Monday, September 27, 2010
Jeff Burgess best in Unity Raceway Late Model race, Frank Moulton locks up third straight track title
Jeff Burgess best in Unity Raceway Late Model race, Frank Moulton locks up third straight track title
Unity, Maine – Jeff Burgess of Fairfield won his fourth Late Model feature race of the season Saturday night at Unity Raceway, while an eventful 10th-place run was more than enough for Frank Moulton of Burnham to nail down his third consecutive track championship at the third-mile oval track.
Burgess was stuck deep in the pack as the 23-car field went 23 laps before the caution flag waved, but a rash of yellow fever over the next several laps eliminated many frontrunners from contention for the win, including Jefferson’s Mike Hodgkins, who led most of that race-opening green flag stretch.
Ed Drake made a late charge into second place, bouncing back after being spun from the lead by Moulton when the champion’s right front tire went flat. Moulton later got into David Folsom I of Skowhegan while racing for third position after the white flag waved, triggering a controversial yellow-checkered finish.
Burgess drove to victory lane with Drake posting an impressive second-place finish. Chelsea’s Poncho Darveau claimed his third straight podium finish since returning to competition after a five-year hiatus, crossing the line third in the Mo Young 03. Rookie Markus Lowe of Jackson finished fourth, with Steve Rackliff of Starks ending up with a season-best fifth-place finish.
Darveau and multi-time Unity Raceway Pro Stock champion Dean Fuller of Albion were victorious in Late Model heat race action.
The NELCAR Legends Cars touring series closed out their championship season at Unity Raceway with the 16-year-old ‘K-Man’ claiming victory in the race, and a 40-something guy who’ll still race bikes – even on ice – wrapping up the 2010 series championship with a third-place finish.
NELCAR Legends Cars races at Unity are rarely filled with caution flags, but the series finale was far from the norm, with multiple examples of minor mechanical failure turning into multi-car melees. The chief victim was Durham’s Evan Beaulieu, who entered the night’s competition nine points behind Topsham’s Bobby Weymouth, the aforementioned 40-something bike racer who paid some oval track dues at Unity Raceway, Wiscasset Raceway and other venues before finding a home with NELCAR. Beaulieu got wrecked trying to take evasive action to avoid the disabled mount of early contender Tyler Jordan of Scarborough.
Eventual winner Kevin ‘K-man’ Hutchens nearly suffered the same fate of driving into someone’s wreck as Bobby Timmons broke a hub just as it appeared he was going to take the lead away from the eventual winner – Timmons was hooked up – but at the checkered flag it was Hutchens in front of Field and new champ Weymouth, with Lincoln’s Alan Smith and Matthew Burgoine of Newport closing out the top-five.
Nick Huff of Orrington made it two straight wins in the Racin’ Paper Super Street division, bouncing back from early adversity to prevail in the 25-lap main event. Huff and Nate Weston, this year’s champion in the class, clashed while racing for the lead on more than one occasion during the 25-lapper, and after a restart found both at the back of the lineup Huff made progress while Weston encountered further problems, along with Josh Bailey. When the checkered flag flew it was Huff racing underneath it first in front of Waterville’s Ricky Burgess, who took a turn or two pacing the field before settling for runner-up honors. Bucksport’s Artie Maguire claimed the third-place trophy in front of Bailey and Weston.
Andy Turbovsky of Winslow did all that he could do, attempting to come from behind in the championship chase in the Keystone Automotive Wildcat division, entering the night nine points behind Burnham’s Chris King in the title bout. Turbovsky could do no better than to win the 20-lap main event, and the ‘Lazy Boy’ one-handed his way to another popular feature race triumph. Burnham’s Carl McAlpine, a multi-time division champion, kept things interesting in the end and claimed runner-up honors, while King drove from the back of the starting line-up into third position under the checkered flag, claiming the Wildcat championship by seven points, unofficially. Mo Young of Chelsea and Ed Sleeper of Vassalboro rounded out the top five.
Already champion of the Aable Auto Parts Flyin’ 4 division, Justin Moore of Madison aced the 50-lap special for the entry-level, four-cylinder class in dominant fashion, never more than a car-length from the lead. Cornville teen Brad Bosworth stayed close to the champion and claimed runner-up honors, with official third-place finishing honors earned by Clinton teenager Cole Robinson – still to young for a learner’s permit let alone a driver’s license. Young Robinson crossed the line in fourth position, but apparent third-place finisher Tim Collins did not pass post-race technical inspection with illegal tires that should have been enough to win the race with ease. Lance Chapman of Benton bounced back from several altercations to post a fourth-place finish, with early race frontrunner David ‘Deuce’ Folsom II of Skowhegan rounding out the top five in the official finishing order.
Despite a hard hit into the turn four sand pile during the 50-lap Waterville Oaks Ladies division race run in conjunction with the Flyin’ 4 class, Chelsea’s Mika Wilson was the chief survivor and winner in both heat race and feature event competition. Wilson had already clinched the 2010 championship in the division. Clinton’s Alicia Goodwin was second-best in the Ladies class, with Winterport’s Chelsea Young finishing third, nailing down season-long runner-up honors.
New Vineyard’s Corey Walker closed out his championship season in dominant fashion with a 20-lap feature win in the Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four division. Walker’s closest rival in the race, Clinton’s Ben Clark, crashed coming out of turn four on the final lap, handing second-place to Skowhegan’s Bryan Lancaster. Multi-time division champ Steve Rackliff was third under the checkered flag, followed by Alex Fernald and Clark.
Mike Wilson wrapped up yet another championship season in the Monster Energy Drink Monsta Mini class with a feature race victory. Dylan Lancaster of Skowhegan claimed runner-up honors, with John Fortin of Vassalboro finishing in third position.
Detroit’s Ricky Pease drove to his first feature win in the Geo & Sons Teen Thunder main event, leading throughout the non-stop event by a comfortable margin. Newly-crowned Teen Thunder champion Wes Turner of Montville prevailed in a thrilling, three-car battle for second position. Kyle Robinson of Clinton just edged out Burnham’s Emily McAlpine for the final podium finishing position. Colby Robbins of Montville was the fifth-place finisher.
Saturday, October 2 Unity Raceway kicks off with a car show in the track parking lot at 9: 30 a.m., with trophies awarded to the top three cars in eleven classes. At 2:00 p.m. action shifts to the racetrack for a Fernald Frenzy Fun racing program, highlighted by a pair of 50-lap enduro races. Following that competition Be Bop Bob hosts a track dance.
The 2010 Unity Raceway season concludes on Saturday and Sunday, October 9-10 with the annual “Longjohn” program, with heat races on Saturday and feature events on Sunday. Late Models and Wildcats will race 100 laps on Longjohn Weekend, with all other weekly divisions contesting 50-lap feature events.
For more information visit unityraceway.info or call (207) 453-2021.
Late Model (35 laps): 1. X Jeff Burgess, Fairfield; 2. 09 Ed Drake, Vassalboro; 3. 03 Poncho Darveau, Chelsea; 4. 10x Markus Lowe, Jackson; 5. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 6. 22 Ajay Picard, Palmyra; 7. 87 Chuck Colby, Newcastle; 8. x15 David Folsom I, Skowhegan; 9. 9 Dylan Turner, Freedom; 10. 15 Frank Moulton, Burnham; 11. 6 Danny Smart, Buxton; 12. 3x Richard Jordan, Kingfield; 13. 1 Willy Pelotte, Oakland; 14. 3 Darren Doucette, Sidney; 15. 25 Will Collins, Appleton; 16. 20 Dean Fuller, Albion; 17. 27 Brenton Parritt, Steuben; 18. 23x Mike Hodgkins, Jefferson; 19. 15x Nick Hinckley, Wiscasset; 20. 12 Seth Raven, Waldo; 21. 34x Dickie Byron, Madison; 22. 99 Louis Picard, Palmyra; 23. 23 Dave Farrington, Jay. Heat race winners: Darveau, Fuller.
Racin’ Paper Super Street (25 laps): 1. 21 Nick Huff, Orrington; 2. 34 Ricky Burgess, Jr., Waterville; 3. 47x Artie Maguire, Bucksport; 4. 2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset; 5. 47 Nate Weston, Madison; 6. 79 Rick Turner, Montville; 7. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks, 8. 73 Mark Dodge, Anson. Heat race winner: Huff.
Keystone Automotive Industries Wildcat (20 laps): 1. 14 Andy Turbovsky, Winslow; 2. 18 Carl McAlpine, Burnham; 3. 29 Chris King, Burnham; 4. 03 Maurice Young, Chelsea; 5. 22 Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro; 6. 26 Andrew McLaughlin, Harrington; 7. 18x Ian Bresnahan, West Bath; 8. 8 Brad Norris, Ellsworth; 9. 24 Eddie Gilblair, Skowhegan; 10. 99 Al Libby, Brooks; 11. 33 Ed Gilblair, Sr., Skowhegan; 12. 98 Todd Rollins, St. Albans; DNS 53 Sonny Robinson, Clinton; DNS 2 Ryan Robinson, Waterville. Heat race winners: Sleeper, McAlpine.
Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four (20 laps): 1. 20 Corey Walker, New Vineyard; 2. 81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 3. 08 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 4. Alex Fernald, Benton; 5. Ben Clark, Clinton; 6. Tim Robinson, Clinton. Heat race winner: Walker.
Monster Energy Drink Monsta Mini (20 laps): 1. Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 2. 1 Dylan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 3. 46 John Fortin, Vassalboro; DNS 84 Jeff Minchin, Pittston; DNS 18 Tim Collins, Farmingdale. Heat race winner: Wilson.
Aable Auto Parts Flyin’ 4 (50 laps): 1. 5 Justin Moore, Madison; 2. 15 Brad Bosworth, Cornville; 3. 61 Cole Robinson, Clinton; 4. 21 Lance Chapman, Benton; 5. 11 David Folsom II, Skowhegan; 6. 17 Kris Matchett, Skowhegan; 7. 77 Rodney Williams, Oakland; 8. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 9. 57 Brian Dickey, Madison; DQ 84 Tim Collins, Farmingdale. Heat Race winner: Moore.
