Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The Monaco Ford Tri-Track Modified Series and the American-Canadian Tour took center stage at the Seekonk Speedway for the Haunted Hundred on Saturday.
The Tri-Track portion drew 30 cars and the ACT Tour drew 37 cars.
Heat winners in the Tri- Track Series were Anthony Bello, Kyle Bonsignore and Stephen Kopcik. ACT heat winners were Alexandre Tardif, Derek Gluchacki, DJ Shaw and Erick Sands.
Matt Hirschman left little doubt that he is the Master of the Monaco Tri-Track Modified Series. Running a low line at a conservative pace, Hirschman saved his car for the right time in order to take the lead and ultimately record the win. Hirschman took the lead from Steven Kopcik on lap 71 of the 100 lap contest. Kopcik faded in the closing laps as Jon McKennedy took over the second spot. Matt Swanson finished fourth with Brett Meservy, fifth. Sixth thru tenth included Austin Beers, Kyle Bonsignore, Andrew Molleur Anthony Bello and Woody Pitkat.
Hirschman’s season total now numbers 13 wins. With the season winding down only three big Modified events remain. This week it’s the Annual North-South Shootout at the Caraway Speedway in North Carolina and following in a week it’s the Islip 300 at the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island. The 2024 racing season comes to a close on Thanksgiving weekend with the running of the Turkey Derby at the Wall Stadium in New Jersey.
Thirty-seven American-Canadian Tour Late Models packed the pits at Seekonk Speedway on a sunny Saturday to start the month of November. Three rounds of action-packed qualifying whittled the entries to a thirty-car starting field for the Haunted Hundred championship finale event for both the American-Canadian Tour championship and the Brookside Equipment Sales Southern New England Triple Crown.
In the final circuits, Erick Sands sailed away at the front of the pack, leaving Shaw, Joey Polewarczyk, Switser, Alexendre Tardif and Jimmy Renfrew Jr. to fight amongst themselves for top-10 positions as Brown tried to power his way out of the back. Under the checkered flag, and fifty-two attempts in the record books, former Rookie of the Year Erick Sands dominated his way to a first career American-Canadian Tour win and collected the Brookside Equipment Sales Southern New England Triple Crown for good measure with Joey Pole and DJ Shaw joining him on the podium.
The New England Antique Racers (NEAR) held their annual Hall of Fame Inductions. Among the special awards was that to Maggie Summers for her seventy years of commitment to auto racing and to Bergie Bergeron who received a lifetime award named after the late Ronnie Bouchard.
The New England Auto Racers (NEAR) President April May Preston-Elms was honored and pleased to announce the 2024 NEAR Hall of Fame Class. The landmark 26th class for the region’s most highly regarded motorsports shrine will be formally inducted into the NEAR Hall of Fame on Sunday, November 3, at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
A wide-ranging group of announcers, drivers, crew chiefs, car owners, fabricator, and promoters Skip Barber, Peter Daniels, Russ Dowd, Mike Greci, “Radical” Rick Martin, Paul Newman, Bobby Seymour and Dale Shaw will join the NEAR Hall of Fame, raising the total to over 280 members enshrined.
Just thinking, it was 46 years ago that we lost Fred DeSarro. In addition to being a championship Modified driver, DeSarro was a hard working family man and a good friend to many. Fred is gone but he will live in our hearts forever!
New England auto racing lost a true giant of the sport last week when Greg Narducci passed away. Greg was the son of NEAR Hall of Famer Ron Narducci who lived and breathed modified racing all of his life. For many yeaers he was affiliated with Brad LaFountaine a noted car builder and crew chief. LaFountaine had this to say: “What can I say about Gregzy that has not already been said! All I know is that he was always by my side. We started teaming up in the 80’s and was the best right hand man any crew chief could have wanted. Me living in R.I. and him in Florida we didn’t get together as much but when we did we never missed a beat. A true Friend forever. Greg you were the one I never wanted to race without and we won a lot of races together and thank you for all you did for me! R.I.P. My Friend!”
In an other sad note, Wayne Anastasia, a member of the crew on the No. 46 Russell Goodale owned team, passed away on Saturday. Anastasia had been hospitalized since the accident on Oct. 26. Anastasia, a longtime Whelen Modified Tour crew member, was 65 years old.
NASCAR released the following statement: “NASCAR mourns the passing of Wayne Anastasia, a member of the NASCAR Modified Tour family and a fixture in the garage for many years. Simply put, Wayne was a racer, and he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wayne’s family and friends at this time.”
The accident took place during an afternoon Whelen Modified Tour practice session at Martinsville Speedway in preparation for the division’s season ending Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200, which was run at around 8 pm that night.
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).
