Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – It was supposed to be Champions night at the Stafford Motor Speedway until a huge rain and wind storm had other ideas. Champions night and the TC 13 will now be held this coming Friday.
The rescheduling sets up a conflict with Day 1 of the World Series at Thompson.
Thompson’s schedule shows Mighty Mini Feature (20 laps), R&R Street Stock Open Feature (40 Laps), Late Model Feature (30 Laps), Sunoco Modified Triple Crown Feature #1 (30 Laps), STAR Vintage Modified Feature (15 Laps), STAR Vintage Late Model Feature (15 Laps) and Modified Racing Series Feature (50 Laps).
Stafford will have a full program of race events for SK Modified – 40 laps, SK Modifieds, TC 13 Shootout – 13 laps, Late Models – 30 laps, SK Light Modifieds – 20 laps, Limited Late Models – 20 laps and Street Stocks – 20 laps With the exception of the SK Modifieds which will crown their champion on Fall Final weekend, champions in all other divisions will be crowned.
Race fans need to choose where they want to be on Friday night!
While rains drenched the northeast last Friday and Saturday the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour made the series’ inaugural visit to one of the Southeast’s most cherished facilities, North Wilkesboro Speedway. The Brushy Mountain Powersports 150 at North Wilkesboro took place on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET, with FloRacing providing live coverage. Going into the event Justin Bonsignore led the point standings with a slim 3 point lead over Ron Silk. Many were waiting to see if the bad blood that was generated between the two would boil over at North Wilkesboro. Austin Beers sits in third spot some 38 points back. Kyle Bonsignore and Tyler Rypkema round out the top five. Thirty nine Modifieds were pre-entered.
Matt Hirschman earned the distinction of winning the first Brushy Mountain Powersports 150 after surviving several late restarts. Hirschman was one of the first to claim a checkered flag during North Wilkesboro’s revival in 2022 and was honored to take another elevator ride to Victory Lane. After pitting early, Hirschman cycled to the lead of the race before falling to second behind 2008 Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman. During the final pit stops of the evening with 40 laps left Hirschman’s team opted for two tires, allowing him to take the lead and eventually the win. Silk finished behind Hirschman in the second position with Justin Bonsignore, Eric Goodale and Patrick Emerling completing the Top 5. Newman, Andrew Krause, Coby, Kyle Ebersole and Bobby Santos III.
There were nine cautions for 50 laps. The first caution flew on lap 13 when Gary Putnam spun between turns three and four. The second caution came on lap 42 when Tim Connolly bounced off the right rear of Doug Coby and hit the wall in turn 1. The third caution was for Coby who spun between turns one and two on lap 67. The fourth caution was for Jacob Perry who spun between turns three and four on lap 77. Perry was making his debut in the NASCAR Modified Tour Series and all things considered was doing a great job up until then. The fifth caution came on lap 102 for Ken Heagy who stalled on the frontstretch after blowing an engine.. The sixth caution came on lap 120 when Bobby Labonte hit the front stretch wall after contact with another. The seventh caution came on lap 127 for Anthony Noscella who had come to a stop in turn one. The eighth caution flew on lap 138 when Gary Putnam and Jacob Perry came together on the backstretch. Putnam called it a day as Perry rejoined the field. The ninth and final caution came on lap 149 when Andy Seuss crashed in turn two. Overtime was called with a green-white checker to finish up the event. As Hirschman took the checker Coby spun and hit the wall, triggering a massive wreck in the front stretch. Next stop for the Modified Tour Series is this coming Sunday at the Thompson Speedway World Series. With just two events remaining Justin Bonsignore leads Ron Silk by three points. Austin Beers sits in third spot some 38 points back. Kyle Bonsignore sits in fourth spot, some 118 points back and rounding out the top five is Tyler Rypkema, 140 points back. Unless there is a major confrontation between Justin Bonsignore and Silk the title will be settled between the two, If both contenders wreck each other out the title will be Beers’ for the taking.
The SMART Modified Tour was in action last Sunday at the Pulaski County Speedway in Fairlawn, Va. Sam Rameau pulled off a surprise upset as he won the Paul Radford 99. Rameau chose the outside on a late restart and took the lead over Matt Hirschman. A big surprise was the fact that Andrew Krause came all the way from a scratch starting spot. Krause had a right front tire go flat following time trials and was forced to go to the rear. Brandon Ward rounded out the top five. Sixth thru tenth were Stephen Kopcik, Burt Myers, Tim Brown, Joey Colter and Jerremy Gerstner. The New London Waterford Speedbowl also cancelled because of the elements. The relentless rainfall, saturated grounds, and chilly forecast has made for poor racing conditions. We’ve made the decision to cancel tonights events, leaving only one point race on the schedule at the Crowning of Champions on Saturday October 14th (Rain date Friday October 20). The 3rd Annual Don Caddick Memorial SK Light 50 will now be held on Saturday October 21st (Rain date Sunday October 22nd), and will be a non-point paying event.
Metro New York and most of Long Island received over ten inches of driving rain causing the management of Riverhead Raceway to make the difficult decision to postpone our Championship Night event to Saturday October 14th, with a Sunday October 15th rain date.
Josh Venada reports that work has begun on the repaving project at the Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH. Grinders started early Thursday morning. This asphalt, which is being reclaimed snd will serve as a base layer for the new asphalt. JDV Productions will open the facility on Saturday, April 20, 2024 to the Monadnock House Divisions only. The layout of the turns is largely going to remain the same. The consistency of the track width will be reviewed in the final grading. The hated and dreaded speedbumps have been eliminated.
Coming up on Sunday, November 5 will be the 2023 New England Auto Racers (NEAR) Hall of Fame ceremonies, being held this year at the Log Cabin in Holyoke Ma.The star-studded line up of inductees Brad Leighton, Ted Marsh, Mike Ordway Sr., Andy Santerre, John Stygar, and Mike Weeden, along with Veterans Committee inductees Al Hammond and Joe Howard. makes this a must-attend event!!
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).