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Monthly Archives: August 2018
NASCAR Darlington throwback paint, playoff bubble watch, Preview show
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Track Talk Column for Sat. 9/1/18
The final event in the 2018 racing season will be at Seekonk Speedway in MA which host both the PASS Tour and and Tri-Track Open Modified Series on Saturday, October 27. Given the content it should be one of the best events of this year provided the weather co-operates!
Track Talk
By Lou Modestino (for Sat. 9/1/18) (Check out Lou Modestino’s Track talk blog at http://www.enterprisenews.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1838 )
With perfect Fall weather, a packed house and outstanding racing, last year’s Haunted Hundred for the Tri-Track Open Modified Series (TTOMS) event at Seekonk Speedway could not have gotten any better. But the Tri-Track Open Modified Series has been working hard to see that they do just that on Saturday, October 27 at Seekonk Speedway. In addition to the hotly contested 100-lap Modified and 50-lap Late Model races, management has joined forces with the Pro-All-Star Series (PASS) to add a 150-lap Super Late Model event to the already stout schedule of short-track racing.
Champions for both the Tri-Track Open Modified Series and the PASS Northern SLM Tour will be crowned on Saturday, October 27 at Seekonk Speedway. Over the next two months the anticipation for this finale event will only continue to build. While the incredibly tight point race for the 2018 TTOMS championship could be considered the highlight going into the race, so too will be the chase to the championship for the PASS Series. Add to that the once series dominator, Matt Hirschman has yet to visit TTOMS victory lane this season and this event will be laden with drama.
The likes of DJ Shaw, Travis Benjamin, Derek Griffith, Ben Rowe and many more will make the trip to the Bay State for the tricks and treats of the Haunted happenings at Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk. Gates open at 11 am with racing starting at 1 pm on Saturday, October 27. Pit gates opens at 8 am. The rain date is Sunday, October 28.
Elsewhere this Labor Day weekend tonight the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be performing at the Oswego Speedway in central NY on the shore of Lake Ontario.
Next weekend on Saturday, Sept. 8 the Valenti Modified Racing Series will be in action at the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME. On the same night the Claremont Speedway in western NH offers a Modified Open while the Riverhead Speedway out on Long Island, NY will host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. That’s a lot of competing events for race teams and fans, which can thin out the entries and grandstand seats for the ticket buyers.
Not only that but the Star Speedway in Epping, NH hosts the ISMA Super Modifeids in the Annual Classic next Saturday, Sept 8. Modified and Super Modified fans are one in the same further thinning out the fan base.
Decisions have to be made by the fans in the New England area as to where they plan to be and spend their hard earned ticket money. There’s only nine more weekends left in the 2018 racing season. Also weather problems could muddy the waters here due to the fact that we are now in the tropical storm and possible hurricane season.
Elsewhere this Labor Day Weekend tonight, Saturday, Sept. 1, the NEMA Lites are set for Star Speedway in Epping, NH. The ISMA Super Mods will be at the Oswego Speedway in NY while Seekonk Speedway goes with a Thrill Show tonight, Hudson Speedway in southern NH offers back-to-back stock car action Sunday and Monday afternoons at 1 pm. On Saturday, Sept. 8 the NEMA Lites head for Wiscasset Speedway on the Maine coast. For the draggers it’s runs and eliminations at New England Dragway in Epping, NH on Saturday and Sunday at 8 am each day. (end)
Note: Information for this column came from press releases and personal notes
Wild and Wacky 8/29 at New London-Waterford Speedbowl!
Harkin, Bennett, Loomis, Yardley clinch Wild and Wacky Wednesday titles
WATERFORD — Three contenders became champions Wednesday night in the season finale of Wild and Wacky Wednesday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
Maddie Harkin, in the Bandeleros, Dave Yardley, in the Super X-Cars, and Peter Bennett, in the Legends, each did what they needed to do in order to lock down their first Speedbowl titles.
Eddie Loomis, meanwhile, had already wrapped up the X-Car championship, but left no doubts about his dominating season when he rolled to a win in the final race of the year.
“I’m just so happy,” Loomis said. “This is my first title. If I wasn’t for my dad and my brother helping me, we couldn’t have done it. The car handled awesomely tonight. I’m just glad to be up here. This means a lot.”
Loomis grabbed the lead from Bill Rheaume early in the race and led by a cozy margin the rest of the way. Wayne Shifflett, who started deep in the field, finished third.
Although John O’Sullivan III came 25 points short of winning a championship, he did tie for most wins in the division with five. He was at his dominating best Wednesday when he screeched into the lead early against Mason Levesque and rampaged his way into a lengthy lead.
