Monthly Archives: February 2019

Ronnie Williams searching for back-to-back SK Modified titles at Stafford

Ronnie Williams (Credit: Stafford Speedway photo)

(Stafford Springs, CT)—For Stafford Speedway SK Modified® driver Ronnie Williams and the #50 Empower Financial Advisory / Les’s Auto Center team, the 2019 season will kick off with the duo holding the distinction of being the defending champions. While Williams admits it will be a different feeling when coming to the track this season, he is ready to get back to racing and contending for another championship.

“I would say it’s going to be a little different feeling this year,” said Williams. “We had a lot going on last year and I remember saying in the preseason that if I didn’t do well in the #50 car, then something was wrong with me as the driver. To win the NAPA SK 5k, win 4 races, and clinch the championship before the Fall Final, that was a huge accomplishment for all of us and it showed that I made the right move coming to the #50 team. Going into this year I think everyone on the team is a little more confident and I’d say that we’re going for the championship again and even more wins. I know the car will be good with how much effort all the guys put in at the shop during the week so it all comes down to me as the driver and having a little luck on our side to miss any accidents on the track. If we can finish all 40 laps every Friday night and be consistent, the car is pretty darn good every week and we shouldn’t have any problems. Big thanks to all our sponsors Empower Financial, Les’s Auto Center, All Town Sanitation & Recycling, Centurn Machine, Palmer Paving, NAPA of Tolland, and Flamingo Motorsports and everyone who works so hard on this team: Dave, Mark, Craig, Paul, Andrew, Les, John, Cory, Kodey, Jack, Tim, Ron, Justin, and Matt.”

Although Keith Rocco looked like he was going to be the driver to beat with 4 wins in a row to begin last season, Williams and the #50 team showed no ill effects of being a new driver/team combination as they recorded 4 podium finishes in the first 6 races before getting their first win together in their 7^thstart.

“I have a good relationship with Adam and all the guys on the team and I think we all clicked pretty quickly last season,” said Williams. “We started the season off with a bunch of second place runs and although it took a while to get our first win, once we got that first one, we started clicking them off. I don’t think we ever got too worried at the beginning of the year. We were having really strong runs except for the third race of the season where we had a bad night. With 22 races on the schedule, we knew that Keith was going to eventually have a bad race and we just needed to keep pace with him. We never strayed from our game plan. The only night where I was really worried was May 25^th. We ended up in the consi and we almost destroyed the car in the consi and Adam [crew chief Skowyra] was pretty worried since we finished fourth in the consi. He asked me how the car was and I told him it was good and he looked at me like I was crazy but we ended up finishing the race second behind Rowan Pennink, so the car was pretty good that night. I think at that point of the season we were still learning each other a little and now we look back at that night and we laugh about it.”

Williams will be looking to etch his name into the Stafford record books alongside some select company this season. From 1959-1986, there were a total of 18 different modified track champions with only 3 drivers, Bill Wimble, Geoff Bodine, and Richie Evans, able to go back to back in the track championship race. There have been several more back to back winners in the SK Modified® division with 5 drivers, Jerry Pearl, Mike and Ted Christopher, Bob Potter, and Rowan Pennink, taking consecutive SK Modified® track championships from 1982-2018.

“It took a lot to win the championship last season and I know a lot of guys will be hunting for us this season,” said Williams. “We need to be on top of our game and try to win races every week we come to the track and that will bring us to the championship. I have tremendous respect for everyone I race with and everyone knows how I race so I don’t expect much to change from last season except for the fact that we’re coming to the track now with a championship. Now that everyone on the team has had that feeling of winning, it makes us all that much more hungry to win it again. This year is a whole new year and there’s a new field of SK drivers so we just have to keep on the same game plan as last year and go for wins and stay consistent.”

Williams will also be looking to become the first driver to win the NAPA SK 5k in back to back seasons while the #50 team will be going for their third win in a row after winning the race with Chase Dowling behind the wheel in 2017.

“The 5k was probably the best race of the year for us last season,” said Williams. “With Adam’s guys having won the race the year before with Chase and with myself getting close to winning it in 2015, that was the race we all really wanted to win. That was a night that got us going on a tear with 5 podium finishes in a row and it was an unbelievable feeling to finally get a 5k win.”

Additionally, Williams and the #50 team will be looking to get their 2019 season off to a good start with a good run in the season opening NAPA Spring Sizzler feature event.

“The Spring Sizzler is the most important race of the year every year to have a good start to the season,” said Williams. “The Sizzler is like the Daytona 500, you want to finish the race and you want to have a good finish. I know we’ll have a fast car that is capable of winning the race, we’ll have to see how things fall for us and hopefully we can put the car in NAPA Victory Lane.”

Williams will kick off his quest for back to back SK Modified® championships at the 48th Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® 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 or online atwww.staffordspeedway.com.

Source: Scott Running/Stafford PR

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

ACT-Pole, Dubeau help push Richmond entry list past 30

Hudson, NH’s Joey Polewarczyk Jr., a former ACT Champion and ACT NHMS Invitational winner, will make the trip to Richmond Raceway on March 30. (Alan Ward photo)

Lebanon, NH’s Rich Dubeau will be one of the top ACT Late Model Tour runners heading to Virginia for the ACT Commonwealth Classic 65. (Daniel Holben photo)

Waterbury, VT – The entry list is continuing to grow for the inaugural American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Commonwealth Classic 65 at Virginia’s Richmond Raceway on Saturday, March 30 at 1:00pm. Four more entries have arrived in recent weeks, meaning 31 racers are now officially registered for the $5,000-to-win event.

