|
Moorpark, CA., Jan. 28 - Driver Jody
Bandfield, 21, and car owner Robert Welcomer were honored as 2005
NMRA TQ-Midget champions Saturday night at The Grinder Restaurant
here during the annual awards banquet. More than 60 persons attended
and feted the two first-time champions. Bandfield, from Hesperia,
won by 43-points (651-608) and former TQ driver Welcomer, from San
Diego, triumphed by 53-points (697-644). The fourth year of racing
for NMRA in its current incarnation had 22 drivers and 19 car owners
earn championship points. The organization, which sanctioned TQ-Midget
races from 1957-86, raced under USAC sanction from 1987-2001.
During 2005 NMRA experienced one rain-out and ran
11 races at five tracks--four dirt and one paved. Five drivers won
main events, with Bandfield collecting four victories (three in his
own No. 4 Stealth/750 cc Honda and one in Welcomer's No. 15
Johnson/750 cc Honda). Walt Johnson won three times in a car he
built for Welcomer, and 2002 series champion Chuck West, of Clovis,
won twice. Richard McCormick and Scott Hansen, both 360 cu. in.
sprint car veterans, scored solo victories.
Fifteen NMRA teams completed two
demonstration/exhibition, non-point races January 14 and 21, 2006
during "Monster Jam" monster truck events at Angel Stadium
in Anaheim in front of 44,050 spectators and at Qualcom Stadium in
San Diego (60,000+ spectators). The purpose was to showcase TQ-
racing to the monster truck promoter and devotees of those shows.
NMRA board member West Evans said the promoter was pleased with NMRA
competition and wants to make TQ Midget racing part of future
monster truck events at major league ballparks and other venues.
Such races will award points and a purse from the promoter.
Following a 6:00 no host cocktail hour, diners
enjoyed a 7:00 dinner that included salad, choice of NY steak,
chicken marsala or salmon, beverage and tiramisu dessert.
Emcee/board member Ron Ahrendt introduced special guests, 2005 NHRA
officials and board members--Steve Parke, West Evans, Walt Johnson
and Kenny Wiley. The slide show also listed NMRA series
sponsors-American Racer, McCoy Enterprises, Schroeder Race Products,
A & E Trophies & Engraving, Racing Optics and Ringers
Gloves. The 15 teams that participated in the two demo races during
the monster truck events, plus starters Noel Dawson and Tony Otto,
received their pay envelopes. Fourth through tenth place drivers and
car owners received their plaques individually.
SPECIAL AWARDS
A special appreciation award went to hard-working
Parke, the 2006 NMRA president, who assisted with award
presentations. "Hard Charger" honors, sponsored by West
Evans Motorsports, went to champion Bandfield. He went from no
feature victories prior to 2005 to four triumphs and the driving
crown. "Most Improved Driver" recognition went to
owner/driver Bruce Hiroshima, the 2004 NMRA rookie of the year. He
avoided a sophomore slump and improved from sixth and 380 points
during 2004 to fourth and 578 points in 2005.
The 2005 "Rookie of the Year" trophy,
presented in memory of Curly and Cookie Merrill and sponsored by
Racing Optics, went to Richard Ortega, Jr., of Camarillo. He
finished 11th in driver points with 298 and 12th in owner points.
Last year Ortega bought the No. 38 West Evans backup
Stealth/Kawasaki that Chuck West had raced. He thanked his wife
"for letting me buy and race a TQ Midget."
Gay Otto and her son Tony presented the annual
"Otto Family Sportsmanship of the Year Perpetual Trophy"
to Tim Kennedy for publicity/public relations on behalf of NMRA.
Driver Ron Ahrendt was the initial recipient of the Otto Trophy last
year. The trophy has a 12" gold cup adorned with the NMRA logo
and is mounted atop a five-inch wood base that contains 18
individual plaques on which the names of winners are engraved.
The top three drivers and car owners each
received large NMRA trophies made by A & E Trophies &
Engraving of Lomita. Walt Johnson was the third place driver and
Bandfield won the third place owner trophy. Chuck West took second
place and his cousin/car owner West Evans earned the second place
owner trophy. Chuck thanked and presented gifts to his chief
mechanic Bob DeMello and car owner Evans.
Champion driver Bandfield presented a six-pack of
beer to champion owner Welcomer for allowing him to race his car at
one race (which he won) when his regular driver Johnson could not
attend. Hesperia resident Bandfield thanked former TQ
owner/driver Deborah Paull, of Ridgecrest, for allowing him to
borrow her TQ all year and race it as his own. He also thanked Gay
and Tony Otto for the Santa Maria race and Johnson for his help and
chassis set-up tips. Bandfield concluded by saying he is seeking a
sponsor because his Honda engine "has 16 races on it and needs
a rebuild." Owner champion Welcomer thanked his crew and
Johnson, his TQ builder/driver, for enabling him to win his first
racing
championship. Welcomer and his wife Cindy ranked second (2000) and
fourth (1999) in owner points under USAC sanction with Johnson
driving. Door prizes and "bench racing" concluded the
evening by 9:30 p.m.
The 2006 NMRA schedule is being developed
currently with dirt and paved speedways and should surpass the total
races run last season. NMRA currently lists 31 cars on its roster.
Two 2006 rookie of the year driver candidates are Richard Marshall,
of Bakersfield, and Jenna Bliffen, of Lakewood. Both drivers had
limited TQ-racing experience in 2005. Jenna, NMRA's version of IRL's
Danica Patrick, is the 23-year old daughter of driver/owner Michael
Bliffen. She drives her father's No. 03 Rick Stewart chassis with
Honda power. Marshall drives his own No. 6 Ellis-Hart/Honda, the
ex-No. 16 TQ in which Amy Wilson won 1994 USAC TQ rookie of the year
honors.
FINAL 2005 POINT STANDINGS
Drivers
Car Owners
1 Jody Bandfield 651
1 # 15 Robert Welcomer 697
2 Chuck West
608 2 # 38 West Evans
644
3 Walt Johnson 596
3 # 4 Jody Bandfield
619
4 Bruce Hiroshima 578
4 # 70 Bruce Hiroshima
614
5 West Evans
526 5 # 36 West Evans
562
6 Michael Bliffen 518
6 # 3 Michael Bliffen
554
7 Ron Ahrendt
362 7 # 55 Dave Lambert
537
8 Kenny Wiley
338 8 # 59 Steve Parke
407
9 Steve Parke
335 9 # 87 Judi Ahrendt
398
10 Steve Lambert 328
10 # 21 Paul Lopiccolo
362
|
