Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Seventy five years ago in 1949 the Seekonk Speedway opened for its fourth season with Ed Hill winning the main event.
Seventy years ago in 1954 the New London Waterford Speedbowl ran it’s first extra distance event of the season and Moe Gherzi was up for the occasion as he put the Garutti Brothers Special in victory lane for the 50 lapper. Gherzi would earn the nickname “Money Bags” after he went on to record a total of 14 wins for the season at the shoreline oval. Irwin Fox made it two in a row as he won the non-Ford feature. At Seekonk it was Gene Latour winning the Modified feature.
Sixty five years ago in 1959, Melvin “Red” Foote was the 25 lap Sportsman winner at the New London Waterford Speedbowl. Also in competition at the shoreline oval was Billy Greco who took top honors in the non-Fords and Dick Dunn who won in the Bombers.
Sixty years ago in 1964 racing trade paper Area Auto Racing News reported that Gene Bergin won the Modified feature at Old Bridge Stadium in New Jersey. Billy Harman, driving the famous L&M won the Modified feature at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Bill Scrivener made it two in a row in Bomber action. At Seekonk, Dave Dias won the 30 lap A division feature and Gil Cabral was the 15 lap Cadet winner.
Fifty five years ago in 1969, the Norwood Arena began what was to be its last season of being the Saturday night stop for the NASCAR Modifieds. Jack Malone, Kerry’s dad took the win over Eddie Flemke, Bobby Santos, Johnny Thompson, George Savory and Don McCullah. Martinsville ran their spring 100 lap modified event and it was Mr. Modified, Ray Hendrick, taking the win over Bugsy Stevens, Jimmy Hensley, Jerry Cook and Lenny Pond. Fonda also opened their NASCAR modified season with Lou Lazzaro taking the win over Rene Charland, Ron Narducci and Jerry Cook. Richard Petty was the Grandnational (Cup) winner at Martinsville and Bugsy Stevens was the Sunday afternoon winner at the Thompson Speedway. At Seekonk, Jon Astle was the 30 lap A division winner. Al Becker was the B division winner.
Fifty years ago in 1974, Richie Evans took the 150 lap Martinsville win over Harry Gant, Cook, Bob Santos and Brian Ross. Evans went to Ashboro, N.C. on Saturday night where he finished second to Paul Radford. Jerry Cook finished third and was followed by Ray Hendrick and Brian Ross. Ted Wesnoski went two for two as he won Saturday night at Islip and on Sunday at Freeport. Shangri-La opened on Saturday with Geoff Bodine beating out Maynard Troyer and Dave Nichols. At Fulton on Sunday Troyer held off Cook and Sonny Seamon for the win. Bodine and Evans rounded out the top five.
Forty five years ago in 1979, Richie Evans went two for two in the Southland as he won a 100lap modified event at Franklin County in Virginia on Saturday and a 200 lap event at Bowman-Grey in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Sunday. In the northeast, Waterford rained out but events at Westboro and Monadnock were run. Ronnie Bouchard won a 50-lap event at Westboro over Joe Howard, Deke Astle and Freddie Schulz. Bobby Fuller was the late model winner. At Monadnock, Brian Ross in the Mystic Missile won a 100 lapper over Allen Whipple, Jack Bateman and Eddie Flemke Sr.
Forty years ago in 1984, the Modifieds ran a 200 lapper at Martinsville and it was Brett Bodine taking the win over Tony Hirschman, Charlie Jarzombek and Richie Evans. Wayne Anderson took the opening night win at Islip over Bob Park and Fred Harbach and at Shangri-La it rained. Reggie Ruggerio won one at Riverside over Ray Miller and Bob Polverari. Barbara and Jim Cromarty purchased the Riverhead Raceway from the Hawkins family. Waterford opened on Sunday with Rick Donnelly winning out over Dickie Doo Ceravolo and Marty Radwick. In Winston Cup action at Martinsville, Geoff Bodine realized a life long dream as he won his first Winston Cup event. New England rival, Ronnie Bouchard, finished second.