Waterville Oaks Ladies (50 laps): 1. 92 Mika Wilson, Chelsea; 2. 00 Alica Goodwin, Clinton; 3. 18 Chelsea Young, Winterport; DQ 25 Christie Foster, Norridgewock. Heat race winner: Wilson.
Geo & Sons Teen Thunder (15 laps): 1. 20 Ricky Pease, Detroit; 2. 88 Wes Turner, Montville; 3. 62 Kyle Robinson, Clinton; 4. 18 Emily McAlpine, Burnham; 5. 15 Colby Robbins, Montville; DNS 1 Mike Fernald, Benton. Heat race winner: Pease.
Enduro (30 laps, top five of 16): 1. 71 Donny Silva, Hudson; 2. 95 Zack Gagnon, Clinton; 3. 16j Kayla Allen, Bucksport; 4. 5 Ryan Chadwick, Wiscasset; 5. 15 George Fernald III, Benton.
NELCAR Legends Cars (25 laps): 1. 72 Kevin Hutchens, East Waterboro; 2. 30 Ed Field, Deep River, CT; 3. 399 Bobby Weymouth, Topsham; 4. 33 Alan Smith, Lincoln; 5. 38 Matthew Burgoine, Newport; 6. 49 Pete Cannell, South Berwick; 7. 31 Bobby Timmons, Windham; 8. 29 Tyler Jordan, Scarborough; 9. 56 Evan Beaulieu, Durham; 10. 17 Terry Kirk, Durham; 11. 13 Carl Blandina, Milford, CT; 12. 48 Kendall Curit, Windham. Heat race winners: Burgoine, Timmons.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Shaw Posts Top-10 At Dover; Concludes Season With Sixth Place Finish In Points
Dover, DE (September 25, 2010): DJ Shaw recovered from a late-race spin to finish the Sunoco 150 at Dover International Speedway in tenth. Shaw led 13 laps of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season finale and was a solid contender in the top-five after an early race pit strategy paid big dividends. The finish was enough to move the 20-year-old driver from ninth to sixth in the points.
"Finishing sixth is a success for us. We wanted a top-five in the points and we would have been pretty close to it if I had not gotten spun out," said Shaw. "But overall, it's a good end to the season."
Shaw acclimated himself with the famed Monster Mile in the two practice sessions on Thursday afternoon and put himself in the list of top-15 fastest drivers despite never having run the track before. In qualifying, Shaw posted a lap of 24.383 seconds (147.644 mph) behind the wheel of his No. 60 Precision JLM Ford and earned a 17th place starting position.
"The car was really tight. We only lost three spots from where we practiced, but a couple of the drivers picked up and we didn't," said Shaw about qualifying. "I thought it was going to be a long day trying to get up through. It was tough learning how to pass there, and I had hoped to follow (Dale) Quarterley, but it was tough to hang with him in traffic."
Shaw ran in the top-15 in the early laps of the race, but gained dramatically after using an early pit strategy that saw him take tires before the lap 50 mark. When the leaders did pit right before the halfway mark, Shaw moved up to third for the restart at lap 77. It was a short-lived green flag period and Shaw moved into second before the yellow was back out.
"We pitted early for left side tires and when the leaders pitted for four tires we only took on two. That helped us a bunch, and we had fresh tires."
On the following restart at lap 85, Shaw jumped in front of Brandon Ward to take the lead, where he would remain until lap 97 when Andrew Ranger got by him. Shaw wasn't about to give up, however, and continued to pressure the leader. He was a mainstay in the top-five until he spun with 25 laps to go.
"I had the lead there for a while, and in clean air we were pretty good. I was able to drive away from everyone behind me. On the next restart, I made a rookie mistake and I let Ranger slow me down too much. I got back to seventh before we were done with that first lap. I was too worried about jumping the restart so I stayed with him instead of setting the pace."
Shaw's spin relegated him back to 17th place, but the young driver wasn't about to let that deter him. He progressed through the field seven places before the race took the checkered flag at an extended distance of 155 laps.
"We got back up to fourth or fifth and I caught the 00 and the 35. They were in a battle and I had no where to go behind them. The 2 caught up with us and we were side-by-side and he used me up pretty good. The 2 car got to the inside of me and way overdrove it into turn one, and chased it all the way up into the top. He got me in the door and I spun," Shaw said about the spin.
The Sunoco 150, which will air on SPEED on Thursday, October 7 at 6 p.m. ET, marked the final race of the 2010 season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Shaw concluded his campaign sixth in the championship point standings.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Joey Doiron Wins PASS North Series Rookie Of The Year
BERWICK, Maine -- When the PASS North Series season rolled to an end last weekend at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, N.H., there was one celebration nobody witnessed in front of the main grandstands.
That celebration took place in a tiny corner of the tiny track's sprawling pit area.
Joey Doiron completed his season as the series' Rookie of the Year.
"It feels pretty good," Doiron said. "For going into this season having only run these (Super Late Model) cars a couple of times ever in my life, I think it was a pretty good accomplishment for us."
Doiron posted one Top-5 and four Top-10 finishes in 12 starts this season, and he finished ninth overall in the final PASS North standings. With his efforts, he was able to check off two of his biggest goals heading into the season -- winning Rookie of the Year and finishing in the Top-10 in the standings.
It marked Doiron's second straight Rookie of the Year award in a major touring series, having done the same in 2009 while competing on the ACT Late Model Tour.
"The hardest thing was that we didn't have a lot of information on so many tracks I'd never been to before," said the 19-year-old Doiron. "We were good at Spud Speedway, Speedway 660 (in New Brunswick) and Seekonk Speedway.
"There was really only one place that we struggled badly, and that was at (Riverside Speedway) -- but we found out after that race that we'd bent the front end. Really, we can't be upset about that."
The obvious goal, Doiron said, missing from his wish list was a trip to Victory Lane.
"We've got to get better at running our new car with the (built) motor," said Doiron, who switched from an older car with a crate engine to a newer chassis with the built engine midway through the season. "We learned a lot in the last two races with that car. It's important to learn how to drive that car without burning up the tires too early, because it's a big asset to have that big power with that car."
With his Top-10 points finish, Doiron laid the foundation for a good start to the 2011 season -- both literally and figuratively. The Top-10 in the PASS North and PASS South standings this season are guaranteed starting spots in the lucrative 300-lap event scheduled for next April a North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.
"That's a big deal," said Doiron, who plans to compete full-time in PASS North again next year, while also attempting some of the bigger PASS South Series events, including any PASS National Championshp races.
Having experience with the cars and tracks should help Doiron going forward.
"We ran a lot better than what our stats show from this year," he said. "But you can't change luck, per se. You can only make your own luck for so long."
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Austin Theriault: ACT Late Model Tour - ACT Invitational Race Preview
Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, heads to center of racing in New England where he will compete in the ACT Late Model Tour's second annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., on Saturday, September 18. The race takes place during Sylvania 300 weekend -- the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and is part of a Saturday tripleheader at the track which includes the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Whelen Modified Tour. Theriault was among the first 20 drivers invited to the 43-car starting field out of nearly 80 Late Model drivers to test at the track back in August. Theriault leads the ACT Late Model Tour rookie standings with one race remaining and is eighth inver overall standings with five Top-10 finishes in nine starts.
WHO: Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine
TEAM: No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford Fusion
BEST CAREER ACT INVITATIONAL FINISH: N/A
LAST RACE AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: N/A
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour 2nd annual ACT Inviatational
WHERE: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. (1.058-mile oval)
WHEN: 5:45 p.m., Saturday, September 18
ACT Late Model Tour
LAST RACE: Sunday, September 12, Mohawk Casino Fall Foliage 300, Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. (12th-place finish)
NEXT RACE: October 2-3, Milk Bowl, Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.250-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 8th
**********************
AUSTIN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING HEADING INTO ONE OF THE BIGGEST WEEKENDS OF YOUR ENTIRE CAREER?
There will be some pressure because there's a whole bunch of people watching, and the stands will still be pretty full for the race. But even though there's that little bit of pressure, this is probably also a time where we can have some fun as a team.
Not many people get the opportunity to race on a track that's that popular in New England with all the race fans. It's a luxury not many people get have, and I'm looking forward to it.
HAS THE TEAM SET A CONCRETE GOAL FOR THIS WEEKEND?
I honestly don't really have a goal. We have goals to run good every weekend at every track we go to, but we'll take it the way it comes. If we come out of there and don't win or don't finish in the Top-5, we're not going to look at that as a disappointment. Not by any standard.
I'm sure by a couple hours before the race, the nerves will be pretty high. But this is going to be a lot of fun for a lot of people -- it's the 43 best Late Model teams in New England and Canada.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH - By Lou Modestino(for 9/17-9/19/10)
It was the fastest commute in New Hampshire today as Governor John Lynch raced to work in New Hampshire Motor Speedway's official Toyota Hybrid Pace Car this afternoon with Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway.
Governor John Lynch declared the week of September 13-19 "Race Week" for the Granite State. The week kicks off the SYLVANIA 300 festivities and the biggest sporting event in New England.
"We are delighted to be here today, and I wanted to thank Jerry Gappens and Bruton Smith for their ongoing commitment to New Hampshire. The speedway is such an important factor in our economy. Each year the races bring in hundreds and thousands of visitors and hundreds of millions of dollars to New Hampshire and we again thank you for stating your commitment to the state," said Governor John Lynch at the press conference.
Executive vice president and general manager of the speedway Jerry Gappens was on hand to present Governor Lynch with a green flag signifying the start of race week and a personalized racing helmet with his name. "We would like to hand you this green flag not only to start race but to signify money and how much tourism NASCAR brings into New Hampshire. The speedway has fans from 38 states and five countries to spend money and visit our great state," said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Come on over and enjoy all of the motorsports entertainment. Joining the cars and stars of NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series is NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175, NASCAR's K&N Pro Series East New Hampshire 125, the mighty Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100 and the American-Canadian Tour Invitational.