Bennett moved into second, but did not have enough ammunition to shoot down O’Sullivan.
“John had the faster car tonight,” Bennett said, “there was no question about that. I was a little conservative tonight, but you have to give the credit to John.”
Bennett came out as the big winner, however, when he took the green flag and wrapped up his first Speedbowl title.
“This means a lot,” Bennett said. “This was our goal this year, to win the Wednesday and Saturday night titles. And we never lost track of that goal.”
Bennett leads by 22 points in his battle for the Saturday Legends crown.
Dave “the Wolfman” Yardley finished third in the Super X-car feature, but he was still howling at the finish. That’s because he put the padlock on the Super-X car title.
“I was expecting to do well this year, but the car wasn’t right until the last three weeks of the season,” Yardley said. “I was lucky to get the first two wins this year. And then my car kept getting faster and faster.”
The fastest on Wednesday was Ed Ryan Jr., who wrestled the lead from Marc “The Shaft” Shafer and held on for his third win of the season.
“The first time I went to the outside , Shaft had me,” Ryan said. “But the second time, I was able to get the advantage.”
Harkin has the advantage in the first Bandolero feature as she carved her way to a division leading fifth win.
“You just have to be patient and it will come to you,” Harkin said. “I have a fast car, I just have to wait for it to come in. “
In the second race, P.J. Evans was in control from start to finish on his way to his third win.
“I feel good,” Evans said. “This car is definitely getting faster. My dad gave me a car good enough to get my third win.”
Harking, however, was able to celebrate a championship.
“It was a tough year,” Harkin said. “We had to deal with a lot of stuff all season long. I’m just glad it’s over.”
The champs will be crowned at the annual Wild at Wacky Banquet scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Speedbowl.
Source: Matt Buckler/Waterford Speedbowl PR
Note: if your track, tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com
Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Event chedule and info – Sunday, Sept. 2.
The racing program has definitely improved since the management of Devil’s Bowl covered the paved track with a dirt surface in 2018!
Hello, everyone!
Attached is the schedule and event information sheet for this Sunday’s racing event at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
NOTES:
–This week’s sponsor is The Stove Depot, with locations throughout Vermont in North Clarendon, Ferrisburgh, Londonderry, and Bennington. The Stove Depot and the Merrill family have been great supporters of local racing for a long time we’re proud to say that they’ve been an official partner at Devil’s Bowl Speedway for four years! It’s not too early to think about heating your home or garage this winter… give them a look!
–As a reminder, please be aware that there have been changes to Sunday’s event. We still have a great show with the Sprint Cars of New England tour, all five of our weekly divisions, and a big fireworks show; however, both the 358 Modified and the Bandit Youth Mini Stock divisions have been cancelled due to low anticipated car counts. Because of this, the grandstand general admission ticket price has been lowered to $18 for adults (was $20) and $15 for seniors (was $18). We appreciate your support and apologize for any inconvenience!
–The deadline for filing early driver entries for the Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200 is here! Drivers in ALL DIVISIONS are required to submit the entry form with payment prior to the event on Sept. 15-16, and the price increases after this weekend! Save yourself money and time signing in, and get those entries in now! The entry form (which was updated this week) is attached to this email.
–We have a great list of lap sponsors coming together for the Vermont 200, but we need more of them! For just $50 in cash or product certificates, YOU can be part of the biggest event in Devil’s Bowl Speedway history! The lap sponsor form is also attached to this email.
–The Vermont 200 page of our website is constantly being updated, so make sure to check it out! The full weekend schedule, camping information.
As always, please reach out to us with any questions or comments:
Mike Bruno – (802) 236-9141
Justin St. Louis – (802) 355-3282
Thanks to everyone for your continued support! We’ll see you on Sunday!
–Devil’s Bowl Speedway Staff
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Devil’s Bowl Speedway
September brings the Inaugural Full Throttle Fall Weekend to NHMS on Sun.
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New Hampshire Motor Speedway, PO Box 7888, Loudon, NH 03307-7888 United States
Rocky Ridge 150 presented by Springfield Buick GMC at Claremont Speedway on Friday, Sept 14
The GSPSS is set to perform at western NH’s Claremont Speedway in NH in mid-September. .
GRANITE STATE PRO STOCK SERIES PRESENTED BY SPRINGFIELD BUICK GMC
WALPOLE, N.H.
Five action packed divisions of racing to be headlined by the $3500 to win Rocky Ridge Trucks 150 lap pro stock race this Sunday, September 2nd at 5 pm at Claremont Speedway in Claremont, NH. Joining the Granite State Pro Stock Series presented by Springfield Buick GMC is the North East Mini Stock Tour. Their 50 lap event this Sunday night will be a good test of mettle for their 100 lap $1500 to win national event on September 14th.
