Waterford, CT — A beautiful summer evening graced fans in attendance for Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday at the Speedbowl. Anthony Flannery of East Hampton continued his season long dominance of the Legends Cars racing, winning his 12th consecutive race in the division. Taylor Martin of New Hampshire returned to Victory Lane in the Bandolero’s, Mike Marvin of Colchester was the surprise winner in an exciting X-Car feature and Michael Caprio of New Haven was awarded the Super X-Car win. Rob Gallaer of Sherman wired the X-Modified race.
Nick Ladyga led the Legends Cars field to green for a 20-lap race but Dave Garbo Jr. was able to move out front on lap one with an inside pass down the back chute. Ladyga settled in second over veterans Carl Blandina, George Whitney and Dennis Pantani in the early laps. On lap five contact among the top five runners sent Pantani spinning ahead of the pack. The field scattered but was able to continue on caution free. That jostled the running order and moved Flannery into third position with Jason Palmer, making a rare Legends Cars start in 2010, up to fourth position and Whitney back to fifth.
Flannery took second position from Ladyga entering turn one of lap eight and ran down Garbo who was still in command out front. Flannery began to turn up the heat on Garbo when caution waved on lap 10.
Continue reading ‘Flannery continues mastery of Legends Cars; Martin, Caprio, Marvin and Gallaer others to reach Victory Lane’
Waterford, CT — Saturday night July 3rd marks the 13th annual running of the mid-season Speedbowl.com 300 event, a holiday weekend tradition at the track. In total, six divisions will see action and 300 laps of feature racing will be recorded by night’s end.
Extra-distance feature races for the Speedbowl’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions highlight the racing. A 100-lap SK Modified© race takes center stage plus 50-lappers for the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, Street Stocks and Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks. The Legends Cars and A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Trucks will race in 25-lap events. Time trials will set the lineup for each feature event, the only time all season many divisions will go against the clock to qualify.
An extra-distance win in the 100-lap SK Modified© race instantly becomes bragging rights all summer. Keith Rocco looks to maintain his lead in the championship point standings over defending division champion Ron Yuhas Jr. Additional event notes:
Continue reading ‘Speedbowl.com 300 event notes’
To all Thompson International Speedway competitors:
Thompson International Speedway is pleased to announce a new contingency program for our competitors. Monster Energy Drink has joined with the Speedway to offer a case of Monster Energy Drink to feature event winners in all six of our NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. This program will include every race event through the end of the regular season.
To qualify for this program, competitors must display the Monster Energy Drink sticker on their cars. Sticker packages will be available on Thursday, July 8th and the program will begin with the race program on that date. Sticker packages will be available at the Registration booth in the pit area and instructions will be provided regarding placement of the Monster Energy Drink sticker. The winner may pick up the case of Monster Energy Drink at the Registration booth as soon as the finish of the race is made official.
Continue reading ‘Monster Energy Drink Contingency Program Joins Thompson’
Daytona Beach, FL — The inaugural appearance for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Lime Rock Park is set for this Saturday, July 3, with the Lime Rock 100 in Lakeville, Conn.
At Lime Rock Park:
History
• Lime Rock Park opened in 1957.
• This will be the inaugural event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at the road course.
Notebook
• There have been 223 NWMT races all-time in the state of Connecticut between the ovals at Thompson International Speedway (110), Stafford Motor Speedway (96) and Waterford Speedbowl (17).
• Among the NWMT drivers entered for the inaugural Lime Rock 100, three have won NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races at LRP … Dale Quarterley (2001, 2003), Ted Christopher (1997), Mike Stefanik (1998).
• There have been six road course races in NWMT history, all at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International from 1996-2000.
• Christopher (1999, 2000) and Stefanik (1996, 97) combined to win four of the six NWMT races at The Glen.
Continue reading ‘Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Lime Rock 100 At Lime Rock Park’
Daytona Beach, FL — The sixth season of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour continues this weekend when the tour returns to Caraway Speedway for the Firecracker 150.
At Caraway Speedway:
History
• Since the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour formed in 2005, there have been 65 races in the history of the series.
• This will be the 31st NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race at the track.
• The track was built in 1966 initially as a dirt track and was later paved and configured to its current size of .455-miles in length.
