RPW Exclusive: Looking Back: First Week Of March

Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Fifty years ago in 1975, the NASCAR Modifieds made their annual spring trek to Martinsville for a 250-lap event. Bugsy Stevens in the Koszela No.15 took the win over Ronnie Bouchard, Jerry Cook and Mike Loescher.

A horrific fire on the front stretch marred the day when Brian Ross in the Bob Garbarino Mystic Missile was rear ended by a bumper-less car driven by Melvin Chilton. Chiltons bare frame rail tore into Ross’ fuel cell and ignited the fuel. Flames raged as high as the grandstand roof but luckily Ross emerged unhurt.

To add insult to injury, when fire crews arrived on the scene, the fixture that was supposed to dispense the purple-K wouldn’t work and the fire had to be extinguished with water and hand held extinguishers.

Thirty five years ago in 1990, Reggie Ruggiero started 17th and took the lead from Jamie Tomaino on lap 142 and went on to win the season opening 200 lapper at Martinsville. Jeff Fuller finished second and was followed by Jamie Tomaino, George Kent and Jerry Cranmer.

Thirty years ago in 1995, the Modifieds were silent as the action was in Atlanta. Johnny Benson passed Ken Schrader with eight laps to go and went on to win the Busch Grandnational event. Jeff Gordon dominated the Winston Cup event.

Twenty five years ago, in 2000, Mark Martin was the Busch Grandnational winner at Atlanta after waiting out a six-hour rain delay. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was the Winston Cup winner after teammate Mike Skinner lost an engine in the closing laps.

Twenty years ago in 2005, the big news of the week was the announcement that the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series would be returning to Martinsville, Virginia on Saturday night, September 3. The event, 250 laps in length, would carry a purse of $110,000. The speedway would install temporary Musco lighting to illuminate the .525 mile speedway. Speedway President Clay Campbell stated that the event would be held in combination with NASCAR’s newly-formed Southern Modified Tour. Drivers will earn championship points for their respective divisions. The Martinsville event will be NASCAR’s version of the highly popular North – South Shootout that is run as an open competition Modified event at the Concord Motorsports Park.

In the opinion of many the NEAR display at the annual Race-a-Rama was the highlight of the show. Plenty of drivers from years gone by and the present were on hand to sign autographs including Bob Polverari, Billy Greco, Jap Membrino, Ray Miller, Moon Burgess and Bob Potter. It was also announced that Eddie Flemke Sr, a charter member of NEAR and a member of the Hall of Fame would be inducted into the New Britain CT. Sports Hall of Fame on March 31. Flemke, who became a Modified Legend in his own time has over 500 wins to his credit and is responsible for mentoring many including Pete Hamilton, Richie Evans and Ronnie Bouchard. A hot topic of conversation was the momentum that the True Value Modified Series is gaining. The True Value Modifieds are an affordable alternative to the Whelen Modified Tour. Series leader Jack Bateman says he has 46 teams lined up to compete in 2005. The TVMS was born when the Modified division was displaced from the Claremont Speedway in New Hampshire. Since then the series has branched out to other tracks in the state as well as those in Vermont and now Massachusetts as they have three dates at the Seekonk Speedway.

It looked like the voting taxpayers in the State of Florida didn’t want to subsidize a proposed NASCAR Auto Racing Hall of Fame in the Daytona Beach area. The Quinnipac University in Hamden, Ct released results of a poll taken that showed that voters, by an 81 percent to 16 percent margin, opposed the possibility of giving $75 million to help Daytona Beach land a NASCAR Hall of Fame. To add insult to injury, even NASCAR fans didn’t like the idea: They opposed it by a margin of 63 percent to 35 percent. The poll was taken of 1,007 voters in the state. Known for its exactness and thoroughness, the Quinnipac poll was selected a “winner” by the New York Post for the most accurate prediction on the Schumer-D’Amato Senate race in 1998, and results are featured regularly in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and on national network news broadcasts.

Martin Truex, Jr. won the first Busch series race held outside of the United States by pulling away from the field following the final caution flag. Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards followed him across the line six seconds behind; Adrian Fernandez in 10th was the highest finishing Mexican national.

Fifteen years ago in 2010, with Speedweeks in Florida and the New Smyrna World Series history most of the auto racing snow birds had headed back north to await the beginning of the 2010 season at their favorite tracks. For the most part race fans and teams endured the cold, wind and rain during their stays in the sunshine state. The racing at New Smyrna could have been better but the somewhat short fields didn’t help. Ted Christopher was off his game a bit as many thought he would clean house in Fla. Keith Rocco had a chance to prove himself but he blew it when he went after Ron Silk. Rocco has a lot of raw talent but he needed to tone it down a bit.

