As concern and questions continue to grow about the feasibility of America’s stick-and-ball sports ramping back up in the coming weeks, Roger Penske on Friday made a resounding, concrete statement about the status of the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
The new owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as well as the IndyCar series, laid out the first major details of how he plans to host his first Indy 500 as the steward of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing – using numbers that feel both small, in terms of attendance in the event’s 109-year history, and quite large when looking at circumstances around the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter to current ticket holders, Penske, IMS president Doug Boles and Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Mark Miles announced that fans will be able to attend this year’s race up to 50% capacity of the entire venue, whose total capacity is estimated to be 350,000. That means in less than two months, the town of Speedway, Marion County and the state of Indiana could play host to roughly 175,000 race fans at IMS – likely the largest one-day centralized gathering of people anywhere in the world since the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly across the country in February and March.
The news signals numerous short and long-term economic and health effects for the series and its ownership company, as well as the city and state, but amid it all, Miles pointed toward the hours upon hours Penske Entertainment Corp. officials have spent in meetings with state and local government and health officials fine-tuning their plan to meet the unique circumstances of an event that, in a normal year, is already a massive undertaking.
“We’re determined to do whatever we need to do, even if it’s non-traditional, to make this the best possible experience during the pandemic,” Miles told IndyStar in an exclusive interview Friday. “We feel like it’s our responsibility to do that, and we hope people will trust us to look out for the greater good here.
“The details may change in the coming weeks, but we’ve still got (nearly) two months.” The race is set for Sunday, Aug. 23.
The ticket details
Friday’s email to the thousands of people who hold some of the 175,000 tickets distributed for this year’s race was as much reassurance from IMS to its loyal customers as a desperate plea for understanding. In it, fans were directed to create or log into their IMS.com ticket account to address a survey targeting how they would like to approach using – or not using – their batch of tickets for 2020. IMS asks that the survey be filled out by July 6.
Fans have been given the option to hold onto their full batch of tickets, return part of them or relinquish them all for this year.
None of those actions will affect their seniority rank or right to renew tickets for the 2021 Indy 500. Fans will be allowed to renew for next year in the days after this year’s race – similar to any other year, but with an August race rather than one in May.
IMS can guarantee only that 50% of folks’ original ticket allotments (i.e. 10 of 20 tickets in their name) will remain in the same general seating area as IMS plans to move fans around in the grandstands to allow for proper social distancing in bleachers come race day.
Fans wishing to hold onto more than 50% of their allocation will be prompted to prioritize which general locations they wish for the rest of their seats to be – including their original location – though Miles and Boles asserted that those folks are likely to see their seats moved to somewhere else. Additionally, all race day tickets will be redistributed. Tickets already in possession can be kept, though they are no longer valid.
And those too apprehensive to attend the race in 2020 – which Miles and Boles anticipated to be a significant amount from the pool of 175,000 tickets sold – not only won’t lose their seniority, but will be offered an account credit good for other IMS events, including 2020 Indy 500 practices, qualifying days, Carb Day, the Harvest Grand Prix in October or toward the renewal of their 2021 tickets.
Such a credit procedure is not in place for any other on-track fan-related events around this year’s race, meaning fans can only seek to put their money for attending this year’s race toward another event. General admission tickets to events like practice, qualifications and Carb Day are still non-refundable, though attendance for those events will not be curtailed by capacity percentages.
How fans will be able to use components like bronze badges for paddock and pit lane access is to be determined once more detailed health regulations are in place.
Folks holding suite access passes on race day were sent a separate email Friday clarifying that no action is required from them now, and no messaging was sent to folks who still hold general admission passes for the infield, though that number has significantly declined due to the cancellation of the Snake Pit concerts in 2020.
Health concerns addressed
Friday’s letter also urged folks 65 years and older – which includes some of the most tenured annual fans around the 2.5-mile oval – along with those suffering from concerning underlying health conditions to consider staying home in 2020. At the gate, a cloth mask and a bottle of hand sanitizer will be given to each patron, and though mask wearing won’t be strictly enforced, use of masks is “recommended” by the track.
It’s a measure reaffirmed just this week by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health.
“”I’ll be very consistent and I’ll say it yet again, that you should not congregate in crowds. You should keep distance,” Fauci told House lawmakers Tuesday. “If you do, please wear a mask. And as you wear a mask, and you’re in a situation where you’re getting animated – in a demonstration, or in a rally, or wherever you are – avoid as best as possible the urge to pull your mask down and shout.”
