Ransomville Speedway Crowns Champions At Awards Banquet

Story By: STEVE PETTY / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY – The Ransomville Speedway closed out the 2017 season with the annual Awards Banquet at the Lewiston #2 Fire Hall. Track announcer Rick Mooney served as the Master of Ceremonies.

For the third consecutive season, “The Ransomville Renegade” Ryan Susice from Ransomville, NY was once again sitting at the head table for winning the Krown Undercoating 358 Modified track championship. Erick Rudolph, Pete Bicknell, Jeff McGinnis and Scott Kerwin rounded out the top five in points. Rudolph visited victory lane three times in 2017, with Bicknell and Jesse Cotriss with two wins each. Alan Wills, Tommy Flannigan, Jeff McGinnis and Susice all visited victory lane on one occasion.

For the second straight season, Tonawanda, NY’s Matt Farnham once again took home the championship trophy for the Investors Service Sportsman. James Henry finished 43 points behind Farnham for the title. Derek Wagner, Greg Martin, and Brett Senek completed the top five in points. Farnham, Wagner, Martin, Senek, Chris Burek, Kevin Wills, Dave DiPietro, Derrick Borkenhagen, Jim Harbison, Jonathan Reid and Justin McKay all visited KiPo Chevrolet victory lane.

Second-generation driver Jake Stefanski from North Tonawanda, NY won his first career KiPo Chevrolet Street Stock Championship. Jake edged out his Uncle Pete Stefanski by a slim eight points to win the title. Brandon Sherwood, Ken Camidge, and divisional rookie Mike Kramarz rounded out the top five in points. Jake Stefanski, Pete Stefanski, Brandon Sherwood, Ken Camidge, Jaren Israel, Billy Bleich Jr and Ryan Hoolihan visited victory lane.

For the third time in the last four seasons, Niagara Falls, NY driver Chris Leone was crowned the 2017 Gippsters Collision 4 Banger Champion. Cole Susice, Chad Desso, Ashley Harbison-Blech and Brendan O’Keefe finished second through fifth in points respectively. Leone, Susice, Desso, Blech, Matt Hornquist, Ryan Plante and Anthony Guthrie visited victory lane.

Second-generation driver Cameron Tuttle from Wilson, NY claimed the Stevenson’s Hardware Novice Sportsman title. Tuttle edged out Kyle Wendt by six points to clinch the title. Robbie Johnston, Bubby Pawlak, and David Fingerlow completed the top five in points. Tuttle, Wendt, Johnston, Pawlak, and Fingerlow all went to victory lane.

The Most Popular Drivers for 2017 as voted by the fans in the souvenir program were Ryan Susice, Dave DiPietro, Pat Dell and Ken Camidge, Ashley Harbison-Blech and Cameron Tuttle. The Best Appearing Car Award went to Erick Rudolph, Chris Burek, Chris Dziomba, Cole Susice and Bubby Pawlak in the 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks, 4 Bangers and Novice Sportsman respectively.

The Rookie of the Year Award went to Jesse Cotriss in the 358 Modifieds. After a successful rookie season, Derek Wagner was the Rookie of the Year in the Sportsman. “That Guy” Mike Kramarz and Brandon Potter were named Rookies of the Year in the Street Stocks and 4 Bangers respectively. The Hard luck award went to John Smith, Brett Martin, Brian Monahan, and Howard Guthrie. The Most Improved Driver Award went to Allan Wills, Brett Senek, Chris Dziomba and Chad Desso.

The Trevor Wilkens Hard Charger Award went to Sportsman Driver Matt Farnham. The Pat Spina Mechanic of the Year award went to Charlie Farnham, father of Sportsman champion Matt Farnham. The Owner of the Year went to John Susice. The Performance Award went to Jake Stefanski. Chris Leone was the recipient of the Ray MacIver Sportsmanship Award. Ransomville Modified Champion Ryan Susice was named Driver of the Year.

In Special events at Ransomville, Tim Schaffer won the return visit by the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Cars. “Super Matt” Matt Sheppard was victorious in the Summer Nationals for the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series. Steve Collins and Chuck Hebing won the visits by the Patriot Sprint Tour.

More than 300 truckloads of new clay will be added to the racing surface last week and will be worked in and ready to go for the 2018 Test, Tune and Time. Ransomville Speedway General Manager Jenn Martin addressed the crowd on hand discussing the plans for the 2018 season at the Big R. The Modifieds and Sportsman will once again be under the DIRTcar Northeast banner. Rules meetings for the 4 Bangers and Street Stocks will be announced in the near future to discuss any possible rule changes. Stay tuned to the website and the track’s social media pages for dates and times.