A big disappointment was the fact that Burt Myers didn’t come to New Smyrna to trade paint with the northern boys. Myers has become somewhat of a racing personality because of his part in the Mad House reality show on the History Channel.

Had occasion to speak to Bob Garbarino who stated that he was surprised to hear from Donny Lia that he was going with the trucks. In the mean time, he said, no deals with any one had been made. It could very well mean that the Mystic Missile has taken its final lap.

Lou Modestino reported that the recession has hit the Daytona Beach area hard with several businesses closed up, and there were lots of half-priced tickets for the big events at Daytona International Speedway. He also stated that there were a lot of room vacancies, even though the room rates at the major hotels had dropped prices, some as much as two-thirds.

Between the weather and the ailing economy, things were way off from a few years ago in the Daytona Beach area.

Kyle Busch barely overtook Greg Biffle out of the final turn in a green-white-checker finish to win by 0.051 seconds in the NASCAR Nationwide race at Fontana, California on Saturday, with Brad Keselowski right behind them.

It was a heartbreaking loss for polesitter Joey Logano, who led 130 laps and was up front when the final caution came out. Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate finished fifth.

Danica Patrick was 31st in her second Nationwide race, three laps off the pace and ahead of six other cars that were still running at the end.

In Sprint Cup action Jimmie Johnson held of Kevin Harvick to take the win at Fontana. Johnson scored his 48th career victory, which came at the same track where he got his first one eight years previous. He led eight times for 101 laps to win for the fifth time in 15 starts at California, including the last three fall races there. Harvick finished 1.523 seconds behind Johnson, with teammate Jeff Burton in third. Clint Bowyer was eighth, putting all three Childress drivers in the top 11 for the second straight week.

Ten years ago in 2015, The 2015 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season got underway at the Caraway Speedway in North Carolina with the Spring Classic 150, the first of three scheduled visits to the track for the tour this year. Long Island invader Eric Goodale was able to pass Jason Myers on Lap 124 on a restart and led the final 26 laps to earn his first career win on the southern tour. He started eighth.

Myers held on for second. John Smith, David Calabrese and Bobby Measmer Jr. rounded out the top five.

Completing the top 10 were Burt Myers, Gary Putnam, Frank Fleming, Tom Abele, Jr and JR Bertuccio.

Defending Southern Modified Tour champion Andy Seuss was involved in an accident on Lap 12 that sent him hard into the wall and out of the race. Seuss would finish dead last (19th). Four-time series champion George Brunnhoelzl III, who was the dominant car through the beginning stages, blew a rear on a restart with 39 laps remaining that sent him packing. Brunnhoelzl was credited with a 16th-place finish to start the season. Whelen Modified Tour champions Ryan Preece and Doug Coby both had engine that cost them their spots in the top ten after making the long haul from the northern states.

Race Chaser Online New England Correspondent Kyle Souza reported that the Tri Track Open Modified Series has crossed the threshold of 50 confirmed entries for their four race series in 2015. Races will be contested at Lee USA Speedway on May 17, Monadnock Speedway on June 13, Seekonk Speedway on July 1 and New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Sunday September 13.

Joey Logano dominated the NASCAR XFINITY Series Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter 200 at the Phoenix Raceway, leading 175 of 200 laps en route to his first XFINITY Series victory since 2013.

Kevin Harvick was too fast to catch, anyway, as he dominated en route to his second consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. It’s also Harvick’s 30th triumph, his fourth straight win at Phoenix and, incredibly, his seventh consecutive top-two finish in Cup competition, dating back to the end of his 2014 championship season.

Kevin Harvick also surpassed the 1,000 laps led mark at Phoenix, the first driver ever to do so, in capturing his record seventh victory at Phoenix.

Five years ago in 2020, Auto racing scribe Lou Modestino recently had a conversation with, motor builder and a new tour promoter, Bob Carrita of Swansea, MA which revealed that the American Modified Tour will have three race dates at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl during the very busy 2020 racing season. Those dates are Saturday, July 4, Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, October 31.

