Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Seventy five years ago in 1949, Henry Hager and Bill Rafter won features at the Buffalo Civic Stadium in western New York. Jim Holt was the winner at Seekonk.
Seventy years ago in 1954, weekly winners at the New London Waterford Speedbowl were Dick Beauregard on Wednesday and Fred Luchesi on Saturday night in the Sportsman Division. Dee Kelly and Lou Tetreault were the non-Ford winners. Ralph “Hop” Harrington was the A division winner at Seekonk.
Sixty five years ago in 1959, Don Rounds scored his second win of the year on the dirt at the Stafford Springs Speedway. Don Collins was the Wednesday night winner and Johnny Thompson was the Saturday night winner in Sportsman action at the New London Waterford Speedbowl. In other action at the shore line oval Tom Sutcliff and Rene Charland scored non-Ford wins and Ben Hewitt won Bomber features on both nights. At season’s end Thompson and Bill Slater would leave for greener pastures at the Norwood Arena in Mass. The Buffalo Civic Stadium was closed for a thrill show and at the Lancaster Speedway, Doc Hector took the win. Dave Humphrey was the A division winner at Seekonk.
Sixty years ago in 1964 Lou Lazzaro scored a one-two punch as he won Modified events at the Utica-Rome and Fonda Speedways. Al DeAngelo also went two for two as he won at Islip and at Old Bridge. Bill Wimble got his fourth of the year on the dirt at Stafford. Don Wayman and George Janoski followed. Don Stives took the win at Wall Stadium. At the New London-Waterford Speedbowl Charlie Webster was the 25 lap Modified winner and Bob Potter made it two in a row in the Bombers. Bobby Sprague was the A division winner at Seekonk.
It was also on this weekend that AJ Foyt won the last Indy car event that was run on the dirt at the Langhorne Speedway. Langhorne would be paved for the 1965 season.
Fifty five years ago in 1969, Bob Santos, in the Art Barry 09, beat out Smokey Boutwell to win the Friday Modified feature at Stafford. Ernie Gahan was third. Albany Saratoga ran twin features with Lou Lazzaro and Guy Chartrand sharing victory lane. Saturday night at Norwood, Fred DeSarro took a hard fought win over Johnny Thompson and Bugsy Stevens. At Fonda, Kenny Shoemaker in the Bob Judkins 2x beat out Lazzaro and Jerry Cook and at Islip; Al Hansen took the top spot over Jim Hendrickson. At the Waterford Speedbowl Glynn Shafer, driving for Ron Yuhas Sr, took the Modified win. Big Mike Daignault was the Daredevil winner. Les Andrews was the A division winner at Seekonk. Norm Holden was the B division winner. After successive rain outs, Utica-Rome got to run and it was Lou Lazzaro making it three in a row. Jerry Cook finished second with Phil Spiak, third.
Fifty years ago in 1974, Friday night racing at Freeport and Utica-Rome rained out. On Saturday, George Wagner won out over Charlie Jarzombek and Tom Baldwin at Islip. At Stafford, Eddie Flemke in the Judkins 2x beat out Jerry Cook and at Lancaster, Maynard Troyer and Merv Treichler finished one-two. Art Moran Sr, who was the chief mechanic at a repair garage owned by Ed Yerrington, took the Modified feature at the Waterford Speedbowl. Bill Sweet Jr was the Grand American late model winner. George Summers scored his fourth feature win of the year at Seekonk.
Forty five years ago in 1979, the racing weekend started on Thursday at New Egypt where Richie Evans and Jerry Cook finished one-two. Friday night at Stafford, Evans continued his hot streak as he outran Geoff Bodine who had just picked up the ride in the Lee Allard Pinto. Evans made it three for three as he went on to win at Riverside on Saturday. At Seekonk, Bodine won a close one over George Summers and Leo Cleary. Other weekend winners were Greg Sacks at Islip, George Kent at Shangri-La, Mario”Fats”Caruso at Westboro, Rick Donnelly at Waterford, Allen Whipple at Claremont, Ronnie Rocco at Plainville, Roger Treichler at Lancaster and twins at Thompson were won by George Savory and Joe Howard.
Forty years ago in 1984, Flyin Brian Ross in his home built No.73, was the Friday night winner at Stafford. Bob Polverari finished second with Corky Cookman, third. At Spencer, Richie Evans took the top spot over Jan Leaty and Doug Hewitt. Bob Park got the jump on John Blewett to take the checker at New Egypt. On Saturday, it was Ray Miller over Reggie Ruggiero and at Riverhead it was Fred Harbach over Tom Baldwin and Don Howe. Islip ran a 100 lapper on Sunday with Bill Park taking the win over Tom Baldwin.
Thirty five years ago in 1989, Stafford rained out on Friday. Twin features were run at Waterford with Ted Christopher and Jeff Barry taking down wins. Dan Avery beat Reggie Ruggiero at Riverside and at Riverhead, Fred Harbach won the Richie Evans Memorial 61 lapper. Ted Christopher and Jeff Barry finished one -two at Thompson on Sunday.
