Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Seventy five years ago in 1948 Red Cummings was the Midget feature winner at the Seekonk Speedway.
Seventy years ago in 1953, Leo Boudreau was the 25 lap Sportsman winner at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Ted Dean was the non-Ford winner. Johnny Thompson, who began his racing career at the Kingston Fairgrounds in Rhode Island, was the Sportsman winner at the shoreline oval on Saturday night. Thompson, a refrigeration mechanic by trade would enjoy his greatest days during the 1960s at the Norwood Arena. Lou Tetreault was the Saturday night non-Ford winner. Jake Jacobs was the Stock Car winner at Seekonk.
Sixty five years ago in 1958, Ray Moran was the Wednesday night winner in the Modifieds at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Dick Beauregard was the non-Ford winner and Turk Hewitt was the Bomber winner. Johnny Sandberg was the Saturday night Modified winner at the Speedbowl. Moran and John Arrigoni won support races. Ralph “Hop” Harrington was the Stock Car winner at Seekonk. Al DeAngelo was the winner at Old Bridge on Sunday.
Sixty years ago in 1963 trade publication Area Auto Racing News reported that Eddie Flemke led the Eastern Bandits on a southern swing that took them to the Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas Virginia for a 200 lap Modified event. Flemke started 28th and by the time the race was flagged two to go Flemke had taken the lead only to run out a fuel and was forced to give way to New Jersey driver Bob Rossell, who went on to take the win. Flemke had hoped to redeem himself at Old Bridge on Sunday but was thwarted by the rain. Rene Charland was the Friday night winner at the Fort Dix (New Egypt) Speedway. Don Collins was the 50 lap Modified winner at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Ed Gladue was the Bomber winner. A special Bomber program was run on Sunday, Aug 4,1963. It was on this date that Bob Potter won his first of almost 100 feature wins at the Waterford Speedbowl. George Janoski was the Modified winner on the dirt at Stafford. Bobby Sprague was the Class A winner at Seekonk. Mario “Fats” Caruso took the Sunday win at Old Bridge.
Fifty five years ago in 1968, Eddie Flemke began the weekend with a win at Stafford on Friday night. Driving the Bobby Judkins 2x, Flemke beat out Gene Bergin, Bugsy Stevens, Don MacTavish and Bob Santos. Pete Corey made a rare appearance at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway and walked away with a win. Andy Romano finished second with Jerry Cook, Dave Lape and Dave Kotary rounding out the top five. Lou Lazzaro made it two in a row at Fonda on Saturday night as he won a 50 lapper at the historic oval over Corey and Ed Pieniezek. Leo Cleary put the Joe Brady 41 in victory lane at Norwood and at Islip, John Berkowski took the win. Down on the Connecticut shoreline at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl it was Daring Dick Caso taking top honors in the Modifieds. Howard “Jiggs” Beetham who would become a championship car owner with Bob Potter as his driver, was the Daredevil winner. Bobby Sprague was the Class A winner at Seekonk. Bugsy Stevens took a win at Thompson on Sunday night and at Utica-Rome, Pete Corey got his second win of the weekend as he took the 30-lap win over Jerry Cook, Bernie Miller, Sonny Seamon and Lou Lazzaro. In open competition action at Fulton on Sunday, Jim Shampine took the win. Ray Hendrick won double features, Modified and Sportsman at South Boston.
Fifty years ago, in 1973, a 100 lapper scheduled at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, on Friday night, rained out. At Stafford on Saturday night, Ronnie Bouchard out-dueled Eddie Flemke for the win. Dennis Giroux finished third with Freddie Schulz and Dick Caso rounding out the top five. Islip ran a 200-lap championship event that saw Richie Evans, Bugsy Stevens and Jerry Cook upstage the locals as they took the top three spots. Dan MacNamara finished fourth with Jim Hendrickson, fifth. Shangri-La ran twin features with Grame Bolia and Bryan Osgood taking the checkers. Dick Dunn made it three in a row in the Al Gaudreau No.3 at the Waterford Speedbowl. Paul Coutu was the Grand American Late Model winner. Jim Wilkins was the Late Model winner at the Seekonk Speedway. Rounding out the weekend at Utica-Rome on Sunday night, Sonny Seamon took the win over Maynard Troyer, Richie Evans and Jerry Cook.
Forty five years ago, in 1978, the Yankee All Star League made a mid-week stop at the Waterford Speedbowl. Geoff Bodine continued his domination of the series as he took the win from local favorite Dick Dunn. Ron Bouchard finished third and was followed by Roland LaPierre Jr. and Bobby Clark. Richie Evans, Fred Harbach and Jerry Cook took the top three spots at New Egypt. Bodine went two for two at Stafford on Friday night as he won a left-over100 lapper plus the regularly scheduled 30 lapper. At Monadnock, Punky Caron ruled the roost. Riverside was not on Bodine’s venue for Saturday as Reggie Ruggiero took the win at the amusement park oval. Bodine went to Seekonk where the rain prevailed. Bodine made it four for four on the weekend as he won the Sunday night event at Thompson. Ron Bouchard finished second with Fred DeSarro, third. It was also a good weekend for Richie Evans and Maynard Troyer. In addition to his win at New Egypt on Wednesday, Evans won a 200 lapper at Islip on Saturday and a 30 lapper at Utica-Rome on Sunday night. Troyer also hit a triple as he won at Spencer on Friday night plus double features at Lancaster on Saturday night.
