Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Gio Ruggiero, who is a competitor at the Seekonk Speedway, scored his first career Super Late Model win at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Friday night, taking the win in the 35-lap feature to kick off nine nights of racing at New Smyrna Speedway.
Ruggiero took the lead with six laps to go, as a spirited and physical battle between Nicholas Naugle and Jett Noland for the top spot sent both drivers sliding up the racetrack.
That opening was enough for both Ruggiero and his Wilson Motorsports teammate, Brent Crews, to move into first and second.
The Pro Late Model opener came down to a battle between Jimmy Renfrew, Jr. and George Phillips, with Renfrew ultimately winning the battle and taking the checkered flag. Renfrew took the lead from Phillips on lap 27 and held on over the final nine laps for the win. Brody Monahan, who races at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, finished eighth.
The NASCAR Modifieds rolled in on Saturday morning for their season opening 200 lapper to be run later in the day. The 35 cars on hand took to the track shortly after lunch. Fastest of the group was Ryan Preece. Jeremy Gerstner who normally runs the SMART tour had the mis-fortune of having his throttle stick wide open forcing a vicious crash in turn one which resulted in a fracture of the left knee. A torn meniscus was also found. Jeremy is recovering and resting. The crash inflicted in extensive damage to his car. The final practice went off without a hitch with Craig Lutz in the top spot. Second fastest was Austin Beers followed by Ryan Newman and Justin Bonsignore. The slowest of the 35 were Melissa Fifield, Gary McDonald and Christopher Hatton.
With a sold-out crowd on hand and 65deg temps the Modifieds took time. Craig Lutz was the fastest as he turned the half mile in 17.52 sec. Austin Beers was second fastest at 17.575 seconds. Ron Silk was third fastest with a 17.645 sec run. Justin Bonsignore and Patrick Emerling rounded out the top five.
Thirty four cars went to post.
Ron Silk used a skillful level of aggression to beat rival Justin Bonsignore in last year’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season-opener at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. He used a similar brand of boldness on another championship-caliber rival, Austin Beers, to win Saturday night’s New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200. The defending Modified Tour champion now has consecutive New Smyrna wins on his resume.
When the green flag dropped, Lutz paced the field with ease. When first the caution came out on lap 20 when Eddie McCarthy spun in turn one, several drivers were given an early opportunity to vary their strategy in an attempt to catch up to the leader. Lutz stayed on track, giving him the distance to dominate the first 80 laps of the race. However, drivers like Ron Silk gave up track position to head to pit road, a strategy call by crew chief Phil Moran that worked to his advantage. Lutz led the restart and was followed by Justin Bonsignore, Ryan Preece and Silk. The second yellow flew on lap 41 when JR Bertuccio spun on the front chute and hit the wall. When the field went back to green on lap 48 Silk was planted on Lutz’s bumper. Silk executed a move to the lead on lap 80 with Lutz slipping to the second spot. By lap 82 Andrew Krause had moved into the third spot with Matt Hirschman, fourth and Justin Bonsignore, fifth.
At the halfway mark Silk continued to lead with Krause, second. Hirschman was third as Lutz had slipped to fourth with Justin Bonsignore rounding out the top five. Krause, having a career night, took the lead on lap 116. Pre-race favorite Ryan Preece was having handling problems and went a lap down on lap 120. The third caution flew on lap 127 when Patrick Emerling stopped on the track. During this caution Silk pitted along with Hirschman, Jake Johnson and Justin Bonsignore. Following a restart on lap 139 Silk continued to lead with Bonsignore and Hirschman following. The fourth caution flew for Anthony Sesley who stopped in turn four. Silk continued to set the pace following a restart. The fifth caution flew on lap 156 when Eric Goodale and Austin Beers tangled. The Goodale car suffered left front damage and was done for the night. The field went back to green on lap161 with Silk leading the charge with Bonsignore second and Lutz, third.
The sixth caution flew on lap 163 when JB Fortin hit the wall in turn four. The field went back to green on lap 167 with Silk leading Bonsignore, Lutz and Doug Coby. Lutz moved into second on lap 172 and Krause moved into fourth on lap 173. The seventh caution flew on lap 178 when Treavor Catalano’s engine expired between turns three and four. Brett Meservy was collected by the oil on the track. The field went to red while the mess was cleaned up. Before going back to green most of the front runners with the exception of Coby pitted for fresh tires.
