Monthly Archives: June 2020

Pushing Forward: Les Hinckley Sets Eyes On Tri Track Season

Attachment thumbnail

VETERAN MODIFIED STAR LOOKS FOR TRI TRACK WIN SUNDAY AT MONADNOCK 

By Kyle Souza

SEEKONK, Mass. — Les Hinckley’s ride to the top of the ladder in Modified racing has come with plenty of checkered flags and trophies. But, to this point, none of them have come with the Tri Track Open Modified Series. He hopes to change that on Sunday afternoon, July 5, when Tri Track hits the ground running for the first time in 2020 — two months delayed due to COVID-19 — at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, New Hampshire. 

“Tri Track is a financially responsible series to run, payouts versus the cost,” Hinckley said. “I like to race once a month, once every four or five weeks… it gives me time in between races to prepare my car the way it needs to be prepared for a race. When you factor in the schedule, with the way the purse is structured and the tracks we go to and race, it fits us as a team.” 

Hinckley is one of more than 30 drivers expected Sunday at the high-banks of Monadnock. Due to COVID-19, and guidance from the state of New Hampshire, fans will be allowed at 50% capacity through the grandstands. The Tri Track Open Modified Series has also put a list of strict guidelines in place to maintain social distancing and best health practices to keep all competitors, teams, staff and fans safe. The race will also be available via live stream on Speed51.com, where race fans can purchase the action for $24.95. 

Following Monadnock, Tri Track plans to keep the remainder of the 2020 season schedule in place – with races at Star Speedway (July 25), Monadnock (August 15) and Seekonk Speedway (August 26 & October 24) still in the plans. 

Hinckley is no stranger to running at Monadnock, as a former track champion and winner in the Pro Stock division. He’s also a former regular at Riverside Park Speedway, where he grew up racing. The last 20 years of racing have taken a few different surprise left turns for the veteran.  

Hinckley was competing for veteran car owner Chuck Montville in Modifieds, where he started winning races in 2004, and continued the partnership until the middle of 2013, when Chuck suddenly passed away. That left Hinckley looking for a new opportunity. He teamed with a few different rides, including current Tri Track Managing Partner Wayne Darling, who was a car owner at the time, and had success. Now, he’s working on and responsible for his own equipment as owner/driver and is enjoying spending time at home when possible. 

“Being a father of two kids that are actively in sports, I would enjoy going back to racing Saturday nights at Riverside where you didn’t have to show up until 3:30 in the afternoon, 10 minutes from my house,” Hinckley joked. “But the biggest transition from having Chuck, to not having Chuck, was racing full-time to not racing full-time. I was in the garage the second most amount of time, with Chuck there the most. I lost my car owner, who was primarily responsible for expenses, I lost the guy who spent the most amount of time on the car, and I lost a friend. I either had to step away and retire, hope that my phone rang, or step up and get back to an ownership role. I wasn’t interested in retiring.” 

“It’s been an adjustment,” he said of running things. “For financial and time reasons, I haven’t been able to race full-time since then, but there have been other things in my life that have filled the time. I got involved with my kids and their sports, and I don’t regret that for a minute.” 

Monadnock is a tight, banked track that Hinckley has so many laps around he could probably do it with his eyes closed. But, when the field rolls in Sunday afternoon, he’s going to have some stout competition to run against. Stars of the Tri Track Series will roll to green against some from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Race of Champions Tour, Monadnock Speedway Sportsman Modified Series and more. 

Hinckley knows he’s got his work cut out for him, with mistakes not an option. 

“It’s a tricky track for guys that don’t have a lot of experience because both ends are so different,” Hinckley said. “We’ve won our fair share of races there, and a championship in a Pro Stock, and we’ve had success. A ton of laps, but at this level, with this group of guys, I don’t think the competition is any better anywhere than what it is with Tri Track. When you deal with the talent and equipment level, the experience gets swallowed up. I’m not sure how much of an advantage I have, with a lot of them being well-seasoned veterans with a small learning curve.” 

With the offseason now in the rear-view mirror, Hinckley is looking forward to getting back to the track, but with a heavy heart. He lost his father in April, not due to COVID-19, but another illness. He knows his father will be in the seat with him when the competition hits full speed. 

“It will be hard… in recent years his health and mobility weren’t the greatest, so he wasn’t going to the track very often. But what will be extremely hard Sunday night is coming down the road on the way home and knowing that the phone won’t ring with him wanting a race report,” Hinckley said of his father. “Good, bad, or different, when I pulled out of the track, I would have a voicemail from him. I’ve never needed any motivation to do what I do, but I’ve lost a few people, with my dad being the most recent, that were icons to me in racing. I’ve always had a work ethic in me, that more than just me, I wanted to make them proud. Chuck, my Dad, my uncle… they were three people I looked up at and I’ve lost them… we’re going to keep doing what we are doing and I know they are watching over us.” 

Action begins on Sunday with practice at 12 p.m., followed by heat races at 2 p.m., and feature racing to follow. Only the Tri Track and Pro Truck Challenge qualifying, and feature racing will air live on Speed51.com, where fans can purchase for just $24.95. The Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Sportsman Modifieds and Late Model Sportsman will also be in competition but will not be shown due to broadcast restrictions. 

For more information on Monadnock Speedway, visit monadnockspeedway.com. For more information on the Tri Track Open Modified Series, visit tritrackmodifieds.com and follow the series on social media. 

Source: Kyle Souza/Owner, Souza MediaDirector of Public Relations — Tri Track Open Modified Series.

