Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock Tour competitors braved the cold, the wind, and a muddy pit area to open the 2013 NEMST season at Lee USA Speedway for the famed Governors Cup Weekend. 24 cars entered the race creating 3 heat races and all cars being able to start the feature event. Through Saturday and Sunday practice many cars entered the low 17 second lap range creating the setup for a great race.
Mike Mason laid down the fast time of the weekend by turning a 16.89 on his way to a heat race win. Toby Wells was very close in his 2nd NEMST start by turning a 16.96 with his wild looking Volkswagen. Cris King also won his heat race along with Wells, and Mason. Both cars experienced difficulties in the feature resulting in a DNF, Mason had mechanical issues early in the race and Wells was caught up in a rough turn 3 accident collecting 4 cars on lap 26.
The Feature Event was riddled with minor cautions halting the momentum 6 times. Zach Audet from Skowhegan, ME took over the lead from Matt Sonnhalter on lap 6 and never looked back. Sonnhalter stayed close behind him as they encountered lapped traffic and cruised through the field. Lots of action continued through the field with cars shuffling positions and moving throughout the field for the entire event.
Continue reading ‘Audet Captures 2nd Career NEMST Victory’
2012 Late Model Runner-up Pursuing Full-Time Efforts in Seekonk Pro Stocks & Late Models
Bobby Pelland, III of Cranston, RI experienced the best season of his young racing career, earning a career best 2nd in Seekonk Late Model point standings and 3 wins. Pelland called last season, “Definitely an improvement, I think myself as a driver had more experience and confidence going into the year as well as finding some stuff in the car to wake it up,” Pelland said. “Overall, it was a great season and great points battle. Unfortunately, we had some bad luck due to wrecks and parts failures, but I can’t thank my team enough for never giving up.”
After race 10 of 17, Pelland faced a 37-point deficit to Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. Within three races, Pelland had reduced the margin to six. As DeGasparre and Pelland swapped the points lead, 2nd place remained within six markers for the rest of the year. Pelland led the points standings for three of the last 4 weeks before DeGasparre regained the points lead by six on the final points night for his sixth Late Model crown. “I think that says something about Team V and the guys”
“The 71 team has been a staple in the Late Models at Seekonk for years,” Pelland said. “I remember watching him when I was maybe as young as 10 when I was at the track watching my father. They clearly have their stuff in order and the team is run great by Gerry Sr. As far as Gerry, the accolades speak for themselves. He is clearly a great driver. It’s no secret he will be in contention for the title and I hope it’s a great battle between Gerry and I again this year, with a little different results of course.“
Continue reading ‘Bobby Pelland III Adds Super Late Models to Busy 2013 Slate’
As the American Canadian Tour’s 28th season shifts into full gear, teams prepare for the opening race on April 13/14 at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH. After one of the closest point battles in ACT history in 2012, eventual Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. edged out 8-time ACT Champion Brian Hoar with a victory in the season finale, and will look to continue his momentum at the Lee opener in 2013.
Helliwell will be challenged by ACT star Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., who got his start in full-bodied stock cars at Lee USA Speedway. While Helliwell has amassed 8 track championships at Lee USA, he remains in search of his first ACT victory at his home track. Polewarczyk won the opener at Lee in 2008.
“I’m excited just to get started,” said Polewarczyk. “We’re focused, the car is ready, and the team and I are ready to go. We should have won at Lee in last year’s race. We can’t wait for the opener to get the championship chase underway,” he finished.
Continue reading ‘Lee USA Speedway Opens 28th ACT Season’
Driver of the #27 E-Keys 4 Cars Ford
Hometown: Dover, NH
2012: Earned his first American Canadian Tour Championship
What are your favorite hobbies in the off-season?
I’m not sure I have any real hobbies; it’s a full-time job working in the garage. As a big family thing, we like to go out and try new random places to eat; stuff that’s way off the mark and just pretty different throughout New England. My job and racing bring me to a lot of different places, and many times we’ll just take off and try new stuff. I think you can find a lot of good places like that.
What do you do for work?
I am a fire-sprinkler system installer for Mammoth Fire Protection. This is the only job I’ve ever had. I’ve been working here since 1993, so about 20 years.
