Welcome to Milan Dragway

Milan, Michigan based drag strip Milan Dragway awarded it’s 2006 Champions at the annual awards banquet on Saturday January 13, 2007 at the Crystal Gardens in Southgate, Michigan. Joel Thompson, division director, represented the dragway’s sanctioning body, IHRA and awarded the top finishers in the Summit Super Series. The winners Justin Hardy, Monroe, Mich. and Wes Buckley, Walbridge, Ohio each received a check for $1,000. Runner ups in this series Mark Pressey from Taylor, Michigan, and Kirby McLennan, Temperance, Mich. Each received a check for $500. The semi’s that received checks were Jim Scavone, Allen Park, Michigan and Ralph Mohr from Wolverine Lake, Michigan.

Among the Champions that received awards were the Saturday ARP points series. The Aeromotive Fuel Box Champion was Justin Hardy from Monroe, Michigan. Justin was also awarded best appearing race car. The Line-X No Box Champion was Tom Kraft from Westland, Michigan. Kraft was also awarded the runner up spot in the Sunday Street ET Class and toke home the “Driver of the year award”.

The Edelbrock Sunday Points series Champions awarded were Be Cool Power Cooling Street ET Champion Marlon Howes from Livonia, Michigan. The Amsoil Modified ET Champion was Wes Buckley from Walbridge, Ohio. Hedman Hedder Top ET Champion Will Crawford is from Saline, Michigan. Crawford was also awarded runner up in the Saturday Box class, most improved driver and his father Larry Crawford was awarded the crew chief of the year. The Michigan Powersports Motorcycle Champion was Robert Johnson, Jr. from Ypsilanti, Michigan. Roberts father Robert, Sr. received an award voted on by the racers for crew chief in the motorcycle class and best appearing crew.

The APD Quick 16 series awarded Kirby McLennan from Temperance, Michigan Champion of the Masta Performance Top Dragster class. McLennan was also runner up in the Sunday Street ET class. The F.A.S.T. Top Sportsman Champion was Barry Ballard from Adrian, Michigan. Ballard’s wife, Debbie, was awarded “female crew chief” in the Heads Up series.

Other Champions honored were the Skinny Kid Race Cars Heads Up series. The Wheel to Wheel “Outlaw 10.5” Champion Dan Millen is from Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Crew Chief, Scott Amesse was awarded heads up “crew chief” of the year.

The DynoServe “Run What Ya Brung” Champion Jackie Slone is from Adrian, Michigan. Holbrook Racing Engines “All Motor” Champion Butch Kemp is from Washington, Michigan. The Champion of the VP Racing “Drag Radial” class was Mike Brown from Huber Heights, Ohio. Tim O’Neil from Kent, Ohio was the Champion of the C&H Collision X-Treme Street Bike class.

Female Driver of the Year was awarded to Paige Kline from Saline, Michigan.

Runners up awarded were Mike O’Rourke from Redford, Michigan in both Saturday and Sunday points programs, Lee Warren from Milan, Michigan in motorcycle.

The Heads Up series runner ups were,”Outlaw 10.5” Dean Parker from Belleville, Michigan. Parker also received an award for best appearing crew. “Run What Ya Brung” runner up Keith Jackson, Canton, Michigan, who also received a voted on award “best appearing race car”. Kirk Ferris, from South Lyon, Michigan, was runner up in the “All Motor” class and “Drag Radial” runner up was Jim Filipowski. Lonnie Angel, Warren, Michigan, took the runner up for “X-Treme Street Bike”. Jim Detrick was awarded the Hard Luck award.

Other awards presented were third place Tim Buckley, Matt Luttrell, Paige Kline, Doug Heinish, Gary Fleenor and Joe Butler. Motorcycle voted on awards, female crew chief, Dorothy Schaffner, best appearing Joe Butler, Rookie of the year Tim Reed, most improved Jerry Schaffner. Other Saturday/ Sunday points series voted on awards were female crew chief Joy Fields, best appearing crew Mad Dog Racing (Matt Hewitt), rookie of the year Carl Keil, hard luck Dick Zimmer, most improved Ralph Mohr along with Will Crawford, spirit award BS (bracket support) Girls, Kim Adams, Deanna Yacko, Judy Suetterlin, Stacey Haller and Dorothy Schaffner. The Sportsman of the Year award was presented to Wayne Kirkpatrick.

The over 400 attendees at the awards ceremony enjoyed “Deal or No Deal”, door prizes, and transforming 5 male racers into women in 3 minutes.

The awards ceremony ended with Ohio racer Lucas Buckley proposing to Renee Heinisch, daughter of long time racer Doug Heinisch.

Milan Dragway, owned and operated by the Kapolka and Baxter families will reopen in April to start a new points program.

Deal or No Deal Game