Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Racing action moved to the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island for the Annual Islip 300 this past Saturday, Nov 16.
The 8th annual event paid $12,000 to win and was expected to draw many of the top Modified competitors of the northeast along with the Riverhead regulars. When it came time for time trials only 22 cars lined up to race against the clock .The entire event was live streamed by FloRacing.
Riverhead Raceway announced this previous Monday morning the 1st annual Glenn Dixon Crew Chief of the Race award for Saturday’s Islip 300 by HighMark Building Efficiency. GM John Ellwood disclosed Nick Rutigliano of Brigandi Brothers Automotive & Timmy Solomito of Natural Design Co., have come together to award the winning crew chief $500. Natural Designs will also present this plaque. Over the years Dixon mentored many a driver at Riverhead. From nearly winning the 1992 Modified title with Brian Miller to overseeing the development of Brendon Bock & Dylan Slepian and the now two-time Modified champion John Beatty Jr. Four of Dixon’s “boys” will be vying for the $12,000 victory Saturday as Beatty and Slepian will be joined by Glenn’s most recent team of Jack & Luke Baldwin in their 7NY machines.
The big turnout of Modified competitors never materialized as only 22 were on hand, mostly regulars. Matt Hirschman was there and was considered a pre-race favorite. Hirschman started third and kept himself within striking distance until his luck ran out on lap 283. Hirschman attempted to pass Roger Turbush on the low side when they touched. Riverhead race officials felt that Hirschman had been over aggressive and placed him at the rear of the field. In the mean time, seventeen year old Chase Grennan who had won the pole in his second ever tour type race and had led almost the entire distance, survived numerous restarts and came home the winner. Local runners Dylan Slepian was second and Chris Rogers was third.
NASCAR and the city of Winston-Salem, NC are in the process of preparation of spending hundreds of thousands dollars to upgrade the Bowman Gray Stadium. Among the upgrades is a new a new retention wall, a safer wall system. Hoprfuly they will see fit to implement electronic scoring system. Nothing to good for the Cup boys.
The Monaco Tri-Track Series has released the following schedule for 2025. The series opens on March 29 at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. The series returns to Thompson on May 14. From Thompson the series moves to Thunder Road in Vermont on May 25 and then to White Mountain on June 7. On June 25 the action shifts to the Gateway to Cape Cod at the Seekonk Speedway. On Wednesday, July 16 the series makes a mid-week stop at the Stafford Motor Speedway. On August 2 the action moves to the Star Speedway in Epping, NH. The New London-Waterford Speedbowl located on the Connecticut shoreline hosts a night of Thunder on August 23. The Tri-Track Series joins up with the Fall Final at Stafford on Sept 27 and winds up the year at Seekonk on Oct 25.
The Monaco Tri Track Series has evolved into one of New England’s Premier Modified Racing Series, second only to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series. Two key elements are missing from the Tri-Track Series, a good Public Relations person and live streaming by FloRacing!
The Stafford Motor Speedway has completed the construction of a ¼ mile speedway which incorporates the existing front stretch. It will be interesting to see what or whom races there. The Wild Thing Karts used the old infield track. ????
Coastal 181, Reading For Racers has released their 2024-2025 Holiday Catalog of great books. Among the newer titles is “Lazzaro, the man and his machine”. Lou Lazzaro became one of the Northeast’ most revered drivers of all time. He was equally as good on dirt as he was on asphalt. For many years he raced and won, sometimes three to five times a week at his home tracks, the Albany Saratoga Speedway in Malta, NY, Fonda Speedway in Fonda, NY and at the Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, New York. Lazzaro was a regular track representative for the All Star League that raced on dirt and asphalt tracks during the late 60’s. The most remarkable thing was that he did it all with the same car. One of his biggest fans believe it or not was Richie Evans. Other great reading in the Coastal 181 catalog include “Ray Everham-Trophies and Scars”, “Bugsy”, “Richie”, “Eddie Flemke” and “The Soul of a Modified” Lenny Boehlers Ole Blue. Call Coastal181 at 877-907-8181.
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).
