Vernon, CT — On Saturday and Sunday, January 16 & 17, 2010, Start/Finish Productions presents the Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. This annual automotive swap meet and flea market has been a mainstay for the racing community for nearly 30 years. With preparations for the upcoming season in full-swing, the large array of vendors provides competitors with virtual one-stop shopping to provide the season’s essentials and the best bargains. Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell is the only Motorsports show of its kind in New England offering racers access to hard core automotive vendors.
The event is not only the definitive swap meet for buyers; it also provides a tremendous opportunity for sellers as well. During the struggling economy sellers have the opportunity to generate revenue by liquidating quality new and used parts while buyers can stay on track with their off-season projects without breaking the budget.
Buyers and sellers alike enjoy the comfort of a heated venue and the additional benefit of showcase lighting. Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell offers prices competitive with any online auction website without the cost of shipping, without the wait, and without the risk of buying sight unseen; helping to ensure mutually beneficial transactions.
Continue reading ‘Start/Finish to Offer Racer’s Discount at Swap ‘n Sell’
Published at December 30, 2009
in Thompson.
Thompson, CT — The Thompson International Speedway has released its 2010 race schedule. Four new and exciting events have been added to traditional fan favorites thus creating one of the most talked about racing schedules in all of New England.
The four new additions to the Thompson schedule will feature Tour-Type Modified race cars competing in sprint-style, 35-lap feature events on June 3rd, July 1st, August 5th and September 2nd.
The 2010 racing schedule opens the New England racing season with the traditional Icebreaker on the weekend of April 10th and 11th. The season will close with the traditional World Series of Speedway Racing slated for the 15th through the 17th of October. The popular Thursday Night Thompson Thunder series will get underway on May 20th and will run through September 16th. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will once again visit Thompson three times and four brand new Tour-Type Modified, 35-lap shoots outs along with two stops for the Modified Racing Series (formerly the True Value Series) will make for some exciting changes from previous years. The PASS Super Late Models will make a return appearance as well. Also included are the traditional Eve of Destruction Family Fun Night on Memorial Day weekend, the popular Vintage Antique Car Extravaganza and four open practice sessions for competitors. Copies of the 2010 schedule are available on the track’s web page, www.thompsonspeedway.com.
Continue reading ‘Thompson Speedway Releases 2010 Race Schedule’
Published at December 29, 2009
in Stafford.
Stafford Springs, CT — Reliable Welding and Speed have extended their partnership with Stafford Motor Speedway for a ninth consecutive season of sponsoring the track’s Rookie of the Year program. Brad and Linda Hietala of Reliable Welding and Speed began sponsoring the Rookie program during the 2002 season, and since then they have awarded over $13,000 in Rookie of the Year bonus awards to 23 different drivers.
Stafford Motor Speedway’s 2009 Reliable Welding and Speed Rookies of the Year were Mark Bakaj in the SK Modified® division, Adam Gray in the Late Model division, Michael Gervais, Jr. in the SK Light Modified division, and Dan Flannery in the Limited Late Model division. Bakaj’s title is worth a $700 bonus, while Gray, Gervais, and Flannery will take home $500 each.
“We’re excited about sponsoring the Rookie of the Year program for another season,” said Linda Hietala, who along with her husband and Stafford SK Modified® driver Brad, own Reliable Welding and Speed, located in Enfield, Connecticut. “The 2009 season was one of the best seasons we’ve had as the Rookie of the Year sponsor. Each division had a great rookie class and all four divisions were very competitive for Rookie of the Year. The SK Modifed® division had the largest class and was the best rookie fight that we can recall in that division. The Late Model Rookie of the Year title came down to the final race and was decided by only 4 points. The SK Light Modified Rookie of the Year was also the track champion, and the Limited Late Model division was like the SK Modified® division in that it was the largest and most competitive rookie class the division has seen. We really enjoy keeping track of the rookie battles throughout the course of the season, and it looks like there will once again be great rookie battles this season for Brad and myself to keep track of in 2010.”
