2019 Rockett Brand Racing Fuel E.T. Bracket Series Banquet

Saturday Night was the final culmination of the 2019 Route 66 Raceway season with the Rockett Brand Racing Fuel E.T. Bracket Series Awards Banquet. This year was a special year in that the Route 66 ET Bracket Team won the Division 3 Bracket Championship in Indianapolis. Two of the team members, Jay Allen and Mike Krueger also went to Pomona for the National Championships. Will Tharpe, the NHRA Division Director was on hand for the festivities.

Following the opening remarks, Track Chaplain Bill Beagle was introduced and gave memorial remarks for those lost in the past year. Janet and I want to thank Route 66 and Chaplain Beagle for including our son, Michael, in the Memorials.

Chaplain Beagle followed the Memorials with  the Dinner Prayer and blessing. It was then time to eat.

At the conclusion of dinner, Bill Larson, the Captain of the winning Bracket Team took over the emcee duties and began the award ceremonies.

First up, was the Junior Sportsman class. This year, it was a very close finish with Hayley Becker taking the Championship by two points over Mia Rybarski. Hayley collected two wins this season.

Final Standings​
1. Hayley Becker
2. Mia Rybarski
3. Ryan Brockman
4. Brody Grimes
​5. Brindy Covell

Next up, it was the Junior Modified's turn. With one win and 1 runner-up, Danny Ellis Jr. took the Championship.

Final Standings
1. Danny Ellis​
2. Zach Manaseri
3. Jake Lucky
4. Kamryn Schubbe
5. Madison Drafke

Following the Modifieds the NHRA Junior Drag Racing Challlenge Winners were recognized

              Jr. Modified  Zach Manaseri                                                       Jr. Sportsman - Brindy Covell

Next up, was the High School Class. The High School participants have been battling each other for quite awhile through the Junior ranks. This year it was Darcy Ancel taking the Championship over Samantha Senko by 20 points with two wins and one runner-up.

Final Standings:
1. Darcy Ancel
2. Samantha Senko
3. Allison Furman
4. David Kovar Jr.
5. Alex Mullin also Challenge winner

Each year an individual is selected to receive the Spirit Award. This award is emblematic of the spirit and dedication to racing at Route 66:

The 2019 Spirit Award went to Steve Zelipsky. Steve has long supported the Junior Program at Route 66. He is now involved in the Super Pro class with his grandson, former Jr. Champion, Nate Kelley. This year he took on the task of being junior modified racer Jake Luckey's crew chief. Jake finished a respectable 3rd in the standings. In the pits, Steve is affectionately known as "Grandpa Steve"! Congratulations on the 2019 Spirit Award.

After the Spirit Award it was time to continue driver awards with the Sportsman Class. Stephen Mroz took the Championship with one win and two runner-ups. Stephen was in a battle with Paul O'Keefe all season for the points lead. In the final race of the season, Paul went out early in the competition and  Stephen won the race taking the Championship.
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Final Standings
1.Stephen Mroz
2. Paul O'Keefe
3, Steve Flounders Jr.
4. Andy Brodzinski Jr.
5. Megan Hurley
6.  Autumn Larson
7. David Lyons
8. Fred Trombley
9. Raymond St.Pierre
10. Jeff Sandowski

Pro Bike followed, with a tight race between Mike Krueger and Tom Ewig. It went down to the last race of the season with Mike and Tom facing off against each other in the Finals. Mike took the win and the Championship.

1.Mike Krueger
2. Thomas Ewig
3. Robert Sutterlin
4. Bruce Damewood
5. John Niles

Next up, was the presentation of the Run Tuff Eliminator Trophy. At the Route 66 Classic in August, the bracket racers compete to qualify for the 16 positions who race for the trophy. In 2019, it came down to previous Run Tuff Eliminator winners, John Hixon and Mark Marusak. Mark was a little quicker on the light, however he slightly broke out at the stripe, while John ran a 9.903 on a 9.90 dial-in to take the win. John became the first two time winner of the Run Tuff Eliminator at the Classic. The cool thing was that it was almost four years to the day that John won his first with his oldest daughter Morgan crew chiefing and this time, with youngest daughter Savannah doing the crew chief job!

Next up was the Pro E.T. Class. Troy Bogner matched a milestone by winning the Championship with one win, which tied Herman Zehnder with five Route 66 Track Championships!

1. Troy Bogner
2. Matt O'Connell
3. Adam Needles
4. Owin Profitt
5. Ryan Alley
6. Mark Marusak
7. John Coyle
8. Jodie Kovel - tie
8. Don Dumdie - tie
10. Dave Meccia - tie
10. Bruce Mason - tie

The next presentation was to Tori Trench for Rookie of the year. She had a 4th place finish in her Super Pro class, with one Runner-Up and went four rounds at Indy. When, while accepting her Junior Modified Championship, she warned everyone that she would be a force to be reckoned with. Congratulations Tori!

In Super Pro, it was Mike Murray taking the Championship by a scant 16 points over Kenny King. Mike had one win, 1 runner-up and went many rounds throughout the season.

1. Mike Murray
2. Kenny King
3. Jay Allen
4. Tori Trench
5. Nick Mistrata
6. Don Schomer
7. Michael Franklin
8. Nick Hooten
9. Alan Block
10. Al Kuefler

The next presentation was for Family of the Year. The 2019 Family of the Year was the Mroz family. They actually go back to US 30 in the 70's and 80's. Dad, Tom, who passed away 18 years ago this month campaigned his unique chopped top 76 Buick that his son, Bill, races in Super Pro. Bill's brother, Stephen is this year's Sportsman Champion. The glue that holds this team together is Mom, Linda. They go out of their way to promote Sportsman Racing at Route 66 and their hometown of Summit!

Before the last award of the night, time was taken to acknowledge the special Wally awards of the 2019 season. First was the NHRA Tv All Access Challenge.

Super Pro - Nick Hooten
Pro ET - Mark Marusak
Sportsman - Paul O'Keefe
Pro Bike - Bruce Damewood
​High School - Alex Mullin

Next, was King of the Track.

Class Winners:
Sportsman - Fred Trombley
Pro Bike - Mike Krueger
Super Pro - Tom Begler

And the Winner of the 2019 King of the Track...Pro ET Driver Ryan Alley!

Now the last award of the night was Driver of the Year. After 22 years, Route 66 was finally able to send a RACE CAR to Pomona! That car was driven by Jay Allen, 2019 Driver of the Year!

In honor of the 2019 Rockett Brand Racing Fuel E.T. Bracket Series Track Champions, I made the 2019 Track Champions Collage. Congratulations to all our Champs!

This puts a cap on the 2019 Route 66 Raceway Season. In about 10 weeks we start all over again for the 2020 season. I will see everyone then!!