Monthly Archives: September 2015

There’s more than just racing during the World Series at Thompson Motorsports Park

Red hot racing has always been a staple at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park for the last 75 years

Red hot racing has always been a staple at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park for the last 75 years

 

Although fifteen thrilling divisions of racing are sure to keep fans busy at the upcoming Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing presented by Xtramart, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park will also be offering a variety of activities to entertain fans throughout the three day event, October 16-18.

PASS Tours titles to be settled at Oxford Plains Speedway this weekend Sat. and Sun., Oct. 3-4.

PASS Tour title to be settled at Oxford Plains Speedway this weekend.

PASS Tour title to be settled at Oxford Plains Speedway this weekend.

 

Following the grind of a season that began back in April, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) AIM Recycling Super Late Models will conclude their 2015 campaign this Sunday afternoon at Oxford Plains Speedway. While veteran Mike Rowe is on the verge of capturing his first title since the 2006 PASS South Super Late Model championship, several drivers would like to end the season on a high note.

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ACT championships on both sides of the border will be settled at Airborne Speedway’s Fall Foilage 200 this Saturday afternoon

 

Both the Canadian and US ACT Championships will be settled on Saturday afternoon, Oct.3 at the Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY.

Both the Canadian and US ACT Championships will be settled on Saturday afternoon, Oct.3 at the Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY.

 

 

The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) championship battles on both sides of the border are coming down to the wire as ACT heads to Plattsburgh, NY’s Airborne Park Speedway for the 41st Fall Foliage 200 this Saturday, October 3. Continue reading

Oktoberfest 2015 at Lee USA Speedway is set for October 9-11, 2015

Lee USA Speedway' Oktoberfest on October 9-11 will end the 2015 racing season at that 1/3 southern NH oval.

Lee USA Speedway’ Oktoberfest on October 9-11 will end the 2015 racing season at that 1/3 southern NH oval.

 

Lee USA Speedway’s Oktoberfest 2015 is just two weeks away, with racers representing tracks and tours from all six New England States and beyond expected to compete in the 18 divisions on the schedule at “New Hampshire’s Center of Speed”, closing out the season’s on-track action with one of the most-anticipated events of the year.

Over 300 race teams competed in last year’s version of Oktoberfest, and this year’s schedule invites even more racers, as virtually every type of race car that competes from Connecticut to Maine will fit in the varied set of rules, and a record-setting field is expected enter the weekend’s events.

As always, the Valenti Modified Racing Series will close out their 2015 points season at the Oktoberfest, with Connecticut driver Chris Pasteryak leading the point standings coming in. Pasteryak has a solid career record at Lee USA, including a perfect 2015, winning the annual “Bullring Bash” open-competition show in May, and taking the checkers in the VMRS‘s first 2015 visit to Lee back in June.

In addition, the Pro Stocks/Super Late Models will once again take part in the final race of the 2015 season, with defending race winner Jeremy Davis of Tamworth expected to defend his Oktoberfest title. Davis has already visited Lee USA victory lane this season, scoring a dominating win when the Granite State Pro Stock Series visited on July 24.

Lee USA’s weekly Supermodifieds will contest their last race of the year during the ’Fest, but 2015 champion Tommy Tombarello, Jr. of Haverhill, MA suffered a hard wreck on the final night of the regular season, and the four-time champ and defending race winner is expected to be a spectator for the last race of the 2015 season, leaving this year‘s Oktoberfest title up for grabs.

Lance Barthelemy of Fremont, the most recent winner in Friday night weekly action is among the favorites to step up, as is fellow Fremonter Mike Ordway, Jr., a three-time winner this season aboard the former championship-winning Witkum Brothers Racing entry, and 2015 feature winners “Super Dave” Sanborn of Tilton, Moe Lattime of Kingston, Leslie Keyser of Northfield, and rookie sensation Jarrod Soucy of Hudson, MA.