Thirty-five years ago in 1989, Jim Spencer won at Shangri-La over Jan Leaty. Seekonk suffered their sixth rain out and Riverhead also got washed out. Reggie Ruggerio won a mod tour at Jennerstown on Sunday and at Waterford, Bob Potter won the opener in the Ceravolo car. Monadnock also ran with Jerry Marquis taking the win over Marty Radwick.
Thirty years ago in 1994, Tom Jensen scored his first ever win, that coming at Riverside Park on Saturday night. Doug Meservy finished second. At Riverhead, Don Howe scored his 23rd career win at the Long Island oval. Bill Park was second. Sunday was a wet and dreary day. Thompsons IceBreaker and Waterford’s opener were scheduled to go head to head. Thompson cancelled their show but Waterford tried to give it a go. Their scheduled 94 lapper was held up for five hours before getting the green. Ted Christopher lapped the entire field with the exception of Dennis Gada who finished second. Jerry Pearl finished third and was followed by Scott Spaulding and Bert Marvin. It was also Todd Ceravolos’ modified debut. His efforts ended when a water hose blew and he ended his day in the turn three fence. John Steiner was the late model winner. In Winston Cup action at Talledega, Dale Earnhardt took the win over Ernie Irvan and Michael Waltrip.
Twenty five years ago, in 1999, Jerry Marquis won the Friday night opener at Stafford over Mike Christopher and Frank Wainwrite and Larry Ross. At Waterford on Saturday, Dennis Gada went pole to pole to take the win over Billy Sharp and Mark LaJunesse. The Busch North Series invaded Riverside with Tom Carey winning out over Brad Leighton and Tracy Gordon. Fifty-two of the 150-lap distance was run under caution which kept the average speed down to 36.0627 mph. At Riverhead it was Al Amarillo. Auto Racing suffered a black eye at Charlotte when suspension parts flew off a wrecked IRL car and went into the grandstand, killing three spectators and injuring 12. In Winston Cup action at Fontana, California it was a run-a-way for Jeff Gordon. Matt Kenseth was the BGN winner.
Twenty years ago in 2004, the Stafford Motor Speedway began their regular Dodge Weekly Racing Series on Friday night. Jeff Malave went pole to pole to win the opening night 40 lap feature. Chuck Hossfeld, in his third time out in an SK-Modified finished second. Hossfeld applied a lot of pressure to Malave in the closing laps but in the end settled for second. Jeff Baral finished third. Rounding out the top five were defending champion Kerry Malone and Chris Jones. Among the missing was Eric Berndt who lost his mom on the previous Friday. Mike Quintiliano made it two for two in Late Model competition, taking the lead with two to go. Andrew Durand was the DARE Stock feature winner. Ted Christopher, who has scored wins at Stafford and at Thompson already, added the Waterford Speedbowl to his 2004 win list on Saturday night. Christopher, who started 11th in the SK-Modified feature, took the lead when Doug Coby spun while leading with 15 laps to go. Christopher admittedly gave him a love tap, which helped him along. Actually Christopher hit Coby before he spun and in reality intimidated Coby to enter the turn a little too hot which caused him to lose control. Ronnie Silk finished second and was followed by Ron Yuhas Jr., Dennis Gada and Tom Fox. The Late Model feature went non-stop with Mark StHilaire taking the win over Corey Hutchings. Ed Gertsch Jr. was the Limited Sportsman winner and Jeff Miller was the Mini-Stock winner. The NEMA Midgets paid a visit to the shoreline oval with Ben Seitz taking the win. In Nextel Cup action at the California Speedway Jeff Gordon made it two in a row. There was no shower of beer cans or chicken bones this week as Gordon’s win was clear-cut. He had the best car. Bobby Labonte may have had something for Gordon at the end but an empty fuel tank forced him to slow on the final lap. Jimmie Johnson finished second. The California event was a test of man and machine as the race was run in 100-degree heat. Greg Biffle was the Busch Racing Series winner on Saturday. Tony Stewart finished second.
Fifteen years ago in 2009, The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour stopped at the Stafford Motor Speedway for the annual Spring Sizzler. The weekend had picture perfect weather with temperatures in the high 80’s and low 90’s. A near full house of fans were on hand for the event.