Thirty years ago in 1994, rain washed out Stafford and Waterford. At Riverside, Ed Kennedy beat out Richard Savory and Chris Kopec. The Modified Tour Series was at Riverhead for a 201 lapper. Local favorite Don Howe took the lead from Reggie Ruggiero on lap 160 and went on to take the win. Ruggiero ended up second and was followed by Wayne Anderson, Tony Hirschman and Carl Pasteryak.
Twenty five years ago, in 1999, Lee Raceway ran an open competition modified event on Friday night. Jamie Tomaino took the lead when leader Ted Christopher blew an engine and went on to take the win. Charlie Pasteryak finished second with Chris Kopec, third. Jerry Marquis got his fourth win of the season at Stafford as he won the SK Modified feature over Willie Hardie. At Waterford on Saturday night, Rick Donnelly took the modified win over Dennis Gada and Billy Sharp and at Riverside, ageless veteran Bob Polverari collected his 37th career win. Rene’ Dupuis finished second. On the Island at Riverhead, Frank Vigliaro Jr. took the win. In Winston Cup action at Sonoma, California, Jeff Gordon took the win. Steve Park and Ken Schrader had the distinction of rolling over and in Busch Grandnational action at Watkins Glen, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the win.
Twenty years ago in 2004, the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Series was at the Wall Township Speedway located on the New Jersey shore on Saturday night. Reggie Ruggiero scored his first win in three years in what had to be considered a rough and tumble finish. Forty-three Modifieds were on hand. Doug Coby, who normally competes at the Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night, was the fastest qualifier. The 150-lap event provided tons of excitement when the event was under the green flag. Ten caution periods for 70 laps kept the average speed down to 46.179 mph. It all came down to the final lap. Ken Barry, who had led from lap 123, was exiting turn four and heading for his first win when he found himself spinning into the infield. According to some eyewitness accounts of the incident Ruggiero clearly dumped him! Ruggiero claimed that Barry turned into him in order to block. Barry recovered from his spin and finished eighth last in line on the lead lap. A last lap clip of the race showed that Barry did in fact drift up between turns three and four and was attempting to close the door that Ruggerio was already in. Tom Cravenho, in the Eddie Partridge entry, finished second with local favorite Tim Arre, third. Tony Ferrante and current point leader Eddie Flemke Jr. rounded out the top five. Many of the top guns on the Modified tour had their problems. Defending race winner John Blewett III crashed out of the event on lap 59 and ended up in 26th spot. His brother Jimmy, who is one of the local hot dogs, went the same route as he crashed on lap 37 and finished 29th. Tony Hirschman completed only 116 laps and ended up 17th. Ted Christopher also crashed and ended up 23rd after completing only 85 laps. Chuck Hossfeld and Jerry Marquis also had their problems, which kept them out of the top ten. Hossfeld finished 21st and Marquis, 24th. There were four lead changes among four drivers. Donnie Lia started on the pole and led the first lap before being passed by Ruggiero, who started third. Ruggiero led until Lap 97 when Tony Ferrante took the point. Barry, who started as a provisional in 27th spot took the lead on lap 123 and led it until Ruggiero did him in at the end. The Busch North Series was at the Holland International Speedway in New York. Andy Santerre took the win with Mike Olsen, second.
Thursday night Thunder at Thompson turned into a high-speed rumble that could have resulted in adverse long-term effects. The late models had a special 75-lap to run. It turned out to be a demolition derby. Forty cars started the event. Fifteen cars were knocked out by lap 15 but the worst was yet to come. Scott Bronczyk and Rick Gentes were slugging it out for the lead with ten laps to go. The two made contact in turn one and Gentes came out on the short end of the stick as he crashed into the concrete. Gentes was extremely upset and waited for Bronczyk to circle the track. Gentes went up to Bronczyk to vent and evidently got hung up in the roll cage or safety net. Bronczyk, expecting a knuckle sandwich, stood on the gas to get away. Gentes realized what was happening and held on for dear life as Bronczyk picked up speed going down the backstretch. Bronczyk finally realized what he was about to do and slowed in turn three. Gentes tumbled off the car and luckily escaped injury. Needless to say, both were thrown out for the night. NASCAR Chief Steward Richard Brooks later suspended both drivers for two weeks. Marc Palmisano, who was running third at the time, inherited the lead and went on to take the win. John Falconi finished second with Ryan Posocco, third. Attrition was extremely high as 13 of the original 40 starters finished. In comparison, the Sunoco SK Modified feature was tame with the exception of Bo Gunning taking a wild ride after jumping the wheel of Sean Caisse who had spun. Caisse, who showed great promise as a rookie on the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Series had shown that he needs more seat time before even being competitive in a SK, never mind a Tour Modified. Jeff Malave ended up with the win with Todd Ceravolo, second. Scott Quinn, Shawn Monahan and Buzz Atiano rounded out the top five. Other winners were George Bessette in the Pro Stocks, Ernie LaRose in the Limited Sportsman and in twin Mini Stock events, Shane and Scott Michalski were the winners
Rain at Stafford on Friday night forced the Arute family to pull the plug on the night’s racing activity. Jeff Pearl won the first of two SK Modified features run at the Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night. Pearl was gunning for a second win when he got collected in the second feature when Ronnie Silk and Rob Janovic tangled which ultimately launched Pearl into the infield. Pearl recovered to finish eighth as Dennis Charett took the win over Ed Reed Jr. Allen Coates won the 30-lap Late Model feature. A confrontation between Carl Erickson and Brandon Plemons turned ugly when Plemons deliberately drove into Erickson’s driver’s side door.
