It was another busy Friday night at the Stafford Motor Speedway as the 2016 racing season winds down

Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with The Final Friday Night Shoot-Out, the final Friday night event before the season ending NAPA Fall Final next weekend on October 1-2.  It was a banner night for Glen Reen as he scored his first career victories in both the SK Modified® and Late Model feature events.  Rowan Pennink finished the SK Modified® feature in 8^th place which was good enough to make him the SK Modified® champion for the second consecutive season.  Other feature winners were Daniel Wesson in the SK Light feature, Justin Bren in the Limited Late Model feature, Brandon Michael in the DARE Stock feature, and Noah Korner in the Legend Cars feature.

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Good fan and entry turnout during this 2016 racing season resulted in the Wiscasset Speedway on the Maine coast track calling it a success.

August was a busy month at Wiscasset Speedway with packed grand stands, amazing business sponsors and events every weekend! But at the end of the day, it’s all about the drivers and how they perform – both on and off the track. Each month during the season, the track recognizes a competitor who demonstrates quality sportsmanship through actions toward other drivers and fans. Last Saturday night, the Wiscasset Speedway family presented August’s Driver of the Month Award to Dave “Boss Hogg” St. Clair, driver of the #14 Late Model Sportsman, from Liberty. Notable as a long time track competitor and obvious fan favorite, the crowds went wild as the Boss Hogg accepted the award but cheered even louder a moment later – it was time to start the engines and get racing!

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American-Canadian Tour (ACT) point leader Nick Sweet showed he’s still the man to beat in the 2016 championship chase, taking the lead from Eddie MacDonald just before the halfway point and motoring away to a dominating win in the Fall Foliage 150 at Scarborough, ME’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 17.

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Threats of rain on Sunday has PASS officials scrambling to get the 500 lap event in on one day!

Travis Benjamin scores PASS Super Late Model win at Beech Ridge.  Championship leader DJ Shaw is runner-up, Nick Sweet dominant in ACT Late Models. Continue reading →

The shoreside New London-Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut had a lot of racing action on the final Saturday night of the 2016 season.

On the final Saturday night weekly show of the 2016 season it was the track’s all-time winningest driver, Keith Rocco, shining over the field to win the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.

In other events Saturday, Jason Palmer won the Late Model feature, Corey Barry won the SK Light Modified feature, Monte Gibbs was victorious in the Limited Sportsman feature, Pete Zaikarite won the Mini Stock feature, Dillon Spain scored victory in the Legends feature and Ted Christopher won the Pro Four Modified feature.

Rocco, of Wallingford, got his seventh victory of the season in the SK Modified feature.

Matt Galko of Meriden was second and Ronnie Williams of Tolland third.

Bo Gunning took the field to green from the pole with Tyler Chadwick to his outside.

Todd Owen made a quick move to second place before the first caution flew on the second lap.

On the ensuing restart Gunning got into the side of Owen coming to the green flag. Owen held on through the move and then a lap later used the outside lane to go by Gunning for the top spot.

The second caution flew with 32 laps remaining.

On the ensuing restart Rocco was able to go by Gunning for second place just before Gunning wrecked in turn three to bring the caution out once again.

The race restarted with 32 laps left and saw Diego Monahan move to third behind Rocco. A lap later Rocco got under Owen for the lead off of turn four.

Two laps later Monahan moved to second place.

With 21 laps left the caution flew again when Gunning, deep in the field, sent Adam Gada into the turn two wall.

After a long green flag run the race was slowed again when Monahan spun from second place and collected Ted Christopher in turn two.

Under caution Owen gave up second place to go to the pits, moving Galko behind Rocco and Williams to third.

Williams got by Galko for second on a restart with five laps remaining, but the caution flew again with two laps left when Gunning sent Frank Mucciacciaro Jr. spinning deep in the field in turn four. Gunning was parked from the field at the point for over aggressive driving.

On the final restart Rocco was able to check out easily and it was Galko getting by Williams for second.

Palmer, of Berlin, got his second consecutive victory in the 30-lap Late Model feature.

Anthony Flannery of East Hampton was second and Keith Rocco of Wallingford third.
Ryan Morgan took the field to the green from the pole with Jeff Smith to his outside.

Two laps into the event Smith used the outside lane to move to the lead.

With 24 laps remaining it was Flannery getting by Smith to take over the top spot.