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

Speed51 To Air Tri Track Opener at Monadnock Speedway on Sunday, July 5

Attachment thumbnail
Attachment thumbnail

SEEKONK, Mass. — Race fans who can’t attend Sunday’s Tri Track Open Modified Series opener at Monadnock Speedway will have the opportunity to stream the race live on Speed51.com. Through a partnership with the series and Speed51, fans can purchase the day of Tri Track racing for just $24.95 and not miss a lap of Modified racing.  

The revenue created through the broadcast will go towards helping the Tri Track Open Modified Series cover costs for the event, including the purse, which has not been cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purse for Monadnock rises over $40,000, with $6,000 up for grabs for the winner. New for 2020, the Pepsi Challenge begins with heat and consi races paying the winner. Courtesy of Pepsi, each heat and consi will pay $300 to win, giving drivers every extra incentive to step on the loud pedal during qualifying races. 

The heat and consolation races, along with the 100-lap feature, will air live. None of the other divisions competing at Monadnock on Sunday will be shown on the stream due to broadcast restrictions. 

Monadnock Speedway, per guidance from the state of New Hampshire, will allow up to 50% fan capacity through the grandstands for the event. The Tri Track Open Modified Series has put a list of strict guidelines in place to maintain social distancing and best health practices to keep all competitors, teams, staff and fans safe, but still open the season after a two-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“This is going to be one of the top modified races of the season, especially due to the delay, everyone can’t wait to get back to the track,” Wayne Darling, Managing Partner of the Tri Track Open Modified Series, said. “We hope all race fans will be able to come to the track to witness some of the top competitors in the entire Northeast battle at Monadnock, but we’re pleased to partner with Speed51 to give those fans who can’t make it a chance to watch all the action.” 

Tri Track teams will enter the pit area at 9 a.m., to ensure social distancing, while practice will begin at 12 p.m., with 45 minutes scheduled. Heat races will start at 2 p.m., while consolation and feature racing will follow. The Tri Track Open Modified Series feature is estimated to take the green flag around 7 p.m.  

Speed51’s stream will go up for the heats, then down, and back up, down, and up, for the remainder of the racing. Race fans shouldn’t be concerned if the screen goes dark in between races. Be sure to follow Speed51 and the Tri Track Open Modified Series on Facebook for full updates on race day. 

“Our team at Speed51 is pumped to work with the Tri-Track Open Modified Series and Monadnock Speedway to kick-off the 2020 season,” Brandon Paul, Content Manager at Speed51, said. “The Tri Track Series is one the best things going in Modified racing right now, with big money and big stars at each event. We hope that our live broadcast will provide a few hours of entertainment for the diehard Modified fans who are itching to watch racing during this time.” 

Tri Track has developed a list of strict guidelines to ensure the safety of race teams, drivers, staff and fans. Guidance provided by the state of New Hampshire and local officials, along with CDC recommendations were all used to come up with best practices. Teams will be restricted to 10 crew members per car, including the driver and car owner, and face coverings are strongly encouraged when social distancing is not possible. Tri Track officials will use face coverings. Social distancing protocols will be in place and teams are asked not to enter another competitor’s pit stall to avoid groups larger than 10. 

The Tri Track Open Modified Series management realizes that some of the guidelines being imposed are not ideal, but we are working to ensure that the health and safety of competitors, team members, officials, employees and fans is paramount at this time. 

Registration for Monadnock remains open at $150 for just the one event, or $450 for the entire season. The $450 amount is only in place for teams that register by the time of entry into Monadnock. Teams that have already registered do not need to register again. Those who have not must visit tritrackmodifieds.com and the team info tab to fill out their registration. 

Teams will be asked to contact Michelle at the Monadnock track office at 603-239-4067 with their car number and list of 10 people entering on their crew. If a team does not have 10 people, just be ready to provide the people you have planning on attending. Teams can also email a full list to monadnockspeedway@ymail.com. Teams must pre-order tires at Hoosier Tire East by calling Dan at 860-646-9646. 

Series officials anticipate the remainder of the 2020 schedule will remain in place. A stop at Star Speedway on Saturday, July 25, is scheduled for the annual SBM 125, followed by another date at Monadnock on August 15. Seekonk Speedway’s rescheduled Open Wheel Wednesday on August 26th and the Haunted Hundred on October 24 will wrap the schedule. 

For more information on Speed51, visit Speed51.com, and follow them on social media. For more information on Monadnock Speedway, visit the track at monadnockspeedway.com. For more information on the Tri Track Open Modified Series, visit tritrackmodifieds.com and follow the series on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates. 

Source: Kyle Souza Owner, Souza MediaDirector of Public Relations — Tri Track Open Modified Series

Formula 1 Season Launches This Week on ESPN After Four-Month Delay

June 29, 2020

Formula 1 Season Launches This Week on ESPN After Four-Month Delay

Commercial-Free Race Telecasts Continue; Pre-Race Show Lengthened 

U.S. Spanish Language Coverage Begins on ESPN Deportes

After a delay of nearly four months, the 2020 season of the FIA Formula One World Championship will launch this week with the first of two consecutive weekends of racing in Austria.

ESPN begins its third consecutive year of coverage with expanded offerings, a new availability for Spanish-speaking fans and a continuation of commercial-free race telecasts.

The Formula 1 Rolex Austrian Grand Prix from the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. will air Sunday, July 5, at 9:05 a.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The Grand Prix Sunday pre-race show (formerly On the Grid, now expanded to one hour) will precede the race at 8 a.m. on ESPN. Live coverage of the weekend’s three practice sessions and qualifying also will air on ESPN or ESPN2.

On the heels of double-digit television viewership growth in the United States over the past two seasons, ESPN and Formula 1 forged a new agreement last fall that will keep the Championship on ESPN and ABC through 2022. F1 returned to the ESPN networks in 2018.