Forty years ago, in 1983, a scheduled 100 lapper at Stafford had to be stopped after Corky Cookman ran over John Falconi’s wheel in turn four and went through the catch fence and landed in the fourth turn bleachers. Mike Hornat also went out. Fans in the area escaped with minor injuries. John Anderson won the preliminary SK-Modified event. It was also on this night that the dream team of Greg Sacks and Ernie Wilsburg came to an end. Billy Colton, who would eventually head up Troyer Engineering, won the Friday night event at the Spencer Speedway and at New Egypt it was Tom Mauser over John Blewett Jr. Bob Potter added to his feature win total at Waterford on Saturday night as he beat out Roland LaPierreJr. Other Saturday night winners were SJ Evonsion at Riverside, Jim Spencer at Shangri La, Eddie StAngelo at Seekonk and Siege Fidenza at Lancaster. Rain washed out Thompson on Sunday. In action on Long Island, Wayne Anderson won out over Don Howe and Richie Evans at Riverhead on Friday night and it was Evans over Tom Baldwin at Islip on Saturday night.
Thirty five years ago, in 1988, Ted Christopher won his second race of the season at Stafford on Friday night. Point leader Bob Potter finished second with Mike Christopher, third. Phil Rondeau was the late model winner. At Monadnock, Marty Radwick won out over Reggie Ruggiero and Dwight Jarvis. John Jensen took the Saturday night win at Waterford and it was Bruce D’Assssandro over Reggie Ruggiero at Riverside. In other Saturday night action it was Dan Jivenelli over Wayne Anderson at Riverhead and Tony Hirschman over Lee Sherwood at Shangri-La. The Modified Tour was at Thompson on Sunday. Jim Spencer took the win over Mike Stefanik, Mike Mclaughlin, Brian Ross and Jamie Tomaino. Jeff Fuller won the SK-Modified feature in a car owned by Brad Lafountaine.
Thirty years ago, in 1993, the NASCAR Modified Tour visited the Lee Raceway. The biggest crowd in the history of the track, 7500, was on hand. Reggie Ruggiero, in the Ed Cloce 69, took the lead from Jeff Fuller when he suffered a flat on lap 8 and went on to take the 100-lap win. Rick Fuller finished second followed by Satch Worley, Tom Baldwin and Charlie Pasteryak. At Stafford on Friday night, Ted Christopher recorded his 30th career win at the Nutmeg oval. Mike Christopher finished second with Mike Paquett, Bo Gunning and Curt Brainard rounding out the top five. Phil Rondeau took the modified feature at Waterford after a nine-car wreck triggered by Ted Christopher took out many of the front runners. At Riverside it was Chris Kopec over Jerry Marquis and Steve Park and at Riverhead, Mike Ewanitsko won the Charlie Jarzombek Memorial. Wayne Anderson finished second with Don Howe, third and Eddie Brunnhoelzl, fourth. In Winston Cup action at Watkins Glen, Mark Martin took the win after Kyle Petty spun and collected Dale Earnhardt Sr. with six laps to go. The Busch North Series was at Loudon where Kelly Moore took the win over Robbie Crouch, Mike Stefanik and Mike Mclaughlin.
Twenty five years ago, in 1998, Bo Gunning won the No-Bull 100 at Stafford. Mike Christopher finished second with Bob Potter, third. The event was a re-scheduled rainout. Lloyd Agor won the regular event. The NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Series visited the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island. Hometown favorite Mike Ewanitsko took the 201-lap win. Howie Brode finished second with Tom Cravenho, third. Jamie Tomaino and Tony Ferrente rounded out the top five. Frank Vigliarolo led the first 17 laps until being passed by Ewanitsko. There were 13 cautions for 60 laps. At Waterford, Mike Holdredge recorded his second career win and at Riverside, Ricky Miller took the checker. In Sunday night action at Thompson, Bert Marvin held off Mike Christopher and Jim Broderick to take the win. Watkins Glen hosted the Winston Cup division and Busch North Series. Kim Baker outran John Preston and Joe Piezza in the Busch North Series portion and Jeff Gordon won the Winston Cup event. Mark Martin finished second. Ted Christopher drove in relief for Dick Trickle and had worked his way to second spot before he pitted. A sour engine robbed him of a high finish. It was also on this weekend that Bob Bahre announced that the IRL would be dropped from the Loudon schedule because of poor crowd draw and poor attendance of cars. Paul Sawyer canceled the modified race at Richmond because of a conflict with the powers in Daytona Beach and on a sad note, midget driver Len Duncan died at 87.