Local flavor will be abound with a 40 lap $1000 to win Super Street feature, a 35 lap $750 to win Street Stock feature, and a 25 lap Wildcat feature. But that’s not all, many local stars will be coming back to Claremont Speedway to join the GSPSS regulars for our 150 lap main event. Guy Caron, Aaron Fellows, Byron Baker, Jimmy Zullo, Luke Hinkley, Ricky Bly, and Josh King are some of the 26 drivers pre-entered into the big show.
And a big show it will be, “We are thrilled this is the first GSPSS promotion of a full event with the help of Springfield Buick GMC and Rocky Ridge Trucks” series President Mike Parks said. “With our support divisions everything looks incredibly stout as the response has been huge.” “Coming on this weekend is Asetex Tire & Auto in Claremont, NH whom will be posting fast time awards during time trials, $150 for first, $100 for second, and $50 for third.” “This certainly will be one of our largest events of the 2018 season.”
General Admission: $20, children ages 6-12 $5, Pit Gate Admission: $40
Racing begins at 5 pm
Drivers pre-entered for the Rocky Ridge Trucks 150:
#08 Mike O’Sullivan
#05 Jacob Dore
#39 Nick Lascuola (Abington, MA)
#18 Mike Scorzelli
#29 Barry Gray
#00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr
#93ct Ray Christian III
#21 Josh King
#72 Guy Caron
#43 Devin O’Connell
#7 Cory Casagrande
#9 Kyle Welch
#73 Joey Doiron
#42 Aaron Fellows
#09 Jeremy Davis
#m32 Steven Murphy
#24 Todd Patnode
#11 Bryon Baker
#10 Jimmy Zullo
#1x Todd Stone
#31 Luke Hinkley
#09nh Ricky Bly
#40 Mike Mitchell
#15 George Bessette
#4 Tommy O’Sullivan
#60 DJ Shaw
Source:
Mike Parks
President
Granite State Pro Stock Series
For the Fans Night featuring the Sunoco Modified 20/20 Sprint is BACK in 10 days! $12 Tickets plus a Family Fun Zone! At Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
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PASS Commonwealth Classic early entry deadline and pit stalls available for Richmond
Ben Rowe of Turner, Maine is withing striking distance to take the PASS Tour point lead in the upcoming inaugural PASS Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, October 20. (Credit: PASS Tour photo.)
NAPLES, ME (August 30) – With the success of last weekend’s 45thAnnual Oxford 250 now in the rearview mirror, focus for Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model teams now shifts to the remainder of the 2018 racing season. Highlighting the slate of upcoming races will be the inaugural PASS Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway on October 20. The PASS Super Late Models will compete for 100 laps and $10,000 to win in the penultimate event of the PASS National Championship schedule. Derek Griffith’s point lead has shrunk to just a single marker over Connecticut’s Ray Christian, III, while Maine’s Ben Rowe and North Carolina’s Kodie Conner remain in striking distance of the leaders.
But, the PASS Super Late Models will not be the only division to tackle the legendary D-shaped, ¾-mile oval. Stock car racing’s oldest division, the ground pounding Tour-Type Modifieds will return to Richmond for the first time since 2002, marking the biggest race for this type of car in the south this season. NASCAR-style Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, and Street Stocks will complete the short track racing card on this amazing evening of racing under the lights.
The next early entry deadline for all divisions is fast approaching. Teams with entries postmarked by Saturday, September 1 will save money versus entering the weekend of the event. Additionally, Super Late Model teams have until the second week in September to reserve garage stalls. After that deadline expires, garage stall reservations will be made available to the other divisions. The new garage area at Richmond Raceway has stalls that can accommodate two cars. Despite the high number of cars expected for the inaugural PASS Commonwealth Classic and the limited number of garage stalls, there will be a sufficient amount of parking for all teams that will be attending.
The weekend will begin on Thursday, October 18 with hauler parking and safety inspection for all divisions from 11 AM – 5 PM. A practice day for the PASS Super Late Models, Tour-Type Modifieds, Solid Rock Carriers Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, and Street Stocks is scheduled for Friday, October 19 starting with gates opening and more parking at 7 AM and practice from 10AM – 5 PM. On Saturday, October 20, practice will begin at 9 AM, qualifying at 1 PM, and features starting at 4 PM with 100 laps for the PASS Super Late Models, 75 laps for the Tour-Type Modifieds and Solid Rock Carriers Late Models Stocks, 50 laps for the Limited Late Models, and 40 laps for the Street Stocks.
