Analyzing The TSI Harley-Davidson 125 Presented By G-Oil
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will race under the lights for the first time in 2013 with the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 presented by G-Oil on Friday, May 24 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway. Below is a statistical look at the performance of series and selected drivers at the track:
Stafford Race Setup:
• Bobby Santos has won the last two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Stafford Motor Speedway, and five of his last 11 starts there overall.
• Reigning NWMT champion Doug Coby won three of the four races at Stafford last year, including the TSI Harley-Davidson 125.
• Following a rainout at Monadnock Speedway, this will be the first race since the NWMT last visited Stafford on April 28, for a span of 26 days between events.
AT STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY:
History
• The Stafford Springs Agricultural Park opened in 1870. The current race track was originally used for horse racing, which gave way to automobiles after World War II.
• Stafford Motor Speedway became a NASCAR track in 1959 and was paved in 1967.
• Stafford is one of nine tracks that have been a part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program in each of its now 32 years of competition.
Continue reading ‘Whelen Modified Tour Stat Advance: Stafford’
Santos Looks to Stay On a Roll in TSI Harley-Davidson 125
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following a pair of day races and a rainout, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will race under the lights for the first time in 2013 when it returns to Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway for the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 presented by G-Oil on Friday, May 24.
Winner of three of the last four Whelen Modified Tour races dating back to last season, Bobby Santos is well-positioned to keep the run of good fortune going in the second of four races on the schedule at the historic half mile.
While the number of different legitimate contenders to win on Friday at Stafford reaches double digits, Santos’ success – not only due to his recent run, but historically at the track as well – has him as one of the favorites to capture yet another checkered flag.
Continue reading ‘Whelen Modified Tour News & Notes: Stafford’
Hall To Host All-American Series & Night of Champions In December
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR announced today the postseason awards dates for the annual NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards and the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Series Awards, set for Dec. 13 and 14 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame / Charlotte Convention Center.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards will take place Friday, Dec. 13. Among those honored will be the 2013 national champion, as well as track champions from 55 tracks across the United States and Canada, state and provincial champions and top rookies.
On the following evening, NASCAR’s touring series champions will be recognized at the traditional NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards. Set for Saturday, Dec. 14, honorees will include the champions from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, Mexico’s NASCAR Toyota Series and Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series.
Continue reading ‘NASCAR Awards Return to Charlotte’
Stafford Springs, CT – For NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Justin Bonsignore, Stafford Motor Speedway has been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde track. Bonsignore has two of his three career NWMT pole positions at Stafford, but in three seasons, he had yet to record a top-5 finish. That all changed at this year’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, where Bonsignore drove through the field from 14th to 2nd at the checkered flag, and he is hoping to continue that good fortune when the NWMT returns to Stafford on May 24th for the 23rd Annual TSI Harley-Davidson 125 Presented by G-Oil.
“We’re always excited to come to Stafford,” said Bonsignore. “I love racing there, it’s a fun track, and especially coming off the run we had at the Sizzler. I wish we could have qualified a little better, it would have made things a bit easier, but we’re excited to get back there. It seems like we’ve always had a lot speed at the bigger tracks like Stafford and Thompson, but we haven’t been able to get the finishes. Lately we’ve been able to keep the car good for the whole race and we’re getting better and better so that makes it more fun to come back to those tracks.”
While the Sizzler was the longest race of the 2013 NWMT schedule at 200-laps, the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 will be a relative sprint race when compared to the Sizzler. Bonsignore is confident that he and his #51 M3 Technology team will be able to find a setup that will suit their car in the shorter race.
Continue reading ‘Justin Bonsignore Looking to Continue Good Fortunes at Stafford in 23rd Annual TSI Harley-Davidson presented by G-Oil’
Town Fair Tire Whitcomb 200 Rescheduled For July 27
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race scheduled to run on Saturday, May 11 at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H., has been postponed due to a forecast for inclement weather.
The Town Fair Tire Whitcomb 200 is now slated to be contested at the Granite State quarter-mile bullring on Saturday, July 27. The schedule of events for raceday will remain the same.
With this postponement, Friday’s scheduled meet-and-greet with Whelen Modified Tour driver Justin Bonsignore at the Applebee’s in nearby Keene, N.H., has subsequently been cancelled.