Twenty years ago in 2003, in Thursday night Thunder action at Thompson, rain threatened and in the end prevailed but not before most of the evening racing was completed. Eric Berndt inherited the lead just past the half way mark of the 30 lap Sunoco SK-type modified event when Bo Gunning made contact with early leader Bob Santos III. Santos was done for the night and Gunning restarted in the rear. Berndt led the rest of the way with a spirited battle with Todd Ceravolo and Bert Marvin. Ceravolo got a run on Berndt on the last lap and as the pair exited turn four heading for the checkered flag they were side by side. At the line it was Berndt by inches. Ceravolo settled for second and was followed by Marvin, Kerry Malone, Ted Christopher and Gunning. Scott Bronczyk won the Late Model feature, Jess Gleason, the Limited Sportsman and Mike Veins, the Mini-Stocks. The final event on the evening’s schedule was a 75 lap Pro Stock event that went 25 laps before the skies opened up. Just before the rain began David Berghman and Jeff Connors were battling for the lead when they tangled and ultimately collected the next ten cars behind them. At the Stafford Speedway on Friday night, the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Series was in town for the ASB American Classic 150. There were 44 modifieds on hand. Chuck Hossfeld, driving the Bob Garbarino Mystic River Marina Dodge was the Busch Pole sitter. Eddie Flemke Jr. led from the opening green and appeared to have his season turned around until rain interrupted his quest for victory. The event went to caution on lap 44 and never went back to green as rain intensified. Flemke led the field under caution until lap 61 when the race was finally halted. The event was resumed the following week on Tuesday evening. Prior to the Featherlite Modified Tour event Ted Christopher annexed his 69th career win at Stafford as he survived numerous wrecks to win the 50 lap SK-Modified event. Christopher had spent most of Friday in Watkins Glen, N.Y. where he qualified 17th for Saturday’s Busch North Series event that was run at the historic road course. The Stafford Speedway announced that double features would be the rule for the remaining events in August. Early season and mid-season rain were the cause of numerous cancellations. Six SK Modified feature events and four late model features would be run in a three week span. The NASCAR Busch North Series event at Watkins Glen, N.Y. also fell victim to rain but the event was called after the half way mark and Ted Christopher was declared the winner after 41 of the scheduled 62 laps were run. While the leaders pitted, Christopher gambled that it would rain before he ran out of gas. His gamble paid off as one by one, those ahead of him pitted for fuel and he ultimately inherited the lead and eventual win.
Fifteen years ago in 2008, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour ended their mid-summer break as they moved to the Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway for the Miller Lite 140 on Saturday. 2. As part of a season-long celebration of 60 years of Modified champions, 1994 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titlist Wayne Anderson was honored. Jimmy Blewett registered his third career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour when he took the checkered flag. Blewett was strong throughout the evening as he led three times for 80 laps, including the final 46. After qualifying fourth fastest, Blewett took the win in the second of two 25-lap heat races that preceded the 140-lap main. He was then able to parlay his qualifying success into running up front in the feature. After staring on the outside pole, Blewett led the first 10 circuits and swapped the lead with pole-sitter Bill Park twice in the early going. He would take his third and final lead of the night on a restart on lap 102. For the second race in a row, Ronnie Silk finished as the runner-up. With four top-10s in a row, including a win, Silk has moved up to seventh in the season points standings after a slow start. Making his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start of the year after he captured the series title a year ago, Donny Lia finished third and was followed in the top five by Ted Christopher and Ryan Preece. The fifth place finish was the best of Preece’s young career. Ken Heagy, Mike Stefanik, Dan Jivanelli, Glenn Tyler and Eric Beers filled out the top 10. Chuck Hossfeld came home 18th in the race and suffered his first finish outside the top five this year, but will retain a 44-point lead over Christopher in the season standings.
As usual, the Riverhead event was slam-bang with lots of wrecks and extended caution periods. Of the 147 actually run, 95 were under caution. James Civali was fired on the spot during the event after he spun Rowan Pennick while under caution. NASCAR also felt it was intentional. Civali was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor’s car during a caution period) of the 2008 NASCAR rulebook. The violation occurred during the Aug. 2 race. As a result, Civali was suspended from the next two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events, suspended from NASCAR until Aug. 15, 2008, and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008. It was announced that Woody Pitkat and Doug Coby would share the driving chores of the vacated King Modified.
The Thompson Speedway’s Thursday Night Thunder program got held up almost two hours because of showers but the track management and competitors persevered, getting the program in. Woody Pitkat made it two in a row in the Sunoco Modified division. Danny Fields scored the victory in an ultra-competitive 50 lap event for the Mini Stocks. Jeff Zuidema and Marc Palmisano shared Late Model victory lane in the division’s doubleheader. Mike O’Sullivan in the Pro Stocks; Larry Barnett in the Limited Sportsman; and Glenn Boss in the TIS Modifieds; turned their luck around with victories in their respective divisions.
The Whelen All-American Series NASCAR race event at Stafford Motor Speedway saw Ted Christopher, who last won on June 13, score his 101st career win at the Connecticut oval. Christopher won the 40 lap SK Modified feature. Ryan Posocco picked up his fifth feature win of 2008 in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Earl Pelletier was a first time career winner in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Rob Dow scored his second feature win of 2008 in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Kyle Casagrande came up a first time career winner in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event.