With 22 laps left Ray Christian III used the low lane off of turn four to move to second place by Smith.

The first caution flew with 21 laps remaining and Flannery leading Christian. On the ensuing restart, Palmer moved by Smith to take over third place.

With 14 laps left Palmer used the low lane to move to second place by Christian as Flannery left the field far behind in the lead.

The caution flew again with eight laps remaining for the spinning car of Rich Duranti.

On the restart it was Flannery getting away, leaving Palmer and Christian to battle for second.

Caution came back out on the track with five laps remaining for a multi-car crash at the rear of the field in turn two. The accident resulted in an extended red flag.

On the final restart it was Palmer leading at the line after the first lap of green. Palmer was able to clear Flannery off of turn two with four laps remaining. Flannery got a peek under Palmer with two laps remaining, but was unable to wrestle the lead back.

Barry, of Plainfield, held on through two late restarts to win the 25-lap SK Light Modified feature.

Brett Gonyaw of Vernon was second and Chris Gombos Naugatuck third.

Paul French went from third to first at the start. With 17 laps left Barry used the outside lane to go by French and take over the lead.

Two laps later caution flew for the stopped car of division points leader Tony Membrino Jr. in turn three.

On the restart it was Cory DiMatteo moving past French for second place, with Gonyaw following him into third.

With eight laps left Gonyaw got under DiMatteo for second place off turn two and quickly got to Barry’s bumper.

Caution flew with three laps left for the spinning car of Randy Churchill.

Barry easily checked out on the restart, but the caution returned after a half lap for two wrecks on the track.

On the final restart it was Barry able to get away from Gonyaw again to secure the victory.
Gibbs, of Killingworth, got his second consecutive victory and sixth victory overall in the 25-lap Limited Sportsman feature.

Chris Meyer of Norwich was second and Josh Galvin of Oakdale third.

Adrien Paradis took the field to green with Charles Beal to his outside. The pair fought side-by-side for the first lap, with Beal moving to the front out of turn four.

Two laps into the event Gibbs moved to second place by Paradis and quickly caught the bumper of Beal.

With 20 laps remaining Gibbs used the outside lane off of turn two to go past Beal for the lead.

From there it was Gibbs’ show as he left the field deep in his wake.

Al Stone III went by Beal for second place with 12 laps remaining with Meyer moving to third.

Gibbs’ big lead vanished with a caution with less than two laps remaining, but he was up to the task of holding the lead on the green-white-checkered. Behind things got wild as Meyer made contact with Stone, moving to second and shuffling Stone back. The contact allowed Galvin to move to third.

Zaikarite, of Niantic, got his first victory of the season in the 25-lap Mini Stock feature.

Charles Canfield of East Haven was second and Jordan Hadley of Waterford third.

Brian Norman took the field to green from the pole but it was Canfield quickly moving to the lead on the first lap, with Mark Panaroni following to second.

The first caution flew with 15 laps remaining and Canfield leading Panaroni and Jacob Perry in third.

A lap after the restart Perry moved to second by Panaroni with Canfield pulling away in the lead.

With five laps left Zaikarite used the outside lane off of turn two to go by Perry for second and roll by Canfield for the lead off of turn four. From there Zaikarite checked out leaving the battle on for the rest of the podium.

Off the final corner Hadley got by Perry to take third place.

Dillon Spain of Clayton, N.C. lost the lead on lap 24 but grabbed it back on the final circuit to win the 25-lap Legends feature.

Mike Christopher Jr. of Wolcott was second and Rachel Forte of Douglas, Mass. third.

Christopher got by Clayton for the lead out of turn four coming to the white flag, but Spain rallied back to grab the top spot just after the white flag.

Ted Christopher of Plainville held off Doug Meservey Jr. off Dennis, Mass. to win the 25-lap New England Pro Four Modified feature. Norm Wrenn of Nashua, N.H. was third.

Christopher went by Meservey for the lead with nine laps remaining and never trailed again.

Waterford Agate 9-17-16

35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified: 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 2. Matt Galko, Meriden; 3. Ronnie Williams, Tolland; 4. Joey Gada, Salem; 5. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard; 6. Rob Janovic Jr., Waterford; 7. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck; 8. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 9. Diego Monahan, Quaker Hill; 10. Justin Gaydosh, Newtown.

