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EAGLE RIVER SPEEDWAY ’22 CHAMPS CROWNED
Posted on: Monday March 20, 2023
2022 track champs (left to right) Jesse Aho (B mod), Cooper Aho (300 micro), Jason Zdroik (late model), Michael Hicks (600 micro) and David Blackberg (stock car). Missing is Emerson Manos (street stock). (Flintography.com photo)
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EAGLE RIVER CHAMPS HAUL HOME HARDWARE AT ’22 SEASON ENDING BANQUET
(EAGLE RIVER, WI) March 18 – Track champions in seven different classes were honored as Eagle River Speedway hosted it’s 2022 awards banquet at Chef Rene’s in Eagle River Saturday night.
And for the first time in track history a father-son duo can claim to both earn track titles in their respective divisions in the same season.
Twin Lakes, Michigan’s Jesse Aho and Cooper Aho each claimed track championships in the Chef Rene B modified and Dan’s Service/Halsey Fab 300 micro sprint divisions, respectively.
The 300 micro racers ham it up with their hardware. (Flintography.com)
Jesse Aho earned four feature flags and in nine points races finished in the top five every single night. For young Cooper Aho he found victory lane twice in feature racing action and like his dad, never placed outside of the top five in nine points nights of racing action. Cooper Aho shaded Boulder Junction’s Katherine Towne by six points in the final points tally while Jesse Aho whisked past Eagle River’s Tad Schoonover by a 40-point edge when the final checkers flew for points in August, ’22.
Hometown racer Michael Hicks, propelled by four feature wins, captured the JD’s Paintball & Archery 600 micro sprint track championship. Hicks placed in the top five in all but one of the points nights in ’22. Hick’s margin of victory in the points chase remained the closest of all the classes. The title came down to the final night where he emerged victorious by slim two-point margin over Minocqua’s Andy Fink.
It was another hometown driver – David Blackberg, to be crowned champion. Blackberg earned top honors in the Coffen Construction stock car division. Blackberg earned a pair of feature wins and only placed outside of the top five on one occasion in ’22 feature action. Blackberg beat out another hometown racer – Ryan Glembin by 11 points in the final points chase.
Ontonagon, Michigan’s Emerson Manos doubled up on 2022 honors. Although missing from the banquet itself, Manos earned both the most improved driver honors while also taking home the Eagle River Dock & Lift ’22 street stock championship.
Manos only mustered up one solo feature win but remained a model of consistency, placing in the top five in all but one of the points nights of racing. Manos beat out Eagle River’s Joe Leveille, who missed a night of racing to attend his daughter’s wedding out-of-state last summer.
The Sweetwater late model track title went to hometown veteran Jason Zdroik. Zdroik dominated action in the class, winning five of the nine-points night feature races held, nipping Pittsville veteran Eric Pember by a mere four points in the final points chase.
Rhinelander’s Jason Melton scored four of five pure stock feature races to boost him to the division’s title. Melton outdistanced Sugar Camp’s Hope Eisel by 22 markers in the final points chase. Eisel earned rookie-of-the-year honors in the class.
’22 Rookies-of-the-year (left to right) Elijah Sharp-Nevoraski (300 micro), Mya Towne (late model), Hope Eisel (pure stock), Kim Brown (street stock) Trenton Bell (stock car). Missing is Blake Joslin (300 micro). (Flintography.com)
Other rookie-of-the-year awards were doled out to Tomahawk’s Elijah Sharp-Nevaraski and Rhinelander’s Blake Joslin (300 micro), Kewaskum’s Colton Rein (600 micro), Three Lake’s Trenton Bell (stock car) and Eagle River’s Kim Brown (street stock).
Most improved driver awards went to Eagle River’s Mason Meier and Carter Aho (300 micro), Pittsville’s Hoyt Cournoyer (600 micro), Eagle River’s Ryan Brown (stock car) and Boulder Junction’s Mya Towne (late model).
Track promoters Pat and Patti Zdroik would like to thank all the teams who were able to attend the banquet. Folks are encouraged to follow updates with regards to the track at our Facebook page. The season opening race is set for Sunday, May 28 with regular Tuesday night racing beginning June 6 at 7:30 p.m.
For further information on marketing opportunities at the track please email patzdroik@yahoo.com.
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