Fifteen years ago in 2009, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, after the completion of the first three, of 14 events, wound up their second “Spring Break” on Saturday, June 27 when the ground pounders traveled to Loudon, NH. There were 39 Modifieds on hand for the New England 100. Doug Coby captured his second career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Coors Light Pole Award Thursday evening in qualifying. Coby, who was the next-to-last car to go out among the 39 entries, knocked Todd Szegedy off the provisional pole with a fast lap of 30.003 seconds (126.947 mph), just under Szegedy’s time of 30.005 (126.939). Ted Christopher, who entered the day having won the Coors Light Pole Award in each of the first three races of the 2009 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season, ended up third-fastest. Donny Lia (30.039 seconds/126.795 mph) and Rowan Pennink (30.065/126.686) rounded out the top five. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Ryan Newman qualified seventh at 30.160 seconds (126.286 mph). Following Newman in the top 10 were Ryan Preece, Ed Flemke Jr., Kevin Goodale and Bobby Grigas III.
Donnie Lia took advantage of an accident involving Ted Christopher and Todd Szegedy as he inherited the lead and eventual victory of the New England 100. Christopher had driven his heart out after a first lap spin that was precipitated by an oil leak. After losing a lap plus receiving a lucky dog free pass Christopher had placed himself in the lead by lap 90. The final ten laps sore numerous lead changes. Christopher led at the white flag, with Lia, Szegedy and Ron Silk jockeying for position. Lia dove inside of Christopher as he headed into Turn 3. Moments after Lia took the lead, Szegedy swept underneath both to the front of the line. As they came out of the final turn heading to the checkered flag, all four bounced off each other, with Christopher collecting Szegedy into the wall as Lia slipped by to grab the win. What many saw and thought what happened in the final seconds of the event was cleared up by a statement made by Ron Silk following the event. Silk apologized that he had hit the back left rear of Lia which he believes caused Lia to get into Christopher who in turn got into Szegedy. Silk also accused Christopher for his bonsai type tactics that he used to get to the front.
Ed Flemke Jr. wound up second, followed by Silk and Rowan Pennink. Christopher managed to gather the severely damaged car up enough to get it across the line and salvage a fifth. Doug Coby, Richard Savary, Szegedy, Woody Pitkat, and Glenn Tyler rounded out the top 10.
There were five caution periods for 28 laps. The 100 lapper produced 16 lead changes among eight drivers.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman led 13 laps and swapped the lead back-and-forth with Szegedy in the early going before he spun on lap 64 and exited the race. The other NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver in the race, Kasey Kahne, was involved in a Lap 72 accident. Kahne finished 31st and Newman 34th. Estimated Attendance: 37,000. Purse: $166,917.
In Thursday Night Thunder action at the Thompson Speedway Ted Christopher made his hasty retreat from Loudon after qualifying well worth his while as he won the Sunoco Modified feature at the northeastern Connecticut oval. Christopher missed the qualifying heats but it didn’t hinder his march to the front in the 30 lap feature. Christopher led only one lap, the last one. Keith Rocco appeared to have victory in sight until he exited turn two, that’s where Christopher made his move. Rocco was unable to make a final run at Christopher and settled for second. The rain ceased and the clouds parted allowing the speedway to host a full night of racing competition. The action included a full card of NASCAR All-American Series racing plus two bonus features. In other action, Mike O’Sullivan earned his first of the season in the Super Late Models while John Materas was the winner in the Late Models. In the Limited Sportsman division it was Paul Palen celebrating in victory lane. John St. Germain took the All Star Race Trucks victory in a photo-finish. R.J. Marcotte scored his first of 2009 in the TIS Modifieds. Tim Taylor and Brad Caddick share Mini Stock honors.
Rain and heavy thunder and lightning prevailed at the Stafford Motor Speedway.
Despite a weeks delay because of rain the Waterford Speedbowl celebrated Norwich Night which honored the City of Norwich’s 350th birthday with great racing. Jeffrey Paul picked up his second consecutive SK Modified win, Bruce Thomas Jr. returned to Speedbowl victory Lane in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, while it was veteran competitor Allen Coates taking the checkered in the NEATV Truck Series. Kyle James and Ronnie Oldham Jr. rounded out the night’s winners capturing the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock and Street Stock events respectively. With threatening skies looming overhead during the evening, the full five-division event was completed by 9:15pm.
