West Plains Motor Speedway 2009 Track Champions Honored

West Plains, MO. The 2009 Track Champions were honored with the presence of over 200 fans, crew members and fellow racers at the 17th Annual Awards Banquet & Recognition Night events, Saturday, December 5. These six drivers were presented with track champion jackets, hats, trophies and over $5,000 in points fund money and gift certificates. From left to right Jeff McGhee, Fastrak Late Model Track Champion from Van Buren, MO, Shawn Walsh, IMCA Modified Track Champion from Ash Flat, AR, Stan Ellison, Super Stock Track Champion from West Plains, Kevin Collins, Hobby Stock Track Champion from West Plains, Dakota Frost, Youth Hobby Stock Track Champion from West Plains and Clifford Collins, Cruiser Track Champion, also from West Plains.

Top Racers Honored at WPMS Awards Banquet

West Plains Motor Speedway owners, Don and Billie Gibson, hosted their 17th annual Awards Banquet and Recognition Night recently and the top 10 drivers in each of their six divisions were honored with trophies, gifts and bonuses.

Over 250 people were in attendance at the event held in the Ozark Action Community Room and enjoyed a buffet style meal prepared and served by Ziggies of West Plains.

Fastrak Late Models is the new class introduced this season, and the first track champion in this class is Jeff McGhee of Van Buren, MO, the balance of the top 10 included Nick Black and Jacob Black, both of Van Buren, Mike Atchison of Eminence, Billy James of Sikeston, Tim Winchester of Gideon, Kyle Berry of Poplar Bluff, Chris Hall of Sikeston, Mike Montague of Lebanon and Justin Asplin of Birch Tree.

Shawn Walsh of Ash Flat, took the IMCA Modified championship along with the Missouri state title in that division. Coming in second was Rustin Miller of Houston, tying for third was Brandon Ball and Jason Brigman, both of West Plains, followed by Scott Crigler of Alton, Austin Smith of Mammoth Spring, Brian Judd of West Plains, Bobby Skinner of Moody, Tony Carnal of Cabool and Carl Murphy of Caulfield.

Stan Ellison of West Plains, claimed the Track Championship title in the Super Stock division, follwed by Bobby Bryant and Kevin Collins, both of West Plains, Dee Kelly of Birch Tree, Jeff North of Rogersville, Bill Dixon of Thayer, Herman Kelly of Birch Tree, Carmon Vincent of Moody, Dexter Frost of West Plains, and Darren Fox of Mtn. Grove.

Kevin Collins of West Plains won the Hobby Stock points race, but wanted to have the trophy, gifts and prize money awarded to his car owner, Clyde Shearin also of West Plains. Second place went to John Stiner followed by Kyle Duke, both of West Plains, Mike Elliott of Ellsinore, Chris Piper, Dexter Frost, and Larry Duke, all of West Plains, Brock Frost of Birch Tree, Brend Wood of Sturkie, AR, and Lonnie Duncan, II, of Alton.

In the Cruiser class Track Champion went to Clifford Collins of West Plains, followed by Tyler Newcom of Hardy, Mark Doiron, Rhonda Gunter, John Zuchowski, Doug Lambert, Corey Lambert, Bill Harden, Benny Grogan and Clifford Collins, all of West Plains.

The Youth Hobby Stock Track Champion is Dakota Frost of West Plains, coming in second was A.J. Smith of Mammoth Spring, followed by Skyler Cochran and Jared Duke, both of West Plains, Lane Elliott of Ellsinore, Savannah Sutton and Brandon Walsh, both of Ash Flat, Rowdy Collins of West Plains, Alan Atchison of Eminence, and Kaleb Stolba of Willow Springs.

Special recognition went to Bill Dixon, named the 2009 Driver of the Year. Clyde Shearin was named Sponsor of the Year for his dedicated encouragement to drivers and promotion of the great sport of dirt track racing at West Plains Motor Speedway. The pit crew for Tony Carnal #19 IMCA Modified, was named Pit Crew of the Year for their loyal dedication and service to their driver.

Track announcer, Tom Harris, presented a wide and varied selection of door prizes throughout the evening. Just about everyone in attendance went home with a doorprize as well as small individual trophies for each person as fan appreciation in recogniton of the dedicated and loyal fan base over the last 17 years at WPMS .

Track officials thank the following businesses for donations to the event: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Great Rivers Distributing, Coca-Cola of West Plains, Snap-On Tools, Pepsi MidAmerican, Larry Shaw Race Cars, GRT Race Cars, Simons Petroleum, Wal-Mart Super Center, Banta Foods, Howell-Oregon Electric Coop, FNBC, Best Western Grand Villa, K&K Insurance, TCI Automotive, Dennis Oil, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hunter Oil, Ridgecrest Plaza, Regency Inn, Fish Shack, D&S Cycle, and Sharp Office Supply.