NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS SOUTH
By Lou Modestino(for 2/13-2/15/09)

It all started on a sunny Sunday afternoon, when Tom Mayberry held the first ever Pro All Stars Series event at a southern New Hampshire oval. 33 cars took the green flag that saw Dale Shaw of Conway, NH win the first ever event. A 150 lap contest that saw some of the best Pro Stock drivers throughout the Northeast region of the United States compete against each other. In the almost 8 years since, there have been over 25 more names added to the winners list, with over 250 more that have attempted to bring home one of the toughest touring division trophies available.

Seekonk Speedway founder D. Anthony Venditti started a low cost Late Model division in 1978 called the All Pro’s. Since then, Seekonk Speedway has been the birthplace and the home of the Pro Stocks. They evolved into the Pro Stock division that continues to headline the racing action at the Bay State 1/3 mile oval. In the over 30 years of Pro Stock racing, there have been over 50 names that have visited Victory Lane at Seekonk Speedway.

On Saturday Night, August 15, 2009, the two will meet for the first time in a 150 lap contest. “This is something that we’ve wanted to try for a long time” Dave Alburn, Seekonk Speedways Race Director stated. “The timing is right for both parties to get together.” This will be the longest Pro Stock race in history at Seekonk. “We normally run 75 or 100 laps for our open competition events, so it will be interesting to see how many of our competitors will be up to the challenge.” With another week off for the Pro’s the following Saturday due to the True Value Mods coming to town, they will have time to change their cars back to Seekonk specs.

The starting field will consist of 26 cars taking the green for the century and a half grind. “We will have two 75 lap main events before PASS comes to town, and the winner of those will be guaranteed starters in the 150,” Alburn stated. “This will give our competitors a chance to run with them.”

The winner of this historic event will also be a guaranteed starter in the 18TH Annual DAV Fall Classic. “We wanted to welcome PASS with a chance to compete in out biggest weekend of the year,” Alburn continued. “We have seen some great competition from Johnny Clark, Travis Benjamin, Larry Gelinas, Dale Shaw, Mike Rowe and many other PASS competitors that have tried to win here.” The only outsiders to win the DAV Fall Classic have been Jeff Stevens in 1997 and Russ Hersey in 2006.

The August 15th event will be the first time a touring Pro Stock/Super Late Model class has visited the Cement Palace since Jeff Stevens won in 1997. “We have enjoyed the tours in the past, but wanted to focus on our own program, building one of the most competitive classes in New England,” Dave stated. “We have talked to Tom and his staff several times in the past, but it wasn’t the right time for us, or them. We feel the timing couldn’t have been better for either of us. Like peanut butter and chocolate, Seekonk and PASS will go together well.”

Some lucky racers, chosen at random, will win thousands of dollars worth of prizes at SpeedwayEXPO’s Let’s Make a Racin’ Deal event.  Scheduled for Sunday, March 1, at 12 noon, the debut of Let’s Make a Racin’ Deal promises to be the most exciting game show auto racing has ever seen.

Similar to the legendary television game show, contestants will guess prices and choose between curtains and boxes with the hope of winning valuable prizes.  Winners may take home prizes like a Longacre computer scale system or the latest Bell Infusion helmet–or they may end up with gag gifts. There are sure to be plenty of laughs. All SpeedwayEXPO attendees may participate, and are encouraged to bring outrageous, host-attention-getting clothing and props.

Coupons ($5 off) for discount admission to SpeedwayEXPO will soon be available at more than 160 participating Sunoco dealers throughout New England. Tickets can also be purchased in advance to save $5 off the price at the gate ($16 for adults, children 10 and under free). These money-saving tickets are available at 978-465-9099 x 103 (ask for Barbara) or online at SpeedwayEXPO.com.

True Value Modified Racing Series founder and president Jack Bateman has announced that True Value Company, and various New England stores, will return as the signature sponsor for the open-wheel racing series for the 2009 season. True Value Company is one of the world’s largest member-owned hardware cooperatives with more than 5,000 independent retailers. This will be the sixth year of operation for the popular series. True Value has been with Bateman from the beginning.

