Champions and Special Award Winners Honored at Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Banquet Saturday

📸 Rand Thompson | Finley Family

Chesterfield TWP, MI - The annual celebration of all accomplishments in the Michigan motorsports scene was held on Saturday at the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Banquet (MARFC) at Zuccaro's Banquet Hall in Chesterfield Township. Nearly 600 people were in attendance to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2025 season, and celebrate the 60th year for the Fan Club.

MARFC member tracks and sanctioning bodies were honored including those from Arthur Raceway, Birch Run speedway, Butler Motor Speedway, Corrigan Oil Speedway, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour, Crystal Motor Speedway, Flat Rock Speedway, Great Lakes Super Sprints, Great Lakes Traditional Sprints, I-96 Speedway, Kalamazoo Speedway, Merritt Speedway, Michigan Mini-Wedge Touring Series, Mid-Michigan Raceway Park, Midwest Classic Racers, Motor City Kids, Mount Pleasant Speedway, Must See Sprints, Owosso Speedway, Northern Michigan Speedway, Reveal the Hammer, Russell's M-40 Speedway, Silver Bullet Speedway, Thunderbird Raceway, Toledo Speedway, Tri City Motor Speedway, and Whittemore Speedway.

The MARFC Banquet is also a unique time to honor foundational and strong supporting members of the Michigan racing community. This year, the Finley Family was given the MARFC President's Award. Over three generations, Bob, Jeff, Doug, Chad, Corey and their families have competed at the highest levels of racing and given back in many ways to better the quality of racing in Michigan and Nationally. Bob, Doug, and Jeff are all inductees into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Stan and Judi Rosen were chosen as the winners of this year's Vito LoPiccolo Award for Contributions to Motorsports. Their involvement in racing began in 1964 with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), they also spent time in drag racing, competed in the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series, and most recently, competing with the familiar No.131 in the ASA STARS National Tour, ASA/CRA Super Series, or with the Turn One CRA Pro Series, primarily with driver, Kyle Crump.

Clarksville, Indiana native, Frank Kimmel was honored with the Eddie Sachs Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award. Kimmel was a standout in the ARCA Menards Series from the 1990s to the mid-2010s. In his time competing in the red No.46, Kimmel earned 10 ARCA Championships, including eight consecutive from 2000 to 2007, with other championships in 1998 and 2013. He also holds the all-time race wins record at 80. He now serves as crew chief for Jason Kitzmiller and CR7 Motorsports.

The MARFC Promoter of the Year was given to Brian and Jacob LeBaron and Steve Vernon from Crystal Motor Speedway. Since taking ownership of the facility from Ron Flinn in 2023, the LeBaron and Vernon combo have implemented significant facility updates, including new buildings, suite party deck, and refurbished grandstand seating. In 2025, Crystal Motor

Speedway played host to blockbuster events like the Great Lakes Super Sprints Championship, Dan Salay Memorial Summer Classic, Summer Nationals Hell Tour, and the storied Great Lakes Nationals.

Matt Prieur was chosen as the recipient of the MARFC Media Award. Prieur spent 2025 with the Reveal the Hammer Outlaw Super Late Models and the Midwest Modifieds Tour and remains the voice of the Sault Ste Marie International 500 Snowmobile Race.

Two young superstar drivers were chosen this year for the MARFC Youth Driver of the Year Presented by Eddie Sachs Driver Development. Ryan Pelletier, 12, racked up seven feature wins this season in Kart Competition at Palmyra Speedway in Adrian. The son of Flat Rock Speedway Champion, Paul Pelletier, Ryan also helped spot for his dad and turn wrenches on the No.44.. The co-award winner was Reveal the Hammer Outlaw Super Late Model Rookie of the Year, and Kalamazoo Speedway Outlaw Limited Late Model Champion, Bryce Bozell. The 14 year old standout had a two win season coupled with seven top fives and 13 top 10 finishes.

The MARFC Mechanic of the Year was a co-awarded presentation this year as well. Jeff Moore and James Mauerer were honored.

The MARFC also took time to honor former MARFC Presidents, Dave DeHem, Bill Walters, and "Wild" Bill Barnhart to honor the 60th Anniversary of the Club. The families of Bob and Norma Lewis, Willis and Marian Flokstra, and Vito and Barbara LoPiccolo were on hand as well to celebrate the 60th Anniversary year for the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club.

The Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club was established in September of 1965 with a mission for "the betterment and benefit of auto racing and those engaged therein." Every year, MARFC uses its membership and partners within the motorsports community to promote our sport to the next generation of fans, and recognize those whose contributions make local short track racing possible. The cost of annual membership dues is $20.00 for single person, or $25.00 for a couple or family (2 adults and all children up to age of fifteen). Payment of dues entitles you to a membership card, window decal, and a monthly newsletter. MARFC Membership gets you admittance into MARFC Nights at membership tracks all across Michigan.

For more information on the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club, find www.MARFC.org.