Other divisions on the 2015 Oktoberfest slate include the always-exciting Late Models, which were once the headline division of Lee USA’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly schedule. Last year’s Oktoberfest saw multi-time Lee USA and American Canadian Tour
(ACT) champ Wayne Helliwell of Dover victorious.

Helliwell’s 2014 win came over fellow Granite Stater Glenn Martel and Connecticut driver Keith Rocco, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
2010 champion and owner of three-straight and five overall championships in the Waterford (CT) Speedbowl SK Modifieds, the most recent of which was won just last weekend.

Other divisions in action during the course of Oktoberfest weekend include the Late Model Sportsmen/Super Streets, which saw 2009, 2010, and 2013 champion Grant Aither score the victory last year, and the Hobby/Strictly Stocks, won last season by 2011 Hobby Stock champ Mark Parenteau.

Four-cylinder action on tap for Oktoberfest weekend includes several varieties of racecars, including the Roadrunners, Pure Stocks, and the exotic Outlaw Mini Stocks, which feature some of the fastest four-cylinder powered machines sporting fenders in the Northeast.

Open-wheel fans get their fill from the Pro-4 Modifieds, as the touring series visits “New Hampshire’s Center of Speed” for the second time this season. Second-generation racer Robin Berghman emerged victorious in the 2014 Oktoberfest feature for the Pro-4’s.

Other open-wheeled action on tap for Oktoberfest weekend includes the lightning-fast “Mighty Midgets” of NEMA (North Eastern Midget Association), the NEMA Lites, Modifieds, Northeast Classic Lites, and the Vintage Outlaw Modifieds.

The remainder of the program will be filled out by the six-cylinder Ironman division, Outlaw Late Models, and the Mr. Rooter New England Truck Series, with action taking to the fast 3/8th’s mile oval on Friday, October 9 for practice, followed by Saturday practice and qualifying, and Sunday feature event action for the 18 divisions.

The weekend promises to be the biggest event on the Northern New England fall racing calendar, with as much action off the track as there is on the oval during the three-day weekend. Don’t miss the traditional season-ender at Lee USA Speedway, as Oktoberfest 2015 takes to the track and the campgrounds on October 9-11, 2015. 

Source: Lee USA Speedway PR

Dick Williams and The Racing Guys to be honored by NEAR for the Tri-Track Modified Open Series

Dick Williams and The Racing Guys will be honored by NEAR at their HOF inductions in November.

Dick Williams and The Racing Guys will be honored by NEAR at their HOF inductions on  Sunday, November 8 at Maneeley’s in So. Windsor, CT.

 

Dick Williams and Jim Schaefer, principals behind the successful Tri-Track Series, will share the 2015 New England Antique Racers’ Frank Maratta Award. The presentations, giving in recognition of their outstanding contribution and support of auto racing, will be part of the agenda at the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame 18th induction banquet Sunday, Nov. 8 at Maneeley’s in South Windsor, CT.

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Jackie “Downtown” Brown loks for a win in the King of the Clay on the Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl on Sunday

Dirt Modifieds will be fighting it out on the third-mile Dirt Track at Devil's Bowl this Sunday. (Credit: Devil's  Bowl photo.)

Dirt Modifieds will be fighting it out on the third-mile Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl this Sunday. (Credit: Devil’s Bowl photo.)

 

Modified stock car driver “Downtown” Jackie Brown Jr. has found a comfortable groove on The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in 2015, but he’ll be anything but relaxed on Sunday, October 4 in the track’s season finale.  The Stove Depot presents the 100-lap “King of the Clay” event for the track’s Liberty Street Discount Beverage & Deli Sportsman Modified division, and Brown has plenty on the line.

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Annual Plainville Stadium Reunion slated for Saturday October 10

Plainville Stadium was always the site of some action packed bullring racing in the Connecticut Valley during the heyday of Modified racing.

Plainville Stadium was always the site of some action packed bullring racing in the Connecticut Valley during the heyday of Modified racing.

