Note: The American Flat Track Series will make a stop at the brand new 1/4-mile dirt track on the spacious grounds of New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, NH on Father’s Day Weekend which is also the scene of the 94th Annual Laconia Bike Week in the Lake’s Region of New Hampshire.
SPRINGFIELD, IL. (March 27, 2019) – Legend of American Flat Track and five-year member of the Harley-Davidson Factory team Kevin Atherton, who also notched an impressive 14 wins in the Camel Pro series, has been named Grand Marshal of the 101st running of the Springfield Mile on May 26. The No. 23 Michigan native is known for a rich racing pedigree and years of successful competition, including two wins at the Springfield Mile in 1997 and 1999. “It was always an honor and thrill to race at the Springfield Mile,” said Atherton. “The fans at Springfield are the best race fans in the country. I got my first win at the age of 17 at Springfield in 1988. I couldn’t be more excited to be going back to such an iconic track at such a beautiful facility.” Atherton will sign autographs during the Open Paddock/Rider Autograph Session on Sunday at 12:00 pm CT (1:00 pm ET) and participate in the Opening Ceremonies activities. Atherton will also present trophies to the winners of the Springfield Mile in Victory Lane.
We are thrilled and honored to have Kevin as our Grand Marshal,” said Dave and Tommra Kiesow, promoters of the Springfield Mile. “He is such a talented rider and one of our favorites to watch. His personality makes it clear why he remains such a fan favorite to this day.” Last year’s Springfield Mile I saw the Illinois-born, and contemporary No. 23, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. earn his first AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines victory in an epic battle against the cream of the AFT Twins crop, including current-champion Jared Mees, Kenny Coolbeth of Morriws, CT, Bryan Smith and Davis Fisher.
Attendees can look forward to pre-race activities including live music (from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm) by Broken Stone and a Vintage Iron Riders bike display in front of the grandstands. On track activity will begin at 1:30 pm CT (12:30 pm ET) with an action-packed race program including both the AFT Production Twins and AFT Twins classes. Fans dare not forget the Springfield TT to take place Saturday, May 25 featuring the Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys class.
Tickets for the Springfield Mile I start at just $35 and tickets to the Springfield TT begin at $15. Premier Pass tickets are $130. Get tickets by calling (217)-632-0277 or by visiting Springfield Mile Tickets.
American Flat Track will continue its 2019 season with the Texas Half-Mile presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the iconic Texas Motor Speedway. Tickets start at just $40 online and are available for purchase now at www.americanflattrack.com
How to Watch:NBCSN and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. For the 2019 season, NBCSN’s coverage of AFT moves to highly-coveted, weekend afternoon programming slots within two weeks of each event. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn. FansChoice.tv remains a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event on AFT’s live page while previous events and exclusive features are available on AFT’s VOD page.
About American Flat Track: American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on American Flat Track, please visithttp://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events at FansChoice.tv and catch all the American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.
ByBrad Norman NASCAR.com March 26, 2019 at 4:03 pm
NASCAR unveiled a retooled 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule on Tuesday, releasing a 36-race slate that includes a reimagined Playoffs and new locations for both the Championship Race and the regular-season finale among several other changes.
For the first time since 2002, the premier series finale will have a new host track – the 1-mile ISM Raceway at Phoenix, which recently completed a $178 million renovation project designed to improve the fan experience, and one which included a reconfiguration for the track’s start/finish line.
ISM Raceway has hosted the Round of 8 finale since the introduction of the NASCAR Playoffs elimination format in 2014, and it has served as the penultimate race of the season every year since 2005.
To get to the title race in Phoenix, though, NASCAR Cup Series drivers must navigate a 10-race postseason that will see short tracks and a road course host the elimination race
The Playoffs will open Sept. 6 at historic Darlington Raceway, whose throwback weekend has become a staple of late summer. The opening round ends at Bristol Motor Speedway under the lights, with one of the most anticipated races of the year moving from its traditional August date to Sept. 19.
The Charlotte road course remains an elimination race after its thrilling debut last year, but in the Round of 12 instead of the Round of 16. With ISM Raceway moving to the championship race, the vacancy for the Round of 8 finale slides to Martinsville Speedway. The shortest and oldest track on the NASCAR circuit has a history of producing plenty of drama in its previous high-stakes Playoffs races, something sure to amp up even more with drivers having just one final chance to clinch a spot in the Championship 4.