Entry forms for all divisions and additional information is now available at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
Fans can purchase tickets online at RichmondRaceway.com leading up to the PASS Commonwealth Classic or at the speedway the weekend of the event. And, as an added bonus, fans will be able to access Richmond’s brand new, state-of-the-art Fan Zone and watch everything going on in the garage area throughout the weekend with a paid general admission ticket.
The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America’s premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the legendary Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, PASS South’s Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway, and the inaugural Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway.
Richmond Raceway is America’s Premier Short Track annually hosting two NASCAR race weekends, featuring the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series, on a ¾-mile D-shaped oval. Richmond is a regional leader for events including sports, live music and consumer trade shows. The Richmond Raceway Complex’s 1,000 plus acre multipurpose facility hosts more than 200 live events annually including concerts with top national recording artists at The Classic Amphitheater.
Source: Alan Dietz/PASS Tours PR
Note: If your track, tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com
Chase Dowling Teams up with Gary Casella #25 Team for Lincoln Tech VMRS 80 at Stafford
Chase Dowling (Credit: NASCAR Hometracks photo.)
(Stafford Springs, CT)— With Rowan Pennink announcing his retirement from racing, Gary Casella has tabbed SK Modified® and Whelen Modified Tour driver Chase Dowling to pilot the #25 Mully’s Auto Repair machine in this Friday August 31st Lincoln Tech VMRS 80. The #25 team has won the last 2 VMRS races at Stafford and 3 of the 6 VMRS races run at Stafford from 2016 through this season. Based on the 25 car’s winning background combined with Dowling’s experience around the Stafford half-mile, Dowling is feeling good about his chances in the Lincoln Tech VMRS 80.
“With Rowan’s retirement, I’m very fortunate for Gary Casella allowing me to drive his car,” said Dowling. “I know those guys have a fast race car at Stafford. I’ve definitely got some big shoes to fill and those guys want to win really bad and so do I. I’m definitely looking forward to the race. I’ve won a couple races at Monadnock with the 25 team in the past and it’s a good feeling whenever you can get in a car that has a winning history. I just have to go out and do my job on the track.”
With the #25 car not in the championship hunt for the Valenti Modified Racing Series, Dowling and the #25 team are racing for the win in the Lincoln Tech VMRS 80.
“We can have a totally different mentality not having to worry about points racing,” said Dowling. “Our focus will be on winning the race. I can give it my all and I have nothing to lose at the end of the day. It would be cool for me personally and for the team to win. Those guys expect to win races and I’m going to do my best and I’m sure they’ll put all their effort in to give me a great car.”
The last VMRS race at Stafford back in May saw Rowan Pennink employ a race strategy of hanging towards the back of the pack for the first half of the race before charging through the field in the second half. While Pennink’s strategy was somewhat influenced by the fact that he couldn’t start higher than 18th since he had won the prior VMRS race, Dowling says that his race strategy will be determined by several factors.
“It all depends on where you start,” said Dowling. “If you start towards the front, you can stay mid pack and set your own pace and then go when you think its time to go. With the soft tire compound in the MRS, you don’t want to chew the tires up too early and you want to be in the right spot for the end of the race. It seems whenever you go into a race with a plan it usually doesn’t play out like you think so we’ll take things lap by lap and see what happens.”
In addition to the Lincoln Tech VMRS 80, Dowling will also be in search of his second SK Modified® feature win of the 2018 season behind the wheel of his #36 Wicked Powersports car. Dowling recorded his first win back on June 1st and he will also be using his SK Modified® experience to get a better idea of how the track will change for his VMRS effort.
“It’s been a progression since the beginning of the year with the SK,” said Dowling. “I think now we can consider ourselves a top-5 car every week. We’ve showed some speed lately and it’s getting better and better and that’s all I can ask for as a driver. We’ve been working on figuring out the LFR car, my guys have all stuck with me and hopefully we can get another win before the season ends. The track obviously changes a lot from practice to the time we race and you know what the track is going to be like going from the SK car to the MRS car and vice versa so I think it’s a benefit being able to run both cars and knowing what the track is going to do.”
Tickets for Friday night’s Lincoln Tech VMRS 80 are available and on sale now. Tickets are priced at $30.00 for adult general admission, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seat tickets are $32.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Stafford Motor Speedway offers plenty of free parking along with overnight parking available for self contained Recreational Vehicles. Grandstand gates will open at 5:15pm with VMRS qualifying heats starting at 6:30pm and feature events immediately following VMRS qualifying.
Source: Scott Running/Stafford Speedway PR.
Note: If your track, tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com