Continue reading ‘Monadnock Modified Tour Race Postponed’
Analyzing The Town Fair Tire Whitcomb 200 At Monadnock
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The third race of the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season will take place on Saturday, May 11 with the Town Fair Tire Whitcomb 200 at Monadnock Speedway in rural Winchester, N.H. Below is a statistical look at the performance of series and selected drivers at the track:
Monadnock Race Setup:
• The eight previous NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Monadnock Speedway have been won by eight different drivers.
• The two previous Monadnock events have been won from the pole: Todd Szegedy in 2011 and Ryan Preece in 2012.
• The Whitcomb 200 – the third race on the schedule – could be an early-season championship predictor. In seven of the eight previous seasons, the eventual champion has earned a victory within the first three events on the calendar.
AT MONADNOCK SPEEDWAY:
History
• Monadnock Speedway opened Aug. 13, 1971.
• Monadnock has played host to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour eight times previously from 1986-90 and 2010-present.
• A member of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Monadnock sanctions five divisions in its weekly program, headlined by the Sportsman Modifieds.
Notebook
• Ken Bouchard won the inaugural NWMT race at Monadnock on May 18, 1986. Bouchard also earned the first two poles at the track.
• Current competitors Ted Christopher (2010), Ryan Preece (2012), Mike Stefanik (1988), Todd Szegedy (2011) and Jamie Tomaino (1990) have earned wins at the track.
Continue reading ‘Whelen Mod Tour Stat Advance: Monadnock’
MODIFIED COUNTRY, Conn. – It is a 31-mile drive from Stafford, Conn., straight across the state to the town of Thompson. From there, it’s a 53-mile virtual straight shot down I-395 to the Waterford, along the Connecticut shoreline. Heading back to Stafford? That’ll run 52 to miles to the northwest, back into the heart of what is clearly demarcated as “Modified Country.”
On a map, it’s an upside-down acute triangle that perfectly cradles the epicenter of the NASCAR Modified universe.
One-half of the drivers entered in last weekend’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour call The Nutmeg State home. Nearly all of the others come from the area a stone’s throw across the sound to Long Island.
Continue reading ‘FRIDAY FEATURE: State Line – Concentration Makes NASCAR Modified Racing Special’
Gains 9th Career Win In Whelen Modified Tour, 5th At Stafford
STAFFORD, Conn. – Bobby Santos dominated NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour action in winning the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway on Sunday, giving him back-to-back wins at the historic half-mile track.
The 2010 tour champion from Franklin, Mass., led nearly all 200 laps – holding on in a dash to the finish after a late-race restart.
It marks the ninth career tour win for Santos, who had notched his ninth career Coors Light Pole Award in qualifying on Saturday. He was the Spring Sizzler runner-up during his title campaign and followed that with a win in the 2011 event. Sunday’s victory marks the fifth overall Stafford win for the No. 44 Curb Records/Brendan Kelley Music Chevrolet driver.
Continue reading ‘Santos Superb In Stafford Spring Sizzler’
Varied Pit Work Helps Get Drivers To Podium
STAFFORD, Conn. – After winning his ninth career Coors Light Pole Award on Saturday afternoon, Bobby Santos said that track position was more crucial at Stafford Motor Speedway than it is anywhere else on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule.
And after leading a whopping 197 of 200 laps in the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler 200 on Sunday afternoon at the half-mile oval, Santos proved his point. Even over a handful of restarts in the final quarter of the event, Santos was able to steer away from trouble and win virtually unchallenged.
But he also made quick note that there was cause for concern on restarts.
“On those restarts, anything can happen. Especially with Ryan (Preece) outside of me, you don’t really want him out there. Anything can happen with him,” Santos said. “I think the biggest thing is just the equipment. I’m lucky to have really good equipment I’m driving.”
Continue reading ‘NOTEBOOK: Strategy Yields Sizzling Finish’
Ninth Career Coors Light Pole For Whelen Modified Tour Veteran
STAFFORD, Conn. – Bobby Santos has the inside track in his quest for back-to-back NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victories at Stafford Motor Speedway after earning the Coors Light Pole Award Saturday afternoon for Sunday’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler.
Santos, from Franklin, Mass., laid down a fast lap of 18.082 seconds (99.547 mph) in qualifying at the historic half mile for his ninth career Whelen Modified Tour pole. It marked the second time he’s captured the top-qualifying spot for the famed Spring Sizzler weekend, and fourth time overall at Stafford.