Fans can expect more in-depth health guidelines to be distributed in July, but Miles emphasized what he considered one of the most important factors he believed would allow IMS to move forward with this year’s race in the face of a pandemic: the added safety of an outdoor event held during the blistering Midwest summer heat and humidity
In five of the last nine NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway one team has been unstoppable – Joe Gibbs Racing.
Starting with Matt Kenseth’s win on Aug. 2, 2015, Joe Gibbs Racing has won five of the last nine NASCAR Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway including the last three consecutive – Kyle Busch’s win in July of 2017 and his back-to-back victories in July 2018 and June 2019 and Denny Hamlin’s victory last July.
Now as the series returns for a special doubleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway, two JGR drivers (Kyle Busch & Erik Jones) are still looking for their first wins of 2020. Busch, the defending winner of last season’s June Pocono race, is currently ninth in points, the highest ranked driver in the standings without a win this year. But Pocono has been particularly good to Busch as of late, in his last seven series starts at the track he has put up three wins and seven consecutive top 10s.
Busch’s teammate Erik Jones hasn’t won at Pocono Raceway yet, but he has put up some impressive performances in his six career starts, collecting four top fives and the series leading average finish of 8.3. Jones will need to claw his way back into postseason contention, as he dropped to 17th in the standings following Talladega – the first spot outside the Playoff cutoff. He is just one point behind Tyler Reddick in 16th.
Plus, let’s not forget five-time Pocono winner Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep, July 2009, June 2010 and July 2019) and two-time winner Martin Truex Jr. (June 2015, June 2018) will be in the mix this weekend as well. Hamlin leads the series in wins this season with three victories (Daytona, Darlington, Homestead) and will be looking to pad his series leading 18 Playoff points this weekend.
His teammate Truex also has a victory this season (Martinsville) and will look to get his first Pocono checkered flag for Joe Gibbs Racing. The New Jersey native’s previous two series wins at Pocono were with Furniture Row Racing, and he actually is one of just 11 drivers to accomplish the feat in multiple manufacturers (Chevrolet, Toyota); joining Kurt Busch (Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet), Bill Elliott (Buick, Ford), Darrell Waltrip (Buick, Chevrolet), Denny Hamlin (Chevrolet, Toyota), Geoffrey Bodine (Chevrolet, Ford), Harry Gant (Chevrolet, Oldsmobile), Kasey Kahne (Dodge, Chevrolet), Rusty Wallace (Ford, Pontiac), Terry Labonte (Ford, Chevrolet) and Tim Richmond (Pontiac, Chevrolet).
Lucky No. 6: Toyota has won the last five straight at Pocono
With Toyota drivers winning the last five consecutive races at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series, if they were to win this weekend they could tie or surpass Chevrolet for the series-most consecutive manufacturer wins at Pocono with six victories (August 2012 – June 2015).
Interestingly both streaks have a common denominator, Toyota’s win streak consists of four victories from Joe Gibbs Racing and one from Furniture Row Racing. Chevrolet’s win streak is built on five consecutive wins by Hendrick Motorsports and the sixth was added by Furniture Row Racing. And both FRR wins were with driver Martin Truex Jr.
Eight different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 32 victories; followed by Ford with 23, Toyota (nine), Dodge (seven), Pontiac (six), Buick (four), Mercury (two) and Oldsmobile (one).
With a recent uptick in positive test results for COVID-19 in parts of the country, NASCAR driver Joey Logano isn’t taking anything to chance.
“I’ve tried to treat everyone like they have COVID-19,” Logano said during a media teleconference Friday afternoon. “That’s at least my way of trying to stay safe.”
The philosophy works for Logano, which is significant partly because one member of Team Penske tested positive for the virus nearly a week ago, along with two employees of Stewart-Haas Racing.
“If you look at Team Penske, I can’t speak for all the teams, but they are very strict at how seriously they’re taking this virus,” Logano said. “Everybody in that place has a mask on all day long. If you get on a team plane, you’re (wearing a) mask and rubber gloves the whole time.
“They’ve done a really good job at that. If you look at who else they needed to quarantine after that, it’s a very small group because everybody has been so strict at Team Penske to where it doesn’t shut down our whole race shop.
“We’ve done a real good job social distancing where we can, but also wearing our PPE (personal protective equipment) all the time. That’s the most important things we can do.”