Speaking of the Speedbowl, word has it that plans by the Racing Guys headed up by Dick Williams will be offering an Open Modified race with a $70,000 purse to be scheduled during the peak of the 2020 racing season at the shoreline oval. In other New London Waterford Speedbowl news Track Manager Mike Serluca and Ginny Potter in a joint announcement stated that the Bob Potter 300 will run on July 11and will be an open competition event. Regular Speedbowl divisions will be included with 51 lap features.

The Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park announced that 10 divisions will compete in the 46th annual Liquid Death Icebreaker weekend, April 3-5. The event also marks the official beginning of Thompson’s 80th year celebration. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns for the 35th consecutive season and headlines the weekend with the Death To Plastic 150 presented by Liquid Death on Sunday. Justin Bonsignore took three of the four races at TSMP last season, and has won seven of the last eight, while names like Craig Lutz, Ron Silk and Woody Pitkat will be looking to take him off the top. Defending tour champion Doug Coby is opening a new race team and will compete as both the owner and driver, as the Milford, Connecticut, native has six Thompson wins to his credit, including the Bud 150 last year.

Thompson’s five NASCAR Weekly Racing Series divisions will begin their championship quest, as the Sunoco Modifieds, Late Models, SK Light Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks open with qualifying and feature racing. Each weekly series division will run a night of 20/20 racing in 2020 – with double 20-lap features planned, beginning with the Late Models at the Icebreaker. The Late Models will run one feature on Saturday and one Sunday. In 2020, Mini Stock events will be 20 laps in distance, up five laps from last year.

It looks like the infusion of sponsorship money at the Thompson Speedway has prompted a hiring spree. The following new titles have been announced: Chris Williams — Director of Competition for the oval, Chris Austill — Director of Race Operations for the oval, Dave Faita — Director of Race Operations for the road course and Mike Taschereau — Assistant Director of Facilities & Operations. Most of the weekly competitors were hoping that there would be a little trickle down of the sponsor monies into the purse.

From the way it looks on the sign-up sheets the weekly competitors got the message of the purse reductions. As of last week only 11 Sunoco (SK type) Modifieds have 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. Only the top ten in each division gets paid, the rest get what the cow left behind after jumping the fence.

Pit admission for Friday is just $20, while a paddock pass for Saturday-Sunday is $60. Anyone wishing to enter just the grandstands for Saturday-Sunday can purchase a general admission ticket at $55, with seniors, veterans and active military $50. Kids 12 and under are free in the grandstand general admission.

Joey Logano raced to his second NASCAR Cup Series win in three weeks, holding off Kevin Harvick over the final two laps after an overtime restart Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

A late caution triggered the two-lap overtime shootout with Logano, Harvick and Kyle Busch all in a decent position to win. Logano had a good restart at the mile oval and was able to hold off Harvick. Busch was third, Kyle Larson finished fourth and Clint Bowyer was fifth.

Last year, 2024, The SMART Modified Series made it’s 2024 debut it the 4/10 mile Florence SC Speedway last Saturday. Twenty four Modifieds were on hand for the Peanut Patch 99 lap event. After a somewhat damp start the skies cleared and the event was run late in the day. Matt Hirschman was the top qualifier as he toured the oval in 17.193 seconds. Ryan Newman was second fastest at 17,105 seconds. The top four drew for starting positions. Hirschman started on the pole with Luke Baldwin, outside. Burt Myers drew third with Ryan Newman drawing fourth. Carson Loftin, a 15-year-old third-generation short tracker, started fifth.

Hirschman, who was somewhat of a pre-race favorite, led the early going before Loftin took the lead for the first time following a caution on lap 33 for Jonathan Cash who stopped on the track. Hirschman led the re-start and was out in front cruising until lap 79 when his car began to slow. The winning pass was made on lap 80. Hirschman then gave up another spot to Luke Baldwin and eventually spun from contact with Burt Myers, bringing out another caution.

The race resumed and Loftin drove away to his first victory in a Tour Type Modified. Burt Myers finished second with Ryan Newman, third. Joey Coulter and Luke Baldwin rounded out the top five. Sixth thru tenth included Jimmy Blewett, Danny Bohn, Will Lambros, Brandon Ward and Jason Myers. Rounding out the top 15 were Brian Loftin, Matt Hirschman, Anthony Bello, Tom Buzze and Blake Barney.

Next stop for the SMART Tour is at the Caraway Speedway in North Carolina on Sunday, March 10 for the Warrier 99. All 15-races for the SMART Modified Tour will be broadcast live on FloRacing.

