The 2005 (and final) Thunder Valley Speedway Awards Banquet was held Sat.
Nov 12 at the Clarion Inn. This year was the biggest crowd EVER at the banquet
with over 315 attending. The awards got started off with the presentation of the Jr Fan of 2005. This was
picked by a drawing on the last night of racing at TVS by the Baker's. All the kids
that won throughout the year (there were 2 winners a week) were put back into the
end of the year bucket for Overall Jr Fan at TVS. Brittany Hoskins daughter of Brian
(#91 Super Stock) and Brandi Hoskins had one ticket in the bucket from when she
was drawn out at the beginning of the year and her favorite driver was Jeremy
Huffman (Brian might want to check into that). Brittany won a free ticket to the
banquet, $50 US Savings Bond, TVS Jacket and 3 ft Trophy all which was
sponsored by Walter Motorsports (Matt Walter #42W Factor Stokck). Special
Appreciation to the Sponsor's of the 2006 Jr Fan Club was presented by
Debbie Ratliff to Fred Ramsey (Ramsey Proffitt Racing), Victor Proffitt
(Ramsey Proffitt Racing), Walter Motorsports, Barker Racing, Shepherd Racing,
Wilburn Racing and a Special Appreciation award was presented to Larry Owen
for starting the club in 2004 Race Season. Rachelle Skelton was presented a
plaque for handling the drawing and trophy presentation of the Jr Fan Club
on a weekly basis. Mike and Linda presented 50/50 Gals with special gifts. To those that are not
aware of this these gals are volunteers. Sheila Faulkner was presented with a
color scanner, copier. Myranda Anderson, Brandi Price and Rachelle Skelton
were all presented with gift cards. After giving out all the tons of door prizes that the Baker's had to give out, t
he Scorekeepers Kelly Rowlan, Shelli Voak and Debbie Ratliff decided to give
Mike Baker a break and give out their chosen awards. First Mike was presented a
bag of goodies from the Scorekeepers to help him out on Saturday's since the
track has closed, well he will need some cooperation from Linda with the bag of
goodies (GOOD LUCK MIKE). Next Debbie Ratliff (with special thanks to Aaron Whitten and Lisa Gallaway)
presented Donald Shackelford #48 and Mike Casteel #83 of the Pure Stock class
with video's of their 2005 Worst Wreck. On behalf of Employee's and some Drivers at TVS the Scorekeepers presented Mike
and Linda with an Arvest Visa Gift Card in the amount of $125 for all their hard work
at the track and wished them the best in their new ventures. A "serving tray" was presented to Diedre Breland for always bringing food and
drinks up to the scorekeepers tower. A "puppet on a string" was presented to Jeff Rowlan. A deck of cards was presented to Kendal Martin for "a racing deal". Marty Swigart was presented with a roll of toilet paper and tootsie rolls so that
next year he can take care of his own ?, also a dress for him to wear to show
off them white legs. Mike Swigart was presented with a flashlight painted red so he would have his
own red light in the future. Linda Baker was presented a bouquet of people so she would always have an extra
hand when she needed it. Kelly and Shelli presented Debbie with a batman bucket with M&M's. Also a
beautiful flower spray made by Sheila's Designs. Debbie and Shelli presented Kelly with a lighter on a rope so she would always
have a lighter. Debbie presented Kelly and Shelli with pilar candle holders engraved with their
initials and checker flags. The scorekeepers presented these special awards:
Hot Shot Pure Stock : Misty Stand picked by Shelli Voak Andrea Foren picked by Kelly Rowlan Josh Ray picked by Debbie Ratliff