“The fans and the industry as a whole have been vocal about the desire for sweeping changes to the schedule, and the 2020 slate is a reflection of our efforts to execute against that feedback,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “These changes are the result of unprecedented consensus-building with our race tracks and broadcast partners; something we look to continue into 2021 and beyond.”M
Before the postseason, the Playoffs field will be fully set and finalized in the new-look regular-season finale at historic Daytona International Speedway, a race sure to throw a dash of unpredictability into the postseason picture.
Known for close-quarters racing and dramatic finishes during its second race of the season under the lights, the World Center of Racing has had a number of underdog winners in its history. Drivers could see their postseason standings drastically improve — or falter — at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in a prime-time Saturday night race on Aug. 29.R
“Quite fittingly, the birthplace of NASCAR will host the bookend races to the 2020 regular season,” O’Donnell said. “Racing in Daytona – particularly in the summer under the lights – never fails in delivering intense and unpredictable action. There’s no question this venue will create some incredible drama as drivers make one last push for a playoff spot.”
Other notable changes to the 2020 schedule are:
• A summer stretch includes a doubleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway that will see back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series races on the same weekend. The first such instance in the NASCAR modern era, this doubleheader on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, also ensures the season ends one week earlier on Nov. 8.R
Additional summer changes include a Cup Series race on Father’s Day, which recently has been an off weekend for the premier series. Chicagoland Speedway hosts the event, the first in the NBC portion of the schedule. With the Daytona summer race moving to the end of the regular season, Indianapolis Motor Speedway will serve as host of the July 4th weekend, a cornerstone on the NASCAR schedule. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, July 5.
“We enjoyed collaborating with NASCAR and their track partners to create what we think will be our most exciting schedule yet in 2020,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBCSN. “From the iconic Bristol night race becoming part of the Playoffs, to the new home of the Championship Race at the thrilling ISM Raceway, we believe this innovative schedule will be a benefit to everyone in the industry, and, most importantly, the fans.”
• Hosting the Round of 8 finale isn’t the only change for Martinsville Speedway. The .526-mile track will host its first NASCAR national series race under the facility’s newly installed lights on Mother’s Day weekend, May 9, 2020.M
• Previously the host of the finale, Homestead-Miami Speedway’s race is slated for March 22, 2020, in the early portion of the regular season. The 1.5-mile track with variable banking produces some of the best racing all year.
• NASCAR goes West earlier this year, with the three-race West Coast swing starting immediately after the season-opening Daytona 500, with Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosting the second race of the season, followed by Auto Club Speedway and ISM Raceway.
• The four final races of the regular season are designed to test the mettle of NASCAR’s top drivers on a variety of courses. That four-race slate includes a wide 2-mile oval (Michigan), a road course (Watkins Glen), a fast, 1-mile concrete track (Dover) and a 2.5-mile superspeedway (Daytona).
“It was a tremendous collaborative effort,” said Bill Wanger, FOX Sports EVP Programming, Live Operations and Research. “Working with NASCAR to offer race fans the most compelling schedule requires a fine balance between honoring tradition, while at the same time, looking for places to add energy to the race schedule for the fans and viewers, and we believe that was accomplished for the 2020 season.”
At least 38 of the top ACT Late Model racers in the U.S. and Canada will head to Virginia’s Richmond Raceway this week for the Commonwealth Classic 65. (Daniel Holben photo)
A number of top weekly ACT Late Model competitors will join the touring stars in Richmond for the inaugural Commonwealth Classic. (Alan Ward photo)
Waterbury, VT – After months of anticipation, the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) is ready for the inaugural Commonwealth Classic 65 at Richmond Raceway. Over the next few days, at least 38 ACT Late Model teams from the U.S. and Canada will make the trek to Virginia for the race on Saturday, March 30 at 1:00pm. Officials and fans will join them to see the long-running Northeast series take on the ¾-mile D-shaped speedway for the first time.
Everyone involved is excited about finally getting to race on the historic track. Richmond has hosted more than 200 events in NASCAR’s top-3 series along with events for the NTT IndyCar Series, the USAC Silver Crown Series, and the now-defunct International Race of Champions (IROC). Both Richmond Raceway and its predecessor, the ½-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Speedway, have been the site of some of the most famous moments in North American motorsports. ACT goes into Saturday’s event hoping to add at least one more moment to that list.