The latest round of entrants includes one of the biggest names in the history of ACT Late Model racing. Hudson, NH’s Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., the 2014 ACT Champion, is one of the latest to sign up for the trip down south. “Joey Pole” has competed sporadically in ACT Late Models in recent years, but is still fast whenever he gets behind the wheel.

He and his Pole’s Automotive family team will head to Virginia after also competing in previous ACT special events at New Smyrna Speedway (Florida) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Pole will drive the car piloted in recent seasons by Mike Ziter and Ryan Olsen, which the team recently finished work on as part of a make-over of their entire racing fleet.

“I mean, it’s Richmond,” Polewarczyk said. “It’s a track that pretty much everyone who’s going has never been to before, and it’s obviously a pretty big deal. It’s a big track with a lot of media and a lot of attention. It’s always cool to go to tracks that you’ve watched races at on TV. I think it’s going to be a good deal – it’s going to be fun, I think it’s going to race well, it’s going to be fast, and pretty much everyone is going to be on the same page.”

“It reminds me a lot of when ACT first went to New Smyrna back in 2011 and when they went to Loudon for the first time back in 2009,” Pole added. “It brings back those memories – it’s something new, and it’s something special. It’s something that I think Tom Curley would have been really proud of. It’s big for the series – they have a lot of cars going down there, and it’s a good stage to promote the racing the series puts on.”

The Commonwealth Classic 65 now can count in another one of the top current ACT Late Model Tour drivers as well. Lebanon, NH’s Rich Dubeau, who has emerged as one of the Tour’s starts in recent years, has entered the event with his Upper Valley Equipment Rental team.

Dubeau finished fourth in points this past season and fifth the year before, cementing him as an ACT frontrunner. He put in his strongest performance of 2018 at the 5/8-mile Thompson Speedway by leading 68 laps before getting caught up in a late accident. This breakthrough on bigger tracks could be a strong foreshadowing for Richmond.

Larue Motorsports, a longtime supporter of ACT Late Model racing, has made a late entry into the Commonwealth Classic. Alex Guénette will pilot the car that previously won Série ACT championships with Alex Labbé and Karl Allard at the controls. Guénette has multiple starts on both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoor Truck Series. He also won at Autodrome Montmagny in 2018 with the Canadian Stock Car Championship.

A surprise entry was also submitted by Freeport, NY’s Gerard Giordano Jr. The Long Island racer is a multi-time winner on the Exit Realty Pro Truck Series and finished second in 2018 points. His team recently announced they have purchased an ACT Late Model for the 2019 season. They will make their debut with the car at Richmond Raceway.

Registration is still open for the ACT Commonwealth Classic. Those who enter will be part of a card that includes racers from up and down the Eastern seaboard. The schedule also includes 75-lap, $7,000-to-win “crate engine” and “open” national events for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models plus events for the Tour-type Modifieds, MASS 8-cylinder Street Stocks, and North East Mini Stock Tour. Nearly $165,000 in total awards have been posted for the Saturday afternoon of short track racing. Open practice for all divisions will be held Friday, March 29 beginning at 11:00am.

2019 ACT Commonwealth Classic Entry List

CAR# DRIVER HOMETOWN TEAM

1 4NY Brandon Atkins AuSable Forks, NY Northline Utilities Dodge Charger

2 5MA Tommy Carey III Warwick, MA Brookside Equiment Sales/Lyon Auction Chevy Monte Carlo

3 9QC Mathieu Kingsbury Blainville, QC DuroKing/Dynamitage Piche Ford Fusion

4 10ME Jesse Switser Whitfield, NH Laflamme’s Landscaping

5 13VT Boomer Morris Barre, VT K. Bellevance/Classic Auto Chevy Impala

6 15MA Jake Johnson Rehoboth, MA Daffodil’s Gift Shop/Lin’s Propane Trucks Chevy Monte Carlo

7 15NY Gerard Giordano Jr. Freeport, NY K-1 Logistics Chevy Impala

8 18QC Jean-Philippe Bergeron Saint-Donat, QC Prolon Controls/JC Perreault Chevy Impala

9 19NH Bryan Kruczek Newmarket, NH Little Webb’s Fuel/Sunoco Chevy Camaro

10 21QC Alexandre Tardif Notre Dame des Pins, QC Gestion Roy Electrique Ford Fusion

11 22RI Mark Jenison Warwick, RI Jenison Motorsports Ford Mustang

12 26VT John Donahue Graniteville, VT Donahue Motorsports Chevy Monte Carlo

13 27NH Wayne Helliwell Jr. Dover, NH E Keys 4 Cars/Unique Ford Ford Fusion

14 28VT Stephen Donahue Graniteville, VT Donahue Motorsports Chevy Monte Carlo

15 29MA Joshua Hedges New Bedford, MA Chuckran Audo Parts/Nlarophoto Toyota

16 30NH Rich Dubeau Lebanon, NH Upper Valley Equipment Rental Toyota Camry

17 32NH Jeff Marshall Gilman, VT Knudson Salvage/Fadden Automotive Chevy Monte Carlo

