RPW Exclusive: The Champ Trail: Mother Nature Takes A Toll, Waterford Two-fer & More…

Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The fickle New England weather continues to plague racing in New England.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series had a scheduled event planned for Saturday. Based on a bad forecast it was postponed and will be scheduled later in the season.

The New London Waterford Speedbowl had their season opening Blast Off scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The Modified Racing Series ran an event there on Saturday with their headliner being a 75 lap event. There were 19 cars in the field.

Chris Pasteryak started on the pole and led every lap for a convincing win over Brett Meservy, Dylan Izzo, Joey Mooch and Brian Robie. Sixth thru tenth included Jacob Perry, Cam McDermott, Jon Puleo, Matt Kimball and Noah Korner.

Other weekend winners at the shoreline oval were Eric Berndt over Paul Kusheba, Anthony Flannery, Keith Rocco and Troy Talman. Devin Deshairs was the Late Model winner over Brody Monahan.

The curtain went up on the 75th Anniversary celebration at Riverhead Raceway Saturday with the on-track racing during the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program in mid-season form. All seven feature events featured side-by-side battles for the race lead with a few breathtaking finishes unfolding.

Chris Young of Calverton made a triumphant return to victory lane after winning the 50-lao NASCAR Tour Type Modified feature, but not before he survived a torrid battle for the victory with defending champion John Beatty Jr. of Merrick.

Roger Turbush led the first three laps from the pole, Beatty from the outside pole chased him for the first lap before Young, who started third passed Beatty on lap 2. During a double file restart on lap 3, Young got the measure of Turbush leading the fourth and fifth circuits, however Roger roared back out front on lap 6, leading until the next double file restart presented itself.

During a lap 15 double file restart Young returned to the race lead over Turbush with Beatty all over Roger for second. On lap 16 Beatty cleared Turbush and was quickly to the rear spoiler of leader Young and you could almost hear the whispers over the road of the cars. How would Beatty treat Young racing for the lead after their recent history last fall? Was it “payback” time?

Much to the delight of those witnessing, all that unfolded was some classic short track open wheel racing. Over the final segment of the race Beatty drew right to Young’s bumper and more than once gave the leader a nudge, when Chris’s car broke loose off the corner, Beatty backed off, so he didn’t clean him out.

When the race concluded it was Chris Young accomplishing what his late father Chris had done many times during his 33-win career, capturing the opening night NASCAR Modified feature.

“First off I have to thank John Beatty for racing me hard, but clean, he’s a true professional. It was a hard off-season for me after the final race last year, our family and the Beatty family were close over the years dating back to our Legends racing, I hated what happened” Young admitted. “I can’t thank Earth’s Splendor, Sendlewski Architects and all out marketing partners enough, I had to stop at the fourth turn gate and wave to Dad, if he were still here, he’d be there waiting to join me in victory lane”.

John Beatty Jr. not from a lack of trying would have to settle for runner-up money in the MSM Elite Motorsports Fury, while early race leader Roger Turbush of Riverhead brought the Rheem Chevy home third. Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills and Chris Rogers of Patchogue were fourth and fifth.

The Stafford Speedway was quiet this past Friday as final preparations are being made for the season opener on this coming Friday, May9.

Whelen Modified Tour action at the Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH was postponed due to a bad storm which was predicted for Saturday. Seekonk is next on the schedule, May 31. The only special event scheduled between then and now is the Tri Track Modified event on Wednesday, May 14.

Congratulations to modified tour type driver Sam Rameau. Internet news site RaceDayCt reported that after a five and a half years of effort, Rameau recently celebrated his college graduation with a master’s degree in civil engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. The 22-year old from Westminster, Mass. graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.

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).