Dow Carnahan, Bobby Marhefka, Charlie Cragan, Ron Piovesan, and Ed Lynch, Jr. were inducted into the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Hall of Fame at the club's annual awards banquet on January 28, 2012. Thank you to everyone who helped make this banquet a successful, enjoyable event.

Banquet Recap | Video Highlights | Join the PCTC

The 35th Annual Awards Banquet, held at the Hampton Banquet Hall, was a big success for the capacity crowd in attendance Saturday evening. R & R Music with Rick Kohler and Dave Conley provided the musical entertainment for the group.

Ron Piovesan and his family donated a flat screen TV and the proceeds went to help with the costs of the night's activities.

The officers and board members did a wonderful job facilitating the banquet.

President, Robert McWilliams, Vice President, Bobby Neill Jr, Secretary, Jill Folkmire, Financial Officer, Bob Stanford, Social committee, Cheryl Kennedy and Ginger Meloy, Photographer, Jody Halbedl, Statistician, Don Folkmire, Logistics & E-mail, Bob Miller

Board members include: Dave Dragovich, Don Gamble, Bob Heim, Dave Kohler, Bob Miller, John Miller, Bob Neill Sr. Dave Olivieri, Jerri Slade and Walt Wimer

Special guests in attendance included:

Missy Gardina the former Promoter of Blanket Hill Speedway

Bill Bauer President Modified Lite STARS Inc & Race Director at Mercer Raceway Park

Jody & Dennis Halbedl from RacingWeb.com, Jody is the photographer for the PCTC and Pittsburgh's PA Motor Photographer

Dave Kohler…On Track Announcer at several speedways, former Director of Public Relations at Jennerstown Speedway, General Manager and P.R. Nashville Speedway USA, Co-host Rappin' on Racin', and member of the PCTC Hall of Fame Committee, Ruth & Glade Neil Memorial Sportsmanship Award, and Racers for Tots Spokesperson

Bob Miller the Media Specialist who created the Hall of Fame DVD and the PCTC database.

Walt & Mary Wimer…a contributor with Rappin' on Racin and Trackside from Lernerville, announcer at Tri-City Speedway, he facilitates the #1 Cochran Cavalcade Awards, Western Pennsylvania Rookie of the Year. Committee Member National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Dirt Car Modifieds Hall of Fame, former Steinbach Memorial Media Award winner, Columnist for Area Auto Racing News RPM Racing News, and Raceway Magazine and he is Chairman of the PCTC Hall of Fame Committee.

Jimmy Poljak…Frank B. Fuehrer Wholesale and Yuengling America's Oldest Brewery. Jim is the unofficial Public Relations executive for Rappin on Racin

Natalie Steigerwald and Morgan McHugh were our Trophy Presenters

I am pleased to announce that Rappin' on Racin' will return on Monday nights. The show is beginning the 29th year in April. Rappin on Racin will be available to our listeners seven days a week and twenty four hours a day. More information will be available by going to the MSA Sports Network at our website. www.speedwayproductions.biz

A special thanks to the Hall of Fame Committee…Chairman Walt Wimer…Dick Curry, Dave Dragovich, Don Gamble, Bob Heim, Sr., D.J. Johnson, Dave Kohler, Bill Korch, Jean Lynch, Mike Lysakowski, Bob McWilliams, Bob Miller, and Bob Neill, Jr.

This year's Hall of Fame inductees included:

Dow Carnahan…is the 'Voice' of Lernerville Speedway on Fridays and Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturdays. Dow has had a 30 year career in radio and has broadcasted many sporting events including Latrobe High School football games and St. Vincent College baseball games all of which are carried on WCNS Radio in Latrobe. He began announcing races in 1984 at Motordrome; added PPMS in 1989 and Lernerville in 2004. From the time the gates open, Dow can be seen going through the pits updating the files he keeps on all the drivers. It takes a consummate professional like Dow to keep the fans entertained generally but especially during the inevitable delays including sometimes long rain delays.

