Meridian Speedway Banquet, November 7th 2009 Each year the Idaho Historical Racing Society presents our Humanitarian Achievement Award for outstanding contributions and accomplishments. Tonight we honor a driver whose driving record is one of historic per portion. This year’s honoree began his driving career behind the wheel of competitive Go-Karts in the mid 1960’s. Since then he has accumulated 8 different Championships. In 1971 he started his oval track career. He first season of driving was in the Hobby Stock Class at the Fairgrounds track in Ontario Oregon. In 1973 Rick Veenstra was the Six Cylinder Modified Class Champion and Rookie of the Year at the old Super Oval. One year later in 1974, Rick made the move to the open wheeled super modifieds. In 1985 he won the USAC – Super Modified - Idaho Regional Title. In 1991 he was the Meridian - Super modified Class Champion and he also won the Northwest Super Modified Racing Association title, a feat that had never been done before. Known to his fans as the Rocket Man, Rick has received multiple Most Popular Driver and Sportsmanship’s awards and Mechanic of the Year. He has raced with his father John, against his brother Jim and son Cody. He has taken pride in building his own engines and chassis’s. In the last 4 decades, Rick has traveled to 45 different tracks in 11 States and Canada and has been the feature “main event” winner on 16 of those tracks. Rick has been a true ambassador for the State of Idaho and for his home track of Meridian Speedway. On behalf of the Idaho Historical Racing Society it is now my pleasure to present our 2009 “Achievement Award” to the “Rocket Man” Rick Veenstra Written by Stan Fuller |
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