Kyle Busch passed Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano near the end of the Camping World 200 at Loudon, NH and held off the 19-year-old to get the victory at New Hampshire International Speedway. Logano, who started from the pole and led 108 of the 200 laps, beat Busch out of the pits by the length of a hood on the final pit stop by the two leaders. But Busch was able to stay with the leader and eventually drive past him with 36 laps left.
In Nextel Cup racing at Loudon, Joey Logano became the youngest winner in the history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, winning the rain-shortened race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The 19-year-old rookie came back from a crash that put him a lap down earlier in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 and won his first Cup race in his 20th start. Logano was among a group of drivers who moved to the front of the field after getting out of sequence on fuel stops. The youngster took the lead when Ryan Newman, trying to stay on track as long as possible with rain threatening, ran out of gas on lap 264 in the event scheduled to go 301 laps. Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon moved into second and was steadily cutting into the lead as Logano, with a nearly empty gas tank, conserved as much fuel as possible. But the rain began falling three laps later. The competitors ran six slow laps under caution before NASCAR put out a red flag in hopes of drying the track. But the rain began falling harder and the race was called after 273 laps.
Gordon was disappointed with the second-place finish. Kurt Busch, who won a rain-shortened event at Loudon last June, finished third, followed by David Reutimann and Stewart, now part owner of his own team and the series leader by 69 points over Gordon.
Ten years ago in 2014, the Stafford Motor Speedway suffered its fourth rainout in the last five weeks. The Arute family that owns and operates the speedway has added Friday, September 19 to its 2014 event schedule.
The VMRS cars return to Stafford on July 18 for the 4th Annual Lincoln Tech 80 and again on August 29 for the 5th Annual VMRS 80. The Valenti Modified Racing Series was still reeling from the departure of Scott Tapley. Tapley brought stability and respectability to the series. Being a race director is a tough job. Evidently a difference of opinion between himself and series founder Jack Bateman was the basis of his departure. Anybody who has ever been a race director or chief steward knows it’s a no win situation when ever a race call is made. Somebody is made happy and somebody gets mad, that’s the way it is! As the Valenti Modified Racing Series searched for a new race director for the 2014 racing season, series president Jack Bateman told website Speed51.com that he would serve as interim race director until the position is filled.
In NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series news it was announced that change is in the air for Tour regular Rob Fuller Motorsports, who recently named 2003 Champion Todd Szegedy as the driver of the No. 15 Chevrolet for the New Hampshire 100 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 12. Team owner and driver Rob Fuller made the decision shortly after testing the new LFR Chassis at Thompson Speedway last week. Fuller is the owner of LFR Chassis, a new company that manufactures modified and late model chassis, and this was the first test session where Fuller drove a race-ready modified chassis created by his company. In addition to competing in the New Hampshire 100, Szegedy will run the No. 15 Rob Fuller Motorsports entry in the NASCAR Modified All-Star Shootout the day prior. Although Fuller is the head of LFR Chassis, the day to day management and oversight is handled by veteran NASCAR crew chief Tony Eury Jr. Eury Jr. has over 20 years of experience working at the top levels of NASCAR as a crew chief, car chief, mechanic and tire changer.
The Big event in New England over the weekend was the fourth annual SBM 125 at the Star Speedway in Epping. NH. Two time winner Matt Hirschman was the odds-on favorite to take the event which paid close to $10,000 to win. The SBM 125 IV had nearly $45,000.00 payout up for grabs. The base purse was $31,400.00. Thirty three cars ran four heats to set the field.
Hirschman started on the outside pole after a re-draw of the heat winners. Hirschman was well on his way to victory until a spin on lap 93 spoiled his night. Les Hinkley and Rowan Pennink fought to lead but in the end it was Jon McKennedy who prevailed to take the win. Hinkley hung on for second while Pennink faded to sixth. Richard Savory ended up third with Steve Masse, fourth. Anthony Nocella rounded out the top five.. Sixth thru tenth were Pennink, Woody Pitkat, Max Zachem, Chris Pasteryak and Derek Ramstrom. Hirschman came back after a pit stop to finish 13th.
SBM 125 IV PAYOFF June 14, 2014 $46,301 (record purse- included all bonuses)
1. Jon McKennedy $6,175, 2. Les Hinckley $3,725, 3. Richard Savary $2,375 , 4. Steve Masse $2,650 and 5. Anthony Nocella $1,575.
In NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action at the Waterford Speedbowl Keith Rocco scored a two-fer as he ran to victory in both the SK Modified and Late Model events on Saturday night at the Connecticut shoreline oval. Rocco, who celebrated his first Father’s Day was happy as a clam. Josh Galvin won another Street Stock race and Randy Churchill was back in Victory Lane following the SK Light Modified feature. Jeff Lee was the only new winner, a career first victor in the Mini Stocks. Allen Coates added another Speedbowl win to his career in the visiting New England Truck Series race.