Ted Christopher made it two-for-two in 2009 as he earned his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Coors Light Pole Award of the season Saturday afternoon. Christopher, turned a fast lap of 18.150 seconds (99.174 mph) in the No. 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet Saturday for his 20th career Coors Light Pole Award, and his third at Stafford . The reigning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and defending winner of the Spring Sizzler also captured the pole for the season opener at Thompson ( Conn. ) International Speedway, and wound up in Victory Lane the following day. Mike Stefanik was the second-fastest qualifier as he toured the Stafford oval in 18.368 seconds (99.997 mph). Ryan Preece, Eric Berndt and Donny Lia rounded out the top five fastest cars in time trials. The top 10 qualifiers redrew following time trials. Preece and Stefanik ended up starting on the front row for Sunday’s 200-lap feature followed in the second row by Christopher and Berndt. There were 33 cars on hand.
Ted Christopher, the dominant car for the first half of Sunday’s 200-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race, survived a cut tire and an accident in the second 100 to earn his second trip in a row to Victory Lane in the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST at Stafford Motor Speedway. Christopher, of Plainville, Conn., piloted the No. 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet from mid-pack with 70 laps to go to earn his 33rd career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory. The Coors Light Pole Award winner on Saturday, Christopher led 82 of the first 100 laps and appeared early to be the dominant car for the second week in a row. While under caution, Christopher had to come to pit road on Lap 121 with a cut tire and surrendered the lead on to Mike Stefanik. After rejoining the field, seven laps later he was skidding through the grass on the backstretch after getting caught up in an accident and a second-consecutive victory seemed unlikely.
All that didn’t deter the defending series champion from returning to Victory Lane, however, as he quickly moved up through the field and finally got by Todd Szegedy on Lap 182. The result was his fourth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Spring Sizzler win and his ninth career tour triumph at the Connecticut half mile. Szegedy finished as the runner-up and led three-different times for 33 laps in the race. Ryan Preece posted a third-place finish while Stefanik and Chris Pasteryak rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Donny Lia, Woody Pitkat, Ron Silk, Jimmy Blewett and Ed Flemke Jr.
In other weekend action at Stafford, the 38th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST kicked off the 2009 SK Modified® and Late Model seasons with Richie Pallai, Jr. taking the 40-lap SK Modified® feature and Dillon Moltz taking the 30-lap Late Model feature.
Keith Rocco made it two in a row in SK Modified action at the Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night. The 35-lap SK event began with Jeffrey Paul leading the first ten laps from his pole starting position. The action immediately heated up behind Paul as Corey Hutchings, Tyler Chadwick, Rob Janovic Jr., and Keith Rocco were jockeying for track position. Rocco, who came from the ninth starting spot, worked his M&M Motorsports #57 SK Mod in the low groove in the opening laps, and then moved to the ‘Bowl’s very capable outside groove. He moved outside Janovic for fourth on lap 6, then outside Chadwick for third a lap later. Still in the high line, he pressured Hutchings for second before completing the pass just 2 laps later. He immediately went to work on the leader Paul, again using the high groove to gain the lead on lap 10. Hutchings and Chadwick followed Rocco around Paul, and the lead pack began to open up some space under green flag conditions.
At halfway, Rocco continued to lead Hutchings, Chadwick and Janovic. Jeff Pearl was making forward progress, moving into the top five by lap 19. The event’s first caution waved with 10 laps remaining for a spin by Wayne Arute. Rocco would get the jump on three ensuing restarts after more single car spins from the rear of the field. With just three laps remaining, contact in the lead pack sent cars scattering with Jeff Pearl and Dennis Gada taking direct hits, while Justin Gaydosh and Ron Yuhas Jr. also received damage. Only Yuhas was able to continue after a visit to the pits. Rocco resumed control on the restart and went on to the victory by a car length over Chadwick. Janovic, Shawn Solomito – making just his second career Speedbowl start, and Wendell Dailey completed the top-five. Hutchings, who ran second nearly the entire event, saw his strong run end in the turn 4 wall on the last lap as a victim of a cut tire.
Other winners from Saturday night action included Tim Jordan in the Late Models and Ronnie Oldham Jr. in the Street Stocks, while Chris Williams took the checkered in the Mini Stocks and Jason Palmer in Legends Cars action.
