Race Chatter on WNRI.COM, 99.9 fm, 1380 am, Tune in radio, Alexa, Apple, Echo,Etc.: Mr.Rooter New England Truck Series Banquet

On Saturday night I had to make a decision on which one of the 4 Racing Banquets scheduled on this night to attend. I decided on the New England Truck Series at the Imperial Room in Danielson, Conn.
This was the closest to my residence and with hosting the Saturday and Sunday broadcasts of the "Outdoor Scene" it was a perfect fit. Plenty of free parking and just a short trip from the major highway and the ballroom was very nice. Between 90-100 attended with a constant watch of the Patriots Football current score at every table on a cell.
Cheese and crackers then a full buffet that did not skimp. Two types of Salads, Carving Roast Beef, Carving Ham, Stuffed Pork roll, Stuffed Codfish, Greens, Pasta and Sauce, Rice and Fresh Fruits, excellent Coffee and Ice Cream for Desert.
The banquet was well organized and kept moving at a hilarious pace with a strange list of awards.
Door prizes, raffles and a 50/50 and a lot of special plaques to thank a lot of people who make up this growing fraternity of racers.
   For instance,
                  Most likely to not need a body guard award: D.J McGouran ,gift a very funny hat that he agreed to wear at the "Icebreaker"

                  Most likely to get a BOO-BOO award: Josh Springer, gift a box of bandaids & lollipop.

                  Most likely to need repairs award: Mike Parker, gift was a Gummy Bear Duct Tape.

                 Most likely to shoot someone award: inspector Michelle Pard, gift was a squirt gun.

                 Most likely to peddle their A_ _ thru the pits award to Cory Coates, gift was a horn.

Lorraine Pard, Series Director, has surrounded herself with quality people to continue the phenomenal growth of the series which travels on a tour throughout New England and for 2015 the group will start at the "Icebreaker" then will even venture to Bethel, New York and the Wall Stadium in New Jersey to go along with the series first road course event at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Sept.12th, 2015
Looking at the other tour type divisions, I would have to say theirs is the most aggressive and the group continues to add different types of tracks for their loyal traveling racing fan base.
Last year in 2014 thirteen races were on the schedule and two were lost because of mother nature interfering. This year again 13 different size race tracks and leaving holes in the schedule for hopefully racing at least twice at the Waterford Speed Bowl, Conn.(Litigations) and any other venues such as Stafford Speedway, Conn. With the just announced series major sponsor agreement with Vin Beedle's Mr. Rooter the task at Stafford Speedway should help open up the door to a racing date since the track runs no regular weekly truck division.
The tri-track series point part of the schedule was won by Cory Coates, 2nd Andy Lindeman, 3rd Glenn Noll
   The "Sportsman of the Year" award was won by driver Pete Cayer to a very loud applause.

   The " Rookie of the Year" award was won by Tyler Chapman

   The top eight positions were honored,    Starts   Wins Top 5's   Top 10's
           1st  519   Andy Lindeman (6th)        11        3         10            10
           2nd 517    Cory Coates                      11        2           7             9
           3rd 488   Bert Ouellette                     11        0           3             7
           4th 488   Glen Noll                            11        0           5            10
           5th 474   D.J.McGouran                    11        0           3             8
           6th 470 Tyler Chapman                    11        0           2             8
           7th 468   Mike Parker                        11        0           0            11
           8th 449   Chris Coryl                         10        0           5             9
       Other drivers with wins in 2014 Allen Coates 2, Chris Turbush 3, Roger Turbush 1

Andy Lindeman, a 28 year police force member drove many different trucks on the way to the 2014 championship and now has 6 to his credit. Chris Coryl had 5 championships and will now leave the series to pilot a modified. He did state if any one needed a experienced shoe just give him a call.
I heard through the grapevine that Stafford female driver Kaitlyn Brice, connection (Joey Gada)could be fielding a truck in 2015 and also Kendall Metcalf and Erin Solomito. Stay Tuned for any up-dates.

Most of the Mr. Rooter stable of drivers and champions who will also pilot a truck in selected races were in attendance and I was moved by champion Keith Rocco working the tables to raise some funds for another teams (Ted Christopher) crew chief, Mike O'Sullivan who has just experienced another bad run with his health after coming back to anchor another championship for T.C.
The racing fraternity is really tight when someone is in need.

Awesome time had by all, photo by Passing Bird Photography

Author, Host W. Gauvin Barber WNRI.COM " Race Chatter", photo Passing Bird Photography

Pete Cayer, "Sportsman of the Year"photo by Passing Bird Photography

Fantastic Award Banquet photo credit Passing Bird Photography

Race Director Lorraine Pard and 2015 Series Sponsor, Vin Beedle, Mr. Rooter
photo by Passing Bird Photography.

2015 New Series Logo unveiled at end of the night.

3rd place Bert Ouellette, 2nd place Cory Coates, 1st place Andy Lindeman
photo credit Passing Bird Photography

photo credit W.Gauvin Barber

Driver Cassandra Coates, 8 races, 12th in points and a cast member of the "Woman in Racing" 2014 on the 'Race Chatter" WNRI.COM
photo credit W.Gauvin Barber