An extra-distance 40-lap SK Modified® highlighted Saturday’s racing card, checkered by Rocco. He made the move of the race early and once in the lead, closed the race with a long green flag run to the checkered flag. The opening green flag saw the third place car Paul Kusheba come up to speed slowly, giving the outside lane behind the front row an advantage. Rocco was mid-pack and able to slide by multiple cars on the opening lap, led by Tim Jordan. Ted Christopher moved to second on lap-3 and tailed Jordan until the first caution of the race came out before the field could complete lap-5. Contact between the cars of Kusheba and Ed Puleo saw Puleo spin off the track down the back chute, collecting Frank Mucciacciaro.
The restart saw Jordan lead Christopher but it was Rocco’s dazzling move in traffic that captured everyone’s attention. He went from fourth to second position between laps 5 and 6. The lead cars of Jordan and Christopher went wide through turn four causing a tense moment for the field behind. Jordan recovered to hold his lead, but Christopher lost momentum to keep his car off the wall. Craig Lutz darted inside Christopher while Rocco shot through the middle of both down the front chute, coming away with second position. He took a shot from Christopher in turn one before pulling outside of Jordan for the lead. Rocco stayed there for four laps before seizing control, clearing Jordan exiting turn two on lap-10.
Tom Pinson spun in turn four on lap-12 to create the final restart. Rocco quickly got away from Jordan, who received a challenge for second position from Lutz. Behind them, Christopher was in a battle with Rob Janovic for fourth. Those side-by-side battles ended with Lutz clearing Jordan on lap-15, bringing Janovic underneath Jordan. Those three cars continued a battle for second behind Rocco for the final 20 laps of the race.
The final 28 laps were run without incident and Rocco went unchallenged. The action for second intensified over the final six laps, including a nifty save by Janovic off turn four on lap-34. The cars of Lutz, Janovic and Christopher raced nose to tail on the final lap and Janovic got crossed up again, this time in turn two. He chased his car nearly saving it again, unfortunately getting into the infield off the back stretch and giving up a podium finish. Lutz continued his string of podium finishes and ended up second while Christopher finished third. Jordan was fourth and Kyle James fought to earn a spot among the top-five at the finish.
The search for a buyer of the Speedbowl property continued. The property was valued at an estimated $3.075 million. If a buyer was not found the Speedbowl property would be sold at auction on Oct. 18. Current owner Terry Eames owed primary creditors Rocco Arbitell and Peter Borelli $1.09 million. He also owed other creditors $750,000 and the Town of Waterford $60,000 in back taxes. Eames continues to shake the bushes for someone to refinance the debt or buy it outright. One of those who has expressed interest in buying the property was former track champion Dick Ceravolo. Ceravolo stated, I’mm interested but I won’t pay $3 million when all I have to do is wait until October and buy it for $1.09 million”.
At the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island, Tom Rogers Jr was the NASCAR Modified feature winner.
In Modified racing in the Southland, Jason Myers turned in another strong performance, snatching victory away from a frustrated Tim Brown and celebrated again at Bowman Gray Stadium after winning Saturday night’s 100-lap Modified race. Myers never trailed from there and registered his 17th feature-division victory at Bowman Gray. Brown unhappily settled for second; Danny Bohn wound up third; and Burt Myers, fresh off a win Friday at Ace Speedway, lost little of his season points lead with a fourth-place finish.
Winston-Salem (NC) State University is a step closer to buying city-owned Bowman Gray Stadium. City Manager Lee Garrity said this week that the city has received a $7.3 million offer from the state to buy the stadium, which has long been the home-base of WSSU football. The offer is contingent upon Winston-Salem State successfully completing a Brownfield agreement to test the land on which the property sits for contamination. Provisions have been added to the bill of sale to ensure that NASCAR racing remains at the stadium.
Nancy Young, director of public relations at Winston-Salem State alluded to the fact that racing would continue at the historic oval. “We have been working with the racing folks on Saturday night,” Young said. “They have a long term contract and we are depending on that revenue to help us pay for the stadium.
Joey Logano’s flat tire with about five laps to go allowed Paul Menard to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. It was Menard’s second victory on that circuit and first since 2006.
Jimmie Johnson’s series of heartbreaking defeats at Michigan Int’l Speedway came to an end when he won the Quicken Loans 400, his first-ever victory at MIS and the fifth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win for Hendrick Motorsports.
Five years ago in 2019, At the Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday night the Street Stock division took center stage with the extra distance Casagrande Builders Street Stock 30, the second leg of the RSMPCO.com Street Stock Triple Crown. Jason Lafayette was the big winner of the night, taking the checkered flag in the Casagrande Builders Street Stock 30. Other feature events saw Todd Owen outlast Glen Reen in a thrilling finish to collect his second consecutive SK Modified® feature win, Tom Fearn scored his second consecutive Late Model win, Noah Korner was the winner of the SK Light feature after Bryan Narducci’s car came up light in post race inspection, and Matt Clement was also a winner for the second consecutive week in the Limited Late Model feature.