What is your biggest life accomplishment?
The things I’m most proud of are my three daughters. I was extremely young when I had my first daughter, I think I was 15 when the girl was pregnant, so that was a real life lesson. My daughter and I practically grew up together. There were a lot of things to learn as she grew and now that my daughters are almost adults, they are not only my children but really good friends as well. I never understood when my parents said the same thing about me, but now I do. They were young parents, too.
Continue reading ‘Unbuckled: Getting To Know Wayne Helliwell, Jr.’
Charles Leroy Elliott
New England Racing Hall-of-Famer had a creative 75 year career.
He built three new speedways with his own hands and refurbished three more. Some of the greatest drivers in auto racing history thrilled hundreds of thousands of fans on those race tracks, leaving decades of lasting memories.
New England Auto Racing (NEAR) Hall-of-Famer “Charlie” Elliott, 96, passed away in his sleep today, March 20, at his home in Hernando, FL.
Self-educated, his common sense approach, quiet vice-grip handshake and humor matched by a determined work ethic were his characteristics, building a legendary career from New England to Florida.
Continue reading ‘NEAR Hall of Famer Charlie Elliott Passes at 96′
Brockton, MA — Car owner Gene Feigel is not shy. He and his driver Seth Carlson see themselves as contenders for the 2013 Northeastern Midget Association championships.
The team found another Drinan chassis to replace the one that was destroyed at Beech Ridge. It was also the one he drove to victory at Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel Wednesday. Carlson, who will not be 21 until October, was one of 11 NEMA winners last year.
While veterans like Randy Cabral, Russ and Greg Stoehr, Adam Cantor and Jim Miller did checker, youth was served as well. Ten of last year’s 11 winners will be back including youngsters Anthony Marvuglio, Todd Bertrand and Anthony Nocella.
NEMA begins its 61st season April 6-7 at Waterford Speedbowl’s Blast Off.
Continue reading ‘Carlson/Feigel Eying 2013 NEMA Crowns’
Published at March 7, 2013
in Airborne, Lee USA, Monadnock, NEMA, Oswego, Riverside, Seekonk, Stafford, Star, Thompson and Waterford.
Brockton, MA – The Northeastern Midget Association had 11 different winners in 2012, making it one of the most competitive campaigns in club history. Expect to see 10 of them back as NEMA begins its 61st season April 6-7 at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Blast Off.
Defending champion Randy Cabral moved into the top-five on NEMA’s all-time win list a year ago. Cabral, the only multiple winner last year, returns with car owner Tim Bertrand. He and Russ Stoehr, a six-time champion who sits third on the all-time list, head up the list of returnees. Stoehr is back in the Dumo’s Desire car.
The returning winners include Greg Stoehr, Jim Miller, Todd Bertrand, Anthony Marvuglio, Seth Carlson, Anthony Nocella and John Zych Jr. Adam Cantor will not drive but will return as part of the Cantor No. 33 crew.
Continue reading ’10 Winners Back in NEMA Fold; Cabral, Russ Stoehr Head List’
Published at February 22, 2013
in Airborne, Lee USA, Monadnock, NEMA, NEMA Lites, Oswego, Riverside, Seekonk, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford.
Published at February 16, 2013
in Adirondack, Beech Ridge, Dover, Holland, Irwindale, Jennerstown, Lee USA, Lime Rock Park, Monadnock, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Nazareth, NHMS, Riverside Park, Seekonk, Stafford, Star, Thompson, Uncategorized and Waterford.
3-time NASCAR BNS Champion Owner was 64
Steve Griswold, owner of the GRIZCO Racing team for 18 years (1988-2005), passed away on Sunday. He was 64.
Steve and Peg Griswold fielded the #55 entry on the NASCAR Busch North Series (now called K&N Pro Series East). Brad Leighton drove for the team 1995-2002. Mike Stefanik drove the car from 2003-2005. The team captured 3 championships (1999-2000, 2005) with Brad Leighton and Andy Santerre.
In 2005, GRIZCO moved to North Carolina and created the first multi-car team in series history for Andy Santerre, Mike Stefanik and Brad Leighton. The team’s historic final season saw a 1-2 points finish with teammates Santerre and Stefanik. Santerre captured his historic 4th consecutive series championship.
