Monthly Archives: July 2014

Joey Pole is the favorite going into the ACT Tour race at Beech Ridge

 

 

Joey Pole is a very talented driver and is always a threat to win where ever he races. (Credit: Joey Pole photo)

Joey Pole is a very talented driver and is always a threat to win where ever he races.  Be it in ACT, PASS or NASCAR. (Credit: Joey Pole photo)

By Lou Modestino

The American Canadian Tour (ACT) will next appear at the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME on Saturday, August 9. The Hudson, New Hampshire native, Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (Pole) has to be considered a favorite to win the race. In the 2014 ACT Championship standings Pole has a comfortable 56 point lead over second place racer Jimmy Hebert, from Williamstown, VT. He is also winless so far during the 2014 campaign. Continue reading

NEAR HOF Class of 2014 to be inducted on Sunday, Nov. 16

 

 

Turner, Maine's Mike Rowe has been racing for many decades in NASCAR, PASS and ACT. His sterling efforts have resulted in earning an entrance into the NEAR Hall of Fame.(Credit: PASS Tour photo)

Turner, Maine’s Mike Rowe has been racing for many decades in NASCAR, PASS and ACT. His sterling efforts have resulted in earning an entrance into the NEAR Hall of Fame.(Credit: PASS Tour photo)

By Lou Modestino

Drivers Deke Astle, Jim Martel, Mike Rowe, Fred Schulz, Ron Wyckoff, drag racing icon Bob Tasca, historian R.A. Silvia and car builder/mechanic Dave Tourigny make up the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame’s class of 2014. Continue reading

Juris Kupris is the first time winner in Shane Hammond Memorial NEMA Lites race at Waterford Speedbowl

Juris Kupris is part of the NEMA Young Lions making the presence know in the NEMA Lite division. Kupris was another first time winner in the Lites at the Waterford Speedbowl. (Credit: NEMA Midget photo)

Juris Kupris (c) is part of the NEMA Young Lions making the presence know in the NEMA Lite division. Kupris was another first time winner in the NEMA Lites at the Waterford Speedbowl. PJ Stergios (l) with Anthony Payne and Deb Marviglio (r) (Credit: NEMA Midget photo)

 

 

By Lou Modestino

The Waterford CT Speedbowl is in the Northeastern Midget Association record books as producing the most first time winners of any track on the circuit. It happened again Saturday night. An elated Juris Kupris of Williamsburg, NY raced to his very first victory in the NEMA Lites series. It only took six and a half minutes in the 27 lap flag to flag main event. Continue reading

Rowan Pennink takes the 5k Sk in the Inaugural NAPA Auto Parts at Stafford Speedway

 

 

Rownan Pennink continues to be a major player in Modified racing. (Credit: Rowan Pennink photo)

Rownan Pennink continues to be a major player in Modified racing. (Credit: Rowan Pennink photo)

By Lou Modestino

Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the Inaugural NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k, which paid the winner $5,000 out of a purse of over $27,000. Continue reading

Joey Pole steals Seacoast 100 win at Lee USA

 

 

Joey Pole, Jr. is at home racing in both a Late Model and a Pro Stock where ever he races and proved it once again at the Seacoast 100 at Lee USA Speedway in NH.  (Credit: Joey Pole photo)

Joey Pole, Jr. is at home racing in both a Late Model and a Pro Stock where ever he races and proved it once again at the Seacoast 100 at Lee USA Speedway in NH. (Credit: Joey Pole photo)

By Lou Modestino

Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. used a two-lap shootout to best point leader Larry Gelinas en route to grabbing his second career victory in the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS). Continue reading

Tommy Barrett, Jr. takes the 10 grand at Seekonk

 

 

Young Tommy Barrett, Jr. of Millis managed to take home the 10 G's for winning the hard fought 100 lap Modified Open at Seekonk Speedway. (Credit: Tom Barrett photo)

Young Tommy Barrett, Jr. of Millis managed to take home the 10 G’s for winning the hard fought 100 lap Modified Open at Seekonk Speedway. (Credit: Tom Barrett photo)

By Lou Modestino

Open Wheel Wednesday at the Seekonk Speedway had one of the largest crowds in a long time turn out for the $10,000 to win Modified Open. Continue reading

Travis Benjamin takes his second Oxford 250 in a row

 

 

Travis Benjamin was able to score his second Oxford 250 at the Oxford Plains Speedway in ME. ( Credit: Oxford Plains photo)

Travis Benjamin was able to score his second Oxford 250 at the Oxford Plains Speedway in ME. ( Credit: Oxford Plains photo)

By Lou Modestino

The 41st running of the Oxford 250 was a crowd pleaser as sixty of the best Super Late Model teams in the country converged on the small town of Oxford, Maine to participate in the historic event. The fans were treated to over seven hundred laps of racing, with several teams collecting checkered flags, but none as happy and as excited as Travis Benjamin, whom collected his second straight $25,000 payday, plus lap money. Continue reading

