The Northeastern Midget Association’s new “Lite” division has announced nine dates for 2008 with the prospects for more according to club Vice President Tim Bertrand. The “NEMA Lites” will make their debut at Waterford Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals April 12-13.
The “NEMA Lites” is a more economical route into open-cockpit racing. While the cars will be traditional Midgets, the motors will be less expensive Ford Focus and Oldsmobile Quad 4 engines. Bertrand reports “extraordinary interest” in the “Lites” and expects strong fields.
We have taken some broad strokes as we looked at this Winter Bible Study passage, now it is time to dig in. Just like taking a new car to the track, you do some laps, get a feel for it and then the time comes to make it go fast. It is time to take this passage apart, verse by verse and commit to letting it make a difference in our lives. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Before you can go fast in a racecar you have to get comfortable first. You have to get a feel for it and learn what the limits are. The same with Scripture, there is the big picture, a feel for the entire message. Then you take a closer look, like making the fine adjustments to make everything work together for a complete understanding.
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that they have reached an agreement with Town Fair Tire on renewing Town Fair Tire’s event title sponsorship at the Connecticut…
With the recent additions of two New Hampshire ovals – All-Star (Epping) and Twin-State (Claremont) –Northeastern Midget Association competitors will face a 19-race agenda in 2008. Eight tracks are involved in NEMA’s largest schedule in 20 years.
The 56th NEMA campaign gets underway at Thompson Speedway’s traditional season-opening Icebreaker on April 5-6. The winged wonders are part of Waterford Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals on April 12-13.
“Over the winter tracks were coming to us,” says president Mike Scrivani Jr. “Good fields of talented drivers and excellent equipment makes NEMA one of the best tours in the northeast. We are excited at the prospect of showing it off.”
Northampton, PA — In 2008 two fixtures on the Northeast and New England racing scene will join together and tackle one of, if not the most competitive series in the United States. Eric Beers of Northampton, Penn., will pilot the familiar yellow 46 J & R Precast Troyer Chevrolets fielded by Berkley Auto Racing and car owner Bobby Katon. Beers, who has competed on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for the past six seasons, is looking forward to the opportunity.
“As always it will be a busy season, but I can’t wait to get going,” offered Beers, who will also pilot his own machine in selected events throughout the Northeast. “Bobby (Katon) is just a tremendous individual and I’m really looking forward to working with him and all of his guys. In addition his crew members, we’ve had the opportunity to bring over some of our crew members, Kevin Crowley will be joining Dave Phillips working as co-crew chiefs, so I think all of the pieces are in place to have success right off the bat at Thompson.”
It looks like the American-Canadian Tour will have a pair of talented rookie hopefuls making a full-time go of it in 2008. Nick Sweet of Barre, VT and Tyler Cahoon of Danville, VT will each tackle the Tour, giving further developmental credential power to the NAPA Tiger Sportsman and Allen Lumber Street Stock division at Thunder Road. In case you missed it, Sweet put together a three-win season to take the Sportsman title at Thunder Road last year, while Cahoon, the 2000 Thunder Road Street Stock Champion, is a multi-time winner at White Mountain Motorsports Park.
In our recent Top 25 poll, Dave Moody said this of Sweet: “(In 2007) he dominated a division that is just about immune to domination… You can’t usually look at a kid this young and say, ‘He’s going to be great,’ but with Sweet, it’s a no-brainer.” A winner at five tracks in four states already, it’s likely that Sweet will (at least by the Central Vermont fans that have come to depend on his back-to-front charges in Sportsman and Street Stock events) be expected to rival the remarkably veteran-looking rookie seasons of Scott Payea in 2005 or Jamie Fisher in 1999.
Oswego, NY — The New Yorkers reading this will probably already be aware of the border crossing requirements that currently are in effect, as of Feb. 1, but anyone who will be crossing into Canada a couple times this season for ISMA events should take heed.“
People entering the country will no longer be allowed to simply declare to immigration officers at border crossings that they are citizens. Instead, those 19 and older will have to show proof of citizenship — a passport, trusted traveler card or a birth certificate (embossed) and government-issued ID such as a driver’s license.” Research shows that the passport may not be needed entering from some other states like Ohio or Vermont until later in the year or into 2009. Apparently some states have delayed the stricter requirements. Not so in New York, however. So be safe, not sorry, by looking into it now, not later in the year.
