THE STORY

Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., will try and go 2-for-2 to open the ACT Late Model Tour season when the series competes in the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, [...]]]> RPM Motorsports: ACT Late Model Tour
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Preview

THE STORY

Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., will try and go 2-for-2 to open the ACT Late Model Tour season when the series competes in the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, April 29. Hoar, who won his 34th career ACT race in the season opener at Lee USA Speedway two weeks ago, finished fifth in this event last season. Though Hoar has had mixed results at Thunder Road recently – winning the season-ending Milk Bowl last September, but posting his worst finish of 2011 in the Labor Day Classic 200 at the track – RPM Motorsports has dominated the last two Late Model events there. Local driver Nick Sweet won the Labor Day Classic for car owner Rick Paya in September, while Hoar capped his championship year with his second career Milk Bowl.
WHO: Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Rick Paya, Georgia, Vt.

BEST CAREER THUNDER ROAD FINISH: 1st (most recently, September 2011)
LAST RACE AT THUNDER ROAD: 1st (September 2011)

WHERE: Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.25-mile banked oval)
WHEN: Practice, 1 p.m., Saturday, April 28; Qualifying, 1 p.m., Sunday, April 29; Race, 4 p.m., Sunday April 29

ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
LAST RACE: Sunday, April 15, NH Governor’s Cup 150, Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H. (1st)
NEXT RACE: Sunday, May 6, Spring Green 112, Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt. (.500-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 1st

DID YOU KNOW?

Brian Hoar won six races races in 2011 en route to the ACT Late Model Tour title.
Brian Hoar has led the ACT Late Model Tour standings since midway through the 2010 season.
Rick Paya plans to spend Thursday nights at Thunder Road this season in weekly competition, serving as crew chief for the No. 85 Late Model of Trampas Demers.

Brian Hoar has more race wins (34) than any driver in ACT history, while he and car owner Rick Paya each have a record eight career ACT championships.

Brian Hoar spent the past winter training to run in the Vermont City Marathon over Memorial Day Weekend.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

BRIAN HOAR, Driver of the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge, On his confidence level in returning to Thunder Road this weekend: “It’s such a tough little bullring. We have struggled there. It actually helped a lot when I had Nick (Sweet) as a teammate for the Labor Day race. Going into last year, I considered Thunder Road one of our weak spots. We were still pulling off Top-5s ,but we weren’t contending for wins.

“We were always fast, but I thought we lacked a little bit in our approach to the long-distance part of it – the 150-lap, 200-lap races. We have a new approach now that came from working with Nick, and we made it work for us in the Milk Bowl with the 75-alp segments. I think that was key.

“I’m sure when we unload for practice (on Saturday), we’ll be right on the money. I think we’ve got something for them this year. My confidence isn’t lacking at all.”

On whether he feels like the competition has caught up to him in 2012: “The first year Rick and I were together (in 2009), we went into it with a real open mind. I put my faith in Rick, Rick put his in me, and we came out with a championship. Second year, we went into it and we were confident we could do it again, but we knew some of the guys would be tougher. It was the same thing last year.

“It takes so much to go right to win a championship. It doesn’t take much to take you out of it. I think the competition is still getting tougher every year. They’re getting experience. Joey Pole is a guy, look at him – he’s ready to bust out. But it’s up to the teams and crews to use that experience and get the results. Same with Austin (Theriault). With experience comes wisdom. Same thing with Wayne (Helliwell). Last year, he learned a lot. The guys that have some experience, they either learn from that and stay out of trouble and are right there all year, or they don’t.”
On the key to success at Thunder Road: “When you go to Thunder Road, you’ve got to contend with all the weekly guys. They’re just so strong there – Nick Sweet, Dave Pembroke, Phil Scott, Cris Michaud. There’s a long list. It just doubles the list of ‘to contend with’ guys. It’s going to be a battle.

“I think it’s like anything. To win the championship and finish up front, you’ve got to run good and be good basically everywhere. All the top teams do. I think we all have our favorite places. Look at Joey Pole, Wayne and Austin. They’ll probably struggle more (at Thunder Road) than the Nick Sweets or the guys on the Tour that did run there in the past on a weekly basis.