“We can’t wait to actually get to Richmond and get out on the track,” ACT managing partner Cris Michaud said. “The excitement for this event has been apparent from the moment we announced it. Drivers, crew members, car owners, everybody we talk to is thrilled to be heading down. We’re ready to show the fans of Richmond what ACT racing is all about, and we think they’re going to love it.”
The entry list is filled with racers that are familiar to Northeast racing fans. Some of them could end up being household names in Virginia by the end of the weekend. Five former ACT champions headline the drivers making the trek to Richmond this weekend. St-Denis, QC’s Patrick Laperle has five total championships between the ACT Late Model Tour and Série ACT. He’s also looking for his 45th ACT-sanctioned Late Model victory. Former ACT U.S. champions Wayne Helliwell Jr. of Dover, NH; Joey Polewarczyk Jr. of Hudson, NH; and Nick Sweet of Barre, VT are joining Laperle in Richmond, as is 2017 Série ACT Champion Jonathan Bouverette of Blainville, QC.
A number of racers on the entry list also have track championships under ACT rules. Hinesburg, VT’s Bobby Therrien was the 2017 Late Model Champion at Thunder Road while E. Bridgewater, MA’s Ryan Kuhn captured the 2018 title at Seekonk Speedway. Rehoboth, MA’s Nicholas Johnson was also a 2018 champion at Thompson Speedway. Current ACT Late Model Tour standout Rich Dubeau of Lebanon, NH previously won Late Model championships at Canaan Fair Speedway and Claremont Speedway. All told, nearly one-third of the drivers in the field have a touring series or track championship in an ACT Late Model.
Still others are on the rise or have established themselves as top competitors in an ACT Late Model. Graniteville, VT’s John Donahue is one of the winningest Late Model racers in Thunder Road history, and his son Stephen already has Late Model wins to his credit at multiple tracks. Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert has been one of the top ACT Tour runners for nearly a decade and finished third in points this past season. Tom Carey III, Marcel J. Gravel, Mark Jenison, Boomer Morris, and Marc Begin are just some of the other entries who earned wins in an ACT Late Model in 2018.
All of these racers and then some are officially committed to be part of one of the biggest events in ACT’s 34-year history. For many of the drivers traveling to Richmond, it will be their first time at the track at all, never mind their first time racing there. As such, everyone from multi-time track and series champions to brand-new Late Model teams will begin Friday’s open practice day on equal footing. Regardless, they will ready to put on a great show for racing fans everywhere while potentially adding a huge accomplishment to their racing résumé.
The $5,000-to-win ACT Commonwealth Classic 65 on Saturday, March 30 is part of a huge card of action for the event’s inaugural edition. The Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models will run both open and crate-engine 75-lap events. Richmond Raceway will also host the Tour-type Modifieds, Mid Atlantic Street Stocks, and North East Mini Stock Tour with almost $165,000 in total posted awards.
Qualifying for the Commonwealth Classic begins at 1 pm. General grandstand admission is $40 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under. These tickets also include tunnel access for the Fan Zone and Walkway areas of the garage. Open practice for all divisions will be held from 11 am to 5 pm on Friday, March 29. The Fan Zone and Walkway will be open on Friday, but the grandstands will not.
Historic Virginia Track Hosts NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour stays down south for race two of the season on Saturday, before heading back to New England.
The South Boston 150 at South Boston Speedway will see Whelen Modified Tour drivers return to the Virginia oval for the first time since in 18 years. South Boston is one of two new tracks on the 2019 series schedule that will see teams test their equipment in another short-track environment.
SOUTH BOSTON 150 AT SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Doug Coby is back at the top. At least for now.
The five-time series champion opened the season with a victory at Myrtle Beach Speedway, and he leads a long list of drivers looking to keep momentum rolling into South Boston. But, prior to two weeks ago, Coby didn’t have laps at the Virginia track under his belt. During an organizational test, Coby and his No. 2 Mayhew Tools Chevrolet team earned crucial experience just two days before Myrtle Beach, building a notebook they will need for Saturday’s afternoon showdown.
But, over his 18-year career, Coby hasn’t quite found the knack for this style track. In his 25 career wins, he has just three at tracks that are under a half-mile — Seekonk Speedway, Monadnock Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Instead, Coby’s success has come at tracks like Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park — which combine for 16 of his victories, and are tracks that have long straightaways and high-speed action.