Continue reading ‘Reliable and Welding and Speed Renews Sponsorship of Stafford Speedway’s Rookie of the Year Award’
Stefanik Set for Gambler’s Classic TQ-Midget Run
Atlantic City, NJ — Mike Stefanik can’t wait for the Gambler’s Classic indoor Three-Quarter Midget race at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
Stefanik, 51, of Coventry, R.I., is the latest entrant for the prestigious two-day indoor race on January 29-30, 2010.
The seven-time NASCAR Modified Tour and two-time NASCAR Busch East champion will make his debut TQ-Midget run in Boardwalk Hall, but it won’t be his first indoor TQ-Midget race.
Stefanik enters as a favorite in the Colin Martin-owned No. 36 as he captured the Coffee Cup trophy at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., in early December.
Continue reading ‘Mike Stefanik Enters Gambler’s Classic TQ-Midget Race’
Naples ME — Pro All Stars Series (PASS) President Tom Mayberry has announced the 2010 schedules for the popular PASS Mod and Sportsman series.
PASS MASTER 2010 SCHEDULE HERE
The Mods will get their eleven race 2010 schedule off and running on April 18th , joining the PASS Sportsman and Super Late Models in an all PASS lineup at Speedway 95 in Hermon, Maine. A first time visit to Caribou Maine’s Spud Speedway highlights the schedule, as does the series return to Canaan (NH) Fair Speedway. Lee USA Speedway, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire complete the 2010 campaign.
The PASS Sportsman have an eight race docket on tap with events at Speedway 95, Canaan Fair Speedway, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and Unity (ME) Raceway. A venue for the Memorial Day weekend date will be announced shortly.
Continue reading ‘PASS Mod and Sportsman Schedules Released’
Brunnhoelzl starts slow but finishes fast
The 2009 season in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour was a history making event as George Brunnhoelzl III became the fourth driver to win a championship in the regional touring series for modifieds in the southeast.
Brunnhoelzl and Andy Seuss paced the field for most of the season as the young guns fought it out over 14 events before Brunnhoelzl used a little good luck and a lot of skill to secure his first NASCAR title. The third-generation driver — originally from West Babylon, N.Y. who now calls Mooresville, N.C., home — celebrated in style during the Champions Gala in Concord last month.
Here is a race-by-race review of the season and how Brunnhoelzl and the 50-plus other drivers who competed on the Tour in 2009 did over the eight-month season.
Continue reading ‘2009 In Review: Southern Mods’
Daytona Beach, FL – The 25th season of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour concluded with Donny Lia hoisting the championship trophy in late October at Thompson International Speedway. The following is a look back at the 2009 season, from green to checker.
Preseason
From the time Ted Christopher celebrated his 2008 title, until the green flag dropped on the 2009 campaign, there was plenty to talk about surrounding the Whelen Modified Tour. The addition of a date at Bristol Motor Speedway had the Modified community abuzz, and in late February six drivers participated in a Hoosier Tire test at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile,” with all but one recording times faster than the official track record.
Leading the silly season news was the return of Donny Lia to the No. 4 “Mystic Missile” after a one-year absence following a 2007 championship run in the same car. It was also announced that Woody Pitkat had unofficially won the “Don King Gong Show” and would pilot King’s No. 28 Modified full-time. Another driver change saw Erick Rudolph tabbed to take over for Matt Hirschman in Ed Bennett’s No. 59. The offseason also saw the retirement of Rick Fuller, a 24-year veteran of the Whelen Modified Tour, and its champion in 1993.
Continue reading ‘2009 In Review: Whelen Modifieds’
The Pro Four Modifieds of New England Racing Series is pleased to announce its action packed 2010 schedule of 17 race events. These dates take the series to eight tracks in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. The Pro Four Modifieds always provide exciting side by side racing at every track they go to and 2010 will not be an exception.
Among those competitors looking to claim the 2010 Championship are:
- 2006 champion George Sherman
- 2007 Pro Four Modified Rookie of the Year Phil Lausier
- The always fast Richardi brothers, Dave and Rob, Jr
- 2009 race winner Cory Cleary
- Founding member Dan Meservey
- Brian Vincent Driver of the #10 Pro Four Modified
- 2009 Pro Four Modified Champion Norm Wrenn may only run a partial schedule in 2010 as he looks to campaign in the Modified Racing Series.
