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Monthly Archives: December 2018
Last chance for VIP Pricing! Happy Holidays from TMSP!
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Tune In: Monster Energy Supercross 2019 Preview Show on NBC
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NHMS-Last chance to get on the nice list!
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Help the NASCAR Foundation reach our $25,000 year end goal.
Track Talk Column for Sat. 12/22/18
Rick Savary is a top Modified driver on the Valenti Modified Racing Series that finished fourth overall in that club’s 2018 point chase.. Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.
By Lou Modestino (for Sat. 12/22/18)
Checkout Lou Modestino’s Track Talk Column at http://www.enterprisenews.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1838 )
Crowned for the second consecutive time in the Wingless Micro Sprints Division at eastern Pennsylvania’s Hamlin Speedway for 2018 is Taunton Hotshoe Mick D’Augustino. D’Augustino, a former 1/4 Midget racer at Little T in Thompson, Connecticut, graduated onto the dirt track Mini Sprint circuit at the defunct Whip City dirt track oval in Westfield which closed in 2011. Mick then moved onto other tracks like Hamlin Speedway in the Pocono area of Pennsylvania. Additional place winners were two Connecticut based drivers, Kyle Ferrrucci who was a runner-up and Anthony Chrobak.
A meeting between NASCAR heavies like champion Richard Petty and Red Sox owner John Henry in Boston recently had to be about NASCAR/International Speedway Corp. moving from a public to a private company in order to make the sale of the big corporation go smoothly. Henry is one of the principals in the Fenway/Roush Co. that fields many Ford Teams in NASCAR.
Woody Pitkat of Bellingham was crowned 2018 Valenti Modified Racing Series Champion at the series annual awards banquet held at Maneeley’s Banquet Hall in So. Windsor. CT. The title was Pitkat’s second, his first was in 2015.
Pitkat was also the recipient of the Hoosier Tire East Award presented by Rob Summers, and the New England Race Fuel Award from John Holland.
Nocella, Wills Jr, Richard Savary of Canton and Jacob Perry rounded out the top five in the standings, Donnie Lashua, Cameron Sontag, Derek Robbie, Todd Patnode, and Jeffrey Gallup finished sixth through tenth,
For the first time the Valenti Modified Racing Series will be part of four opening events in 2019. The series will be at Thompson Motorsports Park, April 6, Monadnock Speedway, May 4, New London – Waterford Speedbowl May 11, and Lee USA Speedway, May 18 – 19.
Monadnock welcomes the series back on June 8, July 6 and again on August 24. June 22-23 are the dates for the third annual New England Short Track Showdown at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.
Lee USA Speedway will host the series on July 12 and October 6.
New London-Waterford’s annual Wings and Wheels happens August 17
Single events on the calendar include Speedway 51 in northern NH on July 27, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, August 3. Claremont Speedway, August 9 with a rain date on August 10, Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT on August 30 and Thompson Motorsports Park on October 11-12.
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park has revealed a 10-race schedule for the 2019 NASCAR Whelen All American Series (NWAAS) season. Three added events to the oval schedule for the newest campaign are sure to give fans added excitement and opportunity at the Connecticut oval.
Terry Eames, Thompson’s newly appointed General Manager, put together the 10-race slate as the oval looks to spark further growth for the Whelen All American Series and give fans as many chances as possible to be at the track.
The 2019 calendar includes various touring divisions from across New England, staple special event dates including the Icebreaker and Sunoco World Series and stand alone dates reserved for the stars of Thompson’s local classes to showcase their talent to dedicated fans.
After a March 23 Test and Tune for drivers to make sure they have all of the bolts tight, the 2019 season kicks-off in style April 6-7 with the 45th annual Icebreaker. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour headlines the weekend with what will be their third race of the 2019 season while Justin Bonsignore, who swept all four tour races at Thompson last season, looks to continue his streak. The NASCAR divisions will also begin their season with qualifying and feature action across the two days.
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The Thompson 125 night for the Whelen Modified Tour moves up one week this season and the Sunoco Modifieds, Late Models, Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks will join NASCAR’s modified stars for racing to kick-off the summer months on Wedenesday, June 5. The rain date for this event is Thursday, June 6.
For the third straight year, NASCAR’s upcoming talent of the K&N Pro Series East return to Connecticut on Saturday, June 15 for a 100-lap event. New this year, the ACT Tour, one of the top Late Model touring divisions in Canada and the United States, will run for 75 laps that night. The Whelen All American Series divisions are also on tap for what is sure to be an action packed night of racing.
The middle of the summer will give Thompson’s fans a chance to see the stars and cars of the Whelen All American Series by themselves on the track. On June 30, July 21 and August 4, the Sunoco Modifieds, Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Lite Modifieds and Mini Stocks will take center stage as their championship battles heat up on Sunday afternoons.
In the middle of August, Budweiser returns as the primary sponsor of the 30th annual Bud “King of Beers” 150 for the Whelen Modified Tour, their third of four appearances. The NEMA Midgets will hit the high-banks as well, along with the NWAAS classes.