18 37QC Marc Begin St-Philibert, QC Begin Auto Parts Chevy Impala

19 38VT Tyler Cahoon Danville, VT Berlin Optical Expressions/P&H Transportation Chevy Impala

20 40VT Nick Sweet Barre, VT Mansfield Heliflight Chevy Impala

21 41QC Jonathan Bouvrette Blainville, QC Globocam/DLGL Chevy

22 48QC Alex Guenette Terrebonne, QC Larue Industrial Snow Blower Chevy SS

23 58VT Jimmy Hebert Williamstown, VT Hebert Excavation/Lowrey’s Auto Chevy SS

24 64VT Chris Pelkey Graniteville, VT Vermeer Chevy

25 72MA Ryan Kuhn East Bridgewater, MA Everetts Auto Parts/Berniers Liquors Chevy SS

26 72VT Scott Coburn Barre, VT Coburn Motorsports Chevy Impala

27 77MA Jimmy Linardy Malden, MA Kayem Hot Dogs Chevy SS

28 83QC Martin Goulet Jr. St. Calixte, QC Goulet Motorsport Chevy Impala SS

29 97NH Joey Polewarczyk Jr. Hudson, NH Pole’s Automotive/Headman Headers Ford Fusion

30 00MA TJ Moreshead Seekonk, MA T. Moreshead Landscaping/Miller Chiropractic Chevy Impala

31 04NH Shawn Swallow Lancaster, NH North Conway Incinerator/Central Paving Chevy Impala

Michael R. Stridsberg

American-Canadian Tour

Media Director

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

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NASCAR, Daytona Beach, FL

Jeg Coughlin Jr. victorious in desert, claiming 62nd Pro Stock win in 1,000 round of competition

Source: cott “Woody” Woodruff

Jeg Coughlin Jr. victorious in desert, claiming

62nd Pro Stock win in 1,000 round of competition

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 24) — When you’ve won 62 times in Pro Stock competition, it would be understandable if the victories started to blend together in your mind. But for five-time series champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., earning the trophy of Sunday’s 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals in his 1,000 round of Pro Stock racing, this trophy has special significance.

“This win today truly feels really second-to-none,” Coughlin said. “To reach a mark like this — 1,000 rounds of racing in this class — and to hit it just right with a win, wow, that’s just incredible.

“It’s a lot of racing. I’ve been racing Pro Stock for more than 20 years and to reach this mile marker is amazing. I’ve got to thank my family and all the crew members and teams I’ve had behind me through the years. I’ve had some amazing talent helping me get here, from mechanics and engineers working on the car, to the various crew chiefs and engine builders, the list goes on and on.

“This is really a testament to this Elite team and all the other teams we’ve had over the years. I remind myself every time I get in the car to just get in there and do what I love to do and that’s race this car. That’s a cliché saying from the Days of Thunder movie, as someone pointed out to me years ago, but it’s still a damn good point. I’m honored to be here, doing what I love.”

It wasn’t a dominant win, by any means, and as he has so many times in the past, Coughlin needed to be extra sharp behind the wheel of his JEGS.comElite Performance Chevrolet Camaro to get this victory. But he ticked all the boxes by the end of the day, beating Greg Anderson, Alex Laughlin, Erica Enders and Matt Hartford to secure his 81st NHRA national event victory. (Coughlin has 19 Sportsman wins.)

“This wasn’t our best effort today, quite frankly, but I’m certainly not complaining,” he said. “I don’t want that to come off wrong but we got away with it a few times today. We will chalk this up as an attention-getter and see if we can’t fix everything and be on our best behavior for the next race and beyond.”

Coughlin started the day opposite Anderson, who he was racing for the 100th time. To say he was up for the contest would be an understatement as Coughlin posted a near-perfect .001-second reaction time and a 6.568 at 210.90 mph to advance over a surrendering Anderson, who drifted to a 20.633 at 48.17 mph after getting out of shape early.

The next round ended up being a free pass after Elite Motorsports teammate Laughlin rolled the starting line beams and was disqualified. Still, Coughlin powered to a 6.562 at 210.41 mph.

Two-time champ and teammate Enders was next but her 6.575 at 210.18 mph was no match for Coughlin’s 6.541 at 210.28 mph.

That left yet another Elite driver, Hartford, who left the starting line -.024 early and was disqualified, turning Coughlin’s final-round 6.557 at 210.67 mph into a victory lap.

“Timing was really in our favor today,” Coughlin said. “Greg had trouble first round. Alex had trouble second round. Erica made a run but then Matt red-lighted. Still, we were fast in all four rounds and we certainly couldn’t be taken lightly but nevertheless, this feels great.

“We get to celebrate our fearless leader (team owner) Richard Freeman’s birthday. He’s the ‘Big 46’ this weekend. I’m really proud of what he’s put together and I’m proud to be a part of it and I have been since I arrived here. I’ve said that on dozens of occasions, even during some of the lull times we’ve shared. Right now, I now it feels great to win here again in Phoenix and this early in the season.”

With the win, Coughlin jumped to second place in the points.

About JEGS Automotive, Inc.

