FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2012
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SSP’s Night of Honor Closes Out 2011 and Looks Ahead to Ninth Season Under the Fishers’ Direction

Newberrytown, PA (February 5, 2012) – The Night of Honor and Awards Banquet for the Susquehanna Speedway Park’s 2011 season on Saturday night, February 4 was once again filled with an atmosphere of entertainment, enthusiasm and anticipation for the 2012 season. Eleven track champions were crowned and added to the prestigious SSP Hall of Champions list that includes racing great such as Bobby Abel, Johnny Mackison Sr., Gene Goodling, Ray Tilley and Mitch Smith to name a few.

The Awards Gala was held once again at the historic Valencia Ballroom in downtown York, Pennsylvania in front of a full house of drivers, teams, sponsors and supporters of the various classes that competed at SSP last season. The banquet placed SSP's grassroots racers on center stage after celebrating the track’s 57th year of operation.

The Late Model division crowned Justin Ehrhart of Dover as the new reigning track champion in the Late Model division dethroning Larry Baer in his quest for the title. Ehrhart’s consistency during the season with four wins, fourteen top-five finishes and seventeen top-ten finishes allowed him to claim his first Late Model track championship over six-time SSP track champion Carl Billet of Carlisle. Billet, the all-time feature win leader at SSP claimed the runner-up position with three wins and twelve top five finishes. Manchester’s Randy Christine Jr. finished the season in third place for the third consecutive season as well with two feature wins. East Berlin’s John Moser Jr. finished a strong fourth place with Chris Knopp rounding out the top five. Finishing sixth through tenth in the points championship were Alex Updegraff, Matt Adams, Larry Baer, Gary Potts and Bob Minnich respectively.

Littlestown’s Dan Zechman dethroned his father Randy Zechman to claim his first career SSP Street Stock track championship with nine feature wins, seventeen top-5 finished and eighteen top-10 finishes in 2011. Two-time track champion Scott Thunberg finished second with one feature victory and fourteen top-5 finishes. Thunberg has won Street Stock championships in 1998 and 2009. Last season’s champion Randy Zechman settled for third behind his son and Thunberg. Zechman picked up three feature wins. Veterans Doug Bennett and Jimmy Slaseman finished fourth and fifth.

Cameron Benyou of New Cumberland won two Xtreme Stock Car feature races en route to his first SSP track championship in 2011. Benyou’s consistency allowed him to lead the points battle at the end of the year as he did not finish outside the top ten in any feature race all season. His worst finish was a ninth place on July 23. York’s Patrick McClace won four features to finish in the runner-up spot at season’s end. Tim Hahn finished up third with Adam Smith close behind in fourth. J.R. Rodriguez finished fifth in his rookie season in the Xtreme Stocks.

York Haven’s Daryl Sipe did something that no other driver has done in the speedway’s 57 year history. Sipe claimed two track championships in the same season by winning the Road Warriors and Mini Van championships in 2011.

Other SSP track champions honored on Saturday night were Tim Henry (Legends Cars – Pro), Scott Gobrecht (Legends Cars – Masters), Bob Stough (Legends Cars – Semi Pro), Matt Wallace (Classic Cars), Aaron Brommer (PENNMAR Vintage Cars – Modifieds), Matt Mountz (PASS Sprint Cars)

Before the awards presentation, Todd Fisher, owner/promoter of the Susquehanna Speedway Park, gave his annual “State of the Speedway” address. Fisher began by reflecting on the purpose of an awards banquet and the respect that all competitors show to each other for their accomplishments during the season. Fisher also reviewed some highlights and stats from the prior year in which he pointed out to those in attendance that in the last eight years, 305 races were scheduled with 245 races actually held. Purse monies paid out during those eight years totaled $2,640,575 which averaged more than $330,000 per year. Fisher finished up by explaining some of the new additions to the schedule which includes two visits by the Steel Block Bandits Late Model Series and the 21a Memorial Day Championships to be held in May in memory of Mike Zeigler Sr. Fisher reiterated that the Stock Car Saturday Night Program was once again very successful with the support of the families of the various race teams.

During the awards presentation, some very special individuals were recognized with awards and special jackets for their support and dedication as reaching the 5-year milestone of being employed at SSP. These individuals include Pete Haines (Announcer), Rick Zink (Security), Jessie Doll (Concessions) and Tina Beck (Race Official).

Donations for the drawing for door prizes was overwhelming as every person in attendance went home with a prize. Door Prize donators included WIX Filters; K&K Insurance; National Speedway Directory, Miller’s Racing Parts; Tom Hartman Racing; Scott Gobrecht; Haines Mini Van Racing; Aaron Brommer Racing; Daryl Sipe Racing; Rehbein’s Garage; The Outhouse (Lancaster); www.rockauto.com and SSP.

The 2012 season opener of Stock Car Saturday Night will be on Saturday, April 14, with the Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars, Road Warriors and PENNMAR Vintage Cars. All point championships for each class starts on April 14.

SSP will begin its pre-season with four open practice sessions for any type of racecar on Saturday, March 31; Wednesday, April 4; Saturday, April 7; and Wednesday, April 11. The gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with practice sessions rotating for each class from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located midway between Harrisburg and York off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net. On race day, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information.

2011 SSP Track Champions:
Late Models: Justin Ehrhart
Street Stocks: Dan Zechman
Xtreme Stock Cars: Cameron Benyou
Road Warrors: Daryl Sipe
Mini Van: Daryl Sipe
Legends Cars: Tim Henry (Pro); Scott Gobrecht (Masters); Bob Stough (Semi Pro)
Classic Cars: Matt Wallace
PENNMAR Vintage Cars (Modified): Aaron Brommer
PASS Sprint Cars: Matt Mountz