Mahoning Valley Champs to be honored at December 18 Awards Banquet

(LEHIGHTON, PA 10-27-10) The five divisional champions of Mahoning Valley Speedway will be honored at the track’s annual awards banquet set for Saturday night, December 18 at the Northampton Memorial Community Center in Northampton.
John Bennett, Modifieds, Paul Koehler, Jr., Late Models, Randy Ahner, Jr., Street Stocks, Randy Thomas, Dirt Mods and Kris Graver, Pro4 Late Models, will be officially crowned champions of their respective classes on that night.
For Bennett, this was his third consecutive Modified title and seventh overall at the quarter mile paved oval. He edged out Don Wagner, who for the third time, finished runner-up in the standings. Bennett garnered four wins during the season and in doing so pushed his record all-time Mahoning wins total to 55.
Koehler opened up the year with a win and the point lead and throughout the rest of the season he remained number one. It was his third Late Model title and the second in which he led the points from start to finish. When Koehler won his fifth feature on September 11, he moved into a tie with Todd Stehle as the all-time win leaders in class with 34.
The Street Stock title went right down to the last lap of the last race with Ahner and Kristy Morone Arthofer ending in a tie. By virtue of the tiebreaker system, Ahner was named the champ thanks to having more feature wins, three while Arthofer had one.
It was the second year in a row that Ahner claimed the crown and the second time that it wasn’t until the final event that the championship was decided.
In just its second season the Dirt Mods have become a class dominated by Thomas who repeated as the top point getter.
After a close first half battle that included his brother, Dave Thomas and Jeff Parker, Randy put things into high gear over the second half. He established new records with 10 wins on the year and in just two years has three times more wins than anyone else in the division.
When 16-year old Graver scored the Pro4 Late Model championship, he continued a family legacy, becoming the first third generation driver to win a Mahoning championship, joining the likes of his grandfather and uncle, Kevin Graver Sr., and Jr.
In what was nothing short of a near perfect season as Graver raced to a record tying 11 feature wins, equaling the mark set last year by his uncle Kevin. He finished all but on race in the top three, that lone race being a fifth. He was a perfect 22 for 22 in top five’s.
The champs will receive their 2010 trophies and point money on December 18.The top 10 in points for all classes will also be recognized as well as a number of special award winners.
Tickets for the banquet should be ordered no later than December 4 by emailing Gena Hoffman at glhoffman@rcn.com. Tickets are $55.00 per person. Cocktails begin at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30.