Waterford, CT — Randy Cabral went into Sunday’s Northeastern Midget Association feature at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Modified Nationals "racing" for Shane Hammond. It was a week to the day that Hammond died as a result of injuries suffered at Thompson Speedway’s Icebreaker.
After a long rain delay, Randy took the lead at the resumption of the race with 21 laps remaining and went on to post his fifth career and second-straight win at the Speedbowl. "I told [Shane] I was going to race for him," said Cabral, who held off a determined challenge from Joey Payne Jr. "I had to make it count. To win was unbelievable."
Waterford, CT — Six-time track champion Dennis Gada won the second Budweiser Modified Nationals of his career Sunday at the Waterford Speedbowl. Defeating a stellar field of SK Modifieds in the 150-lap event, it was his 58th career SK victory. Within eight laps, Gada had bolted into the lead from his eighth-place starting spot. “I knew I had to get to the front quick, as after the tires get old it’s just a point of hanging-on rather than racing. That’s the nature of long events,” said Gada. Kenny Horton ran in second for the majority of the race before spinning. Following Gada across the line was Frank Ruocco, pole-sitter Doug Coby, Jimmy Blewett, and 2007 Modified Nationals winner Jeff Pearl.
In Late Model action, it was defending champion Bruce Thomas picking up right where he left off in 2007, winning the 50-lap feature. Thomas passed early leader Ron Yuhas Jr. with 29-laps remaining and seemed to be cruising to an easy victory until SK Modified regular Keith Rocco closed. His first time-ever behind the wheel of a Late Model, Rocco dogged Thomas to the finish, executing a last-ditch effort at the stripe to overtake the winner. When asked if he was aware of where Rocco during the closing stages, Thomas revealed that wasn’t sure just who was there. “I’d lost radio contact with my crew almost at the start, and I don’t run a mirror so I was on my own. I honestly didn’t know how close Rocco was.” Rounding-out the top-5 was Ron Yuhas Jr., Marc Curtis, and Ed Reed Jr.
Well it was a questionable start to the day with the weather being unpredictable, changing from over cast to sunny to sun showers and overcast again. That’s the way it…
Seekonk, MA — With rain falling on the first two Saturdays of the month, the 1/3-mile Seekonk Speedway oval will attempt to hold the first of three open practice sessions this Saturday, April 19. The Route 6 facility will be open for safety inspections and hot laps for the weekly Pro Stock, Late Model, Sport Truck, Street Stock divisions, the Fast Friday Series’ Pure Stocks and Seekonk Youth Racing Association classes, and competitors from various touring series’, clubs, and other tracks.
The speedway’s pit gates and pit ticket booths will open at 9 AM. A mandatory rookie meeting will begin at 11 AM, to be followed by practice time for all rookie competitors and each represented division. Safety inspections and tire sales will be ongoing throughout the day. Practice will run until approximately 5 PM, giving all drivers a significant amount of seat time. Meetings with Pro Stock and Late Model competitors will also take place to discuss the tire rule for 2008.
Waterford, CT — With a lap of 14.105,Doug Coby of Milford set fast time and established a new qualifying record for Sunday’s Budweiser Modified Nationals at the Waterford Speedbowl. Kenny Horton (14.124), Matt Hirschman (14.124), Dennis Gada (14.224), and Jeff Pearl (14.295) completed the top-5. A redraw tomorrow will determine the top-10 starting positions.
Feature winners were Mark Bakaj (Legends), Andy Lindeman (American Race Trucks), and, Norm Wrenn (Pro-4 Modifieds).
Oswego, NY — In 1974 supermodified legends Jim Shampine and Nolan Swift, along with businessman Tom Heveron, laid the foundation for the International SuperModified Association (ISMA). In 1976, with the fundamentals of the club in place, a point fund system for the traveling group was begun as was its history. As the 35th season begins, the founding fathers can look down with pride at what has been accomplished throughout the years. The veterans and rookies competing in 2008 carry the ideals instituted and nurtured into the fourth decade of ISMA racing as new challenges face them on the horizon.