As an additional element of the new deal, ESPN Deportes is now the exclusive Spanish-language home for all Formula 1 races in the U.S. Spanish-language coverage of F1 races, qualifying and practice sessions will be made available to fans on the ESPN Deportes television network and other ESPN platforms all season.

Once again in 2020, the race telecasts will be presented commercial-free with sponsorship from Mothers Polish, which signed a new, three-year agreement with ESPN. The expanded new deal also includes presenting sponsorship of practice and qualifying telecasts.  

ESPN is again teaming with Sky Sports and Formula 1 to bring Sky Sports’ award-winning presentation of Formula 1 racing to American viewers. Sky’s Welcome to the Weekend program, which will air on ESPN2 for both Austria events leading into the weekend’s first practice session, returns this year with a race preview, driver interviews and commentary and analysis from the Sky team. The Austrian edition of the program airs on Friday, July 3, at 4:30 a.m. with replays available on the ESPN App.

After the Formula 1 Rolex Austrian Grand Prix, Formula 1 will return to the Red Bull Ring for the Formula 1 Pirelli Styrian Prix July 10-12.

Formula 1 returned to its original U.S. television home in 2018 – the first race ever aired in the country was on ABC in 1962. F1 races also aired on ESPN from 1984-1997.

ESPN’s coverage of Formula 1 also includes a dedicated website that reports on the championship year-round.

Formula 1 Rolex Austrian Grand Prix

DateProgramStart TimeNetwork
Friday, July 3Welcome to the Weekend4:30 a.m.ESPN2
 Practice 14:55 a.m.ESPN2
 Practice 28:55 a.m.ESPN2
Saturday, July 4Practice 35:55 a.m.ESPN2
 Qualifying8:55 a.m.ESPN
Sunday, July 5Grand Prix Sunday8 a.m.ESPN
 Spanish language telecast8:30 a.m.ESPN Deportes
 Race9:05 a.m.ESPN

Formula 1 Pirelli Styrian Grand Prix

DateProgramStart TimeNetwork
Friday, July 10Welcome to the Weekend4:30 a.m.ESPN2
 Practice 14:55 a.m.ESPN2
 Practice 28:55 a.m.ESPN2
Saturday, July 11Practice 35:55 a.m.ESPN2
 Qualifying8:55 a.m.ESPN
Sunday, July 12Grand Prix Sunday8 a.m.ESPN
 Spanish language telecast8:30 a.m.ESPN Deportes
 Race9:05 a.m.ESPN

(all times Eastern) (All telecasts also streaming live and available for replay on the ESPN App)

Source: Andy Hall ESPN PR

Thunder Road Approved for Limited Fan Attendance at Thursday, July 2 Event

Attachment thumbnail

NSN to Continue Offering Pay-Per-View Broadcasts

For the first time in 2020, Thunder Road will be permitted to allow limited fan attendance at the July 2 event per an agreement with the state of Vermont. (Alan Ward photo)

Barre, VT – Thunder Road officials announced today that the track has received state approval to allow limited fan attendance at the Aubuchon Hardware Holiday Spectacular on Thursday, July 2. It will be the first event at the track with front gate attendance permitted since the beginning of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak.

Per the terms of the agreement, Thunder Road’s seating area will be divided into different sections, with a limited amount of tickets sold per section. Fans are required to remain in the section they purchased ticket(s) for throughout the event.

Thunder Road season pass holders will be given priority for seating at this Thursday’s event and will continue to receive priority for as long as attendance restrictions are in place. Those who have not yet spoken with the track office must call (802) 244-6963 ext. 4 by end-of-day Tuesday to be guaranteed a seat.

The remaining tickets will be sold in advance on a first-come-first-serve basis. Tickets can be purchased by calling (802) 244-6963 ext. 1.

Admission is $15 for adults and $3 for kids ages 6-12. There will be no ticket sales at the track. Due to the restrictions on fan attendance, the originally scheduled fireworks display has been postponed.

Several other guidelines and regulations will be in place for those attending. Fans must enter through the gate assigned for their section and must also use the bathrooms and concessions assigned to their section. Face masks are highly recommended while groups who did not come to the track together must remain at least six feet apart. Hand sanitizer will be available, and all attendees are encouraged to wash their hands frequently.

Further guidance will be provided to those who purchase tickets. If fans do not yet feel safe at the track or cannot follow the guidance provided, they are asked not to attend the event.

“This is another big step in the right direction,” Thunder Road managing partner Cris Michaud said. “Our fans have been incredibly supportive of us the last two weeks while we’ve been doing the pay-per-view only format, and we’re excited some of them will finally get the chance to be at the track again.”

For those who can’t make it to Thursday’s event, Northeast Sports Network (NSN) will continue to offer pay-per-view live coverage of the Aubuchon Hardware Holiday Spectacular as well as all Thunder Road events for the foreseeable future. The cost of this Thursday’s broadcast is $15 with coverage beginning at 7:00pm. The broadcast can be ordered in advance at www.NSNsports.net.

“NSN has done a great job for us in a tough situation,” Michaud added. “We realize that, with the limits on ticket sales, not everyone will be able to attend who wants to — and understandably, some people might not yet feel safe attending. By continuing the pay-per-view, everyone still has the opportunity to watch all the action at the Nation’s Site of Excitement in some form.”

The Aubuchon Hardware Holiday Spectacular goes to post at 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 2 at 7:00pm. A full card of action is scheduled for the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors. Admission is $15 for adults for $3 for kids ages 6-12. Tickets are available for advance purchase only by calling (802) 244-6963 ext. 1.

Northeast Sports Network will also offer a $15 live pay-per-view broadcast of the event. The broadcast can be viewed on the NSN website as well as most mobile and smart TV platforms.

