EMOTIONAL IHRA AWARDS BANQUET
Mon, 2007-11-19 20:00
While the 2007 IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam World Champions were at the top of the bill at the championship banquet held at the Kalahari resort in Sandusky, Ohio it was the IHRA Sportsman of the Year who stole the show.
An emotional Jack Wyatt earned IHRA’s most prestigious award through his deeds and demeanor away from the strip during the 2007 season. Wyatt was moved by the shootings at Virginia Tech and used his Nitro Funny Car as a moving, visible tribute to those who lost their lives in that terrible tragedy
While the 2007 IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam World Champions were at the top of the bill at the championship banquet held at the Kalahari resort in Sandusky, Ohio it was the IHRA Sportsman of the Year who stole the show.
An emotional Jack Wyatt, who earned IHRA’s most prestigious award through his deeds and demeanor away from the strip during the 2007 season, joining Bobby Lagana Jr., Terry McMillen, Clay Millican, Mark Thomas, Frank Teague, Quain Stott, Bruce Litton, John Sipple and Mark Horton in the exclusive club of IHRA Sportsman of the Year winners. Wyatt was moved by the shootings at Virginia Tech and used his Nitro Funny Car as a moving, visible tribute to those who lost their lives in that terrible tragedy. But Wyatt earned the award for more that this tribute…he demonstrated a class and grace so rare in professional sports.
“This is an incredible honor and I never expected anything like this,” Wyatt said in his speech. “I am so fortunate to have such a great crew and to race in such a great organization. I thank everyone here because this really means so much to me.”
14 IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam world champions also were honored, including Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel champion Bruce Litton. Litton has raced in IHRA competition for over a decade and finally broke through with a world championship in 2007. He had an extensive list of people to thank and wanted to express how much the championship meant to him. Most importantly, Litton talked about the importance of his wife Carol and his team.
“It was really special because we won the championship as a team and family,” Litton said. “I really have to give thanks to Mike Wolforth. Mike’s mother Jean passed away a couple of weeks before Rockingham and he really threw himself into getting the dragster ready. I brought some of the older guys from my first year back to make a championship run and it made all the difference in the world.”
In closing, Litton mentioned the front of Gary Bingham’s Top Sportsman car stated “Glory to God.” This, Litton said, is a fitting tribute to a well-earned championship.
Dale Creasy Jr. won his second consecutive Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car world championship in 2007. His speech focused on his team.
“This is all about my team,” Creasy said. “You already know my brother Steve won ‘Crew Chief of the Year.’ I just drive the car.”
Creasy and his Torco team will return in 2008 to compete for a third consecutive Nitro Funny Car title.
Scott Cannon is one of the most recognized names in the history of IHRA Pro Modified racing. But it was the elder Cannon who put the name in the record books six times. In 2007 it was Scott Cannon the son who put the Pro Mod field in his rear view mirror to capture his first career world championship.
“I want to thank my dad for allowing me to race. I grew up watching him race and helped on his car as soon as I was old enough,” stated an emotional Cannon. “I really feel fortunate to have him with me. I also want to thank my mom Stella who runs the business side of the operation.”
In 2008 Cannon and his father will be part of a two car team competing for the Torco Racing Fuels Pro Modified title.
Mark Thomas won his IHRA record seventh career Alcohol Funny Car world championship, becoming the first professional driver to win seven titles. Thomas knows he would not have been able to accomplish anything without his long-standing sponsors, crew members and wife Chris.
“My wife Chris and my kids andrea, Valerie and Nick take care of everything at home,” Thomas said. “I’m high maintenance and Chris does all the little things that make it easier for me. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Robert Patrick is another driver who has paid his dues. He started racing IHRA Pro Stock in the early 1990’s before giving NHRA a try. He came back to IHRA in 2003 and, finally, ended up world champion following a strong 20076 season.
