Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Seventy five years ago in 1949 Henry Hager was the winner at the Buffalo Civic Center. Paul Carr was the winner at Seekonk.
Seventy years ago at the New London Waterford Speedbowl it rained on Wednesday night but not on Saturday night as Moe Gherzi made it two in a row in Sportsman action at the shoreline oval. Tom Van Epps was the non-Ford winner. Freddy Luchesi and Ed Hoyle repeated at Seekonk.
Sixty five years ago in 1959, rain washed out the Friday night racing on the dirt at the Stafford Springs Speedway. Russ Foote and Bill Slater were the Sportsman winners at the New London Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night. Benny Desrosier and Rene Charland won non Ford features and Ben Hewitt and Dick Dunn were Bomber winners at the shoreline oval. Up in New York State at the Buffalo Civic Stadium Bill Rafter scored his fourth win of the season. Racing action at Lancaster saw Irish Jack Murphy in victory lane. Dick Brown won a Midget event at Seekonk.
Sixty years ago in 1964, Dick Dixon, who was well known in New England racing circles ventured to the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, PA where he won a 100 lap Late Model event over Roy Hallquist and Bob Devine. Rain pretty much washed out most of the weekend’s racing. The Stafford Springs Speedway in Connecticut and the Fonda Speedway in upstate New York were the exception where Bill Wimble took the wins. Lou Lazzaro paid a surprise visit to Stafford where he finished second by a bumper over Irv Taylor. Elton Hilldreth won at Old Bridge and Don Stives won at Wall in New Jersey while Gene Gamache won at Islip on Long Island. The New London-Waterford Speedbowl was also in a weather window as Ted Stack took the Modified win and Bill Staubley, the Bomber win. Roland Oliver won a 50 lapper at Seekonk.
Fifty five years ago in 1969, rain washed out racing at Malta, Norwood, Waterford, Stafford and Islip. Lou Lazzaro continued to be the top gun in New York State as he won at both Fonda and at Utica-Rome. Ed Hoyle won in the A division and Hank Goff won
Fifty years ago in 1974, Riverhead ran twin events on Tuesday with Charlie Jarzombek and Artie Tappen taking wins. On Saturday night, Freeport and Islip went head to head. Jarzombek won at Freeport over Fred Harbach and Tappen. Islip ran double points and Richie Evans invaded the Island with good results as he beat out Jim Hendrickson and George Wagner for the win. Jake Marosz, who is still racing, scored his lone career Modified victory at the Waterford Speedbowl. Bill Sweet Jr was the Grand American late model winner. At Stafford, Bugsy Stevens put the Koszela No.15 on top. Ron Bouchard had to settle for second with Ed Flemke, third. Evans who had also won at Utica-Rome on Friday night, made it three for three as he won at Fulton on Sunday. Fred DeSarro won a 100 lapper and George Summers a 30 lapper at Seekonk. Other weekend winners were Geoff Bodine at Shangri-La, Merv Treichler at Lancaster, Gene Bergin at Monadnock and Fred DeSarro at Thompson.
Forty five years ago in 1979, Richie Evans was the Friday night winner at Stafford. Bugsy Stevens finished in the runner-up spot with Brian Ross coming in third with a flat tire. At Spencer, Jerry Cook came home for the win over George Kent, Geoff Bodine, Maynard Troyer and Doug Hewitt. Leo Cleary extended his point lead at Seekonk as he ruled over Stevens, Ross and George Savory. Twin events were run at Riverside. Eddie Flemke scored his first win in ten years. Reggie Ruggiero was the co-winner. At Islip it was Charlie Jarzombek over Bill Park. Other weekend winners were Kent at Shangri-la, Pete Fiandaca at Westboro, Rick Donnelly at Waterford; Punky Caron at Claremont and Tony Papale scored his first win ever, at Plainville.
Forty years ago in 1984, Charlie Jarzombek was not to be denied as he dusted the field at Stafford. Kenny Bouchard finished second. Bob Polverari won a 100 lapper at Riverside on Saturday and at Riverhead, Jim Spencer fought off Richie Evans and Bill Park to win a 75-lap national championship event. Jan Leaty won at Spencer and Randy LaJoie was the winner of a Busch North event at Thompson. In Winston Cup action at Nashville, Geoff Bodine took the win.
Thirty five years ago in 1989, Mike Christopher was the Friday night SK Modified winner at Stafford. Tom Tagg finished second. Saturday night at Waterford saw Ricky Young take the top spot and at Riverhead, Wayne Anderson beat out Ed Brunnhoelzl. The Modified Tour Series traveled to Jennerstown and it was Tony Hirschman taking the win over Reggie Ruggiero and Jamie Tomaino.
Thirty years ago in 1994, Thompson ran on Wednesday. Richie Gallup in the Ceravolo No.31 won the SK feature over Steve Lombardo. Ted Christopher was the Pro Stock winner and CJ Freye won in the Late Models. Stafford rained out on Friday and at Waterford on Saturday, Jerry Pearl beat out Larry Lanpher and David Gada. Bruce Dell won at Riverside. and at Riverhead it was Tim Contarino. The Modified Tour Series joined the Busch North Series and Winston Cup division at Loudon. Jeff Fuller won the Modified 40 lapper over Rick Fuller and Charlie Pasteryak. The BGNN event saw Martin Truex pick up his first win. In Winston Cup action, Ricky Rudd picked up his first win as a car owner. Rudd passed second place finisher Dale Earnhardt with eight laps to go.
