Thompson, CT — The season is winding down at Thompson Speedway but the excitement is still ramping up. With tight point races in all divisions, Thursday night’s feature events had major championship implications. Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, scored his third Super Late Model victory of the season to bring the chase to the championship to single digits. Cam McDermott had a good point night as he scored his second win of the season in TIS Modified competition.
Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT, hustled his way from the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH, after qualifying for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event to win his sixth Sunoco Modified feature event of the season at Thompson and his second in a row. Christopher edged out fellow Modified Tour competitors Rowan Pennink, Keith Rocco, and Woody Pitkat to take down the victory.
Loudon, NH — Ryan Preece earned the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light Thursday evening at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in advance of Saturday’s New Hampshire 100.
Preece, of Berlin, Conn., laid down a fast lap of 29.765 seconds (127.962 mph) at the 1.058-mile oval Thursday during time trials. It marked the second pole of the year and the fourth of his three-year career.
Ron Silk finished second in qualifying with a fast lap of 29.786 seconds (127.872 mph) driving as a teammate this week to Keith Rocco, who was third-fastest at 29.811 (127.765). Eric Beers (29.822/127.718) and Doug Coby (29.858/127.546) rounded out the top-five.
Loudon, NH — A two-time winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway a year ago, Eddie MacDonald earned his second career NASCAR Camping World Series East Coors Light Pole Award in advance of Friday’s Heluva Good! Fall 125.
MacDonald, from nearby Rowley, Mass., laid down a fast lap of 29.972 seconds (127.079 mph) in Thursday’s qualifying session to capture his second pole of the 2009 season. MacDonald won both New Hampshire races in 2008 and enters tomorrow’s race trailing championship points leader Ryan Truex by just 50 points. Truex will start ninth.
Tires, tires, tires! Why do they bother with the cars? Just roll the tires around the track. This is racing? I don’t understand what everybody sees in pit stops. It’s sort of like the 4 wheel bicycle races at Daytona and Tellawrecka. Instead of seeing 1 particular car go from first to 19th and back up to 12th in a couple of laps, any track USA can do this for you with the event of a pit stop. If there has to be pit stops [and according to the powers that be, there does] then I want to look forward to seeing the same upfront cars continue their battle, or if they weren’t battling a chance to see them closer together. I’m tired of seeing tires be the tell all and when all of a determination of the race. This is just 1 of the reasons a regular Saturday night short track show is the best of all. Tire management? They know how far these cars can go on fuel and tires. If the distance’s maxed out then there’s your tire management. This goes for road racing as well as ovals. Should we be fortunate enough to get our money’s worth out of the SPEED Channel, then we’ll see the SCCA run offs where each race’s about 45 minutes long. That’s a long sprint to the finish and you’ll see that those who’re rough on their tires in the beginning usually wind up falling back towards the end. And those that show a little patience and some experience with skill and finesse will be the ones to approach the leader as the checkered flag’s ready to become unfurled. A pit stop in this type of race is neither healthful nor entertaining. It means you’ve had it buddy, no chance to win this one. Every race on every major circuit should be this style.
What a mundane way to start this week’s “not so long” column. I guess it’s a subtle way to let you know I didn’t make it to any live races this past weekend. OK, so SPEED Channel got another pre-plug from me. So now I bring up the fact that SPEED will be televising the Modifieds from New Hampshire International Speedway this Saturday at 1PM for 90 minutes. I understand it’s a 15 minute tape delay. This is because SPEED Channel can’t handle a 7 second tape delay, which’s norm for the TV industry. Modifieds on TV at this track’s always good. But here’s my gripe. It’s NOT going to be repeated. Aren’t real racing fans going to be on their way to a local race on Saturday afternoon? Well, let us look at the reality of this. First of all, it’s that time of the season when the local track maybe having their annual end of the season extravaganzas which could very well mean an earlier starting time and a larger crowd and all the more reason why you might have to leave earlier to get your favorite seats at your favorite tracks. Or for many fans it’s an opportunity to go to another track where they’re probably having that season spectacular. That means more travel time. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, there’s always taping the race, but we’re talking about an event that’s more local in flavor. All that extra time you’re spending at the track with all those racing people you know that sooner or later, you’re going to overhear somebody talking about that great Modified race they’ve seen on TV that afternoon. If there was going to be a replay that big mouth fan wouldn’t have had to stay home to watch it and can catch it on replay along with everybody else. But NOOOO! NASCAR and SPEED Channel just don’t feel that our Modifieds are worth it. In other words, we’re getting treated like dogs. We can’t say that we didn’t get fed, but we weren’t allowed to eat at the table with the truck, Cup and Nationwide fans that’re getting their races repeated in at least twice each at that. Of course that Modified race in Loudon’s also going to be a pit stop for tires, but you’re on your way to your local short track to make up for that, aren’t you? Besides there’s nothing on TV quite like watching those Modifieds dart around that 1 mile track. HEY, how about a triple crown for Modifieds?! Bristol, New Hampshire and Martinsville can make up the Triple Crown. Modified racing seriously hasn’t been the same since the losing of Trenton and Langhorne. I think elevating the status of certain races for the Modifieds would be an excellent idea.
