February 28, 1998; Elkhorn, WI. - Just over 300 drivers, pit crew members, families and friends attended the 1997 awards banquet for Lake Geneva Raceway, Saturday night at the Monte Carlo room in Elkhorn, WI.
Again Kevin Dawson owner and promoter of Lake Geneva Raceway served as master of ceremonies, honoring the past seasons champions and bringing a tear to everyone's eye's, as we all remembered the late David "Dave" Cassidy who left us at the end of the season. David's wife Nancy was in attendance tonight.
The Rookies of the Year for 1997, were Chad Barker a second generation driver, in the Super Late Models, Scott Kuxhouse, a former dirt track competitor,in the Herb's Street Stocks. Scott Koerner took the honors in the Sportsman division while Jim Phillips was named rookie of the year in the Sport Trucks. Contingency awards from STS went to Denny Norton Jr., Jerry Cowan and Zac Deeringer. Turbo Blue racing fuel gave away cash to Late Model driver Denny Hiffman, and Sportsman drivers Paul Loppnow and Rick Corso. Late model driver Larry Sirleta won the 5-Star Stock car body.
Back in the 1984 season under Kevin Dawson's reins, the point fund was $900 with contingencies. While 1997 brought the first season without an increase, due to poor weather throughout the season a total of $17,500 plus was still passed out among the drivers. Al Schill of Franklin, WI, who has raced for some four decades, won the first Super Late Model championship of the 90's as the class re-appeared at Lake Geneva in 1997. Schill also won titles in 1969 and 1975.
Billy Skinner Jr was runner-up in the Super Lates followed by Ken Burkoth, Mark Hartline, Terry Patnode, Mike Simon who finished in this sixth spot the past three years, while Ronnie Darnell, second generation driver Billy Baumeister, two time champion Fran Prestay and rookie of the year Chad Barker rounded out the top 10 spots.
In the Herb's Street Stock division Denny Norton Jr. of McHenry, IL won his first championship, running away with the title, Zac Deering was second with rookie of the year Scott Kuxhouse third followed by Landry Potter, Adam Regnier, rookie Jerry Cowan, the defending champion Dennis Carlton who only ran a limited schedule. Rookie Tommy Nevoso took eight followed by Mike Kooi and rookie Lyle Messinger who rounded out the top ten.
In the highly competitive Sportsman cars, former Street Stock champion and local favorite from nearby Pell Lake, Shane Bishop won the closest title of the season among the divisions. Donny Kachelmeier was hot on his heels in second followed by Paul Loppnow, defending champion Rick Corso, Bobby Gutknecht, Brian Baker, Rick Schmidt, Dave Lohse, Rick Tackman Jr. and rookie of the Year Scott Koerner rounded out the top ten finishers.
In their eighth year the Sport Trucks had a rough season, but not for Rolf Tillman who won his first title in 1996 and easily repeated this past year as the Woodstock, IL hot shoe had his competition covered. Butch Edwards Jr. was runner-up, with Dan Ross, Chad Ross, Joel Filtz, Ron Ross, Frank Caravetta, rookie Jim Phillips, Bill Swinford and James Thorndike taking the top ten places.
The 1998 season opener will be Saturday night April 4th, 1998, with Super Late Models, Herb's Street Stocks, Sport Trucks and Allison Legacy race cars on hand.
The biggest announcement at the banquet came just before the DJ began, as it was revealed that for the first time NASCAR will run with the ARTGO stars and cars on July 4th.
Lake Geneva Raceway will have a booth at the upcoming Journal/Sentinel Sport show which runs from March 13th through the 22nd and then it's off to the BARS "Let's Go Racing" show at the Lakehurst Mall in Waukegan, IL. More information on the "Let's Go Racing show will be released shortly.