JEGS Automotive, Inc. (JEGS) is one of the largest e-commerce and mail order high-performance auto parts retailers worldwide. Founded in 1960 by racing legend Jeg Coughlin Sr., JEGS remains family-owned to this day and offers more than 1 million SKUs available for purchase. The JEGS corporate headquarters is located in Delaware, Ohio, and is home to a 225,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center, two state-of-the-art call centers, the Coughlin Family classic car and truck collection, the Team JEGS racing research and development facility and The JEGS Foundation. For more information, call (800) 345-4545 or visit us at www.JEGS.com.

About Team JEGS

Team JEGS is the official racing team of JEGS Automotive, Inc. (JEGS), and is fueled by the legacy of one of racing’s most winningest families, the Coughlin Family. Led by JEGS founder and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductee Jeg Coughlin Sr. and his four eldest sons, John, Troy Sr., Mike and Jeg Jr., Team JEGS has claimed nine National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) World Championships, 17 divisional championships and 121 NHRA national event victories. Meet Team JEGS, follow the Team JEGS race schedule and results, and learn more about racing by visiting www.TeamJEGS.com.

Team JEGS, 101 JEGS Place, Delaware, OH 43015

Track Talk for Sat., 2/23/19- Bumper Crop of 50+Tour type Modifieds races over 30 weeks on the east coast!

Te 2019 racing season will be jam packed with 50+ Tour Type Modified races starting in March down South right through Halloween Weekend in late October. The events will held over 30 weekends with some double and triple conflicting events at various venues in New England, New York and New Jersey. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)

By Lou Modestino

(Check out Lou Modestino’s Track Talk blog at http://www.enterprisenews.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1838 )

They first-ever American-Canadian Tour (ACT) event at Virginia’s Richmond Raceway is inching closer and it has already produced at least one pleasant surprise. Southern New England will send one of the largest brigades of racers to the Commonwealth Classic 65 on Saturday, March 30. The region’s Late Model competitors are coming out in force to go racing at the historic track.

At least seven ACT Late Model drivers from both Massachusetts and Rhode Island will get an early start on their 2019 season. This includes a mix of veteran touring drivers, rising Late Model stars and veteran weekly racers eager to showcase their talents under the southern spotlight.

“It’s an opportunity to go to one of the bigger race tracks that NASCAR has,“ East Bridgewater’s Ryan Kuhn said. “There’ll be a lot of fans in the stands and it’ll be a great race. We’re going to get big car counts – that’s always great – and I get to race with the best of the best in the business. It’s really an honor to race at Richmond.”

“It means a lot to have so many racers from this area going,” he added. “A lot of these guys haven’t really expanded around and traveled a whole lot to race. So it means it a lot to them because now they can travel to Richmond. It’s great to get their names out there. It’s going to be a different playing field.”

Kuhn, who turns 18 a few weeks before the event, definitely falls into the “Rising Star” category. He comes off a season where he won the Late Model track championship at Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts. Kuhn also posted top-12 finishes in all three of his starts on the ACT Late Model Tour.

Fellow Massachusetts racer, Jake Johnson of Rehoboth, is another young star heading down south. Johnson finished second in 2018 Pro Stock points at Seekonk as a 15-year-old and was the track’s Late Model Rookie of the Year the season before that.

“I think it’s a great thing for the series,” Johnson said. “I think (the ACT Late Model) is one of the best cars to race. It puts on a great show and it equalizes the field a lot. I’m glad they’re going to be on display down south so people who normally wouldn’t get to see that kind of racing will. I’ve put in a little time on iRacing (simulator) checking out the track there, but I think we’re going to go down there just about equal to everybody else, because everyone from New England really hasn’t had any practice there. We’re going to go give it all we’ve got. I think we should have a good car.”

Two of the top Late Model racers at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway will also be in Virginia. New Salem’s Tommy Carey, III finished a close second in 2018 Late Model points while Warwick, RI’s Mark Jenison was third in the standings at the 5/8-mile oval. Their experiences at the larger track could be a factor as teams get up to speed on the ¾-mile D-shaped speedway.

Southern New England fans will have several other familiar faces to cheer for. New Bedford’s Joshua Hedges was Seekonk Speedway’s 2018 Sport Truck Champion and is looking to make an early splash in Late Model competition. Seekonk’s T.J. Moreshead has impressed fans at both his hometown track and at Thompson while making select appearances with ACT

No ACT event would be complete without the presence of James “Scruffy” Lindardy. The Somerville veteran has filed his entry and is ready to tackle the Richmond high banks for the first time.

Nearly 30 drivers from throughout the Northeastern U.S. and Quebec have already entered the inaugural Commonwealth Classic on Saturday, March 30. The action packed card includes 65-lap, $5,000-to-win event for the Late Models and two 75-lap, $7,000-to-win events for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models. There will also be open events for the Tour-type Modifieds, MASS 8-cylinder Street Stocks and North East Mini Stock Tour. Qualifying rolls to the grid at 1 pm. Open practice will be held on Friday, March 29 beginning at 11 am.

Management of the Tri-Track Open Modified Series (TTOMS) recently named Greg Felton of Belchertown as the Series Head of Race Tech. Felton has spent decades building and maintaining race-winning cars winning countless championships along the way. He has served as a race official in recent years in Modified racing competition.