Twenty five years ago, in 1999, Mike Christopher took the Tuesday night win at Stafford with Jim Williams, second. Waterford ran on Friday but it was a point event. Dennis Gada won out over Jeff and Jerry Pearl. A packed front grandstand of 64,000 fans was on hand Saturday afternoon at Loudon for the Modified and Busch North events. Tony Hirshman took the lead from Jan Leaty on Lap 94 and went on to record a convincing win over Leaty, Rick Fuller and Ted Christopher. Andy Santarre and Ted Christopher finished one-two in the BGNN event. In Winston Cup action, Jeff Burton took the win at Loudon after Tony Stewart and John Andretti, who were running one-two with two laps to go, ran out of gas. Jeff Gordon rammed Dale Jarrett on the last lap and took over the second spot. Gordon and Jarrett had quite a discussion in the garage area later!
Twenty years ago in 2004, it had been noted that in recent weeks there had been a rash of Road Rage and fighting among competitors at Thompson, Stafford and at Waterford. There had been a lot of equipment damaged but luckily no one had been seriously injured. Officials at all three tracks did take steps to curb these actions. Competitors were suspended, fined and put on probation and overall had gotten the message that these actions would not be tolerated. While things were relatively quiet in New England, the Road Rage and fighting moved south to the Wall Township Speedway in Belmar, New Jersey. Wall Township, part of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series and had Modifieds as their lead division. Wall’s Modifieds are similar to the New England SK Modified. On the Fourth of July weekend Wall Township ran their fifth annual Marian D. O’Rorke 76. John Blewett III, a regular on the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Series, led from pole to pole to win the event. While Blewett was putting on a flawless performance all out war was being staged behind him. The event turned into one consisting of deliberate wrecks, fighting, verbal abuse and near riot conditions in the pit area. It all started before the green flag was waved. Local hot shots Jimmy Blewett and Harry Reed made contact while heating up their tires. Reed’s car sustained enough damage that he had to be towed from the scene, out for the night. Jimmy Blewett, who was the point leader at the time, rejoined the race after it was eleven laps old. His grandfather attempted to coach the young driver to keep his cool and to look at the overall picture. Evidently young Blewett didn’t listen as he ran his car deliberately into Reed’s son Steven’s car inflicting severe damage. Blewett was bounced for the night. Upon entering the pit area what seemed like hundreds converged on the Blewett car and a near riot ensued. Extra police were called in to subdue the mob. Once order was restored Blewett was taken to his home by police. Speedway officials later suspended Blewett for four weeks and Harry Reed for one week. As far as the 2004 Modified Track Championship at Wall Township goes, Blewett blew it! The Blewett family has a long history at Wall Township. John Blewett Jr. had a thing going with Jamie Tomaino years ago and even planted the former Modified champion in the wall at Martinsville on one occasion. He spent some of his racing career at Riverhead on Long Island after being tossed out of Wall. John Blewett III also had his moments but has mellowed, due to his Featherlite Modified car owner and sponsor. A few years ago, Blewett III felt that Carl Pasteryak had done him dirty at Stafford. During a caution period Blewett jumped on Pasteryak’s nerf bar and ripped out his ignition wires. Hopefully everyone had worked out all their frustrations and racing could return to normal, at least until the next full moon.
Jimmy Blewett didn’t waste any time as he towed up to the Chemung Speedrome in New York and won a 100-lap feature there on Friday night. Any penalties imposed by Wall Township or NASCAR did not apply as the New York speedway lost its NASCAR sanction as of July 7. Meanwhile at Wall Township, John Blewett III made it two in a row at the Jersey shore oval.
In Thursday night Thunder at the Thompson Speedway Todd Ceravolo had one of those rare nights that racers really enjoy doing what they do. During warm-ups his car was perfect and required no pre-race adjustments. In the 30 lap Sunoco Modified SK type feature his car performed flawlessly. Starting tenth, he was able to blow away the field to record his second win of the season. Ceravolo took the lead from Bo Gunning on lap 26 of the 30-lap feature. Gunning crossed the line in second spot but was disqualified when a post race inspection revealed that his intake manifold was not an approved part. Ted Christopher was elevated to the second spot with Bert Marvin, third. Kerry Malone and Jeff Malave rounded out the top five. Only 21 cars were on hand. Christopher continued to lead the point standings as he led Ceravolo by 14 points. Other Thursday night Thunder winners were GeGe Gravel in the Pro Stocks, Charles Bailey III in the Late Models, Andy Publicover in the Mini Stocks and in twin Limited Sportsman features victory lane was shared by Larry Barnett and Glenn Boss.