South Boston is a short, .4-mile, paved oval that Coby will be hoping to quickly knock of his bucket list in his first start. With Phil Moran in control, and Coby sitting behind the wheel of an LFR Chassis — a department that does have previous experience at the track in the past — it could be the perfect place for him to put his struggles at bullrings officially behind him.
The real advantage, though, may rest with the drivers who have previous experience at the Virginia oval in Whelen Southern Modified Tour action from 2009-2016. Burt Myers, who also tested at South Boston, has 10 starts at the track nicknamed ‘SoBo’ but has come up just short of winning. The Walnut Cove, North Carolina, driver finished eighth or better in all of those starts, and as one of the only with experience, they could pay off for him in a big way.
Kyle Bonsignore, who picked up his first career Whelen Modified Tour win last year, finished second in his most recent South Boston stop. Kyle Ebersole, who led 12 laps in the Myrtle Beach opener, won at the Virginia oval in 2014. Jeremy Gerstner and Gary Putnam also have previous starts at the track. The Hill family returns to action with veteran James Civali behind the wheel — another driver who has previous experience and two wins at South Boston.
From up north, Chase Dowling, who finished in the runner-up spot in the championship standings last season, will make his first start driving for Jamie Tomaino.
The starting field for the South Boston 150 is limited to 28 starters, including provisional positions. The first 22 drivers will secure starting positions based on the group qualifying process. The remaining six positions will be awarded through the provisional process.
NASCAR group qualifying is in place for this event. The number of groups for qualifying will be determined by NASCAR. Each group qualifying session will be five (5) minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed of each vehicle will determine the first 22 starting positions. Vehicles may not return to the track or make any further qualifying laps unless directed to do so by a NASCAR Official or in the event of a caution. If a vehicle returns to pit road, the vehicle’s qualifying attempt is complete. Once a vehicle’s attempt is complete, the vehicle must proceed directly to the designated impound area once it enters pit road. Vehicles will proceed immediately to impound after making their qualifying attempt. Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying/inspection. Vehicle must qualify on race set up.
The South Boston 150 is 150 laps (60 miles). The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. Four tires (4) must be used for qualifying and to begin the race.
Source: Jason Christley NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
(Stafford Springs, CT)—With the first green flag of the 2019 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season just around the corner, Cassandra Cole is primed and ready. The Westbrook, CT native and driver of the #09 NAPROCO/Whelen/MAWC Accounting Chevrolet is entering her third season of SK Light competition at Stafford Motor Speedway and after a busy and productive off-season, she is ready to make her mark in 2019.
“This winter was the first time we’ve actually torn the car down since we got it,” said Cole. “We found a lot of bent parts which was our problem last season with the car not steering right. We’ve pretty much done a restoration job on the entire car making it mostly brand new so hopefully it will be fast this season. I’ve done a lot of the work on the car myself and my Dad has been teaching me everything I need to know about the car. It’s going to be pretty cool to be racing a car that I’ve done most of the work on. We have two new sponsors with NAPROCO and Whelen so I have to thank them along with MAWC Accounting, Tri State Glass, The Garage Door Guys, Downie Septic & Excavations, my Dad, my Mom, my brother, everyone who’s helped me run around this winter getting spare parts, and Keith Rocco for all his help with the setup. I’ve been waiting for a while now and I’m super excited to get the season started.”
After running a half-season as a rookie in 2017, Cole started 20 of 21 races last season and posted four top-10 finishes, with a twice accomplished best finish of 6th. Cole ended the season 11th in the championship points standings, missing out on a top-10 finish by just 12 points. With everything she has learned throughout the winter working on the #09 machine, Cole is confident that the car will have speed and that the first career top-5 finish and even first career victory will come in 2019.
“I feel like after the off season we’ve had and making the car almost brand new again, we have a good shot at getting a top-5 finish hopefully in the first couple of races,” said Cole. “Last year I won my first heat race so this year I’m hoping to win my first feature race. The goal is to get a top-5 finish in the points and get some podium finishes. Last year we came up one spot short of a top-10 finish in the standings. I definitely think working on the car and learning all about it this winter is going to help. Usually whenever I had a problem I would say something like it’s something in the left front that isn’t working and now I’ll know what is happening and where it’s happening and what could be wrong. We’re looking to get things turned around this season.”
One area that Cole knows she needs to improve on in order to get her #09 machine into the top-5 and contending for wins is her communication to her crew about how the car is handling and what they can do to make it faster during a Friday night. Should Cole need any extra advice to unlock speed from her #09 car she will once again have 3-time Stafford SK Modified® champion Keith Rocco helping her out with her car setup.