Continue reading ‘GRIZCO Racing Owner Steve Griswold Passes’
Published at January 31, 2013
in Autodrome Chaudiere, Delaware, ISMA, Lee USA, Oswego, Sandusky, Stafford, Star, Sunset, Thompson and Waterford.
Oswego, NY (January 23, 2013) – While the northeast is locked in a bitter cold winter, it’s a great time to look toward the 2013 racing series as a warm-up. The 2013 ISMA schedule has been finalized with some exciting new additions. The ISMA winged series will compete in 15 race events at 10 different speedways in the Northeast and Canada. And, one of those Canadian visits includes a new venue, Sunset Speedway in Innisfil, Ontario, which is approximately 40 miles north of Toronto.
ISMA’s opener will be at the home of the supermodifieds, the Oswego Speedway (NY), which in 2013 will host four big events called the Steel Palace ISMA SuperSeries. Round 1 is May 4th. Rounds 2 – 4 come on June 8th, July 13th (King of Wings) and on August 31st of Classic weekend.
ISMA’s first trip to Canada is a return to Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee Jonction, Quebec for a two-day event on June 21 and 22. Johnny Benson won the inaugural race at that fast semi-banked oval in 2011. Mike Lichty, Benson’s teammate and Rob Summers were on the podium for that 75-lapper. Both Friday and Saturday features will again be 75 laps in length.
Continue reading ’2013 ISMA Schedule Includes 15 Race Events at 10 Different Race Tracks; Sunset Speedway Added as New Venue’
Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH 1/3 mile
2012 Fastest feature lap: 13.307 by Adam Cantor
Active Drivers with NEMA wins at Lee USA Speedway
Randy Cabral 2 Last – 2012 (Bertrand 47)
Adam Cantor 2 Last – 2012 (Cantor 33)
Jeff Horn 4 Last – 2009 (Horn A1)
Joey Payne 1 Last – 2003 (Angelillo 45)
Bobby Santos III 1 Last – 2008 (Santos 98)
Ben Seitz 1 Last – 2004 (Valeri 17)
Greg Stoehr 1 Last – 2011 (Stoehr 26b)
Russ Stoehr 2 Last – 1991 (Beane 26)
Continue reading ‘NEMA History at Tracks on the 2013 Schedule’
Brockton, MA – Established haunts make up the 2013 Northeastern Midget Association schedule including a return to Monandock Speedway after a two-year absence. As NEMA President Mike Scrivani puts the finishing touches on the final schedule, there are 13 races currently on the NEMA agenda while the NEMA Lites will make 15 stops in what will be the club’s 61st consecutive season, making it New England’s oldest sanctioning body.
Randy Cabral and owner Tim Bertrand will begin defense of their NEMA championships and the Lites will begin their sixth season at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Blast Off on April 6-7.
Monadnock returns to the schedule hosting both NEMA and the Lites for the Iron Mike Scrivani Race on June 22. The club will honor the 30th anniversary of the passing of the legendary car owner on the speedy high banked quarter mile.
The full midgets and the Lites will share the billing eight times including Stafford Motor Speedway Carquest Super Saturday on June 29. It will be the Lites first time on the historic half mile. Both divisions will return to New York State’s Oswego Speedway as well on Sept.14.
Continue reading ‘NEMA Sets 2013 Schedule’
Monadnock to host the Iron Mike Memorial, Star to host Marvin Rifchin Trophy Race
