This has been a crazy, screwed up, heart-wrenching and often entertaining year. As I have done in past years I will bestow awards upon those I feel worthy. Some of the people who receive them may not be particularly happy to get a Newky. In my humble but what I feel totally accurate opinion that is probably correct, they were earned. Remember, we are trying to have a little off-season fun here; so if you’re buried or if I forgot you, I didn’t mean to do it.

As in previous years, before I go on to recognize any of the award recipients, we shall remember some of those who we lost this season. We lost Steven Moss, Ollie “Josh” Jenkins, Dan McLaughlin, Sr., Ed Yerrington, Dan Pardi, Gerard Joseph Nadeau, Edie Dodge, Danny Loecher, Stan Smith, Mike Murphy, Tim Mongeau, Johnny Thompson, William Clifton “Bill” France, Jr. and John Blewett, III. Their passing is our loss and in many cases these people have left a tremendous vacuum in their wake. Please forgive me if I have overlooked anyone.

The loss of John Blewett, III was tragic and devastating. He was one of the best drivers on the Tour, one of the finest mechanics I had ever met and a complete gentleman. One of my fondest memories of this season was thrashing shoulder to shoulder with John and the rest of our team replacing a rearend at Twin State.

My season started by watching John drive to an impressive podium finish at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Before we lost him this year he had wheeled Midgets, Micros, TQs, SKs and Supers in addition to Tour Modifieds and maybe even other racecars this season. As such I have established a new Newky. It is the “JBIII, I’ll race anything Award”. John Blewett, III is its’ inaugural recipient.

The award for most Controversial Subject goes to the “Flash” format races. Whether anyone liked them or not, there were few who bit their tongues. Although the dissention in the car owner ranks of the Whelen Modified Tour was palpable, the racing was better than some expected. Did it put more fannies in the seats? That’s debatable. What isn’t is that Flash format races were a hot topic that rose more than a few eyebrows. If anyone wishes to claim this award, I will furnish their address and telephone number in a future article so they can answer all of the Flash race questions that arise in 2008.

Now we present the Award that was based on reader response. The Mod Series Scene readers have spoken and the “Walt’s Cup Quote-of-the-Year Award” goes to Steve Pontino. Steve told our team at New Smyrna Speedweeks; “The only thing legal on your car is the vinyl.”

“The Most Quotable Person Award” goes to Wayne O’Kula from the King Racing Team. There were plenty of other people who had things to say but Wayne was quote-worthy nearly every week. For those who might be interesting in picking up this award next season I have two suggestions; one, speak up and two, for those who have spoken out, clean up your potty mouths. Those quotes must be “fit to print”. As Wayne said in August, “You can’t argue with the truth.”

“Best MSS Staff Announcer Award” goes to Charli B. Charli was in the middle of calling in Live Update reports to yours truly when one of the Caraway Speedway track announcers stuck a microphone in his face. Off the cuff, Charli ran off the finest, thirty-second, Mod Series Scene commercial I have yet to hear. In addition to doing a fantastic job with the Live Updates, I have to commend Charli for also becoming one of the best new writers in the business.

Best job representing Modified racing in an alien environment goes to Mike Stefanik. Mike did more than hold his own against the other competitors at the Second Annual Chevrolet Bo-Dyn Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen. Stefanik qualified second, earned podium finishes in both of his heat races and showed his poise in interviews which were held under less than perfect conditions. Most of the drivers that Mike was competing against had considerably more experience but our friend from Coventry, RI gave them all a run for the money.

“The Ultimate Dominance Award” goes to Donny Lia and Bob Garbarino’s Mystic Missile Racing Team. Even when they weren’t dominant, their team was so well prepared that when opportunity knocked, they waltzed through the door. Congratulations on a great season.

My “Rookie-of-the-Year Award” goes to David Latour. I know; some of you are like; who is that? Hey I figure if one sanctioning body can give the ROTY award to a driver who competed in more than one-third of the races in the previous season, I can do what I want with my rookie award.

David is sixteen years old and a Long Island transplant in North Carolina. Latour finished fifth in the Whelen All-American Series standings and won the ROTY at Hickory Motor Speedway in their ultra competitive Late Model Division. You know, the “Birthplace of Stars”. Kudos David, that’s some jump from Micro Sprints! We just wish you were driving a Modified.

The Newky for Pit Party most display most alluring to female fans goes to ThE sHaDoW. ThE sHaDoW gave away Yankee Candle samples at Stafford. It was a real hit and he had a contest with winners. Way to go bud.

“Dominant Performance” in a single race goes to Bobby Santos, III and the Boehler Ole Blue #3 team. Oh yeah, he might not have led the race flag-to-flag but everyone knew who was the boss at the World Series finale. Bobby really carved everyone up and that team had one hooked up racecar.

I have three sponsor awards. First off; Whelen Engineering gets a “Special Award”. Phil Kurze, by renegotiating the Whelen Modified and Whelen Southern Modified Tour title sponsorships until 2016, he made quite a statement. Can anyone say “Just Shut Up” about NASCAR getting out of Modified racing? To Phil, John, Sonny and all of the employees of Whelen Engineering, thank you for everything that you do for us.

