From the Notebook: North East Street Stock Tour at Lee USA Speedway
Friday Night Lights Event Set to Run on July 31
Lee, NH – The North East Street Stock Tour will travel to Lee USA Speedway for the fourth event of the tour’s schedule, on July 31. The following is a closer look at notes and numbers of the North East Street Stock Tour at Lee USA Speedway.
LEE USA SPEEDWAY NOTES:
– Bob Bonser first opened Lee Raceway in 1964. The track was a 1/3 mile dirt tri-oval, and had two different elevation changes, uphill and downhill.
-In 1965, Bonser paved the dirt track, in hopes of bringing the NESMRA (New England Super Modified Racing Association) to the facility. The NESMRA made their debut in 1965, making Lee Raceway their “home track”. That season also featured the only winter snow race in the history of the facility.
-Due to financial concerns, Lee Raceway was closed in 1979. It reopened in 1984, under a trio of owners (Kenny Smith, Russ Conway, and Charlie Elliott), who had owned Star Speedway, and Hudson International Speedway, as well. The trio renamed the oval “Lee USA Speedway”, running the first oval race on July 4, 1984.
-The first ever Oktoberfest, the track’s marquee event, was held in October of 1984, with Paul Richardson winning the first-ever Super Modified feature during the inaugural event. The event was one of the largest in New England short track racing history, with over 300 entrants, and well over 7,000 fans in attendance.
– Running special events only, the track was sold to the MacDonald family in December of 1986. The MacDonald era began in 1987, as weekly racing at Lee USA Speedway became a staple, and the track has hosted weekly action since.
-Lee has hosted some NASCAR drivers at the facility. A 19-year-old Jeff Gordon, who tested one of Red MacDonald’s Super Modifieds at the track, had an interesting visit to the track, crashing into the front stretch wall. Others were part of the “Budweiser Shootout”, which came to Lee USA Speedway in 1985 and 1986, featuring the stars of the top series in NASCAR at the time, including Terry Labonte, Buddy Baker, Tim Richmond, and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
LEE USA SPEEDWAY DATA:
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS EVENT: Race 3 of 10 on 2015 season
LENGTH: .375 mile oval
BANKING: 12 degrees in the turns, 8 degrees on the front and back stretch
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS EVENT DATA:
RACE LENGTH: 35 laps
RACE PURSE: $3565 (including $100 gift certificates to Northeast Race Cars + Parts and Dur-A-Flex)
WINNER’S TAKE: $500
LAST PLACE: $60
DRIVER NOTES
#33 Geoff Rollins
-One win in one attempt at Lee USA Speedway in the Hobby Stock Division in 2014.
-One win on the tour this year, picking up the victory at Monadnock Speedway on July 11.
-Has an average feature finish of 3 in three events in 2015.
-Sits third in points entering the event, just 8 markers behind leader Chris Douton.
#79 Patrick Tanguay
-Champion at Lee USA Speedway in the Hobby Stocks in 2014.
-Finished with two wins, eleven top 5’s, and fourteen top 10’s in fourteen starts, with an average feature finish of 3.69 in 2014 at Lee USA Speedway.
-Finished a season-best third at Speedway 51 (NH), but is coming off his season-worst fifteenth at Monadnock Speedway.
-Has an average feature finish of 7.33 in three races this season, pitting him fifth in points.
#39 Chris Douton
-Picked up four top 5’s and five top 10’s in just seven starts at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in 2014.
-Former Strictly Stock champion at New London-Waterford Speedbowl (1997, 1999).
-Former Strictly Stock champion at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (2011).
-Picked up the win in the NESST exhibition event at Lee USA Speedway in May.
-Is the point leader entering the Friday Night Lights event at Lee USA Speedway, in part to a win at Seekonk, and two second-place finishes at Speedway 51 and Monadnock Speedway.
-Enjoying an average feature finish of 1.67 in three starts.
#51 Bryan Town
-Earned nine victories between Twin State Speedway and Monadnock Speedway, combined, in 2014.
-Former Street Stock champion at Twin State Speedway (2007).
-Has suffered mechanical failures this season, but still sits seventh in points.
#2 Jim Boyle
-2012 Super X Car champion at New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
-Involved in charity off the track, supporting the fight against autism, and participating in a Walk for Autism at Rentschler Field (CT).
-His best finish was a fourth place at Speedway 51.
-Has a 6.33 average feature finish in three races this season.
#38 Steve Kenneway
-2013 champion at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, and second in the championship standings in 2014.
-Has suffered from drivetrain issues at Speedway 51, and an on-track incident at Monadnock Speedway, putting him sixth in the championship standings entering the event.
#9 Matt Morrill
-The former Canaan Fair Speedway champion has not only been successful on asphalt, but also dirt, and ice racing, as well.
-Morrill put two solid finishes of sixth and seventh, before suffering electrical issues at Monadnock Speedway, forcing him to miss the green flag.
#74 Joe Arena
-Former front-runner at New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
-Picked up his first win in the NESST at Speedway 51.
-Has not finished outside the top 3 in three starts, for an average feature finish of 2.
-Sits second in points, just 2 points behind Chris Douton.
For more information on the North East Street Stock Tour, visit www.nestreetstocktour.com.
Numerical stats gathered via www.neracestats.com.
Lee USA Speedway information gathered at www.leeusaspeedway.com.
Sources: Shawn Sicard/NESST PR