“We’ve just been in more situations on that tough little bullring than some of the other guys because we’ve run so many laps there.”

UP NEXT

The ACT Late Model Tour returns to Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt., for the Spring Green 112 on Sunday, May 6… Brian Hoar won the event a year ago, leading the final 37 laps in his first-ever visit to the track after the Spring Green moved from its previous incarnation as a fixture on the Airborne Speedway schedule.

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THE STORY
GEORGIA, Vt. – Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., begins his title defense in search of a fourth straight ACT Late Model Tour championship when the Tour kicks off 2012 with the NH Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway in [...]]]> RPM Motorsports: ACT Late Model Tour
Lee USA Speedway Race Preview

THE STORY
GEORGIA, Vt. – Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., begins his title defense in search of a fourth straight ACT Late Model Tour championship when the Tour kicks off 2012 with the NH Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H., on Sunday, April 15. Hoar owns the ACT career records for both championships (8) and race wins (33), and he is the defending champion of the NH Governor’s Cup 150. Rick Paya, crew chief on the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge, also owns eight championships as a car owner – the last three of which he’s won with Hoar in the driver’s seat. New to this year’s race, ACT will allow teams to change two tires during the event.

WHO: Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Rick Paya, Georgia, Vt.

BEST CAREER LEE USA SPEEDWAY FINISH: 1st (April 2011)
LAST RACE AT LEE USA SPEEDWAY: 1st (April 2011)

WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour NH Governor’s Cup 150
WHERE: Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H. (.375-mile oval)
WHEN: 2 p.m., Sunday, April 15

ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
NEXT RACE: Sunday, April 29, Merchants Bank 150, Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.25-mile oval)
FINAL 2011 POINTS POSITION: 1st

DID YOU KNOW?

Brian Hoar won six races races in 2011 en route to the ACT Late Model Tour title.
Brian Hoar has led the ACT Late Model Tour standings since midway through the 2010 season.
Rick Paya has 26 career victories as owner and crew chief for RPM Motorsports.
Brian Hoar spent the past winter training to run in the Vermont City Marathon over Memorial Day Weekend.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

BRIAN HOAR, Driver of the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge, On returning to Lee USA Speedway to begin the 2012 season: “I’m looking forward to it. We’ve got a really good setup there, and we’ve always run well there in the past. I really enjoy that kind of track. It eats up tires and it makes multiple grooves as the race goes on, so you can pass people inside and outside and run two- and sometimes three-wide there.

“It’s always a clean slate every time you go (back to a track). Winning there last year was cool, it was a great event, but it doesn’t mean anything this time around. I know we’ll have a good setup – I’m sure other guys will, too, but I believe we’ll be better than most. The The pit stop strategy is really going to be a big thing. It will be interesting to see how it works. Sometimes Lee goes for long runs of green, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out (late in the race).”

On the importance of getting off to a good start to the season: “Every year you know you’re going to have a bad event or two or three during your championship run, but I guess I’d rather always put those off to the end. It’s kind of like an insurance policy. If you’re going to have to use it, you want to be able to use it later on.

“I’d rather go and lose (a big points lead) at the end of the year than try to climb out of a hole every week. We haven’t been in that position the last three years, but it’s happened to me before. I’d rather start off strong and get the ball rolling – momentum, chemistry, all the guys staying positive. It’s important for everybody to come out of the season-opening events really strong.”

On staying motivated to win another ACT championship: ““There’s lots of guys that are going to try and knock us off the pedestal again this year, but that’s part of what motivates us. It’s a challenge, and we can’t wait for it.

“You either have the passion for the sport, or you don’t,” Hoar said. “It’s that simple. You want to be part of the sport, or you don’t. It seems like a silly question. It’s not like I’m going to hang my hat up now.”

RICK PAYA, Owner and crew chief of the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge, On the keys to winning the ACT Late Model Tour championship: “Really, it’s all about consistency. I know we’re consistent now, but you can always make yourselves better. Every time we go to the race track, we’re always learning. Every race. We motivate ourselves to do better and better and better. Our motivation is to be better than we were last time out.”