For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ThunderRoadVT.

For more about the Northeast Sports Network, visit www.NSNsports.net or follow them on Facebook and Twitter at @NSNsports.

Source: Thunder Road Speedbowl Media Director

Econn Motorsports and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Announce 2020 Oval Track Plans

Econn Motorsports and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park announced today an agreement that will enable oval track racing to continue on the famed 5/8th mile at Thompson CT. A tentative 2020 schedule has been developed with the first event being an open practice on Wednesday July 8th.

Plans currently call for Econn Motorsports to also host an open practice on Wednesday August 5th. Racing is set to resume with the Bud 150 on Wednesday August 19th and the Sunoco World Series on October 9-11. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is expected to headline both race dates. The parties are exploring the possibility of additional race meets during 2020.

Econn Motorsports is a newly formed race promotion and consulting firm headed by Terry Eames, former General Manager of Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. “The COVID-19 pandemic put oval track racing at Thompson in 2020 at risk. We are proud to announce that the Hoenig family and Econn have found a way for oval track racing to continue during the track’s 80th year and beyond”, Eames said.

Specific details of next week’s practice will be available over the next several days at EconnMotorsports.com. Tickets will only be available online and in advance in keeping with the policies set forth by the State of Connecticut designed to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Econn Motorsports can be reached via EconnMotorsports.com or by voice and text at (860) 327-5544

Source: EConn Motorsports

Organizers cancel 2020 Woodward Dream Cruise after unanimous vote from cities along its route

Editors Note: The Woodward Dream Moving Cruise is said to be the largest movingcruise in USA with millions of auto buffs watching the event along it’s route. A decade ago the MA Cruisers of Norfolk, MA were forced out of their every other Thursday night Still Cruise an US Rt. 1 in Sharon, MA when Bickford’s Restaurant changed hands and the new owners sent the MA Cruisers packing.

The organizers were forced to relocate its Cruise Night. All that turned out to be a blessing in disguise when they asked the newly built management of the Bass Pro sporting goods store in Patriot Place in Foxborough, MA in a shopping mall, also on US Route 1 some four miles south. In a short period of time, the event held every other Thursday night, drew a huge amount of vehicles!

Because the event is held adjacent to Patriot Stadium’s parking lot resulted in a record turnout of classic cars and the like from miles around. At the height of the summer Cruise season the event is capable of drawing in the vicinity of 2,400 vehicle of all types. Hot Rods,Classic Cars, Military Vehicles, race cars as well as specialty built vehicles, too numerous to mention! As we write this note the BASS Pro Cruise has also been on hold by the organizers due to the Corona Virus.

By Daniel Strohl on Jun 29th, 2020

Source: Hemmings

Woodward Dream Cruise, 2008. Photo by AmateurX.

Woodward Dream Cruise, 2008. Photo by Amateur.


 Comments: 26


The Woodward Dream Cruise may stretch for miles along a public highway, mimicking for one day of the year the era of cheap gas and hot cars in a constant parade through the northern Detroit suburbs, but the event’s board of directors decided this week to cancel the event altogether after the nine cities along its route asked them for an official declaration.About a month after the nine cities along Woodward Avenue separately passed resolutions calling for the organizers of the dream cruise to cancel this year’s event, leaders from those communities all met Monday morning via Zoom to vote to cancel their legs of the event. In response, the event’s board of directors, which had delayed making a decision on the fate of this year’s event until this week, voted for cancellation.”In April, the board already decided to cancel the community events—the car shows, the live entertainment, what I call the bells and whistles—to reduce the number of people who would come out,” said Michael Lary, the president of the Woodward Dream Cruise. “Since then, a majority of the nine communities felt it needed to be officially canceled, not just the community events. Ultimately, the decision was made today based on our respect for the political will of the communities.”What exactly that means at this point, however—and what impact the vote will have on deterring cruisers from showing up en masse the week leading up to the August 15 event—nobody seems to know.”That’s a very good question,” Lary said. “This has never happened before, so we’ll find out. Cruisers are gonna cruise, no matter what. We wanted to figure out how best to send a message to the spectators who might show up to see the cruisers.”According to Lary, the state’s department of transportation already confirmed to the dream cruise’s board that Woodward Avenue cannot be shut down for any reason because it’s a state highway.As The Detroit Newspointed out over the weekend, the cities along the route have already canceled their ancillary events and in some cases declined to issue permits for businesses operating along the route this year. But on the other hand, some longtime fans of the event—which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year—still intend to make the Ferndale-to-Pontiac loop in their classics, muscle cars, and hot rods that weekend.Both in April and in May, organizers of the event reiterated that they planned to go forward with it. Lary, in his first year as president for the event, said the board didn’t want to rush into a decision over cancelation for a number of reasons. “We didn’t want to arbitrarily make a decision and walk away,” he said. “For instance, this decision impacts a lot of nonprofit organizations who use the Dream Cruise as an opportunity to raise funds. There were a lotta pieces to the pie we had to vet through.”The Woodward Dream Cruise organization itself will take a financial hit too, Lary said. According to the Woodward Dream Cruise Inc.’s 2018 most recently available Form 990s, the nonprofit has run in the red three of the last four years, depending largely on sponsorships (from both Chevrolet and Ford) to cover its expenses, primarily advertising and sponsorships of other events.”We anticipate we’re going to have to think outside the box and be prepared for future events,” Lary said.