By Dave Dykes

It closed over three decades-ago, but Connecticut’s ¼-mile Plainville Stadium is still recalled for hosting some of the biggest names in the business. Drivers such as the legendary “Steady Eddie” Flemke, Denny Zimmerman, Reggie Ruggiero, Charlie Jarzombek, Ray Miller, the late Dick Watson, and still-more of the sports heavy-hitters all toured the tight, demanding oval during its colorful history. Continue reading

Camping World Truck and Sprint Cup results at NHMS

 

Austin Dillon takes the UNOH 175 Camping World Truck Race and Matt Kenseth wins the Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at NHMS on Saturday and Sunday

Austin Dillon takes the UNOH 175 Camping World Truck Race and Matt Kenseth wins the Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at NHMS on Saturday and Sunday.

Top 5 NASCAR Camping World Trucks UNOH 175 Saturday, September 26  NHMS

!) Austin Dillon

2) Matt Crafton

3) Johnny Sauter

4) Timothy Peters

5) Johnny H Nemechek

 

Top 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 Sunday, September 28 NHMS

1) Matt Kenseth

2) Denny Hamlin

3) Joey Logano

4) Greg Biffle

5) Carl Edwards

 

Source: NASCAR PR

Joe Pastore claims $3,500 top prize for Street Stock Nationals at OPS while East Bridgewater’s Ryan Kuhn takes the Inex Legend race

East Bridgewater's Ryan Kuhn (center) of East Bridgewater won the the INEX Legend Car race at Oxford Plains.  (Credit: OPS photo)

East Bridgewater’s Ryan Kuhn (center) of East Bridgewater won the the INEX Legend Car race at Oxford Plains. (Credit: OPS photo)

Joe Pastore of Gorham claimed a rich, $3500-to-win victory Saturday afternoon in the Gravely Street Stock Nationals presented by Dave’s Small Engines at Oxford Plains Speedway.

 

Pastore started from the pole position, but never built much of a lead, battling Scarborough’s Frank Wear for much of the 125-lap distance, with Nicholas Cusack of Scarborough taking up the challenge in the closing stages of the race.

 

Both Wear and Cusack managed to get a nose up on Pastore in the outside groove, but no one could complete the pass, and Pastore prevailed.  Cusack claimed runner-up honors, with Wear hanging on for a third-place finish.

 

Calvin Rose, Jr., of Turner, posted the best finish from among the Budweiser Championship Series Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy Street Stock regulars at Oxford Plains Speedway, crossing the finish line in fourth position against the more exotic invaders in the open competition event.  David Whittier of West Poland rounded out the top five.  Pastore, Billy Childs, Jr. of Leeds and Bryce Mains of Naples won heat races.

 

Jon Lizotte scored the 100th Figure 8 division of his Hall of Fame racing career, and 14th win this season, in the Wood Pellet Warehouse-sponsored class.  Auburn’s Eric Hodgkins was the best of the rest, with Monot’s Geoff Low outgunning Tommy Tompkins of Carthage for the final trophy.

 

Jamie Heath of Waterford raced to victory lane in the 30-lap main event for Bandits division competitors.  Heath, who had failed to finish several races in the Neon he drove to the win in recent weeks, easily outdistanced 2015 division champion Shaun Hinkley of Oxford  en route to his win.

 

Brandon Varney of Auburn chased Heath and Hinkley under the checkered flag.  Dan Wade of New Gloucester and Josh Knoll from Mechanic Falls rounded out the top five.  Wade and Greg Durgin of South Paris won Bandit division heat races.

 

Ryan Kuhn of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts powered to an impressive win in the 25-lap main event for INEX Legends Cars.  Young Austin Teras of Windham led the early portion of the race and held off all but Kuhn to claim runner-up honors.

 

Michael Humphreys of Cornish was third under the checkered flag, with the top-five filled out by Thomas Everson of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire and Portland’s Patrick Dillon.  Kuhn won the heat race.