“We are delighted to have True Value staying on board with our series. With their presence, we are recognized, more and more by the race fan, as the regions top racing series for open wheel race cars.” Bateman continued, “Our tour represents the True Value name, with professionalism, and integrity. After the first five years, our series has become synonymous with the True Value name. Our drivers have become known as the True Value drivers, our race cars as the True Value cars.” Bateman concluded, “We are pleased to have the backing of True Value stores right here in New England. We appreciate their support.”

The 2009 racing season for the True Value Modified Racing Series will open at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH; Saturday night, April 25.

Ford Racing and the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model stock car series have begun development of a new Ford crate engine for use on the ACT Late Model Tour, Série ACT-Castrol, and in weekly Late Model divisions around the northeastern United States and Canada in 2009. The Ford engine will be the first non-General Motors powerplant option in the division since the crate engine program was introduced a decade ago. All ACT-legal Late Models currently utilize a “spec” GM ZZ4 engine.

Production of the first Ford Racing prototype crate engine has been completed at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. The engine was shipped to the east coast for dynamometer, reliability, and comparability testing at Butler & MacMaster Racing Engines in Hallowell, Maine, the official crate engine supplier of ACT. The first on-track test is anticipated to take place in Virginia or the Carolinas in March. “We are pleased to have Ford’s direct involvement in the development of a Ford ‘crate engine,” said ACT President Tom Curley. “The introduction of another manufacturer is long overdue, and we’re confident that the long-time debate of Ford-versus-Chevrolet will give our fans and race teams something to cheer for.”

Long-time Ford supporter and former ACT competitor Dave Dion is excited about the development. “It’s encouraging that Ford wants to step up in the local short track programs,” said Dion, “but I’m not saying that because I’m a Ford guy. I would be excited about it if it was Chevrolet, Chrysler, Toyota, or anyone else. There’s a real value in this project.”

Dion explained that grassroots involvement from major companies like Ford will benefit the bigger picture. “I’m from the old school where options were everything in racing, and good-natured rivalries and debates were a healthy part of the sport,” Dion said. “If Ford can bring some of that atmosphere back to local racing by competing against the Chevrolets, then short track racing as a whole wins. On top of that, Ford gets a lot of exposure during these tough economic times. It’s very necessary.” Curley and Dion have been working together on the project for nearly two years, and Dion has offered his ongoing help with research and development to make the program a success.

The seven tracks on the 2009 schedule have run over 300 Northeastern Midget Association features. That is one-third of all races the 58-year old club has had since beginning way back in 1953.

Waterford Speedbowl (80), Seekonk Speedway (73) and Thompson Speedway (80) are the leaders. Stafford Motor Speedway (32), Monadnock (26), Lee USA (25) and Twin State Speedway (3) follow.

NEMA opens its 17-race 2009 schedule on Saturday night, May 23 at Lee. The agenda includes such traditional stops as Stafford’s Carquest Extreme Tuesday (July 7), Seekonk’s Boston Louie (Aug. 8), Twin State’s Open Wheel Sunday (Oct. 4), Seekonk’s DAV (Oct. 11-12) and Thompson’s World Series (Oct. 17-18).

Seekonk, which hosted the first NEMA race on May 30, 1953 (Fred Meeker was the winner), Waterford, which ran the next day (Bill Eldridge prevailed) and Stafford (John DeLeo was the winner) are “charter members.” Thirty NEMA races have been run on the present Stafford layout.

Midget immortal Dutch Schaefer was Thompson’s first NEMA winner in 1960. The Lee relationship dates back to 1966 (Walt Gale was the winner), Monadnock to 1972 (Dave Humphrey was the first winner) and Twin State to 1973 (Humphrey again). Twenty of Lee’s NEMA races have come on the present third-mile layout.

Bobby Santos, III of Franklin is the only driver with wins at all seven tracks including ’08 checkereds at Twin State, Lee, Monadnock and Stafford (where he has three). Nokie Fornoro has missed only at Twin State, Russ Stoehr of Carver  only at Twin State and Stafford. Greg Stoehr of Bridgewater has won at Monadnock, Seekonk, Thompson and Waterford; Jeff Horn at Lee, Seekonk, Stafford and Waterford.

Defending driver champion Randy Cabral of Plymouth is the all-time win leader at both Waterford (8) and Thompson (7). Cabral and Russ Stoehr, each with five, are tied for second behind Nokie Fornoro (8) among active drivers at Seekonk. A field including seven or eight former winners is not uncommon at Waterford and Seekonk.