At the Waterford Speedbowl Ryan Morgan survived a host of restarts and finished with Jon Porter on his bumper en route to his first-ever Legends Car victory at the Wacky Wednesday racing program at the shoreline oval.
Keith Rocco continued to make a name for himself as he won his fifth race of the season on Saturday night at the shoreline oval as he took the checkered flag in the 35-lap SK Modified featurel. Other feature winners were Joe Curioso III (Late Model), Walt Hovey Jr. (Sportsman), Phil Evans (Mini Stock) and Greg Stoehr (Northeastern Midget Association). Rocco passed defending champion Rob Janovic Jr. with 18 laps remaining. Janovic jumped out to an early lead and was trailed by Dennis Gada before a third-turn pileup involving Gada and several other frontrunners scattered the field. Rocco pressured Janovic for several laps before getting the advantage with an outside move during the feature’s final restart. Jeff Pearl, Doug Coby and Gada rounded out the top five.
Gary Danko, who had a highly regarded radio show with racing news had Waterford Speedbowl mortgage holder Rocky Arbitell on his program. Arbitell stated that the current foreclosure problems at the shoreline oval were precipitated by the fact that Terry Eames had violated the financial contract that he had with Arbitell. Arbitell further stated that he has no connection with current track operator Jerry Robinson. Like Eames, Robinson did not deserve to be called a promoter as he was rapidly gaining a reputation as being not friendly with competitors, media or fans. Robinson had, however, improved the concessions at the shoreline oval.
In NASCAR Nationwise Series racing at rainy Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, Ron Fellows splashed his way to victory in the event that ended 26 laps early because of heavy rain and poor visibility. It was the first NASCAR points race run on grooved rain tires. Fellows, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports, led the final seven laps. Marcos Ambrose finished third after leading a race-high 27 laps.
In Sprint Cup action, Carl Edwards won the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., gambling with a pit strategy he thought would cost him the race. Edwards pitted from the lead just before rain caused a 41-minute red flag and had the driver arguing with crew chief Bob Osborne over the decision. But the plan worked as the race wound up going to completion. Edwards stretched his last tank of fuel to earn his fourth victory of the season. The race started in sunshine and it appeared Mark Martin, who took the lead from pole-winner Jimmie Johnson at the start and took control would be the one to beat. But Martin had problems on two pit stops that put him back into the pack and then dark clouds began moving in, changing some strategies.Rain began falling on lap 127 of the 200-lap event and, moments later, Edwards and several other leaders ducked onto pit road. Nineteen other drivers, led by June Pocono winner Kasey Kahne and Martin, who led a race-high 55 laps, stayed out to gain track position, waiting to see if the rain might end the race prematurely. But the racing continued and Edwards found himself back on top for good when Martin, the last of the drivers on the alternate strategy, had to finally pit on lap 187. Tony Stewart was second, almost 4 seconds behind. Johnson was third. Kevin Harvick, who crashed with Joe Nemechek on the first lap, came back to finish fourth, just ahead of David Ragan.
Ten years ago in 2013, Thursday night Thunder at the Thompson Speedway was cancelled for the third week in a row due to rain.
At the Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday night the rain prevailed as over an inch of the wet stuff fell on the speedway area as well as all of New England.
Action at the Waterford Speedbowl saw Keith Rocco score his 50th career SK Modified win. Rocco made a two-fer as he came back later in the evening to win the
Keith Rocco won his 50th career SK Modified feature at the Waterford Speedbowl early Saturday night, but he wasn’t finished. Valenti Modified Racing Series 100-lap feature before a large crowd that gathered as part of the Speedbowl’s annual Wings & Wheels event.
Other winners at the Connecticut shoreline oval were Jon McKennedy in the 50-lap International Supermodified Association feature, Todd Bertrand in the NEMA Midgets, Scott Bigelow in the NEMA Lite feature and Corey Barry in the SK Modified Light race.
Rocco’s win in the 35-lap SK Modified race, was his sixth of the season at Waterford. Rocco also has wins at Thompson and at Stafford for an overall season total of 17.
In the SK Modified feature Rocco made a methodical move to the front, moving into fourth place on lap 10 and passing Craig Lutz and Rob Janovic following a restart a lap later to move into second behind Ed Puleo. Puleo was able to hold Rocco off until a lap 18 restart, when Rocco took the lead for good, although he had to survive one last restart with two laps remaining to hold off Kyle James. Puleo finished third. Ted Christopher and Frank Mucciacciaro rounded out the top five. Dennis Gada is the all-time SK Modified® division win leader with 62.
In the Valenti Modified Racing Series 100 at the Speedbowl Rocco scored his second career victory in front of a home track crowd. The division’s 100-lap feature saw Rocco rally to the front early in the going, taking command on the outside of Chris Pasteryak on lap-9. Rocco led easily over a long stretch of racing that took the event through a caution on lap-89 when Todd Owen’s car spewed fluid around the track. Following a lengthy delay for the cleanup, Rocco hung tough and survived four additional caution periods over the final nine laps which took its toll on the field behind him. Rocco handled every restart and subsequent challenger to take his first series win at the Speedbowl, marking the seventh different division he has won in at the track, tops all-time in the track’s 63-year history. Series point leader Rowan Pennink, who started 17th, finished in second and Pasteryak ended up third. Tommy Barrett and veteran racer Dwight Jarvis avoided the late trouble to finish fourth and fifth. Sixth through tenth were Steve Masse, Woody Pitkat, Richard Savary, Rob Goodenough, and Louie Mechalides.