NEMA Schedule
#-Date-Track-Site-Winner
1. April 6-7 Waterford Speedbowl-Budwesier Blastoff Weekend
2. June 8 Star Speedway-Marvin Rifchin Trophy Race
3. June 22 Monadnock Speedway-Iron Mike Memorial
4. June 29 Stafford Motor Speedway-10th Annual Carquest Super Saturday
5. July 12 Lee USA Speedway
6 July 17 Seekonk Speedway-Open Wheel Wed.
7. July 27 Waterford Speedbowl-Shane Hammond Memorial
8. Aug 10 Waterford Speedbowl-Wings & Wheels
9. Sept 14 Oswego Speedway
10. Oct 5-6 Waterford Speedbowl-The Finale
11. Oct. 12-13 Lee USA Speedway-Oktoberfest
12. Oct. 19-20 Thompson Int'l Speedway-World Series
Nov. NEMA Banquet-Whites of Westport, Westport, MA
Continue reading ’2013 NEMA & NEMA Lites Schedules Updated’
Tentative 2013 NEMA Lites Schedule
Date, Track
Sat., April 6 Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT
Fri., May 31 Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH
Sat., June 29 Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT
Fri., July 12 Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH
Fri., Aug. 9 Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH
Sat., Aug. 10 Riverside Speedway, Groveton, NH
Sat., Aug. 17 Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT
Sat., Sept. 14 Oswego Speedway, Oswego, NY
Sat., Oct. 5 Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT
Sat-Sun., Oct. 12-13 Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH
NEMA is in discussion with promoters at several other tracks for additional races.
Continue reading ‘Tentative 2013 NEMA Lites Schedule Released’
Tentative 2013 NEMA Schedule
Date, Track
Sat.-Sun., April 6-7 Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT
Sat., June 29 Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT
Fri., July 12 Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH
Wed., July 17 Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA
Sat., July 27 Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT
Sat., Aug. 10 Riverside Speedway, Groveton, NH
Sat., Aug. 17 Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT
Sat., Sep. 14 Oswego Speedway, Oswego, NY
Sat.-Sun., Oct. 5-6 Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT
Sat.-Sun., Oct. 19-20 Thompson International Speedway, Thompson, CT
NEMA is in discussion with promoters at several other tracks for additional races.
Continue reading ‘Tentative 2013 NEMA Schedule Released’
Two Tracks, Different Divisions Result In New Hampshire Crown
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —Wayne Helliwell Jr. and his two race teams pursued an aggressive 2012 race schedule in New Hampshire. They competed at two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks with different top divisions.
Helliwell captured his third consecutive NASCAR state championship and first track championship at Canaan (N.H.) Fair Speedway out of the Late Model division. Although he placed second in the small block Supermodified point race at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway, the result of the two-track campaign elevated his position in the series national standings to 14th from 153rd in 2011. Helliwell’s overall racing record for the season included 16 wins, 26 top fives and 29 top 10s in 31 starts.
At Canaan, Helliwell was dominant with 13 wins in 17 starts. Tommy Tombarello Jr. won the Lee championship by 25 points over Helliwell. Tombarello, who also won the track title in 2010, recorded three wins, 12 top fives and 14 top 10s. Helliwell’s Lee record was three wins, 10 top fives and 13 top 10s.
Continue reading ‘Aggressive Schedule Nets Helliwell Third Title’
Published at December 10, 2012
in Lee USA, Monadnock, NEMST, NHMS, Riverside, Stafford, Star, Thompson, Thunder Road, Waterford and Wiscasset.
The North East Mini Stock Tour (NEMST) will carry its large head of steam built in 2012 of large car counts and breathtaking racing with photo finishes into 2013, the NEMST’s fifth year in competition. The NEMST held its first event at Canaan Fair Speedway May 23, 2009 with Emerson Cayer taking home first NEMST winner’s trophy. Since that day the tour has held 33 additional events with 13 different Feature winners. The largest news in NEMST history came in February of 2012 when the dates at New Hampshire Motor Speedway were released for the mini-stocks to run on the 1.6 mile road course and the mini-oval setup in turn 2, as well as the news in 2011 of the NEMST signing on national sponsorship from Texas Roadhouse.
“We have worked very hard in making the series better from year to year and raising the bar for competitors, fans, and sponsors alike. The news of 3 brand new to us race tracks and the return to the NEMST’s home state of Maine is sure to make a tidal wave throughout the mini-stock racing community.” said NEMST Promoter Bob Guptill. Big news came in the form of one new track confirmed at the year end Championship Banquet in November with a date at the famed ½ mile of Stafford Motor Speedway confirmed in April for Stafford’s opening weekend Spring Sizzler.
Without further suspense, here is the 2013 Schedule of Events.
Continue reading ‘The Setup For A Legendary 5th Anniversary’
Canaan, NH — With New England’s Valenti Modified Racing Series celebrating its 10th anniversary next season,President and Founder Jack Bateman has announced a 19-race schedule
for the 2013 campaign.
