Saturday November 5th in Morris Illinois at Chapin's North Banquet Hall was the setting for the 25th annual awards banquet for the ILLINI Racing Series. This year we crowned two champions.

The first crowned champion was Patrick Bruns who won the ILLINI Midget Series championship.

Patrick won 8 heat races, finished in the top 10 in ten features and won 7 features during the 2016 season. He has also tied Sue Spencer and Joe Knipple with his 5th ILLINI Championship. This season Patrick also set a record with winning his 34th feature. This was also Patrick's 5th championship in a row.


Scott Koerner was crowned the ILLINI/Midwest Pavement Series Champion.
Scott finished in the top 5 in every festure this season. He won 2 heats and 1 feature win.

Winners of the Special Awards was:

Team Manger of the Year
Mike Wallace

Best Appearing Crew
MWR Mike Wallace Racing

Most Improved Driver for both series
Jordan Caskey

Mechanic of the year
Chris Caskey

Iron Man Award
Patrick Bruns

200% Award
Scott Koerner

Rookie of the Year
Jack Routson
ILLINI Series

Eric Reibenstein. ILLINI Midwest Series

Beast Appearing Car

11 car owned by John and Taylor Fenske driven by Taylor Fenske
ILLINI Series


16 car owned by Ed Ensor and driven by Erica Ensor
ILLINI/Midwest Series

The Hero's of the ILLINI Trophy sponsored and displayed at Hero's West Pub in Joliet had four name's added to the trophy. Those added was Allen Gilllis, Roger Bettenhausen, Joe Knipple and Loran Critchett.


The banquet also had a historic announcement at the end of the Banquet. It was announced that the ILLINI Midget series will become the first pavement D2 Series in the country for the upcoming 2017 season. This is ending a long tradition of the ILLINI series racing on both pavement and dirt. The series wanted to give our full focus on reviving and continuing the successful return of pavement midget racing.

The ILLINI Midget series also has an online survey seeking input for the 2017 schedule. Not only will we be returning to Grundy County, Rockford and South Bend Speedways but we are also looking to expand the series into central Indiana at some well known track's for the 2017 season.

Correction made the 200% award went to Scott Koerner.