The 2015 Champions Banquet for Madison International Speedway took place on Friday, February 5th at Marquis Ballroom in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and honored the many racing accomplishments from the past season. The season also marked the first year of the track’s NASCAR sanction as Madison is now a NASCAR Home Track. The season also marked the first for new owners Gregg and Angie McKarns.
Three drivers were crowned as 2015 track champions.
Zack Riddle won his first track championship in the NASCAR Whelen All American Late Model division and now joins his grandfather, John Ziegler, and uncle, Jared Ziegler, as track champions at Madison. John Beale was honored as the Late Model Rookie of the Year.
Consistency was the rule for Riddle who finished in the top five in all nine events and notched two feature victories. 2014 champion Dale Nottestad finished second in the overall points chase while multi-time champion Jeremy Miller was third.
Rounding out the top ten in the Late Model division were John Beale, Kevin Knuese, Bobby Wilberg, John Baumeister, Ryan Goldade, Scott Broughton, and Shawn Gunsolus.
Rookie of the year Beale was a solid competitor all season long finishing fourth overall in the points.
Ryan Goldade made it two in a row with his title in the Dave’s White Rock Sportsman division. Steve Anderson was Rookie of the Year.
On his way to the championship, Goldade picked up six feature wins, five heat wins, and finished in the top five on nine nights. Robert Hansberry Jr. finished in second place with Steve Anderson in third.
Other top five finishers in the Sportsman were Mike Taylor and Ray Hellenbrand.
In his first season, Anderson won a feature race on his way to Rookie of the Year honors.
Repeating as Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits track champion was Dan Snyder while Chris Tolliver was recognized as Rookie of the Year.
Topping one of the most competitive fields in Bandit history, Snyder successfully defended his title powered by four feature wins that now places him second on the all-time Bandit list. Nick Schmidt finished in the runner-up position while Brandon DeLacy captured third place honors.
Completing the top ten in the division were Steve Dickson, David Schmidt, Jovanni DiMaggio, Chris Tolliver, Cade Watters, McKayla Adams, and Lyle Phillips.
Rookie of the Year Tolliver picked up two heat wins and finished seventh in the overall points.
First Supply sponsored the Fast Dash for all three weekly divisions that saw the top six qualifiers compete in a six lap dash at the start of each racing program. Nearly $4,000 in prize money was awarded. Zack Riddle, Dale Nottestad, and John Beale were the top three in the Late Models while Ryan Goldade, Robert Hansberry Jr., and Steve Anderson led the way in the Sportsman with Dan Snyder, Dave Schmidt, and Nick Schmidt the top three in the Bandits.
Jeremy Miller won his first Super Late Model Triple Crown Challenge title holding off Paul Shafer Jr. and Ty Majeski. Rounding out the top five were Jeff Storm and Dave Feiler. Miller joins an elite group of past winners that includes Nathan Haseleu, Casey Johnson, and Chris Wimmer.
Fred Boal of B and B Lawn Care of Woodstock, Illinois, sponsored the Super Late Model Dash Series in 2015 and presented over $2000 in cash prizes with Miller taking top honors followed by Casey Johnson, Majeski, Dave Feiler, Shafer Jr., and Jeff Storm. Majeski also won a bonus prize for setting the fastest qualifying lap of 17.319.
A variety of special awards were also presented including the UNOH Youth Achievement Award for drivers between 14 and 17 years of age in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series that was won by Brandon DeLacy.
Other awards included John Baumeister (Mr. Reliable Award), John Beale (Closing Time Award), Mike Taylor (Hauler of the Year), Nick Schmidt (Fan Favorite), Steve Dickson (Boss of the Bandits), Dale Nottestad (Tough Luck), McKayla Adams (Most Improved), and Don Wickstrum (Sportsman of the Year).
Best Appearing Car winners were Jeremy Miller (Late Models), Mike Taylor (Sportsman), Lyle Phillips (Bandits), and Paul Shafer Jr. (Super Late Models).
The 2016 season opener will take place on Sunday, May 1st with the Joe Shear Classic and the ARCA Midwest Tour. NASCAR Whelen All-American weekly racing begins on Friday, May 13th and will once again feature Late Models, Sportsman, and Bandits.