On the restart with ten laps to go Beers got into Coby as they were fighting for the lead. Beers got the lead as Silk moved into second. One lap later Silk took the lead in turn 2. Coby, who had slipped back as a result with his confrontation with Beers, came storming back and on lap 197 got into Beers and rode him up as a payback. At the finish it was Silk making it two in a row. Justin Bonsignore finished second with Coby, third. Patrick Emerling and Trevor Catalano. Catalano is a candidate for Rookie of the Year. Sixth thru tenth included Austin Beers, Tyler Rypkema, Andrew Krause, Jake Johnson and Matt Hirschman.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour gets a lengthy break before its second race of the 2024 season, a visit to Richmond Raceway on Friday, March 29.
Other Saturday night winners were Brandon Gaither in the Bombers, Dawson Sutton in the Pro Late Models, Brody Monahan finished 7th and Kody Brusso in the Sportsman.
The Catalano family from upstate New York showed up at New Smyrna loaded for Bear with a total of seven Modifieds, all entered to compete. Four tour type mods for Tommy, Amy,Trevor and Tyler plus three more Whelen Modified Tour Modifieds for Tommy, Trevor and Tyler Catalano. Bet they had a tire bill that would choke a horse!
New Smyrna Speedway butted heads with the NFL Superbowl on Sunday night. Needless to say, the Super Bowl won as the speedway’s grandstand was all but empty. The World Series went on as planned with their program. Recording features were Eugene Tuminello in the E-Mods, Wayne Parker in the Florida mods, Dawson Sutton in the Pro Late Models and Gus Dean in the Super Lates. The 602 Modifieds brought back memories of the early days of the SK Modifieds as they couldn’t complete more than three laps without a crash. The SK Modifieds have evolved into an elite division as have the SK Lights. The 602s have a long way to go. Their feature was called after 8 laps when they exceeded a track mandated time limit. Lee Sharpsteen was declared the winner.
Hot off the wires from NASCAR comes word that a portion of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season will operate with a wrinkle in how some of the fastest cars line up to start races. A re-draw process will be implemented for select Modified Tour races, beginning with the May 4 event at New Hampshire’s Monadnock Speedway. At events where the re-draw procedure is implemented, the following policy/procedure will be used:
The fastest qualifier will draw a pill to determine the number of drivers that will re-draw for their starting positions. 4, 6, 8 or 10 positions will re-draw.
Once the fastest qualifier draws the initial pill, NASCAR will have the various buckets ready to immediately start the re-draw procedure. Drivers will re-draw in their qualifying order (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 – however many are applicable).
The pole position and any bonus will be awarded to the fastest qualifier and will be the pole of record.
Driver introductions will be done by qualifying order. When the field rolls off for pace laps, the cars will re-align themselves by how they re-drew their starting positions as the cars roll off. If qualifying is rained out, the field will be set by the rule book. The re-draw procedure will still take place based on the rain lineup. Pole awards are not paid on rain lineups.
Justin Bonsignore is teaming up with Rette Jones Racing for the ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion will pilot the No. 30 Ford Mustang for the 2024 season opener. Bonsignore was part of the ‘Road To Daytona’ program which gives select drivers from touring and regional series the chance to drive the high banks at Daytona. He tested originally with Fast Track Racing back in January. Justin’s debut in the ARCA Menards Series live from Daytona International Speedway on February 17th at 1:30 PM on FS1.
On a sad note, Vinnie Annarummo who raced at the Seekonk Speedway for many years, passed away. He was 74 years old. Annarummo was known by the moniker “Vinny Who” in New England Racing circles. It was a name affectionately given to him by Modified racing legend Richie Evans because of Annarummo’s long last name. He was inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2019.
Annarummo, of Swansea, Mass., produced an amazing legacy of success at Seekonk Speedway, where he earned six championships. He won his first in 1973 in the Class B Late Model Cadets. He followed that with five Pro Stock championships at the track in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2004 and 2005. After an amazing career in full-fendered rides, Annarummo etched his name deeper into the history books at Seekonk by getting his first career Tour Type Modified victory in one of the track’s marquee events. Annarummo topped many of the greats of Modified racing by winning the 2007 Open Wheel Wednesday event.
He was voted into the Seekonk Speedway Wall of Fame in 2018 and also the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame one year later in 2019.. Away from Seekonk, Annarummo had an SK Modified victory in 1984 at Stafford Speedway. Annarummo also competed in Modifieds at Seekonk, and finally broke-through, going to victory lane in June of 2007 in a True Value Modified Racing Series event. He followed it up by capturing the famed “Open Wheel Wednesday” in 2007, collecting a $10,000 check. Years later, his son, Todd, also captured Open Wheel Wednesday’s top honors. The Annarummo father and son combination are the first to both capture the big win. They raced together, against each other and worked with each other to share in success, for many years.
He was inducted into the Seekonk Wall of Fame with his friend and fellow competitor, Ed St. Angelo. Angelo also introduced Vinny for his New England Auto Hall of Fame induction.
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).