“We are really excited to have Greg on board,” said Ed Bennett, the Series’ newest managing partner. “He shares our vision of getting back to basics to provide racers with a fair, straightforward and competitive environment. With Greg’s help the Tri-Track Series will provide the best possible races and continue to build our fan base.”

Felton assumes a role most recently held by Jeff Zuidema, who will now serve as a special consultant to Norm Wrenn, Jr. at Monadnock Speedway. Wrenn officially took ownership of the speedway on December 13, 2018.

The Tri-Track Series will return to competition at Monadnock on Saturday, September 14.

“I truly believe in the TTOMS and everything Dick [Williams], Jim [Schaefer], Wayne [Darling], and the entire group have built with that series,” said Zuidema. “To think that a racing series in this day and age would give 100% of the monies back to the racer is truly amazing. I will continue to help and support, in any way, the best touring series in New England.”

While new faces will be added to the officiating staff under Felton, the team of technical inspectors will remain largely unchanged for the 2019 season.

“I have been able to interact with the Series as a competitor,” said Felton, “now I look forward to working alongside these people that I have grown to respect, and hopefully earn the respect of the competitors who have shown such loyalty to the Tri-Track Series.”

With its most robust schedule to date, the 2019 TTOMS series will feature six races including dates at Claremont, Seekonk, Oxford Plains, Star and Monadnock. Race teams looking to compete in the six-race schedule with eligibility for the point fund and bonus plan must preregister for the 2019 season by April 1, 2019. Entries will be accepted via secure online registration or by mail.

The preregistration fee of $450 entitles teams to a stake in the point fund as well as eligibility for the bonus plan. Car owners filing full preregistration will also receive one complimentary pit pass for each race on the schedule. Individual race registration is also available for $150 each.

We have seen a schedule of 50 pavement Modified events starting in March down south and ending at Seekonk Speedway around Halloween in late October. These races will take place over 30 weeks with some multiple events on the same weekends. Full fields, 24 entries, will be difficult for some tracks looking to fill the grandstands and making a profit especially on conflicting dates.

Also, the Race of Champions (ROC), in central and western NY, has not released its 2019 schedule due to two key tracks now up for sale. Some within those precincts still feel that those two ovals, Lancaster and Spencer, could still host more pavement Modified races even at this late date or the ROC may rent those venues to fill out their schedule. (end)

Information for this column came from press releases and personal notes.

It’s cold in the desert, but Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s JEGS.com Camaro is heating up

Source: Scott “Woody” Woodruff

It’s cold in the desert, but Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s JEGS.com Camaro is heating up

Note: The coast-to-coast NHRA National circuit will perform at the the New England Dragway in Epping, NH on the July 4 Weekend 2019.

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 23) — There’s snow on the mountains behind Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park — a site most drag racers have never seen at this facility — and racing conditions have been tricky, with two qualifying sessions lost to cold temperatures, but Jeg Coughlin Jr. still managed to find a quick way the quarter-mile to qualify seventh at this weekend’s 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals.

“We qualified ninth in Pomona (Calif., at the season opener) and seventh here so we are moving in the right direction,” Coughlin said. “Of course, both rounds were lost yesterday due to the cold, it was cold here a month ago when we tested at this track, and it was cold in Pomona two weeks back so we’re really getting a work out, so to speak, running on cold surfaces.

“Today’s sun was wonderful and although our car still isn’t completely happy riding down through there at this point, we did have nice start in both of today’s runs. It’s just that area from about 200 feet to 500 feet that’s tricky, and you can feel it as you roll through the gears. We’ve got some massaging to do but I have faith in our group to sort it all out.”

Coughlin’s best run was a 6.544-second blast at 210.34 mph, which places him opposite Greg Anderson in Sunday’s opening round of eliminations. Anderson topped out at 6.564 and 210.57 mph, so Coughlin will have lane choice. No two racers in class history have squared off more often than Coughlin and Anderson.

“We can be more efficient and naturally run quicker so I think we are in a good spot going into tomorrow,” Coughlin said. “I feel real comfortable behind the wheel and when it’s Sunday, it’s game day, so it’s time to go.

“You’ve definitely got to mind your p’s and q’s, so to speak, and be on your best behavior when you race Greg. We know the capability of that team over there and we know how good Greg is in the car. We will be up there to exceed his performance this time and get to the finish line first.”

As for the weather, well, forecasts are calling for lots of cloud cover but no more rain.

“I think if the sun can poke through and give us a track like we had today, that would be great,” Coughlin said. “It’s always better when there’s a little bit of heat in the track. If it ends up cloudy and we get a cooler track, we will have to be crafty on that as well.”

Pro Stock eliminations begin at noon.

About JEGS Automotive, Inc.

About Team JEGS

Team JEGS, 101 JEGS Place, Delaware, OH 43015

Magic Dry Top Fuel pilot Scott Palmer looking sharp at Magic Dry Arizona Nationals

Note: The NHRA Nationals will make a stop at the New England Dragway in Epping, NH on the July 4 weekend 2019!

Magic Dry Top Fuel pilot Scott Palmer
looking sharp at Magic Dry Arizona Nationals

Teammate Rickey House keeping pace in Top Fuel Harley

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 23) — With Friday’s action at the 35th annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals effectively erased by cold temperatures, Scott Palmer knew he needed a steady Saturday to stay in contention for the trophy at his title sponsor’s main event. After safely qualifying in the top half of the field in the final session, he was able to breathe a little easier.