Ted Christopher made it two in a row in SK-Modified competition at Stafford on Friday night. Christopher took the lead in the 40-lap feature on lap 21 from Jeff Malave. Malave later faded as Eric Berndt took over the runner-up spot in the closing laps. Malave hung on for third with Willie Hardie and Kerry Malone rounding out the top five. Ryan Posocco recorded his third Late Model feature win of the season and Kevin Gambacorta was the 15-lap Dare Stock winner
Frank Mucciacciaro had been a modified competitor at the Waterford Speedbowl for 10 years and for the most part has been a back marker. He got his just due at the Connecticut shoreline oval on Saturday night as he went from a third place starting spot to win his first-ever feature. Tom Fox and Dennis Gada were preoccupied with their own battle, which ended up giving the leader and eventual winner a free pass. Fox ended up second with Gada, third. Ron Yuhas and Doug Coby rounded out the top five. Ernie Bertrand was the Late Model winner, Richard Brooks the Mini Stock winner and Richard Doughty was the Legends Car winner. Among the missing at Waterford was Ted Christopher who was in competition at a special Saturday night event at the Thompson Speedway. Christopher won the wreck strewn PASS 100 Pro Stock event and finished fourth in the New York based Race of Champions Modified Tour event. The Modified event was won by Long Islander Donnie Lia who used a bump and run tactic on Tony Ferrente with six laps to go to get the lead and eventual win. Ferrente finished second and was followed by Jim Storace, Christopher and veteran George Kent
The Nextel Cup and the Busch Racing Series divisions of NASCAR were at the Chicagoland Speedway. Second generation driver Justin Labonte took advantage of last lap leader Mike Wallace when he ran out of gas and recorded his first ever win in NASCAR’s Triple A series. Bad Boy Tony Stewart dominated the Nextel Cup event on Sunday Many Nextel Cup fans were happy to hear that NASCAR had listened and was in the process of eliminating finishes under caution. A new ruling could be in force by July 25 at Loudon.
Fifteen years ago in 2009, The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour headed to the Spencer Speedway on past Saturday, July 11. Following constant rain throughout Saturday morning, NASCAR and Spencer Speedway officials postponed the Spencer Speedway 155 to Sunday.
Erick Rudolph’s first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win on Sunday in the Spencer Speedway 155 made him the youngest winner in tour history. At 17 years, 6 months, 3 days, the Ransomville, N.Y., driver eclipsed the mark set by Ryan Preece in 2008. Preece was 17 years, 10 months, 25 days when he won at the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
After failing to finish each of the first four races of the season, Rudolph led the final 48 laps and withstood a furious charge from Todd Szegedy on the final lap to claim the victory. On the last lap, Szegedy got by Chuck Hossfeld for second and had the nose of his car nearly up to Rudolph’s front tire as they crossed the finish line. The scheduled 125-lap event was extended to 131 by a green-white-checkered finish. Hossfeld followed on Rudolph’s bumper for third. Rowan Pennink and Ryan Preece rounded out the top five. Donny Lia, who would have missed the event if it had not been rescheduled, Mike Stefanik, Eric Goodale, Ron Silk and points leader Ted Christopher completed the top 10. Lia attended the wedding of his sister on Saturday when the event was originally scheduled. Earlier in the day, Szegedy and Christopher won the two 15-lap heat races that set the feature lineup. Rudolph, who was fastest in practice, finished 12th out of 14 cars in his heat. Szegedy led a race-high 60 laps before being forced to pit for a flat tire on lap 80. He was able to cut Christopher’s point lead to 17. There were 26 Modifieds on hand. Caution Flags, the yellow was displayed on 12 occasions for 55 laps. And there were ten lead changes among four drivers.
In Thursday Night Thunder action at the Thompson Speedway on a night when the Speedway was to have been silent, there was plenty of activity on the 5/8th mile oval. Keith Rocco and Les Rose were among those taking down victories. After experiencing three rainouts thus far this season, Thompson Speedway management added a full slate of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition that included a 50 lapper for the Sunoco Modifieds. Keith Rocco came home the victor in the 50-lapper for the Sunoco Modifieds. Les Rose took home the Super Late Model victory. Tommy O’Sullivan broke into victory lane with his first feature win of the 2009 season in the Late Models. Hometown racer Paul Coutu, Jr. scored an exciting win in the Limited Sportsman division while Glenn Boss turned his luck around with a victory in the TIS Modifieds. Brad Caddick was declared the winner of the Mini Stock main event after post race technical inspection. Tim Taylor took the Mini Stock checker but was found to be under weight at a post race tech session. In victory lane Taylor voiced his displeasure with the way the Thompson officials had alledgedy treated him and was quite vocal over the fact that he was moving his racing efforts to the Waterford Speedbowl.
Ryan Truex of Mayetta, NJ, used tire conservation to win the annual visit of the Camping World East Series event on Saturday night at the Thompson International Speedway. Thompson regular Derek Ramstrom of W. Boylston, MA, led wire-to-wire to score a popular victory in the Pro All-Star Series (PASS) feature event. Jeff Zuidema was back in top form in the Late Models as part of the Pepsi Full-Fendered Frenzy. “Leadfoot” Larry Barnett extended his point lead in the Limited Sportsman division. Second-generation driver Brian Tagg scored his first career win in the TIS Modifieds. Tim Taylor scored his fourth Mini Stock win of the season.
The Stafford Motor Speedway came alive on Tuesday night, July 7th, with the 6th annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday program. Chris Perley won the 50-lap ISMA Supermodified feature for the second consecutive year, Nokie Fornoro won the 30-lap NEMA Midget feature event, and Norm Wrenn made it two in a row at Stafford by taking the 25-lap Pro-4 Modified feature event.
The Stafford Speedway returned to action on Friday night with a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program of five divisions. Ted Christopher took down his second consecutive victory in the 40-lap SK Modified feature, Ryan Posocco took his third feature victory of the 2009 season in the 30-lap Late Model feature, John Montesanto came out the big winner in a thrilling duel with Jay Goff to score his first career victory in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Carla Botticello outdueled her father to take her first win of 2009 in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Barry Fluckiger took down his first feature victory of the 2009 season in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.