Internet Racing News website RaceDayCt broke the news that NASCAR announced that Whelen Modified Tour driver and crew chief Stephen Kopcik has been suspended indefinitely. The suspension stems from Kopcik being arrested on Feb. 23 at a minor league hockey game in Danbury, Ct. Kopcik was charged with two counts of assault in the third degree with physical injury and one count of breach of peace in the second degree. An attempt to reach Kopcik was unsuccessful. The incident took place at a Danbury Hat Tricks game at Danbury Ice Arena. The Hat Tricks are part of the Federal Prospects Hockey League. Also arrested with Kopcik at the hockey game was reigning Stafford Speedway SK Light Modified champion George Bessette Jr.

NASCAR’s penalty announcement cited Kopcik’s failure to notify the sanctioning body of his arrest.

NASCAR’s release on the matter specifically cited the following rules:

12-11 Required Notice

Any NASCAR Member charged with any violation of the law (misdemeanor and/or felony), shall notify NASCAR at reporting@nascar.com or visit http://reporting.nascar.com prior to the next scheduled Event or within 72 hours of being so charged, whichever is earlier.

12-8 1. NASCAR membership is a privilege. With that privilege comes certain benefits, responsibilities and obligations. Correct and proper conduct, both on and off the race track, is a part of a Member’s responsibilities. A Member’s actions can reflect upon the sport as a whole and on other NASCAR Members. Ideally, NASCAR Members are role models for the many fans who follow this sport, regardless of the type of license a Member may hold, or the specific Series in which a Member may participate. Therefore, NASCAR views a Member’s conduct, both on and off the race track, which might constitute a behavioral Rules violation under this Rule Book with great importance.

12-8.1 Member actions that could result in a fine and/or indefinite suspension, or termination.

3. Being charged with or convicted of significant criminal violations (e.g. Domestic Violence, Trafficking, Assault), or having had determinations rendered by criminal or civil authorities that in NASCAR’s judgement necessitate action. NASCAR will not pre-judge guilt or innocence in the criminal or civil legal system, or the guilt or innocence of a Member, but rather review each matter in its own context and circumstances and with regards to its potential effects upon the sport.

Danbury Police would not release any further details concerning the incident besides the simple incident report. The incident report lists two assault victims from the matter, with one of the assault victims listed being a Danbury police officer.

Multiple sources have indicated that the incident leading to the arrests began when someone accompanying Kopcik and Bessette at the game poured a beer on another fan. A video posted on social media from the game shows an individual – sources say is Kopcik – on the ground being forcefully subdued by multiple police officers and security personnel. Bessette can also be seen in the video sitting a few feet away from where Kopcik was being subdued. The 21-year old Bessette was charged with one count of breach of peace in the second degree.

Fresh off back-to-back 2-win seasons, Cory DiMatteo is looking forward to kicking off his third season together with the #11 Hummel Brothers Hot Dogs SK Modified® owned by John Hummel with Ed Flemke, Jr. serving as his crew chief. DiMatteo came up just short of winning the SK Modified® championship in 2023 and he will hope to once again be a championship contender. In addition to his SK Modified® duties, DiMatteo and the Hummel team will also partake in Stafford’s Open Modified races with the NAPA Spring Sizzler® and NAPA Fall Final with other starts possible as well as help crew chief his brother Dana’s #76 Open Modified.

In NASCAR Cup racing at Las Vegas, Kyle Larson had to use all his skills behind the wheel to hold off Tyler Reddick after a restart with 27 laps left. Larson had the short-run speed, enough to build significant advantages early in a run. But Reddick began closing the gap, so much so that with two laps left, Reddick was a scant 0.143 seconds behind Larson at the stripe, roughly one car length.

Larson, however, was adept at putting his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in a position to block the progress of Reddick’s No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, and when the race ended two laps later, Larson had increased the margin to 0.441 seconds. Ryan Preece finished 23rd on the lead lap.

On a sad note, NEAR Hall of Famer and former Speedbowl Champion Fred Luchesi passed away earlier this week. Fred was one of the heavy-hitters during the cut-down era when the cars were heavily modified and safety was primitive at best.

During the mid-1950’s, Fred was one of the best in southern New England. He won 5 track championships in a 3 season span: the Waterford Speedbowl in 1954, Westboro Speedway in 1955, then Seekonk Speedway, Lonsdale Speedway & Norwood Arena all in 1956. He raced into the 1960’s and was later inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2008.

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).