• The track has been owned and operated by Russell & Valastra Hackett and their family since 1977.
Notebook
• A total of four drivers who have visited Victory Lane in the NWSMT races at Caraway will compete this weekend. Leading the group will be Brian Loftin, who holds the record for most wins at the track with seven.
• Burt Myers holds the career record for the most Coors Light Pole awards at the track with 11 and won the pole at Caraway earlier this year.
• Caraway Speedway will also host the tour on Aug. 28.
Continue reading ‘Staistical Advance: Analyzing The Firecracker 150′
John DeLeo, driving the Anderson Brothers #22, won NEMA’s first visit to Stafford Speedway on Sept. 13, 1953. A New Britain native, DeLeo, defeated Bill Bichteman and Bert Brooks on the fifth-mile paved oval that was inside the half-mile dirt.
CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday will mark the 33rd NEMA visit to Stafford.
“A damn fine car,” DeLeo says of the Ford V60 car owned by a Springfield, MA family that built truck bodies.
“The thing about the small tracks,” continued DeLeo, 84, “if you got into the groove, it was difficult for the others to get by you.” The well-traveled DeLeo also won that year at the quarter mile in Manchester, NH.
Continue reading ‘NEMA Look Back at Stafford Speedway’
Rocco Maintains Whelen All-American Series Lead With 14th Win
Daytona Beach, FL — Ron Sheridan knows what it’s like to almost win a track title. Now the 56-year-old veteran from Mt. Brydges, Ontario, has kicked off the 2010 season at Delaware Speedway looking very much like he may finally bring home that championship trophy.
Sheridan has won three of the first eight races in the Late Model division at the half-mile paved oval outside of London, Ontario. He is also 41st in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship standings, although his per-race average is sixth best.
Sheridan had a strong run last year, Delaware’s first as a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctioned track, and finished ninth overall. But finishing just ahead of him in the national standings, as well as the Ontario province and Delaware track points, was Steve Robblee. While Sheriden went into the final race of the season with the points lead, Robblee was able to pass him on the final weekend.
Continue reading ‘Sheridan Eyes Elusive Title At Delaware’
On Thursday, the 2010 nominees for the NASACAR Hall of Fame will be announced. As with last year’s inaugural list, there again will be 25 names. Twenty will be repeat nominees.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your debates.
And today, do we ever have a debate for you, in the process giving you a “sneak peek” at the nominees.
One guy is a repeat nominee – Richie Evans. The other guy is a first-time nominee – Jerry Cook. These two are, arguably, the greatest NASCAR modified drivers of all-time. Many would say there’s no argument, in making that assessment.
Continue reading ‘Modified Madmen Evans, Cook Among HOF Nominees’
In the NASCAR world, a crew member is the backbone of any team that helps a driver achieve success on the track. Often times the person leading the way behind the scenes is the crew chief. In the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, the crew chief is often a family member of the team that calls the shots and makes decisions that often determine the outcome of a race or season for his team.
This week’s profile features David Hill, crew chief of the No. 79 Hill Enterprises /Coors Light/LeBleu Water Pontiac, driven by the current points leader on the tour – James Civali.
Continue reading ‘CREW PROFILE: David Hill’
Defending series champion has won past two road course events
Ryan Truex (No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota) heaved a huge sigh of relief as he sat down for the post-race press conference this past Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
While Truex had entered the race weekend leading the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in points, he was still searching for his first win.
Mission accomplished.
Truex dominated the New England 125 en route to his first victory of 2010 and the first at the ‘Magic Mile.’ Now he heads to Lime Rock Park this Saturday with another goal: successful repeat of his trip to Victory Lane from a year ago.
Continue reading ‘News & Notes: Everybody Is Chasing Truex Once Again As The East Turns To Lime Rock’
Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl is ready for a busy stretch in its schedule of events this week, offering race fans and fun seekers a little of everything over the 4th of July holiday weekend. From value priced entertainment and activities, high quality NASCAR racing with the traditional mid-season championship event, to a holiday weekend must – an aerial fireworks extravaganza – the Speedbowl will cover it all.
Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday starts it all with free youth admission and adult admission of just $7 dollars on June 30. With kids out of school, the 10th year race program is hitting its stride with fans and on the track. The racing gets underway promptly at 7:00pm allowing fans and families time to get home from work and get to the track for a great night of affordable entertainment. The racing has consistently been over in a couple of hours, perfect for a family night out.
Friday evening July 2, the ‘Show and Go at the ‘Bowl’ offers free grandstand admission to all attendees. A cool car cruise, showcasing any type of car display, plus Holeshot Drag Racing entertains on the track. A Burnout Contest sure to impress fans of all ages is also slated Friday night. Entries are accepted the day of the event for both the drags and Burnout Contest.
Continue reading ‘Something for everyone over 4th of July Weekend at Speedbowl’
Naples, ME — The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) will take to the track twice in 24 hours as we celebrate our country’s’ birthday , and both events are guaranteed to add a big dose of excitement to your holiday weekend.
The PASS South super late models get the party started on Friday evening July 2nd with a stop at Greenville-Pickens Speedway for the Firecracker 125. The venerable facility was once a hotbed for southern super late model racing and the stars of PASS South have revived that tradition for the appreciative and knowledgeable fans that frequent the track. David Pearson, Ralph Earnhardt Sr., Robert Pressley, and Pete Silva are but a few of the well known racers that have captured Greenville-Pickens Championships.
Jay Fogleman claimed the 2009 edition of the Firecracker 125, and he’ll be looking for his first win of 2010 when the PASS road show roll s into town for their lone 2010 appearance at the speedway. Preston Peltier maintains his point lead over Ryan Blaney (1502-1458) but Andy Loden is sneaking up on the top two. He’s just four back from Blaney at 1454. Jay Fogleman (1436) and Heath Hindman (1386) are fourth and fifth.
Continue reading ‘North or South, There’s a PASS Race On Tap for the Holiday Weekend’
NEMA’s tire rule goes into effect at Thompson. Each car will only be allowed two new tires per night. All other tires on the car must be clearly used – and identifiable as “used” by the NEMA contest board..
Sources: NEMA PR
First Road Course Race For Whelen Modified Tour Since 2000
The sixth race of the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season on July 3 will be a historic date on the storied division’s timeline.
For the first time in the now 26-year history of the Whelen Modified Tour, Lime Rock Park will serve as host to a race. The 1.53-mile circuit in Lakeville, Conn., will become just the second road course to play host to a Whelen Modified Tour race.
Unlike all of NASCAR’s other national and touring series, the Modifieds have little history of competition at anything other than oval tracks. In the first 25 years of the Whelen Modified Tour, only Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International has appeared on the schedule, and that was just for a span from 1996-2000.
Continue reading ‘News & Notes: Modifieds Return To The Road’
Whelen Southern Modified Tour returns to action at Caraway
After a 12-week layoff for spring break, the best modified drivers in the Southeast are ready to go back into action at Caraway Speedway this Friday night for the running of the Firecracker 150.
James Civali (No.79 Hill Enterprises/Coors Light Pontiac) broke through for his first career win in the NWSMT, holding off a hard-charging L.W. Miller (No. 36 John Baker Plumbing & Utilities) to get the win at South Boston and also climb atop the points standings.
Another driver who enters this week’s race in the top five of the points standings is NASCAR veteran Zach Brewer (No. 11 Phoenix Preowned/Triad Auto Sales Chevrolet). Brewer, who has competed in NASCAR Touring events for over a decade, finished fifth at South Boston and also at Caraway back in March.
Continue reading ‘News & Notes: Brewer Ready To Pick Up First Win On Tour After Solid Start In 2010′
Brockton, MA – The Northeastern Midget Association comes to Thompson Speedway Thursday night with three winners in as many events.
Chris Leonard, defending two-time champion Randy Cabral and Adam Cantor have been victorious. Russ Stoehr, however, has been the most consistent. He is the only driver with top-fives in all three events.
Cabral, the all-time NEMA winner at Thompson with seven, Cantor, a winner last week at Lee USA Speedway, and the crafty Stoehr are all very much in the championship picture. All agree, a Thompson win can do wonders when it comes to confidence.