The racing action at Waterford Speedbowl was fast and furious for July 11’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing event. Keith Rocco and Danny Field picked up their fourth wins of the season, extending their points lead in the SK Modifieds and Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock divisions respectively. Bruce Thomas Jr. and Tim Jordan put on a classic duel in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature with Thomas prevailing at the last moment. Brandon Plemons picked up his first Street Stock win of the year and Jason Palmer returned to Legends Car victory lane.
The True Value Modified Racing Series headed to Lee USA Speedway on Friday, July 11th for The Laticrete 100. Jimmy Kuhn, Jr. won his first ever TVMRS race. Kuhn was the sixth winner this year in the series showing that the competition has been tough and the race for the win tight. In the past Kuhn himself has come close to winning a race but in the end lady luck jumped in and robbed him of a victory. As usual the #72 team showed up at the track with their car pristinely prepared and ready to race. And yes, race they did as they won the first heat race and started the series race on the pole This has only been the second series race for the Kuhn team, but both races have found the team with the right combination for their pursuit of a win. Rob Goodenough settled for a second place finish after a late race pass. On lap 97, Goodenough lost his hopes for the win as Kuhn made his pass for the lead. Goodenough had inherited the lead on lap 63 after a race incident took out the race leaders. Goodenough held off several challenges for the number one spot during the race but in the end his efforts were not enough.
Motorsports publisher Coastal 181 announced the upcoming release of I’LL NEVER BE LAST AGAIN, the autobiography of Bill Wimble. The long-awaited memoir of the legendary racer from Lisbon, New York, was written in concert with award-winning journalist, Lew Boyd.
Joey Logano won the Nationwide race at Chicagoland Speedway for his third win of the season. Logano passed Kyle Busch with 25 laps left then held him off on old tires over the final 10 laps. The 19-year-old Logano, the youngest winner in Sprint Cup history, did not make a late pit stop to get fresh tires. The gamble paid off for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. There were only two cautions for 11 laps over the entire 300-mile race, including one with 14 laps remaining that sent Busch and most of the rest of the field into the pits. Busch took two tires.
Mark Martin was still nifty at 50 and had made Cup racing his personal senior circuit. He won at Chicagoland Speedway, getting the strong jump off the double-file restart with two laps left to win his series-high fourth race of the season. Martin dominated the race early and led 195 laps, easily the most of the 400-mile race,
Ten years ago in 2014, Stafford Speedway played host to two of its own last Friday night as Jackie Arute and Mike Joy co announced the racing program at the Arute family owned track. Taking down feature wins on the night were Ted Christopher in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, J.J. Hill in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Jeremy Sorel was a first time career winner in the 25-lap Xtra Mart Xtra D SK Light feature, Duane Provost won for the second time this season in the 25-lap Xtra Mart Xtra D Limited Late Model feature, Bill McNeil was a first time career winner in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature, and Ron Midford, Jr. became a two-time winner of the Champions For Charities Wild Thing Kart feature event. The SK Lights and Ltd. Late Models each split a $500 bonus from Xtra Mart Convenience Stores among the top-5 finishers.
In the SK Modified feature Christopher slugged it out with Ryan Preece to score his 101st SK Modified win and his 122nd overall at the track he calls home. Michael Gervais finished third, with Eric Berndt and Matt Dowling rounding out the top-5.
Stafford Motor Speedway officials have announced that the purse for their inaugural NAPA Auto Parts SK 5K event on July 4 is growing. The feature event will have a purse of over $27,000, with a winner’s share of $5,000. The Stafford management announced it will also pay out up to $2,000 in purse money for qualifying heat events that will set the field for the SK Modified feature that evening.
The Valenti Modified Racing Series was at the Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH on Friday night. A somewhat light field of 18 cars were on hand for the event.
The funeral for VMRS competitor Jim Boniface was held earlier in the day. Boniface lost a battle with cancer. As a tribute on his last ride the hearse that carried him and the car that he drove made a last lap tour of the Monadnock Speedway.
Back at Lee, Richard Savory scored a hard fought win over Justin Bonsignore and Steve Masse. Dwight Jarvis, Rowan Pennink and Chris Pasteryak rounded out the top six. Savory started 11th and had the lead by lap 72.
The final event of the three race Tri-Track series will be a 100 lapper at Seekonk on Wednesday, July 23. This race will pay $10,000 to win and will be supplemented by a $10,000 point fund. Jon McKennedy currently leads the point standings in the three race seried Rowan Pennink, Richard Savory, Max Zachem and Matt Hirschman are within seven points of McKennedy.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series visited the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island drawing 30 cars. Local favorite Eric Goodale edged his way past Ted Christopher shortly after a Lap 170 restart and led the final 25 laps en route to the victory in the slam-bang event that produced 11 caution periods for a total of 90 laps. Goodale’s average speed for 200 laps was 39.938 mph. Matt Hirschman, Ryan Preece and Timmy Solomito rounded out the top five. Thirteen of the original 30 starters finished on the lead lap. Among the casualties was Justin Bonsginore who lost the points lead after he was collected in a Lap 102 spin by Glen Reen and suffered right front suspension damage. Bonsignore finished 16th. Doug Coby who survived the carnage and finished sixth took the points lead by seven over Bobby Santos who finished 10th after starting 23rd. Bonsignore slipped to third place in the point standings.