The series will return to the State of Maine twice next summer with invites back to the Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford 250 weekend, July 20, and the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, ME., August 3.
The series visits the State of Connecticut eight times with the Waterford Speedbowl hosting the season opener, April 6 & 7, and a return engagement August 10.
Stafford Springs Motor Speedway adds a third event in 2013. The first race is June 21, with the popular 80-lap races also on tap August 30, and September 13.
Thompson Speedway offers a different twist with two Sunday events and a return to the season ending World Series of Speedway Racing, Saturday, October 19. The Sunday 75-lap races are May 19, and July 28.
Continue reading ‘VMRS To Celebrate 10 Years With 19-Race Schedule in 2013′
DATE-TRACK-LAPS
Saturday, April 27-Seekonk Speedway-Seekonk, Mass.
Saturday, May 4-Oswego Speedway-Oswego, N.Y.
Saturday, May 25-Waterford Speedbowl-Waterford, Conn.
Saturday, June 8-Oswego SpeedwayOswego, N.Y.
Friday, June 21-Autodrome Chaudiere-Vallee-Jonction, Quebec
Saturday, June 22-Autodrome Chaudiere-Vallee-Jonction, Quebec
Saturday, June 29-Stafford Speedway-Stafford Springs, Conn.
Saturday, July 13-King of Wings-Oswego Speedway-Oswego, N.Y.
Friday, July 26-Hy-Miler Fast 40-Sandusky Speedway-Sandusky, Ohio 40
Saturday, July 27-Hy-Miler Nationals-Sandusky Speedway-Sandusky, Ohio 100
Friday, August 9-Ollie Silva Memorial-Lee USA Speedway-Lee, N.H.
Saturday, August 10-Waterford Speedbowl-Waterford, Conn.
Saturday, August 31-Classic Weekend Supernationals-Oswego Speedway-Oswego, N.Y.
Saturday, Sept. 7-Star Classic-Star Speedway-Epping, N.H.
Saturday, Oct. 12-World Series of Racing-Thompson Int'l Speedway-Thompson, Conn.-Heats
Sunday, Oct. 13-World Series of Racing-Thompson Int'l Speedway -Thompson, Conn.-50
Published at November 18, 2012
in ARDC, Catamount, Danbury, Devil's Bowl, Lee USA, Nazareth, NEMA, Nostalgia, Oxford Plains, Plainville, Riverside Park, Seekonk, Stafford, Utica-Rome and Westboro.
Frank Gehling, 70, Retired Norwalk Race Car Driver
NORWALK, Conn. – Frank Gehling of Norwalk died Nov. 14 at his home. He was 70.
Born May 5, 1942, in Newton, Mass., he was the son of Daniel Chester Gehling and Esther Lawson. He had a love for race car driving early on and began his racing career at age 16.
As a pit crewman, Gehling traveled to more than 40 races a year. He became interested in driving when a driver was late one night and he was asked to fill in.
When he was 19, Gehling purchased a three-quarter midget and fudged his age to obtain a racing license. He competed during the winter months indoors in Hempstead, N.Y. In 1963, he was introduced to stock car racing and the Southern New York Racing Association.
Continue reading ‘Frank Gehling Passes Away at 70′
Published at November 15, 2012
in ACT, ACT LM Tour, Airborne, Beech Ridge, Canaan Fair, Devil's Bowl, Lee USA, NHMS, Riverside, Sanair, Star, Thunder Road and White Mountain.
Three New Tracks Slated for 2013
ACT officials have announced a 14-race schedule for the 2013 American Canadian Tour season at eleven different Northeast short tracks. The schedule will include three new additions to the Tour schedule. There will also be three more non-point counting special events during the 2013 campaign.
The Tour will return to 2012 tracks Lee USA Speedway, Thunder Road, Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Airborne Speedway, White Mountain Motorsports Park, and Beech Ridge Speedway in 2013. A visit to Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH is planned for a 150-lap event on Sunday, June 2nd and will mark the first time ACT has raced there since 2004. The American Canadian Tour will also head to Canaan Fair Speedway on Saturday, June 15th for the first time since 2005, and has set a date for Star Speedway on Saturday, July 6, last visited in 2003.
