 2012 racing events at the track; and season pit passes, priced at just $400 and good for all 2012 racing events at the track; can be purchased by sending a check or money order made payable to Port Royal Speedway, to: Port Royal Speedway, Box 295, Port Royal, PA, 17082.
Orders may also be placed by phone between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays by contacting the speedway office at 717.527.2303.