For Immediate Release Please
By AIS Public Relations
January 14, 2008
John Papin Celebrates Fourth Championship at Adirondack; Mooney, Brigham and Arthur Also Claim Championships
LOWVILLE (NY) – For John Papin, the 2007 season couldn’t of turned out any better at the Adirondack International Speedway, however, in an announcement made during this past weekends 2007 Awards Banquet at the Lowville Elks Lodge in downtown Lowville (NY), it’d of been nice if it could have lasted a bit longer.
After winning his record fourth career Track Championship in the Adirondack’s headline division, the talented veteran has been forced to bow out and in turn, as it looks, will be ending his record three-year streak of being the “Best of the Best” in the ASA Late Model division at Adirondack. “It’s tough to say but we will be taking a year off,” stated Papin while accepting his 5-foot tall Championship trophy. “Our equipment is tired most of all, but we’ve also been doing this for a long time.” With the ’07 Championship, Papin and team celebrated his 18th season in local weekly racing.
Asked if he was going to be returning in 2009, Papin reassured that the plan was more or less based on finances, and taking a year off is giving his standout team time to regroup and look to gain some more financial support. “The cost of doing this another year puts us out of the game, the competition has gotten so tough that we would struggle to get the job done. I love the track, and I love to race there, but we aren’t going to go back knowing that we won’t be able to return to winning races and winning championships.”
While Papin’s first season at Adirondack came in 2002, the married father of two has amassed an astounding track record in his six full years of competition. Although running equipment ill in comparison to his fellow competitors, Papin’s competitors stats are in fact, ill in comparison to his. Consisting of four track championships, and two runner-up’s in the past six point seasons, Papin, whether he returns or not, will go down in the history books as Adirondack’s best and he will be doing so all while going out on top of his game. In 2007, he pulled in a division tying five feature wins, compiling four in a row to begin the season. With the victories he sailed into the lead on the “All-Time Win List” chart outdistancing 2002 Champion; Chris Ross, by four total feature wins.
While Papin’s plans are set in stone currently, his plans may change if the team were to attract enough sponsorship to gain equipment comparative to his competition, or if the right opportunity were to come by. “The only way you will see me return is if sponsorship came knocking on our door, or if the right team capable of winning had an empty seat for me.” If neither two options arise for Papin, he will take advantage of the time off to spend time with his family. However, for John, the thought of not racing will likely turn into the worst memory of his racing career, as he admits that “it’s going to be awful hard not being in the drivers seat on Saturday Nights.”
Not to be overshadowed by Papin’s announcement, the top-15 in the Lyndaker Excavating & Trucking ASA Challenger Late Models were noticed for their year-long efforts. Lee Gill and team were on hand to celebrate his five feature wins, in which tied Papin, as well as his second place finish in the season-long point standings. Three-time feature winner, Jason Herrington was in attendance to celebrate his third place finish in the point standings while the teams of Bryant Trim and Tommy Cloce accepted the fourth and fifth place point finishes respectively. Filling the rest of the top-15 awarded positions was Erik Cupernall, Jerry Dineen, Billy Coyle, Andre Roggie, Carl Guilefuss, Shane Monnat, Bill Bertrand, Joe Schneider, Josh Pieniazek and Mark Scoville. Division sponsor; Lyndaker Excavating & Trucking had Owner; Paul Lyndaker (and also the rightful Owner of the Speedway) on hand to present the awards.
JR Mooney won his first ever Track Championship in the GotGoodCheese.com True Stocks. Mooney of Boonville (NY) made the championship rally late in the season when he tallied four consecutive wins in the second half of the schedule. His run outlasted division rookie Mike Ramos of Lyons Falls (NY). Ramos finished second in the point standings with two victories. Dave Arbes, Duane Williamson, and 2005 Champion Chris Typhair collected their winnings for positions third, fourth and fifth. Kent Widrick, of GotGoodCheese.com and the Lowville Producers Dairy Co-Op was in attendance to award the division’s top-10 rounded out by Tom Markham, Steve Burton, Dylan Bancroft, Rick Mooney and Todd Rhoads.
In the tough D&D Powersports Sport Compact division at Adirondack, Al Brigham of Lowville secured his first career Track Championship. Otherwise known as “The Veteran,” Brigham took time to thank everyone from his family and friends to fellow competitors and lastly track owner Paul Lyndaker for giving everyone a place to race on Saturday Nights. Lowville’s Rudy Widrick accepted the runner-up trophy in the division with Scott Shafer, Tom Dubach, and Larry Costa accepting awards throughout the remainder of the top-five. Tim Ingersoll, Chuck Powelczyk, Terry Ingersoll, Tim Dunn and Derek Burgy rounded out the top-ten.