Race fans get ready the top-12 Chase contenders are set and NASCAR’s playoffs are headed to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in just a few days. Ten drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin already clinched berths in the Chase going into the Richmond race. It was the two drivers on the outside looking in who headlined the night. Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer raced their way into the Chase to round out the final top-12. Bowyer remained in the top-10 the entire night while Biffle struggled early on and finished in the 32nd position.
The cars and the stars of NASCAR will make their way for the second New England trip of the 2010 season beginning on Thursday with practice and qualifying for the K&N Pro Series East New Hampshire 125 and the Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100. Friday brings qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the New Hampshire 125 K&N Pro Series East race. Saturday’s thrilling triple header includes the Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100, the Camping World Truck Series TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175, and the American-Canadian Tour Invitational. Finally the Sprint Cup Series drivers will take on “The Magic Mile” during the SYLVANIA 300 in the first race in the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.”
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is accepting entries for the track's first TUMS "Chowdah" Challenge. The best homemade clam chowder, a regional specialty throughout New England, will be chosen in a live cook-off on Sunday, September 19. The contest will be judged by some of the biggest names in NASCAR and the track executive chef.
Second-generation racer Poncho Darveau of Chelsea came back after some time away from the sport just a week prior to claiming victory in the 35-lap Late Model feature, topping the stock car racing card at Unity Raceway Saturday night. Other feature event winners included Ricky Burgess, Jr. (Waterville), Andy Turbovsky (Winslow), Mike Mason (Skowhegan), Mike Wilson (Chelsea), Zach Audet (New Sharon), Mika Wilson (Chelsea), Jayson Bosworth (Cornville) and Donny Silva (Hudson).
The Classic, traditionally held at Star Speedway the week after the Labor Day International Classic at Oswego, continued for the 45th time on Saturday, but it was held 15 miles away from that Epping, NH venue at Lee USA. Chris Perley was the 2009 Classic champion and he defended his title taking both 50-lap segments to win the overall championship. Starting twelfth in the first 50, he traveled up through a pack of talent to take the lead on lap 33.
In the second, after a redraw of the top eight finishers from the first 50, Chris was third on the grid, a unique starting spot for the man who has dominated ISMA races for the past few years. By the time one lap was complete, the 11 was out front and the cliché, “never looked back” was never truer here as he sped to the second 50 win. The overall “Classic” championship was determined by points and Perley made the calculation easy. The title also earned him an extra $1500 bonus, added to his double victories worth $3000 each for the Vic Miller team. It was Perley’s fifth win and third consecutive of the Classic event.
Twenty-five winged supers headed to the line for the first segment of the 45th annual Classic 100 after poignant ceremonies to mark the anniversary of 9-11.
Nearing the halfway mark, it was Bobby Santos, III with a couple car lengths over Summers, Belfiore, Wood Perley who was moving steadily forward. There was nothing stopping the Rowley Rocket now, even some heavy traffic. At race end several lap cars separated him from the pack. Behind him, though, some intense battling ensued between Santos, Summers, Cicconi, Magner and Locke until a white flag accident saw Danny Lane and Ben Seitz tangle and go off on the hooks. The redo of the white and checkered didn’t change Perley’s position any but Wood took the runner-up spot from Santos on the last lap. Bobby settled in for third pressured by Cicconi and Summers for the top five.
It was Perley’s second straight Lee USA win, having copped the Ollie Silva Memorial 75 just a month previous. “This whole race was about patience. We still have 50 to go. And, we’re allowed to change one tire when we get into the pits, but one tire isn’t going to carry it if you burn everything else off. I played the waiting game and luckily I caught the leaders. The cautions helped me out a little better. I just got the front somehow. The car worked and it seems really good. It probably slipped a little toward the end but a new right rear will help that. Hopefully we’ll have something for the next 50.”
Wood was happy picking up second with a skating car. “We were slipping and sliding at the end and the traffic helped me. The 61 was fading a little. It was weird. We pushed the first half of the race and the second half I was really loose. I don’t know how we can correct that problem but we’re going to make a couple changes for the second race. I know Chris will be hard to beat. He’s starting third and we’re starting seventh. We’ll just keep plucking away. This was fun for me. I enjoyed it.”
The talented Santos, jumping aboard the 61 for his first race in the potent machine, said of his good run, “It was fun. We have a good car here. I think we just got a little looser than we wanted to be, but I think we have some good ideas to get it better for the second half.” Bob Magner, Jeff Locke, Mark Sammut, Eric Lewis and Mike Lichty finished up the top ten.
The veterans of the very first Classic, which was actually held at Lee Speedway, drew the positions for the top 8 finishers in the second 50 lapper, which saw Jeff Locke on the pole with Mark Sammut outside. The second row consisted of Perley and Cicconi trailed in order by Santos, Magner, Wood and Locke.
Finally underway Locke and Sammut were passed by Perley before one lap clicked off. Santos had moved up quickly to take over third from Sammut with Cicconi hot on their tail. A restart lineup showed Perley, three lap cars, then Magner who had taken over second, trailed by Cicconi, Wood, Locke and Bob Bond.
There were no other yellows to slow the fast-paced action as Perley moved flawlessly around the Lee oval. Magner was second but was being reeled by Cicconi as Wood, Bond and now Sammut battled for top spots. Mike Lichty, fighting for points as the two races carried ISMA points, stayed behind Sammut with Locke and Vern Romanoski. As the white flew for Perley, half a track away from the others, Cicconi snuck up and stole second from Magner who suddenly was fading backwards. On the last lap, Wood snuck up on Cicconi and took the runner-up spot. Cicconi, Sammut and Magner finished up the top five in some wild last laps of racing.
After at a fizzled attempt at victory flag carrying he tried doughnuts in turn 1, Perley pulled the car into victory lane for his second win of the night. “The car is just unbelievable. The first race it was great. I didn’t think it could get any better but it this race it was just awesome. We usually don’t start up front that much. I really didn’t want to bide my time on this one since we started up front. I figured we’d just get it and try not to run my own tires off. The car just stuck with it. What an awesome car. Vic Miller’s cars are so good. They top everything. With R&R motors powering them it’s just an awesome package.
“I have a great crew backing me. And awesome sponsors with Ed Shea, Perley’s Marina, NEMRS, Blink’s Fried Doe, Malco Products of New England and Barrett’s Transportation. I hope the fans enjoyed this. It’s the first time they’ve tried this format. I liked it.” With separate points being calculated to determine the overall Classic top three, ironically, it was the three finishers standing in victory lane. Both Wood and Cicconi collected bonus cash for their paired finishes.
Lou Cicconi smiled and said, “Well, I got second. I was watching the 41 car. He passed me early. I knew he was going to come back to me because he was going too fast. I reeled him in and eventually I got second.” Russ Wood, who was third finisher of the race, collected the second place overall bonus “Not a bad night – a second and a third. We weren’t too bad but Chris was awesome. Those guys are unbelievable. Nobody is going to beat them when they are on. It was fun out there. Looked like there was some good racing. We were sliding at the end but it wasn’t a bad weekend for us. We’ll take it.”
Bob Magner who has recently returned to the Holbrook 41 commented on his fourth. “This place is horrendous. I guess unless you are the master Chris Perley, it’s hard to be smooth here. My car was really good. I could roll into the center of the corner. The car was awesome but I was trying to be careful and not spin tires on the way out. At the end, it was driver error. I forgot to pump the fuel from the back end. I probably put myself in the way to get passed by all those cars at the end. To come away with a fifth and sixth, I’m happy. The car’s in one piece and this is the best we’ve been in a long time.”
Mark Sammut was content with fifth after recent weeks. “It was okay, the car wasn’t great but considering where we started in the first, we ended up eighth. And, unfortunately we started outside pole in that one but the car just wasn’t as fast as the guys at the start. At the end, the car was better but I was already behind them then. To finish and eighth and a fourth is not too bad. Obviously we would have liked to do better. But, we can go home in one piece and work on it for Berlin.” Bob Bond, Mike Lichty, Vern Romanoski, Jeff Locke and Justin Belfiore finished the top ten. Belfiore, amazingly after his hit in the first race, was able to race the second with no nose wing, an old tire and a somewhat banged up machine.
SUMMARY:
Heat 1: Bob Santos, Bob Bond, Russ Wood, Jeff Locke, Bobby Haynes, Eric Lewis, Craig Rayvals, Artie Rousseau, Brandon Bellinger
Heat 2: Dave Duggan, Joey Scanlon, Lou Cicconi, Bob Magner, Danny Lane, Mark Sammut, Vern Romanoski, Billy Gove, Bob Fitzpatrick
Heat 3: Rob Summers, Justin Belfiore, Chris Perley, Mike Lichty, Ben Seitz, Jon Gambuti, Rich Reid, Eric Emhoff
Feature 1: 1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Russ Wood (29), 3. Bob Santos (61), 4. Lou Cicconi (10), 5. Rob Summers (35), 6. Bob Magner (41), 7. Jeff Locke (37), 8. Mark Sammut (78), 9. Eric Lewis (28), 10. Mike Lichty (84), 11. Vern Romanoski (5), 12. Craig Rayvals (94), 13. Dave Duggan (51), 14. Bobby Haynes (44), 15. Jon Gambuti (14), 16. Brandon Bellinger (02), 17. Ben Seitz (17), 18. Danny Lane (97), 19. Bob Bond (25), 20. Justin Belfiore (98), 21. Artie Rousseau (616), 22. Joey Scanlon (88), 23. Bob Fitzpatrick (109), 24. Eric Emhoff (2), 25. Rich Reid (92) (01 dns)
Feature 2: 1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Lou Cicconi (10), 3. Russ Wood (29), 4. Mark Sammut (78), 5. Bobby Magner (41), 6. Bobby Bond (25), 7. Mike Lichty (84), 8. Vern Romanoski (5), 9. Jeff Locke (37), 10. Justin Belfiore (98), 11. Jon Gambuti (14), 12. Danny Lane (97), 13. Eric Lewis (28), 14. Dave Duggan (51), 15. Rich Reid (92), 16. Brandon Bellinger (02), 17. Rob Summers (35), 18. Bobby Haynes (44), 19. Bobby Santos (61), 20. Eric Emhoff (2), 21. Craig Rayvals (04), 22. Bobby Fitzpatrick (109).