As Thompson does each season, the racing concludes with a three-day spectacular as part of the 57th annual Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing. The 2019 event will run from Friday, October 11, through Sunday, October 13, and will acumulate with the crowning of various champions from across New England and the crowning of Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All American Series champions.
2019 Thompson Schedule of Events
Saturday, March 23: Test & Tune (All Safe Race Cars Welcome)
April 5: Icebreaker Test & Tune (Cars on track 2-5pm
April 6-7: 45th annual Icebreaker weekend (Rain date April 13-14)
May 19: Limited Sportsman Long Distance & Active Military & Veterans
June 5: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Thompson 125 + NWAAS
June 14: K&N Pro Series East & NWAAS Test & Tune
June 15: NASCAR K&N Pro East 100 & ACT Tour 75 + NWAAS
June 30: NWAAS Racing
July 21: NWAAS Racing
August 4: NWAAS Racing
August 14: NASCAR Modified Tour Bud “King of Beers” 150 + NEMA & NWAAS
September 8: Sunoco Mod 20/20 & For The Fans Night
October 11-13: 57th Annual Sunoco World Series (Rain Date: October 18-20)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon announced a new 1/4 mile dirt track on the property. There will be a AMA Flat Track race there on Father’s Day weekend in mid-June of 2019. We read that the track can be rented which could result in some stock car, sprint car and midget racing on that new venue. Dirt track racing is becoming a growing draw in the north country with three tracks operating, Bear Ridge and Devil’s Bowl in VT and the Legion Speedway in NH. Also Unity Speedway in Central Maine is in the midst of a conversion from pavement to a dirt surface for 2019. (end)
Information for this column came from press releases and personal notes.
Notge: If your track, tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com
PASS releases 2019 North and National Schedules – Courtesy: Speed51.com
Source:
Alan Dietz/’PASS Tours PR
019 North & National Schedules
The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) released schedules for the 2019 PASS North and PASS National Championship seasons on Friday afternoon. In all, PASS will sanction 22 Super Late Model events next year, with six of those events being national events.
Once again, the schedule is highlighted by the 46th Annual Oxford 250 on August 25 at Oxford Plains Speedway (ME). The $25,000-to-win crown jewel event attracted 55 Super Late Models in 2018.
The 2019 PASS National schedule will get underway on February 23 at Dillon Motor Speedway (SC) before heading to Richmond Raceway on March 30 for the inaugural Commonwealth Classic.
From there, the next national race will be the prestigious Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway on April 20.
A new event on the national schedule, a visit to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the New England Short Track Showdown, will be held June 23 at “The Magic Mile.”
The Oxford 250 will serve as the penultimate PASS National Championship event, leading into the season finale at Seekonk Speedway on October 26.
Drivers from the north will kick off the 2019 PASS North season on April 14 at Oxford Plains Speedway, a track that averaged 41 Super Late Models for PASS events in 2018. That event includes a rain date of April 28 if Mother Nature choses not to cooperate.
Following the opener at Oxford, the PASS North Super Late Models will travel south to Epping, New Hampshire for a battle at the Star Speedway bullring on May 11. A busy month of May will continue on May 19 before PASS makes its first stop at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl (VT) on May 26.
As the temperatures rise, the fastest full-bodied cars in the Northeast will return to Oxford Plains on June 6. After a week off, the stars and cars of the Pro All Stars Series will make their annual trip north to Speedway 95 in Hermon, Maine on June 16.
After making a stop at “The Magic Mile” in Loudon, New Hampshire on June 23, PASS will return to Oxford for the Non-Winner’s race on June 30. That race will not be a points-counting event for PASS North or the PASS National Championship.
A to-be-determined date is listed on the schedule for July 7, leading into the final Oxford 250 tune-up at Oxford Plains on July 14.
PASS North will make its first of two stops at White Mountain Motorsports Park (NH) on July 20. Another to-be-determined date is listed on the PASS North schedule for Wednesday, July 31.
The final race before the Oxford 250 will be held on August 4 when drivers and teams head north to Spud Speedway in Caribou, Maine.
Following the Oxford 250 on August 25, PASS North will have some time off before returning to Oxford Plains on September 15 for the fifth of six scheduled races at the track in 2019.
Six days later, PASS will head back to the White Mountains of New Hampshire for their second date at White Mountain Motorsports Park on September 21.
For the second straight year, PASS will race on Milk Bowl weekend at Thunder Road. After racing on Friday last year, PASS will have the spotlight on Saturday night, September 28 this time around.
PASS will return to Oxford Plains for the final time in 2019 on October 19 before heading to Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Massachusetts on October 26.
A final to-be-determined race for PASS Super Late Models is on the schedule for November 9.
In addition to announcing schedules for PASS North and the PASS National Championship, series officials also released the 2019 PASS Modified schedule. Officials anticipate adding two additional Sunday races to the schedule at a later date.
Additionally, qualifying races for the 46th Annual Oxford 250 are expected to be announced prior to the PASS Awards Banquet on January 5.
Full schedules for all PASS-sanctioned events can be seen below.
