That's a Wrap!
With the final round of the Great Lakes Pro-Am series in the books, we wanted to take a moment to congratulate our top qualifiers, round winners, and season champions. The talent and skill development we get to see at our track year after year, even round to round, is truly something we will never get tired of. While the season was a little rockier for some than others, we're excited to see what comes next for all of you. Let's take a look at what it took to come out on top.
Let The Competition Begin: Round #1
Our season opener was a blast. Some drivers got their first taste of spirited competition and battled it out for a $1,000 purse with the top three taking home $500, $300, and $200, respectively along with an added bonus of $100 for the Top Qualifier. Adam Heishman went home happy claiming both the top-qualifier and first-place winner titles with Kevin Ferraro taking second, Allen Boss in third, and Aaron Speegle finishing in fourth.
Setting the Bar: July: Round #2 With one round under their belts and points on the board, our second round brought more excitement and maybe, higher expectations. The drivers were competing for the same prize money as Round #1 but for many, scoring the most points was what they had their sights on. Mixing it up a bit, Allen Boss secured the top-qualifying spot and carried that energy all the way to the top of the podium with a first-place finish. Adam Heishman wasn't far behind, coming in second followed by Chad Anderson in third, and Mike Steele rounding it out in fourth.
Consistency Is Key: Round #3
With two out of the four rounds complete, the competition was starting to heat up. It was becoming clear who our top contenders were going to be in Round #3 but the thing about racing is you never know what's going to happen once you get out on the track. Another round, another top-qualifier, this time it was Chad Anderson leading the board. After everything shook out, Allen Boss slid his way back into first-place. Mike Steele grabbed second, Chad Anderson came in third, and Matt Moncalian added to his points total finishing fourth.
Leaving It All On the Track: Round #4
Heading into the final round, it was impossible to know which of our point leaders would walk away with the championship title and PROSPEC license. Unlike the first three rounds where only 16 drivers were competing for the win, round 4 was open to over 30 drivers and boasted an impressive $7,500 purse. More racing, more variable, more to win, and more to lose. Keeping us guessing, Chad Anderson, Allen Boss, Kevin Ferraro, and Kevin Madden were the top qualifiers but it was wild card Troy Manners that claimed the first-place spot, with Casey Rodriguez in second, Chad Anderson in third, Mike Steele in fourth, and Allen Boss in fifth.
Season Champion: Allen Boss It wasn't all smooth sailing, but at the end of the day, Allen Boss emerged as the 2023 Great Lakes Pro-AM Series Champion, securing a Formula Drift PROSPEC license and a PROSPEC Link ECU. While Allen didn't win all four rounds, he remained steady and consistent on the track, a testament to his skill and dedication that allowed him to come out ahead of his fellow competitors. We'd also like to congratulate runner-up Chad Anderson who finished second in the championship standings, and Mike Steele who finished the season in third.
We want to express our gratitude to all the participants, staff, sponsors, live stream crew, and fans who made the 2023 season at Lake Erie Speedway a resounding success. The drifting community brought unparalleled energy and excitement to our venue, and we look forward to what's ahead for 2024.