The ISMA May 24th opener takes place at Waterford Speedbowl for the third year in a row. Last year, after two years of really bad luck at the inaugural event, Chris Perley began his record-breaking season with win number one to be followed by ten more feature victories down the line. With a total of 22 cumulative wins over the 2006 and 2007 ISMA seasons, Perley and the Vic Miller team established themselves as standard bearers for the division. Their dominance has been unprecedented in winged supermodified racing.
Waterford, CT — Doug Coby set a new event record Saturday turning a 14.105 seconds lap in qualifying for tomorrow’s SK-150 at the 12th annual Budweiser Modified Nationals.
Qualifying 14th in line, Coby bested Kenny Horton and Matt Hirschman, the latter two posting identical 14.124 seconds laps. The top 20 times move into the $20,000 Modified Nationals.
Seven-time and defending American-Canadian Tour Late Model stock car champion Jean-Paul Cyr of Milton, VT will trade in his fenders at Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, April 20. Cyr will run both halves of the “New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 200,” racing the 100-lap features for both the ACT Late Model Tour and the open-wheel True Value Modified Racing Series.
Although he is more widely recognized for his success in full-fendered Late Model racing, Cyr is a veteran of the ground-pounding modifieds. He raced with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 1998-99, capturing a pole position at Pennsylvania’s Jennerstown Speedway and a top-five finish at the Richmond Int’l Raceway in Virginia. Cyr will race for True Value Modified veteran driver/owner Gary Casella of Saugus, MA.
The Northeastern Midget Association moves to Waterford Speedbowl this weekend for the 12th annual Budweiser Modified Nationals. A 25-lap NEMA feature will kick off the Sunday schedule at 1 PM.
NEMA’s new “Lites” division will be making its debut with a 25-lap feature Saturday evening. All qualifying will be Saturday afternoon.
NEMA shares the busy bill with 10 divisions highlighted by the SK-150. In addition to the Speedbowl Late Model, Sportsman, Mini Stock and Legends divisions, the Pro4 Modifieds, AllStar Race Trucks and Allison Legacy Cars are also due.
Five Star RaceCar Bodies of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin will again support the American-Canadian Tour stock car racing organization in 2008, providing award certificates to drivers at each of the 12 ACT Late Model Tour events in the U.S. and Canada, as well as at all nine races on the Série ACT Castrol schedule in Québec and Ontario.
Five Star will reward the 1st-place and 12th-place finishers at each event with a product certificate toward the purchase of parts and equipment from its extensive line of industry-leading components. In addition, Five Star will also continue with its season-end awards for both series, as well as for Late Model and NAPA Tiger Sportsman competitors in weekly events at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl in Barre, VT.
Berkley, MA — The Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team is just one week away from embarking on their 2008 campaign. The Massachusetts-based team is just over a week away from beginning pre-season testing on Saturday, April 19, at Seekonk Speedway (MA).
The team will be starting their first season in Seekonk’s top-tier Pro Stock division. For the past three seasons, lead driver Jake Vanada, has been a top contender in the Allison Legacy North Race Series (ALNRS). Most recently, Jake is coming off of a season in which he finished second in the final point standings in 2007. During last year’s campaign, Jake won three races, finished in the top 5 12 times, and the top 10 13 times. Jake hopes to carry that momentum into the 2008 season as he competes for the Rookie of the Year title.
Have you ever thought that you have “it” all under control? At times in our lives we feel that way. We feel like everything is in order. We are at peace. For some of us those times never seen to come. Who’s in control in your life? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The rumor mill, we all are familiar with it. Some of us even contribute to it. Why? Racing is an interesting sport. Most of the information that is available starts as rumors. It has even been said that if you want something to happen, start spreading a rumor about it. If enough people believe it, it just might become a reality.
Altamahaw, NC — After two weekends of rainy weather that has postponed the last two NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour events, the drivers will attempt to return to action this weekend in a rare night of back-to-back races. Defending Tour champion L.W. Miller (No. 36 John Baker Plumbing & Utilities Pontiac) is eager to get back to the action this Friday night in the Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150 presented by DMC Auto Exchange at Ace Speedway.
