Champions Crowned as Whip City Season Ends
BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – The last night of racing under the current management had the highest car count of the year as several competitors stopped by to say both hello and farewell.
The 750cc Mini Sprint points battle went down to the wire at the Whip and Flyin’ Phil Bessette’s heat race victory made all the difference in his winning the championship. Bessette won the championship with 1332 points to John Casazza’s 1312. Tyler Jackson won the feature. Continue reading “Champions Crowned as Whip City Season Ends” »

Casazza and Artibani Triumph at Whip City Fall Shootout

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – John Casazza scored the biggest win of his career by capturing the East Coast Mini Sprint Association 750cc Fall Shootout at Whip City Speedway. Casazza led from flag to flag in the 30 lap event, which was interrupted only once, by a red flag on lap 13 for a tip over by Shelby Kolkata. It was Casazza’s fourth win in five years of racing.
“The car ran great. All we did for the extra laps was put in a little more fuel and take a half a pound of air out of the tires, Casazza said. “Maybe we can take the points lead next week.”
Casazza trails points leader Phil Bessette by just 16 points and Bessette trailed Casazza by about 16 feet across the finish line. “John was faster tonight, and he deserved the win,” Bessette said after the race. Continue reading “Casazza and Artibani Triumph at Whip City Fall Shootout” »

Broken Wrist Doesn’t Slow Tara Galko at Whip City Speedway

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – Driving with a wrist she broke in a racing accident two weeks ago, Tara Galko of Meriden, CT had the best night of her racing life as she captured her 270cc heat and went on to win her first Mini Sprint feature. The 18 year old nursing student at Southern Connecticut State University had to withstand a pair of restarts and a determined challenge from points leader Seth Carlson, who pulled alongside on multiple occasions, but couldn’t complete the pass.

“I was a little nervous on the second restart because I knew Seth would be right behind me and he’s tough, but I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to let him get by me,” a smiling Galko said in victory lane.
Continue reading “Broken Wrist Doesn’t Slow Tara Galko at Whip City Speedway” »

Kurt Conklin Takes 750 Sportsman win at the Whip

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – In only his second 750cc Sportsman start, Kurt Conklin did the only thing he could do to improve on his second place finish last week by winning the 20 lap feature. Conklin, a regular competitor in the 270cc Mini Sprints this season, also finished sixth in that division.

Jay Coppo (600cc) and John Casazza (750cc) each picked up his third win of the year while Jon Moore (1200cc) used his fourth win to extend his points lead. Brett Crowther garnered up his second Modified Lite victory of the season.
Continue reading “Kurt Conklin Takes 750 Sportsman win at the Whip” »

Igo is Fast and Fortunate
At Whip City Speedway

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – With two wins in only six previous starts, it’s a given that Brandon Igo is a very talented driver, but he also needed a double shot of luck to pick up his third 600cc win at the Whip.

His first good fortune came at the expense of Chris Lennox, who was looking for his first win of the season. Igo passed Lennox on lap seven, but the pass was negated by a yellow flag. Whether Igo could have raced by Lennox again at the end will be fuel for the hot stove league this winter, because Lennox’s car was sidelined by a minor electrical issue with only two laps remaining. Igo’s second piece of luck came when his engine temperature climbed alarmingly to 245 degrees, but then leveled off after the caution flag for Lennox’s disabled mount.
Continue reading “Igo is Fast and Fortunate At Whip City Speedway” »

Sehn Sustains Sweet Season With Whip Win,
Matt Galko Dominates In Return to His Dirt Roots

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – Jerry Sehn continues to make up for lost time. After racing 1200cc Mini Sprints for seven years without a win, the former Utica-Rome Pure Stock Champion has visited victory lane three times so far this year at the Whip. This week, Sehn lead from flag to flag, survived a pair of yellow flags and held off a charge from former Whip City Track Champ Jamie Beaudry.
“We’re learning the car better every week,” Sehn said. “After the heat we adjusted the wing and in the feature, wherever I put the car, it would stick.
Matt Galko, the current SK Lite Modified points leader in his rookie year at Stafford Motor Speedway, returned to his dirt roots and dominated the 270cc Mini Sprints. Galko led every lap he raced, wiring both his heat and the feature. Continue reading “Whip City Speedway Results 08-14-10” »

Kendall Segar’s Killer Season
Continues Strong at The Whip

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – After three years without a trip to victory lane, Kendall Segar is having a season that makes the working and waiting worthwhile. The 18 year old criminal justice student at Manchester (CT) Community College finished second in her heat and then went on to capture her third 270cc Mini Sprint feature of the year at Whip City Speedway.
“It was my kind of track -fast- but our car wasn’t superfast,” Segar said. “We’re having a killer season and I’m just so happy.” Continue reading “Kendall Segar’s Killer Season Continues Strong at The Whip” »

Jon Moore Takes The High Road At Whip City Speedway

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – Former champ Jon Moore solidified his points lead with his second win of the season in the marquee 1200cc class. “We had a pretty good race,” Moore said. “It seemed like I was racing with Jerry Sehn all night. I got underneath him in the heat and got by him. He wasn’t about to let that happen again in the feature, so I had to make a run for the high side going down the backstretch and I got by him coming off turn four. I think he was having a good time; I know I was.” Continue reading “Jon Moore Takes The High Road At Whip City Speedway” »

Jimmie D Beats the Heat,
and the Competition,
at Whip City Speedway

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – On a sultry, steamy night with a triple digit heat index, 60 year old Jim DeCambra ended a two year drought with a wire-to-wire win in the 600cc Mini Sprints.
“I guess I outlasted the kids,” DeCambra said. “Our division is so fast and the cars are so nearly equal, that almost anybody could win on any given night. This week, I was in the right spot at the right time and it makes up for a race I should have won a couple of weeks ago.” Continue reading “Jimmie D Beats the Heat, and the Competition, at Whip City Speedway” »