Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – While it was quiet in the northeast, modified racing shifted to North Carolina where at the Caraway Speedway the annual North-Shootout was held.
Pre-race practice was held on Thursday.
Among those on hand were tour type competitors Burt Myers, Jimmy Blewett and Carson Loftin.
Young James Blewett and Slate Myers tested the waters in their 602 Modifieds.
Friday was the official practice day. By mid afternoon 31 tour type modifieds were on hand plus 14 Super Modifieds and 18- 602 modifieds. Jimmy Blewett appeared to be the fastest of the modifieds ashe toured the banked oval in 16.447 seconds. Also pretty quick was Jason Myers who turned in a lap at 16.459 seconds. Also in the house was Matt Hirschman who ran conservable laps choosing not to show his hand. Mike Ordway led the 22 Supers on hand as he turned in a lap of 14.759. Otto Sitterly was also pretty quick with a time in the high 14s.
The North Carolina sun shone bright making for a perfect fall raceday. First up was a 60 lapper for the Supermodifieds. Jon Mckennedy wasted little time as he took the lead in the event during the early going and ran unchallenged to take the win. Josh Sokolic finished second with DJ Shullick, third. The 602 crate modified 50 was dominated by local runners. The 50 lapper was won by Robbie Brewer who went pole to pole. The higheat finishing outsider was Kevin Orlando who finished seventh. Dylan Ward finished second with Paulie Hartwig III in third spot. Other finishers of note included Slate Myers in sixth and James Blewett in eighth spot.Following the finish Robbie Brewer was placed in 13th spot. Dylan Ward was awarded the win with Paulie Hartwig, second..Slate Myers was moved up to fifth, Orlando to sixth and Blewett to seventh.
Thirty two Modifieds went to post for the 125 lap Shoot-Out. Matt Hirschman, gunning for his tenth win in 21 starts, started on the pole with Carson Lofton on the outside. Others making up the front five starters were Jason Myers, Jake Crum and Josh Lowder. While it was a dominant showing for HIrschman, it was far from smooth sailing for him or most of the field on a night filled with carnage. Only 14 of the race’s 32 starters saw the checkered flag, as the 125-lap race necessitated nearly three hours to complete. The biggest wreck of the event took place on lap 19 when 15 cars wrecked in turn four which caused the race to go to red in order to clean ut the damaged cars.
While it was a dominant showing for Hirschman, it was far from smooth sailing for him or most of the field on a night filled with carnage. Only 14 of the race’s 32 starters saw the checkered flag, as the 125-lap race necessitated nearly three hours to complete. Following Hirschman at the finish was Jake Crum and Carson Lofton. Tyler Catalano and Jimmy Blewett rounded out the top five. Sixth thru tenth included Gary Young, Josh Lowder, Johnny Kievman and Jeremy Gerstner.
Hirschman has two more chances to add to his trophy cabinet in 2024, as he will compete in both the Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway and the Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium Speedway.
Racing action moves to the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island for the Annual Islip 300 this coming Saturday, Nov 16. The 8th annual event wil be paying $12,000 to win and is expected to draw many of the top Modified competitors of the northeast along with the Riverhead regulars. The entire event will be live streamed by FloRacing.
The Stafford Motor Speedway now has season passes on sale for the 2025 season. Reserve Season passes are $400, Kids are $65, Paddock passes are $495, General Admission are $355, Competitors License $100and number requests are $75.00. Now is the time to act on this as prices will go up after December 15. Call the track for more information 860-684-2783.
Word comes from Mark Bourcier that NASCAR Great Bobby Allison has passed away. He was a NASCAR Cup series champion, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, a four-time Southern 500 winner, a three-time World 600 winner, an IROC series champion, a NASCAR National Modified champion and a NASCAR Hall of Famer. But above all that, he was a fine human being. Life and its tragedies beat him up over and over again, but he never learned the word “quit.” If you set your compass by Bobby Allison and stayed true to that course, you were going to end up all right.
Allison gained fame and fortune during a racing career that lasted nearly three decades and earned the Florida native practically every racing accolade imaginable. But it was a career that also included more than its share of tragedy — Allison lost two sons in tragic incidents, and his own career ended after a nearly fatal on-track accident in 1988.
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!”
On another sad note, Billy Calicchio, a fixture of the Modified racing scene as a car owner, crew chief and crew member for decades, passed away on Wednesday, November 6. He was 62 and died while working on his race car. Calicchio worked with many of the legends of Modified racing since the 1980’s, but it was his on again, off again status working with the late Ted Christopher that made for legendary lore in the southern New England racing scene.
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).