Just as quick as Friday night’s race at the 4/10th-mile Altamahaw, N.C. short track is over, the drivers and crews will pack up only to return to action less than 24 hours later in the Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150 at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C.
Stafford Springs, CT — For nearly 20 years, Stafford Motor Speedway has given race fans the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite drivers and get an up close and…
Stafford Springs, CT — The Limited Late Model division at Stafford Motor Speedway has seen three different track champions in its three year existence and the 2008 season could very…
We dug through some archives here at American-Canadian Tour headquarters, and it appears as though one year ago this week, this very ACTion News column space was reserved for a few pre-season predictions. (Like that little disclaimer in all the insurance ads, note that these are merely the cabin-fever-induced musings of a writer that happens to get some print every now and then. Please don’t take these predictions as Gospel, because, frankly, it’s just a shot in the dark.)
Last year’s first prediction: Phil Scott would either win the Thunder Road Track Championship of fail to finish inside the Top 5. Wrong on both accounts – The Sailing Senator ended the season strong in fifth place overall, with an exciting win on VT ACE Hardware Dealers Night in August.
Being in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time Leads to 27th-Place Finish at Thompson
Concord, NC — Glen Reen Jr. took the step from weekly racer to touring series competitor this past weekend at Thompson International Speedway. That is when Reen made his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut. His finish was 27th, but the experience was far richer than that.
First off, Reen and his #17 team had a lot that was new to them during the Tour race. They had traveled before, with Reen winning the SK Light portion of the 2007 North/South Shootout at Concord Motorsport Park (NC), but the procedures of a NASCAR event were completely new to them.
It is with heavy hearts that we write this. We are all struggling to make sense out of the tragedy we experienced with Shane’s passing. He will never be forgotten and will always live in all our hearts – he touched many of our lives. For those of you wishing to attend, the following are the arrangements for Shane:
Wake: Friday, April 11, 2008 3-7pm
Prophett Funeral Home
98 Bedford St (rte 18)
Bridgewater, MA 02324
508-697-4332
Waterford, CT — Doug Coby first raced at the Waterford Speedbowl in 2000, and since then has always enjoyed his visits to the shoreline oval.
“Waterford is a real drivers track,” he says. “It’s one of those places that has multiple grooves, and it really allows you to show your stuff. It’s just a fun place to race, and unique in its own way. We’re really looking forward to this weekend.”
Located at the Common Ground County Fairgrounds, Unity Raceway started as a former horse track 1/2 mile dirt oval that operated through 1956. A 1/3 mile dirt oval operated between 1957 and 1961, before it was paved for the 1962 season. It has operated that way ever since, except for the 1980 season.
Built Bear Ridge Speedway & Championship Car Owner
BRADFORD — George Judson Barber, 96, died Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at Grafton County Nursing Home in North Haverhill, N.H.
He was born in Williamstown, Mass., on Sept. 2, 1911, the son of George and Ida (Haley) Barber. He attended the University of Akron, in Ohio. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, as a 2nd class machinist mate.
George married his wife Wanda Shumway on June 16, 1942. Wanda died on Dec. 29, 1973. He built the Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford and operated it from 1968 to 1973. He won many trophies and prizes for his famous car numbers #46 and #47. He also owned and operated Bradford Auto Supply for many years.
Geuerard Doubles Again; Morgan, R. Charland Also Win Windsor, CT — Ray Hall, of Monterey, Mass., and Darren Jacobs, of Springfield, Mass., came from last place to win their respective MototownUSA…
Shane Hammond, one of the Northeastern Midget Association young stalwarts, died Sunday form “traumatic injuries” sustained in a crash at Thompson International Speedway’s season-opening Icebreaker. The crash occurred on the fourth lap of the scheduled 25-lapper.Hammond, 27, of Halifax, MA, made contact with another car on the backstretch on the fourth lap. Getting airborne, Hammond’s car cleared the concrete wall and struck a billboard in turn three.