The True Value Modified Racing Series opened their season at the lightning fast ¼ mile Monadnock Speedway on Saturday night. It was one of the wildest nights in recent memory as the TVMS kicked off it’s sixth season in front of a large crowd. When the dust settled after nine caution periods, Rob Goodenough, notched his second career win capturing the “Bond Auto Parts 100 Spring Dash” for open-wheel modified race cars. Goodenough started fifth in a 24 car field and was in the hunt for the lead throughout the race. Cross town rival Kirk Alexander took the top spot at the drop of the green flag and fought off all that was thrown at him from Peter Jarvis, Ed Dachenhausen, and Goodenough. Through eight caution periods, Alexander set a torrid pace until lap 90 when while trying to pass a slower car, the three-time champion made contact with a safety barrier knocking himself out of the race and wiping out a chance at an unprecedented 15th career win at his “home” track..
When the race resumed, Goodenough paced the field to the finish with 2006 series champion Dwight Jarvis chasing him to the checkered flag finishing a half car length behind the winner. Jon McKennedy,; Dachenhausen, Sean Bodreau, Rowan Pennink, Mike Douglas, Joe Doucette, Jack Bateman, and Bill Park, rounded out the top ten. Qualifying heat races were won by P.Jarvis, Alexander, and Dachenhausen, with Pennink winning the 15 lap consolation race.
In some sad news, Gordon Reinig, retired Buffalo, NY fireman and Lancaster (NY) Speedway photographer (1967-1974) passed away Monday night (April 20) in Buffalo. He was responsible for the photos used in the book “Lancaster Heroes”.
In NASCAR Sprint Cup racing, Carl Edwards’ battered car soared 15-feet off the ground, scraping along the safety fence, then bouncing back onto the track in flames. Wreckage from the last-lap accident spewed into the stands, sending two fans to the hospital in the aftermath of yet another “Big One” at Talladega. It was a frightening finish to another crash-marred restrictor plate race, which won’t be remembered for unheralded Brad Keselowski’s last-lap pass for his first Sprint Cup Series victory. Instead, the lasting images will be Edwards airborne, his upside-down car coming eerily close to flying into the grandstands. The frontstretch safety fence bowed upon impact, but held, and seven fans were injured from the flying debris. An eighth seated in that section of the grandstands was treated for an undisclosed medical condition. Edwards, who climbed from the fiery wreckage and crossed the finish line on foot, was thankful it wasn’t worse. Dr. Bobby Lewis, Talladega’s onsite physician, said two people in the crowd were airlifted from the track to avoid the heavy traffic. One woman had a possible broken jaw, and none of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
The dangerous but dramatic restrictor-plate racing came under fire after Edwards’ attempt to block Keselowski’s winning pass triggered the last of several frightening accidents at one of the sport’s most exciting tracks. Keselowski pushed Edwards past Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. into the lead on the final lap, and the 25-year-old Earnhardt protege peeked around Edwards as they closed on the finish line. Edwards ducked low to block the pass, but Keselowski was too close and couldn’t avoid contact that sent Edwards into a spin up the track and into Newman’s path. Edwards’ car flew over the top of Newman’s hood, then shot into the frontstretch fence. There were three bad wrecks
In Nationwide Series racing at Talledega, David Ragan won the Aaron’s 312 for his first career NASCAR win in 196 races: 85 in Nationwide, 82 in Sprint Cup and 29 in truck. He made the pass for the lead coming to the start finish line after Ryan Newman & Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made contact coming through the tri-oval on a green-white-checker finish. Newman held on to second, while Joey Logano snuck into third place at the finish and Tony Raines finished fourth Earnhardt, Jr. fell to 5th place at the checkered flag.
As he was about to be sentenced for federal income tax fraud, those in the courtroom stood up for Larry McClure [owner of the #4 Chevy in Sprint Cup Series, three Daytona 500 wins]. Supporters of the motorsports icon filled the courtroom, which was too small to hold them. Family members, friends, giants of the stock car racing world – around 50 people– spilled into the hallway, stood on benches and stood shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with McClure and his family. Junior Johnson, the fabled moonshiner-turned-dirt track racer and NASCAR team owner, turned out. Joy Stata, a Florida native, was there to support the man who put her hometown of Bartow on the racing map. Jeff Byrd, president of Bristol Motor Speedway, stood outside, having arrived too late to get a seat.