Todd Szegedy will join Santos in the front row for Sunday’s 200-lap Whelen Modified Tour feature after he registered a quick lap of 18.084 (99.536). The second row will consist of Rowan Pennink (18.087/99.464) and Chuck Hossfeld (18.101/99.442).
Continue reading ‘QUALIFYING: Santos Scores Sizzler Pole’
Fastest In Whelen Modified Spring Sizzler Session
STAFFORD, Conn. – Bobby Santos picked up right where he left off in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s last visit to Stafford Motor Speedway when he led CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler practice Saturday afternoon.
Santos, winner of the CARQUEST Fall Final last September at Stafford, posted a quick lap of 17.938 seconds (100.346 mph) during the 75-minute practice session. A winner of the Coors Light Pole Award three times in his career at Stafford, Santos’ lap was just behind the track qualifying record established by Ryan Preece in this event last year at 17.924 (100.424).
Santos was followed on the speed chart by Justin Bonsignore at 17.946 (100.301) and Donny Lia at 17.971 (100.161). They were the only three to top the 100 mph mark.
Continue reading ‘PRACTICE: Santos Leads At Stafford’
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has again lined up an impressive field of current and former open wheel champions for its CARQUEST Champions For Charities Event as part of CARQUEST Super Saturday on June 30th. During the coming weeks, SMS will offer a profile on each of its championship winning drivers and the charity they will be racing for and this week’s CARQUEST Champions For Charities spotlight falls on defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby, who will be racing to help support The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
As a result of winning the 2012 Whelen Modified Tour championship, Coby had a host of functions to attend during NASCAR Champions Week in Charlotte and that is where he met NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion Lee Pulliam and his girlfriend, Carrie Hendrick. When Coby met up again with Pulliam and Hendrick at Daytona for the UNOH Battle at the Beach, Coby learned that Hendrick had been diagnosed as having early stages of ovarian cancer, which is what propelled him to choose the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund as his charity of choice.
“I met Lee at a photoshoot during Champions Week as soon as we landed in Charlotte,” said Coby. “We introduced ourselves right away and when you see the same people at the same places during the course of the week, you get to chatting and you learn more about what they do inside and outside of racing. With Lee battling with Keith Rocco all year for the national championship, he was definitely someone that I wanted to meet. My sister Kelly went down to the banquet with me, and she and Carrie got to do some ladies only things together, and they bonded pretty quickly. I heard from Carrie about her cancer diagnosis right before the Daytona race. I think they caught it early, so there’s a good chance for recovery. Carrie is still pretty young and she has her whole life ahead of her, but now she has to fight the cancer and go through chemo, so there’s a lot of uncertainty there. Her situation made me think of all of the important women who support drivers at our tracks, and I know every driver has wives, girlfriends, sisters, and mothers who support them in the shop and at the track. I asked her if it would be ok to use her name to help support and bring awareness to that type of cancer research. While the money won’t be directly helping her, any money that we can raise for Ovarian Cancer Research is a big help.”
Continue reading ‘CARQUEST Champions for Charities Driver Spotlight: Doug Coby’
Analyzing The CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler At Stafford
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will headline the racing action during CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler weekend at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 28. Below is a statistical look at the performance of series and selected drivers at the track:
Stafford Race Setup:
• Ted Christopher is not only the all-time winningest driver in Stafford Motor Speedway history, but he also possesses the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour record for most victories in the Spring Sizzler with five.
• Mike Stefanik is one behind Christopher on the Sizzler win list with four, but he holds the NWMT record for total Stafford triumphs with 20.
• Reigning NWMT champion Doug Coby won three of the four races at Stafford last year, including the Spring Sizzler.
• Four of the previous eight winners of the Spring Sizzler have gone on to capture the season championship, including the defending race winner Coby.
Continue reading ‘Whelen Mod Tour Stat Advance: Stafford’
Coby Returns To Where Title Campaign Started
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Even though Stafford Motor Speedway is 75 miles from Doug Coby’s hometown, but during his 2012 championship season Coby might as well have called it “Home Sweet Home.”
Coby, from Milford, Conn., launched his title campaign in earnest with a victory in last year’s CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler at the Connecticut oval, then strengthened it with wins in two of the remaining three races there on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule. Without those three Stafford checkered flags, who knows how Coby’s season would have gone.
The tour’s record book for Stafford is dominated with accomplishments from Ted Christopher and Mike Stefanik, but Coby is positioning himself as the present-day master of the historic half mile. Including those three wins from last year, Coby has seven-straight top-10 finishes at Stafford and has led laps in six of his last 10 Whelen Modified Tour races there.
