Valley of Speed Honors the Champs and Dishes the Dough

By: Rodney Rescott - March 11, 2007

New Lebanon, NY - Lebanon Valley Speedway celebrated two nights worth of champions and those that were honored for their efforts. With a near record $80,000.00 in point money to be handed out, all eyes were on the champions of each of the 6 different weekly divisions.

On Friday night, the festivities included all the "full fender" divisions that included the Pro Stocks, Limited Pro Stocks, and Purestocks. Rob Yetman of Schodack, NY was honored as the Pro Stock Champion for the second year in a row. In the Limited Pro Stocks, Brian Keough captured the honors by dishing out 5 wins, and 18 top 5 finishes. And in the Pure Stocks, Poughkeepsie's Pete Wiegand drove his #78P to 11 wins, 16 top 5's and 18 top 10's to capture the Purestock Championship title for the second time.

Also on tap during Friday's festivities was the Special Awards portion of the program. The first of the two award was the Purestock Driver of the Year, which the Valley of Speed handed to Al Relyea. Al drove his #14P to 1 win, 14 top 5's and 16 top 10's, but the numbers weren't the whole story.  He was on his way to a shot at the championship title, only have a very serious racing accident with just 5 weeks left to race. While suffering a broken leg, and a totaled racecar, he returned the following week in a Cannonball car he had out in the weeds, and never missed a week, to finish 3rd in the Championship points Standings. The other award handed down was the Pro Stock driver of the Year Award. This was given to the driver of the #324 of Jay Casey. Jay had a pretty difficult year, which included some personal health issues that nearly sidelined him for the year, destroyed his primary car after rolling it down the front stretch only for it to catch fire too, that on top of running a two car team. His struggles were made evident as he took the stage to accept his award; the emotion of the year was heard through his voice during his acceptance speech.

Saturday Night brought the big guns to the Valley's Club House, as the open wheelers took to the stage for their night of honors. The Sportsman, 358 Modifieds, and Big Block Modified Champions were on tap to accept their share of the record payout.

Up first was the Sportsman division Champion Jeff Watson. Jeff piloted his #22 to 2 wins, 9 top 5's, and 16 top 10's to win his first championship over veteran racers KC Goewey and Chris Kokosa. His title garnered him not only the customary Champions Jacket furnished by Northeast Fuels, and the 4 foot tall trophy, but he also received a check for just over $3,000.00.

Next were the 358 Modified title and the Big Block Modified Title, coincidentally captured by the same driver. Sheffield, Massachusetts' driver Andy Bachetti drove his number 4's to the title with convincing fashion in 2006. In the 358's, he had 4 wins, 9 top 5's, 10 top 10's, and in the Big Blocks, he captured 3 wins, 7 top 5's, and 11 top 10's, to take home the honors in both divisions. For his efforts, he received his two Northeast Fuels Champion's Jackets, along with a check for the lion share of the point money that toped just over $5,100.00.

Th Special Awards handed out on Saturday included the Jeff Yasinsac Mr. Excitement Award, given to Jeff Watson. In addition, the Modified rookie of the year was awarded to Lorne Browe. And lastly, was the Lebanon Valley Speedway Hall of Fame Induction Award given posthumously to Maynard Forrette, driver of the 78m "Queen's Machine" for over 5 decades and his long time car owner and partner Marilyn Buanno. Marilyn accepted the award for her and the late Maynard Forrette, and her emotion acceptance speech reflected the nature of what made Maynard and Marilyn so successful at the High Banks.

hthe Points Championships handed out, along with the all the other awards, the 2006 season has finally come to a close.

007 now brngs the historic 55th Annual Opening Night of racing scheduled for Saturday April 14th, 2007. Also, the finalized schedule has now been printed, and posted on our website in order for you to mark you calendars with all the great racing events set for 2007.

n addition, you can see all the cars and stars of the local dirt racing scene at the Rolling Thunder Car Show at the Latham Circle Mall set for Saturday and Sunday March 24th, and 25th.

For more information about Season Tickets, special events, of the schedule of events, please visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com, or call the Speedway Offices at (518) 794-9606, or (518) 794-9665 during normal business hours.