“If it wasn’t for my parents I wouldn’t have accomplished anything in racing,” Patrick said. “It was my dad’s dream to own a Pro Stock team. When he was finally able he bought a car and sent me to driving school. I think the happiest day of his life, besides our championship, was when I got my Pro Stock license.”
Seven sportsman and two Summit SuperSeries world champions discussed their seasons as well, including Chad Hedgecock (Summit SuperSeries Box), Will Steckley (Summit SuperSeries No Box), Damien Hazelton (Hot Rod), Brian Folk (Super Rod), Danny Waters Jr. (Quick Rod), Anthony Bertozzi (Stock and Super Stock), Jeff Brown (Top Dragster) and Jason Lynch (Top Sportsman).
Though the championship ceremony was the highlight of the weekend the new venue, Kalahari Resort, got positive reviews…especially from a pair of brothers who made the journey from New York.
“That place is awesome, and when they get the other side of the water park opened it’s going to be that much better,” Dom Lagana, who came to the banquet with his brother Bobby, their father and crew, said. “It was a lot of fun and there was so much to do.”
“The facility was huge,” Bobby Lagana said. “It was really fun and the place had everything you could want all under one roof. We had a blast. It was great just sitting back and watching some of the other racers having a good time with their kids. I’m telling you, some people probably had more fun that others and Saturday night got pretty wild. I loved it.”
Along with the indoor water park and poolside bars and restaurants, IHRA hosted a prize-laden Texas Hold ‘Em tournament and a highly competitive practice tree tournament. Both, ironically, were won by the same person…Tommy Phillips. Banquet attendees were also able to take a VIP tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in nearby Cleveland.
Predictably, one of the highlights of the championship ceremony was the unveiling of IHRA’s new Ironman. RS Owens, the Illinois based trophy company that has designed the Oscar, the Emmy, the MTV Music Award and numerous NASCAR trophies, was enlisted to overhaul the signature trophy of IHRA drag racing without changing its meaning. Saturday night the new trophy was presented to the public.
“That was a very special moment for us,” IHRA president Aaron Polburn said. “The Ironman has long been our symbol of greatness, and changing it took a lot of effort and dedication. We went to RS Owens because we wanted the best in the business, and are ecstatic with the results.”
An emotional Jack Wyatt earned IHRA’s most prestigious award through his deeds and demeanor away from the strip during the 2007 season. Wyatt was moved by the shootings at Virginia Tech and used his Nitro Funny Car as a moving, visible tribute to those who lost their lives in that terrible tragedy
While the 2007 IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam World Champions were at the top of the bill at the championship banquet held at the Kalahari resort in Sandusky, Ohio it was the IHRA Sportsman of the Year who stole the show. An emotional Jack Wyatt, who earned IHRA’s most prestigious award through his deeds and demeanor away from the strip during the 2007 season, joining Bobby Lagana Jr., Terry McMillen, Clay Millican, Mark Thomas, Frank Teague, Quain Stott, Bruce Litton, John Sipple and Mark Horton in the exclusive club of IHRA Sportsman of the Year winners. Wyatt was moved by the shootings at Virginia Tech and used his Nitro Funny Car as a moving, visible tribute to those who lost their lives in that terrible tragedy. But Wyatt earned the award for more that this tribute…he demonstrated a class and grace so rare in professional sports.
“This is an incredible honor and I never expected anything like this,” Wyatt said in his speech. “I am so fortunate to have such a great crew and to race in such a great organization. I thank everyone here because this really means so much to me.”
14 IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam world champions also were honored, including Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel champion Bruce Litton. Litton has raced in IHRA competition for over a decade and finally broke through with a world championship in 2007. He had an extensive list of people to thank and wanted to express how much the championship meant to him. Most importantly, Litton talked about the importance of his wife Carol and his team.
“It was really special because we won the championship as a team and family,” Litton said. “I really have to give thanks to Mike Wolforth. Mike’s mother Jean passed away a couple of weeks before Rockingham and he really threw himself into getting the dragster ready. I brought some of the older guys from my first year back to make a championship run and it made all the difference in the world.”
