By Robert Walden KINGSPORT, Tenn. (Feb. 3) — With the start of the 2007 racing season quickly approaching on the first weekend in March with the running of the $10,000-to-win Ninth Annual Spring Thaw for super late models, fans and competitors alike are anxiously awaiting the waving of the first green flag. But first up Volunteer Speedway had unfinished business from this past season to take care of, as the track honored its 2006 track champions Saturday night at the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center. Many say last season at “The Gap” was one of the most successful in the track’s storied history, but the upcoming racing season promises to be very exciting. The speedway’s very ambitious schedule will feature such high-profile national and regional touring organizations as the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws Late Model Series, Lucas Oil Late Model Series, Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series Late Models, Ray Cook “Southern Nationals,” American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Flat-Track motorcycles, and the Fastrak Racing Series Crate Late Models in action. But the “heart and soul” of racing at Volunteer Speedway continues to be the strong weekly racing programs. With over 350 people in attendance for the “2006 Salute to the Champions” banquet, track owners Joe and Phyllis Loven distributed close to $30,000 in season-ending point fund monies and contingency awards to champions and other competitors in points-paying positions in six divisions. Drivers’ winning track championships were Mike Smith of Rogersville in “Gateway Ford” ASA Super Late Model, Dandridge’s Warren McMahan in “Ramey Ford” Crate Late Model, Wayne James of Newport in “Lawson Chevrolet” Open Wheel Modified, Morristown’s Dustin Shaver in “Bachman Bernard” Hobby Stock, Josh Henry of Newport in Mini Stock, and Parrottsville’s Josh Driskill in “Renegade” Pure Stock. Mike Smith, driver of the Pizza Plus/Techni-Glass/Kingsport Fastners/Lowe Trucking/Smith Audio/RaceQuest Motorsports/Ohlins Shocks/Fastlane Signs & Graphics/Vic Hill Racing Engines/GRT Race Cars/No. 4 Grand Prix, visited victory lane on four occasions, recorded four runner-up finishes and had 11 overall top-five finishes en route to capturing his first-ever ASA Super Late Model championship. Finishing second through fifth were Kerry Jones of Bristol, Steve Jones of Maryville, Vic Chandler of Weaverville, N.C., and Dale Ball of Johnson City. Completing the top 10 in points were Michael Jackson, Dempsey Harold Jr., Herman Goddard, Terry Owens and Jerry Broyles. Besides Smith, other Super Late Model drivers who visited victory lane in 2006 were Ball, Kerry Jones, Vic “The Thrill” Hill and Chandler. Warren McMahan, driver of the Gantte Real Estate & Appraisal/Gantte Insurance Agency/Farm Credit Services/Home Team Real Estate of Dandridge/Newport Bargain Barn/A & H Appliances/Jabo's Pharmacy/Volunteer Performance Racing Engines/BAD Graphic/Ohlins Shocks/C.J. Rayburn by Jimmy Owens Motorsports/No. 33 Monte Carlo, captured the Crate Late Model championship on the strength of visiting victory lane twice, recording three runner-up finishes and posting 13 overall top-five finishes. Finishing second through fourth in points were a trio of Morristown drivers — Allen Champ, Logan Hickey and Shanon Buckingham, with Ricky Moore of Mosheim placing fifth. Completing the top 10 in points were Kelly Glass, Brad Kenyon, Brad Partin, Shane Roberts and Todd Brooks. Besides McMahan, other Crate Late Model drivers who visited victory lane in 2006 were Buckingham, Champ, Hickey, Roberts, Bobby Mays and Matt Barrett. Wayne James, driver of the No. 4 Rusty Wallace Pontiac/West End Exxon/Morristown Towing & Automotive/West Haven Speed Equipment/Lane's Market/Payless Auto Sales/Hopson Racing & Fabrication open-wheeled mount, visited victory lane on three occasions, recorded five runner-up finishes and had 13 overall top-5 finishes in claiming the Open Wheel Modified championship. Finishing second through fifth were Danny James of Newport, Sevierville’s Chad Ogle, Jason Smelcer of Newport, and Jerry Broyles of Jonesborough. Completing the top 10 in points were Stanley Donahoo, Scott Helton, Kurt Hall, Larry James and Rex Chatman. Besides Wayne James, other Open Wheel Modified drivers who visited victory lane in 2006 were his father Danny James, Ogle and Donahoo. Dustin