2019 PASS North Schedule
April 14 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
April 28 – Rain Date for April 14 at Oxford
May 11 – Star Speedway (NH)
May 19 – Speedway 51 (NH)
May 26 – Thunder Road (VT)
June 2 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
June 16 – Speedway 95 (ME)
June 23 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway
June 30 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME) – Non Winner’s Race
July 7 – TBA
July 14 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
July 20 – White Mountain Motorsports Park (NH)
July 31 – TBA
August 4 – Spud Speedway (ME)
August 23 – 25 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME) – Oxford 250
September 15 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
September 21 – White Mountain Motorsports Park (NH)
September 28 – Thunder Road (VT)
October 19 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
October 26 – Seekonk Speedway (MA)
November 9 – TBA
2019 PASS National Championship Schedule
February 23 – Dillon Motor Speedway (SC)
March 30 – Richmond Raceway (VA)
April 20 – Hickory Motor Speedway (NC)
June 23 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway
August 25 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
October 26 – Seekonk Speedway (MA)
2019 PASS Modified Schedule
April 14 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
May 19 – Speedway 51 (NH)
June 2 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
June 16 – Speedway 95 (ME)
June 30 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
July 14 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
August 4 – Spud Speedway (ME)
August 23 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
August 25 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
September 14 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
September 21 – White Mountain Motorsports Park (NH)
October 19 – Oxford Plains Speedway (ME)
-Story by: Brandon Paul, Speed51.com Editor – Twitter: @Brandon_Paul51
-Photo credit: Speed51.com / John A. Miller
Note: if your track, tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com
Lime Rock Park-Skip Launches New Podcast – “Driven With Skip Barber”
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Teddy Hodgdon making a run for Stafford SK Light title
Teddy Hodgdon Making a Run For Stafford SK Light Title
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway SK Light driver and Danbury native Teddy Hodgdon is looking forward to getting back to racing and building upon his very successful rookie season. Hodgdon and the #55 Montanari Fuel team finished the 2018 season tied for fourth place in the SK Light points standings and was the runner up in the race for Rookie of the Year honors. Hodgdon’s on track performance saw him tie for the division lead in top-10 finishes for the season with 16 and he notched his first career win on Aug. 24.
“I would give us either a B+ or A- for the season,” said Hodgdon. “I really didn’t have any expectations for the season, it was more figuring out where the seat went in the car and how the car felt on the track. We had some really good results and even though we didn’t get as many wins as we probably could have, it was still a good season for us. I’m very excited for 2019. I was impressed with what we were able to do in 2018 with winning a race and getting a couple runner up and podium finishes. We’re hoping that we can continue that success into next season. We’ve just started stripping the car down now and we’re busy gathering things up for next season and we’re all looking forward to it.”
The 2018 season could be seen as a season of two halves for Hodgdon and the #55 team. The natural progression for a rookie driver is to improve their performance as they navigate their way through a season and Hodgdon was no different. While Hodgdon was only able to post 2 top-5 finishes in the first nine races, his experience began to show in the second half of 2018 as he posted top-6 finishes in 9 of the final 12 events, including his first career win on August 24.
“The first half of the season we were working on getting used to the car and seeing what adjustments worked for us and what didn’t work,” said Hodgdon. “We struggled the first month or two really trying to set the car down and once we did that, we really focused on things like my line around the track and what adjustments we needed to make going from daylight into the night. With only getting one tire a week, we had to figure out how to keep the car consistent from week to week and not make the tires fall off too much. It was a lot of learning about the program and how to accumulate as many points as we could throughout the season.”
Now that Hodgdon has a full season’s worth of experience, he is in a much better situation to begin the 2019 season than he was at the start of the 2018 season when he came into the SK Lights with zero knowledge of his car or the competitors around him.
“I knew before last season started that I wouldn’t know what to expect jumping in the car, but now that I have a year of experience and I know what drivers are going to do around me and how the car will react in certain situations, it’s definitely a big confidence booster and it should help a lot having that experience under my belt,” said Hodgdon. “I think we showed everyone else that we’re one of the top dogs in the field with our win and top-5 finishes.”
Hodgdon’s victory this past season has raised the bar for his expectations and he is looking to make a run at the SK Light championship in 2019. Hodgdon has identified the areas where he feels he was the weakest in 2018 and if he can improve his consistency as well as his performance in late race restart situations, he feels like he and his team can be championship contenders.
“We didn’t finish a lot of races like we wanted to last year so our focus for 2019 is to have a car that we can hold guys off with over the last 5 laps of a race,” said Hodgdon. “I feel like I got beat on a lot of short green-white-checkered type of situations. We were in a winning position in a lot of races and we just couldn’t close the deal so I need to work on hammering down my restarts. Our goal is to run for the championship this year. With the experience we gained last year, if we can stay consistently in the top-5 every week I think we’ll have a good shot at winning the championship with the car that we have. Thanks to Montanari Fuel, Ness Auto, Jim’s Welding, State Cutter, Tony Mottola, Trent Markovitz, and my Mom, Dad, and sister for all their support and I also have to thank Keith Rocco for helping us out with the car setup throughout the year.”
The 2019 SK Light season will kick off at the 48th Annual NAPA SpringSizzler® on April 26-28. Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now by calling the Speedway Box Office 860-684-2783.
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
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Team Stafford
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