Quebec’s Patrick Laperle wins the ACT International at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY

Quebec's Patrick Leperle cleaned up and took home the lion's share of the International 300 ACT Tour race at the Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY.  (Credit: :ACT Tour photo)

Quebec’s Patrick Leperle cleaned up and took home the lion’s share of the International 300 ACT Tour race at the Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. (Credit: :ACT Tour photo)

 

 

By Lou Modestino

Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, Quebec has won nearly every big event the American Canadian Tour sanctions, but none match his $26,800 ACT International win at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, New York on Saturday, July 20. The former ACT and Serie ACT Champion battled by Nick Sweet over the final 20 laps of the third segment to claim the segment and overall win with finishes of 2nd, 3rd, 1st for a combined winning score of 6.

Barre’s Nick Sweet started sixth in the first 50 lap segment and took home the win followed closely by Laperle and Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. The trio then flew through the field in the 75 lap second segment using all three lanes around the ½-mile speedway. Polewarczyk claimed second followed by Laperle in third and Sweet in fourth setting up a three way tie with five combined points each for the trio heading into the final segment.

When the green flag flew on the third and final segment of 75 laps Sweet and Laperle began their march to the front, while Polewarczyk was held up in the heavy traffic. Polewarczyk suffered minor front end damage during the early stages of the event allowing Sweet and Laperle to duke it out.

Laperle followed Sweet through the field again taking advantage of Airborne’s three lanes. Sweet got to the point on lap 46, while Laperle moved into second following a lap 49 restart. Laperle hung tight to his bumper until Sweet slid up the track, giving Laperle the hole he needed. The pair remained side-by-side swapping the lead several times over the final 20 laps, while Sweet managed to lead at the start/finish line nearly every time in the outside lane. With just under five laps to go, Sweet slipped back giving Laperle the lead and the win.

The Quebecer rode to the $26,800 win over the final laps. Sweet and Polewarczyk completed the top three overall, while Brian Hoar used a second segment win and a third segment third to claim fourth. Three more Quebec drivers in Jean-François Déry, Alex Labbe and Jonathan Bouvrette took the fourth through seventh positions. Ben Lynch, rookie Brandon Atkins and Emily Packard completed the overall top ten.

On top of the $25,000 purse check, Laperle adds another $1,000 for the Bond ACT Invitational bonus and a qualifying spot in the event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH on Saturday, September 20. He also pocketed the $500 Ford Blue Oval bonus and $300 in lap money to bring his total unofficially to $26,800.

The three segment 200 total lap event was completed in just over an hour and a half with nine total cautions.

The ACT U.S. Tour heads next to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME on Saturday, August 9 for their 7th point counting event of the season. The Quebec-based Serie ACT has their 6th point counting event at Circuit Riverside Speedway in St-Croix, QC on Saturday, August 2.

ACT International 300 Unofficial Results
American Canadian Tour Late Models
Airborne Speedway – Plattsburgh, NY
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Pos. Driver, Hometown, Seg. 1, Seg. 2, Seg. 3, TOTAL
1. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC, 2, 3, 1, 6

2. Nick Sweet, Barre, VT, 1, 4, 2, 7

3. Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, NH, 3, 2, 6, 11

4. Brian Hoar, Williston, VT, 13, 1, 3, 17

5. Jean-Francois Dery, Quebec, QC, 4, 12, 5, 21

6. Alex Labbe, St-Albert, QC, 5, 6, 10, 21

7. Jonathan Bouvrette, Blainville, QC, 11, 7, 4, 22

8. Ben Lynch, Huntersville, NC, 6, 13, 7, 26

9. #Brandon Atkins, AuSable Forks, NY, 7, 10, 12, 29

10. Emily Packard, E. Montpelier, VT, 12, 11, 8, 31

11. Jeff White, Winthrop, ME, 9, 5, 23, 37

12. Todd Davis, Claremont, NH, 10, 15, 14, 39

13. Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, MA, 8, 9, 24, 41

14. Eric Chase, Milton, VT, 14, 18, 11, 43

15. Rowland Robinson Jr., Steuben, ME, 17, 19, 9, 45

16. Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, VT, 15, 14, 16, 45

17. #Lance Allen, Barre, VT, 16, 17, 13, 46

18. Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, VT, 23, 8, 17, 48

19. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT, 19, 16, 15, 50

20. Jason Corliss, Barre, VT, 20, 20, 21, 61

21. #Matt Anderson, Franklin, NH, 22, 22, 20, 64

22. Boomer Morris, Barre, VT, 18, 21, 25, 64

23. Rejean Plante, St-Hyacinthe, QC, 25, 23, 19, 67

24. #Mike Ziter, Williamstown, VT, 28, 24, 18, 70

25. Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, 24, 25, 22, 71

26. #John Falconi, Oakham, MA, 21, 26, 25, 72

27. Kyle Welch, Newport, NH, 26, 27, 25, 78

28. Nick Lagoy, Plattsburgh, NY, 27, 27, 25, 79
Lap Leaders:

Segment #1 -Bobby Therrien, 1-2; Brian Hoar, 3-19; Nick Sweet, 20-22; Hoar, 23; Sweet, 24-50; Segment #2 – Bobby Therrien, 1-40; Brian Hoar, 41-50;