Shaver, driver of the Tuff Enuff 4-Wheel Drive Center/Audio Concepts/Morristown Towing & Automotive/No. 7 Monte Carlo, captured his first-ever Hobby Stock championship by visiting victory lane twice, recording two runner-up finishes and posting 14 overall top-five finishes. Finishing second through fifth were Jamie Whitt of Wise, Va., Dale Reed of Whitesburg, Morristown’s Mike Hodges and Everett Cobb of Mosheim. Completing the top 10 in points were Jon Cook, Patrick Flannery, Mike Kelley, Jesse Helton and Chuck Johnson. Besides Shaver, other Hobby Stock drivers who visited victory lane in 2006 were Whitt, Hodges, Cobb, Cook, Mike Mays and R.J. Mayes. Josh Henry, the third-generation 16-year-old rookie driver of the Carson Springs Towing/B&B Bail Bonding Co./Phillips Plumbing/Punkin' Henry Trucking Co./Husky Racing Chassis/No. B00 Mustang, visited victory lane on seven occasions, recorded two runner-up finishes and had 11 overall top-five finishes en route to winning the Mini Stock championship. Finishing second through fifth were Chuck McMahan, Brent Hensley, Kenny Absher and Allen Carrier. Completing the top 10 in points were Randy Lane, Terry Dean, Ernie Stubblefield, Jeffery Nease and Frank Dice. Besides Henry, other Mini Stock drivers who visited victory lane in 2006 were McMahan, Scottie Thornton and Kurt Owens. Sixteen-year-old rookie Josh Driskill, driver of the Punkin’ Henry Trucking/H & D Racing/No. D00 Honda Prelude, earned the Renegade Pure Stock championship on the strength of winning two features, recording seven runner-up finishes and posting 15 overall top-five finishes. Finishing second through fifth were Keith Helton of Kingsport, Eddie Smith of Bluff City, Kevin Darnell of Blountville, and Scotty McMurray of Kingsport. Completing the top 10 in points were Tony Breeden, Linton Perry, Steve Skeen, Marion “Bubba” Guy and Charlie Bates. Besides Driskill, other Renegade Pure Stock drivers who visited victory lane in 2006 were Helton, McMurray and Guy. Best Appearing car awards were handed out to Keith Helton in Renegade Pure Stock, Allen Carrier in Mini Stock, Gary Sanders in Hobby Stock, Jerry Broyles in Open Wheel Modified, John King Jr. in Crate Late Model, and Michael Jackson in ASA Super Late Model. Winning Randall Perry Motorsports Photography/Sonny Brown’s Quality Heating & Air Rookie-of-the-Year honors were Josh Driskill in Renegade Pure Stock, Josh Henry in Mini Stock, Jamie Whitt in Hobby Stock, Jason Smelcer in Open Wheel Modified, Warren McMahan in Crate Late Model, and Dempsey Harold Jr. in ASA Super Late Model. Johnson City driver Dale Ball, competing in the ASA Super Late Model class, received the Volunteer Speedway Most Popular Driver award. Volunteer Speedway competitors are eligible for season-ending Contingency Connection awards, and Crate Late Model driver Warren McMahan received the PerformanceParts.com and Hedman Hedders award. Crate Late Model driver Logan Hickey was named the JE Sportsman of the Year. Richmond Gear Weekend Warriors were McMahan, Hickey, Allen Champ, Patrick Flannery, Matt Letterman and Jon Cook. Brad Dyer, from Mohawk, a competitor in the Crate Late Model class, was the recipient of the Most Improved Driver award. Greeneville’s Patrick Flannery, a Hobby Stock competitor, received the track’s Sportsmanship award. The Lifetime Achievement award recognized Dan Jeter, whose involvement in racing goes back to the 1960s. Jeter was a NASCAR scorer in the stock car racing series’ early beginnings, and over the years he also worked at local tracks in the region such as Sportsman Speedway, Appalachian Speedway, Kingsport Speedway and Lonesome Pine Raceway. He also helped out legendary drivers from the region such as Ken “Bear” Hunley, Gene Glover, Bill Morton and L.D. Ottinger. The Pioneer Award, recognizing individuals that have shown a “pioneering passion” as competitors or through behind the scenes activities at the track, thus making their contribution a precious part of Volunteer Speedway history … was presented by Primetime Designs’ Dean Jones to Howard “Buzz” Collins of Greeneville, whose accomplishments behind the wheel of a race car indeed earned him the honor of being called a legend in the sport. Collins’ racing career spanned 25 years — from 1970 through the 1995 season. By the time he hung his helmet up he had visited victory lane 460 times — and had captured 14 track championships along the way.