Lary said that public health concerns did weigh on the board’s decision too. “This is not just about the Dream Cruise,” he said. “We know people want normalcy, but until there’s a vaccine or a cure, this is going to continue. It’s not me, it’s we.”He said he does remain optimistic for 2021. “No matter what, there will be a 2021 event,” he said.Estimates for the number of Woodward Dream Cruise attendees vary widely, from 1 to 2 million, with both participants and spectators coming from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. As of this writing, the Detroit region is in Phase 4 of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Safe Start Plan, under which social gatherings are limited to small groups with social distancing, and outdoor crowds are limited to no more than 100 people; not until the fifth of the six-phase plan does it permit all outdoor recreation.First held as a fundraiser for youth soccer fields in Ferndale in 1995, the Woodward Dream Cruise has since grown into what its organizers claim to be the world’s largest single-day automotive event with official participation from General Motors, Ford, and FCA. As some observers have noted, not even the 2003 blackout, which occurred a couple of days before that year’s Woodward Dream Cruise, kept cruisers and spectators from showing up for the event.For more information on the event, visit WoodwardDreamCruise.com.

Sicard Continues Tiger Dominance with Victory in Triple Crown Opener at White Mountain

N. Woodstock, NH – Barton, VT’s Shane Sicard showed once again why he’s the King of the Tigers at White Mountain Motorsports Park by winning the Jon Parks Tractor Triple Crown Series opener on Saturday, June 27. It was the second straight victory for Sicard in the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers and kept him on top is his bid for a third straight division title.

Sicard actually crossed the line second in the 75-lap main event, hot on the heels of Graniteville, VT’s Stephen Donahue, who had gone wire-to-wire from the pole. However, Donahue was disqualified in post-race technical inspection for an illegal carburetor spacer, awarding another victory to the Barton veteran.

After starting sixth outside his brother Jody, Sicard slowly but surely worked his way towards the front. When the first caution came out on lap 35 for Ben Belanger’s spin, Sicard was running third, though several lapped cars separated him from Donahue and runner-up Jaden Perry.

By the time the second and final yellow flag flew eight laps later for another Belanger spin, the leaders had gotten around the traffic, put the top-6 together for the restart. The front trio went to battle from there, running inches apart with nearly identical times lap after lap.

Donahue eventually got away as Sicard and Perry started mixing it up for the second spot. Sicard finally passed Perry for with nine laps to go and was able to get back to Donahue’s bumper as the race wound down. But while Donahue crossed the line first, it would be Sicard holding the first place trophy when all was said and done.

Hardwick, VT’s Perry finished second to keep the season-long championship battle with Sicard razor-close. Defending Triple Crown Champion Jason Woodard inherited the final podium spot. Rookie Kasey Beattie, Colin Cornell, Jody Sicard, Michael Potter, Belanger, Chris LaForest, and Michael Clark rounded out the top-10.

In the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models, Craftbury, VT’s Joel Hodgdon made the most of a late restart to grab his first-ever victory at White Mountain Motorsports Park. Hodgdon was running second to St. Johnsbury, VT’s Stacy Cahoon in the caution-filled 50-lap feature when the sixth and final yellow flew with three laps to go for Allie Menard’s spin.

On the restart, the five-time champion Cahoon chose the outside line while the sophomore Hodgdon went to the inside. As they came to get the two-to-go signal, both went full-bore out of turn four, coming dangerously close to the outside wall. Cahoon was forced to lift, and Hodgdon charged full steam ahead to take the victory.

Defending champion Quinny Welch and veteran Oren Remick — the latter of whom had overcome several pit stops earlier — also got around Cahoon to take second and third. Michael Bailey, Christian Laflamme, rookie Andy Hill, Matthew Morrill, Sam Gooden, and David Labreque completed the top-10.

The Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s also saw a first-time winner as sophomore Jack Hayes of Littleton, NH took the victory. Hayes, who was on his lid at the season opener, started third in the 25-lap feature and passed fellow sophomore Darren Newland for the lead just before the halfway mark. Both Newland and veteran Brett Jackson dogged Hayes the rest of the way but couldn’t get around the youngster in the caution-free event.

Jackson finished second with Newland third. Tyler Thompson took fourth, putting an end to his three-race win streak. Jamie Ball, Adam Sicard, Jason Fallman, Scott Senecal, Tim Corey, and Gavin McGinnis came in fifth through 10th.

Thomas Smithers, VI came out on top once again in the Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks. Smithers came from last on the starting grid to take the lead from Luke Shannon with five laps to go in a caution-plagued 15-lap feature. Shannon and Owen Rogers completed the podium.

White Mountain Motorsports Park celebrates Independence Day with a doubleheader this Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. Friday will feature the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model 150 and the Foley Oil & Propane Late Model 100. The 7-Eleven Dwarf Cars and Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks are also on the card. Saturday, July 4 is the Independence Day 200 for the ground-pounders of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour along with the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s. Both events will conclude with a fireworks display.

Post time is 6:00 pm for both nights of action. Friday admission is $25 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-12. Saturday is $30 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-12. Advance tickets for Saturday’s event can be purchased by calling (802) 244-6963.

Both events also have a pay-per-view option. Friday’s White Mountain event will be broadcast on the Northeast Sports Network while Saturday’s NASCAR Modified Tour event is on NBC Sports TrackPass. Visit www.NSNsports.net or www.NBCsports.com/gold/trackpass to sign up.

For more information, contact the White Mountain Motorsports Park offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.whitemountainmotorsports.com. You can also follow us on Facebook at @WhiteMtnMotorsports.

