On Saturday evening November 5th the Midwest TQ Racing League presented by Vincennes University held their annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Aviation Technology Center at the Indianapolis Airport in Indianapolis, Ind.

Amid the backdrop of a Boeing 737 and several other aircrafts including a Cessna 310, Piper Apache and Beechcraft Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter Tate Martz and Roger Ramsey were honored for their third consecutive MTQRL championships.

Martz, driving Ramsey’s Vincennes University/Old Canal Smokehouse Lowe Honda #1, finished the season with eight top five feature finishes including three wins. The duo set quick time on five occasions, won five heat races and a B main.

In addition to his championship trophy Ramsey was awarded a free chassis powder coating from Pace Performance Coatings. Martz and Ramsey were both presented plaques from Jackson Oil & Solvents for accumulating the most points in the Duel for Fuel races which are held for the fastest four qualifiers at each event. Along with the plaques the pair received gift certificates for racing fuel totaling $500.

Rick Robinson improved three positions from 2010 and was honored as the second place owner and driver. Robinson finished the season with seven top ten feature finishes, three Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel wins and four heat wins.

Chris Mann also moved up three positions to finish the season as the third place owner and driver. Mann had seven top five feature finishes, set quick time once, and one win each in the Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel, qualifying race and heats.

Ronnie Combs, driving for Tony Stewart Racing, ended the season as the fourth place driver after running a partial schedule. Combs only competed in eight features but compiled four wins, two seconds, a third and a fourth place finish.

Rookie Cody Kiewitt, driving for Jay Parks, finished the 2011 season as the fifth place driver. Kiewitt finished the year with seven top ten feature finishes. He set quick time once, and also won a qualifying race and a heat race.

The sixth through tenth place owners (Wayne Willis, Ray Faulkner, Terry Eaglin, Joe Speidel and Fred Steed) and drivers (Jason Willis, Corey Eaglin, Caleb Faulkner, Nick Speidel and Jon Steed) were presented silver cups. The eleventh through fifteenth place owners and drivers were also honored with photo plaques (Jay Souviner/Rob Walton, Sam Hankins/Brett Hankins, Bruce Leisure/Kyle McIntosh, Jeff Wilson/Will Wilson and Bill James).

Mark Frechette, MTQRL VP of Operations, presented league benefactors Duane & Sonja Alexander with plaques honoring their sponsorship of the Hard Luck award. The recipient of the 2011 Hard Luck award was Jason Willis.

Greg Staab, Director of Racing Operations, presented awards to the owners and drivers who supported the MTQRL at every event in 2011: Corey Eaglin, Ivan Eaglin, Cody Kiewitt, Chris Mann, Jay Parks, Roger Ramsey and Rick Robinson.

Brett Hankins was presented the “Clean Sweep” award for his dominating performance on August 27th at Shelbyville where he set quick time, won the Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel, his heat race and feature.




Cody Kiewitt was honored as the Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Year. Kiewitt was presented a photo plaque and a check for $250. Second and third place rookie drivers Corey Eaglin and Kyle McIntosh were also recognized and presented checks of $150 and $100 respectively.

Kiewitt was also presented the Pace Performance Coatings Hard Charger award for passing more cars in feature competition than any other driver. Ronnie Combs received the Tony Stewart Foundation Leader of the Pack award for leading the most feature laps.

The prestigious MTQRL Spirit Award was presented to Jon Steed for his sportsmanship, perseverance and positive mental attitude.

The MTQRL would like to thank Tony Rose of American Racer for providing two TQ tires as door prizes (the lucky winners were Jay Parks and Will Wilson), Old Canal Smokehouse (sponsor of the championship car) for providing bottles of barbecue sauce to use as table centerpieces and door prizes, and Jackson Oil & Solvents for providing caps for door prizes.