Amongst the division with the highest numbers at the Speedway, Zach Arthur of Lyons Falls (NY) accepted his first career track title in the Westward Painting Company (WPC) Light Trucks. Receiving the award from WPC Owner Kevin Ward, Arthur was followed by rookie driver John Sullivan, Jr., Keith Delles, Levi Kirkbride and Bob McCanney. Completing the top-15 was Steve Ellis, Jim Trombley, Cooter Beyer, Dan Bellinger, Todd McIntyre, Jim Davis, Ray Richer, Kyle Weaver, Tom McIntyre and Uriah Kirkbride.
A total of 300 members of the racing community flocked to the lodge for the annual banquet. Several special awards were presented to the attendance and some coming to the delightful surprise of both the recipients and the crowd. All sponsors in attendance were recognized and the tentative schedule for 2008 was released. Track Owner, Paul Lyndaker was greeted with a standing ovation from the capacity crowd. Lyndaker offered his thanks to everyone and made note of the large improvements that he has seen through the years and ended by congratulating every team in attendance on a fantastic year. Speedway Manager, Billy Gibson added to the closing of the ceremony and expressed his hopes of gaining new fans in 2008. Gibson made note that in a nation where short-track racing is unhealthy, the Adirondack International Speedway has seen much growth through the past year. He offered that everyone in the racing community must do their part in keeping short-track racing healthy and thriving in Northern New York. Gibson also gave insight to the 2008 schedule with the announcement that the Speedway will be welcoming the NASCAR Camping World East Series (formerly Busch East Series) back in July and also holding their annual Renegade Nationals in the fall. The event was announced to be a two-day event capped off with a 200-lap Open event for the Late Models and was largely accepted by the attendance. After the ceremony ended, the illustrious crowd gathered around until the early morning hours of Sunday to celebrate the best season to date at the Speedway.
Top-15 ASA Challenger Late Models: JOHN PAPIN, Lee Gill, Jason Herrington, Bryant Trim, Tommy Cloce, Erik Cupernall, Jerry Dineen, Billy Coyle, Andre Roggie, Carl Guilefuss, Shane Monnat, Bill Bertrand, Joe Schneider, Josh Pieniazek and Mark Scoville.
Hard Luck Award – Shane Monnat
Most Improved Driver – Erik Cupernall
Rookie of the Year Award – Andre Roggie
Top-10 GotGoodCheese.com True Stocks: JR MOONEY, Mike Ramos, Dave Arbes, Duane Williamson, Chris Typhair, Tom Markham, Steve Burton, Dylan Bancroft, Rick Mooney and Todd Rhoads.
Hard Luck Award – Tom Markham
Most Improved Driver – Dave Arbes
Rookie of the Year Award – Mike Ramos
Top-10 D&D Powersports Sport Compacts: AL BRIGHAM, Rudy Widrick, Scott Shafer, Tom Dubach, Larry Costa, Tim Ingersoll, Chuck Powelczyk, Terry Ingersoll, Tim Dunn and Derek Burgy.
Hard Luck Award – Tim Ingersoll
Most Improved Driver – Scott Shafer
Rookie of the Year Award – Larry Costa
Top-15 Westward Painting Company Light Trucks: ZACH ARTHUR, John Sullivan, Jr., Keith Delles, Levi Kirkbride, Bob McCanney, Steve Ellis, Jim Trombley, Cooter Beyer, Dan Bellinger, Todd McIntyre, Jim Davis, Ray Richer, Kyle Weaver, Tom McIntyre and Uriah Kirkbride.
Hard Luck Award – Todd McIntyre
Most Improved Driver – Levi Kirkbride
Rookie of the Year Award – John Sullivan, Jr.
Special Awards:
Adirondack International Speedway Rising Star – Carl Guilefuss (ASA Challenger Late Model #78)
Public Relations Award – Todd Bailey, Photographer
Car Owner of the Year Award – Randy VanTassel (Owner of True Stock #14, Light Truck #1)
Most Popular Driver – Chola Shay (ASA Challenger Late Model #2s)
Best Appearing Car & Crew Award – Jason Herrington (ASA Challenger Late Model #37)
Best Appearing Truck & Crew Award – John VanTassel (Light Truck #1)
Art Matuszczak Memorial Sportsmanship Award – Steve Burton (True Stock #10)