“Some of the best advice I’ve gotten out of this whole thing is assume everybody has coronavirus and what would you do? You’re obviously not going to shake someone’s hand, you’re going to stay a little more distant, you’re going to wear your mask, you’re going to wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer. You’re going to do that stuff.
“If you have that mindset that the person next to you has COVID-19, you’re going to obviously be nervous about it. So I’ve tried to treat everyone like they have COVID-19. That’s at least my way of trying to stay safe. Our sport has done a real good job at it and I think Team Penske has done even better, in my opinion.”
In another teleconference earlier in the day, Greg Ives, crew chief for Alex Bowman and the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE also spoke about precautions he and the organization are taking — particularly when teams are on the road at races — in light of the virus resurgence.
“On an individual basis, you have to have those conversations with each guy that you have on your team,” Ives said. “From the comfort level of traveling to different areas. I’ve had that conversation with them.
“The other thing is, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports is taking this time seriously. When we are traveling to Pocono, how are we going to feed our guys and supply them with the food they need? It may sound trivial, but (one way is) not having them go to restaurants to potentially expose them.
“And we’ve come up with plans where basically we give them the meals they need so they are only going to one location. Making sure they eat at the track versus going out to somewhere else. Those types of things, even from how we are feeding the guys to how we are protecting them, is definitely very much important to not only myself, but everybody at Hendrick Motorsports.
“I feel like we’re doing it the best way, the safest way. For those that may feel uncomfortable in those scenarios or situations, we’re definitely hearing their voice and taking the proper protocol.”
Advance Tickets Still Available for First NASCAR Modified Visit to White Mountain
Numerous Modified champions and winners are coming to White Mountain Motorsports Park for the Independence Day 200 on Saturday, July 4. (NASCAR file photo)
N. Woodstock, NH – Some of the biggest names in Northeast Modified racing will make White Mountain Motorsports Park their stomping ground next Saturday, July 4. The Independence Day 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour already has an impressive entry list that will add an exclamation point to the track’s “Thunder in the Mountains” moniker.
From former NASCAR Modified Tour champions Doug Coby and Justin Bonsignore to winners of the region’s most historic Modified shows, the stars will be out this coming Independence Day. Series officials are expecting a field of at least 30 teams to roll through the pit gates for 200 laps of pulse-pounding action.
Advance tickets are still available for the series’ first-ever trip to White Mountain Motorsports Park. Fans can call (802) 244-6963 ext. 1 to order tickets and reserve camping spots. With attendance limited to 50% per state health and safety guidelines, it is strongly recommended that fans purchase tickets ahead of time to ensure they get a seat for the must-see event.
Even a cursory look at the early entry list reveals a field loaded with open-wheel standouts. Milford, CT’s Doug Coby, winner of six of the last eight Whelen Modified Tour (WMT) championships, is making his first trip ever to White Mountain. It will also be Coby’s second event in charge of his own team after long-time car owner Mike Smeriglio III retired following the 2019 season. Still, with those six titles and 28 career WMT wins, Coby belongs on the short list of contenders anytime he shows up at a race track.
He is just one of many decorated drivers making the journey to New Hampshire’s North Country. Holtsville, NY’s Justin Bonsignore, the 2018 NASCAR Modified Tour champion and 2014 Modified Racing Series (MRS) Champion, will also be one to watch. Bonsignore won the tour’s season opener at Jennerstown Speedway and looks to ride the momentum to the quarter-mile bullring.
Belllingham, MA’s Woody Pitkat, meanwhile, is one of the few drivers on the entry list with recent experience at White Mountain. The two-time MRS Champion and multi-time WMT winner was a contender in last year’s Bullring Bash Thunder in the Mountains 100 and also has competed twice at White Mountain this season in an American-Canadian Tour Late Model. That experience could give the veteran an early leg up.
Other former Modified champions who have entered include four-time Modified Racing Series Champion and 2014 Tri-Track Open Modified Series Champion Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, MA; four-time Tri-Track Modified Champion “Big Money” Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA; 2001 Whelen Modified Tour Champion Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, CT; two-time MRS Champion Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon, CT; and 2017 MRS Champion Anthony Nocella of Woburn, MA. Nocella has a win at White Mountain in the 2019 Thunder in the Mountains 100 that perhaps makes him the early favorite.