- 2009 Limited Pro Four Modified Champion Stan Mertz will make the move up into the Regular Pro Four division and should prove to be a contender in 2010 as well.
We look forward to all the new drivers and teams that are expected to join the series in 2010 from all over New England. The upcoming racing season brings the Pro Four Modifieds of New England Racing series to new tracks and exciting events that should make 2010 a year to remember.
Continue reading ‘2010 Pro Four Modifieds of New England Racing Series Schedule Announced’
Published at December 23, 2009
in Stafford.
Stafford Springs, CT — A fixture in the Stafford Speedway pit in the last couple of years, Casagrande Motorsports will become a two-car team in 2010. Kyle Casagrande will continue to drive his number 7 Casagrande Builders Buick Regal, but he will now have to compete with teammate and brother Cory Casagrande.
“I’m definitely looking forward to racing with my little brother in the 2010 season. He has a lot of potential and we are hoping to be one of the top teams in the Dare Stock division in the 2010 season,” says Kyle Casagrande.
2009 saw an up and down year for Casagrande Motorsports. Each week Kyle had the car to beat, but bad luck stalked the 18 year old throughout the year. A win on July 3rd was the pinnacle of his season. Now with two full seasons under his belt, Kyle looks to make a run at the 2010 championship and help brother and teammate Cory Casagrande make the jump to the half-mile.
Continue reading ‘Casagrande Motorsports Gears Up for an Exciting 2010′
Published at December 23, 2009
in Stafford.
Stafford Springs, CT — During the past three seasons at Stafford Motor Speedway, the SK Light Modified division has provided some of the track’s largest rookie classes and some of the closest fights for Reliable Welding and Speed Rookie of the Year honors. The 2010 season will be no exception, as there are 8 rookies signed up to compete, with youth the prevailing factor of the group. Of the 8 rookies signed up for the 2010 season, there are 6 drivers who are either 15 or 16 years of age, and they come to Stafford with good equipment and a youthful, competitive attitude.
Brandon Godbout comes to Stafford from the go kart ranks, and this 15 year old driver from Meriden will be piloting the car that Keith Rocco used to win the Modified track championship at Thompson Speedway. Godbout’s car owner is Lorin Trombley, who has a wealth of racing experience at Stafford in both the Modified and Late Model ranks.
Continue reading ‘Youth to be Served in Chase for 2010 SK Light Modified Rookie of the Year Honors at Stafford Motor Speedway’
Published at December 23, 2009
in Stafford.
Stafford Springs, CT — -Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that Family Ford of Enfield will once again provide an all-new 2011 Super Duty F-350 to serve as the official safety vehicle to the track. Ford is the Official Truck of Stafford Speedway and the F-350 Super Duty provided by Family Ford of Enfield will carry the SMS Safety Team and their safety equipment around the Connecticut half-mile for the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing season.
“We were very happy with the level of exposure we received last year partnering with Stafford Speedway so we’re going to continue our relationship,” said Mike Moriarty, President of Family Ford. “Our involvement with Stafford Speedway brought a nice surge of customers into our showroom this summer. The Speedway did a great job of promoting the fact that we were partners with them this summer. We had a lot of our customers come in and say they heard about us on a Friday night at Stafford and we sold vehicles to customers in towns that we normally don’t get a lot of press in, which is a direct result of us being partnered with Stafford Speedway.”
Continue reading ‘Family Ford of Enfield to Continue Official Safety Vehicle Relationship with Stafford Speedway’
The American Canadian Tour (ACT) Tiger Sportsman division will compete in a mini-series in 2010. The popular Limited Late Model division will have a new tire by Goodyear, an expansion division at the beautiful White Mountain Motorsports Park (WMMP), and a four event Tour at four different race venues.
The opening event will be held on Saturday, June 5 at the White Mountain Motorsports Park ¼ mile oval in Woodstock, New Hampshire. White Mountain was one of the original tracks that helped start the ACT Late Model division touring back in 1998. That series has been going back to WMMP ever since. “We have adopted the ACT Sportsman rules for 2010 at WMMP, and with the large number of these cars at Thunder Road, we are hoping to show our race teams and fans how much fun this division can be for weekly racing,” said Donnie Avery, owner of the family run granite state facility.