Continue reading ‘Whelen Modified Tour News & Notes: Stafford’
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that John Holland, co-owner of New England Racing Fuel, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 42nd Annual CARQUEST TECH-NET Spring Sizzler. Holland, along with his partner Mike Joy, have been the official fuel supplier to Stafford for over 20 years and they have been members of the SMS Contingency program since the inception of the program in 1999, providing gas certificates to the top finishers from each of Stafford’s feature events.
“I’m super excited about this opportunity and it’s a real honor for me to serve as the Grand Marshal of the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler,” said Holland. “I really appreciate Rich Pallai from CARQUEST and Stafford Speedway for giving me the opportunity to be the Grand Marshal. When you look at Stafford Speedway and the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, there is a lot of history both at the track and the race itself, and I’ll try to do the best job that I can as the Grand Marshal.”
New England Racing Fuel is currently the official fuel supplier for almost every circle track in New England and they provide gasoline for a wide variety of racing cars ranging from modifieds and full fendered cars. New England Race Fuel also formerly serviced Grand-Am road racing machines as well, with several tracks in Canada.
Continue reading ‘New England Racing Fuel’s John Holland to Serve As Grand Marshal of 42nd Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler’
Third Icebreaker Victory, Fifteenth Overall At Thompson
THOMPSON, Conn. – The legend of Mike Stefanik added another chapter Sunday at Thompson International Speedway as he captured NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory No. 73 in the season-opening Icebreaker.
Stefanik charged to the lead by Ryan Preece following a restart on Lap 141 and held off multiple hard charges from Preece, Rowan Pennink and Ron Silk to extend his tour career record for wins. The final margin of victory was just .229 seconds.
Pennink finished second followed by Preece, Silk and Ted Christopher. Jimmy Blewett, Doug Coby, Justin Bonsignore, Chuck Hossfeld and Timmy Solomito brought home the top 10.
Sat. 04/13
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Sun. 04/14
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Continue reading ‘Stefanik Charges to Icebreaker Victory’
Thompson, CT — Mike Stefanik held off a hard-charging Rowan Pennink and Ryan Preece to capture his 73rd NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in the Icebreaker 150 at Thompson Speedway. Stefanik took the lead on a lap 141 restart for the victory. The win marks Stefanik’s third Icebreaker win and his 15th victory at Thompson Speedway.
Pennink, who finished in the second position, led early in the race after moving to the front at lap eight, where he remained until he pitted during a caution around lap 56. Preece, who finished third, took over the lead on the restart at lap 57 and led until Pennink reclaimed it on a lap 111 restart. Stefanik, however, was fast approaching, and proved to be unstoppable as he drove around Pennink on the restart.
“I’m getting old, but this doesn’t get old,” said Stefanik after the race. “I knew Rowan had a strong car, he just didn’t have the fresh tires that we did. This was a good start to the season.”
NASCAR Whelen All American Series wins went to Keith Rocco, Glenn Boss, Cam McDermott, Larry Barnett, and Scott Michalski. The Granite State Pro Stocks showcased a 50-lap event that was won by George Bessette.
Sat. 04/13
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Sun. 04/14
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Continue reading ‘Stefanik, Rocco, and McDermott Capture Modified Wins at Icebreaker’
Thompson, CT — The excitement of Icebreaker opening day at Thompson International Speedway took a heartbreaking turn Saturday afternoon. The Thompson Speedway family and the entire racing community was saddened with the loss of a long-time Thompson competitor. Jimmy Smith, 62, of Woodstock, CT was stricken in the paddock area following an 8-lap qualifying race at the speedway. He was taken by ambulance to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam where he died.
“Everyone at the Thompson Speedway is saddened at the loss of Jimmy,” said the track’s General Manager, Jonathan Hoenig. “Words cannot express how all of us feel at this time. We extend our deepest sympathies to Jimmy’s family, friends and fans. Jimmy was a talented race car driver and he loved the sport dearly. He will be missed by everyone in the racing fraternity.”
Mike Stefanik earned his 48th overall NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour pole, a series record, when he set fast time at Thompson International Speedway for the Icebreaker with a speed of 120.527 mph. It was his 10th pole award at the track. Stefanik will sit on the front row for tomorrow’s race, which marks the 121st NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at the .625-mile oval.
