Archive for June 24th, 2010

Silk Scores Tour-Type Modified Shootout Victory at Thompson; Christopher Wins Two-Straight in Sunoco Mods; Ramstrom Continues Winning Ways: Falconi Continues Family Tradition; Coutu, McDermott & Defevers Score Victories

Published at June 24, 2010 in Thompson. 0 Comments

Thompson, CT — It took several weeks to complete the first of the Thompson International Speedway Town Fair Tire Tour-Type Modified Shootouts for the 2010 season. For Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, CT, and his TS Haulers Racing Team it was worth the wait. On Thursday night, Thompson Speedway featured the continuation of an event that was postponed back on June 3 after rains halted the program. In addition to the Tour-Type Modifieds, all six of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions were in competition.

In weekly racing action, Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT, scored his fourth Sunoco Modified victory of the season. Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, continued his winning ways in the Super Late Models; also scoring his fourth feature victory of ‘10. John Falconi of N. Grafton, MA, turned his luck around this season with a commanding victory in the Late Model division. Paul Coutu of Thompson, CT, scored a convincing victory in the Limited Sportsman division. Keith McDermott of Scituate, RI was the winner in a controversial TIS Modified dash. Leo Defevers of Brooklyn, CT was tops in the Mini Stocks. The Super Late Models, Late Models and the Limited Sportsman division all treated the fans to caution-free main events.

Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, CT, was in the right place at the right time to earn the victory in the Town Fair Tire Tour-Type Modified Shootout. Ryan Preece won the drag race to turn one to start the 40-lapper. Woody Pitkat, driving for the Santos Family, followed through relegating pole sitter Stefanik to third early. Preece enjoyed a large advantage early over Pitkat and Stefanik. A four car battle for fourth featured Silk, Steven Reed, Jeff Malave and Tom Bolles.

[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto

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New England 100 Pole Goes To Newman

Published at June 24, 2010 in NASCAR WMT and NHMS. 0 Comments

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Captures NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Pole

Loudon, NH — With the season Bobby Santos is having, it’s taken a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver to steal some of his thunder.

Ryan Newman earned the Coors Light Pole Award Thursday for Saturday’s New Hampshire 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a lap of 29.663 mph (128.402) around the 1.058-mile oval. It’s Newman’s sixth pole at New Hampshire, with four coming in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition and the other in his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut in September 2008.

Santos will start on the outside of the front row after he posted a qualifying lap of 29.778 (127.907). Santos enters the weekend as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points leader after he became the first driver in Tour history to win three of the first four races. He finished second in the other race, and has three Coors Light Pole Awards.

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PRACTICE: Rain doesn’t slow Szegedy

Published at June 24, 2010 in NASCAR WMT and NHMS. 0 Comments

Loudon, NH — Todd Szegedy posted the fastest time during the rain-interrupted NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Szegedy’s lap of 29.648 seconds (128.467) around the 1.053-mile oval was slightly faster than NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman, who checked in with a quick lap of 29.686 (128.303).

Szegedy was fastest on the board when rain brought a halt to practice 50 minutes into the session. After a 1 hour, 5 minute delay, the drivers were able to resume practice. Szegedy, Newman and James Civali all took turns at the top of the charts through the final 45 minutes.

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NOTEBOOK: Albarracin Ready For NASCAR

Published at June 24, 2010 in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NHMS. 0 Comments

Columbian Teenager To Run For Fadden Racing At Lime Rock

Loudon, NH — Longtime NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team Fadden Racing announced Thursday afternoon that development driver Julian Camilo Albarracin will make his series debut next weekend on the road course at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn.

Team owner Mike Olsen, who is fielding a car for Jonathan Smith in Saturday’s New England 125, said he’s looking forward to working with the 16-year-old driver from Colombia. Fadden Racing will enter Albarracin in Late Model events in New England as well as test extensively with the K&N Series cars.

“Obviously, he’s very young — which is good, because we can work with him,” said Olsen, a two-time series champion as a driver.

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Kyle Casagrande Looks to Take Home First Career Track Championship in DARE Stock Division at Stafford Speedway

Published at June 24, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

Stafford Springs, CT — As the 2010 season at Stafford Motor Speedway draws near the half-way point, the race is on in each of the track’s five divisions to become a 2010 track champion. In Stafford’s DARE Stock division, Kyle Casagrande currently sits in second place behind Tony Membrino, Jr. in the chase for the championship, only 18 points in arrears.

Although Casagrande has won 2 races this year to Membrino’s one, the differential in the points standings comes down to consistency. Membrino’s worst finish of the 2010 season has been a seventh place finish, while Casagrande has had two finishes outside of the top-10, an 11th place finish on May 7th and a 15th place finish on June 4th. But Casagrande says he learned quite a bit about racing for a championship last season and he feels good about his chances to win a special bet that he made with Membrino prior to the start of the 2010 season.

“Last year, we were leading the points with a month to go and then we didn’t finish a race in that last month,” said Casagrande. “I really learned a lot from that experience last year and this year I’ve been a little smarter about my driving. Usually I try to get to the front as fast as I can, but this year it’s been a little more of give than take. Tony and I are good friends away from the track, so it’s fun to be racing with him for the championship this season. Before the season, we made a bet as to who was going to finish higher in the points this year. The loser has to have the winner’s car number shaved into the back of their head, so I hope he will be wearing my number.”

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Honoring God

Published at June 24, 2010 in RWJM. 0 Comments

I was reading a story the other day that reminded me of Hank Parker Jr. and the testimony he gave at an event I attended. It made me ask myself if I make decisions based on what honors God. What do we consider when we make life changing decisions? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As I read some of Hanks story it made me think about where I would draw the line. I hope that I could have the faith that he demonstrated when he had a decision to make. It is important the foundation we build our life on.

Hank Parker Jr. is not a household name because of what he was taught at home. His Father instilled in him Christian values that would serve him well when he to make a difficult choice. His biography helps us understand how he honored God.

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