Eight caution flags slowed the race including an opening lap crash that saw Ted Christopher get booted into the turn four wall. There were 32 Modifieds on hand for the event.
Down in the south land at the Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC rain washed out all racing activity.
At the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island Ryan Preece scored his third win of the season as he beat out Jason Agugliaro and Dave Sapienza for the win. Preece started fifth and led the final seven laps to score his NASCAR Whelen All American Series win.
Brad Keselowski led 49 laps in the Nationwide Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen and finally notched his first career road course victory. Kyle Busch was the Sprint Cup winner.
Five years ago in 2018 The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series traveled to the Thompson Motorsports Park last Wednesday but the big story of the week concerned NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian Z France who was arrested by police following charges of driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of oxycodone in the Hamptons section of Long Island. Police said France went through a stop sign, had a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit, smelled of booze and slurred his words during his arrest in Sag Harbor. France was also in illegal possession of oxycodone, they said. He spent the night in jail and announced his leave from NASCAR about eight hours later.
Now he’s on indefinite leave to “focus on my personal affairs,” as he stated in a two-sentence statement. NASCAR, also using only two sentences, acknowledged that Brian France had taken a leave and stated that Jim France, his uncle, and the vice chairman and executive vice president, was assuming the roles.
At Thompson a huge crowd was on hand for the Bud 150. Justin Bonsignore started from the top spot after winning his first Thompson pole and led the first 15 laps, but gave the lead up to Chase Dowling in the approach to lapped traffic. He took the lead back on lap 79, and even though he pitted during a caution on lap 89 for tires, it didn’t take him long to get back to the front. He passed Doug Coby for the lead on lap 96 and never lost the top spot en route to the victory.
Matt Swanson, who got the call to drive the Boehler Racing No. 3 after the birth of Rowan Pennink’s first child, finished second. The result was his best career run on the Whelen Modified Tour in his first start with the BRE Racing team. Doug Coby, who led four laps, charged back through the field after spinning on lap 123, and finished third. Chase Dowling and Bobby Santos III rounded out the top five. Woody Pitkat was sixth, followed by Andrew Krause, Craig Lutz, Chris Pasteryak and Timmy Solomito.
The event was run in just short of an hour, 58 minutes to be exact. Three cautions for only 15 laps slowed the action. The first caution came on lap 88 for Dave Sapienza who spun on the back stretch. Sapienza re-started and finished 14th, two laps down. The second caution was for Coby who spun in turn 2 and the third, on lap 133 was for debris on the track. Twenty five of the original 27 starters finished the event. Melissa Fifield’s latest excuse was power steering and Ron Silk had rear-end problems with his mount.
The Bud “King of Beers” 150 will air on NBCSN on Wednesday, August 15, at 7 p.m.
The Sunoco Modifieds started off the evening and resulted in yet another battle between two of the best drivers in the division. After handing Keith Rocco his first loss of the year in July, Ryan Preece continued to be the biggest threat to the points leader and reining division champion as the two drivers were nose to tail for most of the 30-lap feature. Both drivers worked their way to the top three by the end of the third lap before a caution on lap four gave Keith Rocco the opportunity to take the lead on a restart. Preece remained on Rocco’s bumper eventually working the bottom line of the track in an attempt to gain an edge on his rival. Rocco however would not be denied and charged his way to yet another win in the Sunoco Modifieds, his fourth of the season in five events. Woody Pitkat finished third and was followed by Ronnie Williams and Troy Talman. Sixth through tenth were Timmy Jordan, Kyle James, Todd Owen, Adam Gada and Joey Gada.
One of the best races of the night was the 20-lap feature run by the Limited Sportsman division as Shawn Monahan looked to continue his division-leading dominance in search of his third win of the season. The event began with Meghan Fuller looking for her first win at Thompson. She showed some promise early leading a good portion of the first ten laps before a lap nine caution set up a restart that did not work in Fuller’s favor. Scott Sundeen took advantage of the restart to claim the top spot and after contact with Monahan. Fuller’s day was finished in a wreck on lap 16. Sundeen maintained the lead but Monahan and Ryan Waterman would not let Sundeen get away. With two laps remaining Waterman worked his way to the second position preparing for a potential race-winning move on the final lap while Monahan waited in the wings for his time to strike. The three-way battle for the lead culminated in one of the best finishes at Thompson so far in 2018 as it all came to a head in the final turn of the race. In a last-ditch effort to win the event Waterman dove deep, pushing Sundeen out of the gruve and, in turn, losing his own grip coming out of turn four. This opened the door for Monahan to make a charge for the win rubbing doors with Waterman resulting in Monahan going across the line sideways for his third victory of the season. Both Sundeen and Waterman finished outside the top ten, Sundeen due to the final lap incident and Waterman due to the contact he made trying to make the final pass.