Charlie Cragan…has been racing for 25 years. Charlie won the NASCAR Racing Northeast Regional Championship in 1992, 1993 and 1994. He was the Late Model Division champion in 1978 at Clearfield and Motordrome; 1983 at Jennerstown; 1992 and 1993 at Motordrome; 1993 at Jennerstown and 1994 at Jennerstown and Motordrome. Charlie won the Area Auto Racing News Award for most Late Model wins in 1992 and 1994. He competed at the following tracks; Bedford, Challenger, Clearfield, Pittsburgh, Hagerstown, Hesston, Jennerstown, Latrobe, Lernerville, Lincoln, Marion Center, Motordrome, Port Royal, Selinsgrove, Homestead Florida, Phoenix Arizona, Flemington, Milwaukee, Nazareth, Louisville, Richmond, Martinsville and Indianapolis Raceway Park

Ed Lynch, Jr…has been involved in racing since he was six years old when he ran the line ups from his mom in the scoring tower to Jack Freeman on the flag stand. Over the years he has won five track championships at four different tracks and is the leading sprint feature winner at Lernerville, Challenger, Sharon and Pittsburgh. Ed was voted to the top 25 in the North American Sprint Car Poll. Other recognition includes SPEEDTV'S 'Decade's Dazzling Dozen; one of Sprint Car and Midget Magazine's Drivers of the Decade; national ranking in the North American 410 Sprint Car Poll. The World of Outlaws included Ed's car in their Xbox 360 game. His most memorable moment in racing was winning a Don Martin Memorial.

Bobby Marhefka…has been involved in racing for over 52 years including 4 years drag racing; 23 years driving oval tracks and the last 25 working as crew chief for his son, Rob. His most memorable moments in racing were winning one of the 200 lap races at Motordrome in 1973, driving an exhibition race with Paul Newman as well as watching his son in his first race at Windber speedway. Bobby competed at Bedford, Blanket Hill, Clearfield, Ebensburg, Everett, Eldora, Indiana, Hagerstown, Hesston, Jennerstown, Johnstown, Langhorne, Latrobe, Lernerville, Marion Center, Mon-Duke, Motordrome, Pennsboro, Pittsburgh, Port Royal, Schmucker's, Selinsgrove, Sharon, Tri-City, Trenton, Winchester, Windber and Williams Grove. He won numerous Invitational races over the years.

Ron 'Eagle' Piovesan…has been involved in racing for 20 years setting two track records at Jennerstown. He won the 150 lap Dodge Boys Race at Motordrome with 'The Lone Ranger' as the Grand Marshall. His most memorable moment in racing was hitting the wall at Heidelberg at approximately 90 MPH having no serious injuries that he knew of. He competed at Bedford, Bradford, Butler, Clearfield, Hagerstown, Heidelberg, Jennerstown, Latrobe, Lernerville, Marion Center, Morgantown, Motordrome, North Hills, Schmucker's, South Park and Trenton

The 2011 Rookies of the year in their respective divisions...

Young Guns car #45...Todd Weldon
E-Mods car #5A...Tyler Atkinson
Fastrak Late Model #76...Tony White
Factory Stocks #14H...Hanna Ramsey

Most Improved Driver…Jeff Zillweger from Motordrome Speedway in Street Stock #18

Special Awards
Glade Neil Memorial Sportsmanship Award…Bobby Neil Jr.
Bill Steinbach Memorial Media Award…Lou Long
Art Smillie Award for the Racer's Person of the Year…Jimmy Poljak
Dave Burt Good Guy Award…Lynn Geisler…

Division Champions
Young Guns…Todd Weldon
Factory Stocks…Ricky Steigerwald
Sportsman…Nick Kocuba
Fastrak Late Models…a tie with Butch Lambert and Jackie Phillips
Dirt Late Models…Brandon Burgoon
V-8 Modifieds…Rick Hall
E-Mods…Russ Dunn and car owner Dave Olivieri
Asphalt Super Compacts…Andrew Dutkewycz
Asphalt Chargers…Zane Ferrell
Asphalt Modifieds....Gary Scott
Modified Lite STAR's (South) Jeff Teeters

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