Factory Stock Hot Shot : Marcus Barker picked by Shelli Voak Jeremy Huffman picked by Kelly Rowlan Jessica Huffman and Misty Barker picked by Debbie Ratliff
E Modified Hot Shot : Dan Prine picked by Shelli Voak Doug Jones picked by Kelly Rowlan Mitch Lawson picked by Debbie Ratliff
Super Stock Hot Shot : Carry Price picked by Shelli Voak Randy Stilwell picked by Kelly Rowlan Josh Harney picked by Debbie Ratliff
Modified Hot Shot : Rick Wallis picked by Shelli Voak Jim and Tammy Small picked by Kelly Rowlan Eddie "Teddy Bear" Moser picked by Debbie Ratliff
Hard Luck Award : Pure Stock: Mike Casteel #83 Factory Stock: Kelly Hicks #32 E Modified: Travis Crouch #21C Super Stock: Fred Ramsey #9 Modified: Rick Wallis #7
AWESOME Award : Pure Stock: Dow Buckner #7 Factory Stock: Matt Walter #42W E Modified: Dan Price #02 Super Stock: Richard Berry #33 Modified: Kevin Guinn #88
Sportsman Award : Pure Stock: Ethan Simpson #131 Factory Stock: Dean McMeekan #D1 E Modified: Clayton Wormington #357 Super Stock Victor Proffitt #48 Modified: Kevin Guinn #88
Kiss Our Grits Award
: Pure Stock: Jack Bickford #00 Factory Stock: Bobby Cook #55C E Modified: Frank Foster #XF Super Stock: Jerry Ray #8 Modified: Fred Ramsey #56L
Next Sheila Faulkner presented on behalf of Judy Martin (track photographer)
plaques Judy made for each track champion for 2005.
Mike presented 2005 Rollover Trophies to
: Josh Ray, Marvin Forrest, Mike Neeley, Robert Janes, Mike Casteel, Mike Neeley
and of course Josh Harney recieved the double flip award for his 2 rollovers in 2005.
Rookie Awards were presented next by Mike Baker : Pure Stock: Donald Shackelford #48 Factory Stock: Dean McMeekan #D1 E Mod: Clayton Wormington #357 Super Stock: Josh Harney #47H Modified: Fred Ramsey #56L
Sportsman Awards were presented to
: Pure Stock: Aaron Whitton #A27 Factory Stock: Marcus Barker #D97 E Mod: Dannie Stacy #77 Super Stock: Randy Stilwell #95 Modified: Darrell McWhirter #75
Next Kim Anderson presented Andrea Foren #33 and Misty Stand #6 both of Pure
Stock class with a special gift she made them in return of her gift she received last
year from them. She made both of the girls a T-shirt with a picture of their "favorite
Buddy" Gary Howard on it. Perfectly tied up with yellow and black ribbon. The girls
both got a big kick out of it.
Kim Barrett presented Jerry Ray with a helmet with a little wing on it so he could
see how a wing on a car would feel.
Top 10 were presented in each class
All Drivers eligible for Point Fund Money were presented with their envelopes.
Mike Baker presented Marcus Barker #D97 Factory Stock Champion and David
Marez #19M Modified Champion with Seikel watches sponsored by McClelland
Jewelry and Fine Gifts in Fayetteville that were engraved on the back with
Track Championship 2005.
Holly Dersham and Debbie Dersham presented Burl and Dea Hollingsworth with
flags signed by drivers with Tim Phillips #22 to be given to Tim's 2 sons so that they
will always remember how much Tim was loved by everyone.
THEN THE PARTY WENT ON AT Bobbi Soxs where great fun was had by all
well except maybe Bobby Cook who is currently thinking of ways to get even
with Randy Stilwell for not coming to the party as Jeff Ratliff really kept the
drinks coming in front of Bobby--he even had to drink Randy's share of
the Chilled Shots!
Hope to see everyone at West Siloam Speedway for a GREAT 2006 Season
under the new ownership. Until then-- Debbie Ratliff signing off for good with Thunder Valley Speedway. It has been
a great 5 years and will be looking forward to seeing everyone at WSS until then
everyone stay safe, get those race cars built and Happy Holidays!
Debbie Ratliff |