The Late Models saw Ryan Morgan score his second consecutive win and third overall on the year in the division at Thompson. The win didn’t come as Morgan had to fight off a last lap charge by Tom Carry, III resulting in a near-photo finish for the victory.
Other winners were Todd Bertrand in the NEMA Midgets and Wayne Burroughs who claimed his fourth win of the season in the Mini Stocks.
At the Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday night Keith Rocco carried over his winning ways from Thompson as he ended a long dry spell at the Arute family owned Speedway. Rocco, who hadn’t won at Stafford since May 18, started fourth, took the lead from Troy Talman on lap 3 and with stood three restarts to record the win. Joseph Cipriano finished second and was followed by Chase Dowling, Eric Berndt and Todd Owen.
The win gave Rocco a career total of 258 wins which include 49 at Stafford, 60 at Thompson and 149 victories at th New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Other Friday night winners included Kevin Gambacorta who outlasted Tom Fearn to pick up his first Late Model win of the season, Marcello Rufrano who added to his SK Light division leading total with his 6th win of the year, Duane Provost who scored his fourth Limited Late Model win of the year, and Michael Hopkins who took down his second win of the year in the Street Stock feature.
On the Connecticut shoreline at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, Due to rain on Saturday, and an unfavorable forecast for Sunday, the Speedbowl management cancelled the scheduled Wings and wheels event. Racing continues this week with Wild n Wacky Wednesday, Saturday for Military Night, and Sunday for Monster Truck Mayhem!!
Down in the southland at the Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Tim Brown did something that no other Modified driver has ever done in the 70-year history of Bowman Gray, he won both 50-lap races on the same night. Brown defeated Jason Myers in the first race, followed by Bobby Measmer Jr., Jonathan Brown and Chris Fleming.
In the second 50-lap race, Tim Brown defeated Burt Myers, Jason’s brother, John Smith was third and Jonathan Brown was fourth.
Racing at the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island was cancelled due to rain.
In NASCAR Monster Cup racing, Kevin Harvick capped off his father-son weekend by dominating a race and putting 6-year-old son Keelan in the passenger seat to hold the flapping, checkered flag out of the window. Harvick broke a tie atop NASCAR’s Big 3 by easily winning at Michigan International Speedway for his Cup high seventh victory of the season.His No. 4 Ford finished 3-plus seconds ahead of Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford on Sunday in the Consumers Energy 400. Points leader Kyle Busch finished third in his No. 18 Toyota, more than 4 seconds behind Harvick.
Justin Allgaier passed rookie Austin Cindric with four laps left and held on Saturday to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
On a sad note, Tom Ormsby who created web site vintagemodifieds.com passed away in Florida after a long illness.
Last year, 2022, For the second week in a row it was so ungodly hot and humid that you could almost hear yourself sweat at the Stafford Motor Speedway hosted the biggest and richest SK Modified® race of the 2022 season on Friday, August 5 with the 9th Annual NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k. A draw just prior to the start of the race determined the feature distance would be either 60, 70, or 80 laps and the 80 lap number was drawn by NAPA rep Bruce Pinto. Marcello Rufrano scored his first career SK Modified® victory in the biggest race of the season. Rufrano’s win gave him a payday of $5,725 in purse and contingency money from total posted awards of over $35,000. Other feature wins on the night were scored by Tom Fearn in the Late Model feature, his 59th, Tyler Alkas in the SK Light feature, his first ever, Jeremy Lavoie in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Downey in the Street Stock feature.
In the 80-lap NAPA Auto Parts SK 5K feature event, Jon Puleo took the lead at the start of the race with Dan Wesson taking second. Mikey Flynn was third followed by Cory DiMatteo and Michael Christopher, Jr. Christopher went around DiMatteo to take fourth on lap-4with Marcello Rufrano, who started 10th, taking fifth to drop DiMatteo back to sixth as up front, Wesson took the lead from Puleo on lap-5. Flynn moved up to second with Flynn third as Puleo slid back to seventh place. Ronnie Williams was fourth with Todd Owen in fifth and Stephen Kopcik up to sixth.
Rufrano took the lead from Wesson lap-12 with Williams and Flynn side by side for third, just in front of fifth place Owen. The caution flag flew with 14 laps complete for DiMatteo, who came to a rest against the turn 2 wall with a flat right front tire. On the restart Rufrano bolted into the lead with Wesson in second. Owen went by Williams on lap-18 to move into third with Flynn holding the fifth position. The caution came back out with 22 laps complete for spins on the backstretch by Noah Korner and R.J. Marcotte and a spin in turn 4 by Williams. Bryan Narducci was sent to the rear for over aggressive driving after he hit Williams.
Rufrano continued to hold the lead on the restart but the caution came back out for a multi-car wreck in turn 1 with 24 laps complete when Stephen Kopcik and Wesson touched wheels, which sent Wesson into the turn 1 wall and collected the car of Flynn as well as several others. Kopsic and Wesson were involved in a brief scuffle following the encounter.