UP NEXT

The ACT Late Model Tour heads to its up at Thunder Road International Speedbowl for the Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 29… RPM Motorsports won the final two events of the season at Thunder Road in 2011, with Nick Sweet winning the Labor Day Classic 200 and Brian Hoar winning the season-ending Milk Bowl.

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After an unusually mild winter that left northern New England’s snow-based industry in a world of pain, it’s time to end the suffering and hopefully lift everyone’s spirits with the start of a new season of racing.

Red and Judy MacDonald are putting a spring polish on their fabulous facility, as the [...]]]> By Phil Whipple

After an unusually mild winter that left northern New England’s snow-based industry in a world of pain, it’s time to end the suffering and hopefully lift everyone’s spirits with the start of a new season of racing.

Red and Judy MacDonald are putting a spring polish on their fabulous facility, as the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) gets set to kick things off with the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 this Sunday, April 15, at the Lee USA Speedway.

Lee is perhaps the best possible place to kick off a new season, with multiple racing lines and a smooth surface as drivers shake off the cobwebs while dialing in their new or rebuilt machines. From the first time I visited Lee in 1992 to see the old ACT Pro Stock tour, I knew Red and Judy had a very racy oval.

What makes this coming Sunday’s version of the ACT opener so special is the tremendous talent and depth in the field. There are an amazing 13 teams already entered with weekly or touring series championships under their belts. With a combined 48 titles between them, “depth in the field” isn’t just hype, it’s actually true. These guys are good!

Top-ranked Late Model teams from across the northeast converge on Tom Curley’s ACT circuit each spring to do battle, and race fans are the real winners. Eight-time ACT champion Brian Hoar; four-time Lee champion and 2011 ACT runner-up Wayne Helliwell Jr., who many feel is a legitimate threat to unseat Hoar from the throne; young Maine-based star Austin Theriault; a re-focused Joey Polewarczyk Jr.; Groveton, NH-based veteran Randy Potter, another pilot many feel will be a title contender in 2012; and many others too numerous to mention will all be at Lee this weekend.

Once again, ACT appears to have a strong mix of veterans and new faces in 2012. We can be delighted that Quebec natives Donald Theetge and Karl Allard have filed entries, bringing their great skills down from north of the border.

Hoar is the defending winner of the Governor’s Cup 150. The skilled multi-time champion from Williston returns with Rick Paya’s RPM team again in 2012 with sights set squarely on securing their ninth title. Hoar will be a factor when we get down to the final 20 laps on Sunday, as well, I suspect. While he doesn’t often get the credit he deserves; Hoar’s ability to drive an ill-handling car up into the top five is unreal.

Since Lee USA was added to the ACT schedule back in 2003, there have been nine different winners in nine races. With his championships there and momentum from 2011, Helliwell is the odds-on favorite to become the event’s first two-time winner.

Previous winners of the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup include Patrick Laperle (2003); DJ Kennington (his only ACT start, 2004); Cris Michaud (2005); Jean-Paul Cyr (2005); Maine native Ben Rowe (2006); Joey Polewarczyk Jr. (2008); Brad Leighton (2009); and Miles Chipman (2010).

Over 50 drivers attempted to qualify for one of 30 starting positions last April at Lee. As for my own personal experience with ACT at Lee, I was there in 2008, 2009, missed 2010 because it was rained out in April and run in July, and was there in 2011 to see Hoar jump-start his eighth title run with a victory. I feel Lee provides the most side-by-side racing on the entire ACT schedule, with the exception of an equally-racy Oxford Plains Speedway.

The 2012 New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 is a must-see race for Late Model fans. This year’s version should deliver just the excitement we all need after a cold, windy March that was kind of a slap in the face to winter enthusiasts. Spectator gates open at 10 a.m. Sunday, with qualifying races getting under way at 1:15 p.m.