Loudon, NH — Matt Kobyluck was the fastest of the field Thursday afternoon in preparation for the Heluva Good! Fall 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Kobyluck posted a fast time of 30.279 seconds (125.790 mph) around the 1.058-mile oval to lead the 35 cars in attendance in afternoon practice. Eddie MacDonald – a two-time winner at NHMS in 2008 – was second-fastest at 30.463 (125.030).
Loudon, NH — The New Hampshire Motor Speedway chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities will host a NASCAR Memorabilia Auction on Saturday, September 19, during the SYLVANIA 300 race weekend.
The Auction will take place in the Nationwide Pit-Stop tent in the corporate display area on Saturday at 6:00 p.m., approximately one hour after the conclusion of the NASCAR Camping World Series Truck race. Admission will be free to the public, with all auction proceeds going to the New Hampshire chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, who support the needs of children here in the Northeast.
N. Woodstock, NH — The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North super late models wrap up their 2009 campaign at North Woodstock New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park this Friday evening, and there’s still point races to be settled throughout the field.
Johnny Clark looks like he has his fourth (and second consecutive) PASS North title well within his grasp. Clark holds a 33 point lead over Ben Rowe in the standings with 2,582 versus Rowe’s 2, 549. It’s a big margin for Rowe to overcome, but it’s far from impossible in a sport where luck plays such an important role in the outcome of many a race. White Mountain has been Rowe’s playground since the travelling pros made their first appearance at the immaculate Route 3 quarter mile in 2001. Rowe will go after maximum points Friday night; he knows there’s little else he can do but he’ll be battling for the title until the checkers fall.
Behind Clark and Rowe sits Kelly Moore with 2,489. While the Championship is out of reach for the veteran and his familiar NAPA Chevrolet, he will be looking to be rid of the goose egg in his win column for 2009 and keep his ride on four wheels after his spectacular exit from the speedway in the May race.
This weekend’s American Canadian Tour (ACT) Invitational at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) will seem like a homecoming of sorts to several of the drivers who race with the ACT. Former NASCAR driver Brian Hoar from Williston, VT is a past NHMS Track Champion. Hoar is currently leading the 2009 ACT Championship point battle and looking for his 6th overall ACT title. Brad Leighton is the most prolific winner in NHMS history, with eight (8) wins to his credit. Part-time ACT racer Eddie MacDonald from Rowley, MA won both Camping World East events held at the Speedway in 2008. MacDonald is in a point race with Ryan Truex for the NASCAR Camping World East title and will be entering both races at New Hampshire this weekend.
When asked how he felt about heading to the Invitational, former King of the Road title holder and recent winner of the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road, Dave Pembroke, of Montpelier, VT said, “I am a little concerned that those guys will try and pay me back!”
Loudon, NH — A capacity crowd will be on hand for Sunday’s SYLVANIA 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Speedway officials announced today that other than a “few” single seats and handicap accessible seats, all tickets to the grandstand seating area are gone.
A limited number of backstretch, standing-room and infield “Trackside-View” tickets are available. Tickets to these areas are still available in advance by calling the speedway’s ticket office at (603) 783-4931, which speedway officials are encouraging.
“Positioned as the opening venue for the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, we are thrilled that these drivers will begin their quest for the championship in front of a full-house,” said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway. “This is a testimony to the loyal fans who support NASCAR racing here at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
