2012 Season Northeast Division Awards Banquet

Invocation – RFC’s Dan Laterza

Opening Comments – Bob Frey – 46th Annual Banquet –

Special Recognition – NHRA Northeast Division Sponsors – Lucas Oil, Summit, JEG’s, Sony & PC Richard& Sons, MXI Industrial, Select Performance, Glick Fire Equipment, VP Race Fuels, Classic Auto Body, Royal Pet Cremation, Hoopes Fire Protection, R Champlin Crane & Excavating, Havis, Micro Strategies.  

12^th Annual Northeast Division Distinguished Service Award – Steve Rhoads

Image of Youth Award –Vinny DiMino

2012 50th Year Anniversary Award – 2012 marked the 50^th anniversary Maple Grove Raceway and Quarter Aces Dragway.  Congratulations on 50 years of success!

2012 National Dragster Contributor Award – Pete DeSalvo ESTA Safety Park

National Dragster’s “Be a Winner/Be a Member” – Atco Raceway

NHRA JDRL Eastern Conference Finals

8-9 Year – Thomas Oates

2012 Northeast Division JR. Dragster Championships

This year’s event was held at Mason-Dixon Dragway in Boonsboro, MD and was well attended.  The event was a huge success and special thanks go out to Elmer and Cathy Wachter and the staff at Mason-Dixon Dragway for the tremendous amount of time and effort they put into this event. We would also like to thank MicroStrategies for their support of the Race of Champions and participant barbeque.

8-9 Year Old – Cody Drummond – US 13 Dragway

10-11 Year Old – Charlotte Mallow – Mason-Dixon Dragway

12-13 Year Old – Brad Northrop – Old Bridge Twp. Raceway Park

14-15 Year Old – Robert Allen Jr – Mason-Dixon Dragway

16-17 Year Old – Austin Argoe – Cecil County Dragway

            Team Champion – Cecil County Dragway

Northeast Division Summit ET Finals

2012 was the 38th year for this event. Without the help from Summit Racing Products, and Luzerne County Community College, this race would not have the prestige it carries.  This year the 14 participating tracks sent 40 entries plus a High School Competitor to Lebanon Valley Dragway to determine the champions.

VP Race Fuels Race of Champions

In 2012 VP Race Fuels came on board as presenting sponsor of the VP Race Fuels Race of Champions.  The VP Race Fuels Race of Champions is a highlight of the Summit Racing Series ET Finals and pits the top point’s earners from each track against one another to find out who is the best of the best.

            Street Winner – Paul Werner – Maple Grove Raceway

            Pro Winner – Mike LaRose – ESTA Safety Park

            Bike/Sled Winner – Mark Schwalm – Numidia Dragway

            Super Pro Winner – Mark Goyette – Team Canada

Luzerne County Community College High School Challenge

Luzerne County Community College sponsor’s the High School Challenge.  Their sponsorship helps to promote both NHRA Drag Racing and the Motorsports Program at Luzerne County Community College and is done in the spirit of cooperation between our companies to promote education and safety to our young racers in the Northeast Division.

High School Champion – Austin Argoe – Cecil County Dragway

Summit ET Finals Eliminator Champions

The four champions all went to the AAA of Southern California Finals to crown a National Champion in their respective class. While the competitors didn’t fare as well as they had hoped, they all enjoyed the trip and are anxious to try again.

Street Champion – Ed Talbert – Mason-Dixon Dragway

            Pro Champion -- Vinny DiMino – Numidia Dragway

            Bike/Sled Champion – Ken George – Old Bridg Twp. Raceway Park

            Super Pro Champion –  Rob Leipziger – Atco Raceway      

            Team Champion – Numidia Dragway

            Team Spirit – Numidia Dragway

MX Industrial/Magnaflux Top Sportsman Shootout presented by Select Performance

In 2012, MX Industrial and Magnaflux, along with help from Select Performance, increased their involvement by becoming the sponsor of the highly popular Top Sportsman Category in this Division.  

The top three point’s earners are:

#3 – Ryan Ondrejko

#2 – Mike Kaufman

#1 – Tony Arcuni

MX Industrial/Magnaflux Top Dragster Challenge presented by Select Performance – 2012 MX Industrial/Magnaflux and Select Performance returned as sponsors of the class.

The top three points earners are:

            #3 – Nick Willard

            #2 – Bill Russell

            #1 – Jason Hoff

Pro Stock, Inc. Pro Stock Snowmobile – 2012 was the third year for this exciting class.  This series features 1000 cc snowmobiles racing heads-up on a pro tree.    

The top three points earners are:

            #3 – Tiina Duncanson

            #2 – John Evans

            #1 – Ed Armstrong

Northeast Division Annual Awards

These are the voted awards – the racers picked the winners.

Northeast Division Person of the Year – Claire Laterza

Wrench of the Year – Phil Szupka/ Frank Aragona, Sr

ET Driver of the Year – Vinny DiMino

Driver of the Year – Lincoln Morehead

Best Supporting Sponsor – PC Richard & Son

Dragstrip of the Year – Atco Raceway

Hall of Fame

The Northeast Division Hall of Fame is open to racers, officials, promoters, and all persons involved in the sport of NHRA Drag Racing in the Northeast Division.  Exemplary accomplishments and longevity are some of the qualifications needed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.  A permanent plaque is on display in the Northeast Division Office of all current members of the Hall of Fame.

Tonight’s inductee is very familiar to every racer in the Northeast Division.  As the perennial Announcer – Bob Frey has been a great ambassador to NHRA Sportsman Drag Racing. 

JEG’s All Stars

Frank Manzo, won TAFC and the team was disappointed with a sixth place finish.

Northeast Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series

Lucas Oil National Champions

Congratulations to Frank Manzo, Alan Kenny on winning the Lucas Oil National Championships in TAFC and Super Comp.

Lucas Oil Division Standings

SST

 SG

SC

Stock

SS

Comp

TAFC

TAD