(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Motor Speedway has again lined up an
impressive field of current and former open wheel champions for its CARQUEST
Champions For Charities Event as part of CARQUEST Super Saturday on June
30th. During the coming weeks, SMS will offer a profile on each [...]]]>

(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Motor Speedway has again lined up an
impressive field of current and former open wheel champions for its CARQUEST
Champions For Charities Event as part of CARQUEST Super Saturday on June
30th. During the coming weeks, SMS will offer a profile on each of its
championship winning drivers and the charity they will be racing for and
this week’s CARQUEST Champions For Charities spotlight falls on 3-time NEMA
Midget Champion (2008, 2008, 2011) Randy Cabral, who will be racing to help
support The Spalding Foundation.

The Spalding Foundation provides monetary support for drivers, crewmen, and
racing officials who have sustained injuries in a race related accident at a
NASCAR, dirt or local licensed track in New York State and around the United
States.

In 1988, Rod Spalding was seriously injured while racing at Rougemont
Speedway in North Carolina. Spalding was a well-known and popular driver at
the Shangri-La Speedway, Owego (Tioga Motorsports Park), as well as a member
of the NASCAR Modified division. Immediately following Spalding’s accident
in 1988, Betty Sherwood from Owego, NY organized an event that was held at
Quinlan Park, Waverly where fans helped her raise more than $25,000. The
following year Sherwood formed the Spalding Foundation and serves as
president. Diane Crooker of Horseheads, NY and Pam Olenski of Maine, NY
completes the three-member board. Since its formation in 1989, the Spalding
Foundation has donated over $100,000 to more than 130 individuals and
families.

“Being partnered with The Spalding Foundation is a good fit that really hits
home for me,” said Cabral. “A few years ago at Thompson we lost Shane
Hammond and he was one of my best friends, so it’s nice to be able to work
with the Spalding Foundation to reach out and help those who have gone
through similar circumstances. I was able to meet with them last year at
Stafford and they’re great people to be associated with.”

Cabral joined the CARQUEST Champions For Charities field last year as a fill
in as a substitute for Stuart Friesen. In only a short amount of time,
Cabral was able to raise nearly $1,000 for The Spalding Foundation, which
placed Cabral 11th in the starting lineup for the 15-lap feature. Cabral
finished 10th in the race, but he says that he had a blast and is looking
forward to getting back out on the Stafford Mini-Mile this year.

“Last year I got to race against some guys that I’ve never raced against
before, which was a lot of fun,” said Cabral. “We’re working on some fund
raising ideas right now, we’re thinking we might do a motorcycle ride, and I
’ve got some stuff going on at Plymouth South High School where I teach. I
was pretty happy with how much we were able to raise last year and if I
could get just $1 from everyone I know this year, that would be a pretty
good total and get us a nice starting position for the race.”

When it comes to CARQUEST Super Saturday, Cabral will be one of the busiest
drivers at Stafford. In addition to racing in the 15-lap CARQUEST Champions
For Charities feature, Cabral will race in the NEMA Midget feature and he
has hopes of racing in the Pro-4 Modified feature as well. While Cabral
does not have an ISMA Supermodified ride lined up, he says that he would
jump at the chance to drive one of the open wheel behemoths.

“We’ll be racing the NEMA, Senior Outlaw Kart, and hopefully the Pro-4
Modified features,” said Cabral. “I’ll have to check with my car owner and
see if it’s ok. The Pro-4 guys are a great bunch of guys to race with. I
ran Jim Darlington’s car at Thompson last year and Jim got to the track a
bit late, so I had other Pro-4 drivers helping me get the car ready to race.
Norm Wrenn, who was in my heat race, was helping me change the tires and
getting the stagger set. I’d love to try out a super someday. I’ve been
looking around, but I haven’t really put myself out there yet. I’ve had a
few calls here and there, but nothing has materialized yet. I don’t think I
’ve ever turned down a ride yet, so if something were to come along, I would
definitely jump at the opportunity to drive a super.”

While Cabral will be busy ride hopping during CARQUEST Super Saturday, his
bread and butter remains his NEMA Midget ride with Tim Bertrand. Cabral won
his third NEMA championship in the past four years, and after a great
off-season, he and his team look to be on track to be a contender for their
fourth NEMA Midget championship.