This still barely scratches the surface of who will take to the high banks for the Independence Day 200. Former NASCAR Modified Tour winners Timmy Solomito, Eric Goodale, Chase Dowling, and Craig Lutz have all entered the event. Rising young stars such as Matt Swanson, Calvin Carroll, Tyler Rypkeinia are looking to break through while veterans like Rob Summers and J.R. Bertuccio could see the inaugural trip to a track as a chance to pull an upset. All told, it will be one of the most stacked fields for any event at White Mountain in recent memory.
The Independence Day 200 is part of a holiday doubleheader on the high banks. Friday, July 3 features a 150-lap showdown for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models and the Foley Oil & Propane 100 for the track’s weekly Late Models. Both are expected to draw a variety of big local and regional names as they try to steal the show from the Modified invaders.
The 7-Eleven Dwarf Cars and Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks round out the Friday card while the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s join the Saturday show. Both nights will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display.
White Mountain Motorsports Park celebrates the nation’s birthday with a doubleheader on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. Friday’s program includes the PASS Super Late Model 150, Foley Oil & Propane Late Model 100, 7-Eleven Dwarf Cars, and Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks. On Saturday, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour takes the stage for the Independence Day 200 plus the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s. Post time is 6:00pm both nights.
Admission for the Independence Day 200 on July 4 is $30 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-12. Advance tickets and camping reservations can be purchased by calling (802) 244-6963 ext. 1. The July 3 event is $25 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-12. Spectator attendance at both events is limited to 50% of capacity per state health and safety guidelines.
Both events will also be available on live pay-per-view. The Friday event can be watched on Northeast Sports Network for $25. Fans may purchase the broadcast at www.NSNsports.net. Saturday’s Whelen Modified Tour event can be seen on NBC Sports TrackPass. Sign up for a monthly or yearly TrackPass subscription at www.nbcsports.com/gold/trackpass.
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.
BY JASON CHRISTLEY WWW.ARCARACING.COM JUNE 27, 2020
POCONO, Pa. — Once Ty Gibbs got out front, it was game over.
The 17-year-old North Carolina driver dominated the General Tire #ANYWHEREISPOSSIBLE 200 at Pocono Raceway Friday en route to his third career ARCA Menards Series win.
To get the victory, Gibbs out-ran runner up Chandler Smith and third-place Sam Mayer, who were celebrating their 18th and 17th birthdays, respectively, on race day.
Two weeks after he held off Mayer at Ohio’s Toledo Speedway in the ARCA Menards Series East, Gibbs was even better in his No. Monster/Terrible Herbst/ORCA Toyota; his margin of victory on the 2.5-mile tri-oval was 2.314 seconds. It was Gibbs’ sixth win in the ARCA Menards, East and West series in just 21 starts.
Gibbs is also the 28th consecutive different ARCA Menards winner at Pocono, a streak that dates back to 2006 and includes current NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott and Cole Custer.
“What do you do now? You celebrate!
Chandler Smith, who was fastest in practice earlier in the day, passed Mayer late to take the second spot but could not run down Gibbs.
Bret Holmes finished fourth and championship points leader Michael Self was fifth.
Hailie Deegan, Derek Griffith of Hudson, NH, Drew Dollar, Ryan Huff and Scott Melton rounded out the top 10.
Self was able to improve his points lead to 15 on Dollar and 16 on Deegan after four races. Holmes, who picked up his second straight top five in ARCA Menards Series is 24 back of Self.
The General Tire #ANYWHEREISPOSSIBLE 200 aired live on FS1.
The ARCA Menards Series will be back on track for the Calypso Lemonade 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis on Friday, July 3, 2020.
Keith Rocco in Victory Lane again at Stafford Motor Speedway
(Stafford Springs, CT)—After a 2-month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Stafford Motor Speedway opened its doors for racing with NAPA Auto Parts Opening Night on Friday, June 26. 126 cars lined the paddock area with Keith Rocco in the SK Modified® feature, Wayne Coury, Jr. in the Late Model feature, Jonathan Puleo in the SK Light feature, Andrew Durand in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Hydar in the Street Stock feature all becoming the first drivers to reach NAPA Victory Lane in 2020 at Stafford.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Ronnie Williams and Todd Owen went side by side for the lead at the green with Williams getting clear on lap-2. Michael Christopher, Jr. was third in the early laps with Cory DiMatteo moving into fourth and Keith Rocco was fifth.
Owen made a move to the inside of Williams in turn 3 to take the lead on lap-4. Christopher followed him through to take second before the caution came out with 4 laps complete for Teddy Hodgdon and Dan Wesson, who both went through the frontstretch infield with Wesson coming to a stop.
