WILLIAMS >> The fourth annual North State Modified Series (NSMS) awards banquet honoring the top 10 drivers in 2017 was held Saturday night at the Granzella’s Banquet Facility in Williams where NSMS business Manager Nadine Strauss acted as master of ceremonies.
Speakers included Mort Houston, founder of the Lloyd Burton Challenge, Chris Scribner, series sponsor and owner of both Scribner Plastics and Racer Bling, and series co-promoters Jeff Stephens and Bob Strauss.
Darrin Knight of Kelseyville was crowned NSMS champion for the third consecutive year. Knight won the second annual Sinister Diesel Gene Welch Classic in April at All American Speedway and he followed that up with a big win in May at Lakeport Speedway. He suffered a winless streak until Sept. 9 when he set the fast time and captured the main event at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka.
Point runner-up honors went to Charlie Collins of Upper Lake for the straight second year. Collins won the Sunoco/Penney Racing Supply fast time award on opening night at All American Speedway. Ten of his 11 races in 2017 produced top-10 finishes. His only win came July 8 in Ukiah.
Last year’s NSMS Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Darrin Sullivan of Kelseyville, finished third overall again this year. Sullivan was on fire in 2017 with two feature wins – the O’Reilly Nor-Cal 60 at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka, and the Lloyd Burton Against the Wind Modified Challenge at Shasta Speedway.
Fourth place went to Kelseyville’s Eric Johnson. Out of the 11 races scheduled, Johnson finished in the top 10 on 10 occasions. His best finish was a second at Lakeport Speedway.
Sierra Furia of Lakeport, the top NSMS female driver, ended the season in fifth in points. She never missed a race and ran up front at each event. Furia finished an impressive third at Redwood Acres Raceway during the Memorial Day Modified Classic and she qualified with the third fast that same day.
Finishing in sixth place was Cloverdale’s Dustin DeRosier. The DeRosier team was at the track every race in 2017 and had seven top-10 finishes.
Seventh place in points went to Jason Philpot of Sacramento. He won more races than any other NSMS driver in 2016 but was shut out in 2017 against some stiff competition. He did finish second twice, third three times and fourth twice.
Eighth place went to veteran driver Richie Potts from Petaluma. Potts missed a handful of races this season but was always there trying to make his car go faster. He was the winner of two Lucas Oil Dashes for Cash and had four top-10 finishes. He enjoyed watching his No. 83 modified finish second at Eureka with Kyle Tellstrom behind the wheel.
Adrianna Strugnell of Kelseyville finished ninth in points in her first full season with NSMS. The highlight of her year came July 18 at Ukiah Speedway where she won the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash. She also enjoyed two top-10 finishes.
Tenth-place finisher Cody Braund of Redding left his No. 18 car home this season so that he could drive the Bob Lehman No. 82 modified. It was a frustrating year for Braund with many mechanical problems, but he hung in there to finish in the top 10 in points.
The 2017 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award went to Simi Tour of Potter Valley. Tour was vacationing in Mexico and was not in attendance.
Special $1,000 Lucas Oil products certificates were awarded to Knight, Sullivan and Johnson. Strugnell, Braund and Eric Price Jr. each received a $600 Lucas Oil certificate. DeRosier received an $800 ASI Racerwear bonus, and Furia collected the Five Star body nose piece.
All the NSMS officials were recognized as were series sponsors Protect the Harvest, Lucas Oil, Sinister Diesel, Ward Ranches, Penney Racing Supply, American Racer Tires, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Race Fuels, Five Star Bodies, Racer Bling, Keyser Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, DJ Safety, the Buckhorn Bar & Grill, Economy Heating & Air, and Mort Houston.