WHITE MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS PARK
JUNE 27, 2020
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

WELLS RIVER CHEVROLET FLYING TIGERS
JON PARKS TRACTOR TRIPLE CROWN SERIES #1
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. Shane Sicard ( 4nh ) Barton, VT
2. Jaden Perry ( 92vt ) Hardwick, VT
3. Jason Woodard ( 68vt ) Waterbury Ctr., VT
4. #Kasey Beattie ( 45nh ) St.Johnsbury, VT
5. Colin Cornell ( 54vt ) E. Burke, VT
6. Jody Sicard ( 49nh ) Barton, VT
7. Michael Potter ( 23nh ) Marshfield, VT
8. Ben Belanger ( 99nh ) Whitefield, NH
9. Chris Laforest ( 56vt ) Barre, VT
10. Michael Clark ( 2vt ) Littleton, NH
11. Matthew Potter ( 23vt ) Marshfield, VT
12. Danny Doyle ( 51vt ) Randolph Ctr., VT
13. Burt Spooner III ( 4vt ) E. Montpelier, VT
14. Bunker Hodgdon ( 83vt ) Wolcott, VT
15. Nathaniel Parkin ( 88nh ) Bradford, VT
16. #Hunter King ( 62vt ) Woodbury, VT
DSQ Stephen Donahue ( 26vt ) Graniteville, VT — illegal carburetor spacer

FOLEY OIL & PROPANE LATE MODELS
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. Joel Hodgdon ( 36vt ) Craftsbury, VT
2. Quinten Welch ( 78nh ) Groveton, NH
3. Oren Remick ( 21nh ) Monroe, NH
4. Stacy Cahoon ( 83vt ) St. Johnsbury, VT
5. Michael Bailey ( 1me ) South Barre, VT
6. Christian Laflamme ( 10me ) Whitefield, NH
7. #Anthony Hill ( 8vt ) Waterford, VT
8. Matthew Morrill ( 9nh ) Moultonborough, NH
9. Sam Gooden ( 01nh ) Whitefield, NH
10. David LaBrecque ( 57nh ) Thornton, NH
11. Jon Savage ( 18nh ) Whitefield, NH
12. Allie Menard ( 06nh ) Dorchester, NH
13. Jeff Marshall ( 32nh ) Gilman, VT
14. John Donahue ( 26vt ) Graniteville, VT
15. Richie Brown ( 20nh ) Wentworth, NH
16. #Shane Hawthorne ( 5nh ) Franklin, NH

WOODSVILLE GUARANTY SAVINGS BANK STRICTLY STOCK MINI’S
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. Jack Hayes ( 09 ) Littleton, NH
2. Brett Jackson ( 31 ) Bethlehem, NH
3. Darren Newland ( 25 ) E. Burke, VT
4. Tyler Thompson ( 51 ) Littleton, NH
5. Jamie Ball ( 99 ) Passumpsic, VT
6. Adam Sicard ( 16 ) Barton, VT
7. Jason Fallman ( 21 ) N. Woodstock, NH
8. Scott Senecal ( 1 ) Lisbon, VT
9. Tim Corey ( 10x ) Whitefield, NH
10. Gavin McGinnis ( 10 ) St. Johnsbury, VT
11. Les Washburn ( 11 ) Bethlehem, NH
12. Keri Driscoll ( 91 ) Gilmanton, NH
13. Nicole Ouellette ( 88 ) Milan, NH
14. Joe Giddings ( 41 ) Waterford, VT
15. Dave Driscoll ( 19 ) N. Woodstock, NH

16. Ryan Ware ( 32 ) Littleton, NH

DADS 4 BY TOOL & SUPPLY KIDS TRUCKS
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. 24 Thomas Smithers, VI Gilmanton, NH
2. 13 Luke Shannon Groveton, NH
3. 4 Owen Rogers Glover, VT
4. 22 Logan Farnsworth St. Johnsbury, VT

Source: American-Canadian TourMedia Director

DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY (Sun. 6/28 results): Comes Brothers SweepDevilsBowlSpeedway

Middlebury duo sweeps Sportsman and Limited features

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Things just work out perfectly sometimes, and that is exactly what happened for brothers Justin and Austin Comes at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, June 28. In front of the first grandstand crowd of the season, the Middlebury, Vt., siblings swept feature wins in the Sportsman Modified and Limited Sportsman divisions on a night that also saw Bill Duprey, Shawn Moquin, and Cody O’Brien visit the winner’s circle.

Justin Comes struck first in the 30-lap Pepsi Sportsman Modified feature. Comes lived to his nickname as “The Highside Hustler” by setting sail on the top lane of the fast, tacky surface and dominating. Comes, who started fourth, turned around a two-week stretch of bad luck with the win.

“We didn’t start the season the way we wanted to, but this makes up for it,” Comes said in victory lane. “I love the outside lane here, and if I’m able to get out there and run as fast as I can, I don’t think there’s anyone who can do it better.”

Polesitter Tanner Siemons, who led the first three laps before giving way to Comes, had an outstanding run, holding second place for most the race. A pair of hard-charging drives put Demetrios Drellos and Kenny Tremont Jr. in the mix with Siemons late in the race, and a restart with eight laps left really cranked up the action.

Drellos was finally able to get past Siemons for the runner-up finish in the final circuits. Tremont took fourth, and Tim LaDuc’s up-and-down run ended with a fifth-place finish. Joey Scarborough was sixth, followed by Adam Pierson, John St. Germain, Bobby Hackel, and Vince Quenneville. Comes, Siemons, and Brent Warren won qualifying heats, and Jack Speshock won the last-chance consolation qualifier; twenty-nine cars attempted to qualify for 24 starting positions.

Moments after his brother left victory lane, Austin Comes began his domination of the 20-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman race. Comes started on the pole position and led every lap for the first win of his young career. Behind him, an entertaining multi-car battle for second place played out through nearly the entire race. Lacey Hanson and Johnny Bruno had a full-contact battle on the final lap that went Hanson’s way.

