Driving on the 5/8 mile oval at Thompson Speedway is not for the faint of heart.  That venue is the fastest short track in New England.

 From Thompson Modifieds to Lite Modifieds, and now Sunoco Modifieds, John Studley, has recorded thousands of laps around Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Beginning nearly 15 years ago in the Pro Four Modified Division, a majority of Studley’s career has been spent behind the wheel of open wheel cars. For the past three seasons, Studley has been behind the wheel of Thompson’s premier division – the Sunoco Modifieds.

The salesman-by-day-Sunoco-Modified-driver-by-night, has used this experience to string together a slew of consistent finishes. Recording three top ten finishes to open the season, Studley’s Regan Plumbing & Heating-sponsored Modified team currently is fourth in the Division’s standings.

“The more laps you turn, the more confidence you’ll have,” the veteran driver, explained.

Poised as can be, Studley confident heading into the Division’s next event on Saturday, July 8. The driver will be returning to a setup that earned him a fifth place finish – his season best – at the Limited Sportsman Long Distance, presented by Pepsi, on May 21. In addition to that, Studley says the recipe is simple.

“Do what we’ve done all year so far, and that’s just be patient, and take our spots when we can take them”.

Studley will join Division leaders, Keith Rocco, Ryan Preece, and Woody Pitkat, in the 30-lap race for the Sunoco Modified Division on July 8. The fourth event in the NASCAR season at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, the Inaugural Busch North Throwback 100, features NASCAR’s top developmental Series: the K&N Pro Series East, for their first visit since 2009.

Provisionals for the Oxford 250 are up for grabs this weekend at Oxford Plains Pro All Stars race at Oxford Plains in western Maine

With less than two months left to go and nearly 50 drivers already entered, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Models will get their final shot this weekend at locking up a guaranteed starting spot for the 44^th Annual Oxford 250.  The Super Late Models will be in action for a 75 lap local show on Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway, which will also feature a pre-Independence Day fireworks spectacular.  Then on Sunday, with no PASS championship points on the line, an international cast of drivers will have one last opportunity to get locked into August’s nationally televised 44^th Annual Oxford 250 and the chance to win over $25,000. Continue reading →

By Kyle Souza, Granite State Pro Stock Series

The first annual New England Short Track Showdown presented by AR Bodies, which is set for this Saturday July 1, will bring out some of the top names that New England racing has to offer. Continue reading →

Gambler’s race at Stafford is on tghe Friday night card.

The biggest SK Modified® race in the country returns to Stafford Speedway Friday, July 7th, with the 4th Annual NAPA Auto Parts SK 5K.  The NASCAR Division I SK Modifieds® headline the event as the top modified drivers in the Northeast duke it out for 100 laps for a guaranteed $5,000 to win.  Back on the table for the 3rd year in a row is the Gambler’s Challenge presented by Dunleavy Truck and Trailer repair with the potential of an additional $5,000 in bonus money on the line. Continue reading →

The huge entry list for the Open Wheel Wednesday Modified Open will make for some fierce and hard driving as the best pavement Modifieds in the northeast go all out in an effort to grab the $10,000 winners share at the Seekonk Speedway.

Green Flag Flies tomorrow at Seekonk Speedway

: Defending race winner Doug Coby of Milford, CT, leads a contingent of over 45 drivers that will vie for the $10,000 winner’s share during Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel Wednesday for the Tri-Track Open Modified Series (TTOMS). In the event’s 13 previous outings there have been nine different winners. Continue reading →

A Valenti Modified Open is set for Saturdfay, July 1 at NHMS (Credit: Thompson Speedway photo. )

Many accomplished Modified drivers will race on July 1st at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

The Modified portion of the New England Short Track Showdown presented by ARBodies at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 1st is a points race for the Valenti Modified Racing Series. However, an early peek at the entry list for the event, which is up to nearly 30 competitors so far, shows that the race winner could come from one of many branches in the Modified racing family tree.

Drivers representing Northern New England, Southern New England, Pennsylvania, Long Island and even the South are entered in the event. Several different Modified tours and tracks may be the regular homes for these drivers, but they are all going to be attracted to the VMRS when the Showdown takes place.

VMRS point leader Anthony Nocella, the winner of the last three events on the VMRS schedule, is the driver who everyone will be chasing. VMRS regulars Michael Willis, Colbey Fournier of Assonet, Jeff Gallup, Rob Richardi of Taunton and Richard Savary of Canton will be right there as well.

Nocella and company will have some big dogs in their mirror too.

Those other competitors include former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher, multi-time Modified champion Woody Pitkat, five-time PASS Modified champion Andy Shaw, Tri-Track Modified and VMRS feature race winner Stephen Masse, Long Island NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular and former race winner Eric Goodale, Connecticut

short track standout Jeff Rocco, PASS Modified standout Bill Dixon, multi-time Pro Four Modified feature race winner Dan Meservey, Jr., Granite State Pro Stock Series race winner Donnie Lashua, ARCA Racing Series and former NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour competitor Bryan Dauzat and Pennsylvania’s Zane Zeiner.

The New England Short Track Showdown presented by ARBodies is made up of four races that will feature the cornerstone types of cars in New England asphalt short track racing. Tour-type Modifieds will run with the Valenti Modified Racing Series, Pro Stocks/Super Late Models will run with the Granite State Pro Stock Tour, Street Stocks will run with the Street Stock Showdown Series and Mini Stocks will run with the North East Mini Stock Tour.

The event will be a fun one for experience race fans and newcomers to the sport alike.

June 30, 2017 will kick off an all day practice for the 4 racing divisions in a rotating format while Saturday July 1, 2017 will see a single round of practice for the divisions followed by pre-race ceremonies at 12:30 PM and heat racing events starting at 1:00 PM sharp. Heats and consolation races will be run as needed and then features will kick off around 3:00 PM (est).

Grandstand Admission for Saturday is only $20 at the track. Children’s tickets are $12 at the track. Military members and senior citizens can purchase tickets for $18 at the track. A special family package for two adults and two children is available for $50.

Source: John Spence

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