NST: 2006 Banquet summary

Lasoski, Roth honored at inaugural NST banquet

VISALIA, Calif. -- Danny Lasoski and car owner Dennis Roth were honored Sunday night at the inaugural National Sprint Tour championship banquet.

Lasoski and Roth, as well as the Roth Motorsports Team, received a standing ovation as they took to the stage at the Holiday Inn in Visalia.

While Lasoski and Roth got the top honors on the night, Roth made it clear someone was more deserving.

"Fred Brownfield is the true champion," Roth said in reference to the late promoter who started the NST last December.

Common themes throughout the evening were references to Brownfield, as well as looking forward to the 2007 NST season. The championship trophy is named the Fred Brownfield Perpetual Award for Driving Excellence.

John Deckard, who filled in as interim director of the NST following Brownfield's passing in June, received thanks for the work he did. In turn, Deckard thanked everyone in the room for their belief in the series and emphasized how Brownfield did the right thing by starting the series.

"This was the right thing on day 1, it is the right thing today on day 212, and it will be the right thing tomorrow," Deckard said.

Don Mack from River Cities Speedway was named Promoter of the Year, Tim Kaeding's crew chief Mike Cool was named Mechanic of the Year, and Hoosier Racing Tire was named Manufacturer of the Year.

Lasoski scored his only DNF of the 2006 NST season in the Oct. 14 season finale at Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. Prior to that, his only finish outside of the top-10 was an 11th place run. He had not finished out of the top-five since early August.

Lasoski's 36 top-10 finishes in 38 races, which included 10 wins, gave him a 92-point edge over Steve Kinser in the final standings. Tim Kaeding, who led the series with 15 wins, finished just 14 points behind his boss after winning the season finale.

<pre> Final 2006 NST top-10 driver standings:

1.        Danny Lasoski         2890
2.        Steve Kinser          2798
3.        Tim Kaeding           2784
4.        Jason Meyers          2586
5.        Jason Solwold         2496
6.        Paul McMahan          2422
7.        Jason Sides           2398
8.        Shane Stewart         2102
9.        Brian Paulus          2021
10.       Kerry Madsen          1437

-credit: nst