Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – While it was all quiet in the northeast the 21st Annual JB III North South Shootout in North Carolina presented in memory of Charles Kepley was a success!
Over 90 cars were entered for Saturday’s event! Included in the program were 125 laps for the Tour type Mods, 125 laps CARS Tour Late Model Stocks, 100 laps CARS Tour Pro Late Models and 50 laps for 602 Mods.
Matt Hirschman must feel like a yo-yo but in a good way. In recent week he raced and won at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. He left there and went to Martinsville in Virginia where he finished second. Following Martinsville it was back to Connecticut where he won the Fall Final Tri-Track event then back down south to North Carolina for the North-South Shootout which he won and this coming weekend it will be off to Riverhead on Long Island for the Islip 300.
In recent years tons of cars from New England and New York participated in the North-South Shootout. This year they didn’t.
Following Hirschman at the finish was Patrick Emerling and Andy Seuss. The only other non-southerner was Jimmy Blewett who finished tenth. Southern favorites, the Myers brothers didn’t do so well. Jason finished 7th and Burt finished 12th.
With very little fanfare the New London – Waterford Speedbowl closed out their racing season on a cold Saturday night. RJ Marcotte picked up the SK Modified win over Troy Talman and Tim Jordan. Todd Owen, who recently won the SK Modified Track Championship at Stafford, finished fourth and wrapped up the title at the shoreline oval. Jason Palmer won Saturday’s 30-lap Late Model feature at the Speedbowl’s Crowning of the Champions Night.
It was his eighth Late Model division win of the season also marked his 100th career victory at the Speedbowl. Third generation Kyle Gero was the 50 lap Truck winner and John O’Sullivan was the SK Light winner. John Bavolacco was the Mini Stock winner and Aaron Plemens was the Street Stock winner.
Now that Sean Foster has been canned as General Manager at the Speedbowl it will be interesting to see what happens at the shoreline oval which is now pretty much a ship without a rudder. As a track owner Bruce Bemer has done an admiral job of making the facility first rate but as an administrator he has no clue when it comes to advertising and promoting his events and hiring competent people to run his track.
The 2023 NEAR Hall of Fame ceremonies were held this year at the Log Cabin in Holyoke Ma.
The star-studded line up of inductees included Brad Leighton, Ted Marsh, Mike Ordway Sr., Andy Santerre, John Stygar, and Mike Weeden, along with Veterans Committee inductees Al Hammond and Joe Howard.
With the Northeast racing season now quiet the only unfinished business appears to be the running of the $7,000 to win, 7th Annual Islip 300 on November 11th and the annual Turkey Derby at the Wall Stadium in New Jersey on Thanksgiving weekend.
Word comes from the Stafford Motor Speedway that point checks totaling $73,000 have been mailed out to competitors. A total of $28,000 including $6,000 to SK Modified Champion Todd Owen went out to the top 15 in the SK Modified division. $16,000 went to the top ten in the Late Models, $11,050 to both the top ten in the SK Lights and to the top 10 in the Limited Late Models and $6,700 to the top ten in the Strictly Stocks. It must be noted that a portion of the point fund was provided by FloRacing which live streams all events and will continue to do so in 2024 and beyond,
Stafford has also announced a special on season passes for 2024 which will be offered thru Dec 15. General Admission – $350, Kids – $65, Reserved Seats – $390 and Paddock – $480.
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).