The atmosphere at the Cactus Moon Saloon was electric this past Thursday night, as the crew and friends of Northsound Racing celebrated the end of it’s fourth season with the “Northsound Racing Annual Awards Ceremony”.
This is the second year that the Cactus Moon has hosted this event, and by all accounts, it was a smash! The crew from Northsound Racing has honored those who make the show special. Many of the award winners were in attendance, along with racers, crews, and promoters from race facilities all over the Pacific Northwest. Those involved in the show, Steve Mortland, Tom Glithero, Sheree Berg and Shane Biles got together to devise the categories, and the debates ensued as to who was the most deserving.
This is also the second year for the “Northsound Racing Hall of Fame”. This award was devised to honor those who really step up for the racers and race fans in the Northwest. Last years inductees included: The Brownfield Family, Steve Beitler, Paul Bartholomew, Scott and Elly Ellsworth, Carla and Gaylon Stewart, and Gary Lewis.
The inductees to the 2009 NSR Hall of Fame are as follows:
Brandon Hamilton has been a friend of the show since it’s inception. Brandon works tirelessly behind the scenes to allow us to bring the listeners the winners of races in every division from tracks all over the Northwest
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Kelly Hale started his announcing career at Evergreen Speedway, and has been instrumental to Northsound Racing in the past few years with his enthusiasm for all forms of racing in the area
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Ed Bednardzyk is involved with the Stanwood-Camano Island Soap Box Derby. Ed’s ability to unite his community to rally around the derby with his promotional skills and motivational skills to make the event the best it can possibly be, make him a slam-dunk entrant into the NSRHOF.
The Cascade Push Truck Association is truly the unsung hero not only at Evergreen Speedway, but also at facilities all over the state. As a group, they have been together for more years than most can remember, but racers always remember the assistance that the Cascade Push Trucks provide, always with a smile and word of encouragement.
Pete Harding is the legendary Canadian Late Model racer that has won every big money race that the region has to offer. And one of the nicest people anyone could have the fortune to meet.
Sheree Berg and Tom Glithero were recognized for all their help this past year on Northsound Racing. They are the ones that make the show that much better, and it shows every time we take to the airwaves.
Individual trophies were handed out to the following:
On the Water Driver of the Year; Kayleigh Perkins –ULHRA Driver
Asphalt Driver of the Year: Naima Lang – Evergreen Speedway
Dirt Driver of the Year: Zack Simpson – Grays Harbor Raceway
Touring Series Driver of the Year: Gary Lewis – ASA Northwest Late Model Tour Champion
Promoter of the Year: Steve Beitler – Skagit Speedway
Best Interview of the Year: Herschel McGriff and Karl Fredrickson
Best Story of the Year: The Million Dollar Toilets at South Sound Speedway
Hard Luck Award: Barry Martinez – 410 Sprint Driver at Skagit Speedway
Rookie if the Year: Danni Johnson – Evergreen Speedway
Special Appreciation Awards went to the following:
Shane Biles Northsound Racing
George Wade Promoter – Grays Harbor Raceway
Nick Behn Promoter – South Sound Speedway
Kelly Hart Announcer – Yakima Speedway
Tom Lafferty Northsound 1380 Sports Director
Tracey DeYoung Creator of the Northsound Racing Logo for 2009
Scott Ellsworth Co-Director – I Racing ASA Northwest Late Model Tour
Doug Pace Announcer and Columnist
Lane Sundholm 2009 Street Stock Champion at Evergreen Speedway
Marv Monty Marketing Director – Evergreen Speedway
Jan Glithero She’s the one that kept us looking good in 2009!
Dan & Nick Beecher Crew Chief and Driver of the Northsound Racing Pro Soap Box Derby Car
Mike & Chase Gardner Crew Chief and Driver of the Northsound Racing Semi-Pro Soap Box Derby Car
Also recognized were the many racers, promoters, journalists, announcers, track personnel, Northsound 1380 personnel and race fans that make Northsound Racing the diverse radio program that it is. All of us involved in the show wish to thank all those that appeared on the show in 2009.
After the show went off the air, door prizes were given away. Thanks to Tracie Brandeberg at Pacific Raceways, Skagit Speedway, Advance Toys for Trucks and Sprint Car Parts, Longacre Racing Products and KRKO Radio for their donations. Then the fun began when Shane “Spanky” Biles launched into the auctioning of items to raise money to go to the Travis Rutz family. Travis was badly injured awhile back racing, and the racing community has rallied around Travis and his family. After all was said and done, $885.00 was raised! Many thanks to all of those that contributed.