In the Street Stock feature, Lafayette got clear of Fuller in turns 3+4 on the final lap and he took the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the 2019 season. In the Late Models, Tom Fearn scored his second consecutive win and third win of the 2019 season. In the Ltd Late Models, Matt Clement led Jeremy Lavoie to the checkered flag to pick up his fourth win of the 2019 season.
In the SK Lites, Bryan Narducci took the checkeded flag for the second week in a row and was again snake bitten as his car failed to make weight. A piece of lead fell off during the feature due to broken bolts that secured it to the car. Narducci was placed 22nd in the final order. Noah Korner was awarded the win for the second time in 2019 with Steven Chapman, Wesley Prucker, Alexander Pearl, and Chris Matthews making up the top-5.
In the 40 lap SK Modified main, Todd Owen cleared Glen Reen in turn 4 on the final lap and he picked up his second consecutive SK Modified® feature win. Reen nipped Ron Williams at the line for second with Stephen Kopcik and Eric Berndt rounding out the top-5. Sixth thru tenth were Michael Christopher, Jr., Keith Rocco, Michael Gervais, Jr., Matt Galko and Joey Cipriano.
The Valenti Modified Racing Series part of the third annual New England Short Track Showdown which was held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. Ronnie Williams made certain he’d be leading when it counted, on lap-50 and he did by about a foot, to capture his second win of the season.
William’s outran Anthony Nocella, in a drag race to the checkered flag, with Jeff Gallup, who finished third, Chase Dowling, fourth, and Mike Willis Jr, fifth. The victory was worth $5000, 00. Four caution flags slowed the race on laps 2, 20, 39, and 42. A red flag was displayed on lap-20 after veteran driver Roy Seidell spun in turn two and was struck by Dave Etheridge. Seidell was transported to a local hospital alert and conscious. Less than 500 fans were in the grandstand. The Valenti Modified Racing Series next competes at Monadnock Speedway July 6.
At the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island defending NASCAR Modified track champion Kyle Soper won his fifth race in seven starts Saturday topping the 50-lap Whelen All Anmerican Series feature event. The Manorville resident is now halfway home to tying the single season win mark of 10 that was set twice by the late “Charging” Charlie Jarzombek (1976 & 77) and once by Gary Winters (1962). Twelve point paying NASCAR Modified races remain on the 2019 Riverhead schedule and with the early season roll Soper is on he may very well not only tie but break the record for wins in one season.
John Baker had his best outing of the year with a runner-up finish in the Staria Aitomotive Chevy while veteran John Fortin Sr. was third in his John’s Tree removal Chevy. Tom Rogers Jr. and Timmy Solomito rounded out the top five.
In racing at the Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina Brandon Ward took advantage of a restart with 10 laps remaining Saturday night to slip past Burt Myers and hold on for the win. When Burt Myers won the 100-lap race three weeks ago, he also won the $3,000 Fans’ Challenge after electing to start in the back of the field and finished in the top four. Saturday night Tim Brown won the pole, followed by Lee Jeffreys, John Smith and Jonathan Brown. Jonathan Brown and Smith elected to go to the back of the field, and Jonathan Brown started 22nd. Jonathan Brown went all the way to third and was able to collect the $3,000 Challenge.
In NASCAR cup racing, Martin Truex won on the hilly road course at Sonoma Raceway for the second straight year and the third time in his career, comfortably holding off Busch for JGR’s 10th victory of the season.
The New London Day reported that despite longer-than-anticipated grandstand construction delays, the general manager of the New London-Waterford Speedbowl says the track will open and run events this year, even if the season stretches into November. General Manager Mike Serluca and town officials say plans and permit applications are under review for the first time this year for new grandstands at the Speedbowl, owned since 2014 by wealthy businessman Bruce J. Bemer, who is appealing a recent 10-year prison sentence on sex trafficking crimes, for which he also faces ongoing civil suits. Serluca, who took on the management role last fall, and Town Planning Director Abby Piersall said applications were submitted earlier this week to get the ball rolling on grandstand replacement, a first in the popular track’s 69-year history.
“We are 100 percent planning on running events this year,” Serluca said in an interview “I don’t know how many I can guarantee at this time. If I have to run into November, it’ll be cold but I’ll get these guys as many races as they can race.” Serluca said he’s meeting with a contractor who will help establish a timeline, and he added that “the town of Waterford has been absolutely remarkable to work with. We’ve met zero resistance from them the whole time.” Piersall said the town technically has 30 days to complete its review of permit applications; as long as applications are complete, building “officials try to make that effort to do it quicker,” she said. The track can’t open without the permits, inspections and a security plan in place with town police, she said.