“I’d definitely say communication from me to both Keith and my Dad will be the key for us this season,” said Cole. “I haven’t been very good at explaining to them what is wrong with the car so hopefully working on the car this winter will allow me to be much better with that this season. It’s really awesome to have someone like Keith helping us out. He’s really good, he knows his stuff, and there’s nothing he doesn’t have an answer for whenever I ask him a question. I don’t think he’s ever given me advice that didn’t help me out.”
The SK Light division will see 6 returning winners from 2018 along with a rookie class of over 10 drivers mixed with veterans all keeping the competition level as strong as ever this season.
“I feel like it’s going to be just as tough as it was last season to win a race this year,” said Cole. “I’ve raced with people from Legend Cars to SK Lights at Stafford, and they’ve all been good drivers. I think that Stafford has the best SK Modified® and SK Light drivers in the Northeast so it’s definitely going to be tough. It’s all about the setup and making the right changes on the car for the night time versus practicing during the day. We’re a first generation team so we’re still learning a lot about the car with things like stagger and Keith [Rocco] has been a big help in that department.”
Cole’s first chance to win a race in 2019 will be during Stafford Speedway’s 48th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler on April 27-28. 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 at www.staffordspeedway.com. Discount NAPA Spring Sizzler tickets that include access to the NAPA lunch buffet will be available at participating NAPA Auto Parts Stores starting Monday, March 25. For a full list of participating locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, please call the speedway office or point your web browser to www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores.
Note: if your track, tour and event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com
he Rumors are true! Street Outlaws No Prep Kings will be here May 24th & 25th!Buy
Supercharge Your Group Outing With NITRO!We invite you to bring a group of 20 or more of your best customers, staff, or friends to experience the thrill of thundering charges at more than 320 miles per hour! Come meet the superstars of professionals drag racing! Every ticket includes a pit pass. Members of your group will have the opportunity to obtain autographs and photos with their favorite drivers! It’s all part of your ticket to thrilling drag racing actions! Whether it is a company outing or special occasion our team is here to guide you! Call today and experience for yourself why New England Dragway has been the regions number one choice in Drag Racing for more than 50 years making our venue a unique place for a group outing
ATTN: Street Night Racers! Are you a frequent racer at Street Nights?For the first time we are offering a Street Night Fast Pass! It’s $100 and gets you 5 Racer Tickets for Street Nights, making one of those tickets FREE
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK!Support our sponsors who support you!We thank The Beach Plum for supporting racing at New England Dragway! This weekend you can join them for Maple Weekend!
New England Dragway | 603-679-8001 |
Drag racing cars in action at New Eng;land Dragway in Epping, NH. . (Credit: NHRA photo)
Don’t forget to reserve your camping spot by using the link above! March Test & Tune Information
The Test & Tune scheduled for March 23rd was post-poned to March 30th.All safe racecars are welcome. Gates will open at 8am. On track activity will begin at 10am and conclude at 4 pm. Garage reservations are still open for this event on thompsonspeedway.com, or by calling the office.
Mike Douglas, Jr. is a potential winner in the Bullring Bash (Credit: Mike Douglas photo)
Attleboro, Massachusetts (March 25, 2019) — The Bullring Bash Quarter Mile Challenge is excited to announce they will be partnering with Racing with Jesus Ministries for the 2019 season. Racing with Jesus, also known as the “Racer’s Church”, will provide full support and chaplain services at all Bullring Bash events.
The national ministry has already worked with many Bullring Bash staff and drivers through the various series and tracks where they serve as chaplains. From their home base in Tolland, CT, Racing with Jesus and its chaplains travel throughout the country to instill strength, belief and peace for those who seek their services and teachings.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to come alongside the Bullring Bash Racing Series and serve them,” Racing with Jesus Ministries President Rev. Don Rivers said. “We welcome the invitation. While we have some relationships with many involved, we are looking forward to strengthening those and building new ones. 2019 will see us serving at over 200 races across 10 racing series and tracks across the country. The Bullring Bash Racing Series will be a great opportunity for us to see drivers and teams have personal victories both on and off the track.”