Among active drivers, Jeff Horn (3) is the win leader at Lee, Greg Stoehr (2) at Monadnock and Bobby Santos III (3) at Stafford.

The Waterford Speedbowl released its 2009 schedule and will see action with more than 50 events planned. Leading the way is 29 Saturday division points events, while the popular Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday Series will return with 18 shows of their own. Several special events are planned throughout the season, featuring touring series’ including the ACT Tour, ISMA Supermodifieds, NEMA Midgets, True Value Modified Series and more. Rounding out the schedule will be no less than four family fun thrill shows.

The historic shoreline oval will open its gates for a remarkable 59^th consecutive year when it hosts the 13^th annual $20,000 Budweiser Modified Nationals March 28-29, the region’s premier SK Modified event. Saturday division racing concludes with The Finale, slated for October 10-11. The ‘Bowl will be in action each and every Saturday night in between. The SK Modified, Late Model, Street Stock and Mini Stock divisions continue to be the core of the Saturday night schedule. The prestigious Speedbowl ‘Triple Crown’ returns, consisting of 3 three extra distance events – the Budweiser Modified Nationals, Finale, and annual mid-season championship event – the latter boasting 300 laps of feature racing in an Independence Day spectacular on July 4. Each division will receive 2 scheduled weeks off totaling 27 championship point events. Legends Cars will often frequent Saturday nights as well along with other guest divisions throughout the season.

One of the country’s premier mid-week series, Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday returns for its 9^th season kicking off on Wednesday May 2 and runs through September 2. The eight cylinder ‘Super X’ cars, four cylinder ‘X’ cars, ‘X’ Modifieds, and Legends Cars will be on the card for each of 18 scheduled events with other special appearances and wacky events in the works.

One “swap” is scheduled – the full Wednesday program will invade Saturday night for the first time on July 18 for an extra-distance summer showdown, while the Saturday regulars will move to a special mid-week appearance on July 22.

Headlining the special events will be the return of ‘Wings & Wheels’ on August 15. The event will be highlighted by the roar of the ISMA Supermodifieds and True Value Modified Series, coupled with the NEMA Midgets and the ‘Bowl’s own SK Modifieds. New this year will be ‘Thunder on the Sound’ taking place over Labor Day weekend on September 5. The Speedbowl is putting finishing touches on this exciting event and will release details soon.

In addition to ‘Wings & Wheels’, the True Value Modifieds will also be in action on May 9 for a 100-lap event, the ISMA Supers May 23 for their 50-lap Memorial Day classic, and the NEMA Midgets take part in the Modified Nationals March 28-29 and headline the annual Nostalgia Weekend July 25-26 with 25-lappers. The Midgets have been part of Speedbowl lore since its opening in 1951.

Destruction is the name of the game at the family fun thrill shows slated for Memorial Day Madness May 24, Night of Destruction July 5, the September 6 Back To School Bash and the October 24 Smacktoberfest. Trailer races, demolition derbies and other mayhem are always part of the action.

Up through last Saturday night New England Modified drivers have been shut out of the winners circle at the New Smyrna Speedway in northern Florida. Jimmy Blewitt managed to take both a Tour Mod and Sk Mod victory there while Matt Hirshman won a Tour Mod feature. Bob Grigas, III of Marshfield has two seconds, one in the Tour Mods and another one in the Sk’s. Grigas also placed sixth in the Tour Mod race last Saturday night.Ted Christopher finished second behind Hirshman in the Brady entry out of Brockton.

Here’s what’s happening in southern New England this weekend.  On Tuesday night, Alexander’s Pizza & Sports Bar in E. Windsor, CT has the NEAR Antique Racers holding their annual meeting. The DCU Center in Worcester will host the US Hot Rod Assn. Monster Jam Friday night through Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Also, the Mass. Mutual Center in Springfield offers Xtreme Intl. Ice Racing for motorcycles and quads at 7:30 p.m. each night. On Saturday there’s another Cruise Night at Riley’s Roast Beef in Framingham at 5 p.m.  The Wachusetts Valley Riders have another motorcycle race on the ice from 4-8 p.m. That circuit moves over to the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club in Sturbridge on Sunday at 1 p.m.