Owen powered his way back to the lead on the restart with Williams in second. Rocco was up to third with Christopher fourth and Woody Pitkat fifth. Williams made a move to the inside of Owen for the lead on lap-8 and he was able to complete the pass on lap-9 and take over the lead. Rocco followed him by Owen to take second and Christopher took third, dropping Owen back to fourth. Matt Vassar and Tyler Hines spun in turn 2 to bring the caution back out with 9 laps complete.
Williams was the leader back under green with Owen and Rocco side by side for second. Pitkat was fourth in line with Christopher fifth and Andrew Molleur in sixth. The caution came back out with 12 laps complete for a spin in turn 4 by DiMatteo. Bryan Narducci spun in turn 2 to bring the caution back out before a lap could be completed.
Owen took the lead on the restart with Rocco right behind him in second. Williams was third in line with Molleur in fourth and Pitkat back to fifth. Stephen Kopcik was applying heavy pressure to Pitkat for fifth but Pitkat was able to hold him off. Up front, Rocco was all over Owen’s back bumper looking high and low for a way to take over the lead. Owen was able to keep Rocco behind him. Rocco continued to look high and low for a way around Owen until the caution flew with 19 laps complete for a spin on the backstretch by Michael Gervais, Jr.
Rocco got right back to applying heavy pressure to Owen’s back bumper on the restart as they fought for the lead but Owen was once again able to keep Rocco behind him. Williams was third with Kopcik up to fourth and Pitkat in fifth. Rocco was finally able to make a pass stick on lap-24 as he went by Owen in turns 1+2 to take over the race lead. David Arute spun coming out of turn 2 to bring the caution out with 27 laps complete.
Rocco took the lead on the restart while Williams got around Owen to take second but the caution came back out with 28 laps complete for a multi-car accident on the backstretch involving the cars of Glen Reen, Tony Membrino, Jr., Tyler Leary, Teddy Hodgdon, Molleur, and Troy Talman. The restart saw Tom Bolles get into the turn 3 wall, which collected several other cars that brought the caution right back out.
The restart saw Owen go from third to first with Rocco falling back to second. Pitkat was up to third with Kopcik fourth and Williams fifth. Rocco was immediately back to applying heavy pressure to Owen, looking high and low for a way to get back to the front of the pack. Rocco made his move in turn 3 on lap-34 to get back to the front. Pitkat was still third behind Owen with Kopcik and Williams continuing to make up the top-5 cars.
Kopcik made a move to the inside of Pitkat on lap-38 to move into third. Williams followed Kopcik by Pitkat to take fourth and drop Pitkat back to fifth. Rocco pulled away from Owen at the front to take down the first SK Modified® win of 2020. Kopcik finished third with Williams and Pitkat rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Tom Fearn took the lead at the green with Paul Arute right behind him in second. Tyler Leary and Ryan Fearn were side by side for third place with Adam Gray riding in fifth place. Fearn took third from Leary on lap-2 and the top-5 were now single file with Tom Fearn showing the way.
Fearn was starting to pull away from Arute, Ryan Fearn, Leary, Gray, and the rest of the field. Darrell Keane took fifth from Gray on lap-8 while the top-4 cars remained unchanged. With 10 laps complete, Tom Fearn had opened up a nearly half straightaway lead over the field but his car dropped off the pace on lap-12 and he limped back to pit road and pulled behind the wall with Arute now the race leader. The caution came out with 12 laps complete to slow the field.
Arute took the lead on the restart but Ryan Fearn was applying heavy pressure. The field was only able to complete one lap before a pileup in turn 1 occurred involving Kevin Gambacorta, Duane Provost, Al Saunders, Rick Lanagan, Jordan Hadley, and Trace Beyer to bring the caution back out with 13 laps complete.
Ryan Fearn powered his way into the lead on the outside of Arute as the race went back to green. Arute slid back to sixth in line as Gray took second, Leary third, Keane fourth, and Wayne Coury, Jr. fifth. Keane spun in the middle of turns 3+4 to bring the caution back out with 15 laps complete.
Gray did to Ryan Fearn what Fearn did to Arute on the previous restart and he took the lead in the outside lane. Coury was up to third behind Fearn and Arute with Leary fourth and Arute fifth. Fearn made a move to the inside of Gray in turn 1 on lap-17 and got loose and spun, collecting Gray in the spin and bringing the caution flag back out with 17 laps complete. Coury was now the race leader with Leary on his outside and Arute and Jim Mavlouganes lined up behind him for the restart.