The final eight (8) teams have been notified that they will be invited to attend this coming weekend’s second annual ACT Invitational at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH. The American Canadian Tour (ACT) completed the final qualifying event at the Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY Sunday, September 12, 2010 and several teams who were on the ‘short list’ locked in several of the final spots.
The final invitees include a newly crowned Champion at the Oxford Plains Speedway (OPS), Tim Brackett, and another OPS seven (7) time track champion, Travis Adams. Quinny Welch locked in his invite by winning last Saturday night’s weekly event at the White Mountain Motorsport Park in North Woodstock, NH. Welch took over a more comfortable lead from both Stacy Cahoon and his son Tyler. The three have battled all summer for the WMMP title, and all have attended the test and tune sessions at NHMS. Welch gets the nod for 2010 after losing the title in 2009 by a single digit number on the eve of the inaugural invitational. TJ Watson and Jamie Fisher received ‘at large’ invites for their year-long participation on the US Tour and Thunder Road weekly racing respectively. Rounding out the final invited teams is Scott Payea who has been a title contender for many years on the ACT US Tour and David Michaud from Quebec who literally raced his way into the Invitational with an at-large bid following the Fall Foliage 300 at Airborne Speedway.
One of the most popular and most successful drivers in the 20-year history of NHMS will complete the field of 43 invited teams. Running a part-time schedule Brad Leighton used the 300-lap Airborne event to lock up one of the final invitations.
“This has been a very difficult process,” said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour. “We had a group of 15 drivers on the ‘short list’ going into the final event before this weekend’s Invitational. I think we have assembled a very good field of 43 teams to represent us at NHMS this coming Saturday, and I know there are some teams that could have joined them. That makes this a very tough day. The bottom line is that the fans this Saturday will get to see some of the best short track racers in the region put on a great race, and I think this group will do just that,” concluded Curley.
St-Denis, Quebec’s Patrick Laperle earned his second consecutive ACT Late Model Tour win and second consecutive Mohawk Casino Fall Foliage 300 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. Laperle led early in the event after starting on the outside pole but faded during the mid-portion of the event and went down a lap after spinning on lap 161. After pitting for tires Laperle raced his way back onto the lead lap on lap 211.
Current point leader Brian Hoar and Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk, Jr., spent much of the race running side by side, swapping the lead, much like last weekend’s Bond Auto Labor Day Classic. Eric Williams joined the mix late in the event. Laperle made a three wide pass for the lead under Hoar and Williams after the final restart on lap 285.
Hoar’s second place finish was enough to clinch his seventh ACT Late Model Tour Championship. Pole took third, Brad Leighton fourth and Williams rounded out the top five. Rand Potter, Scott Payea, Brent Dragon, Craig Bushey and Joey Becker completed the top ten. The event saw seven different leaders swap the lead an official 16 times. Leighton, Pole, Donald Theetge, Payea, Hoar, Williams and Laperle all spent time at the front. The race was completed in 2 hours and 15 minutes with 10 cautions. Nine of the 35 starters completed all 300 laps.
The American Canadian Tour will be back in action next Saturday, September 18 for the second annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Thirty-five of the 43 invitations have been handed out with the eight remaining drivers. The 60 lap Invitational will join the Whelen Modified Series and the Camping World Truck Series for a tripleheader event on Saturday.
The 149-year-old Mt. Washington Auto Road in Gorham, NH has seen the likes of horses and carriages, camels, people, bicycles and most famously, competition race cars. Traveling at an average speed of nearly 72 mph in a Vermont SportsCar-prepared, BFGoodrich Tires-shod 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car, four-time Rally America National Champion Travis Pastrana made sure the project name, Red Bull Speed Chasers, lived up to its name. He reached the summit faster than anyone else in history by clocking an officially timed run of 6 minutes 20.47 seconds, besting the previous record by more than twenty seconds. Amazingly, Pastrana achieved the impressive time on his first ever high-speed run to the summit. Pastrana has effectively thrown down the gauntlet in advance of the legendary Mt. Washington "Climb to the Clouds" Automobile Hillclimb, which will take place in June 22-26, 2011 after a ten year hiatus.
Here's what else is going on in the North Country. It's Street Night drags at New England Dragway in Epping, NH on Wednesday and Friday at 5 p.m. On Friday and Saturday Old Orchard Beach in ME offers a car show at 9 a.m. each day. From Friday thru Sunday the Champlain Valley Expo in Burlington, VT hosts the Street Rod National while Green Mountain Park in Pownal, VT offers a car/truck show with Weed's Hill in Stowe, VT plans a British Classic Car Show, all at 10 a.m. New England Dragway comes back with the IHRA Pro Am all day Saturday and Sunday starting at 8 a.m.
On Friday night Beech Ridge in Scarborough, ME has a Demo Derby while stockcar racing is on at 7 p.m. While the Canaan (NH) Fairgrounds, dirt track, Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH and White Mountain Motorsports Park in N. Woodstock, NH. At the the same time there's snowmobile drags at the Pathfinders Club in Saco, ME. Saturday has more stockcar action at Big Daddy's in Wentworth, NH, Devil's Bowl in W. Haven, VT, Spud in Limestone, ME and Unity, ME, all at 6 p.m. The Action Fairgrounds will hold an automotive flea market all day. Sunday will find Mud Bog action in Lebanon, ME and dragracing at the Winterport Dragway in ME starting at 9 a.m.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Shaw, McKeage and McKinstry all winners on PASS 300 Sunday
Shaw, McKeage and McKinstry all winners on PASS 300 Sunday
Scarborough ME (9/12) The PASS Sportsman and Mod series joined the North East Mini Stock tour on Sunday’s PASS 400 Weekend card and all three divisions came through with exciting extra distance feature racing for the fans in the stands.
Grant Aither led thirty two PASS Sportsman racers to the green and kept the lead until both Jay Sands and Craig Smith slipped under the LEE USA track champion on lap five when Smith took the point away from Sands and Clyde Hennessey followed him through. Smith kept the field at bay until lap 35 when mechanical issues ended his afternoon. Sands resumed command and ran away and hid, but another caution erased his straightaway lead. Meanwhile the PASS points leaders had worked their way toward the front Mike Landry, Dan McKeage, and Carey Martin restarted 4th, 6th and 7the respectively. On the restart Landry made his way to second with McKeage hot on his heels. Now it was time to challenge Sands. Sands ran the second groove and Landry the bottom, the pair battling side by side at the half way mark. Hennessey sat third, McKeage fourth and Martin fifth when the field received the crossed flags.
The second half of the 100 lapper featured some longer green flag runs and there was no lack of action. Sands and Landry were still battling for the point and Carey Martin won a battle with McKeage for fourth. The yellow flag flew at lap seventy one and PASS Sportsman point leader Landry was forced to pit returning to the line- up twentieth. Sands now had Martin on his tail with McKeage, Hennessey, and Corey Bubar the top five.
McKeage moved under Martin on the restart and the 2010 Beech Ridge Pro Series champ took the battle to Sands. Meanwhile Landry was watching his thirteen point series slip away, sitting in fourteenth spot with two rows of side by side traffic holding him back. His day went from bad to worse on lap 85 when he got together with Nate Leavitt and crashed off the top of turn three, ending a great race. Race control parked Leavitt for the night.
So Sands had McKeage, Martin and Hennessey to contend with at 15 to go and the front four raced side by side with McKeage by a nose on lap 88,clearing Sands on lap 89. Sands now had his hands full with Carey Martin, giving McKeage a two car length edge, the most any leader had enjoyed all night. At the stripe there was a new PASS Sportsman point leader as Dan McKeage captured his first win of 2010 with Sands, Martin, Hennessey and Bubar second through fifth.
Sumner Sessions jumped out front early in the 50 lap PASS Mod main with Rich Ferriera second and Scott McDaniel up to race third. McDaniel and Jon Brill split the leader with a three wide move to take over the top two spots. Brill took over the point on a lap 13 restart but McDaniel continued to challenge on the bottom, settling into second just in front of Andy Shaw. That trio took off and left the pack and the order remained the same at the half way mark with past series champion Mark Lucas and Allan Wilson completing the top five. Shaw made his move on McDaniel on lap 28 and set sail after Brill. Without a doubt Shaw was looking for a a win to go with his first series championship The caution flew with 15 laps to go, giving Shaw his best shot at Brill. Shaw nosed ahead on the restart and cleared the 77 on lap 39 but the front four raced nose to tail. Another caution gave the front four another shot at the checkers with eight to go. Brill took over the lead after one last caution inducing spin but Shaw came right back on the outside to fulfill every racer’s dream when the third generation racer captured both the PASS Mod fifty lap feature and the 2010 PASS Mod title on the same day. Brill, McDaniel, Lucas and Wilson finished second through fifth.
The North East Mini Stock Tour made their first PASS 300 Sunday appearance and the 50 lap feature win went to Vermonter Chris McKinstry with Tim Boyle second and Calvin Rose third.
The PASS Sportsman Championship will be decided on October 16 when the series wraps up their 2010 campaign at Riverside Speedway in Groveton NH.
There’s plenty of PASS 300 results and action photos on line now at www.proallstarsseries.com .
