FALLON, NV (Nov. 4) — The annual awards banquet for Rattlesnake Raceway was held at the Eagles hall. Most of the racers and their family members showed up.
After a nice banquet it was time to start celebrating the champions, top points earners and rookie of the year.
First up were the Mini Stocks. Unfortunately the 2023 champion Kent Knisley was unable to be there. At season’s end Knisley had 770 points while second place Cooper Lee had 746 points.
The Willie Ferrier Rookie of the year was Dakota Thunder, who ended up third in points.
Next came the Bootlegger Class. At season’s end Joseph Keough had 701 points while runner up Sam Miller was 30 back with 671 points. Millie also won the Willie Ferrier Rookie of the Year for the class.
“It was a great series, we had a lot of fun, just back and forth,” Keough said. “It was consistency that won the thing.”
Then he thanked Ray Blankenship, Logan, Chase and Pete.
After a challenging season Mikkie Beuchat scored the Jim Baglin Street Stock championship. While he won with 716 points runner up Jimmy Berhorst had 620 points just edging third place Jesse Gonzalez, who had 618 points.
The Willie Farrier Rookie of the Year went to fifth place Korey Vernon.
Asked about his season Beuchat said, “This year was full of challenges, brand new car and we raced all kinds of different surfaces. There are a whole lot of changes between this year’s and last year’s car.
We blew up a motor in the middle of the year in Lovelock. We were scrambling to find another one, managed to find a half decent set up kind of continued through the year. Ran into a lot of frontend problems, geometry was wrong. We bought the car used so things that worked for somebody else didn’t work for us.”
Then he thanked Dyson Tools in Fernley, Cheek Contruction here in Fallon and Marshalls Plumbing and Septic in Fallon.
Unfortunately promoter Rusty McMillan wasn’t there as he was racing in Las Vegas at the IMCA part of Duel in the Desert. He won the IMCA Stock Car title with 558 points while runner up Marie Curtis ended up 60 points back with a total of 498 points.
On her way to another appointment Curtis said, “This year was pretty good, we ran Fallon all year and Winnemucca a few shows, Lovelock. We went up to Oregon and Washington for their Speedweek. Here in January we’re going down to the IMCA Winter Nationals in Yuma, Arizona.”
Then she thanked Curtis Machinery, Patriot Storage and Napa Autoparts.
In IMCA Northern Sport Mods Joe Wabsis, who tows up from Pahrump, ended up with 323 points while runner up Hayden White had 256 points. She also won the Willie Ferrier Rookie of the Year award.
After receiving his trophy and jacket Wabsis said, “Everybody was pretty competitive but it was a long ride, six and a half hours. And I need to thank my wife.”
Wade Lumsden was the only IMCA Modified driver to earn a trophy and jacket. For him the season got complicated at the start as Lumsden became a new father.
“We started off really rough, we didn’t get to the lead until probably the last three or four races, then it stayed a really tight race,” he said. “I had my first kid right there at the beginning of the season, so it divided attentions but we still managed to put a season together and came out with a championship.
After the championship trophies and champion’s jackets were handed out it was time for the special awards.
Taggart Garland, who wasn’t present, and Colton Blankenship shared the Cornu Family Most Improved Driver award.
Joseph Cook got the Mark Lee Hard Luck award. That means he had a really challenging season.
Winning the Dennis Kirn Best Sportsmanship award was Travis Shorty Showe. He brought his young son up to the presentation.
Finally the Stephanie Benham Most Appreciated Volunteer award went to Stephanie Kneistedt. She ran the sign in gate for the season.
Now everyone gets time to rest through the holidays but after the New Year everyone will start working on their cars so they are prepared for the 2024 season.
• Reno Cars & Coffee had its first meet of the month on Sunday. The turn out was great and there were several exotic cars present.
One was a nice red Ferrari that looked like it might be used for some type of competition.
Not far away was a McLaren street car. So its probably one of the fastest streetcars in the area.
One of the most interesting cars on display was a Radical. This car is outfitted for racing including an interior roll cage and it got a lot of people looking at it.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• The MRANN points are final on November 12. So if anyone has questions now is the time to check.
• This coming weekend the Sandbox motocross track in Fernley is opening again. There are limited spots available so one needs to register online.
• The motocross track at Fernley 95A Speedway will also have practice from 9 until 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• This coming weekend is the season ending event for those racing in the BBMX series. Sign ups are now open at www.battlebornmx.com.
• Daveys American Racing is found on Face Book. His focus is on western oval tracks as well as national series.
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• Our newest sponsor is State Farm agent Kelby Schoorl, who was a racer in his younger days. He has some supplemental insurance that racers might be interested in checking out.
There is medical that covers visits to the ER, ambulance rides and if a person has to stay in a hospital. In addition trailers as well as tools and tools in shops can be covered with additional policies.
If Kelby isn’t available the other guys at his office will be very happy to explain what they can offer both to racers and those enjoying motorized recreation.
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• One of our sponsors is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists owned by former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.
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Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
• The next shop is Moto-Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again they are a full service shop plus the showroom has about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
• Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno, is another sponsor. The shop does quality collision repair for cars and trucks.
Owner Brian Saul is a car enthusiast himself and is committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
• Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&CO for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. Wednesday evenings, starting around 5 p.m. is Bike Night, good time to meet fellow riders and have a great dinner.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net.
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AWARDS
Rattlesnake Raceway – November 4
• Mini Stock: 1. Kent Knisley, 2. Cooper Lee, 3.Colton Blankenship, 4. Joseph Cook, 5. Jordan Riley, 6. Dakota Thunder, 7. Isaac Aguilera, 8. Blake Bernstein.
- Willie Ferrier Rookie-of-the-Year: Dakota Thunder.
•Bootlegger: 1. Joseph Keough, 2. Sam Miller, 3. Ryan Harrison.
- Willie Ferrier Rookie of the Year: Sam Miller.
• Jim Baglin Street Stocks: 1. Mikkie Beuchat, 2. Jimmy Berhorst, 3. Jesse Gonzalez & Davis Racing, 4. Randy Boyde, 5. Korey Vernon, 6. Logan Sage.
- Willie Farrie3r Rookie of the Year: Korey Vernon.
• IMCA Stock Car: 1. Rusty McMillan, 2. Marie Curtis.
• IMCA Sport Mod: 1. Joe Wabsis, 2. Hayden White.
- Willie Ferrier Rookie of the Year: Hayden White.
• Sam Badley IMCA Moified: Wade Lumsden.
SPECIAL AWARDS:
• Cornu Family Most Improved Driver: Taggart Garland.
• Mark Lee Hard Luck Award: Joseph Cook.
• Dennis Kirn Best Sportsmanship – Travis Shorty Showe.
• Stephanie Benham Most Appreciated Volunteer – Stephanie Kneistedt.