The home of the Tiger Sportsman since 1964, Thunder Road in Barre, VT will host the second event on Thursday, July 1. The Tiger Sportsman division generally has between 40-45 teams that compete on a weekly basis at Thunder Road. One of the highlights for the division each season has been the 100 lap events. Brendan Moodie, a veteran of the division, said, “I think it’s great that we have this Tiger ‘mini-series’ for our division. Going to different tracks is not only fun but it presents a great learning experience. We really have to do some homework to find set-ups, and now with three other tracks participating, it will be a level playing field for all the teams.”
Continue reading ‘American Canadian Tour Announces 2010 Tiger Sportsman Tour’
New Team Is Latest News Of Busy Offseason
Daytona Beach, FL — The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will have a new full-time team in 2010 with the formation of Heinke-Baldwin Racing.
Al Heinke and Tommy Baldwin announced in a press release that they have partnered to field a full-time entry in the coming season with driver Erick Rudolph. The pair joined forces last year for the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 at Bristol Motor Speedway with Heinke as the car owner and Baldwin as the crew chief of the entry driven by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Kasey Kahne. Baldwin was also the crew chief for Kahne’s Whelen Modified Tour debut in last June’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Heinke has a history of involvement in a variety of northeast racing series as a driver, owner, crew chief and engineer. Baldwin has forged a successful Sprint Cup Series career as a crew chief, and now as owner of Tommy Baldwin Racing. He is the son of the late Tom Baldwin Sr., who had a long and distinguished driving career in the Whelen Modified Tour.
Continue reading ‘HBR To Join Whelen Modified Tour’
While the second season of American Canadian Tour racing saw various changes in the rulebook, the outcome was the same as the Inaugural 1986 season. The 1986 saw firsts, like the creation of the Stock Car Connection, a combination series with the American Speed Association (ASA) and the ACT Tour, and lasts, like the final race at Catamount Stadium. Below is another excerpt from the 1989 souvenir program:
“A whole new look for ’87 – sleek, classy, fast fiberglass machines. Lighter weights, 9:1 engines, all 105” wheelbase, made for the transition to the SCC-type (Stock Car Connection) cars in preparation for the six combination races.
Beaver Dragon jumped out of the box, scoring a win at the first-ever Coors Tour event at Lee USA. Eventual Bosch/BFCP Rookie of the Year Paul Richardson, won event #2 at Catamount, garnering a $1,000 bonus from the New Champions program for breaking into the Winner’s Circle. Jean-Paul Cabana, looking at retirement at the end of ’87(Note: Jean-Paul didn’t cut back on his racing schedule until the 1992 season), showed that he hadn’t forgotten the way to victory lane by putting his Olds in victory lane 4 times including the VT Milk Bowl and the last ever Late Model event to be held at Milton, Vermont’s Catamount Stadium, the New England 300. It was history in the making, as Cabana had won the first ever main event at the same track in 1965.
Continue reading ‘25 Years of ACT Racing: Crouch Rolls to Fourth Championship’
Canaan, NH — When the 2010 edition of the Modified Racing Series returns to Canaan, NH., Speedway, July 24, the 3rd annual Ricky’s Race for Kids will highlight the event that annually benefits David’s House, in Lebanon, NH. Last October, a total of $10,012, was presented to David’s House.
David’s House provides a home-away-from-home and support for families with children receiving treatment through Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.
“A situation arose that gave us the opportunity to move the race closer to David’s House and the Lebanon area,” said retired New England modified great Donnie Miller. “I am grateful to Dennis Fleury and the folks at Claremont for their support the last two years.”
Continue reading ‘Ricky’s Race for Kids Shifts to Canaan in 2010′
Center Harbor, NH — Former NASCAR Camping World Series East and American Canadian Tour Champion Brad Leighton announced today a partnership with Richard Moody Racing to race in the Pro All Star Series (PASS) Super Late Model Series for the 2010 season. Leighton will run his familiar #55 on RMR’s Ford Fusions. Sponsorship negotiations are still underway.
