RPW Exclusive: The Champ Trail: NASCAR Mod Icebreaker Finally Going Off At Thompson & More…
Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The NASCAR Modified Tour Icebreaker 150 was scheduled to go green on Saturday, April 5 along with the originally scheduled season opener for the Late Models, Street Stocks, SK Light Modifieds and Thompson Sunoco Modifieds. The New England weather had other ideas.
The race has been rescheduled for this coming Wednesday, April 16.
The Icebreaker 150 was originally scheduled for March 30, The Thompson Speedway oval is leased by the partnership of Cris Michaud and Tom Mayberry.
In two short weeks the Stafford Motor Speedway comes alive for the greatest race in the history of spring, The Spring Sizzler on April 26 and April 27.
It’s a good thing that the IceBreaker management decided to put the event off to this Wednesday as the forecast predicts clear skies and warm temperatures for the week.
Down in the southland the SMART Tour traveled to the Hickory, North Carolina Speedway where 14 year old Paulie Hardwig scored his first ever Modified feature win. He did it in exciting style as he got under Brice Bailey in the final lap. Matt Hirschman finished third with Joey Braun and Jake Crumb rounding out the top five. Joey Colter finished sixth with Jacob Perry, seventh. Perry started ninth in the 100 lap feature and was destined for a top five finish until slowed by a flat right rear tire. Perry recovered from restarting at the tail of the field. Tom Buzze finished eighth withJonathan Cash and New Yorker Jake Lutz, tenth. Burt Myers and Slate Myers finished 19th and twentieth respectively. The SMART Tour goes on Spring Break as Bowman- Gray opens for their season this Saturday night.
Stafford Motor Speedway is pleased to announce that the Manafort Family will serve as the Grand Marshals of the 53rd Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler®, set for April 26-27. The Manafort Family will start the NAPA Spring Sizzler 100-lap event with the most famous words in motorsports, ‘Drivers start your engines.’
“Stafford is definitely a special place for our family and being named the grand marshals for the Sizzler® is a huge honor for us,” said Justin Manafort. “My father got started at Stafford when he was younger and my brother and myself have been at Stafford pretty much for our whole lives. Unfortunately my father passed away in December and he was always a key part of our racing and he loved watching the modifieds at Stafford both in person and on FloRacing when he couldn’t be at the track.”
In addition to serving as Grand Marshals of “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring,” Stafford Speedway will re-dedicate the Manafort Mini-Mile, which underwent a repave during the off-season. The mini mile was constructed and paved in 1994 by Manafort Brothers to host Legend Cars racing. Justin Manafort christened the new track by winning the very first race on July 29, 1994, a 10-lap match race against current Fox Sports broadcaster Mike Joy. Legend Cars racing began on August 12, 1994 and the Manafort family dominated that abbreviated 1994 season of Legend Cars racing with Frank Manafort winning 3 times and Jags Palmer also reaching victory lane from the Manafort stable of cars.
The Racing Guys, headed by Dick Williams, are happy to announce that their first racershonoringracers event will be at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl for the 2025 Blast Off on May 3rd with The Modified Racing Series MRS! The Racing Guys will be giving out bonus money for the MRS racers that cross the 🏁P1 -P5! Also, thanks to long time friend and sponsor, Ceravolo’s Auto, we will have “Hard Charger” & “Halfway Leader” cash awards to be given out!
Look for Steve, Planchon Management Solutions, LLC with Mel under Modified Racing Series tent to get your #racershonoringracers t-shirts! Remember, all proceeds from the shirts goes directly into the fund for the next event!
Coastal 181, Reading For Racers has released their 2024-2025 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).