Anything Can Happen at New SmyrnaSpeedway During Nine Nights of Racing
Marshfield, MA — There is no easing into the racing season for Massachusetts driver Bobby Grigas, III, who will be one of dozens of Tour-type Modified competitors who will get their 2008 campaigns started at New Smyrna Speedway this month.
Grigas is entered in the 42nd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, commonly known as “New Smyrna Speedweeks”. The races at New Smyrna take place over a nine-day period and range from 25-lap sprint races to the prestigious 100-lap Richie Evans Memorial race. When compared typical races on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour that last for 150 laps, the pace of the Speedweeks events are fast and furious, which can lead to all kinds of interesting action.
Kenny Horton (19) and Ruocco (97), top, and Rob Summers, right, have filed entries and are expected to be major contenders in the SK-150 at the April 12-13 Modified Nationals. All have tasted victory in the past at the ‘Bowl, Ruocco the ’06 150 champ.
Thunder Road Sportsman Champion will compete as a Tour rookie in 2008
Nick Sweet
Champion stock car driver Nick Sweet has filed an entry for the 2008 American-Canadian Tour (ACT) season. Sweet, 23, won the NAPA Tiger Sportsman championship at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl in his hometown of Barre, VT in 2007, and has purchased a potent Late Model car built by Richard Moody Racing of Maine and formerly driven by Ben Rowe. Sweet will contest the full 12-race ACT Late Model Tour schedule as a rookie, with support from Saint J Auto Group in St. Johnsbury, VT.
“As a rookie, I can’t ask for a better situation that the one I’m in right now,” he said. “My father, Shayne, and my crew are taking a big chance on me this year, and Saint J Auto is taking a big chance, too. We’ll learn a lot and we’ll definitely give our best effort.”
Norrie, Baumann, Jacobs and Routhier Make Victory Lane Returns Windsor, CT — William Eggimann, of South Hadley, Mass., and Richard Crooker, of Nashua, N.H., became the latest Bud Light 12…
Norwood, MA — Drivers, car owners, crewman and fans are expected to converge on Bezema Buick, Pontiac, GMC on Sunday, June 1 on the Auto Mile for the fourth annual event. The Bezema dealership is just one mile north of the long shuttered famed quarter-mile speedway that created racing legends such as drivers Bill Slater, Ernie Gahan, Bugs Stevens, Leo Cleary and five decade car owner Joe Brady. All were on hand at the recent New England Antique Auto Racers Hall of Fame Banquet and indicated their attendance on June 1. In fact all are members of the NEAR HOF.
Antique racecars from NEAR, STARS and even a few from ACOT are expected to be on hand that day. Plus, all racecars are welcome to the Annual Norwood Arena Reunion. Also, street antiques, muscle cars and classics will be part of the show. Dash plaques will be given out to racecars, street antiques, muscle cars and classics. There will also be a trophy for the best racecar and street machine awarded by peers.
Naples, ME — Bassett Racing Wheel has been the standard of the steel racing wheel industry for over 35 years, and in 2008 the well known and respected manufacturer has signed a contract with the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) to provide product awards to racers in all five PASS racing divisions.
PASS North and South Super Late Model, Modified, Outlaw and Sportsman race winners will receive product discount award certificates at selected 2008 events. In addition the top three in each division’s championship chase will receive rewards recognizing their achievements at the conclusion of the 2008 season. The Bassett program will be contingent on the display of two Bassett fender decals at every Pro All Stars Series event.
Waterford, CT — Already a seasoned competitor at age 20, Waterford Speedbowl SK Modified competitor Jeff Paul is gearing up for a run at the 2008 championship. The team is preparing for its third SK season at the always-tight Speedbowl.
The well-spoken Paul is part of an emerging new “youth group” at the Bowl along with 19-year old Tyler Chadwick and 2007 Rookie of the Year Glenn Pressel III.
Salisbury, MA — SpeedwayEXPO will present a $5,000 recognition award to a deserving race team during the second annual SpeedwayEXPO presented by Sunoco, February 29-March 2 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. All racers who compete weekly in the Northeast will be eligible for the “Race to Excellence” Award and the cash prize of $5,000.
