Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Racing in New England for 2024 got the green this past weekend with the running of the annual Ice Breaker at the Thompson Speedway in Northeastern Connecticut despite 40 degree temps and rain.
A partly cloudy day was had at Thompson Speedway’s Saturday opener to the 50th Icebreaker weekend with plenty of rain to darken the spirits on an exciting opening day schedule of events.
The crew at Thompson Speedway kept the track dry enough to get in full feature events for both the Thompson Street Stocks and the PASS Super Late Models but the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series was a casualty to the rain and will be postponed to the Friday of World Series weekend on October 11.
Following qualifying for all divisions originally scheduled for Saturday’s festivities, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models took the field. After taking the victory lap in their respective heat race qualifiers, New Hampshire drivers D.J. Shaw and Wayne Helliwell, Jr. led the field to green. An early caution for a back-field squabble in turn three saw Massachusetts’ hot-shoe Eddie MacDonald chase down early leader Shaw and, after battling side-by-side, took over the lead before a lap 39 rain delay.
Two restarts led to two spirited battles between Shaw and MacDonald with ‘The Outlaw’ taking charge but facing a mirror full of Derek Griffith. With fifteen laps remaining Griffith began to show his hand, growing ever closer to MacDonald while maintaining a safe distance, poised to pounce as laps wound down. While a second and third rain delay dashed Griffith’s original chase, the Hudson, New Hampshire native powered by MacDonald on the final restart to claim the Icebreaker gold over Shaw and MacDonald.
Late in the day the skies closed in and all but swamped the Tri Track Series which had 31 cars ready to roll. Officials made the decision to postpone the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series event just after 7 pm Saturday. The event will be run up on Friday Oct. 11 as part of the Sunoco World Series weekend at Thompson.
The SK Lights drew only 20 cars with Tyler Chapman taking the 30 lap win. Thompson, which dropped the SK Modifieds, went with the 604 limited modifieds which drew only 10. Jon Puleo was the winner.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series was also at Thompson with 24 cars. Following time trials Justin Bonsignore found himself on the pole. Bonsignore toured the .625-mile oval in 19.039 seconds. Jake Johnson, who led the way in practice was second in qualifying at 19.044 seconds. Craig Lutz was third fastest in qualifying at 19.082 seconds. Rounding out the top five were Ron Silk and Bobby Santos. One of the faster cars, the No. 64 of Austin Beers suffered engine failure. Beers was allowed to start scratch in the event.
Despite the early spring bite in the air Silk was on his game as he recorded a solid win over Jake Johnson. Driving the legendary Ole Blu, Johnson did the mighty no.3 proud as he ran up front for the entire 150 laps. Patrick Emerling made a determined run as he came from 15th to finish third. Bonsignore slipped to fourth with Tyler Rypkema rounding out the top five.
Bonsignore and Johnson led the charge at the drop of the green. The first caution of the day flew on lap two when Bobby Santos had a tire go down in turn one. Santos spun and collected Dave Sapienza, Eric Goodale and Andrew Krause. Craig Lutz took the lead on the restart. The second caution flew on lap 18 when the engine in the mount of Tim Conneley expired. The field no sooner went back to green when Trevor Catalano lost an engine in turn one.
Lutz continued to lead Bonsignore and Ron Silk. Silk closed in on Lutz’s back bumper, pulling up alongside the #46 on lap 59 and using a Ted Christopher slide job in turn one to come back and lead lap 60. The field would slow once more on lap 89 for the spinning Matt Swanson in turn four, leading to a charge of teams heading down pit road for their respective tire changes. Patrick Emerling wonthe race off pit road followed by Silk, Johnson, Bonsignore and Austin Beers.
Silk rode Emerling up high to take the lead on lap 98. The closing laps saw Emerling and Bonsignore battle for third as Silk continued to stretch his lead more and more. Ron Silk took the dominant Icebreaker 150 win followed by a consistently fast Jake Johnson and a hard-charging Patrick Emerling, Emerling expressed his displeasure with Silk in victory lane.
Sixth thru tenth included Lutz, Beers, Kyle Bonsignore, Matt Hirschman and Mat Swanson. the Modified Tour now goes on Spring Break before heading to Monadnock Speedway on May 4’.
Cassie Rocco said it best when she summed up the weekend at Thompson. “Well, what can we say we finally got to start racing in New England, unfortunately, mother nature wasn’t so kind to us Saturday with Keith Rocco in the tri track race, nothing could be said other than it was a great job at least, trying to get the race in and I feel the decision to move the race to the World Series was a good one. Behind the scenes, has to be real hard logistically with garage areas with two touring divisions, purses of the two touring divisions, so a lot of stuff that all adds up that I’m sure it wasn’t easy decision to make to cancel to the end of the year kudos to the track for trying, at least we still have a track to race at thanks to the people at Act and Pass. For those are upset about it. Sorry to hear that but like I said, they did their very best of what they could do. They can’t stop mother nature and unfortunately they can’t make everybody happy either, I feel personally that the World Series will be an absolutely amazing one now with tons of racing and tons of modified‘s, that’s for sure.
The SMART Modified Tour continued this past Saturday at the the Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC for THE RUMBLE IN ROUGEMONT. Blake Barney was the apparent winner until he was disqualified. Smart officials determined that the intake manifold on Barney’s car was not one of the two approved for competition. Carson Loftin was awarded the win. Jimmy Blewett ended up second with Jonathan Cash, third. Burt Myers and Luke Baldwin rounded out the top five. Barney and his crew have filed an appeal with SMART.
The SMART Series continues this Saturday at the Hickory Speedway in North Carolina.
For the 2024 racing season at Stafford Speedway, AZ Roofing of Bristol, CT will become the newest member of the Stafford Speedway Contingency Program, offering a weekly $150 bonus to each SK Light feature winner. AZ Roofing’s bonus will boost the weekly SK Light feature winner’s purse to $800 and with 22 races on the schedule, SK Light drivers have the opportunity to earn an extra $3,300 during the 2024 season. AZ Roofing will also be the presenting sponsor of the first Kids Night of the 2024 season on May 31st with Kids Big Wheel races joining Stafford’s five weekly racing divisions in feature action.
Stafford’s SK Light division saw 6 different feature winners over 15 races last season. 2023 SK Light champion George Bessette, Jr., Tyler Chapman, and Brian Sullivan were the big winners of last season with each driver notching 4 wins. With those 3 drivers accounting for 12 of the division’s 15 feature wins, the season was rounded out with single feature wins going to Tyler Barry, Meghan Fuller, and Chris Matthews.
Among those who pose a threat in the SK Lights is Alexander Pearl. Coming into the 2023 season at Stafford Speedway, Pearl and the #7 Darling Auto Parts team were riding a 5-season streak of winning at least one race per season, dating back to Pearl’s rookie season of 2018. Although Pearl notched three second place finishes last season, he ended up winless for the first time in his SK Light career. With the 2024 season set to kick off at the end of April, Pearl has his sights set on starting a new winning streak. He is a third generation with an outstanding coaching team that includes Grandfather Jerry Pearl.
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.
That’s about it for this week from 11 Gardner Drive, Westerly, RI 02891. Ring my chimes at 401-248-1307).