Continue reading ‘NEMA Takes Show To Thompson’
Thompson, CT Two very special events make up the 4th of July holiday weekend at the Thompson International Speedway. Thursday night, July 1st, will kick off the holiday celebration when Thompson plays host to the Tour-Type Modifieds, NEMA Midgets and five of its own NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. Two days later, the Thompson Speedway switches gears and becomes a haven for Monster Truck fans.
The Thursday night, Tour-Type Modified event, will headline a seven division race program that’s bound to be the talk of the racing community. The 40-lap, Tour-Type Modified feature event will be an all out, no holds bared, race for the most popular type of race car in all of New England. This will be the second of four such races at Thompson this year with round one going to Ronnie Silk. The Tour-Type Modifieds will be joined by the mighty Midgets of NEMA and five of Thompson’s weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions in creating a night filled with exciting racing action.
Continue reading ‘Thompson Speedway Offering Great Holiday Weekend Entertainment’
Published at June 28, 2010
in Seekonk.
Seekonk, MA — On Sunday, July 4th, Seekonk Speedway will celebrate Independence Day the only way they know how. With several thousand friends. The afternoon will kick off at 5pm, with the Spectator Drags. This gives anyone with an automobile a chance to challenge the 1/3 mile oval in a one on one drag race around the speedway in single elimination competition. With over 80 cars expected, only the best of the best will survive. Will it be another repeat for the American Made Thunder, or will the high revving Imports take over for a change? All you need is a car and a helmet to compete in this fan favorite event. Do you have what it takes?
The Enduro Drags will also be part of the action. This is similar to the Spectator Drags, but in this competition we put several cars out at the same time, and ENCOURAGE the beating. The Fast Friday headlining Pure Stocks will compete in a 25 lap main event. This is our entry level full size class of competition. Normally competing on Friday nights, they will showcase their talents in front of a packed house.
The ever popular, won’t find anything like this anywhere else Figure 8’s will thrill the crowd with their aerial antics and close calls in the center of the X. There is also a competition for trucks as well. Enduro racing will have the fans on the edge of their seats with the nonstop action. Over 30 cars will compete in up to 3 races, with no stopping until the checkered flag flies.
Continue reading ‘Seekonk Speedway ready for Independence Day Celebration’
Naples, ME — Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South rookie Andy Loden scored a hat trick Saturday night, capturing three PASS South series wins in a row with his victory in the Southern Sizzler 150 at the Orange County Speedway. A great side-by-side restart between Andy Loden and Jay Fogleman on lap 149 set up a dramatic finish as the two battled down the back stretch with Loden holding the bottom groove with a half a car length lead over Fogleman to the outside as they entered turn three on the white flag lap. It then appeared that Loden drove up the track clipping the right front of Fogleman’s #4 machine almost sending the veteran spinning, giving the win to Loden as the field checked up behind him.
The remaining top five positions made for some of the best racing throughout the night. In the end, Justin Wakefield and Joey Gase finished second and third. Fogleman managed to cross the line fourth followed by John Stancill in fifth.
Several teams had up and down races. One driver that finally showed he can have a bad day was point leader Preston Peltier. The Concord, North Carolina came into the Southern Sizzler with a comfortable PASS South point lead but Peltier finished twelfth, victim of a tire going down in the waning laps. Peltier failed to finish in the top five for the first time all season. While Peltier had a down night, Alex Fleming had an up night after qualifying problems forced him to race his way in through the last chance race. Fleming took the green from the twenty-sixth position and raced his way to an impressive sixth place finish.
Continue reading ‘Green-White-Checker finish makes the sparks fly at Orange County’
Loudon, N.H. — He’s back. Jimmie Johnson recovered from a late bump-draft by Kurt Busch and reclaimed the lead with two laps left, to win The LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, went wheel-to-wheel with Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch in another exciting short track battle. Johnson captured his fifth victory and 11th top-10 finish in 2010.
“I was very, very proud of our race team and their performance and finally got to the front in time for the win,” said Johnson.
Crew Chief Chad Knaus shared his love for NHMS: “I’m real happy to be up here in Loudon. It’s an awesome, awesome race track. I really love racing up here, it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it.”
[Photo Gallery] by Nathan Teto
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Continue reading ‘Two in a Row for Jimmie Johnson’