Serluca, working directly for the track’s management company, of which Bemer is president, said he plans on managing the track “for the long haul,” if given the chance. The 40-year-old New London resident said his father took him and his brother to the Speedbowl as kids, and “if you go once, you’ll get bitten by the bug and want to come back for more.”Serluca added that “there’s been a ton of interest from people that want to buy it, but it’s hard to buy something that’s not for sale,” noting he hasn’t had “any indication” from Bemer that he intends on selling it.
Glastonbury Connecticut businessman Bruce Bemer was sentenced Monday, June 17 to 10 years in prison for his role in a Danbury sex trafficking ring that preyed upon vulnerable young men who were suffering from drug addiction or mental illness. Bemer, 65, was also sentenced to five years’ probation and must register as a sex offender. He faced as many as 60 years in jail after a Danbury jury convicted him April 10 of being an accessory to human trafficking and four counts of patronizing a trafficked person.
Judge Robin Pavia set an appeal bond for Bemer at $750,000 that he expects to post. He will wear a GPS monitor, have a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and will not be able to leave the state.The defense had asked Pavia to toss out the conviction, arguing the jury reached its verdict based on a faulty explanation of the law. In the alternative, the defense asked the judge to order a new trial.
At Monday’s sentencing, prosecutor Sharmese Hodge asked the judge to send Bemer to prison for 25 years. Bemer’s attorney Anthony Spinella argued in favor of probation. A 25-year prison sentence is what murderers get, he said. Bemer turned down a plea agreement that would have allowed him to avoid jail.
Bemer is the owner of several businesses, including the Waterford Speedbowl and Bemer Petroleum of Glastonbury. He had been free on $500,000 bond since his arrest. After the guilty verdict, Judge Robin Pavia increased Bemer’s bail by another $750,000, which he posted.
Last year, 2023, Big news broke when the Stafford Speedway and FloRacing announced that have agreed to extend their live streaming partnership through the 2028 season. FloRacing is the best thing that ever happened to short track racing both on asphalt and dirt. With Flo, everybody wins. The tracks receive revenue, the competitors receive revenue, advertisers and sponsors get world wide exposure and the fans get to see the best there is for a nominal fee.
Stafford and FloRacing announced a groundbreaking partnership in 2021 with Stafford becoming the first pavement track on the streaming platform. Since the partnership began in 2021, weekly racing action from the Connecticut half-mile has been consumed by thousands of race fans throughout the country. “FloSports is proud to be the broadcast home for Stafford Motor Speedway. In our earliest days in short track pavement racing, The Arute family believed in our mission to grow grassroots racing in America. We’re grateful for their partnership, leadership, and vision and look forward to continued growth in the years to come.” Stated Mike Levy, Vice President, Global Rights Acquisition & Partnerships, FloSports.
While Thompson and New London continue to have issues with car counts it’s just the opposite at Stafford. On Friday night there were 114 cars in the Stafford pit area including 24 SK Modifieds, 35 SK Lights, 14 Limited Late Models, 23 Street Stocks and 18 Late Models. With threatening weather in the area a good crowd was on hand.
Michael Christopher, Jr. ended a long dry spell at Stafford as he scored his first victory of the year as he won the 50-lap Senator’s Cup feature event. Kevin Gambacorta was a first time 2023 winner in the Late Model feature, Chris Matthews was a first time 2023 winner in the SK Light feature, Kevin Cormier notched his third win of the 2023 season in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Hydar scored his second win of the season in the Street Stock feature.
Christopher went pole to pole but it was no cake walk. Jimmy Blewett started tenth and after charging to the front, planted himself in Christopher’s draft. Blewett stalked Christopher for the lead until lap-39 when he was able to get to the inside of Christopher and take over the lead in turns 3+4. Anthony Bello, who had started in the scratch position, was now third behind the two leaders with Todd Owen fourth, Arute fifth, Dylan Kopec sixth, and Keith Rocco seventh. Christopher was able to get back by Blewett in turn 4 on lap-45 to retake the lead with Bello, Owen, and Arute still making up the top-5 with 5 laps to go. Blewett made one last charge on the final lap but couldn’t get close enough to Christopher to make a move as Christopher took down his first win of the 2023 season. Bello finished third with Owen and Arute rounding out the top-5.
Other Friday night winners at Stafford included Kevin Gambacorta who was a first time 2023 winner in the Late Model feature, Chris Matthews was a first time 2023 winner in the SK Light feature, Kevin Cormier notched his third win of the 2023 season in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Hydar scored his second win of the season in the Street Stock feature.
The Thompson Speedway returned to oval track racing this past Wednesday, June 21. Promoted by the ACT Tour & PASS, the Thompson Outlaw Open Modified Series went 50 laps & $5,000 to win! Also on the racing card was The New England Supermodifieds, Thompson Late Models, SK Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.