Rufrano held off a challenge from Owen on the restart to maintain the lead. Keith Rocco, who started 11th was now up to third behind Rufrano and Owen with Puleo in fourth with Christopher and David Arute dueling for fifth place. Arute took to the high groove to get by Christopher and take over fifth place on lap-28 while Owen was applying heavy pressure to Rufrano for the lead. Owen was finally able to make a pass on Rufrano to move into the lead with a pass coming out of turn 4 on lap-33. The caution came back out with 36 laps complete as Korner got into the turn 1 wall. RJ Marcotte was black-flagged for over aggressive driving.
Rufrano took the lead from Owen on the restart with Rocco moving into second. Owen was locked in a side-by-side duel with Puleo for third with Tyler Hines up to fifth place. With 50 laps on the board, Rufrano continued to hold the race lead with Rocco still in hot pursuit. Owen was third in line with Hines fourth and David Arute in fifth. Anthony Bello was in sixth place, followed by Puleo, Andrew Molleur, Michael Gervais, Jr., and Anthony Flannery. With 20 laps to go, the top-5 remained the same with Rufrano having stretched out his lead over Rocco to several car lengths. Owen took second place from Owen on lap-68 but he was 1.5 seconds behind Rufrano in the fight for the lead. Owen couldn’t close the gap to Rufrano over the final 12 laps as Rufrano scored his first career SK Modified® victory in the biggest race of the season. Rocco finished third with Hines and Arute rounding out the top-5.
At the New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night the Tri Track Open Modified Series drew 44 Modifieds and a packed house on an extremely hot and steamy night. Dana DiMatteo was a surprise winner in what came down to a green-white checkered finish over Mike Christopher Jr and Kyle Bonsignore, Ryan Preece and Woody Pitkat rounded out the top five. Sixth thru tenth were Andrew Molleur, Max Zachem, Matt Hirschman, Matt Swanson and Teddy Hodgdon.
In SK Modified action at the shoreline oval Andrew Molleur took the win over Todd Owen, Dana DiMatteo, Rob Janovic and Eric Berndt.
Across the big pond at the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island, despite being under the weather during the week, Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills felt just fine Saturday at Riverhead Raceway once strapped into his NASCAR Modified. He felt even better at the end of 50-laps after executing a late race outside pass of Jack Handley Jr. of Medford to score his second win of the season. In the companion Sare Sylvester Memorial INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier controversy reined after four of the top five finishers were DQ’D in post race tech. Cam Bolin of Sharon, NC who crossed the line second was declared the race winner, his third win in as many starts at Riverhead. An astounding 170 cars took part in the action Saturday.
Down in the southland, the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina which had all but abandoned for many years came alive last Tuesday thanks to the efforts of many including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Marcus Smith of Speedway Motorsports and promoter Barry Braun of XR Events.
Thirty three Modifieds were on hand in front of a packed front stretch grandstand. Ryan Newman took the win over Spencer Davis and Matt Hirschman. Ryan Preece and Burt Myers rounded out the top five. Sixth thru tenth included Tom Buzze, Jimmy Blewett, Brandon Ward, Brian Loftin and Max Zachem.
The extremely abrasive surface at North Wilkesboro produced pack race with everyone racing two-by-two in the pursuit of making their tires last through lap 50. The exception was Spencer Davis, who was penalized for pouring ice water on their right rear after time trials, a misunderstanding from NASCAR rules to what is allowed in the SMART Tour.
As a result of the penalty, Davis had to drive through the 33-car field but was leading by Lap 8. He led the most laps until he was overtaken by Ryan Preece on lap 35. But Preece couldn’t hold it and was back to fourth two laps later. Davis would again hold the lead through Lap 44 when he was passed by Newman, who would lead the final six laps to score the first win at North Wilkesboro in a decade.
Matt Hirschman won the Tour Type Modified finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Wednesday night. The victory was the 34th different track ‘Big Money Matt’ has driven a car to Victory Lane on but this one was especially rewarding due to how unlikely it seemed over the past decade. Brian Loftin finished second with Bobby Labonte, third. Rounding out the top five were Ryan Preece and Burt Myers. Sixth thru tenth included Spencer Davis, Max Zachem, Max McLaughlin, Jimmy Blewett and Jonathan Brown.
Hirschman led the most laps from the pole, briefly losing the top spot to Spencer Davis on Lap 6 before regaining it on Lap 10. Bobby Labonte ran second to Hirschman for much of the race before getting passed by a hard charging Brian Loftin. After a frustrating debut event finish, Labonte was proud to have a competitive showing at a track where he’s enjoyed NASCAR success.
Ryan Preece posted fourth place finishes on both nights and believes he was much better on Wednesday than Tuesday if not for a flat right rear dropping him from the mix in the closing laps. Both nights of racing played to a full front stretch grandstand.
At the Bowman Gray Stadium Burt Myers won his 87th career race, a 100 lapper, second most to Tim Brown’s 94 wins. Brown has been stuck on 94 wins since late July of last year. On the previous six restarts, Brown was clean and quick and stayed out in front, but Myers finally got door to door on the seventh caution. On turn 2 after the green flag, Myers got around Brown on the outside. As Brown continues to search for that first win, he’s still in good shape to win his 12th points championship.