“I’m very excited to be announcing this deal,” said Leighton. “One of the most important reasons I decided to do this was because of the people – it’s a good team. I worked with (crew chief) Brian Burgess and some of the other team members a few years back when I ran some races with SP2 Motorsports, and he’s a real sharp guy. At that time, SP2 was at the top of their game, and I view this team, Moody Racing, at the same level. This is one of the best teams in the PASS series – no doubt about it.”
Richard Moody Racing has raised the bar on competition in the PASS Series. With driver Ben Rowe, the team earned the 2009 PASS South Championship and finished runner-up in the 2009 PASS North point standings. Their combined regional accomplishments earned them the PASS National title for the 2009 season. In addition, they won a championship in 2007 with Rowe behind the wheel.
Continue reading ‘Leighton Heads To PASS With Richard Moody Racing’
Loudon, NH — Jerry Gappens, the executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, wanted to be sure that Danica Patrick and JR Motorsports knew how much he wanted them to compete at the NASCAR Nationwide Series New England 200 on Saturday, June 26.
Jerry made a surprise visit to the JR Motorsports Press Conference in Mooresville, N.C. this morning armed with 20 pounds of live lobsters to personally invite Danica and her team to race at the Northeast’s largest sports and entertainment complex, New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The New England 200 will be held during an open weekend on Danica’s IndyCar racing schedule.
“I wanted Danica, Kelley Earnhardt, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to know how much the race fans in the Northeast are looking forward to seeing her compete,” said Gappens. “I brought along a little enticement (the lobsters) to show everyone what a wonderful overall experience it is to race at ‘The Magic Mile’, and I think it may have worked. Tony Eury, Jr. (Danica’s Crew Chief) is excited to feed his team fresh New England lobster.”
Continue reading ‘Jerry Gappens Invites Danica Patrick to Compete in the New England 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’
Daytona Beach, Fla. – NASCAR announced today three new track sanctions for the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season: Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee, Okla., Kopellah Speedway in St. Croix Falls, Wisc., and a second night of racing at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series has been the national championship short-track program for NASCAR since 1982 and encompasses tracks throughout the United States and Canada.
“Short track racing throughout North America is the heart and soul of NASCAR,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR managing director of racing operations. “The addition of these three racing programs – from making history by racing in Oklahoma, to more dirt track racing in Wisconsin, to another night of racing at one of North Carolina’s historic venues – will continue to bring the excitement and passion of NASCAR racing home to the fans that make up the foundation of this sport.”
Continue reading ‘NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Expands By Three’
Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South officials announced today that both events scheduled for 2010 at Gresham Motorsports Park have been cancelled.
Representatives from Gresham Motorsports Park informed PASS President Tom Mayberry on Tuesday, December 15th that the speedway had made the decision not to host the PASS South Super Late Models in 2010 and that both events previously announced for June and October had been cancelled. PASS South officials are currently in negotiations with several race tracks and hope to announce the final schedule within the coming weeks.
“We would like to apologize for any inconvenience that this might have caused our competitors or fans,” said Mayberry. “PASS prides itself on giving everyone involved top-notch venues to stage our events at and we are excited for what 2010 has in store.”
Continue reading ‘PASS South Events At Gresham Motorsports Park Cancelled’
25 Years of ACT Racing
The American-Canadian Tour will be celebrating its 25th season in 2010 and as part of the anniversary celebration we will be taking a look back at the beginning as a way of reflecting on where the Tour has come over the years. Below is an excerpt from the 1989 souvenir program, recapping the inaugural 1986 season. Its titled “Crouch Back at the Top.”
“A new sanctioning body, the American Canadian Tour (ACT) enthusiastically debuts, a former champion, Dick McCabe, is welcomed back to full-time competition, and the formation of the Stock Car Connection, are the headlines of the year. Additionally, Robbie Crouch remounts the champion’s podium, winning a remarkable ten feature events.
It was Crouch’s year. The L&W/Allen Lumber Team started with a vengeance, taking the point lead after the third race of the year and never looked back.
Continue reading ‘American-Canadian Tour 25th Anniversary’