Continue reading ‘Michalski and Barnett Wins Dampened by Untimely Loss; Stefanik Sets New WMT Series Record’
Tenth Career Whelen Modified Tour Pole At Thompson
THOMPSON, Conn. – Mike Stefanik saved his best for last Saturday at Thompson International Speedway.
The last car out in qualifying, Stefanik took the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Coors Light Pole Award on the second of his two laps in advance of Sunday’s season-opening Icebreaker. Has fast lap was recorded at 18.668 seconds (120.527 mph).
The pole was the 48th of Stefanik’s career and the 10th at Thompson. From Coventry, R.I., Stefanik has a pair of wins in the Icebreaker, the last coming in 2006. He also holds the Whelen Modified Tour record for overall wins at Thompson with 14.
Prior to Stefanik’s last-lap run, Ryan Preece was in position for the Coors Light Pole. He will instead join Stefanik in the front row on Sunday thanks to a fast qualifying lap of 18.707 (120.276).
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Sat. 04/13
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Sun. 04/14
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Continue reading ‘QUALIFYING: Stefanik Captures Icebreaker Pole’
Fastest In Whelen Modified Tour Icebreaker Practice
THOMPSON, Conn. – Rowan Pennink paced the field during NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour practice for the season-opening Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway.
Pennink, from Huntingdon Valley, Pa., posted his fastest lap just eight circuits into the 90-minute session at 18.646 seconds (120.669 mph).
Pennink will look for his first career Whelen Modified Tour pole during Coors Light Pole qualifying later today at 5 p.m.
PRACTICE
Sat. 04/13
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Sun. 04/14
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Continue reading ‘PRACTICE: Pennink Leads at Thompson’
Stafford Springs, CT — For the 2013 SK Modified® season at Stafford Motor Speedway, the field will be joined by Whelen Modified Tour veteran Rowan Pennink, who will take over the reigns of the #89 Hitchcock Motorsports car formerly driven by Woody Pitkat. In the two seasons that Pitkat drove the #89 car, he posted 4 wins, 22 top-5, and 28 top-10 finsihes in 36 starts. Pennink is looking forward to the opportunity to drive the car this year and says he won’t be putting any pressure on himself.
“This should be a lot of fun, I’m really looking forward to it,” said Pennink. “That car has run strong for a few years now with Woody and hopefully I can keep the car up front this season. Everyone knows that is a front running car, so there is a little pressure there, but I’m not going to be focusing on that. I’m just going to get in the car and do the best that I can and that’s all I can do from my end.”
It was a phone call from engine builder Mike Pettit that turned the wheels in motion for Pennink to land the #89 ride this season.
“I got a call from Mike Pettit who told me there might be an opportunity to drive the #89 car and that I should get in touch with Bob Hitchcock and Kelly Iverson,” said Pennink. “I gave them a call and we talked back and forth for a bit and we were able work out a deal for me to drive the car.”
Continue reading ‘Rowan Pennink to Take Over Wheel of #89 Hitchcock Motorsports SK Modfied® at Stafford for 2013 Season’
Stafford Springs, CT — When it comes to the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway, it is hard to find a driver with more success in the race than Mike Stefanik. The 7-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion has 4 career Sizzler victories to go along with 14 top-5 and 19 top-10 finishes in his 25 career Sizzler starts. Stefanik’s 14 top-5 and 19 top-10 finishes are Sizzler records and his 4 wins are only eclipsed by Ted Christopher’s 6 Sizzler victories. While Stefanik has a new car owner and a new car number for the 2013 season, he has the same crew and equipment from 2012 and he hopes that familiarity will help him to his first Sizzler checkered flag since 1998.
“We have the same team and the same equipment as last year, the only thing that really changed was the car owner and the car number,” said Stefanik. “Last year we ran pretty well at Stafford and I think that Brad LaFontaine has proved that his setups work really well at Stafford. Usually I don’t ask Brad for too many changes on the car once we hit the track and we have some new updates on the car, so I think we should be pretty good. We were really fast last year and I’m looking forward to getting back to Stafford and getting started.”
Stefanik had a great start to his 2013 season in Daytona, qualifying 6th and finding himself in the lead of the race on the final lap before contact with Steve Park sent Stefanik around and relegated him to a 13th place finish. Although that wasn’t the finish that Stefanik and his #22 Robert B. Our Company / Canto Paving team were looking for, Stefanik is happy with how well they ran and is confident that the team can carry momentum from Daytona into the beginning of the Whelen Modified Tour season and the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler.