Following Coby at the finish was Ron Silk, Tom Rogers and Shawn Solomito. Others were not as fortunate. Jim Zacharias wrecked out of the event and Wade Cole was way off as he finished 46 laps in arrears. Dave Brigati had electrical problems, finishing 19th and Woody Pitkat licked his wounds after finishing 20th. Don Lia parked the Mystic Missile after 143 laps due to a wreck. Rowan Pennink retired after numerous scrapes. He completed 130 laps. Ron Yuhas jr dropped out after an accident on lap 127. Also out via the accident route was Tommy Barrett Jr and Todd Szegedy.
In NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action at the Waterford Speedbowl Seven racing events were run on Saturday night. Picking up NASCAR Whelen All-American Series wins included Keith Rocco in the SK Modifieds®, Vin Esposito in the Valenti Auto Mall Late Models and Corey Barry in the SK Light Modifieds. Ryan Waterman scored an exciting victory in the Street Stock race and Garrett Denton checkered the Mini Stocks. Mike Christopher Jr. won another INEX Legend Cars feature and Corey Coates won the visiting New England Truck Series race.
Rocco checkered his sixth SK Modified® race of the year in 12 events for the division after an impressive crossover move landed him the lead in the second half of the race. The 35-lap SK Modified feature was led to the green flag by first year competitor Paul Kusheba. Rob Janovic Jr. got the jump on the opening circuit over Kusheba, leading until the first caution flag of the race on lap-4. Kyle James was contending for a spot among the top three when he spun in turn four racing underneath Tim Jordan.
Janovic got a good restart over Kusheba when racing resumed. Jordan followed into second position but the big mover was Rocco. He used a three wide move to take fourth position in turns three and four on lap-7 just ahead of a big incident between turns one and two behind him. Several cars came together in a wreck, which turned out to be scary for Shawn Monahan. After contact with Brent Sweet, his car erupted in flames in turn two, staying engulfed until he was able to stop the car in turn three, drawing the red flag. The safety crew extinguished the fire and Monahan fortunately escaped the incident unscathed. Jordan got the best of Janovic on the ensuing restart, riding the outside lane into the lead on lap-8. Rocco got past Kusheba into third and stayed on the attack, going around Janovic’s outside into second on lap-10. Jordan and Rocco pulled ahead to a big lead as Janovic, Tyler Chadwick and Kusheba raced in a pack jockeying for third position. Chadwick was able to work over Janovic and move to third, just ahead of a spin by Zach Aszklar out of turn two to draw a caution flag on lap-22.
Jordan got a great restart but Rocco sailed in to his outside in turn one to make a run. Jordan was up to the task, holding back the charge through turn three but Rocco’s crossover move changed the game. He went from the high to low lane in turn four to get a run on Jordan down the front chute to turn one. He completed the move out of turn two and was scored as the new leader on lap-24. Rocco had to beat Jordan on three remaining restarts, including some determined efforts by Jordan to try and recapture the top spot. Rocco got away each time to nail down the victory. Jordan took home a fine second place effort and Chadwick was back on the podium, finishing third. Janovic was fourth and Joe Gada finished fifth.
In Modified racing in the Southland, Tim Brown and Mike Bohn shared twin 25 lap victories at the Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC. In the first 25 lapper, Jason Myers, who registered a career-best four wins in a season last year, was going for four wins in a month Saturday night before things ran amuck. Brown got a jump at the start and slipped past Myers into the lead. Myers gave Brown a shot from behind, sending Brown sideways. Brown recovered, clipped Myers and regained the lead from Myers who hit the wall. Bohn joined younger brother Danny Bohn as a Modified winner at Bowman Gray and, as did his brother, won in his rookie year. Bohn is a native of New Jersey.
Kevin Harvick collected the win in Friday night’s Hero Campaign 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway.
Brad Keselowski won’t soon forget an eventful Saturday night in which the same right hand that held the winner’s trophy was soon bloodied and bandaged after he broke a champagne bottle celebrating. Keselowski showed early and often that his No. 2 Ford was the best car at Kentucky Speedway, dominating the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race to become the track’s first repeat winner.
Five years ago in 2019, The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series traveled to the Riverhead Raceway on eastern Long Island. The event, which drew 31 cars, was live streamed by Fanschoice.tv, was blacked out to race fans and possible new fans in New York state, New England and New Jersey.
Saturday night short-track racing can be the highest level of modified racing or the lowest level. The first of two Whelen Modified Tour events at the eastern Long Island facility was a slam-bang affair that produced nine caution periods for 68 of the posted 200 laps. There was contact, and even spinning, but it was enough for Justin Bonsignore to score his third straight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday night.
Bonsignore restarted to the inside of track regular John Beatty Jr. in overtime, and coming to the checkered flag, contact between the two drivers sent Beatty up the track, and Bonsignore spinning nose-first towards the frontstretch wall. In the midst of his spin it was just luck that he crossed the line first in the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200. The victory was Bonsignore’s third of the season and his 23rd career in Whelen Modified Tour competition. He becomes just the third driver in series history to win three straight at Riverhead, joining Mike Ewanitsko and Ryan Preece as the only drivers to accomplish the feat.
There was contact, and even spinning, but it was enough for Justin Bonsignore to score his third straight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday night.
Beatty looked to have the car to beat in the final stages. He passed Timmy Solomito for the lead on lap 150 and was at the point for a near run to the finish, until a caution for a wreck down the backstretch with three laps to go closed the field up. Beatty selected the top lane, and when the field went down into turn one at the green, the contact started between the two leaders.
