Champions Crowned at Luxemburg Speedway Awards Banquet! By Joe Verdegan

January 25, 2003; Nueren, WI. -  A crowd of more than 300 was in attendance as the 2002 Luxemburg Speedway racer's awards banquet was held at the Rendezvous Pleasure Palace in the town of Nueren Saturday night.

Photo Highlights

The 2003 Luxemburg Speedway champs gather, shown in the front row from the left are Cory Haen (Bombers), Dave Davister (Sport Trucks), while in the back row from the left are Mike Coel (Street Stocks), Eddie Muenster (IMCA Mods), and John Heinz (IMCA Stock Cars).

Track champions in the five divisions were crowned as Green Bay's Eddie Muenster nailed down his third IMCA modified track title. Muenster's previous titles came in 1989 as a co-champ with Darrell Massart and in 1995. Out of 71 different modified drivers to score points all season the Green Bay ace was the only driver to qualify for every feature race. "We actually had planned on missing a few nights this year," said Muenster in accepting his championship trophy. "But we had a good point lead early and things went our way out there."

The modifieds saw 13 different drivers score feature wins. Muenster plans on defending his title in 2003.

Another Green Bay driver, John "JJ" Heinz, captured his first ever track title, that in the rough-and-tumble IMCA stock car division. Despite winning a feature race Heinz consistently found his way near the front all season long. "It was the funnest year we've had so far and we'll be back to defend the title in 2003," said Heinz. A total of 55 drivers scored points in the stock car division this season. The class saw eight different feature winners during the season.

In the street stock division Green Bay's Mike Coel captured five feature wins en route to his first track title. "To win the title here at Luxemburg but also at Seymour was quite an accomplishment for the team," said Coel. "I just built a house and sold my race car so I'll be sitting out next year." A total of 53 different street stock drivers scored points while six different drivers scored feature wins. The street stocks will run a five race series at Luxemburg Speedway in 2003.

Luxemburg's Dave Davister broke Kevin "The Hammer" Strebel's three straight titles streak by winning the sport truck title. Davister, who did double duty also driving an IMCA stock car, will go down in the record books as the last track champion in the division as the sport trucks will no longer compete weekly at Luxemburg. And Carlsville's Corey Haen made history by earning the bomber track title. The bomber class will evolve into the IMCA hobby stock division in 2003. Haen will move up to the IMCA stock cars this season.

Rookie of the year awards went to Todd Nelson of New London in the sport trucks, Jamie Colwell of Greenleaf in the IMCA stock cars and Green Bay's Eric Van Iten in the IMCA stock car class.

Those in attendance were treated to an eight minute slide show put together by track photographer John Garniss. The event was co-emceed by track manager Rick Goral and track announcer/public relations director Joe Verdegan.

The season opener on the third-mile, clay oval gets underway Friday night, April 25 at 7 p.m. An open practice session for any and all divisions is slated for Saturday afternoon, April 19 from noon to five p.m. A car show/inspection will take place prior to that from 10 a.m. til noon behind the grandstand. Spectator admission will be free on this day while a nominal fee will be charged at the pit gate.

Luxemburg Speedway is located 15 minutes east of Green Bay off highway 54 at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. For more information call 920 863 8446. The track's website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com.