“To see Magic Dry Organic Absorbent logos everywhere you look is so cool,” Palmer said. “To be up there on the starting line about to make a run and you see (Magic Dry owner) Tommy Thompson give you a thumbs-up, man that’s motivating for me.

“We have a ton of support here, especially all of me and Tommy’s drag boat racing friends and fellow racers, and it just makes you want to show off and let them see how we do it over here on asphalt. It’s just been such a fun weekend already. Now it’s time to turn on some win lights.”

Playing it a shade to the conservative side, Palmer made a safe run of 3.781 seconds at 325.22 mph in the final session to lockdown the No. 8 position on the ladder. He’ll open race day with lane choice against Mike Salinas, who posted a best of 3.862 at 274.55 mph.

“When we got up there (for the last session) and I saw Steve Torrence smoke the tires early, it made me pretty nervous, so we backed it down a little bit,” Palmer said. “We originally were trying to run a 3.72/3.73 but we made some last-minute changes there to have run somewhere between a 3.77 to a 3.80 flat and it did just that.

“The car does what it’s supposed to and that’s great. We really haven’t had a good run all weekend because of the weather and track conditions and you always would like to go all the way to the finish line at least one time to have something to work off so that’s what we did there. It was a smarter move than going for low E.T.

Sharing in the fun and stress of racing in front of your top supporter is Top Fuel Harley rider Rickey House, another part of the Magic Dry race team. Like Palmer, House managed to lockdown a top-half starting spot after qualifying fourth in the eight-bike field with a 6.423 at 220.80 mph. He’ll race Beau Layne, who went 6.436 at 223.73 mph, in Round 1 of eliminations.

“I’m happy because we are in the show,” House said. “We ran the 6.42 earlier today and I tried to get more aggressive with it this last round but I went too far with it early and it tried to spin the tire on me. I wanted to try to at least stay on the board and hope I could do better but it didn’t work. But we are still in the middle of the show, so that’s good.

“Losing the two rounds yesterday, of course that hurt everybody, but then seeing a couple of 6.20-second runs today let us know the track will hold it if you can tune it right. That’s a positive thing. Tomorrow I don’t think is going to be as sunny so the track ought to be a little bit tighter. It could be one of those 50/50 shot deals. We will see. I definitely want to do good for Tommy and all his family and friends.”

Rickey House

Scott Palmer

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Results from Round 8 of 2019 Monster Energy Supercross in Detroit

Website Tickets Store News LIVE! Photos TV Results Tracks Teams Contact

Note: The Monster SuperX alternates between the Meadowlands in NJ and Gillette Stadium in Foxbroough, MA on the last Satruday in April. The Monster SuperX wil return to the Foxborough, MA venue the last Saturday in April of 2020.

Eli Tomac Grabs His Second 450SX Class Win

Austin Forkner Makes it Three in a Row in Eastern Regional 250SX

Detroit, Mich., (February 24, 2019) The second of three Triple Crown rounds of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship provided six Main Events packed with close racing and exciting finishes in front of a screaming crowd of 47,801 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. In the end it was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac winning the overall in the 450SX Class with a drama-filled final race. It was smoother sailing for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, becoming the first rider ever to sweep all three Main Events in either class; it was Forkner’s third straight win in as many rounds for his division.

Eli Tomac becomes the second multi-race winner of the season joining Cooper Webb (L) and Chad Reed (R) on the podium at Ford Field in Detroit.

SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas Honda’s Justin Brayton grabbed the holeshot of the first of three 12-minute plus one lap 450SX Class Main Events withJGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki’s Chad Reed right behind. Team Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS’ Blake Baggett sat third with series points leader coming into Detroit Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb behind. The day’s fastest qualifier, Eli Tomac was the man on the move, coming up from outside the top ten. Webb lost places, being overtaken by Tomac right at about the six-minute mark. But Tomac wasn’t done, using a quad line to reach Brayton then pass with less than two laps to go. Tomac explained his dramatic turnaround from the previous week as, “Just being comfy, and just riding more effortlessly. It’s a combination of a few things, but [I] just feel one hundred percent better this weekend.”

In the second 450SX Class Main Event Cooper Webb came out of the first turn with the holeshot with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy and Tomac on his tail. Along with Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, the four pulled a gap on the rest of the field with Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen buried back in eighth. Five and a half minutes in Tomac reached the lead, and from there gapped Webb by over six seconds. Musquin went down trying to pass Savatgy; he remounted but ran out of time before being able to make the pass for a podium position. Tomac was on a roll, “I felt really good again, like I’m moving around so much better to get to my lines. It’s just fun riding on my dirt bike. The track was getting a little more broken down that time, [I] gotta be a little more careful here and there but overall still really good.”

Cooper Webb (2) led a star-studded gate into the first turn of Main Event 2 beating out the likes of Eli Tomac (3), Joey Savatgy (17), Marvin Musquin (25) and Ken Roczen (94).

