It was a big night for race drivers from the Energy City and beyond were recognized for the year's achievements at the 19th annual Estevan Motor Speedway awards banquet last night. The award night began with a banquet of great food and after the banquet, the ceremony began with inducting James Gustafson into the 2018 Wall Of Fame. Gustafson has been a part of the race track since the construction began on it and is planning to be a part of it for many more years as often as he is able to.
Gustafson Shares, "It feels really good to be acknowledged, I'm not that type of person that really needs that kind of acknowledgment but its nice to have. It's an evergrowing thing and thinks we are fortunate to be licensed under the IMCA hey are an organization that really help us with the rulings and all of that kind of thing because that's always changing with the way the engines have changed they have to be on that all the time. Having said that these racers know when they have a good surface to race on and that is our goal. It takes three components to make a race track run and that's the workers or volunteers, the fans and the drivers and you have to keep it balanced among all three of those because you can't have the drivers upset with you to me that's the main thing about the race track, we've had years where the tack wasn't as good as it is now."

The rookies of the year were:

Slingshot -- Jorja Ashworth #33j Weyburn, Sk.

  • IMCA Hobby Stock -- Connor Hanson.# 15, Torquay, Sk.
  • IMCA Sports Mod -- Rylan Raynard # 95 Lampman, Sk.
  • IMCA Stock Car -- Devon Gonas #47, Midale, Sk.
  • IMCA Modified -- Isaiah Geisel #21z Torquay, Sk

The 2018 points runners-up were...

  • Slingshot -- Ty Saxon #41 Estevan, Sk.
  • IMCA Hobby Stock -- Blake Penna #18 Estevan, Sk
  • IMCA Sports Mod -- Rylan Raynard # 95 Lampman, Sk.
  • IMCA Stock Car -- Cody Nelson #10N Kenmare, ND
  • IMCA Modified -- Tyler Wagner #77 Weyburn, Sk

The points champions of 2018 were then handed their awards. Ryder Raynerd from Estevan took the Slingshot division, while Chris Hortness of Estevan was at the top of the IMCA Modifieds. Leevi Runge from Lampman, Sk was first in points in the Hobby Stocks. The top of the IMCA Sports Mod is Robby Rosselli of Minot, ND and Jeremy Swanson from Estevan, Sk was first in points in the IMCA Stock Car.

Robby Rosselli shares, "Any time you win a track championship is a huge accomplishment." He adds that most of his success is from the work he puts into his car and that he plans to return to the track in 2019 to defend his title.
"It's always nice to be recognized for a season of efforts," states Jeremy Swanson. "This is my 19th season, so experience goes a long way and we're really good at fixing cars." Swanson plans to return in 2019.

Finally, they announced the Volunteer of the Year Award and that was given to both Dave and Joyce Mack. They have been with the race track since day one and have been helping with everything and anything they can.
"Joice and I have been there together every race day. I guess there wasn't any other way, they told us there was no way to recognize one without the other so we are very appreciative about that."