Inside the courtroom of Judge James P. Jones, McClure made his last public statement. “I’d like to apologize to you, the court,” he told Jones, chief judge for the Western District of Virginia. “To the opposing counsel, to my family, my God. His will be done, whatever you decide.” Jones’ decision ushered in a stunned silence, punctuated by sniffles: McClure would serve 18 months in prison, the low end of the sentencing range. For McClure’s supporters, it was a crushing end to a three-year criminal investigation that had taken a toll on him personally and financially. McClure pleaded guilty in January to five counts of filing a false income tax return, obstructing the federal investigation and lying to Internal Revenue Service investigators.
In addition to the prison time, McClure was fined $40,000, ordered to reimburse the IRS $25,000 for its investigation, and to pay nearly $60,000 in restitution to Eastman-Kodak for filing a false invoice. He was also ordered to refile his personal income tax returns for 2002, 2003 and 2004. During those years, McClure admitted to accepting $269,000 in cash payments from a friend in exchange for services provided by Morgan-McClure Motorsports, of which McClure is a part owner. He did not report the income to the corporation or on his personal tax returns, and owed the government just over $100,000
Ten years ago in 2014, the big news in New England was the fact that the Waterford Speedbowl had officially gone on the market for sale. Asking price is $3,300,000. The listing stated that the property was currently being operated as a NASCAR sanctioned racetrack. Listed on Zillow the real estate ad stated that “Redevelopment opportunities abound including affordable housing, retail, industrial, distribution center and light manufacturing”. Owner Terry Eames said he listed the property with agents Joe Luca, of RE/MAX, and Kenneth Dill, of Cresa Corporate Real Estate, within the past two weeks, as part of foreclosure proceedings on the property. A Connecticut Judge, Emmet Cosgrove handed down a judgment of foreclosure in January, with an auction date of Oct. 18. The order stated that Eames owed his creditors $1.2 million in debt and attorney fees. Rocco Arbitell, one of the mortgage holders on the property, motioned for foreclosure in 2013. Arbitell’s business associate Peter Borrelli was the other mortgage holder.
On April 3, the plaintiffs filed a motion for advice, requiring that Eames advertise the property. McCoy said the motion was routine and that its purpose was to ensure the property receives exposure both to wider audiences through advertising in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, and to the racing community, through publications such as trade magazines. Eames said the language does not reflect any desire on his part to sell the property.
Despite all the doom and gloom being generated by the possible demise of the shoreline oval it hadn’t affected the enthusiasm of the competitors as Keith Rocco won his third straight Late Model feature to begin the year and Josh Galvin took his second straight Street Stock race in a row during racing Saturday night at the Waterford Speedbowl. Tyler Chadwick won the SK Modified division feature, Ken Cassidy Jr. engineered a come-from-behind win in the Mini Stocks and Corey Barry scored a victory in the SK Light Modified race.
Chadwick worked hard during his run to victory in the 35-lap SK Modified race. After he took the lead on lap 12 from Jeff Gallup, he held back a charge from Rocco over the final 17 laps in what was a high-speed duel. Rocco tried several different maneuvers to try to rattle Chadwick, but Chadwick, the 2012 division champion, proved unflappable. Rocco was second, followed by former division champions Rob Janovic Jr. and Ted Christopher third and fourth, respectively.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Rocco passed Bruce Thomas Jr. on a lap-6 restart to take command and never relinquished his lead. Thomas finished four car-lengths back and Jason Palmer was third. Apparent Street Stock winner Josh Galvin was later disqualified as tech inspectors discovered illegal shock absorbers on his car. Al Stone III was awarded the win. In the Mini Stock division Cassidy and three others in the top five were disqualified for illegally modified spindles. Chris Ivory, who originally finished third was declared the winner.
In other Speedbowl action, Fifteen year old Mike Christopher Jr. survived a ton of late restarts to win the 25-lap Legends feature. It was the first win for the second generation driver.