The American Canadian Tour schedule will include two point-counting combo events with the Canadian Série ACT Castrol at Sanair Super Speedway, which will be increased to a 150-lap event from 100, and at St-Croix, QC’s Circuit Riverside Speedway for the 4th Annual Can-Am 200.
Continue reading ’2013 ACT Schedule Announced’
Lee USA Speedway hosted the annual Octoberfest. Although the temperatures were cool, the on-track action was hot.
The 2012 VMRS Championship was up for grabs with only 33 points separating the Art Barry owned Jon McKennedy driven #2 and the Gary Casella owned Rowan Pennink driven #25.
At the end of the 100 laps, the championship trophy would be going to Chelmsford MA with Jon McKennedy. Congratulations to Art Barry and crew.
Meanwhile there were 31 Modified teams trying to win the final event of the VMRS Season.
#5 Chris Pasteryak of Jewett City CT and #85 Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro MA brought the field to green, starting a 100 lap nerf bar to nerf bar battle. Pasteryak edged into the lead with a pack of hungry drivers in hot pursuit. The first of 7 cautions came on lap 24 when Dana Smith spun his #14 on the back stretch. On the restart Pasteryak took control again, while Dwight Jarvis of Ascutney VT powered his #28 from 7th to 3rd.
Continue reading ‘Tommy Barrett Cruises to Octoberfest Win’
Lee, NH – Jon McKennedy, of E. Chelmsford, MA; delivered on his goal Sunday afternoon, and young gun Tommy Barrett, of Millis, Mass; scored his third win of 2012 as the Valenti Modified Racing Series closed out it’s schedule at Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH.
McKennedy captured his third series championship giving Hall of Fame car-owner Art Barry of Preston, CT; his first VMRS title. McKennedy ties all-time race winner Kirk Alexander for series championships.
Barrett, the 17-year old Millis MA; high school student, passed McKennedy on lap 88 of the 100-lap race, and went on to win the ‘Oktoberfest 100’. Barrett became the eighth driver in eight seasons to win the annual event.
Barrett’s win was what his team hoped for to wrap-up a rewarding season. “Exactly what we needed,” Barrett said in victory lane. “We had a plan all weekend we stuck to the plan and it worked out.”
[Photo Gallery] by Crystal Snape
Continue reading ‘McKennedy Clinches Title While Barrett Wins VMRS Finale’
Lee, NH — With the championship, the second straight and the fourth in five years, all but clinched, car owner Tim Bertrand informed driver Randy Cabral, “you know, all you have to do is start.”
“Did you hire me to win championships or win races?” asked Cabral who then went out and did both, dominating a reduced field in the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature Sunday at Lee USA Speedway’s Ocktoberfest. It was Cabral’s fourth win of the season.
A first lap crash, which ended with Mike Horn violently sliding into the first turn, devastated the field and put Cabral in the second row of the 10-car feature that actually ran a couple hours later after the crash. NEMA and track officials agreed to push the feature deeper into the program in hopes some cars could be repaired.
“I guess the crash made my job easier,” overstated Cabral after becoming NEMA’s first back-to-back winner in 22 races.
Continue reading ‘Cabral, Cugini, Stoehr Win At Ocktoberfest’
Canaan, NH. — The Valenti Modified Racing Series championship and final race of the season takes place this weekend at New Hampshire’s Lee USA Speedway. The event will be part of the 26th annual Oktoberfest weekend, Saturday Oct 20, and Sunday Oct 21.
Jon McKennedy, of Chelmsford, MA; no stranger to the 3/8th mile race facility, and Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA; lead the list of entries. The two drivers have staged an almost season long battle for the championship.
McKennedy holds a 35-point lead over Pennink. A three-time winner this season, Pennink won last years series finale at Lee.
McKennedy, since the start of the campaign, stated his hope to deliver car-owner Art Barry a championship. Barry, a Hall of Fame car-builder and owner from Preston, CT; has yet to win a series title.
Continue reading ‘Lee Hosts Valenti Modified Series Final This Weekend’
Published at October 18, 2012
in Lee USA.