Winning the Fans Challenge and an extra $3,000 was John Holloman, who battled from the rear of the field to finish fourth. Danny Bohn wound up third.
It almost seemed like Officials from the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Stars Series (PASS) were trying to commit promotional suicide as they had announced the full schedule of events for the Thompson Speedway mid-week Doubleheader on Tuesday, August 16th and Wednesday August 17th. Twisted Tea Tuesday was scheduled feature twin-50 lap special events for the Sunoco Modifieds and a Street Stock/Limited Sportsman Open along with Night #1 of the new SK Lite Modified Double Down Showdown, a $300-to-Win Mini Stock feature and Fireworks to cap the night! Wednesday would bring the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for the Phoenix Communications 150 along with Night #2 of the SK Lite Double Down Showdown with ACT-type Late Models and Limited Sportsman.
An epic Fireworks presentation will round out Night #1! Pit Gates will open at 3:00pm with Grandstands Open and Practice Starting at 5:00pm Tuesday. Post Time is set for 7:00pm with General Admission set at $25 for adults, $10 for kids 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free.
Wednesday, August 17th brings the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour back to Northeast Connecticut for the Phoenix Communications 150! Alongside the Touring Modified stars will be the Championship event for the SK Lite Modified Double Down Showdown with another $750 at stake for the winner. There is also a $1,000 Point Fund for the top three SK Lites who total the most points in the two 30-Lap events with $500 going to the Double Down Showdown Champion, $300 to the runner up and $200 to the third-place finisher in final points.
Wednesday will also feature the ACT-type Late Models and Thompson Limited Sportsman as they continue their 2022 Track Championship battles for the large crowd expected to witness the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour! Full race day schedule will be released upon confirmation from NASCAR. General Admission is set at $40 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free! The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event will be live streamed on FloRacing.
In NASCAR Cup competition at the Michigan International Speedway Kevin Harvick had grown tired of answering questions about his extended winless streak, which reached 65 before he scored Sunday at MIS. And it was no fluke. Harvick charged to the front late in the afternoon, held off his challengers and won relatively easily. Now 46, Harvick scored his 28th win after turning 40 years old, putting him third all-time on that list. Bubba Wallace was seriously disappointed after finishing second and failing to ride a strong car to his first win of the year, but he scored his fourth straight top-10 finish, both his career longest top-10 streak and the longest for 23XI Racing.
On a sad note reported by JAYSKI, Buddy Arrington, a longtime independent racer who competed in the NASCAR Cup Series throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s, has died at the age of 84. A native of Southern Virginia and one of NASCAR’s last true independents who both owned and drove his cars, Arrington became famous for his extreme loyalty to Mopar cars and engines, as well as his very recognizable red and blue No. 67. Making his debut in 1963, Arrington raced throughout the next 25 years on a limited budget and with a volunteer crew, financing his racing career through various occupations: Arrington worked as a tobacco farmer, as a used car salesman and even had a stint as a moonshiner.
The all new book, The Modified Years At Stafford, by the Grace of God and 600 hp, is gaining interest and has become a must have in race fans and competitors library. Race by Race, Year by Year, it’s all there. Read all about it! Books are now available on Amazon.com and Coastal 181 (877-907-8181 toll free) and are available thru Stafford’s web site in their store. Order yours now. Makes a great gift!
With the cooperation of the Arute family another book has been published with pictures and biographies of the 50 Greatest Drivers at Stafford.
The Stafford Motor Speedway had become the epicenter of NASCAR Modified racing in the northeast by the late 1980’s. From its dirt beginnings to its lightning-fast asphalt, Stafford had become the toughest and most gratifying track to score a victory. The Arute family which has owned and guided the destiny of the facility commissioned their thousands of loyal fans to name their favorite drivers. In alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone:
Tom Baldwin, Gene Bergin, Brett Bodine, Geoff Bodine, Ken Bouchard, Ron Bouchard, Mario “Fats” Caruso, Rene Charland, Ted Christopher, Leo Cleary, Tim Connolly, Jerry Cook, Corky Cookman, Pete Corey, Fred DeSarro, Richie Evans, Mike Ewanitsko, Ed Flemke, Sr., Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller, Ernie Gahan, Bill Greco, Bo Gunning, Ray Hendrick, George “Moose” Hewitt, Tony Hirschman, George Janoski, Charlie Jarzombek, George Kent, Buddy Krebs, Randy LaJoie, Jan Leaty, Jerry Marquis, Mike McLaughlin, Ray Miller, Steve Park, Bob Polverari, Bob Potter, Brian Ross, John “Reggie” Ruggiero, Greg Sacks, Ollie Silva, “Wild” Bill Slater, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Carl “Bugsy” Stevens, George Summers, Jamie “The Jet” Tomaino, Maynard Troyer and Satch Worley.
Books are priced at $17.95 each and be purchased at the track at the Novelty Booth or at the Stafford Motor Speedway on line store. Books are also available at Amazon.com and at Coastal181 (877-907-8181).