The speedway continues to be dying a slow death despite the efforts of ACT and Pass. Sub-par fields of cars, 15 Modifieds, 17 SK Lites, 15 Limited Sportsman, 10 Supers and 8 Mini Stocks made up the divisions that raced. As the paint continues to flake off the grandstands the once proud facility has taken on a shabby look. Since Don Hoenig retired the racing facility has been changed over to favor the sports car set which has not set well with the oval track community. Many of the oval track fans stayed away in droves.
Ronnie Williams used a late caution to win the Icebreaker 125 for the Outlaw Open Modified Series at Thompson Speedway back in April. Wednesday night, Williams didn’t need a late caution – he did it in dominating fashion. Williams took the lead early and rolled to the win after holding off Chris Pasteryak and on a flurry of late restarts. The victory came in the first of the summer Dash For Cash 50-lap, $5,000 to win races for the Outlaw Open Modifieds at the Connecticut oval in 2023.
Williams had a tough challenge on the final restart with Pasteryak closing in on the back bumper. Pasteryak was close on the final lap when the field took the white flag, but got loose off turn two and had to settle for second. Joey Mucciacciaro posted a strong third-place finish with Kurt Vigeant and Swanson finishing the top-five.
Other winners included Former Thompson champion Nick Johnson in the 25-lap Late Model race, Ben Seitz in the Supers, Tyler Chapman collected the extra-distance prize in the SK Light Modifieds at the end of their 30-lap feature, Corey Fanning made it two-for-two on the 2023 season in the Limited Sportsman and Kyle Wing in the Mini Stocks. Wing won his qualifying heat in dominant fashion, then followed it up by leading all 15 laps to win the Mini Stock feature race.
The track will return to racing action on Wednesday, July 26, with the Twisted Tea Open Modified Dash For Cash round two, set for 50 laps and $5,000 to win. Rumors persist that ACT and Pass will be all done at Thompson at season’s end.
On a sad note, former Chief Starter and presently pit steward Richard Brooks suffered a heart attack on his way home following the Thompson event. Brooksie had a major blockage which was repaired by the installation of a stent. He is currently recovering at the L&M Hospitol in New London, Ct.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolled into the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island Saturday night, June 24 for the Mike Ewanitsko 200. Among the missing was Jon McKennedy who had the mis-fortune of having his race team close up shop. The Modified tour followed the trend of other racing venues with a short field of cars on hand. The official count was 23 but if you take out the regulars that leaves 15. If this trend continues Melissa Fifield will be a top ten finisher by Labor Day!
Ron Silk scored a well deserved win in the 200 lap contest and was greeted in victory lane by Mike Ewanitsko. Silk started second and trailed pole sitter Austin Beers before taking the lead on lap 63. Beers faded as his car’s handling fell off. Justin Bonsignore moved into second and Doug Coby moved into third but they had nothing for the leader as they followed him to the finish. An outstanding performance was turned in by local favorite Jack Handley who finished fourth. Rounding out the top five was Roger Turbush, Sixth thru tenth included Tyler Rypkema, John Beatty Jr., Timmy Solomito and Austin Beers.
The 200 lap contest went almost incident free with only two cautions slowing the event. The first yellow was displayed on lap 51 for a spin on the front stretch by Dave Sapienza and the second yellow came on lap 104 when JR Bertuccio stopped in the infield and dropped his safety net.
Great job of calling the event by Steve Halpin and Joe Coss.
Down on the Connecticut shoreline at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl foggy conditions prevailed but it didn’t stop Timmy Jordan who won the 60 lap SK Modified feature. It was his 13th career win and 40th overall at the shoreline oval. Ryan Morgan finished second with Todd Owen, third. Jason Palmer was the Late Model winner. He now has 95 career wins at the bowl.
The Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina had their own drama. Jason Myers dominated the first Modified race, but then was disqualified because he failed the tire inspection in the first 25-lap race in that division. With Myers getting disqualified it was Tim Brown, who finished second, who was given the victory and that was his 98th career win. Myers sat on the pole with the best time in qualifying 13.1 and never trailed, but the Victory Lane celebration was for naught. Daniel Beeson was second and Lee Jeffreys was third. Myers was able to change tires for the second race but had to start in the back of the field. Junior Snow won the second Modified race.
In NASCAR Cup racing action at the Nashville Super Speedway Ross Chastain capped off a “perfect” race weekend, hitting all the right notes in the Music City to earn the winner’s guitar trophy in Sunday’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway – his first NASCAR Cup Series race victory of the season, a day after claiming his first career pole position.
But before hoisting his new guitar, the 30-year-old Chastain had a watermelon to smash — his trademark victory celebration — a nod to his family’s multi-generation watermelon farm in rural Alva, Florida. And the sold-out Nashville crowd — home to his race team owner Justin Marks — roared with enthusiasm for the long smoke-filled victory burnout he did in front of the grandstands to his enthusiastic melon drop.
Joe Gibbs Racing showed up strong at Nashville Superspeedway with Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin leading a combined 131 laps before finishing runner-up and third, respectively, after a fierce battle with Ross Chastain. Ryan Preece finished sixteenth on the lead lap.
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).
