Guthrie receives top honors at Grand River Speedway banquet
Clinton, MO - February 25, 2008
By: GRS
Racers from Grand River Speedway gathered at the Henry County Museum's, DeLozier Building, Saturday evening for their annual awards banquet. The top honor of 2007 was bestowed on Allen Guthrie of Raymore, Mo. Awards were presented by the track owner and GRS's newest driver, Christy Thomason, 18, of Holden, Mo. The lady driver handed Wall of Fame inductee, Allen Guthrie, 59, the plaque that will accompany Terry Bivins' 2006 award. Both drivers, Thomason and Guthrie are a month away from 2008 competition. The Fitzpatrick Memorial race at GRS will mark Guthrie's 40th season behind the wheel and Christy's first in a dirt track, B-Modified on March 23rd.
The Fitzpatrick Memorial will start the racing season over again for GRS in Urich, Mo. The racing wraps up each year with a New Year's day race after a point series concludes in December each year. The final race of 2007 was the first race ever held in the snow. That event was won by "Big Richard" Scott of Warrensburg. He also finished 2nd in point standings to Farm Truck Champion, Mel "Bear Hunter" Simpson of Odessa. Simpson won the New Year's race. Kyle Shaw of Drexel was 3rd in points with Nikki Simpson (wife of Mel Simpson) taking fourth place in points. The 5th place driver, Mike Bashke also took "Rookie of the Year" honors in that division.
In the other GRS divisions, Gary Wise of Blue Springs, is the 2007 Open Class Champion with rookie honors going to Kent Kummer of Ottawa, Ks. 2006 & 2007 Street Stock Champion is now Jerry Schmidt of Independence, repeating a winning season. Kenny Keeport is the SS 2007 Rookie. Kyle Shaw competed in all 5 GRS divisions and took the Bomber championship. Lady driver and young mom, Kelly Wagener, is the Rookie winner. J.W. Whitt is the Rookie winner in the Compact Stock Car Class where Wall of Fame inductee, Al Guthrie took yet another track championship in that division. He has competed in nearly every division in dirt track racing in his 40 year career. Congratulations go out to all of the GRS drivers on another successful season! More information can be found at www.grandriverspeedway.net