“I think this year we’re starting out better than we ever have,” said
Cabral. “Everything we had on the car was 5 years old, so we went through
the car and swapped everything out for new parts and pieces. Hopefully we’
ll be as good this year as we’ve been the past couple of years. I have a
great team behind me, we just have to make sure that the driver keeps his
head and doesn’t make any mistakes on the track and I think we should be
pretty good.”

The starting lineup for the CARQUEST Champions For Charities feature event
will be determined by how much money each driver raises for their selected
charity. The starting grid will be set with the drivers who have raised the
most money starting up front. Fans are encouraged to get involved in the
event by donating to their favorite driver or favorite charity. To make a
donation to The Spalding Foundation on behalf of Randy Cabral, and for more
information on the event, please refer to the CARQUEST Champions for
Charities donation page located at www.staffordspeedway.com. Stay tuned to
www.staffordspeedway.com for more driver spotlights and exciting information
regarding the CARQUEST Champions for Charities event.

CARQUEST Super Saturday will take place on Saturday, June 30, 2012 and will
feature the ISMA Super Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, and Pro-4 Modifieds in
addition to the Senior Outlaw Wild Thing Karts. Tickets for CARQUEST Super
Saturday are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office and are priced at $33.00
for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and
children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an
adult. Reserved seating is priced at $35.00 for all ages. All ticket
prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway
offers free parking with overnight parking available.

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Canaan, NH. – With last weeks warm weather creating race fever throughout
the region, race fans and competitors alike are ready for a brand new season
of modified stock car racing. The New England based Valenti Modified
Racing Series, with over 70 race teams registered to compete this year,
is [...]]]>

Canaan, NH. – With last weeks warm weather creating race fever throughout
the region, race fans and competitors alike are ready for a brand new season
of modified stock car racing. The New England based Valenti Modified
Racing Series, with over 70 race teams registered to compete this year,
is ready for it’s ninth season.

The 2012 opener takes place at Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT.,
Saturday and Sunday, Oct 31, & April 1. The annual “Budweiser Blastoff”
two-day event will kick off a 15- race schedule.

Race teams from throughout the Northeast is expected to enter the first race
including two drivers that were the story of the 2011 event.

Defending VMRS Champion, Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT., the 2011 “Blastoff”
winner will return to his “home track” to defend his win. Two-time series
Waterford winner, Doug Coby, of Milford, CT., will again wheel the Czarnecki
Brothers # 20 car. Both drivers battled throughout the 100-lap race. Both
could be considered early favorites for the season lid-lifter.

Les Hinckley III, of Windsor Locks, CT., another former Speedbowl winner,
will look to return to victory lane in the Chuck Montville # 06, the car that
carried him to a solid runner-up position in the 2011- point standings.

Madison, CT., veteran Mike Holdridge, winner of his first series race last
season, plans to be ready for the Waterford race. Nashua, NH., veteran Norm
Wrenn. plans to enter the Waterford opener. Wrenn had a solid run in last
years race.

Steven Masse, of Bellingham, Ma., always a threat at Waterford, plans to
enter the race. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA., a past winner
at the famed oval, will again compete driving for car-owner Gary Casella

Louie Mechalides, of Tyngsboro, MA., will drive a brand new entry for
car-owner Kevin Stuart, of Lowell, MA. Stuart will also field a second
car for newcomer, Anthony Nocella, of Woburn, MA.

Preston, CT’s Max Zachem former ROC series champion, Matt
Hirschman, of Northampton, PA., and two-time series champion Jon
McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA., will be in action. McKennedy will
pilot the Kenny Barry #2 car out of Preston.

Qualifying races will be held on Saturday at 3:00 PM with feature races
starting at 12 noon on Sunday. The annual Pit-Party for race fans will be held Sunday morning at 9:30 AM. Waterford Speedbowl is located just of Interstate 395 in Waterford, CT.