Coury took the lead with Leary holding off a stiff challenge from Michael Bennett for second. Bennett slotted into third with Michael Wray up to fourth and Jim Mavlouganes up to fifth. Keane was back up to sixth after his earlier spin and Arute was seventh in line.
Bennett got around Leary to take second on lap-23 and he took the lead from Coury on lap-24, but before the lap could be completed, Gambacorta spun in the middle of turns 1+2 to bring the caution back out and put Coury back up front for the restart.
Coury took the lead back under green but the caution came back after one lap had been completed as Mavlouganes’ car came to a stop in turn 4.
Coury took the lead on the restart with Bennett taking second. Arute was up to third with Saunders fourth and Gray in fifth. Bennett was almost glued to Coury’s back bumper as they completed lap-28. Coury held off a determined Bennett to take down the first Late Model win of the 2020 season. Arute finished third with Saunders and Gray rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap SK Light feature, Rit Dulac spun on the start in turn 2 to bring the caution out before a lap could be completed. Robert Bloxsom, III and Joey Ferrigno ran the first lap side by side for the lead before Bloxsom got clear on lap-2. Chris Matthews and Jonathan Puleo were side by side for third with Brian Sullivan in fifth. Matthews got the better of the duel with Puleo to take third on lap-3 as Bloxsom continued to hold the lead.
Puleo was looking to get back around Matthews for third, but Matthews was able to fend off his challenge on lap-5. Puleo made the move stick on lap-6 and he took third with Sullivan moving into fourth as Matthews slid back to sixth, just behind Amanda West in fifth. Bloxsom was still leading Ferrigno when Cassandra Cole spun on the frontstretch infield to bring the caution out with 11 laps complete.
Bloxsom took the lead on the restart with Puleo pulling alongside Ferrigno for second but only one lap was completed before a multi-car incident on the backstretch brought the caution back out with 12 laps complete.
Puleo went side by side with Bloxsom for the lead on the restart with Puleo taking the lead on lap-14. Sullivan was third behind Puleo and Bloxsom with Alexander Pearl up to fourth and Joey Ferrigno was back to fifth. Peter Bennett went around Ferrigno on lap16 to move into fifth and Bert Ouellette followed him by as Ferrigno slipped back to seventh place.
Bloxsom made one last ditch effort on the final lap, getting to the inside of Puleo in turn 3 but Puleo powered his way off turn 4 on the outside and he held off Bloxsom and Sullivan for not only the first SK Light win of the 2020 season, but his first career win at Stafford. Pearl finished fourth and Bennett rounded out the top-5.
In the 15-lap Limited Late Model feature, Matt Clement powered into the early lead from pole position with Jeremy Lavoie and Andrew Durand side by side for second. Lavoie took second on lap-2 with Gary Patnode up to fourth and Alexandra Fearn sitting in fifth. Devon Jencik was shown the black flag for leaking fluid from his car.
Durand made a strong move to the inside of Lavoie on lap-5 to move into second. Just behind the Durand-Lavoie battle, Fearn was making a move to the inside of Patnode for fourth place and she took the place at the line as the field completed lap-6.
With 10 laps complete Clement was still in front with Durand right behind him in second. Lavoie was starting to fade backwards from the lead duo with Fearn in fourth and Patnode fifth. Clement slipped up the track in turn 1 on lap-12 and Durand took full advantage of the slip to get to Clement’s inside and take over the race lead.
Durand led Clement to the checkered flag to pick up his first Stafford win since August 2010, a span of nearly 10 full years. Lavoie finished third with Fearn and Patnode rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Street Stock feature, Meghan Fuller charged into the early race lead with Chris Meyer in second. Al Stone, III was third with Ryan Waterman fourth and Travis Hydar in fifth. The caution came out with 2 laps complete for Jason Futoma who spun in the middle of turns 1+2 and had nose damage on the #22 car.
Fuller took the lead on the restart but she was overtaken by Meyer on lap-4. With Fuller stuck in the outside land, she slipped all the way back to eighth place as Waterman was now second, Stone third, Hydar fourth, Moose Douton fifth, Zack Robinson sixth, and Adrien Paradis, III seventh.