After being extricated from the racer (a process that took some 12 minutes), Hammond was taken by ambulance to Day Kimball Hospital in nearby Putnam where he died.
Thompson, CT — Ed Flemke, Jr. captured the first event of the 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season in a rain-shortened Icebreaker Sunday afternoon at Thompson International Speedway.
In third place at the time, Flemke gambled and stayed out on the track when the race went to caution on lap 74. As the race leaders pitted, the gamble paid off as the track gained moisture and the race never went green again. The result was Flemke’s 17th career victory.
Eddie Flemke Wins Rain-Shortened WMT 150; Before Rains O’Sullivan, Gleason, Boss & Fields Take Weekly Series Wins
Thompson, CT — Spirits were darkened during what should have been the celebratory start of racing season at Thompson International Speedway. Shane Hammond, age 27, of Halifax, MA, succumbed to injuries sustained on lap four of the Northeastern Midget Association feature event. The thoughts and prayers of the entire racing community are with Hammond’s family.
A formal statement will be forthcoming from Thompson Speedway management.
The traditional Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway culminated with feature events for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR All-American Series Weekly Racing Series. A cold rain settled into the speedway shortly after the halfway marker of the scheduled 150 lap event for the Modifieds causing NASCAR to shorten the event at lap 92. Eddie Flemke, Jr. was declared the winner. Chuck Hossfeld of Buffalo, NY, made a strong return to the Mystic Missile to finish second. Bobby Grigas III of Marshfield, MA, had a career best finish to come home third.
Thompson, CT — A racing accident Sunday afternoon at the Thompson International Speedway claimed the life of race driver Shane Hammond of Halifax, MA. The accident occurred on the third lap of a scheduled 25-lap Northeast Midget Association (NEMA) feature event race.
“Everyone at the Thompson Speedway is saddened by this tragic loss,” said track Owner, Donald Hoenig. “Words can not express how we at Thompson and the entire racing community feel at this time. We extend our deepest sympathies to Shane’s family, friends and to his many fans. Shane Hammond was a very talented young driver who had impressed many with his natural ability.”
The 27 year old Mr. Hammond was transported to the Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, CT where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Connecticut State Police are investigating the accident. Connecticut State Police has indicated that the investigation remains open and active at this time.
THOMPSON, Conn. — Four laps into today’s NEMA Midget feature, 27-year-old Shane Hammond was fatally injured in a crash in the third turn. Hammond’s car launched over the wheel of #22 Chris Leonard of Pelham, NH before striking a billboard. Hammond was driving the #4x car as a teammate to former champion Nokie Fornoro. Both cars are owned by Mike Jarret.
Personnel were quick to respond to the scene. Hammond was extricated from the car and CPR was performed on him before he was transported by ambulance to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, CT.
Thompson, CT — New England racing season is officially underway as the traditional Icebreaker commenced at Thompson International Speedway on Saturday afternoon. The main attractions are slated for tomorrow, Sunday, April 6, 2008 beginning at 12 Noon with the Northeastern Midget Association, six divisions of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Racing, and the headlining Whelen Modified Tour.
On Saturday, James Civali of Meriden, CT, stole the show when he turned a lap of 18.585 seconds and an average speed of 120.097 to earn the Coors Light Pole. Bobby Grigas of Marshfield, MA, was second on the clock with a time of 18.613 seconds. The top five in qualifying included Todd Szegedy, Ronnie Silk and Jimmy Blewett. After the redraw it will be Grigas leading the field to green as the Whelen Modified tour embarks on NASCAR’s 60th year of Modified racing. Silk, Blewett, Szegedy, and Civali will make up the top five for Sunday’s 150 lapper that is scheduled to go green at approximately 3:15PM.
Thompson, CT — James Civali captured his first career Coors Light Pole Saturday evening at Thompson International Speedway in qualifying for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season-opening Icebreaker.
Entering his third season, Civali captured the pole for the first time in what will be his 37th career start on Sunday. The Meriden, Conn., native ran an 18.585 sec. lap on the .625-mile banked oval for a speed of 120.097.