Bruno settled for third ahead of Anthony Ryan and Anthony Warren, with the top 10 completed in order by Matt Bilodeau, Kevin Groff, Jeff White, Scott FitzGerald, and Randy Ryan. Warren, Bruno, and Comes won heat races.

The Comes sweep was the first at Devil’s Bowl for a pair of siblings since September 23, 2001, when Joe and Vince Santoro won in the Pro Stock and Hobby Stock divisions, respectively; the Santoros also doubled up on August 19 of that year and swept their division’s championships. The only other brothers to win on the same night at Devil’s Bowl were Bobby and Beaver Dragon, splitting a Late Model Sportsman twin-bill on asphalt on July 22, 1973.

The Super Stock feature turned from a dominant performance into an exciting battle right at the end. While four-time champion Bill Duprey of Hydeville, Vt., led every lap in convincing fashion, things got interesting as Jim McKiernan and Chris Murray made contact and spun while running for second place on the final lap.

The caution flag waved, and the race was extended from 20 to 21 laps with a green-white-checkered restart. In the scramble to the finish, Andrew FitzGerald ended up in second place, while Murray and McKiernan rebounded for third and fourth, respectively. Ronnie Alger was fifth.

Milton, Vt.’s Shawn Moquin won the 15-lap Mini Stock race in a photo finish over Chris Conroy. Michael Daniels dominated the race until cutting a tire with four laps left, giving Conroy the lead and a chance to make it three consecutive wins to open the season. Moquin came from behind on the final lap, though, and won a sprint to the finish line by about eight inches.

Behind Conroy, Craig Kirby finished third as Jarrod Colburn and Derrick Counter completed the top five finishers. Daniels and Moquin won the qualifiers.

Cody O’Brien of Springfield, Vt., dominated the 15-lap run for the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division. The former champion dedicated his victory to the memory of Devil’s Bowl Speedway legend Butch Jelley, who passed away on May 1.

Rookie Troy Audet had an excellent race to finish third, followed by Dakota Green, Samantha Mulready, and Roger LaDuc. O’Brien also won the lone heat race.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway will host the annual Independence Day “Firecracker” special on Thursday, July 2 at 7:00 p.m., with limited grandstand seating and drive-in spectator parking; full details for the event – including ticket purchasing options – will be announced soon. The Sprint Cars of New England tour will be on hand, along with all five of Devil’s Bowl’s weekly divisions.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of U.S. Route 4, Exit 2, and just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt.  For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway, and on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Pepsi Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

1.       (4) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.

2.       (12) Demetrios Drellos, Queensbury, N.Y.

3.       (3) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.

4.       (17) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.

5.       (11) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.

6.       (15) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.

7.       (14) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.

8.       (6) John St. Germain Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.

9.       (20) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.

10.   (13) Vince Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.

11.   (21) Justin Stone; Middlebury, Vt.

12.   (23) Jimmy Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.

13.   (18) Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.

14.   (16) Marty Kelly III, North Bennington, Vt.

15.   (22) # Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.

16.   (10) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.

17.   (19) Jack Speshock, Malta, N.Y.

18.   (24) Nathan Johnson, Fitzwilliam, N.H.

19.   (9) Jake Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.

20.   (8) Mike Palmer, Salisbury, Vt.

21.   (7) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.

22.   (2) Bruce Loomis, Queensbury, N.Y.

23.   (5) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.

24.   (1) Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.

Did Not Qualify: # Marty Hutchins, Poultney, Vt.; Brian Calabrese, Johnstown, N.Y.; Robert Bublak Jr., Ballston Spa, N.Y.; # Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.; # James Hanson, Orwell, Vt.

Heat Winners: Justin Comes, Brent Warren, Tanner Siemons

Consi Winner: Jack Speshock

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (20 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1.       (1) Austin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.

2.       (12) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.

3.       (4) Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt.

4.       (2) Anthony Ryan, Benson, Vt.

5.       (5) Anthony Warren, Shoreham, Vt.

6.       (3) Matt Bilodeau, Brandon, Vt.

7.       (10) Kevin Groff, Wynantskill, N.Y.

8.       (8) Jeff White, Rutland, Vt.

9.       (9) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.

10.   (17) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.

11.   (14) Montgomery Tremont, West Sand Lake, N.Y.

12.   (6) Mike McGinn, Elizabethtown, N.Y.

13.   (13) Larry Gallipo, West Rutland, Vt.

14.   (16) Evan Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.

15.   (15) Gary English, Salisbury, Vt.

16.   (19) Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.

17.   (20) Shawn Phelps, Richmond, Vt.

18.   (18) Bryon Linendoll, West Pawlet, Vt.

19.   (7) Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.

20.   (11) Garrett Given, Orwell, Vt.

Heat Winners: Anthony Warren, Johnny Bruno, Austin Comes

Super Stock Feature (20 laps – extended to 21 laps by green-white-checkered)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1.       (4) Bill Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.

2.       (6) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.

3.       (3) Chris Murray, Fair Haven, Vt.

4.       (5) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.

5.       (1) Ronnie Alger, Orwell, Vt.

6.       (7) Austin McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.

7.       (2) Russ Farr, Middle Granville, N.Y.

Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

1.       (8) Shawn Moquin, Milton, Vt.

2.       (7) Chris Conroy, Newport, N.H.

3.       (5) Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.

4.       (11) Jarrod Colburn, Rutland, Vt.

5.       (4) Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.

6.       (13) Dakota Desabrais, Hampton, N.Y.

7.       (6) Katrina Bean, Benson, Vt.

8.       (10) # Griff Mahoney, Brandon, Vt.

9.       (14) # Chris Sumner, Ripton, Vt.