Unofficial Results PASS Sportsman 100
1 38 Dan McKeage 2 09 Jay Sands 3 18 Carey Martin 4 8 Clyde Hennessey 5 42 Corey Bubar 6 58NH Sparky MacIver 7 7OZ Grant Aither 8 75 Doug Wolfe Jr. 9 63 Russell Morse 10 54 Steve Fogg 11 16 Dan Colpritt 12 34 Spencer Morse 13 83 Ryan Greene 14 40M Laura McKeage 15 07 Richard Pelton 16 0 Shane Green 17 60D Dave Torfano 18 51A RJ Austin 19 58 Lyman McKeage 20 40 Mike Landry 21 2 Robert Emery 22 35x Kris Watson 23 60ME Scott Dorr 24 77 Sally Ghrardi 25 20 Frank Wear 26 80 Steve Moulton 27 15 Craig Smith 28 36x Peter Cook 29 7 Shane Tatro 30 35 Bobby Nadeau 31 7x Jimmy Burnham 32 36 Nate Leavitt
Unofficial Results - PASS Mod 50
1 66 Andy Shaw 2 77 Jon Brill 3 14 Scott McDaniel 4 9 Marc Lucas 5 53W Alan Wilson 6 2X Wayne Whitten Jr. 7 33 Bill Dixon 8 50 Sumner Sessions 9 53 Leo Oliiveira 10 56X Richard Ferreira 11 28 Mark Lundbland 12 20 Charlie Small
Johnny Clark scores PASS 300
Johnny Clark scores PASS 300
Scarborough ME (9/12) Johnny Clark got his shot at the lead late in Sunday’s Pro All Stars Series (PASS) 300 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and he led when it counted to earn his second win in PASS North’s longest and richest super late model race. Clark passed Bill Rogers with forty to go and held off Cassius Clark by less than three tenths of a second to earn 2010 victory number five for the Clark’s Car Crushing team.
Cassius Clark took his EJ Prescott mount to the front several times throughout the event and looked like the man to beat, but a long battle over third with Richie Dearborn delayed him from catching the front pair until the day’s final restart with nineteen to go. Cassius got to Johnny’s rear bumper cover but the second generation Farmington Flyer raced the leader hard and clean to the checkers, settling for second.
Long stretches of green flag racing and plenty of lead changes highlighted the afternoon. Seekonk Speedway regular Tom Scully led from the pole to lap 30 when Cassius Clark took over and ran off to a straightaway lead. Scully took back the top spot on a restart and then it was Scott Chubbuck using the outside line to take a turn up front. Beech Ridge regular David Oliver led next, putting defending and three time race winner Mike Rowe a lap down just before the 100 lap mark.
Oliver ducked in the pits following a lap120 caution, handing the lead to Travis Benjamin but at the midway mark it was Cassius Clark’s turn to flex his muscle once again He led Benjamin, Johnny Clark, Richie Dearborn and Bill Rodgers across the line at the crossed flags.
The PASS 300 features live pitting and once again strategy, skill and luck in the infield played a role in the event’s outcome. Three quarters of the field came in for fuel and tires during a lap 177 caution period and Johnny Clark was first off pit road with fresh rubber all around, while many of his challengers had slow stops or problems exiting the crowded pit road.
It was Donnie Whitten and Lonnie Sommerville’s turn to battle up front and the pair raced side by side for nearly fifty laps with Bill Rodgers and Johnny Clark right behind. The front four raced side by side lap after lap until Rogers found a way by Sommerville on lap 226, bringing Johnny Clark with him. Rodgers was strong all day and the July PASS 150 winner at the Ridge looked like he might just repeat in the season’s biggest race. Rodgers kept Clark at bay lap after lap until the four time PASS champ slipped by on the bottom at lap 260 for the winning move.
Clark’s nearest championship challenger didn’t fare as well. Ben Rowe’s day was a long one that ended on lap 232 when a sour engine sent him to the infield. Clark’s win and Rowe’s 28th place result nearly locked up a fifth PASS North crown for the Farmingdale Maine super late model star, his third in a row.
The PASS 300 also carried PASS National Championship status and Clark’s win put him in contention for that title as well. National points leader Preston Peltier (15th) second place points man Jay Fogleman (26th) and National third place runner Rowe (28th) all had less than stellar results so that title race will go down to the wire at Newport (TN) Speedway when the PASS South and National Championships are decided at the Mason-Dixon Meltdown on October 16.
The PASS North super late models wrap up their season this Friday evening September 17 at North Woodstock New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park.
All the PASS 300 results, PASS news and point standings are on line at www.proallstarsseries.com .
Unofficial Results: PASS North super late model 300 – PASS National Championship Series race #4 - Beech Ridge Motor Speedway – Scarborough ME - 9/12/ 2010
1 54 Johnny Clark 300 2 8 Cassius Clark 300 3 53 Bill Rodgers 300 4 33 Richie Dearborn 300 5 84 Scott Mulkern 300 6 21 David Oliver 300 7 17 Travis Benjamin 300 8 14M Matt Frahm 300 9 1T Chris Thorne 300 10 10 Scott Dragon 300 11 22 Aaron Ricker 300 12 2 Tom Scully Jr. 300 13 77 Scott Chubbuck 300 14 60 DJ Shaw 300 15 26 Preston Peltier 300 16 20 Steve Legendre 300 17 23 Lonnie Sommerville 299 18 47 Kelly Moore 299 19 7 Donnie Whitten 299 20 85 Nick Ribbe 298 21 03 Scott Moore 298 22 44 Trevor Sanborn 297 23 73 Joey Doiron 296 24 2X Mike Rowe 294 25 98 Adam Bates 279 26 4 Jay Fogleman 243 27 75 Gary Smith 237 28 48 Ben Rowe 224 29 29 Ricky Morse 184 30 17A Scott Alexander 181 31 0 Bill Whorff Jr. 178 32 71 Gary Drew 136 33 79 Keith McKinnon 59
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Drive For Five: Johnny Clark Wins PASS 300
SCARBOROUGH, Maine -- Johnny Clark continued his storybook season on Sunday afternoon at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, winning the PASS 300 for his fifth PASS North Series victory of the year and firming his grasp on a fifth career series championship.
"We've been on an awesome tear all year long," said Clark, a two-time winner of the PASS 300, having won the event in 2008 as well. "This is just phenomenal."
Clark took the lead from Bill Rodgers on Lap 260 and then held off Cassius Clark on a restart with 19 laps remaining.
"I was pretty nervous when Cassius was coming," Clark said. "He was the class of the field for the whole race, even on old tires."
Clark used pit strategy past the midpoint of the event to put himself in position for victory, choosing to change all four tires at once to gain track position over other cars pitting for fresh tires and fuel.
He gave up the sixth position on Lap 177 to head to pit road, emerging with fifth place when the race went back to green.
"We weren't very good for the first half of the race. The car was getting tight, loose -- everything," Clark said. "I just didn't want to race anybody (early on). I figured we'd race them in the pits.
"The guys just did an awesome job on a 4-tire stop, coming in a straightaway behind the pace car and not losing a lap. It was a big gamble, but I think it was the winning gamble."
Clark has now won three straight races, including two in PASS competition. He won the PASS North Series' return to Spud Speedway in Caribou, Maine, on Aug. 21, and then won the Auto Value 250 open competition at Geary, New Brunswick's Speedway 660 last weekend.
Perhaps more importantly, with fellow title contender Ben Rowe retiring early from the event with mechanical troubles, Clark has a comfortable points lead heading into the season finale at White Mountain Motorsports Park next weekend.
Unofficially, Clark owns a 71-point led over Rowe.
"We can't control what (Rowe) is going to do. All we can control is the 54 car and make sure it's fast and gives us a shot to win the race," Clark said. "The guys just work their butts off all week long to make this happen."
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Joey Polewarczyk Jr.: ACT Late Model Tour - Airborne Speedway Race Preview
Airborne Speedway Race Preview
Joey Polewarczyk Jr. of Hudson, N.H., and the ACT Late Model Tour head to the series' longest race with the Mohawk Casino Fall Foliage 300 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on September 12. Polewarczyk has made a second-half charge from obscurity to the Top-3 in the ACT point standings, just two points out of second. Polewarczyk posted his best career Airborne Speedway finish of fifth the last time the ACT was there, in July for the rain-delayed Spring Green 100, and he has won two of the series' last five points races. Last weekend. Polewarczyk led more than three-quarters of the Labor Day Classic 200 at Thunder Road en route to posting an eighth-place finish.
WHO: Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, N.H.
TEAM: No. 97 Pole's Automotive/NH Precision Ford Fusion
BEST CAREER AIRBORNE SPEEDWAY FINISH: 5th (July 2010)
LAST RACE AT AIRBORNE SPEEDWAY: 5th (July 2010)
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour Mohawk Casino Fall Foliage 300
WHERE: Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. (.500-mile oval)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, September 12
ACT Late Model Tour
LAST RACE: Sunday, September 5, Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200, Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (8th-place finish)
NEXT RACE: Saturday, September 18, 2nd annual ACT Invitational, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. (1.058-mile oval).
POINTS POSITION: 3rd
**********************
JOEY, PIT STRATEGY CAME INTO PLAY AT THUNDER ROAD LAST WEEKEND AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE FALL FOLIAGE 300 COULD BE MORE OF THE SAME.
It's pit strategy -- again. It's just a long race. On a half-mile track, that's a long race and a lot of time. You've got to keep yourself good enough to make it the whole race, and the car's got to be good, too.
It's all about staying on the lead lap and getting in a place early where you can pace yourself. Ideally, Lap 180-200 is a great time to pit, but then you never really know how it's all going to work out. It will be interesting to see.
HAVE YOU GROWN TO LIKE AIRBORNE?
We learned a lot last time. We've never been really good there, but we've been trying new setups everywhere. We've changed things up a little bit -- and now we're really looking forward to it. It's definitely a good Ford track.
Last time we were there, I tried a bunch of different lines and I learned that the more you use the brake there, the better -- and where you use it is really important. I'm type of driver that likes to use as little brake as possible and just roll through the corners, because that's how I learned coming up from go-karts. But last time there, in practice it seemed nothing was working and I got mad and drove like an animal. Now, I just use a lot of brake and it works.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW FAR YOU'VE CLIMBED IN THE POINT STANDINGS?