Racing with Jesus was founded in 1980 by the late Rev. Pat Evans and is the most prominent ministry devoted to the racing community. They provide pre-race invocations, driver’s meeting prayers, Victory Chapel services, and devotion time in both group and one-on-one formats. They also publish Bible teachings that reach people outside of the race track. By standing beside drivers, teams, officials and fans while building trusting relationships with them, they strive to provide a platform for people to find their own relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
The ministry is the official provider of chaplain services for a number of national and regional auto racing sanctioning bodies. These include the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, The World of Outlaws Dirt Late Model Series, and the Race of Champions Modifieds. They also visit tracks throughout the United States and Canada and serve local drivers with track chaplains.
The Bullring Bash Quarter Mile Challenge will have additional announcements regarding registered teams, sponsors, officials, partnerships, and much more in the coming weeks.
Our mailing address is: Bullring Bash QMC30, George St,Montpelier, VT 05602-3709
Note: if your track, tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com
RACE RECAP: KESELOWSKI’S MARTINSVILLE WIN IN 143 SECONDS Relive Brad Keselowski’s victory at Martinsville Speedway, his second victory of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
ELLIOTT’S GOAL IN FINAL LAPS? ‘GET TO (KESELOWSKI’S) BUMPER AND PLAY SOME GAMES’!
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Chase Elliott came within feet of passing Brad Keselowski in the… CONTACT BETWEEN JONES, LARSON RESULTS IN DAMAGED NO. 20 Erik Jones, Kyle Larson make contact while battling in the final stage at Martinsville;… HARD HIT FOR MCDOWELL EARLY AT MARTINSVILLEMichael McDowell’s No. 34 smacks the wall in Stage 1 at Martinsville Speedway, sustaining…THREE-PEAT BID ENDS, BUT KYLE BUSCH RALLIES, KEEPS MOMENTUM AT MARTINSVILLEMARTINSVILLE, Va. — Kyle Busch’s bid for a three-race winning streak in the Monster…KESELOWSKI GIVES THE FANS ANOTHER SHOW IN THE NO. 2 FORD Brad Keselowski burns it down (twice) in his winning No. 2 Ford and takes a victory lap… SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: MAKING OF THE MARTINSVILLE HOT DOG See the teamwork that goes into making the famous Martinsville hot dog in the latest…
MULTIYEAR AGREEMENT POSITIONS GEICO AS ‘OFFICIAL INSURANCE PARTNER OF NASCAR’ DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 25, 2019) — NASCAR and GEICO announced today a multiyear pact..
NASCAR One Daytona Boulevard | Daytona Beach, FL 32114 USA
Begins Quest For Crown at 45thAnnual Icebreaker Weekend
By Kyle Souza, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
THOMPSON, Conn. – Sometimes, a quick change in plans results in success.
That has been the case for Sunoco Modified driver Todd Owen. Two years ago, Owen wasn’t even planning on taking any laps at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park during the season.
Fast-forward to now and he is one of the hottest drivers to hit the track, especially last year, where he won three of the final four races in the division. Two of those wins came as part of the 20/20 sprint in September, and he also capped the season by winning the Sunoco World Series – and finishing just 20 points short of his first title.
“Honestly, it was kind of a mistake,” Owen said. “We built a brand new car for New London-Waterford Speedbowl two years ago and they didn’t open, so two days before the Icebreaker, I decided I was going to change the rear-end and go to Thompson. I ran my Pro Stock at Thompson for five or six years, but I hadn’t been there a lot since thenat all.”
After a few laps around the track, Owen was back at home behind the wheel – and it didn’t take long before he was carrying the checkered flag. That decision to change his rear-end, and his quick change in plans, has paid off in a big way. Owen has been one challenger that is consistently closest to Keith Rocco in chase of the championship. Although Rocco has seven titles, and the last three, Owen feels like they are closing in on him even more.
“It took a couple of weeks to get reconfigured with the place, it definitely had changed since the last time I had been there. It’s just a place I have always done well in my career,” Owen said of Thompson’s .625-mile oval. “The car just goes really well, and last year we built a new car and finished second the first time out with it. We definitely were missing a little bit of something in the summer, but at the end of the year, winning three out of the last four, and finishing second to Keith in points in the last two years, we are right there.”
Building cars is something Owen does on a regular basis, in the shop just behind his house. But he can’t take all of the credit for the work to build Sunoco Modified and SK Light Modified® machines that are having so much success in New England. Owen also holds the Bryan Narducci car in his stable – a driver that will be a major championship threat for the SK Light Modified® division at Thompson this year, and multiple others, including some competitors over at Stafford Motor Speedway.