The Valenti Modified Racing Series traveled “up country” to the Monadnock Speedway on Saturday night with 26 cars strong. Rowan Pennink won what was considered one of the best VMRS races ever run as he took an impressive win in the VMRS 100 lap Spring Dash 100. Pennink picked the pole starting position after winning his heat. It was not a cakewalk as Justin Bonsignore provided the excitement as he and Pennink swapped the lead numerous times through out the 100 lapper. Steve Masse finished third and was followed by Chris Pasteryak and Todd Szegedy. sixth through tenth were Dwight Jarvis, Matthew Mead, Dylan Kopec, Max Zachem and Mike Willis, Jr.
A persistent overnight rain and forecast showers in the area has forced the postponement of Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Bunny Hop 150 at Caraway Speedway in North Carolina. The Whelen Southern Modified Tour headed into its annual “Spring Break” and would be back on the track next on July 4 at Caraway Speedway. Andy Seuss took a five-point lead into the break over four-time tour champion George Brunnhoelzl III.
Five years ago in 2019, The weather cooperated somewhat and the 2019 season began at Stafford. Healthy fields including SK Modifieds (30) plus SK Lites (32) were on hand. Opening Day winners were Keith Rocco in an SK Modified® photo finish, Michael Wray was declared the Late Model winner after Kevin Gambacorta was found with an illegal shock absorber and disqualified, Bryan Narducci in the SK Light feature, Jeremy Lavoie in the Limited Late Model feature, Michael Hopkins in the 30-lap RMSPCO.com Street Stock Triple Crown #1 feature, and Mike Teague in the Vintage All-Stars feature.
With 10 laps to go in the 40 lap SK Modified feature, Rocco was still out front with Michael Gervais right on his back bumper. The lead duo had pulled away some from Todd Owen in third who was now fending off challenges from Ronnie Williams with Joey Cipriano in fifth. The caution came out with 32 laps complete for a spin on the backstretch by David Arute.
Rocco took the lead on the restart and behind him it was a high speed pace lap with Owen and Gervais side by side for second and Cipriano and Williams side by side for fourth. Owen took second with Gervais falling back to third while Cipriano took fourth and Mike Christopher Jr got by Williams to move into fifth. The caution came back out with 36 laps complete for a spin in turns 3+4 by Membrino.
Rocco took the lead back under green with Gervais taking second. Christopher got by Owen to take third place on lap-38 with Cipriano in fifth. Arute and Eric Berndt took a spin into the frontstretch infield to bring the caution back out with 38 laps complete.
Rocco held the lead on the restart with Gervais trying his hardest to stay with him in the outside groove. Coming off turn 4 to the checkered flag Gervais and Christopher split Rocco who was running on fumes as he was out of gas and nearly made a pass for the win but Rocco won the race by a nose. Gervais edged out Christopher for second with Cipriano and Owen rounding out the top-5.
Racing fans who waited roughly seven hours for the finish of the SK Modified race Saturday afternoon most certainly got their money’s worth. The race was one filled with carnage, with seven yellow flags in total and a wreck in turn three of the final lap. Only 17 of the 27 cars finished on the lead lap, and eight drivers failed to reach the halfway mark.
The win also took Rocco to a new career overall total of 261 wins which include 150 victories at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, 60 at Thompson and 51 at Stafford Speedway.
In the SK Lites at Stafford Bryan Narducci led Teddy Hodgdon to the checkered flag to win the first race of the season. Noah Korner edged out Alexander Pearl at the line for third with Mark Bakaj rounding out the top-5.
.Racing at the Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina fell victim to rain.
Riverhead Raceway on eastern Long Island came alive for the 2019 season this past weekend. Kyle Soper in the Wayne Anderson mount took the 50 lap NASCAR Modified win. Soper of Manorville, LI, had to come from the back of the field not once but twice before he could lay claim to his 10th career win Saturday night on a chilly and damp evening. Track owners Eddie & Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz who suffered a track record eight rain outs in 2018 ignored rain that was as close as a mile away from the track and were able to complete the seven division opener.
Chris Young perhaps drove the best race of his budding NASCAR Modified career when he raced his way into second on lap 43. Chris flying the red Riverhead Building Supply colors made famous by his later father was on the march when the race concluded settling for runner-up money. Dylan Slepian also impressed in his Eastport feeds Chevy leading 40 laps of the race before claiming third place honors. John Fortin Sr. and John Beatty Jr. rounded out the top five.