The final race of the night was a nail-biter as Tomac got a bad start then ran wide against a Tuff Blox and then off the track. He fought from as far back as fourteenth to finish in sixth. Baggett was the early leader, but Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia was on the move, going quickly from fourth to the lead in the first four minutes of racing. Webb took advantage and got past Baggett at the same time then set his sights on Barcia. With under three minutes on the clock Webb dove under him in the same turn where Barcia had taken the lead. Webb pulled away, but Baggett became a factor in the closing laps. In the end Webb held on, beating Baggett by under half a second. Tomac’s 1, 1, 6 Main Event scores gave him the overall win; Webb grabbed second place, and holds onto the points lead with 6, 2, 1 scores, and Chad Reed stepped onto the podium for the 132^nd time in his Monster Energy career courtesy of his 3, 5, 7 scores, which edged out Roczen by one point.

After the third Main Event, Tomac said on the podium, “What really got me in that moto was when I went off the track, like on lap two or three. [I] almost clipped the Tuff Blox and had to go around this double, it shuffled me back. I mean, I was back in the beginning, but that really put me in the pressure cooker there and I was like, ‘Am I really doing this right now?’ So I got my head back in it and made the charge back. I was watching the points gap, [Brian] Krantz was doing a good job of giving me the position in that situation. I used up my whole cushion but it paid off. We’re at such a better spot than we were and just felt more ‘me’ tonight.”

Eli Tomac goes 1-1-6 in the three Main Event Triple Crown format earning him first place and 26 Championship points.

When asked about his struggles in qualifying and the early races, Webb said, “I was struggling earlier and, you know, tried to reinvent the wheel, change the whole bike, do this, do that. And just wasn’t riding like myself, wasn’t focused like I should have been. The old saying ‘if it [ain’t] broke don’t fix it,’ so went back to original settings for the last one and wouldn’t you know it, that’s the best setting. So I think I just kind of struggled, but I was pumped for myself; I mean, qualifying ninth and getting better each time. The first Main Event I really struggled, so to bounce back and get a second in the second one and a win in that one. It was a close one, but it was cool. It was nice to lead again, even though it was a Triple Crown Main Event, get a Main Event win and second on the night is good, so keep the ball rolling. But it was nice, intense racing tonight. The track was really demanding but they fixed it a lot with all the time they had so it made it a good race track.”

Chad Reed’s last podium was at Glendale, Arizona in 2017. When asked what got him back, he answered, “Honestly just starts and finally riding to your ability. It’s been a long time. For the guy who’s stood up here more than anybody in the history of the sport, I take it on personally as just feeling less about myself for not getting up here and, you know, running around the top ten, outside the top ten. So it feels so rad to be up here. I’m really, really proud and honored to race this JGR Suzuki. It’s been a lot of fun…”

Chad Reed continues to set records as his 3^rd place finish earned him his 132^nd podium finish in 16 seasons.

The Eastern Regional 250SX Class racers had three ten-minute Main Events and Austin Forkner dominated the night just as he’s been dominating the series. In the first Eastern Regional 250SX Main Event Forkner grabbed the holeshot; he lost the lead momentarily on the opening lap, but eventually pulled out a lead that stretched to over ten seconds as TLD/Red Bull KTM’s Jordon Smith and GEICO Honda’s Chase Sexton battled over second. A last lap attack through the whoops backfired on Sexton; he had to ride off the track and around the final berm to avoid a big crash, allowing Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Justin Cooper to grab third.

In the second 250SX Class Main Event Smith grabbed the holeshot but Forkner quickly got past and checked out, building a lead that reached over seven seconds. Jordon held on for second, with JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki’s Alex Martin reaching third and Sexton finishing in fourth.

Forkner made history by winning the third 250SX Class Main Event, becoming the first rider ever to win all three. Smith ran much of the race in third but lost that position to an aggressive last lap pass by Cooper; it didn’t matter in the overall as Smith earned second overall with 2, 2, 4 finishes. Sexton kept close to Forkner for most of the final race, and second place was good enough for third overall with 4, 4, 2 finishes.

The Eastern Regional 250SX Class podium from Left to Right – Jordon Smith, Austin Forkner and Chase Sexton.

Asked how he pulled off the first Triple Crown sweep, Forkner said, “Honestly my starts. My starts were dialed all night. The last start was the best one I had, and I knew I had it like five feet out of the gate, it was just such a good jump. My bike is the best it’s been this year as far as fast [and] handling, it’s just the complete package right now it makes my life easier. So, if I can just get a start like that, after how the first couple races went, I was pumped and I didn’t think anybody would catch me. That was the ‘Minneapolis me’ not the ‘Dallas me’ today. ‘Dallas me’ was worried a little bit too much about what was going on behind me and today I was like, ‘I’m not going to do that, I’m going to get out front and I’m going to push ahead. I’m not looking back. It doesn’t matter, I’m just going to ride as fast as I can and as hard as I can. Track got tough, ended up starting to jump through the whoops and I think that was key because I blitzed them the first couple of laps and I was just not comfortable with it. It would have been easy to make a mistake so I started jumping through them, got ’em down pretty good and yeah, solid race.”

