Top five in 2010 USRS RHS Modified points (left to right): Adam Stockhausen, Chris Gilbertson, Andy Bohnstengel, Jay Ihrke and Josh Angst.

WINONA, Minn. -- Mississippi Thunder Speedway officially concluded its 2010 racing season with its awards banquet held at the Riverport Inn in Winona, Minn., on Saturday.

Not only were the top in each class honored, but also track champions as well as two national champions.

Social hour started off the festivities as drivers, fans, employees, and crews chatted about what went wrong, what went right and what is to come in 2011.

Promoter Bob Timm shared his view about the season as a positive turn in the speedway operations.

Car counts exceeded the average car counts of many other tracks while the promoters learned more about running this still new racetrack.

National points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series were well covered as Brandon Hare won the USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mod title.

The fan base is improving as well with average weekly fans increasing.

All regular classes will return to MTS in 2011 including the USRA RHS Modifieds and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods, along with WISSOTA Street Stocks, WISSOTA Super Stocks, Redbox+ A and B Mini Mods and the 600 Mini Mods.

The USRA Nationals will return in September with a slightly different format and the season finale Fall Festival will close out 201, Oct. 6-8.

RACEceivers and transponders will be mandatory again and enforcement will be prevalent this year.

The 2011 car show will again be held at Sugar Loaf Ford in Winona with pit passes going to drivers who participate. The car show will be held in the Spring prior to the season opener on April 22.

A points fund increase in the USRA RHS Modifieds went to $1,500 for the track champion and up to $10,000 to the national champion for 2011.

The USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods will also see an increase to $500 for the track champion and $2,000 for the national champion.

MTS is also working on a bonus program with the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa, which races on Saturday nights.

A change in the pits will be that all parts sales will be provided by Les Duellman Racing. Hank Rollinger Sr., who has provided this service for a long time, has opted to join his family again on the racing side. Many thanks go to Hank and Nancy for their service to the drivers.

Duellman has also taken over the Mini Mod dealership and can be counted on to provide parts to those drivers as well. As the evening rolled into hardware time, Duellman continued his support as he provided $50-75 gift certificates to drivers in each class.

Top five in 2010 USRS Karl Performance Parts B-Mod points (left to right): Ben Anderson, Brandon Hare, Troy Langowski, Chad Kosidowski and Tyler Creeley.

Ben Anderson finished ahead of the Hare in the USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods to win his first track title. Hare was the second-place finisher while Troy Langowski and Chad Kosidowski finished third and fourth, respectively, and Tyler Creeley had his best season finishing fifth.

USRA RHS Modified track champion Josh Angst continued to be a strong contender wherever he raced this past season. Jay Ihrke of Dover, Minn., sealed up the runner-up spot while Andy Bohnstengal locked in third place.

Rookie Chris Gilberston had a stellar first year as he finished fourth in track points and Adam Stockhausen finished up the top five in points.

It takes everyone to make a racetrack successful. Thanks to all supporters, and cheers to a great season of dirt!

Until spring …