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Ken Schrader Shines at 43rd Annual Banquet of Champions NASCAR star and former Fenton, MO native Ken Schrader was the guest speaker and resident stand-up comedian for the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club's 43rd Annual Banquet of Champions on Saturday, January 23, 2010. When asked by emcee Mike Meuer about participating in the upcoming Bud Shootout at Daytona as a past champion Ken said, "Well I get to piggyback while they figure out how to get Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. back in the race. It's a fun race, doesn't pay much and the crash factor is huge. Now I had to call someone who has a whole lot of s___ and money." He told the crowd of over 300 that he's moved his dirt track team back home to Missouri and within the next four years he will also move back home to live. Two of the most memorable moments came when the Club's annual awards were presented. Gladys Edwards, a grandmother and great-grandmother with five sand drag titles to her credit was honored with the Ambassador Award for her support both of the racing community and her local community. As a member of the East Missouri Action Agency, she helps the low-income, elderly and disabled. Edwards was shaking like a leaf when Schrader handed her the award and tightly held it in her arms the rest of the evening. She also drew the biggest laugh of the evening when she talked to Schrader.
drag racing, Drag Racing Online. He said, “I can’t express how much this means to me but I’m humbled that anybody would consider me to be in the same league as the past winners of this award”. Joyce Standridge, who won the award two years ago, is one of two former winners of the award whose careers were jump started by Burk. Standridge sent a letter of congratulations that noted, "There would be no "Gotta Race!" or "Inside Herman's World" if not for Jeff Burk." Those are the books she co-wrote with St. Louis area NASCAR stars Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace, respectively. Schrader's book has only been outsold by the "NASCAR for Dummies" book. Other highlights of the evening included the awarding of the first St. Louis Motorsports Photo of the Year to Chris Gregory for her photo of a high-flying, top-of-the-fence-high, wrong-way midget driven by Zach Daum. The lucky shot was captured during the Arnie Knepper Memorial race at the Belle-Clair Speedway during the O'Reilly POWRi annual event. Curt Benedick was honored with the Curt Lehmann Sportsmanship award for his care and concern in preparing the Belle-Clair Speedway track surface for the racers and fans as well as his ministry to injured drivers in the area.
The Outstanding Media Award for 2009 was presented to stlracing.com and its creator, Jimmy Dearing, for being the local source of all things racing in St. Louis . To quote Brandon Mudd, "As last year's winner, I can say finding a winner for this award isn't hard; finding one that isn't Jimmy IS. Dude could win the thing every year and no one would question it. Congrats on a well-earned, well-deserved honor." The first Arnie Knepper Memorial Scholarship was presented to John Hunn, a student in the Ranken Technical College 's High Performance Racing Program. The scholarship can be used for books, tuition, or tools and continues Arnie's loves of education, mechanics, and racing. The Bob Mueller Award for behind the scenes work to make racing successful was given to Bob Milleville for his work with area motorcycle and open wheel racers. A former racer himself, he's helped new talent reach the next level, created a charity to help injured motorcycle riders, and is working to develop an injured drivers fund with POWRi.
The "George" Award for the most active Fan Club member was handed to Duane Marburger, in part for his work in creating the Midwest Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame website. He's also helped staff Fan Club Nights and displayed his classic race car. A Lifetime Membership was bestowed on Ed Murphy for his ever-friendly and always helpful support of the club. He's served in the past as a bus captain and club president and currently is the Sgt. Of Arms. He joins an exclusive list of "Lifetimers" filled with dear friends, Don Figler, Jim Mitchell and his race track buddy for over 40 years, the late Ollie Zimmerman.
The Banquet of Champions is unique in that it celebrates the broad range of motorsports the St. Louis racing community offers. St. Louis area racers have achieved a level of quality and success unmatched across the country with over 280 national and international titles won since the late 1940s.
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