They leaned on each other the final two laps, until the contact in turn four, coming to the checkered, sent Bonsignore spinning. Beatty, a regular in Riverhead’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I Modified class, was disappointed in the result, but happy with his effort. He nearly became the first track regular in more than two decades to win a Whelen Modified Tour race at the oval.
Timmy Solomito, who led 37 laps, crossed the line third. Solomito took the lead for the first time on lap 76, after dumping Doug Coby who was in the lead at the time. Ron Silk and Craig Lutz rounded out the top-five. Coby rebounded to sixth, while Patrick Emerling, Eric Goodale, Tom Rogers Jr. and Tommy Catalano completed the top 10.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as part of their annual Monster Energy Cup Series weekend on Saturday, July 20. Select drivers will also compete in the All-Star Shootout at New Hampshire on Friday, July 19.
At the Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday night scoring feature wins were Keith Rocco in the SK Modified® feature, Tom Fearn in the Late Model feature, Bryan Narducci in the SK Light feature, Matt Clement in the Limited Late Model feature, George Bessette, Jr. in the Street Stock feature, and Cadence DeLorge in the Wild Thing Karts Junior Outlaws feature.
For Rocco it ended a long dry spell as he had not won at Stafford since May 4. His career overall total is now 273 wins which also include 150 victories at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, 60 at Thompson and 63 at Stafford. Rocco and Williams slugged it out for the last half of the 40 lapper. Williams took the lead back from Rocco by a nose on lap-24 and the two cars ran side by side until lap-27 when Rocco powered his way by with a move in turn 3. Williams then came back to Rocco’s inside on lap-28 and the two cars were once again side by side with Rocco the leader at the line by inches. Mike Christopher, Jr. brought the caution back out with 29 laps complete with a spin in turns 3+4.
Williams and Rocco resumed their side by side duel with Glen Reen and Todd Owen side by side for third behind the lead duo. Rocco and Williams were still side by side with 7 laps to go while Owen was third, Reen fourth and Michael Gervais, Jr. was up to fifth.
Williams fell back into line behind Rocco on lap-36 while behind them, Gervais nearly went 3-wide with Owen and Reen for third on lap-37. Williams could get a good run in turns 1+2 to the outside of Rocco but Rocco was able to fend off his challenge down the backstretch and get clear heading back to the start/finish line. Williams made one last ditch effort on the final lap but Rocco was again able to keep Williams behind him as he locked down his second win of the 2019 season. Reen finished third with Owen and Gervais rounding out the top-5.
Bryan Narducci got redemption in the SK Lite 20 lapper as nothing fell off his car and nobody accused him of hitting anyone as he scored his eighth career win at the track.
Tom Fearn was the late model winner and Matt Clement was the Limited Late Model winner while the girls ruled the roost in the Street Stocks (Megan Fuller) and Wild Thing Karts (Cadence DeLorge).
The Valenti Modified Racing Series was at the Monadnock Speedway on Saturday night July 6. Todd Patnode passed Les Hinckley III for the lead on lap 25 and then scored the victory in the rain shortened 100 lapper that had been scheduled. The race was stopped because of rain after 66 laps. Patnode took the lead on lap-25 when he passed pole sitter Les Hinckley, a 19-time series winner who was making his first start of the season.
The victory is Patnode’s fifth series win that ties him with Andy Seuss and Ted Christopher on the series all- time win list. He also ties Dwight Jarvis with five wins at Monadnock. Jeffrey Gallup, who scored his first series win this season, finished a solid second, with Rob Richardi Jr, third, for his best finish of the season. Hinckley and Brian Robie rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Ronnie Williams, Kirk Alexander, Joey Kendall, Geoff Rollins, and Ben Byrne.
A 500-1 longshot making just his third career Cup start, Justin Haley won the rain-postponed, rain-shortened race at Daytona on Sunday. He inherited the lead after a 17car accident decimated the field and a lightning strike forced NASCAR to stop the race.
Haley waited out the delay in a conference room inside the historic speedway, admittedly too nervous to do more than pray for the skies to open and the race to be called once and for all.
The wait of 2 hours, 12 minutes was well worth it for the 20-year-old Indiana native driving for first-year team Spire Motorsports.
The race – the last surrounding the July Fourth holiday at Daytona since 1959 – was scheduled for Saturday night but forced into Sunday afternoon because of persistent rain and lightning that washed out most of this final Independence Day party at NASCAR’s birthplace. As the clouds darkened over the track at the start of the third stage, drivers picked up the intensity and started racing as if the event would end at the first drop of rain.
Clint Bowyer pulled out of line and tried to pass Austin Dillon for the lead, but Dillon would not relinquish the spot. His Chevrolet wiggled, Bowyer hit him from behind in his Ford, and because they were at the front of the field, it caused a huge wreck.
Get well wishes went out to multi-time Stafford, Waterford and Thompson track champion Bob Potter who was on the mend from colon surgery.
Last year, 2023
The Monaco Ford Tri-Track Series visited the Seekonk Speedway on Wednesday night. Twenty eight Modifieds were in competition for the $10,000 to win event. Qualifying heat winners were Doug Coby, Matt Swanson and Sam Rameau. A near capacity crowd all but filled the cement palace to the brim.
Austin Beers sat on the pole with Kyle Bonsignore on the outside. Pre-race favorite Matt Hirschman started sixth with eventual winner Matt Swanson, eighth. A wreck at the three quarter mark involving Sam Rameau and Jake Johnson worked to Swanson’s advantage as he was able to sneak by and assume the lead. Matt Hirshman took over second spot at that point but his car’s handling dropped off as he gave up the runner-up spot to Austin Beers.