The “Just “Step Up” Award” goes to Rich Pallai and all of the folks from CARQUEST. Rich really helped us a bunch with the Tom Baldwin Memorial this year, as they have every year. Pallai is a real racer and someone who can always be counted on to do the right thing. Thanks Rich.

The “Mod Series Scene sponsor of the Year Award” goes to Don King and his company, Ramar Hall. Ramar Hall sponsored MSS throughout 2007 and we’re so glad we had the opportunity to represent them. The owner of the #28 team is one person who can almost understand my twisted humor. Thanks for everything Don.

The “Live Update Awards” go to Denise DuPont and Charli B. These two worked through system failures, communication difficulties and challenges at certain tracks. Through it all we wound up with the most comprehensive and complete coverage anywhere. Great job! to anyone who helped out with the Live Updates this season.

Dale Wolbrink gets the “Public Relations Person of the Year” for the third consecutive year. There are times one wonders whether there are three of Dale as we see her dashing from place to place at many a race. On top of that she seems to type more than anyone else in the Press Box despite all of the running around. An honorable mention in this category goes to Scott Running from Stafford Motor Speedway.

Ernie Saxton earns a Newky for “Lifetime Achievement in Public Relations”. Ernie chaired a seminar that focused mostly on credential ethics at the 2007 Motorsports show. He also spearheaded the seminar on sponsorship. His website, Ernie Saxton Communications is an absolute must see for anyone with sponsorship woes. He is a legendary racing journalist and public relations representative extraordinaire.

NHIS wins the “Best PR Staff Award”. Fred Neergaard answers the phone two hundred times a day…in the middle of the winter. Fred and his right hand, Kristen Costa, continue to augment their staff with racing veterans that will really make dealing with the change to New Hampshire Motor Speedway a whole lot easier.

“Event of the Year Award” goes to the John Blewett, III Memorial North-South Shootout™. This has been “must see” event. The addition of the East-West Super Modified Shootout™ only made it better. Mark the dates on your calendar for next year and book it now!

“Most Remarkable Rebound Awards” go to Joe & Linda Brady. These two Modified racing icons were both very ill earlier this year. The duo earned Man and Woman of the Year honors (Smiley Waterman and Donna Parks Awards respectively) for our beloved Tour at the Whelen Modified Tour banquet and looked fabulous doing it.

It’s time for the “Fred Flintstone “Bonehead Move of the Year” Award”. This goes to the person responsible for jettisoning Mark Mockovak from his post as Media Coordinator for the Whelen Modified Tour. I won’t worry about the person who made that decision reading this as it will likely go in one eye and out of the other. Can anyone tell me what the IQ of a header bolt is?

The “Pinch Driver of the Year Award” goes to Clay Campbell. Clay drove what turned out to be the winning Modified at the Made in America Whelen 300 through the streets of Martinsville to the UPtown TGIF festival on Labor Day weekend. He didn’t hurt the clutch and he had a smile a mile wide while he was driving the Mystic Missile.

The “I Know How to Make People Feel at Home Award” goes to Mike Smith. Shopgirl and I spent half an hour in Mike’s office as the Martinsville Speedway world swirled around in the background. It’s great to have people like Mike as a part of our community.

This year’s “Bob Finan Award” goes to Russ Dowd. The golden tone of Dowd’s voice echoes over the Thompson Speedway crowds every week. This award however goes to Russ for his calm demeanor and the way he adroitly handled the tragic event on the night of August 16th. Thank you, Russ for being a great friend of Modified racing.

The “Spirit Award” goes to Rich Kuty. There will be a chance to find out more about the deed that earned this award in a future article. Stay tuned!

The highest honor bestowed in this missive is the “Newcomb Determination Award”. The trophy for this goes to Wade Cole and the Cole Family racing team. It’s okay to stand up and applaud. They earned it.

The final award this year is the “Person of the Year”. I battled with this one quite a bit but in the end there could only be one winner. The winner is John Blewett, III. It isn’t because he is gone. It’s because he meant so much to us when he was here.

Thanks for humoring me and reading along. Before I go I’d like to remind everyone about some upcoming events. The Motorsports Show 2008 and the Gambler’s Classic Indoor Races will be January 18th-20th in Atlantic City, NJ. Hampton Jitney is running a one-day bus from Long Island on Saturday the 19th. Speak to Ted Baxter or go to the Jitney website for details.

Vicki and I are off the Chevy Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen in Lake Placid, NY next weekend. The racing will take place at the Olympic Sports Complex on Mount Van Hoevenburg, just a few minutes from downtown Lake Placid, January 3rd-5th. For ticket information please click the following link: http://www.bodynbobsled.com/buy_tickets.php . We hope to see you there.

The event will be broadcast on the SPEED channel. Broadcasts are scheduled to be aired January 20th at 12 pm and January 27th at 2 pm. Each show is a separate two hour program featuring a different race.

There will be a fund raising dinner held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Lake Placid on Friday evening, January 4th. Cocktail hour starts at 7 pm followed by dinner at 8pm. and the auction at 9 pm. Tickets for the fund raising dinner and auction are $100 and may be purchased at the Olympic Center Box Office.

We will post the latest news from Lake Placid in Lou’s House over the weekend. Thanks again for reading along.