In closing, Litton mentioned the front of Gary Bingham’s Top Sportsman car stated “Glory to God.” This, Litton said, is a fitting tribute to a well-earned championship.
Dale Creasy Jr. won his second consecutive Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car world championship in 2007. His speech focused on his team. “This is all about my team,” Creasy said. “You already know my brother Steve won ‘Crew Chief of the Year.’ I just drive the car.”
Creasy and his Torco team will return in 2008 to compete for a third consecutive Nitro Funny Car title.
Scott Cannon is one of the most recognized names in the history of IHRA Pro Modified racing. But it was the elder Cannon who put the name in the record books six times. In 2007 it was Scott Cannon the son who put the Pro Mod field in his rear view mirror to capture his first career world championship.
“I want to thank my dad for allowing me to race. I grew up watching him race and helped on his car as soon as I was old enough,” stated an emotional Cannon. “I really feel fortunate to have him with me. I also want to thank my mom Stella who runs the business side of the operation.”
In 2008 Cannon and his father will be part of a two car team competing for the Torco Racing Fuels Pro Modified title.
Mark Thomas won his IHRA record seventh career Alcohol Funny Car world championship, becoming the first professional driver to win seven titles. Thomas knows he would not have been able to accomplish anything without his long-standing sponsors, crew members and wife Chris.
“My wife Chris and my kids andrea, Valerie and Nick take care of everything at home,” Thomas said. “I’m high maintenance and Chris does all the little things that make it easier for me. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Robert Patrick is another driver who has paid his dues. He started racing IHRA Pro Stock in the early 1990’s before giving NHRA a try. He came back to IHRA in 2003 and, finally, ended up world champion following a strong 20076 season.
“If it wasn’t for my parents I wouldn’t have accomplished anything in racing,” Patrick said. “It was my dad’s dream to own a Pro Stock team. When he was finally able he bought a car and sent me to driving school. I think the happiest day of his life, besides our championship, was when I got my Pro Stock license.”
Seven sportsman and two Summit SuperSeries world champions discussed their seasons as well, including Chad Hedgecock (Summit SuperSeries Box), Will Steckley (Summit SuperSeries No Box), Damien Hazelton (Hot Rod), Brian Folk (Super Rod), Danny Waters Jr. (Quick Rod), Anthony Bertozzi (Stock and Super Stock), Jeff Brown (Top Dragster) and Jason Lynch (Top Sportsman).
Though the championship ceremony was the highlight of the weekend the new venue, Kalahari Resort, got positive reviews…especially from a pair of brothers who made the journey from New York.
“That place is awesome, and when they get the other side of the water park opened it’s going to be that much better,” Dom Lagana, who came to the banquet with his brother Bobby, their father and crew, said. “It was a lot of fun and there was so much to do.”
“The facility was huge,” Bobby Lagana said. “It was really fun and the place had everything you could want all under one roof. We had a blast. It was great just sitting back and watching some of the other racers having a good time with their kids. I’m telling you, some people probably had more fun that others and Saturday night got pretty wild. I loved it.”
Along with the indoor water park and poolside bars and restaurants, IHRA hosted a prize-laden Texas Hold ‘Em tournament and a highly competitive practice tree tournament. Both, ironically, were won by the same person…Tommy Phillips. Banquet attendees were also able to take a VIP tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in nearby Cleveland.
Predictably, one of the highlights of the championship ceremony was the unveiling of IHRA’s new Ironman. RS Owens, the Illinois based trophy company that has designed the Oscar, the Emmy, the MTV Music Award and numerous NASCAR trophies, was enlisted to overhaul the signature trophy of IHRA drag racing without changing its meaning. Saturday night the new trophy was presented to the public.
“That was a very special moment for us,” IHRA president Aaron Polburn said. “The Ironman has long been our symbol of greatness, and changing it took a lot of effort and dedication. We went to RS Owens because we wanted the best in the business, and are ecstatic with the results.”
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