“I’m going to take credit for being in charge of the cars, but as far as the brains of the car goes, Butch Shea is the one who has been my mentor since I was 16-years-old. When he got out of his shop, he came back around 2012 and started helping me again. We do this together,” Owen said. “We try to keep everything basic and symbol, we don’t get into the trick setups, we just keep it basic. If you keep all four wheels square and straight, that’s probably three-quarters of the battle. We’ve had great motor programs as well. Three years ago I had one race car, but now I have eight cars that we built and I have four of five of them here. I sit back, I look at it and I just say how is this even happening.”
For Owen, this season is going to be about winning more races, but also about chasing his first Thompson title. He’s had just about enough of finishing in the runner-up spot, but unfortunately for the 43-year-old, it seems like something he’s done constantly over his career.
In racing, is the second place driver the first loser? They might be. But Owen has put together so much success over his career that second-place finishes in the standings should be celebrated. Racing is not an easy sport to tackle and he’s found a way to be successful for many years.
“It’s definitely something I want. If you look back at my racing career you can probably find that I finished second in points twelve times or more,” Owen joked. “Other than the championship I won at Riverside, I finished second a bunch of times. It was pretty cool to go down with Bryan (Narducci, Division III National Champion) to the NASCAR banquet and say that one day I’d like to be up on that stage.”
Owen takes pride in building his own equipment, and even though he works what he says is probably close to 50 hours during the work, he finds the time to work in the shop and prepare the cars for battle. In fact, when he pulls into the driveway, he usually just rolls right by the house and parks the car in front of the garage door. It’s a never-quit attitude, and it’s been that way for years.
“You have to be close from the shop, when you get to the race track you have to be ready. The guys that are fast are fast the first practice and the last practice,” he said. “You have to use every single race as its own test. You have to be learning for what you need to do for the next week.”
Now, Owen is turning his attention to the racing season, as the snow melts and the sunshine rises over Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park ahead of the 45thannual Icebreaker weekend, April 5-7. Owen finished second in the event last year, but is hoping to best that effort in Victory Lane
“I love those weekends, they are my favorite weekends. We work our butt off all winter long, so when you get to the track, you’ve accomplished something. It’s like when you build a new house, you walk in the door and see what it looks like for the first time and it’s about the same feeling. We all get along great, it’s just like a married couple – there are some days you can’t deal with the other guy – but you learn how to shake it off. It’s funny; it’s part of it. When we’re done, we load up and go sit to watch the Whelen Modified Tour race together and just hang out. I’m 43-years-old. You have to be realistic and just be happy with what we have and try to do the best of what you can do.”
If you couldn’t tell, Owen is ready to get back behind the wheel and he hopes the opening Icebreaker weekend ends with victory glory. He also plans to run some in the Valenti Modified Racing Series throughout the season, and will continue with his efforts at Stafford, just across the state, during their Friday night slate.
“I’m super confident. We were really strong at the end of the year and we put all the parts possible in my house car and I put the car away. I didn’t strip it down or anything, we only raced it seven times. We are basically just going back with the same car,” Owen said. “I’m confident we are going to have a good piece. You have to finish. You have to start off the year and finish every race. Our goal is to go out there and get a top-five to start the year off right.”
Owen isn’t going to be the only driver looking to take down Rocco, who will return in hopes of gaining another title. Upcoming modified talent Marcello Rufrano, who won NASCAR’s UNOH Achievement Award last season, will compete driving the No. 68 – a car he visited Victory Lane with at Thompson last September for his first career win.
Troy Talman, another upcoming Modified driver in New England, will also return this season. Talman has been known for consistency in Thompson’s Sunoco Modified class, and if he can put together top-five runs, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the thick of the battle come the end of the season.
In just about two weeks, the 45thannual Icebreaker weekend takes the green flag, April 5-7. The event will see 11 different divisions compete for action – including Thompson’s five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series classes. Grandstand passes for the Icebreaker are $55 and good for both Saturday and Sunday with general admission seating. A paddock pass for Saturday and Sunday is $60.
For more information on Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, fans are asked to visit the website, www.thompsonspeedway.com, and follow the track on social media – via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates.
Source:
Taylor Pelletier
Sr. Manager, Event Services
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Note: If your track, tour or event is not posted on this blog send your press releases and flyers to: lmodestino@hotmail.com