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GEORGIA, Vt. – After a season decorated with wins in some of New England’s most prestigious racing events and a series-record eighth championship for both car owner and driver alike, RPM Motorsports doesn’t have any plans [...]]]> RPM Revs Up For Another Title Run
Brian Hoar, Rick Paya Seek Ninth Career ACT Championship in 2012

GEORGIA, Vt. – After a season decorated with wins in some of New England’s most prestigious racing events and a series-record eighth championship for both car owner and driver alike, RPM Motorsports doesn’t have any plans two slow down in 2012.

The same car, same equipment, same crew and same driver will try and top a 2011 season in which they won a total of seven races and clinched the ACT Late Model Tour title with two races remaining.

“Whatever it is, it seems to work,” said Brian Hoar, of Williston, Vt., driver of the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge. “If you could bottle it up and sell it – we’d probably make a lot of money. I just know that I have an approach that works for me, that works for success in this sport. The statistics show that. That’s teamed and combined with – and only works – with the team surrounding you. If the chemistry’s not there, it just doesn’t work.

“Obviously, (team owner and crew chief Rick Paya) and my team have the same formula. All of the things come together for us.”

Paya said that there’s no lack of motivation for his team, despite winning a third straight ACT championship last season. Every season, every race weekend presents another opportunity.

“I just love winning,” Paya said. “Winning is what motivates me to win another one and another one. When we go to some new tracks or tracks we haven’t won at before, that’s motivation. Competition is motivation.

“You’re only as good as your competition. Everybody on our Tour, when they step up, we step up. It makes everybody better. And when you get better as a Tour, you go out to run other races with other series, and you’re able to be competitive. I think that’s a great thing for all of us.”

Both Paya and Hoar – with 33 career victories, the only driver in ACT history to even break the 20-win plateau – count wins at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Thunder Road International Speedbowl’s Milk Bowl as their 2011 season highlights.

While the Milk Bowl win was Hoar’s second, it was the first in the event for Paya. Paya has 26 career victories as a crew chief.

“It’s pretty humbling to think about, but really it’s all about consistency,” said Paya, who, like Hoar, has eight career ACT titles – including five previously with Jean-Paul Cyr as driver.

“I know we’re consistent now, but you can always make yourselves better. Every time we go to the race track, we’re always learning. Every race. We motivate ourselves to do better and better and better. Our motivation is to be better than we were last time out.”

RPM has some 20 races planned for its 2012 schedule, including the full 10-race ACT Late Model Tour slate, the TD Bank Oxford 250, the ACT Invitational at New Hampshire, the Milk Bowl and a PASS-sanctioned Super Late Model race at Oxford in July.

The ACT Late Model Tour season begins with the NH Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, April 15. Hoar is the defending champion of the event.

“Here we are going into another season with great equipment, great cars and a great bunch of people,” Hoar said. “We’re ready for another great season, and it’s coming really fast. When it comes right down to it, we just want to win races. That’s why we do it – to have fun and enjoy the sport.

“There’s lots of guys that are going to try and knock us off the pedestal again this year, but that’s part of what motivates us. It’s a challenge, and we can’t wait for it.”

Hoar turns 40 this year, and he laughs at any suggestion that he’s looking at life away from motorsports in the near future.

“You either have the passion for the sport, or you don’t,” Hoar said. “It’s that simple. You want to be part of the sport, or you don’t. It seems like a silly question. It’s not like I’m going to hang my hat up now.”

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(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Motor Speedway’s SK Light Modified
division will welcome several new drivers to its ranks this season. While
most of the newcomers are young drivers who have worked their way through
the karting ranks, there is one new face to the SK Light division [...]]]>

(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Motor Speedway’s SK Light Modified
division will welcome several new drivers to its ranks this season. While
most of the newcomers are young drivers who have worked their way through
the karting ranks, there is one new face to the SK Light division this
season that bucks that trend. Scott Bouley, a 15-year veteran of the K & N
Pro East Series (formerly Busch North Series), will join the SK Light
division, where he will try to put his #26 into CARQUEST Victory Lane and
dance on his roof for the first time since he danced on his roof following a
ProStock feature victory in the 2000 CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler.
“We’re going to show up and put the petal to the metal and give it our all,”
said Bouley. “I haven’t danced on the roof since we won at the Sizzler 12
years ago, so it’s been too long. I shopped around last year to see where I
wanted to go racing and Stafford is the best track around, it’s a real class
facility. We’re really excited about the car and I’ll definitely be dancing
on the roof if we can win again.”