Everyone counted us out in the beginning of year and wrote us off, as well they should have. We were horrible. There were times where we were really down as a team.
But we've worked our tails off, and we want to finish on a high note. Everyone is hitting on all cylinders. We won at Waterford and Beech Ridge, and hopefully we can keep that up. To now be just two points out of second -- with all that hard luck early in the year -- it says a lot about our team.
Thursday Night Open gets PASS 400 Weekend off to a fast start
Thursday Night Open gets PASS 400 Weekend off to a fast start
NAPLES ME (9/10) The stars of Maine’s mid week racing series took the spot light Thursday, opening four days of motorsports mania at Scarborough Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.120 of the fast and furious racers answered the call to get the sixth annual PASS 400 party started in style.
The Four Cylinders kicked off the night with a fifty lap feature and a thirty-one car field. Kyle Hewins made it two in a row on PASS 400 Thursday night, surviving a torrid battle with Troy Jordan. The pair worked lap traffic for much of the night and Jordan got the better of Hewins from laps 11 to 26 but Hewins was able to drive under Morse to reclaim the lead. The pair put on a show as they worked lap traffic, splitting slower cars and battling for the $500.00 payday e but into the end it was Hewins by 6 car lengths.
The 305/Mad Bomber feature was up next and Adam Lovejoy jumped out front early. Trouble was, Lovejoy made that jump a little too soon and he was docked four spots at the next yellow. That put Paul Ureneck out front on the restart but Lovejoy wasted no time getting to second, putting his ride on Ureneck’s bumper by lap 15. AT the half-way mark it was still Ureneck with Lovejoy hot on his heels, then a straightaway back to Kirk Bean, John Lord and Jason Inman. Lovejoy saw an opening on the bottom and took over the top spot at the line on lap 31 to claim the feature over Ureneck, Kirk Bean, Jon Lord and Jason Curtis.
The Mighty Truckers were up next with Chad Binette and Troy Field occupying the front row Binette led lap one but Field hung tough on the outside and led lap two. Binette kept the pressure on but Field kept control, slowly building upon his lead. At the half way it was Fields, Binette, Brian Beaulieu, Duane Booth and Roger Allard the top five. Jeremy Binette moved up to run fourth with ten to go and Ryan Farrar broke into the top five. Farrar took fourth away from Jeremy Binette with five remaining. Binette caught Field in lapped traffic but Field made it three wide to keep the lead and take home the win by a truck length.
The 350/Outlaws rolled out for the night’s final fifty lapper with Bill Childs Jr. and Mike Short leading the 33 car field to the green. Childs and Short raced the early laps like they were the final five, side by side and rubbing fenders. Short got the jump on an early restart but Childs kept his ride right on Short’s bumper with Chris Burgess and Corey Morgan giving chase. The caution flew on lap seven and race control sent Short to the back of the pack for jumping the previous restart. Short chose to take his mount to the pits and call it a night. That gave Childs back the point with Chris Burgess to his outside. Another early caution flew but not before Corey Morgan was able to take over second from Burgess. That set up a Childs/Morgan restart. Once again it was Childs in the lead with Morgan right on his bumper then Ryan Robbins, Burgess, and Dan Lovejoy third through fifth. Childs held the point at half way and Burgess reclaimed third from Robbins. The Outlaws were having a serious bout with yellow fever but Childs was keeping the field behind him with little difficulty. A lap 34 restart decided the race when Childs failed to come up to speed on the restart, sliding all the way back to fourth. It was Morgan to the lead with Burgess second but Childs was on the move, taking over second from Burgess with ten to go. Morgan had a ten car length advantage but Childs slowly narrowed the gap. Robbins spun out of fourth with eight to go, setting up a battle between Childs and Morgan for the win. The pair got an even restart with Morgan prevailing. Childs stayed right on his bumper, applying the chrome horn but Morgan withstood the challenge and slid across the finish line with an assist from Childs for the victory. Childs, Burgess, Dan Lovejoy and Brian Picard finished second through fifth.
Saturday September 11 is race time with qualifying for the PASS Super Late Models, Mods and Sportsman plus feature racing for the Road Runners, Wildcat/Strictly and Legends divisions. The first green flies at 12:15 PM.
Sunday September 12 will see 50 laps for the PASS Mods, 100 for the PASS Sportsman and a new addition for 2010, a 50 lapper for the North East Mini Stock Tour. Topping off the day will be the sixth annual PASS 300, 300 green flag laps for the super stars in the super cars.
Sunday practice gets underway at 11:00 AM and the first feature is set for a 12:15 PM green flag. All the details are on line at www.proallstarsseries.com and www.beechridge.com
MIGHTY TRUCKS
1 1 Troy Field Buxton ME 2 96 Chad Binette Arundel ME 3 24 Brian Beaulieu Saco ME 4 69 Ryan Farrar S. Paris ME 5 96X Jeremy Binette E. Waterboro ME 6 50 Duane Booth Wells ME 7 66 Roger Allard Cundy’s Harbor ME 8 2 Mike Carrigan Somersworth NH 9 22 Jeff Schmidt 10 29 Dale Gagne N Waterboro ME 11 3 Kurt Nolden Cape Neddick ME 12 17 Ken Coombs Gray ME 13 35 Sean Smith So. Windham ME 14 71 Peter Reynolds Limington ME 15 8 Tom Petrin Lyman ME 16 88 Chaz Briggs Westbrook ME 17 1X Charlie Sanborn Scarborough ME 18 19 David Lamson Saco ME 19 68 Opie Allard Harpswell ME 20 2X Gary Perkins North Waterboro ME 21 39 Corey Williams Sumner ME 22 16 Rick Emmons Waterboro ME 23 6 Travis Lovejoy Alfred ME
305/MAD BOMBERS
1 33 Adam Lovejoy Sanford ME 2 8 Paul Ureneck Portland ME 3 70 Kirk Bean Jr. Alfred ME 4 21 John Lord Scarborough ME 5 5 Jason Curtis Hollis ME 6 11 Garrett Hall Scarborough ME 7 42 Johnny Wolfe Gorham ME 8 12 David Marsh Buxton ME 9 19 Ryan Tenney Windham ME 10 94 Archer Bernard Sanford ME 11 08 Ryan Villacci Falmouth ME 12 1 Charlie Sanborn Scarborough ME 13 97 Jason Inman Steep Falls ME 14 13 Brian Babb Windham ME 15 6 Robert Williams Limington 16 96 Devin DiRenzo Windham ME 17 25 Bob Hogan Wells ME 18 64 19 01 Jeff Cannell Standish ME 20 35 Kristina Nadeau Buxton ME 21 16 Tim Brown Westbrook ME
350/ OUTLAWS
1 26 Corey Morgan 2 1 Bill Childs Jr. Peru ME 3 07 Chris Burgess Buckfield ME 4 22 Dan Lovejoy Alfred ME 5 68 Brian Picard Gorham ME 6 84 Matt Dow Buxton ME 7 08 8 31 Shawn Brackett Gray ME 9 9 Ryan Robbins Dixfield ME 10 67 Michael Haynes Livermore Falls ME 11 14 Scott Hethcoat Danville ME 12 11X Dennis Hall Scarborough ME 13 81 Ray Dinsmore Waterboro ME 14 11 Spencer Morse Waterford ME 15 99 Matt Lude Hollis ME 16 37 David Brown Oxford ME 17 04 Ray Chesley Porter ME 18 00 Mike Childs Turner ME 19 7 20 18 Thom Bell Minot ME 21 86 Zack Emerson Durham ME 22 82 Jeremy Paradis Minot ME 23 36 Nick Hoyt Poland ME 24 50 Jim Lavoie Alfred ME 25 23 John White Sr. New Gloucester ME 26 04X Zach Bowie Poland ME 27 78 Pat Malloy Lisbon Falls 28 54 Jonathan Baldwin Auburn ME 29 59 Tyson Jordan Poland ME 30 01 Ed Connolly Scarborough ME 31 3X Mike Short Auburn ME 32 64 Renn Noble Kennebunk ME 33 1X Matt Hodsdon Scarborough ME
FOUR CYLINDERS
1 54 Kyle Hewins Leeds ME 2 6 Troy Jordan Turner ME 3 26 Kyle Treadwell Auburn ME 4 5X Justin Moore Skowhegan ME 5 56 Derrick Cook 6 2 Craig Bartlett Denmark ME 7 59 Corey Bealieu W. Paris ME 8 93 Jamie Leavitt Minot ME 9 46 Jason Berry Turner ME 10 12 11 55X Ryan Hewins Leeds ME Gorham ME 12 83 Brady Romano Livermore Falls ME 13 86 Jeff Hebert Auburn ME 14 11 Jeff Walker Saco ME 15 91 16 69 Jeff Kearney Limerick ME 17 55 Craig Pyy II Gorham ME 18 5 19 15 Craig Pyy Gorham ME 20 28 David Stone Jr. Sanford ME 21 8X Nate Dubuc Lewiston ME 22 1 Dan Walker Yarmouth ME 23 3 Charlie Hall Oxford ME 24 8 Kevin Noyes Raymond ME 25 51 Dustin Moreau Lyman ME 26 08 Sean Maguire Otisfield ME 27 50 Todd Foss Windham ME 28 18 Tasha Dyer Arrowsic ME 29 33 Jonah Farrington Minot ME 30 64 Gary Salamancha Old Orchard Beach ME 31 20 Adam Jalbert Waterboro ME
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH - By Lou Modestino(for 9/10-9/12/10)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway announced that The Charity Splits Company, of Joliet Ill., will sponsor TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, September 18.
Charity Splits has been established in motorsports by benefitting multiple NASCAR Charities and Foundations including: The Tony Stewart Foundation, Victory Junction, The Petty Family Foundation, The Greg Biffle Foundation, The Ryan Newman Foundation, The Dale Jarrett Foundation, and The Kyle Busch Foundation.