At the finish it was Swanson taking the win over Beers and Hirschman. Richard Savory and Doug Coby rounded out the top five. Coby ran around the bottom of the top-five for much of the first half of the race until the wreck off turn two on lap 49 left him no where to go. During the caution period, the team worked to repair the car and Coby returned to the track, restarting from 19th. He was able to pass 14 cars up into fifth before the finish.
At Stafford on Friday night, Cory DiMatteo was a first time winner in the SK Modified® feature, Kevin Gambacorta became the first repeat Late Model feature winner of the 2023 season, Tyler Chapman scored his second win of the year in the SK Light feature, and Devon Jencik was a first time winner in the Limited Late Model feature event. Stafford Speedway’s Street Stock division took center stage on Friday, June 30 with their lone extra distance feature event of the 2023 season, the Midstate Site Development 30. Ryan Waterman continued his dominant ways in 2023 by picking up his fifth win of the season in seven races.
In the SK Modified 40 lapper Cory DiMatteo driving a car designed and built by Eddie Flemke Jr at RaceWorks Fabrication took a hotly contested win. After starting sixth, DiMatteo powered his way into the lead on the outside of Keith Rocco on a restart following a caution on lap seven. Marcello Rufrano was now third behind DiMatteo and Keith Rocco with David Arute, fourth and Jimmy Blewett fifth.
At the halfway point of the race, it was still DiMatteo out front with Rufrano, Rocco, Arute, and Blewett giving chase. Teddy Hodgdon was up to sixth with Jon Puleo, Mikey Flynn, Anthony Bello, and Michael Gervais, Jr. making up the top-10. Arute took third from Rocco on lap-23 and that move opened the door for Blewett to take fourth and drop Rocco back to fifth in the order. Rocco spun going down the backstretch and into turn 3 to bring the caution out with 27 laps complete. DiMatteo took the lead on the restart with Rufrano right behind him in second. Arute got loose in turn 4 and he slid back several spots to ninth place as Flynn was now third, Hodgdon fourth, Troy Talman fifth, Anthony Flannery sixth, Stephen Kopcik seventh, and Blewett eighth. Blewett took seventh from Flannery on lap-32 while Rufrano was applying heavy pressure to DiMatteo in the fight for the lead. The caution came back out with 33 laps complete for Wesley Prucker, who spun coming out of turn 4.
DiMatteo streaked back into the lead on the restart with Rufrano still holding second place. Flynn was third with Hodgdon fourth and Kopcik fifth. Kopcik went by Hodgdon on lap-37 to move into fourth while Rufrano was still searching for a way to get around DiMatteo. Rufrano took a look to the outside of DiMatteo on the final lap but he couldn’t make a move as DiMatteo took down his first win of the 2023 season. Rufrano finished second with Kopcik, Hodgdon, and Flynn rounding out the top-5.
The smoke from the Canadian fires was evident off the second turn but it didn’t deter the racers or the fans. Kevin Gambacorta was the Late Model winner. Jacob Perry started on the pole and led most of the event until he was dumped by Adam Gray. Perry restarted and finished third. Amanda West turned in an outstanding performance as she led 17 of the 20 lap distance in the SK Lights. West was passed by Tyler Chapman on lap 17 and ended up 4th at the finish.
The long awaited 2023 SRX Series season opens on Thursday, July 13 at the Stafford Speedway. It marks the third consecutive year the series will run at Stafford and has sold out. The series will run for six consecutive Thursday nights at 9:00pm, with all events broadcast on ESPN. The division is making its first appearance at Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, VT on July 20. Other venues include Motor Mile Speedway in Fairlawn, Va (July 27), Berlin Raceway in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Aug. 3), Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Oh. (Aug. 10) and Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. (Aug. 17).
Ken Schrader joins a full-time lineup that already includes Marco Andretti, Hallie Deegan, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart and Paul Tracy.
Down on the Connecticut shoreline at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl Todd Owen raced to his first victory of 2023 in the 35-lap SK Modified feature. Andrew Molleur was second with Anthony Flannery, third.
The Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina was silent. The southern action moved to the SMART venue at the Caraway Speedway where Burt Myers took the 99 lap win over Tim Brown. Ronnie Williams showed the SMART troops how the northern guys do it as he came from scratch (24th) starting spot to finish third. Williams drove a car owned by Jamie Tomaino. Joey Coulter finished fourth with Brian Loftin rounding out the top five.
Tom Rogers Jr scored his Modified 63rd NASCAR Modified win at the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island. The victory by Rogers tied the all-time record formerly held by the late great Charlie Jarzombek. When the checker flag waved history was made with Tom Rogers Jr. who won his first Modified race May 8th, 2004 notched career win 63 in the Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm Chevy. “I don’t care if I win another race being up there with Charlie now” Rogers commented. Tom pulled his winning car up just short of the winner’s circle, he explained, “I did that because legends like Charlie and Freddy belong there”. Rogers and car owners Denise & Kenny Darch earned a $900 bonus from the Harbach family.Kyle Ellwood pocketed $600 in bonus money for his second place tally in the Buzz Chew Chevrolet entry, while Matt Brode in the Steven’s 112 Ford machine was third earning $300 in bonus dollars. Justin Brown and John Beatty Jr. were fourth and fifth.