30-lap Late Model: 1. Jason Palmer, Berlin; 2. Anthony Flannery, East Hampton; 3. Keith Rocco, Wallingford; 4. Ray Christian III, Uncasville; 5. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme; 6. Ryan Morgan, Mystic; 7. Glenn Boss, Danielson; 8. Mikey Flynn, Hampden, Mass.; 9. Ernie LaRose, Griswold; 10. Christopher Garside, Waterford.

25-lap SK Light Modified: 1. Corey Barry, Plainfield; 2. Brett Gonyaw, Vernon; 3. Chris Gombas, Naugatuck; 4. Cory DiMatteo, Farmington; 5. Tony Membrino Jr., Berlin; 6. Paul French, Andover; 7. David Arute, Tolland; 8. Rick Williams, East Hampton; 9. Randy Churchill Jr., Oakdale; 10. John O’Sullivan, Salem.

25-lap Limited Sportsman: 1. Monte Gibbs, Killingworth; 2. Chris Meyer, Norwich; 3. Josh Galvin, Oakdale; 4. Cliff Saunders, Stafford; 5. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, Mass.; 6. Charles Beal, Ledyard; 7. Jon Porter, East Lyme; 8. Brandon Plemons, Uncasville; 9. Al Stone III, Durham; 10. Adrien Paradis III, Plainville.

25-lap Mini Stock: 1. Pete Zaikarite, Niantic; 2. Charles Canfield, Niantic; 3. Jordan Hadley, Waterford; 4. Jacob Perry, Pawcatuck; 5. Mark Panaroni, Ivoryton; 6. Ian Brew, Wood River Junction, R.I.; 7. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield; 8. Wayne Burroughs Jr., Oakdale; 9. Sean Caron, East Hampton; 10. Ken Cassidy Jr., Lisbon.

25-lap Pro Four Modified: 1. Ted Christopher, Plainville; 2. Doug Meservey Jr., Dennis, Mass.; 3. Norm Wrenn III, Nashua, N.H.; 4. Robin Berghman, East Providence, R.I.; 5. Brett Meservey, Brewster, Mass.; 6. Phil Lausier, Hudson, N.H.; 7. Randy Cabral, Plymouth, Mass.; 8. Tom Royer, Swanzey, N.H.; 9. Allen Reiser, Brimfield, Mass.; 10. Joe Arena, Bristol.

25-lap Legends: 1. Dillon Spain, Clayton, N.C.; 2. Mike Christopher Jr., Wolcott; 3. Rachel Forte, Douglas, Mass.; 4. Andrew Molleur, Shelton; 5. Alex McCollum, Philipsburg, N.J.; 6. Joey Ternullo, Middletonw; 7. Nicholas Lascuola, Brockon, Mass.; 8. Michael Rutkoski, Mattituck, N.Y.; 9. Anthony Marvin, Colchester; 10. David Johson, Arlington, Mass.

Source: Olivia Bouchard/ New London-Watrerford PR

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Only two more events remain on the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in W. Haven, VT which has been plagued with rain outs during the current 2016 season.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway officials have been forced to cancel the Dirt Track stock car racing event scheduled for Sunday, September 18.  Overnight rains at the speedway that continued until 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning have resulted in heavily saturated grounds, leaving the track’s surface too wet and too soft for grooming into suitable racing conditions.

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Because the track officials checked the weather forecast they were successful in condensing the two day PASS 500 into one day.

For the second time this season, at speedways in the State of Maine, Anthony Nocella, of Woburn, Massachusetts, and Jon McKennedy, of E. Chelmsford, Massachusetts, each captured Valenti Modified Racing Series Twin 50-lap feature races this time at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, in Scarborough, on Saturday.

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Based on the low fan turnout in mid-July at NHMS, new GM Dave McGrath has his work cut out for him to fill the 95,000 seats for over the big NASCAR weekend, Sept. 23-25. Credit: NHMS photo.

By Lou Modestino

We had an opportunity to speak to Dave McGrath the new General Manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH.  McGrath, a Marlborough native, replaced  Jerry Gappens who held that job for five years when the track was sold by Bob Bahre to Speedway Motorsports Inc. McGrath previously worked for Comcast-Xfinity.   It’s no secret that ticket sales for the NASCAR races have been way off.  The turnout of fas for the mid-July NASCAR weekend was dismal as the NHMS grandstands had a lot of empty seats, and it was the worst we’ve seen since the economic downturn of 2008.

