TRACK CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT YEAR-END BANQUET
The 45th edition of the Firebird Award’s Banquet
officially brought the 2012 NHRA Drag Racing Season to a close on
Saturday night, November 17th. Held in the Ballroom of The Riverside
Hotel in Boise, the Banquet featured an evening packed with awards,
which included nearly $15,000 in cash and prizes.
Presented by Boise Muffler, awards were distributed in the Gold Cup
Championships in everything from the Woody’s Sled/Bike division right on
thru the Meadow Gold Junior Series. Likewise, presentations were made in
the High School Series presented by the United Dairymen of Idaho and
CWI; Lyle Pearson Acura Sport Compact chase; and the Fairly Reliable
Bob's Club Series. Additionally, the top five finishing students
received merchandise thanks to Pecht Family Farms, Snap On and K & N
Filters.
Voted on by his piers, Mark Kidd was awarded Bracket Racer of the Year.
Kidd also won the Pro Track Championship. Sweeping honors for "Lady
Driver of the Year" was Tessa Lancaster.
One of the other highlights of the evening was the 26th presentation of
the Racemaster award. Emmett Police Chief Steve Nebeker was acknowledged
for this very special Firebird Hall of Fame type award. Nebeker first
started racing at Firebird in the late-70’s and has be actively involved
in Firebird’s High School Series for several decades now.
2012 Boise Muffler Gold Cup Championship Series
Kidd Performance Super Pro: Rayce Kidd
Performance Solutions Pro: Mark Kidd
United Oil Sportsman: Joseph Karnes
Woody’s Sled/Bike: Jacob Wood
Meadow Gold Junior Dragster: Alex Steen
United Dairymen/CWI High School Teams: Middleton High
(AAA) and Renaissance High (AA)
High School – Individual: Duston Wurtz, Meridian High
Alumni: David Meimann
Lyle Pearson Acura Sport Compact: Javier Castro
Carl’s Cycle Sales Street Bike: Jeremy Wanders
Moffitt & Bratton Outlaw Street: Duston Wurtz
Wayne’s Transmission Street Truck: Tessa Lancaster
Capitol City Transmission Nostalgia: Jeffrey Langan
Rich’s Auto Care & Dyno Super Shifter: Glen Phillips
Fairly Reliable Bob’s Club Champions: PSI Racing
(Silver Cup), Kuna Knuckle Draggers (Bronze Cup), and
Valley Vettes (Copper Cup)
2012 Year-end special awards
Perfect Attendance Winner – Rion Coates
Perfect Light Club Treasure Chest – Brad Todd
Rising Star—Katy Sterling
Top Rookie—Rayce Kidd
Best Appearing Race Car—Doug Wikfors
Outstanding Perseverance—Gordon Boven
Goodguy 2012-Gary Himes
Outstanding Crew—Shawver Family Racing
Most Improved Driver—Darrell Carr
Employee of the Year—Ron & Weston Nichols
Lady Driver of the Year—Tessa Lancaster
Bracket Racer of the Year—Mark Kidd
Racemaster—Steve Nebeker
Image provided by Alex Charlton