Segment #3 – Rowland Robinson, Jr., 1-3; Eric Chase, 4-11; Robinson, 12-13; Chase, 14; Robinson, 15-45; Nick Sweet, 46-63; Patrick Laperle, 64; Sweet, 65-70, Laperle 71-75.

Time of Race: 1:32:12 – Segment #1: 31:30; Segment #2: 31:40; Segment #3: 29:02.

Cautions: 9 (Segment #1 – 5: Laps 2, 19, 22, 23, 28) (Segment #2 – 2: Laps 2, 40) (Segment #3 – 2: Laps 39, 49)

Avery Stoehr takes Oxford 250 weekend NEMA feature at the western Maine oval

Avery Stoehr of Bridgewater (center) won the NEMA feature at Oxford Plains Speedway in ME. Sharing the podium was cousin Bethany Stoehr of Lakville (left) and Randy Cabral of KIingston (right). (Credit: NEMA photo)

Avery Stoehr of Bridgewater (center) won the NEMA feature at Oxford Plains Speedway in ME. Sharing the podium was cousin Bethany Stoehr of Lakville (left) and Randy Cabral of KIingston (right). (Credit: NEMA photo)

 

 

By Lou Modestino

The young talent of the Northeastern Midget Association were fast and in charge Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway. The NEMA midgets returned to the Maine oval for the first time in several years as part of the track’s historic “250 Weekend.” Continue reading

A late pass nets Bonsignore a win at Monadnock Speedway

Justin Bonsignore timed his pass right to win the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock Speedway. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)

Justin Bonsignore timed his pass right to win the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock Speedway. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)

 

 

By Lou Modestino

Justin Bonsignore made the late pass pay off as he drove to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in the O’Reilly 200 at Monadnock Speedway Saturday night.

Bonsignore powered underneath Ryan Preece on Lap 175 en route to the win. Preece had started second and led all but one lap to that point.

It was the fifth career win for the Holtsville, New York, driver and second straight at Monadnock. It was also his second of 2014, as he opened the season with a win at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in April.

The race went caution-free, leaving just six cars on the lead lap at the checkered flag. Preece settled for second, followed by Eric Goodale, rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. and points leader Doug Coby.

Bonsignore won the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day, but Preece jumped to the lead on Lap 2 and held it until Bonsignore made his move.

Matt Hirschman finished sixth, followed by Patrick Emerling, Ted Christopher, Ron Silk and Ron Yuhas Jr.

With the win, Bonsignore moved to within four points of Coby in the championship points standings. Bobby Santos, who finished 11th, dropped to third in points — eight behind Coby. Christopher is fourth, another five points back, while Preece moved up a spot to fifth.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races next in the Call Before You Dig 8-1-1 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday, Aug. 8.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 Results
Saturday
At Monadnock Speedway
Winchester, N.H.
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 200 laps, 66.323 mph.
2. (2) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 200.
3. (3) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200.
4. (5) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 200.
5. (10) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 200.
6. (7) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 200.
7. (15) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 199.
8. (11) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 199.
9. (8) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 199.
10. (6) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 198.
11. (14) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 198.
12. (16) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 197.
13. (4) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 196.
14. (19) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 195.
15. (22) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 187.
16. (21) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 186.
17. (12) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH, Chevrolet, 181, power steering.
18. (13) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Dodge, 114, handling.
19. (17) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 110, engine.
20. (9) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 73, rear end.
21. (18) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 73, leaking fluid.
22. (20) Jimmy Zacharias, Candor, N.Y., Chevrolet, 68, electrical.
23. (23) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 11, handling.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 45 minutes 14 seconds
Margin of Victory: 3.939 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: J.Bonsignore (71.468 mph, 12.593 seconds)
Caution Flags: 0 for 0 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Bonsignore 1; R. Preece 2-174; J. Bonsignore 175-200.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 285; 2. J. Bonsignore, 281; 3. B. Santos, 277; 4. T. Christopher,272; 5. R. Preece, 252; 6. R. Silk, 244; 7. E. Goodale, 234; 8. T. Solomito, 233; 9. M. Hirschman, 229; 10. W. Pitkat, 227.