“We need to get new fans for the sport,” said McGrath.  “It’s a steep number to get our arms around. July wasn’t very good.  NASCAR keeps improving the product, though.  Improvements on the track is what’s going to draw  in new fans.  We’ve invested millions in the upgrades  to our venue.  We expect to get there, but it’s going to take time.”

We asked McGrath about the rumors that Bruton Smith may be moving one of the two NHMS races to another one of his Speedway Motorsports Inc. venues.  “There’s no conversations about moving a date.  I can say with complete clarity that it’s not going to happen.  Bruton has stepped back. His son Marcus is at the helm of the corporation now.  We (NHMS) just signed a five year contract with NASCAR on our major series Sprint Cup, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Trucks.  Our NASCAR weekend dates  are all set for 2017.

When asked if the management of New Hampshire Motor Speedway feel that the fact  that hotels continue to demand three to four day minimum stays may be impacting ticket sales.  “Our job is to establish business and at the end of the day we don’t have much clout (on hotel prices).  It’s the same with gasoline prices.  It’s market forces at work.”

On the possible forced retirement of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. because of multiple concussions, Dave McGrath said this.  “From a fan perspective, we’ll miss him. I’d love to see him get better and back into his racing harness.  After all, he’s NASCAR’s most popular driver”

On the subject of The Chase to the Nextel Cup and how the old time fans don’t like it and feel that the old way of determining the NASCAR Champion for the Sprint Cup was much better.  “If you don’t like change, then you won’t like extinction either.  The Chase creates controversy like Kyle Busch winning the 2015 Nextel Cup Championship.  I think that The Chase is awesome,” quipped McGrath.

When asked about NHMS getting more publicity during the off season such as not having a display at the World of Wheels in the Seaport in Boston, he said, “We have to make decisions on where we will get the most bang for the buck.  We were at the St.Patrick’s Day Parade in March and there was a big crowd plus live TV on Boston cable. ”

McGrath went on, “Our show car is  in motion every weekend.  We leave the events with a lot of data with fans’ names and addresses and we ask them what they want to see in the future.,  We also try to sell  tickets. When we show up for an event, we see if we can make an impact.”

Dave mentioned one event in particular.  “We also plan to be at the Eastern States Expo in West Springfield.  That’s a big event for us and we collect a lot of data while we are there.  We also try to sell tickets at these events. There are always a lot of NASCAR fans there.”   That show runs from September 16 to October 2 and encompasses exhibits and gives NHMS visibility to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island people, all of which is New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s major market.

On media coverage in the Boston market, he said,  “We’re blessed and cursed with news entities . But we have to look at digital and social media like Twitter and Instagram.  I read two newspapers a day.  We have to get to the 30-year olds and they don’t read newspapers .  Our product NASCAR has to cope  with the stick-and-ball sports in the Boston market.  We had Kyle Busch in Boston recently trying to get through the stick-and-ball noise.  We also had a media event with radio commentator Jerry Callahan who drove a race car with the Rusty Wallace Racing School.  Callahan, who often says he does not like motor racing, talked about that experience for three days.  You really have to get into the Boston media’s face to get coverage, and that’s a major challenge.

Coming up on the weekend of September 23-25 will be the second big NASCAR weekend of 2016. Featured will be the Sprint Cup race on Sunday, September 25 the second race in the Chase to the Nextel Cup.  Also, Saturday, September 24’s offerings will include the Camping World Trucks which is also the first event in that Chase Series, and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will perform on the one mile oval that day.

Obviously, Dave McGrath and his team at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will experience much pressure to make next weekend a success. And it will be ongoing in order to maintain the momentum in order to sell those 90,000 seats at the stadium,

Note: If your track or tour is not posted on this blog send your press releases to: lmodestino@hotmail.com

 The PASS Tour Super Late Models along with other support classes for a Super Saturday, Sept. 17  at the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine.  (Credit: PASS Tour photo.)

With a dismal forecast calling for rain on Sunday, Pro All Stars Series (PASS) officials and Beech Ridge Motor Speedway management made the decision earlier this week to reformat the New England 500 weekend into a condensed “Super Saturday” of action.  The PASS North Super Late Models and ACT Late Models will each now race for 150 laps, along with Twin 50s for the Valenti Modified Series, and action for the PASS Modifieds and Sport Series all part of this “Super Saturday” of racing. Continue reading →