OKTOBERFEST 2012
Friday – Rain or Shine
Pits Open 12 Noon
Concession #1 will be open
Parking Rigs
Tire Sales 2PM – 6PM
Movie Party (Checkered Flag Pub) 7PM – 10PM
Pizza & Beer
Saturday
Pits Open 8:00 AM
Tech Open 8:30 AM
Tires Sales 8:30 AM
Gas Sales 8:30 AM
Hot Laps Starts (one round for each class) 2:00 PM
NEMA Lite Feature (8/10/12) 3:15 PM
Heat Races for qualifying
50 Lap Pro Stock/Super Late Model Feature
Continue reading ‘Lee USA: Oktoberfest Schedule Update’
Brockton, MA — 2012 NASCAR Whelen Modified champion Doug Coby will make his debut in a Midget this weekend at Lee USA Speedway’s Ocktoberfest. Coby will be in the #39B Bertrand car in the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature on Sunday.
Coby, a five time 2012 winner, who clinched the NASCAR crown Sunday at Thompson, joins Randy Cabral, who brings an almost insurmountable 88-point lead over Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45) into the weekend, in the Bertrand stable.
NEMA has a big presence at Ocktoberfest. A 25-lap Lites feature (a make up for an Aug. 10 rainout) is on the Saturday schedule. The Lites and the full Midgets both run Sunday.
“Doug and I have been friends for almost 30 years,” said Tim Bertrand, “and we’ve talked about this for the past four or five years. With Todd having a commitment at the Linda's Microsprint Nationals in Pennsylvania, the opportunity presented itself. We're just looking to have some fun, and if he likes it, get him in the car a few times next year as well.”
Continue reading ‘Coby Makes Midget Debut at Ocktoberfest’
Successful Switch To Weekly Sportsman Modified Racing
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Russ Hersey Jr. completed a seamless transition from full bodied stock cars to fulltime open-wheel racing this year.
Hersey, 44, of Swanzey, N.H., tops the NASCAR Sportsman Modified division point standings at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. He leads defending division champion Bill Kimball by 32 points entering the track’s final race of the season Sept. 15.
The 2012 season marked the first year of NASCAR Division I designation for Sportsman Modifieds on Monadnock’s quarter-mile paved oval. Hersey is bidding for the first open-wheel division track championship of his 20-year racing career. He drives a car he built and tested in late 2011.
Continue reading ‘Russ Hersey Jr Shifts Focus At Monadnock’
Lee, NH – Dedicating the performance to his gravely ill stepfather Joe DeMonte, Adam Cantor dominated the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association Friday night at Lee USA Speedway. Driving a new Reider chassis numbered 33 in honor of DeMonte for only the second time, the Long Islander led every circuit and won by almost half a lap.
After a series of early restart challenges from Todd Bertand (Bertrand 39), Cantor, who started second, took the lead for good on lap nine and romped to victory. “Finally got rid of the bugs,” understated Cantor whose feature efforts followed an equally dominating heat triumph.
Coming from the eighth starting spot, point leader John Zych Jr., (Zych 9) took second place from Bertrand with a daring move in turn one with 11 laps gone. Bertrand held on for third with Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45) and Randy Cabral (Bertrand 47) completing the top five.
[Photo Gallery] by Crystal Snape
Continue reading ‘Emotional, Dominating NEMA Win For Cantor’
Lee, NH – Carl Medeiros Jr. ended a streak of 36 Northeastern Midget Association Lites races without back-to-back winners and he did it in a single night at Lee USA Speedway Friday. He won the 25-lapper rescheduled from June 22 and then came back to capture the regularly scheduled event, doing both in dramatic style. It all came 11 days before his 16th birthday.
“What a night,” said Medeiros who dedicated the first win to his grandparents. It ended a run of frustration for the family team that posted a couple seconds last year and had two impressive runs this season.
Coming from the 12th starting spot in the opener, Medeiros took the lead from Jake Smith on lap 12 with a daring move out of four. Sitting behind a Smith-Bethany Stoehr battle, Medeiros passed them both on the outside. He went into one with a clear advantage and then romped to the checkered in the caution-free event, posting a race-best 14.510 lap.
[Photo Gallery] by Crystal Snape
Continue reading ‘Medeiros Doubles Up At Lee’