This new and innovative model for charitable fundraising is a win-win for NASCAR enthusiasts. Not only do fans have the opportunity to support their favorite drivers' foundations, but this fall, they will also have the chance to get a big win for themselves, a brand new Camping World RV courtesy of Camping World of New Hampshire.
Beginning August 31, the Race Day Raffle Series enters its own "Chase" format much like the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup." By logging onto http://www.
Proceeds from the raffle will be put into a pot for the fan's preferred foundation, which the fan will choose at the time of purchase and just like the action on track, the foundations will be working hard for fan's support. The winner can be sure that there will be plenty of bragging rights and happy benefactors for the charity that raises the most money.
"Our goal for the 2010 Race Day Raffle Series and TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175 is to raise over $1,000,000 for our foundation and charity partners, and to give away an RV to one lucky fan," stated Ryan West, Director of Marketing for The Charity Splits Company. "It is our mission to provide assistance to these great foundations, similar to the way foundations just like these helped my family in our time of need when my mother was critically ill. We believe we can do that through the Race Day Raffle Series."
About The Charity Splits Company The Charity Splits Company, "Where Passion Meets Action", was formed in 2006 by Ryan and Patrick West after seeing first-hand the impact that non-profit organizations had in their mother's battle with breast cancer. Charity Splits is committed to the prosperity and growth of non-profit organization fundraising across all categories of need by providing a legal, online and interactive platform to raise much needed funds.
TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175 from New Hampshire Motor Speedway will air live on SPEED at 2:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, September 18. The broadcast can also be heard live on MRN Radio and Sirius NASCAR Radio.
Indianapolis 500 veteran and multi-time Super-Modified champ Joe Gosek is the latest entry for the 45th Annual “Classic” Championship 100, Saturday night, Sept. 11, here at Lee USA Speedway. Gosek joins a long list of drivers who will be competing in New England’s longest running traditional oval-track racing event. Making his only appearance in New England this season, Gosek is driving a sleek low-slung supermod which he recently wheeled to victory in a feature event at Oswego, N.Y.
A two-time “Classic” champion (1995, 2001) Gosek also is a two-time season point champion of the International Super-Modified Association (ISMA), which is sanctioning the 100-lap main event at Lee, spilt into two 50-lap feature races. Gosek’s 30-season career also includes three “International Classic 200” wins, two starts as an Indy 500 qualifier, wins from Florida to Canada and two season track championships at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway. Gosek, 51, brings with him a reputation as a clever competitor who is always among the top challengers wherever he races, particularly on short ovals like Lee’s 3/8th - mile track. This “Classic” marks the first time since 1967 that the race has been run in Lee, N.H.
Other top drivers in the field include four-time “Classic” champion Chris Perley, five-time winner Russ Wood, current NASCAR national modified point leader Bobby Santos III, Canadian stars Mike Lichty and Mark Sammut. The pit area will be open at noon while practice starts at 4 p.m. on Classic Saturday. Qualifying heats begin at 6 p.m. and the “Classic” gets the green flag at 7:30 p.m. In the case of a rainout, the “Classic” will be held Sunday, Sept. 12, at
1 p.m.
"The Magic Mile" and country music station WOKQ are inviting all race fans to attend the popular "FanFest," a celebration dedicated to NASCAR fans, with food, music, fun, and much more on Thursday, September 16 beginning at 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Headlining the fall "Fanfest" will be the always entertaining Trailer Choir, singing their catchy country tunes "Rockin the Beer Gut," "Rollin" Through the Sunshine" and "Off the Hillbilly Hook." The band has been featured on Country Music Television and will soon test their intelligence against fifth graders on the hit television show Are you Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Fresh off their qualifying run, the pole sitters for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and the mighty Whelen Modified Tour will join "FanFest," with autograph sessions for their fans.
SYLVANIA will light up this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hauler Parade beginning at 7 p.m. This unique opportunity allows fans to see the colorful rigs that bring their favorite drivers car to the track. This jam-packed, family fun event is free to all fans. It even includes admission to all of Thursday's exciting events at the speedway including; qualifying and practice sessions for both the K&N Pro Series East New Hampshire 125 and the Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100. Great tickets are also still available for Saturday's thrilling triple header on September 18, featuring NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175, NASCAR's Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100, and the American-Canadian Tour Invitational and for the SYLVANIA 300 on Sunday, September 19.
The American rock band 38 Special led by Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant will kick start the SYLVAINA 300 with a concert during pre-race activities on September 19 beginning at 11:15 a.m.
St-Denis, Quebec’s Patrick Laperle held off a late charging Phil Scott to claim the ACT Late Model Tour win in the 32nd running of the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT on Sunday, September 5. Laperle led the final 14 laps of the 200 lap event after getting around Dave Pembroke.
Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. and current ACT Late Model Tour point leader Brian Hoar battled for the first 160 laps of the event. They swapped the lead eight times amongst themselves before Pembroke joined the mix with fresher tires on lap 160. Pembroke would hold the lead until lap 187 when Laperle took over also on fresher tires.
Phil Scott ran in the top three for the majority of the event until pitting for tires on a lap 167 caution. He proceed to slice through the field followed closely by Hoar and Randy Potter who also pitted on lap 167 with the same strategy. Scott came up just a car length short of getting by Laperle and had to settle for second. Pembroke took third followed by John Donahue and Scott Payea in the top five. Hoar worked his way up to sixth followed by Potter, Polewarczyk, Joey Becker and Jean-Paul Cyr rounding out the top ten.
The 200 lap event was completed in one hour and seventeen minutes with just seven cautions including two for brief rain showers. Four different leaders swapped the lead a total of 12 times. A total of 42 cars attempted to qualify for the 30 car field.
Peacham’s Tony Rossi earned his second career Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen win in the special two segment Monza style event. The Tigers ran a 35 lap segment on Saturday and a 50 lap segment on Sunday with the overall results using the points earned in the two events. Mike Ziter and Jimmy Hebert completed the podium while Jason Corliss and Brendan Moodie rounded out the top five.
The Allen Lumber Street Stocks also ran a two segment Monza event. Randolph’s Eric Johnson claimed the win followed by Jean Leblanc, Ron Gabaree, Thomas Placey and Scott Weston completing the top five.
The Junkyard Warriors Monza event included three segments. Current point leader Ken Christman of Cabot picked up his 11th win of the season. Brock Parrott and Matt Leblanc earned podium finishes.
The ACT Late Model Tour heads to Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY this Sunday, September 12 for the running of the Mohawk Casino Fall Foliage 300. It will be the final qualifying event for the ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 18.
Jeff Burgess snapped Frank Moulton’s five-race win streak in the 35-lap Late Model main event Saturday night at Unity Raceway. Burgess, of Fairfield, briefly lost the lead on a couple of occasions after starting from the pole, but controlled most of the Late Model 35-lapper. It was a turnabout of sort for Burgess, who had a two-race win streak broken by the first of Moulton’s five recent victories.
Evan Beaulieu (Durham), Nate Weston (Madison), Carl McAlpine (Burnham), Ben Clark (Clinton), Pete McCollett (Readfield), Justin Moore, Becky Elston and Daymon Dodge (Troy) were also triumphant in feature events at the third-mile oval.
Justin Drake provided the stiffest challenge to the eventual Late Model winner Burgess, but shortly after the two leaders made contact Drake dropped off the pace. Freedom high schooler Dylan Turner provided a late charge to Burgess, claiming runner-up honors in front of reigning champion, and current point leader, Moulton, of Burnham.
Seth Raven challenged the leader briefly and ended up in fourth position under the checkered flag. Skowhegan’s David Folsom grabbed fifth spot on the final lap, by inches in front of Chelsea’s Poncho Darveau. Will Collins of Appleton, Dave Farrington, Jr. of Jay, Markus Lowe of Jackson and Ricky Morse of St. Albans rounded out the top ten. Burgess and Darveau won heat races.
Evan Beaulieu made a late-race move past longtime buddy Bobby Timmons of Windham and drove on to victory in a special, 30-lap feature for the touring NELCAR Legends Cars class. Veteran Bobby Weymouth of Topsham chased the two teenagers throughout the race and under the checkered flag. Matthew Burgoine of Newport claimed fourth position, with Kevin Hutchens of East Waterboro charging back into fifth position after spinning twice during the race. Ed Getty of Gray and Timmons won heat races.
Nate Weston turned back a stiff challenge by Brad Bellows of China to earn a trip to victory lane following the Racin’ Paper Super Street feature. Weston and Bellows kept it close up front throughout the 25-lapper, while third-place finisher Ricky Burgess, Jr. of Waterville came from the back twice to earn the final podium position. Allan Moeller of Dresden was fourth under the checkered flag, followed by Orrington’s Nick Huff, who won the heat race.
Carl McAlpine led wire-to-wire to claim victory in the 20-lap main event for Keystone Automotive Wildcat division competitors. Ryan Robinson of Waterville chased down McAlpine in the closing laps, but ran out of time to mount a serious challenge. The previous week’s winner, Chris King of Burnham, worked his way from the back of the starting line-up into a third-place finish. Ed Sleeper of Vassalboro and Andy Turbovsky of Winslow rounded out the top five. Robinson won the heat race.
Ben Clark of Clinton cruised to an easy victory the Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four division. Division point leader Corey Walker of Augusta added to his slim advantage atop the ranking with a runner-up finish. Walker’s closest rival for the title, three-time kingpin Steve Rackliff of Starks, picked up third-place points driving Brent Chase’s 08. Norm Cummings, Jr. of Augusta and Skowhegan’s Bryan Lancaster completed the finishing order. Clark also won the heat race.
After a rash of penalties and a scoring re-check, Pete McCollett was declared the winner of the Monster Energy Drink Monsta Mini feature. Vassalboro’s John Fortin ended up as the second-place finisher, with point leader and reigning champion Mike Wilson of Chelsea placed third. Lance Chapman of Benton and Augusta’s Greg Cummings were fourth and fifth, respectively. Wilson was the heat race victor.