10.   (1) Willie Rice, Poultney, Vt.

11.   (2) # Adam Stewart, Benson, Vt.

12.   (12) # Cody Groesbeck, Fair Haven, Vt.

13.   (15) Kevin Withington, West Rutland, Vt.

14.   (9) # Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.

15.   (3) Michael Daniels, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

16.   (16) Zach Wood, Georgia, Vt.

Did Not Start: T.J. Knight, Fair Haven, Vt., Andrea Noble, Fair Haven, Vt., Justin Allen, Forest Dale, Vt.

Heat Winners: Michael Daniels, Shawn Moquin

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

1.       (5) Cody O’Brien, Springfield, Vt.

2.       (7) # Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.

3.       (4) Dakota Green, Cambridge, N.Y.

4.       (3) Samantha Mulready, Cambridge, N.Y.

5.       (9) # Roger LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.

6.       (2) Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.

7.       (8) # Kaidin White, Monkton, Vt.

8.       (11) Joe Kemp, Salisbury, Vt.

9.       (1) John McPhee Jr., Rutland, Vt.

10.   (6) Austin Chaves, Chester, Vt.

11.   (10) # Arnie Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.

Heat Winner: Cody O’Brien

Source: Justin St. Louis, Media Director        

Stafford Speedway Announces Revised Mid-Summer Schedule: Two Saturday Mod Open events added to the schedule!

Source: Scott Running/Stafford Speedway PR

Attachment thumbnail


(Stafford Springs, CT)—After the successful completion of NAPA Auto Parts Opening night, Stafford Speedway management has announced a revised mid-summer schedule.  Two Saturday events have been added to the schedule; Saturday, July 18th and Saturday, August 1st.  Both Saturday events will feature Open Modified 80 events along with non-points SK Light Modified and Street Stock events. 

“After reviewing last Friday’s event we decided to move the Open Modified 80 events to Saturday night and pair them with the SK Light and Street Stock divisions,” explained Stafford Speedway President Mark Arute. “Both the SK Light and Street Stocks will run both Friday and Saturday with non-points events on Saturday. The Lights and Streets are a great show and we’re looking forward to the Saturday Night specials.”

Race fans will be treated to 7 events over a 30 day period starting this Friday, July 3rd with the Midstate Site Development Firecracker 30. All events will continue to be capped at 25% capacity with tickets going on sale the Saturday prior to the event at 8am. Race fans will also be able to tune in live on StaffordSpeedway.tv, a new pay-per-view streaming service with 25% of each sale going directly to the drivers. Visit StaffordSpeedway.tv for more information. 

Stafford Speedway season passes are good for all events. The schedule for the remainder of the 2020 season will be posted in early to mid-July.

Mid-Summer Schedule

Friday, July 3rd

Midstate Site Development Street Stock 30

SK Modified® 40, Late Model 30, SK Light 20, Limited Late Model 20, Street Stock 30

Friday, July 10th

Stafford Speedway Weekly Racing

SK Modified® 40, Late Model 30, SK Light 20, Limited Late Model 20, Street Stock 20

Friday, July 17th

TC 13 SK Modified Shootout

SK Modified® 40, Late Model 30, SK Light Modified 20, Limited Late Model 20, Street Stock 20, TC 13 SK Modified® Shootout

Saturday, July 18th

Bud Light Open Modified 80

Open Modified 80, SK Light Modified 30 (non-points), Street Stock 20 (non-points)

Friday, July 24th

Dunleavy’s Modifiedz Night

SK Modified® 40, Late Model 30, SK Light 40, Limited Late Model 20, Street Stock 20

Friday, July 31st

Stafford Speedway Weekly Racing

SK Modified® 40, Late Model 30, SK Light 20, Limited Late Model 20, Street Stock 20

Saturday, August 1st

Open Modified 80

Open Modified 80, SK Light Modified 30 (non-points), Street Stock 20 (non-points)

For more information, visit www.staffordspeedway.com, checkout Stafford Speedway on Facebook or Twitter, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.

FIREWORKS AND PRO STOCKS FRIDAY, JULY 3, AT CLAREMONT

Attachment thumbnail

             CLAREMONT, N.H. – Fireworks and stock car racing, what a perfect pairing to get everyone out in the open air and celebrating Independence Day Weekend! And it’s all happening this Friday, July 3, at Claremont Motorsports Park.

            Fans from throughout the northern New England region have been flocking to the Thrasher Road speedplant to take in its storied Fourth of July shows for more than half a century and, although this year’s event will require some social distancing in the grandstand area, Friday’s six-division racing show and gigantic aerial display will carry on that great tradition.

            The thundering Granite State Pro Stock Series will be back in town, battling in the night’s main event, a 100-lap feature like the one contested here a month ago, when Nutmeg State star Ray Christian was victorious on opening night.

            While there will be six divisions competing on Friday night’s card of racing, speedway promoter Mike Parks has stated that the fireworks show will take place around 9:30 p.m., with several of the event’s feature races held after that for the convenience of families hoping to get their children home at a reasonable hour.

            Along with the GSPSS, the track’s Late Model Sportsmen, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks and Six-Shooters will all be in action Friday.

It will be the fast LMS squad’s second outing of the summer, and Croydon’s Aaron Fellows brings an 18-race unbeaten streak into Friday’s show, having not lost an LMS event here since August 4, 2018, when Charlestown’s Ben Poland turned the trick.

Post time for Friday’s big event is 7:15 p.m., when the Pro Stock Series will begin time trials, with qualifying races run immediately after. Claremont Motorsports Park is conveniently located on Thrasher Road, only five minutes from both I-91 and Claremont’s city center.

Source:
Mike Parks/President Granite State Pro Stock Series