Up front the action was heating up as Waterman and Meyer swapped the lead back and forth between them with Waterman taking the lead on lap-9. Jason Lafayette spun on the backstretch to bring the caution out with 10 laps complete.
Waterman took the lead back under green with Meyer slotting into second right behind him. Robinson took third from Hydar on lap-12 with Douton holding down fifth. Waterman’s car got loose in turn 4 and he spun in front of the field to bring the caution back out with 12 laps complete. The field avoided hitting Waterman as he did a 360 and rejoined at the rear of the field.
Meyer took the lead on the restart with Hydar holding off a 3-wide duel with Paradis and Robinson to take second. Paradis and Robinson were side by side for third with Paradis emerging in third on lap-14. Douton was still running fifth. The caution came back out with 15 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Paradis.
Meyer held off a challenge from Robinson and Hydar on the restart but the caution came right back out one lap later as Stone got into the frontstretch wall and came to a stop just past the start/finish line.
Meyer powered into the lead on the restart while Douton was up to second before he got loose in turn 4 and fell back several spots. Waterman was charging his way back through the field when the caution came out with 18 laps complete for a spin in turn 2 by Larry Barnett.
Lafayette nearly went 3-wide on the restart but fell back into line behind Meyer and Robinson. On the final lap Paradis and Waterman got together and hit the backstretch wall. The race stayed green to the finish and in turn 4 Robinson made contact with Meyer with Meyer spinning and Robinson taking the checkered flag. Robinson was penalized by NASCAR Officials for the contact with Meyer, making Hydar the winner. Meyer finished second with Douton, John Orsini, and David Macha, Sr. rounding out the top-5.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), brought to you by Gran Turismo, also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an invitational automobile hill climb to the summit of Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain in Colorado, USA held on the last Sunday of August.
Automobiles
The PPIHC’s automobile categories feature a wide variety of vehicles representing multiple forms of motorsport; everything from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles take on America’s Mountain pursuing victory.
The 2020 Southwick National is NOT this Saturday. The two opening events of the 2020 Outdoor National schedule have been announced. The first event will be in Indiana on July 18, then travel to Florida on July 25. We hope to announce the new date for the Southwick National soon. There are a lot of moving parts. We expect a date between late August and September. Sit tight. More to follow. “Let’s take it outside.”
OPEN PRACTICE JUNE 28TH, SUNDAY PRE ENTRY ONLY!
Last scheduled practice until the end of July! All Day! – 10AM to 5PM for only $40. A/B, C, Vets/Women, 65cc/85cc
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! Unfortunately, for us to get started we have some restrictions.
Each rider can have 1 person with them at the track.
Each group will ride 15 minutes at a time. Breaks down to seven 15 minute motos.
Cost is $40. Gate opens at 8:00 am closes at 11:00 am
We have worked very hard to get this approved by the town. PLEASE FOLLOW THE RULES. If we can show the town how we can make this work, they will loosen up on the restrictions.
The New England Forest Rally, which was scheduled to be the next round of the truncated 2020 American Rally Association national series, has been canceled.
The decision to scrap the event, scheduled for July 31-August 1, comes as a result of safety guidelines put in place by the state of Maine because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Due to the concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus and considering the safety guidelines established by the State of Maine, the New England Forest Rally [NEFR] has decided to cancel the running of their event scheduled for July 31 and August 1, 2020,” the event organizer said in a statement.
“As one of the many national events in the ARA Championship that has had to postpone or cancel their events, we understand the impact this will have upon the NEFR community.
“The organizers did not come to this decision lightly. Out of respect for the local area and because of the many volunteers, competitors, service teams, and fans we felt it most important to make sure we did not negatively impact the health of those people and the communities in which our event runs.
While circuit racing is resuming in the US – with NASCAR already racing again behind closed doors and IndyCar planning to in a fortnight – restarting rallying is proving harder.
This latest cancellation means that the ARA series will not resume until August 28-29, the current scheduled date for the Ojibwe Forests Rally, at the earliest.
The NEFR’s cancellation has led to the creation of the ‘Rally For A Cause’ donation portal, a financial initiative aimed at supporting the communities that the event usually takes place in.
“The absence of the rally has opened a new opportunity,” the statement continued. “NEFR is creating the Rally For A Cause donation portal and with other ARA events will be raising money for the communities in which we each race.
“Our events help to support the local economies and we want to make an impact in our rally areas. We hope you will join us! The Rally For A Cause event donation portals will be announced in the coming days.”