In the Racers Supporting Racers 100 at the Star Speedway in Epping, New Hampshire Todd Patnode went pole to pole to take the win. Matt Hirschman passed Matt Swanson with two laps to go. Swanson finished third with Teddy Hogdon, fourth. Patnode was the only driver in contention who did not make a tire stop.
Hirschman was buried back in 17th place after tangling with another car on lap 68. Four laps later, a major wreck occurred after Brian Robie was hit and spun out in front of the field in turn four. Donnie Lashua and Matt Kimball were also eliminated in the melee after their cars ended up under the car driven by Mark Bakaj. Because of the fact that he was not involved Hirschman was able to gain nine positions without passing a car. Hirschman broke into the top five on lap 76. Three laps later he was third.. With ten to go the pressure was on with Hirschman on Patnode’s bumper.
The block was on. A yellow on lap 96 set the stage for a race ending sprint. On the restart Hirschman got the bite and got half way by. The two made contact with Hirschman dropping to third before regaining control as Matt Swanson took over second. Hirschman got back by Swanson when the white flag was displayed but ran out of time to get his hands on the $10,000 winners check.
The Racers Honoring Racers 100 was a joint effort between MDP Motorsports Promotions and promotional team The Racing Guys to pay tribute to the contributions and successes of New England’s racing legends. Supermodified star Bentley Warren, Modified racer Butch Perry, car builder and owner Art Barry, and former Star Speedway patriarch Bob Webber, Sr who. were all recognized in Saturday’s second running of the event.
MDP Motorsports Promotions and The Racing Guys thank their longtime supporters for making these events possible, including Ron Bouchard Auto Stores, Key Auto Group, Maurice Enterprises of Claremont, N.H., Hoosier Tire East, and Fuller RV Sales & Rental.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolls into the Wall Stadium in New Jersey for the Jersey Shore 150 this coming Saturday night. In some good news it was learned that Anthony Noscella will be back on the Whelen Modified Tour driving the Russel Goodale No.46.
. The green flag will fly at 8 p.m. ET with FloRacing providing the coverage.
The NASCAR Cup cars took to the streets of Chicago which turned into a battle with the elements. When the Grant Park 220 turned topsy-turvy at the 49-lap mark, the change didn’t slow New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen, the first driver to win a race in his first NASCAR Cup Series start since Johnny Rutherford accomplished the feat 60 years ago. The three-time Supercars champion charged from eighth on a Lap 61 restart to the front of the field and won the series’ first-ever street race on the Chicago Street Course in overtime. What changed the tenor of the race dramatically was NASCAR’s decision near the midpoint of the event to shorten the race from the scheduled 100 laps to 75, putting a large group of cars that had pitted on Lap 43 inside their fuel window.
The New Zealand racer passed Haley for the lead on Lap 71 and beat him to the finish line by 1.259 seconds, after the sliding car of Bubba Wallace knocked Ricky Stenhouse’s Chevrolet into the Turn 1 tire barrier to cause the ninth caution on Lap 74 and force overtime. The decision to shorten the race was a saving grace for Elliott, who had crashed his No. 9 Chevrolet during qualifying and started from the rear of the field in a backup car. Elliott held third after the final restart and finished ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, who were fourth and fifth, respectively. Ryan Preece finished fifteenth.
On a sad note, Ken Meisenhelder, one of the true pioneers in capturing racing content through his KGM Video, passed away last Wednesday, June 28.. Before his video work, Ken was a driver, competing on the NASCAR Cup circuit from 1969-1971, scoring a trio of Top 10 finishes.
But it’s his work behind the camera that he will probably most be remembered in New England racing circles. With that challenging last name, we always called him “KGM Ken” and he couldn’t have been more generous with other media over the years in letting them use his footage. Ken was a pioneer in capturing content, his archives are seemingly endless. Not only with decades of events at Riverside Park Speedway and Stafford Speedway, but he also recorded races throughout New England, New York and Pennsylvania tracks, both on dirt tracks and asphalt. He was also proficient in format transfers, taking film reels from people like Howie Hodge and Dan Pardi and converting them into video form (which was no easy task back in the day and the quality is top shelf for its time). He’s right up there with the like of Paul ‘Tremaine’ Trowbridge as someone who was ahead of their time using media to promote & preserve our sport.
It was just three years ago that the ownership and management of the Thompson Speedway didn’t care about the weekly competitors after they announced that only the top ten in each division gets paid, the rest get what the cow left behind after jumping the fence.
From the way it looked on the sign-up sheets the weekly competitors got the message of the purse reductions. As the beginning of the season got closer only 11 Sunoco (SK type) Modifieds had signed up. Of the 11 cars signed up one is a Keith Rocco spare car and one is a car registered to Matt Hirschman. Ten Late Models, 12 Limited Sportsman, 13 Mini Stocks and 12 SK lights are also signed up. It looks like the competitors got the message that the track does not want them.
It’s a shame that the present promotors are paying the price for the direction the track owner chose to take.
In 1967 the Stafford Motor Speedway was paved. The NASCAR Modifieds were the headline division. For 20 years thru 1986 Stafford would host and provide competition from the best in the busines from throughout New England, New York State, Long Island and from the south. Names like Eddie Flemke, Bugsy Stevens, Fred DeSarro, Reggie Ruggerio, Ray Miller, Richie Evans, Maynard Troyer, Geoff Bodine, Charlie Jarzobeck, Greg Sacks, Wayne Anderson, Jamie Tomaino, Satch Worley and Ray Hendrick would be in the line-up and would record victories.
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).