Continue reading ‘Mike Stefanik Hoping to Add Fifth Sizzler Trophy to Cabinet with New Owner and Car Number’
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has lined up an impressive field of current and former open wheel champions for its 3rd Annual CARQUEST Champions For Charities Event, which will take place on Friday, June 28th this season. During the coming weeks, SMS will offer a profile on each of its championship winning drivers and the charity they will be racing for and this week’s CARQUEST Champions For Charities spotlight falls on Ron Yuhas, Jr., the 2009 Waterford Speedbowl SK Modified® Champion, who will be racing to help support The Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
While CARQUEST Champions For Charities is in its third year of fundraising for charity, this is Yuhas’ first time as a member of the Champions for Charities field. Yuhas will use the CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party during the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend to kick off his fundraising efforts for The CT Children’s Medical Center with the theme ‘What would you do for a Klondike bar?’
“Last year during our annual team holiday party, we saw that Connecticut Children’s was looking for donations,” said Yuhas. “We thought that doing a toy drive would be a great thing for us to do. We made a donation directly from that holiday party and really enjoyed working with the staff at CCMC during that time. The CARQUEST Champions For Charities helps give us another opportunity to carry our involvement with them even further as part of our 64 Acts Of Kindness Race It Forward program that benefits both Connecticut Children’s and the Connecticut Special Olympics.”
Continue reading ‘Stafford Motor Speedway CARQUEST Champions for Charities Driver Spotlight: Ron Yuhas, Jr.’
Analyzing The Icebreaker At Thompson International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will headline the racing action during Icebreaker weekend at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway when it opens the 2013 season on Sunday, April 14. Below is a statistical look at the performance of series and selected drivers at the track:
Thompson Race Setup:
• The 29th season of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will commence at Thompson International Speedway with the Icebreaker for the 12th year in a row.
• Ted Christopher’s last 18 NWMT starts at Thompson have included seven wins and an additional eight top-five finishes. He is one win shy of tying Mike Stefanik’s track record of 14 career wins and already possesses the NWMT record for the most wins in the Icebreaker with four.
• Mike Stefanik and Chuck Hossfeld also have a history of success in the Icebreaker. Stefanik won the race during two of his championship seasons – 1998 and 2006 – while Hossfeld has a win and three runner-ups in the event.
Continue reading ‘Whelen Mod Tour Stat Advance: Thompson’
THOMPSON, CT — The Thompson Speedway Icebreaker is set for this weekend. The two-day season opener will be run this Saturday and Sunday at the historic speedway. The Icebreaker is the most anticipated race of year and will feature seven divisions of exciting short track racing action.
Headlining the Icebreaker will be the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Defending WMT champ Doug Coby will lead a star-studded field of ground pounding Modifieds to their 150-lap main event on Sunday, April 14th. Practice and time trials for the Modified Tour are slated for Saturday, April 13th.
Coby will face some very tough competition as pervious Icebreaker winners will be looking to repeat. Last year, it was Ron Silk who made his way to victory lane in a controversial finish that had officials calling Rowan Pennink for jumping the restart in the closing stages of the 150-lap event. The 2011 edition was won by Ted Christopher in spite of the fact that at one point in the race he was scored two laps down to the leaders. It was Christopher’s third Icebreaker victory. Bobby Santos claimed the 2010 Icebreaker and Christopher took home the laurels in 2009. Ed Flemke, Jr. celebrated a win in the 2008 rendition and it was James Civali edging Chuck Hossfeld at the finish line when the race was run in 2007. It was Hossfeld’s second consecutive finish in the runner up spot as he was edged by Mike Stefanik in 2006.
Continue reading ‘Icebreaker this Weekend at Thompson’
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is set for the traditional season-opening event at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway – the Icebreaker – on April 13-14.
EVENT SCHEDULE | ENTRY LIST | PRACTICE RESULTS | QUALIFYING RESULTS | RACE RESULTS
Continue reading ‘LIVE: Mod Tour Breaks The Ice at Thompson’
2013 Points Season Opens With Icebreaker
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With another NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season set to begin – the 29th campaign for the northeast-based circuit – there is plenty of reason for optimism for a whole host of teams that dare to dream about hoisting the championship trophy at year’s end.
