ENSIGN GIVES CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALLIONS TO CAR OWNER FINKENBINDER
Three months after the final checkered flag flew at Irwindale Speedway, Geoff Ensign’s whirlwind 2011 season finally came to a close in Sacramento at the USAC Western States Awards Ceremony held at Thunder Valley Casino. Already presented with his awards at the Night of Champions in Indianapolis, IN, Ensign was once again center stage, this time capping off his 2011 season at the microphone. Master of Ceremonies Bobby Gerould introduced the latest and now two-time USAC Champion Ensign in front of a crowd of around 150 people and Ensign took over from there.
Thanking his car owners Ted and Rose Finkenbinder first and foremost was paramount to Ensign as he has had to scratch and claw for every single seat he sat in for the 2011 season. Without their generosity and help, Ensign would be watching from the stands. Fully realizing the generosity and showing some of his own, Ensign handed over the now mounted and framed medallions he received at the Indianapolis ceremony as Western Classic Sprint Car Champion to Ted Finkenbinder, which caught the car owner off guard to say the least. As the speech wore on, with Ensign at the podium and car owner Finkenbinder at his side waiting his turn to speak and stealing glances at the medallions, Ensign ran down the list of people who helped out during the season including his parents Rob and Lisa Ensign, Finkenbinder driver and teammate Tim Barber, hauler driver Dave Higgins, PR man Ron Lingron and t-shirt designer Jessie Finkenbinder. As Ensign wrapped up his acceptance speech, Finkenbinder, visibly moved by Ensign’s gift, took over and got out a quick thank you and referenced competitor Shawna Hogg’s speech where she thanked her father and her crew and was brought to tears, something Finkenbinder had in common with Hogg at the time. A choked up Finkenbinder made a quick thanks and exited stage left with Ensign. The two were seen sharing a laugh over Blackjack later that evening.
The Ensign/Finkenbinder combo will still be together for the 2012 season, and Ensign has already kicked off the 2012 season in the Finkenbinder #3f with three days of racing at Canyon Speedway earlier this month. Their complete 2012 schedule is up in the air at this point and discussions of racing more winged events are out there, so keep your eyes peeled for the black and flamed #3f colors of Ted Finkenbinder Motorsports. You never know where they will show up in 2012.
to contact Geoff Ensign, email him at geoffensign@rocketmail.com, search Geoff Ensign Motorsports on Facebook, or go to www.ensignmotorsports.com.
- Ron Lingron on Feb 06, 2012
- Article Date: 2/6/2012