Jordon went 2, 2, 4, with wrist injury from the previous round in Arlington, “It’s a lot of riding here at the Triple Crowns, it’s 60 minutes of riding [including qualifying] and I didn’t get to do any riding this week. I went to Doctor Berg and got an X-Ray and MRI and luckily no breaks or tears, it was just bone bruised really bad. So [I] did as much therapy as I could during the week and I did one ten-minute moto on Thursday and man, I was bummed after that ten-minute moto because it was hurting really bad and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make it through the whole day. I’ve got to give it up to the whole team, Troy Lee, Red Bull, KTM, they worked with me all day. Even the suspension guy was making changes to try and help my wrist instead of necessarily help my bike out there at times. I’ve just got to give it up to them and Doctor Navarro; without them I wouldn’t have made it thought the night. It was definitely tough and it got tougher and tougher as the night went on.”

Chase Sexton was asked about his starts on the podium, “I had a really good start in the first race. I got a little pushed wide by Austin, we were side by side going into the first corner. Got into second place in that first race and made a little mistake and it cost me. The second start was not good; [I] came from a ways back to get to fourth. And that last moto I was like I’ve got to go out there and try and win this race. Austin’s riding really good, we’ve just got to get in front of him and give him a little pressure. I rode pretty good in the first part of the race but then we got into lappers and slowed me down just a little bit and kind of knocked me out of my groove. But [I’m] looking forward to the East/West Showdown and trying to get my first win, that’s what I’m looking for.”

Next weekend Monster Energy Supercross goes to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia for round nine of the 450SX class and the season’s first East/West Showdown where riders from both regional championships ride together for points for each series.

For the latest media highlights, please click the links below:

450SX Class Video Highlights

250SX Class Video Highlights

450SX Class Results

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki

2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM

3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Suzuki

4. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda

5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM

6. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM

7. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha

8. Joey Savatgy, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki

9. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda

10. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna

450SX Class Championship Standings

1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (173)

2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (167)

3. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (161)

4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (160)

5. Dean Wilson, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (122)

6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha (120)

7. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (119)

8. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Suzuki (114)

9. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (104)

10. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda (97)

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results

1. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki

2. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM

3. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda

4. Justin Cooper, Huntington, N.Y., Yamaha

5. Martin Davalos, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki

6. Alex Martin, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki

7. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Yamaha

8. Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Suzuki

9. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Tex., Honda

10. Blake Wharton, Denton, Tex., Honda

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

1. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (78)

2. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM (65)

3. Justin Cooper, Huntington, N.Y., Yamaha (63)

4. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (60)

5. Alex Martin, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (51)

6. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Yamaha (50)

7. Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Suzuki (44)

8. Martin Davalos, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki (43)

9. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Tex., Honda (43)

10. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Yamaha (41)

Track Talk Column for Sat. 2/23/19-50 plus pavement Tour Type Modified races set for 2019

The upcoming 2019 racing season offers fans of pavement Tour Type Modifieds some 50+ races during the seven months, 30 weekends, making this year a bumper crop of events . Hopefully the weather will cooperate! (Credit: NASCAR photo.)

Track Talk column

By Lou Modestino (Check out Lou Modestino’s Track Talk blog at http://www.enterprisenews.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1838 )

No ACT event would be complete without the presence of James “Scruffy” Lindardy. The Somerville veteran has filed his entry and is ready to tackle the Richmond high banks for the first time.

The Tri-Track Series will return to competition at Monadnock on Saturday, September 14.

While new faces will be added to the officiating staff under Felton, the team of technical inspectors will remain largely unchanged for the 2019 season.

Information for this column came from press releases and personal notes.

Stafford Speedway Newletter

Stafford Motor Speedway Fast Times NewsletterVol. 7 – February 22, 2019

2019 Season Tickets Available Now

2019 Paddock Pass

Order Form – Order Online

2019 Gen. Admission, Reserved Seat, & Kids Fast Pass Tickets

Order Form – Order Online

Matt Galko Has Busy 2019 Schedule Planned for Stafford Speedway

When the green flag falls on the 2019 season at Stafford Motor Speedway, one of the busiest drivers in the paddock area will be Meriden native Matt Galko. The driver of the #3 AAA Consulting, LLC. Chevrolet will once again chase after the SK Modified® track title but he will also be driving his own car in the three Open Modified 80 events on the 2019 Stafford calendar as well as selected starts in the Tri-Track Series. Galko is also looking into the possibility of making his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut this season..…Full Story

Register 2019 Numbers – Open 80’s & Weekly;
Open Mod 80 Early Bird Discount Ends Feb. 28

Number Registration for the 2019 Open Modified events and Stafford’s weekly divisions are now open. The early bird discount for Open Modified 80 registration ends Feb. 28.

Register for Open Modified 80’s

2019 Open Modified Rules

Pay Online for 2019 Number Registration

Kevin Gambacorta Ready to Rebound From Disappointing 2018 in Stafford’s Late Models

After recording 5 consecutive top-4 finishes in the Late Model standings at Stafford Motor Speedway, the 2018 season was disappointing for Ellington, CT native Kevin Gambacorta. Gambacorta is heading into the 2019 season at Stafford ready to put the misery of 2018 behind him…..Full Story

Ryan Fearn Joins Stafford Late Model Rookie Class for 2019

After a career best season that saw him win 6 races and finish as runner up to Jeremy Lavoie in Stafford’s Limited Late Model championship race, Wild Thing Kart graduate and East Longmeadow, MA native Ryan Fearn will move to the Late Model division for the 2019 season…..Full Story

Special Event Tickets Available Now!

Order 2019 Stafford Speedway Special Event Tickets

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