The strength of SpeedwayEXPO lies in the strong network of people who provide the excitement of short-track racing. The future of racing also lies with those same individuals, who compete weekly at tracks in the northeast. From Modifieds to Late Models, Street Stocks to Mini Sprints and from Lebanon Valley Speedway to Whip City from Twin State to Thompson and everywhere inbetween, the families who work hard all week to play hard on the weekend help make SpeedwayEXPO and short track racing special.
New England Auto Racer Hall of Fame member Vic Bombacci, co-owner of V8, passed away Feburary 2 at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, CT. He was 78.
Bombacci and Bob Vitari, boyhood friends in Essex, CT, brought a race car to the Waterford Speedbowl in 1958. With driver Bill Slater, they won the Speedbowl championship in 1959 in the car soon known as the Connecticut Valley Rocket.
Sherman Brumawn of Moodus, CT won the Modified Lite feature in dominant fashion. “I’m liking it more and more if I keep this up, said the driver of the #36.…
Ryan Preece and the Preece Racing team of Kensington, Connecticut, have announced a busy schedule of events for the 2008 racing season. The talented teenager looks to build upon a successful rookie season in 2007 in the NASCAR Modified division. It will all start with the 42nd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida beginning on Friday, February 8.
Preece will be doing double duty at New Smyrna. He will be racing his family-owned #40 Modified in the NASCAR Tour Type Modified division, featuring such top drivers as defending New Smyrna champion Eric Beers, Ted Christopher, Jimmy Blewett, Chuck Hossfeld and Charlie Pasteryak. He will also pilot at Florida/IMCA Modified owned by his grandfather, Bob Judkins. Judkins is a legendary figure in Modified racing and a Hall of Fame member who now races at New Smyrna on a weekly basis.
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway would like to officially announce the return of the Fast Track Medical Response Systems Bracelets for the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season.…
Homecoming for the True Value Modifieds Set for Sept. 28th
Canaan, NH — In a joint announcement Dennis Fleury Owner/Promoter of Twin State Speedway and Jack Bateman president of the True Value Modified Racing series announced that on Sunday Sept. 28ththe True Value Modified RacingSeries will make their 1st appearance at the Claremont, N.H. 1/3 mile oval. Twin State becomes the third new venue on the 2008 True Value Modified Racing Schedule, increasing the number of races for the upcoming season to 19. The 100 lap race will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28 and will be a one day event. It will be part of an exciting two day weekend racing festival to close out the season at Twin State.
“We are pleased to add Twin State Speedway to our schedule,” said True Value Modified Racing Series President Jack Bateman. “After a long period of time and planning, and looking at race dates, we were finally able to put it together. Hopefully this is the 1st step in a long working relationship between Twin State and TVMRS. The track has a rich history for modified racing and the drivers on our series will certainly look forward to this event.”
W. Babylon, NY — Whether he is gripping the steering wheel of a 600-horsepower ride on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, or a remote at his RC race track, Donny Lia enjoys racing on any scale.
In his fifth full season on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2007, Lia collected six victories en route to becoming the 60th champion in the Modified division’s long and storied history with NASCAR. But before he was ever a NASCAR champion, the Jericho, N.Y., resident had already piloted his RC (remote-controlled) car to a national title.
Naples ME — Historically the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) has offered up some of the best pay offs for super late model racers in the southeast, and the series’ expanded fourteen race 2008 schedule is dotted with extra distance, big purse events.
While all PASS South 150 lap events pay a minimum of $5,000.00 to win and $500.00 to start, three extra distance races will see the winner’s share double to $10,000.00.
Naples, ME — Pro All Stars Series (PASS) President Tom Mayberry announced today that Sunoco Race Fuel will return as the official fuel of the Pro All Stars series as well as the spec fuel for both the PASS Super Late Model North and South series. 2008 will mark the eighth season that PASS has been fueled by Sunoco.
“I’m particularly pleased to welcome Sunoco Race Fuel back to the PASS family of sponsors, “said Mayberry.” Their northeast distributors, New England Racing Fuel stepped up to the plate and supported this series before we’d even run a single race. PASS has grown a great deal from our ten race series in 2001. In 2008 we will sanction over fifty races in five divisions from Georgia to Nova Scotia, and Sunoco Race Fuel has played an important role in the growth of our racing series. Thanks to New England Racing Fuel we have had a fuel testing program in place for eight years. They’ve distributed thousands of dollars in awards to our competitors, and their product is readily available anywhere that PASS races. We appreciate their continued support of the Pro All Stars Series, and short track racing everywhere.”