 

The AIM Recycling USA Pro All Stars Series North Super Late Models and Modifieds wrap up their championship seasons on Sunday, October 4 at Oxford Plains Speedway.  INEX Legends Cars and a Mini Stock Open are also scheduled for that program, which gets underway at 1:30 p.m.  For more information please visit oxfordplains.com or call (207) 539-8865.

 

Unofficial results from the Gravely Street Stock Nationals presented by Dave’s Small Engines at Oxford Plains Speedway; Oxford, Maine; Saturday, September 19, 2015. (Finishing position, car number, driver’s name, hometown.)

 

Gravely Street Stock Nationals (125 laps) 1 20 Joe Pastore, Jr., Gorham; 2 15 Nicholas Cusack, Scarborough; 3 20x Frank Wear, Scarborough; 4 8 Calvin Rose, Jr., Turner; 5 58 David Whittier, West Poland; 6 1 Billy Childs, Jr., Leeds; 7 77 Bryce Mains, Naples; 8 23 Zach Emerson, Sabattus; 9 83 Dan Brown, Peru;10 30 Geoff Rollins, Groton, MA; 11 45 Cole Watson, Naples; 12 47 Brian Caswell, Portland; 13 59 Josh Childs, Oxford; 14 33 Andrew Breton, Sabattus; 15 8 Wayne Reynolds, Norway; 16 97 Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 17 6 Dave Cameron, Alfred; 18 24 Jonathan Emerson, Sabattus; 19 3 Jordan Russell, Norway; 20 29 Trace Beyer, West Dover, VT; 21 04 Zach Bowie, Greene; 22 11 Tyler Trott, West Hartford, CT; 23 71 Jason LaValley, Auburn; 24 56 Mike Short, Auburn; 25 4 Tyson Jordan, South Paris; 26 36x Nathan Leavitt, Buxton; 27 28 Josh Varney, Leeds; 28 113 Tommy Tompkins, Carthage; 29 36 Rick Spaulding, Lisbon; 30 63 Matt Dufault, Turner; 31 8 Ron Bolduc, Plaistow, NH; 32 7 Mark Lundblad, Jr., Albany, NH.

 

Wood Pellet Warehouse Figure 8 (15 laps)  1 27 Jon Lizotte, Mechanic Falls; 2 97 Eric Hodgkins, Auburn; 3 6 Geoff Low, Minot; 4 113 Tommy Tompkins, Carthage.

 

Bandits (30 laps) 1 91 Jamie Heath, Waterford; 2 2 Shaun Hinkley, Oxford; 3 1x Brandon Varney, Auburn; 4 17 Dan Wade, New Gloucester; 5 8 Josh Knoll, Mechanic Falls; 6 26 Tyler Green, Turner; 7 32 Troy Smith, Bridgton; 8 5 Jacob Hall, Oxford; 9 6 Greg Durgin, South Paris; 10 2x Brian Hiscock, Turner; 11 40 Curtis Fanjoy, Auburn; 12 44 Rick Montminy, Auburn; 13 33 Matt Hiscock, Turner; 14 97 Eric Hodgkins, Auburn; 15 13 Bill Grover, Waterford; 16 56 Cam Childs, Leeds; 17 14 Adam O’Neil, Lewiston; 18 28 James Record, Oxford, 19 23 Caleb Emerson-Mains, New Gloucester.

 

INEX Legends Cars (25 laps) 1 72x Ryan Kuhn, East Bridgewater, MA; 2 29 Austin Teras, Windham; 3 72 Michael Humphreys, Cornish; 4 4 Thomas Everson, Gilmanton Iron Works, NH; 5 45 Patrick Dillon, Portland; 6 80 Dalton Varney, Windham; 7 83 Peter Craig, Poland; 7 21 Parker Varney, Windham; 9 399 Bobby Weymouth, Topsham.

 

Source: Oxford Plains PR