Justin Moore of Madison extended his healthy point lead with a convincing win in the 20-lap Aable Auto Parts Flyin’ 4 feature. Wilton’s Derek Cook was clearly the best of the rest after second-place point man Zach Audet of New Sharon wrecked and returned only to suffer a third flat tire. Brad Bosworth claimed the third-place trophy. Cook won the heat race.
Becky Elston won a championship at Hermon’s Speedway 95 without the benefit of a feature win, but she outran the Waterville Oaks Ladies competitors Saturday in a rare visit to Unity Raceway. Benton’s Samantha Letourneau bounced back from a scary spin to easily claim runner-up honors, well in front of third-place finisher Amanda Batchelder of Fairfield. Fourth-place finisher Mika Wilson of Chelsea was the heat race winner.
Daymon Dodge of Troy started deep in the field, chased down Skowhegan’s Shadow Folsom and grabbed the checkered flag in victory lane following the 25-lap Enduro race. Hudson’s Donny Silva continued a recent run of good finishes with a third-place run, with Alex Fernald of Benton fourth and Zach Gagnon of Clinton rounding out the top five. Racing continues every Saturday night through September at Unity Raceway, with special events in early October.
Here's what else is going on in the North Country this weekend. It's PASS Tour weekend at Beech Ridge in Scarbourough, ME while the IHRA Nitro Jam is on all weekend at New England Dragway in Epping, NH. Wiscasset Speedway in ME offers a motorcycle weekend. Also there's Gas & Steam show is on tap in Dublin, NH, Corvette Show in Lincoln, NH and Campout Weekend at the Winterports Dragway in ME. Saturday has stockcar action at Big Daddy's in Wentworth, NH, Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH offers a NASCAR program, Oxford Plains in ME has stockcar racing along with Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH, 95 in Hermon, ME and White Mountain in N. Woodstock, NH, all at 6 p.m. Cruises and car shows are on at Darling's in Augusta, ME, Monument Park in Houlton, ME, NH Tech in Concord, NH and in N. Conway, NH all earlier in the day. Sunday's offerings include car shows at the Brewer (ME) Auditorium and at the Fun Spot on Wier's Beach in Laconia, NH. Hudson Speedway in NH has stockcar racing and an Enduro at Wiscasset Speedway in ME at 1 p.m. The Rutland Fairgrounds in VT plans a Demo Derby at the same time.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Mid Week Warriors kick off PASS 400 Weekend at Beech Ridge Thursday
Naples ME (9/6) Their racing divisions have the best names in the sport;; Mad Bombers, Mighty Trucks, Outlaws, Varsity, Runnin’ Rebels, Beetle Bugs and a whole bunch more. They’re the Mid Week Warriors that take little more than a street car (or truck), add the required safety equipment and go racing. For many competitors they are in their first race car ever, and for others the mid week racing wars are just perfect for their budget. It takes cubic inches and talent to win at this level, not cubic dollars.
Maine’s midweek racers put on some of the most competitive and exciting racing out there and they will be in the spotlight Thursday September 9th when they kick off PASS 400 weekend ay Scarborough Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Depending on car count there’s up to fifty laps of racing and five hundred dollars on the line for the winners. That payday is more than most of these guys and gals can earn in a season, so there’s plenty of incentive to win this one. The back gate at Beech Ridge swings open at noon and practice gets underway at 2:00 PM.
2009 Thursday night feature wins went to Kyle Hewins (Runnin’ Rebel four cylinder), Chad Binette ( MightyTrucks), Jason Curtis (Junior Varsity) and Larry Emerson (Outlaws).
The biggest Maine racing week of 2010 gets started Thursday at 5:45 PM. There’s a full day of practice set for Friday September 10th starting at 12:00 noon. On Saturday September 11th the racing goes green in earnest with qualifying races for the PASS Super Late Models, Mods and Sportsman plus feature racing for the Road Runners, Wildcat/Strictly and Legends divisions.
Then on Sunday its feature racing time with extra distance for every division. There are 50 laps on tap for the PASS Mods, 100 for the PASS Sportsman and a new addition for 2010, a 50 lapper for the New England Mini Stock Tour. Topping off the day will be the sixth annual PASS 300, 300 green flag laps for the super stars in the super cars of the Pro All Stars Series with a cool $10,000.00 on the line for the 300 winner.
Sunday practice gets underway at 11:00 AM and the first feature is set for a 12:15 PM green flag.
Look for all the Thursday night information, schedules, PASS 400 weekend camping info and up to date point standings at www.proallstarsseries.com
http://www.maineracer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=22896
TV TIMES - By Lou Modestino (for 9/10-9/12/10)
Todd Bodine and Kyle Busch went at it in the NASCAR Truck race at Kentucky with Bodine coming out on top with the win. Bodine's comments while in Victory Lane about Busch's "dirty driving" resulted in the latter's rushing over into Todd's face, going toe-to-toe with him - no doubt generating some much-needed publicity for NASCAR's third-tier division!
In the meantime, Hilio Castro-Neves won the IZOD Indy Car race at the same site, long overdue. At Atlanta Tony Stewart won the Sprint Cup event, and he also was due for a win, with Edwards next and then Johnson. Jamie McMurray got to visit the Winner's Circle at Atlanta in the Nationwide race, while Brad Kasalowski still leads the Nationwide point chase by a wide margin over his rival, Carl Edwards.
Robin Miller, who covers the IZOD Indy Cars for SPEED, says there's going to be a shift from ISC-owned tracks to SMI venues owned by Bruton Smith. And as far as the IZOD Indy Cars go, it appears that Milwaukee will be on the 2011 schedule. According to the Atlanta Constitution, Smith was quite vocal about his disappointment of NASCAR ending the Sprint Cup season at Homestead, calling Homestead "North Cuba".
He's still smarting over the fact that ISC wouldn't change the NASCAR Cup finale to Las Vegas which would have resulted in the SMI principal to move one of the NHMS dates to Glitter Gulch. Having the last and deciding Sprint Cup date is a valuable asset. (So what's in it for ISC?) Smith wanted the Homestead single Cup date moved to late February, but ISC and NASCAR wouldn't budge.
It may have been Labor Day Weekend - a time for a little R&R, but there was no holiday for Tomy Drissi and the RSR team as they worked hard to return to the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series podium at Brainerd International Raceway. Driving the #5 Unstoppable Jaguar XKR, Drissi topped the charts during the morning practice session ahead of qualifying.
Looking for his second pole of the season, the 2009 Trans-Am champion recorded a best qualifying lap at 1:28.198 (102.043 mph) around BIR's 2.5-mile circuit, but fell just short of the pole. Tony Ave was the pole sitter, and Drissi started on the outside of row one. "I believe our chances of success were hampered by traffic," commented Drissi. "Ave got two clean laps and his second lap was the fastest one. My first lap was faster than his first lap, so I think we could have had the pole here and that is just upsetting."
Round 8 took the green flag on Sunday afternoon. Drissi had a good start, but it was Ave who took the lead. Ave and Drissi raced closely through the early stages of the 36-lap race before Ave managed to pull away and take the checkered flag to win by one minute and five seconds over Drissi. "Second place is OK; it is just frustrating to lose to Tony Ave again," said Drissi. "But at the end, he had the better car and deserved it."
"We never had the opportunity to run next to Ave during the weekend before the race to be able to compare our cars on-track. Times were close, but I thought that we had the winning combination this weekend. I think that it turned out that the #5 Unstoppable Jaguar XKR was better in handling and braking, but Ave had more speed on the straightaway. I tried to make up for that in braking and cornering, but I used up my tires. Overall, it was a good day for the team; we finished the race and returned to the podium."
Drissi earned his fourth podium result of the year. He remains third in the Trans-Am driver standings with 834 points, trailing RJ Lopez (in second) by only 55 points. With two races remaining, it is still possible for him to defend his 2009 title. The RSR team will have a quick turnaround for Round 9 of the 10-race season, which will be next weekend at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA, September 11 - 12.
The Malaysian GP has secured Petronas as its title sponsor for a further five years as the national oil and gas corporation signed a contract extension with the Formula One Group. The company will also enjoy extensive advertising, branding and promotional benefits until 2015, pushing its international expansion efforts. “Apart from the continuous benefits our businesses and brand receive through the Formula One exposure, our extension of the agreement to partner Formula One reflects our long-term commitment and continued dedication to support efforts to position Malaysia as a major motorsport hub and tourist destination,” said Mohd Medan Abdullah, senior general manager, corporate services division at Petronas.
“As the first modern Asian Formula One venue since Japan, the Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix has since been credited as the catalyst in opening Asia to the sport,” recalled Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One group chief executive officer. Petronas has been involved in international motorsport for the past two decades and has seen a steep increase in its lubricant business internationally ever since.
The Leaders event is to host a “behind closed doors” session for directors from teams, sponsors and broadcasters involved in Formula One.
The gathering will take place on October 6 as part of the event that runs separate conferences for the football, sponsorship and performance industries. Some of the guests already confirmed are Sheikh Salman, CEO, Bahrain International Circuit; Simone Perillo, secretary general, Formula One Teams Association; Rob Montague, CEO, F1 Rocks; Derk Saur, chairman, Moscow City Racing; and Ishmael Pena Munoz, chief director, La Sexta News and Sports.
“Everyone involved is also looking forward to sharing ideas and knowledge with all the other sports attending Leaders in Football and Leaders in Sponsorship in order to further develop new opportunities and business relationships across the sports industry,” said Leaders event chief executive officer James Worrall. The Leaders event takes place at Chelsea FC on October 6 and 7. This came from SportsBusiness.com.
Here's what's going on this weekend: NASCAR moves to Richmond, F1 will be at Monza, Italy, and the Grand-Am Series will perform at Tooele, UT. Check out RaceFanTV.com for all of the details.