Five of the last six seasons have culminated in a driver winning his first championship, including Doug Coby a year ago. In those previous six years only one driver has won two titles – Donny Lia – and there hasn’t been a driver able to secure back-to-back titles since Tony Hirschman in 2004-05.
Gone are the days where just one or two drivers are head and shoulders above the competition like Mike Stefanik and Hirschman were for nearly two decades. Those titans of NASCAR Modified racing combined to capture 12 of 18 championships from 1989-2006. Today’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is more balanced than ever.
Continue reading ‘Whelen Mod Tour News & Notes: Thompson’
Thompson, CT — Race fans from up and down the east coast will gather at the Thompson Speedway this weekend for an experience like no other in New England auto racing. The Icebreaker, known as the most anticipated race of the year, offers winter weary fans their first look at the 2013 racing season at Thompson and the opening round in the championship battle for on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
The huge Thompson facility offers fans a first class experience that is not found at any other New England race track. The primary focus is, of course, centered around the largest and fastest track in southern New England. However, the Icebreaker experience is much more for fans choosing to take advantage of the beautiful 18 hole championship Raceway Golf Course and Driving Range, the comfortable Lounge and the huge restaurant that make Thompson such a unique racing destination.
Hundreds of race fans make Thompson their home for the weekend. Motor homes and travel trailers are dusted off and brought to the track for a weekend stay. Families and friends gather for fun and games before and after the on-track activities and evenings are spent partying well into the night.
Continue reading ‘Racing, Camping, Family Fun and Patries Make Icebreaker Special’
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has lined up an impressive field of current and former open wheel champions for its 3rd Annual CARQUEST Champions For Charities Event, which will take place on Friday, June 28th this season. During the coming weeks, SMS will offer a profile on each of its championship winning drivers and the charity they will be racing for and this week’s CARQUEST Champions For Charities spotlight falls on Woody Pitkat, the 2006 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division 4 Regional Champion, who will be racing to help support The Victory Junction Gang Camp.
The Victory Junction Gang Camp was built in honor of Adam Petty and they provide life-changing experiences for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Victory Junction has opened it’s doors to over 14,000 children from all 50 states and 4 countries since opening in 2004. Located in Randleman, NC, Victory Junction is partnered with 30 different hospitals to deliver health care to its campers, who are dealing with such chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses as Autism, Cancer, Craniofacial Anomalies, Diabetes, Hemophilia, Sickle Cell and Spina Bifida. The cost for a child to attend Victory Junction is $2,500, but thanks to generous donations, no child or family incurs that cost.
Last year was Pitkat’s second season of fund raising for Victory Junction and he raised $2,525 for Victory Junction. Pitkat’s efforts included a “Strike It Up For Victory Junction” bowling event at Spare Time in Vernon, which he will once again host this year on Saturday, June 1st. The cost to bowl will be $25, which includes bowling, shoes, and lunch with a portion of the proceeds going towards Victory Junction.
Continue reading ‘CARQUEST Champions for Charities Driver Spotlight: Woody Pitkat’
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has received its first wave of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour entries for the 42nd Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, which will be held April 26-28. Among the first group of entries is 2003 NWMT Champion Todd Szegedy, who is in search of his first career Sizzler victory. Szegedy has won races in Stafford’s SK Modified® division, and he has 4 career NWMT wins at the half-mile, but thusfar his best career Sizzler finish has been a second place effort in 2003, 2007, and 2009. Szegedy is hoping that he can change that fact this year and be the first driver to cross the start/finish line when the checkered flag is displayed.
“The Spring Sizzler is very high on my list of races that I would like to win,” said Szegedy. “Before my career is over, I want to have a Sizzler trophy. We’ve not always had the best of finishes at the Sizzler, but we’ve come close a couple of times. The key for the Sizzler, or any race, is that you have to be there at the end. I feel like if I can be among the top-5 cars with 20-laps to go, I can be a contender to win the race.”
If Szegedy is to claim his first Sizzler trophy this season, he has a good deal of momentum built up heading into the 2013 season after his performance in the UNOH Battle at the Beach that was run at Daytona as part of SpeedWeeks. Szegedy put his #2 Dunleavy Truck & Trailer Repair machine on the pole in Daytona and he led the first 126 laps before a mechanical issue relegated him to a 21st place finish. But with his teammate Steve Park winning the race, things bode well for Szegedy and the Mike Smeriglio, III owned team this year.
Continue reading ‘Todd Szegedy Looking to Add Sizzler Trophy to his Resume’