While Bouley has spent the vast majority of his racing career behind the
wheel of full fendered cars, he is not without modified experience as he
prepares for his debut season in the SK Lights. Albeit a very limited
experience, Bouley drove 2 races for Don Silberman during the 2007 season,
finishing 7th and 15th in his two starts.

“I drove an SK Modified® for Don Silberman twice and I really loved it,”
said Bouley. “We had a lot of fun in those two races. We went from 24th up
to 7th in Don’s car and he actually offered me the ride in his car, but I
was committed to the Busch North Series at the time. It’s going to be a
challenge for us this year, but it’s a challenge anytime you go out onto the
racetrack. I learn something every time I go to Stafford. I’ve seen how
the guys and girls in that division race and you have to be patient, even
though it’s only a 20-lap race. And the racing at Stafford is awesome, just
when you think you know how the race is going to play out, something totally
different happens.”

The 2012 season will be a learning experience for Bouley and a prime
opportunity to hand the car over to his nephew for a few races. While
Bouley will carry sponsorship from Gravel’s Autobody and Cutting Edge Signs
and Shirts, Bouley says that if he can find some sponsorship and get hot at
the start of the season, he has loftier goals in mind.

“I’m going to start the season off and if things go well for us and we can
find some sponsorship, we’ll try to race for the championship,” said Bouley.
“We know it’s a longshot, but we’d like to try to win the championship. I’
ve won a lot of races at different tracks in my career, but I’ve never won a
championship, so it would be really nice if we could somehow get a
championship. My nephew has been looking to get into racing for a few years
now, so the main goal is to put him in the car a couple of times. But if we
get off to a good start and we can find that one magical sponsor come on
board with us, we’re going to go for it. I have some great support from
Gravel’s Autobody, Cutting Edge Signs and Shirts, my parents, my sister, and
Kevin Brenner, but with the engine, tires, and fuel, it takes money to be a
contender and we’re on a limited budget right now.”

While Bouley is bucking one trend of rookie drivers in the SK Light
division, he will also be bucking another trend with his paint scheme.
Green has been long considered a bad luck color when it comes to racing, but
Bouley says that he will be showing up with a green and white car for his
debut season in the SK Lights.

“We’re going to go with a green and white car,” said Bouley. “My favorite
car ever was a green and white car, and my nephew is a Jets fan, so we’re
going to go with those colors and do up the numbers on the car like they
would be on a football jersey. The car is going to look great and we can’t
wait to get started. Everybody on the team wants to see me do an Irish gig
on top of the car again and I’d love to be able to dance that jig on the car
at Stafford.”

The 2012 SK Light Modified season gets underway with the 41st Annual
CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler on April 27-29. Tickets for the CARQUEST
Tech-Net Spring Sizzler are available and on sale now through the SMS Box
Office. Tickets are priced at $38.50 for adult general admission tickets,
$5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted
free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating will be priced
at $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. As
always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking
available.

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The 1st ever Seekonk Speedway Easter Egg Hunt will begin [...]]]> Over 66 years of action, the Seekonk Speedway has seen many types of competition. From their weekly racing, thrill shows, Car Polo, Rollover contests, Ostrich races, and football. On Saturday, April 7th, you can add Easter Egg Hunt to the long list of activities.

The 1st ever Seekonk Speedway Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 9am, before any cars have a chance to tackle the 1/3 mile oval. It is open to all fans under the age of 12.

Sir Lap A Lot, the Seekonk Speedway mascot has been busy this off season, and will be making his first appearance at the speedway, as he and the Easter Bunny will be hiding thousands of candy and toy filled eggs.

There is no charge for this family activity. All you need is yourself and a basket to enjoy. Bring a friend and have some fun, as Seekonk Speedway opens up for the new season.

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