On a sad note, word was received that Cliff Nelson had passed away. Nelson was a friend and mentor to many involved in auto racing. His name and his “crown” logo appeared on NASCAR Modifieds, Pro Stocks, SK Modifieds, Late Models, Pro 4 Modifieds, Street Stocks, karts, ARCA cars at Daytona and Talladega, and just about everything else that ran in circles and made noise. All those deals were different: He picked up tire bills, hotel bills, fuel bills, and engine bills; he bought pit passes, took out congratulatory ads when his friends did well, and covered more than a few bar tabs at race-town taverns.
NEAR Hall of Famer Billy Harman sends word that former Modified competitor Sonny O’Sullivan had passed away.
In NASCAR Monster Cup racing at Dover Deleware, Martin Truex and crew chief Cole Pearn didn’t let rain, an inspection failure that dumped the car to the rear or even a maligned race package affect their push toward the finish. Truex, who is from Mayetta, New Jersey, has long considered Dover his home track, led 132 laps and dominated runner-up Alex Bowman by a breezy 9.5 seconds to win at Dover for the first time since 2016. He had no complains about the new high drag, high downforce, 750 horsepower package that led to track-record speeds posted in qualifying. Kyle Busch, the 2015 NASCAR champion, peppered his comments on the package with profanity and said his complaints to NASCAR would fall on deaf ears. Ryan Preece finished 28th.
Last year, 2023, it was warm-up and practice day for what many consider the Biggest Modified Race of the Year, NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler 100 laps, $20,000 to Win, close to 45 Modified Teams are confirmed entries.. The Sizzler competes with no other event as it is in a class by itself! In some good news it was learned that Ben Dodge is on the heal and will return to the announcer’s tower to call the Sizzler. Ben Dodge has been named as the grand marshal of the 51st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler®. Dodge has been part of the Team Stafford family for over 50 years and will send the 33-car starting field on its way with the most famous words in motorsports, ‘Drivers Start Your Engines.’ Hopefully Matt Buckler and his great wit will be there in the near future to join him. All events on Saturday and Sunday will be live streamed by FloRacing.
There were 135 cars on hand to test and tune, including 23 Open Mods, 26 SK Lights and 16 SK Modifieds. Those in hand got their first look at the Soft Walls installed in turns one and two, the all-new Beer Garden which overlooks the track and the new installation of grandstands.
The Bowman Gray Stadium, known as the MadHouse for its ruff and tumble racing opened for the season this past Saturday night, May 22 with the running of the Hayes 200 for the NASCAR Modifieds. Bowman Gray Stadium is NASCAR’s very first weekly track, a famed quarter mile where the sound of roaring engines and cheering fans has been heard since 1949. Racing at Bowman Gray Stadium was started by Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins, two men who were founding fathers of NASCAR itself. It’s the track where Richard Petty won his 100th race. It’s the track where a young Richard Childress fell in love with racing, hawking peanuts in the stands and then later taking the wheel himself.
An announced crowd of 17,000 witnessed Burt Myers taking the win in the Hayes Jewelers 200. Myers took the lead with 10 to go after Danny Bohn slammed previous leader Tim Brown. Brown, who scored his 138th pole at the historic track led a good part of the event but appeared to be slowing a bit. While Bohn was attempting to collect himself Myers got by for the winning pass. Bohn recovered but had nothing for Myers. Brandon Ward finished third with Chris Fleming and James Civali rounding out the top five. Brown ended up tenth.
In NASCAR Cup action at Talledega Kyle Busch took the win in overtime. Ryan Preece had a strong top five run going until being taken out in the overtime session.
Based on the high probability of two days of rain the Race of Champions Series management, in conjunction with Lake Erie Speedway and telecast partners MAVTV made the decision to adjust the schedule for the 72nd Annual Lucas Oil Race of Champions and push the conclusion to Saturday, April 13, 2024, with an inclement reschedule weekend, one week later, Saturday, April 20, 2024. The television schedule for the new date will be updated in the future.
With the cooperation of the Arute family a 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).
