Skyline Speedway Champions Honored
First Class Awards Fete Honors Weekend Warriors

By Scott Wolfe

STEWART, OHIO (December 12, 2011) - Skyline Speedway in Stewart, Ohio held its third annual banquet under the ownership of Billy Jarrell at the Comfort Inn, Marietta, Ohio. Along with Skyline awards, members of the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association top ten were honored. Nearly 300 people enjoyed the 1st class awards presentation and fine meal prepared by Blacksmith Barbeque, the motel’s restaurant. Guests, once again were admitted free, compliments of Billy Jarrell and Skyline Speedway.

A social hour preceded the banquet, while entertainment was provided by Nate DiRuzza. The Welcome was given by master of ceremonies Scott Wolfe, while driver Robbie Evans gave the invocation. The five-course dinner was served by the Blacksmith Barbeque staff, followed by the evening's award presentations.

Wolfe thanked all in attendance for a great year and welcomed guests and sponsors as well as the Skyline Speedway staff, fans, drivers, and crews.

The top five in each Skyline class was recognized with a trophy and significant cash and contingencies. First, the AMRA Modified Drivers were honored. The top five drivers honored were champion Andy Bond, Rick Venham, Jr., Kenny Johnson, Vince Conrad, and Robbie Evans. Bond received a new Bad Fast Chassis for his efforts. L & M Performance of Bethel, OH upped the champion's prize by contributing front and rear suspension parts if Bond agrees to run the chassis in 2012. Bond took up the offer and went home with one of the evening's best rewards.

Next, Late Model drivers were honored. Chris Garnes was the 2011 track champion, his second championship, in as many years. Garnes joked to master car builder Audie Swartz, "Do I get the same deal Andy got?" Garnes will receive a new Swartz Extreme Chassis for his efforts. Garnes won 2011's championship in a Swartz Extreme Chassis that he won as a result of being the 2010 champ. Swartz Chassis is located in Minford, Ohio.
Behind Garnes in the points were Ralph Withem, Freddie Carpenter, Chris Carpenter, and Larry Bond. All went home with at least $500 in prizes.

Jimmy Stinson was then recognized as the Skyline Speedway champion for the second year in a row. Stinson edged out teammate Aaron Higgins also from the B&J Welding and Contracting stable, 711 points to 693. Josh Davis was third, Dave Dickson fourth, and Brian Benson fifth.

Todd Frye of Hoosier Ohio Valley and co-organizer of the Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association then welcomed members of that elite organization and gave a summary of the 2011 season. Frye recognized sponsors of the series and thanked all the drivers that supported the series over the last couple of seasons. As Wolfe announced the top guns in the series, Frye and OVSCA founder Billy Jarrell presented drivers with their checks and gift certificates. Over $15,000 in cash prizes and several thousand dollars of contingencies went to the drivers in attendance.

Jimmy Stinson, Vandalia, Ohio was then called to the podium a second time, this time to be crowned as the OVSCA Champion for the second year in a row. Second in the standings through tenth included Josh Davis, Aaron Higgins, Dave Dickson , Chris Myers, Andre Layfield, Wayne McPeek, Brian Benson, Mark Imler, and Greg Mitchell. All of the top ten drivers' names were put in a hat for a chance at the Maxim Chassis from Fisher Performance and Rick Susong. Ironically, Stinson's name was drawn, and he went home with the new chassis. Sponsors of the series include R2C Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, ASI Racewear, Bazelle Fuels, Outerwears, All-Star Performance, Hoosier Tire, Hoosier Ohio Valley, and Poske's Performance Parts.

Several drums of fuel and Hoosier Tires went to racers as door prizes. Sprint driver Greg Mitchell passed along his winning drum of fuel to grassroots veteran Benny Hickel. The gesture was a kind effort in support of a fellow racer. Over one-thousand dollars in door prizes went to those in attendance.

Billy Jarrell thanked banquet organizer and Track Promotions Director Katie Dickson for her efforts in putting together another successful banquet. Special recognition went to Angie and Mike Haught, longtime Skyline employees, scorers Alice Keefer and Delores Freshour, and flagman Todd Gorrell. Special Thanks was given to Wetzel's Racing Collectibles, who presented many of the door prizes; C & S Racing Photo, Poske's Performance Parts, Hoosier Ohio Valley, Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club, Rock Auto Racing Parts, Racers for Christ, ASI Racewear, Bazell Race Fuels, Sprintco, Outerwears Performance Products, R2C Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, Comfort Inn, Danielle Smith, and Nate DiRuzza. Racing photo packages and trophies were in part sponsored by C&S Racing Photo.

Plans for the 2012 season are in the works! Please stay tuned to www.Skylinespeedway.net for further details and updates.

Final 2011 Points

Skyline OVSCA 410 Sprint Cars
Car # Drivers Name
22 Jimmy Stinson 711
51 Aaron Higgins 693
22D Josh Davis 665
7A Dave Dickson 657
11 Brain Benson 533
25 Chris Myers 525
OO1 Greg Mitchell 497
1MC Wayne McPeek 491
OO Jim Nier 477
21 Andre Layfield 475
5M Eric Martin 388
40 Mark Imler 372
4 Danny Smith 365
B51 Benny Hickel 316
22C Cole Duncan 295
1 Jamie Myers 293
60 Kory Crabtree 284
4X Eddy Slone 253
35 Wes McGlumphy 222
15H Mitch Harble 187
5H Jordan Marble 182
9J Jesse McCreary 136

OHIO VALLEY SPRINT CAR ASSOCIATION

2011 Points 10/01/2011

1: Jim Stinson 1269
2: Josh Davis 1121
3: Aaron Higgins 1110
4: Dave Dickson 1100
5: Chris Myers 1012
6: Andre Layfield 796
7: Wayne McPeek 786
8: Brian Benson 781
9: Mark Imler 759
10: Greg Mitchell 747
11: Jim Nier 681
12: Danny Smith 590
13: Kory Crabtree 549
14: Cole Duncan 435
15: Wes McGlumphey 432
16: Jamie Myers 431
17: Eric Martin 403
18: Mitch Harble 383
19: Benny Hickel 354
20: Eddie Slone 297

AMRA Late Models

Car # Drivers Name

42 Chris Garnes 744
15W Ralph Withem 614
C4 Freddie Carpenter 591
18 Chris Carpenter 578
10 Larry Bond 575
O1 Andy Bond 574
7 Dan Morrison 551
KC44 Casey Burdette 529
J30 Justin Powell 373
28 Tyler Carpenter 355
T55 Tony Roush 330
44 Jeff Burdette 329
50 Ronnie Mayle 319
71R Rod Conley 308
B52 Bub Crum 294
23 Colten Burdette 289
12B Travis Brookover 289
21 Jason Montgomery 264
R10 Roy Roush 257
12 Rick Williams 234

AMRA Modifieds
Car # Drivers Name

O1 Andy Bond 696
RV8 Rick Venham Jr. 656
1J Kenny Johnson 562
3C Vince Conrad 562
17 Robbie Evans 523
OOO Robert Garnes 501
11S Roy Roush 470
R3 Frank Roush 411
RV1 Mike McPherson 397
10 Kyle Bond 383
B4 Jeremy Blake 378
1A Doug Henry 367
9R J P Roberts 337
7 Jason Brooks 335
29 Gary Gould 325
14 Jeremy Jarvis 324
75 Dusty Boley 315
D1T Darren Roush 305
11 Matt Holcomb 301
5 Jess Hartman 300

For further information visit www.skylinespeedway.net or call 304-539-4410 or the track phone at 740-662-4111.