New England Street Outlaw Series Completes Successful Inaugural Event at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Longest timing zone for legal drag racing in Connecticut in almost 30-years was a success for competitors and spectators alike
Gales Ferry, CT (July 20, 2015) – Building off the excitement and buzz of the longest legal drag racing event in the state of Connecticut since 1985, both spectators and racers flocked to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Saturday, July 18th to make the inaugural event a success. The temporary 250’ drag racing track placed on the oval back straight showcased three classes of spectator drag racing with Reed, Janneth, and Barba taking home the wins among an impressive field of new and veteran racers.
Before the single round eliminations began six rounds of Test & Tune for each class took place. It got kicked off when Street Class competitors Adam Lewis of Stonington, CT in his 2014 GMC Sierra All-Terrain and Ted Janneth of Bristol, CT in his 2011 GMC Denali made the first ever run down a 250’ timing zone. During round four of Test & Tune, the Qualifying Round, drivers raced against themselves to have the fastest reaction time in order to be the racer to receive the Bye-Run in round one of eliminations if needed. Coming out on top was Bill Peterson in the Competition Class, David Dupre in the Street Class and Jason Barba in the Bike Class scoring the best reaction times. Three classes of single round elimination bracket drag racing featured the regular Competition, Street, and Bike Classes would take to the track following intermission.
Making the Semi-Finals in the Bike Class were new rider Matthew Gazaille of Whitinsville, MA on his 2007 Suzuki GSXR-1000 paired against veteran Bike Class rider Jason Barba on his 1986 Suzuki LT250R quad. The second run would see new rider Steve Crocco of Waterbury, CT on his 2010 Yamaha Rapter 350 with a bye run. Barba would advance against Gazaille who had a red light violation (-0.09372) to pair up against Crocco in the finals. Jason Barba would go on to win the inaugural NESOS Bike Eliminator with a 5.06 ET compared to Crocco with a 5.42 ET.
Making the Street Class Eliminator Semi-Finals in the first matchup was veteran Charles Cirrito of Norwich, CT in his 1969 Pontiac Firebird against new racer Ted Janneth of Bristol, CT in his 2011 GMC Denali. Janneth would be hard to beat as he won against Ciritto with a blistering quick 56 MPH run and 4.77 ET, one of the quickest Street Class runs of the day. The second matchup paired two new racers Robert Gaudreau of Mapleville, RI in his 2008 BMW 328XI and Frank Olsza of Webster, MA in his 2005 GMC Sierra. Gaudreau would advance over Olsza. The Street Class Finals of Janneth vs. Gaudreau saw Janneth take the win by close to a full second over Gaudreau making Janneth the inaugural Street Class Eliminator winner.
The Competition Class Eliminator Semi-Finals featured veteran Daniel Reed of Windham, CT in his 1976 Chevy Nova against Skee Viveiros of East Freetown, MA in his 1971 Chevy Vega. The second run would see veteran racer Robert Ibbitson of Old Lyme, CT in his 1980 Pontiac Grand Prix with a bye run. Reed would out duel Viverios in a battle of the Chevy’s to advance to the Finals against Ibbitson. In the Final Round, a very close battle at the end would go to Reed (4.39123 ET) over Ibbitson (4.55141 ET) to make Reed the inaugural Competition Class Eliminator winner.
- Fastest Overall Elimination RT: 0.01022 – #291 Eric Patterson (Comp), 1933 Chevy Coupe.
- Fastest Overall Elimination ET: 3.72082 – #103 Skee Viveiros (Comp), 1971 Chevy Vega.
- Fastest Overall Elimination MPH: 77.70 – #777 Matthew Gazaille (Bike), 2007 Suzuki GSXR-1000.
- Next Event: Saturday, August 15, 2015, at 4 PM at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. $30 racer entry fee, $10 spectator fee.
The NESOS would like to thank Thompson Speedway for hosting our inaugural event, RH2 Way Radios for supplying communication equipment for the track crew and Gary Bingham for sponsoring payouts for Competition and Street Class racers. Special thanks to Eric Pratt and Anthony Pierro for their contributions to making this event take place. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the NESOS or our events please contact us.
Complete 7/18/15 Elimination Round Results can be found at NEStreetOutlaws.com. For more information and announcements forthcoming please be sure to visit NEStreetOutlaws.com and follow NESOS on Facebook.
New England Street Outlaw Series
The New England Street Outlaw Series is based in New England and features exciting spectator drag racing events at various regional venues. From asphalt to dirt, from 100 feet to 1/8-mile strip the NESOS can handle any size venue with its temporary electronic track system complete with sensors and a professional drag racing tree. We bring the drag racing to you! For more information or to setup a public event or book private events please visit NEStreetOutlaws.com or email Info@NEStreetOutlaws.com. The series is promoted, managed, and owned by Thirty Marketing.
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park is one of the oldest continuously operating motorsports facilities in the country, with 2015 marking its 75th anniversary. It provides a wide range of facilities for drivers and automotive enthusiasts including NASCAR racing on its 5/8 mile paved oval, a 1/10 mile quarter midget track, the recently re-opened 1.7 mile road course, the Clubhouse restaurant with catering and banquet facilities, as well an 18-hole championship golf course.
NESOS is using the offices of Thirty Marketing:
Contact: Mark Caise
Thirty Marketing
C/O NESOS
7 Hurlbutt Road Suite 7
PO Box 631
Gales Ferry, CT 06335
Info@NEStreetOutlaws.com
P: 860-381-5801
F: 860-381-5802
Photo Caption:
Street Class racers Heidi Bradham (left) in her 1980 Chevy Camaro lined up against Alec DeRosier (right) in his 1998 Ford Mustang GT await the green light to race down the track at Thompson Speedway on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Photo Credit: Corey Smiley Photography.
Sources: NESOS PR