Helliwell’s prior titles had come behind the wheel of full-bodied Late
Models and Sportsmen, this was [...]]]>
Manchester, NH – Lee USA Speedway celebrated the annual Banquet of Champions
Saturday night, crowning 2011 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Small Block
Supermodified champ Wayne Helliwell, Jr. after his fourth consecutive
championship season.

Helliwell’s prior titles had come behind the wheel of full-bodied Late
Models and Sportsmen, this was his first competing in an open-wheeled Small
Block Supermodified. Helliwell teamed up with Supermodified veterans Ed and
Bob Witkum to take the wheel for the 2011 campaign, and it paid off with
another championship trophy.

The other 2011 track championship hardware was awarded to second-generation
racer Ryan Green in the Late Model Sportsmen, four-time feature winner Mark
Parenteau in the Hobby Stocks, and Troy Washburn in the Ironman division.

Second through tenth place trophies for the Small Block Supermodifieds were
presented to Dave Sanborn, Tommy Tombarello, Jr., Ben Tinker, Mike Ordway,
Jr., Tony Carroll, Matt Riley, Matt Seavey, Sparky MacIver, and Jim Barker.

Special awards in the Supers included Rookie of the Year to Jim Barker, Hard
Luck to Ben Tinker, Most Improved Driver to Tony Carroll, Sportsmanship to
Dave Sanborn, and Best Team Performance to Witkum Brothers Racing.

Lee and Sharon Weldy were on hand representing Prime Storage for the
presentations in the Late Model Sportsmen, with Michele Fushpanski, Timmy
Johnson, Bobby Melvin, Tony Kawejsza, Kayla Cazares, Mike Mitchell, Josh
Ball, Brian Grantz, and Jimmy Renfrew honored for second through tenth.

Late Model Sportsman special awards went to teenage co-Rookies of the Year
Kayla Cazares and Josh Ball, Hard Luck winner Tony Kawejsza, Most Improved
Driver Timmy Johnson, Sportsmanship award winner Michele Fushpanski, and
Best Team Performance went to Ryan Green.

David’s Race Cars and Components presented Hobby Stock hardware to Mike
Williams, Jim Piaseczny, Steve Douphinette, Steve Dubois, Patrick Tanguay,
Eric Hoffman, Bobby Glass, Brian DeStefano, and Brian Thompson for finishing
second through tenth.

Myra Fowler and Michele Fushpanski presented on behalf of Lee USA Speedway
to Bobby Glass with a beautiful rocking chair to commemorate his retirement
after some fifty years behind the wheel. DeStefano claimed Rookie of the
Year honors, with Williams taking the Hard Luck award, Douphinette picking
up Most Improved Driver, Piaseczny honored for Sportsmanship, and Parenteau
scoring Best Team Performance.

Kyle Roy’s eight-win season brought him second in the Ironman season
standings and Best Team Performance, followed by Kale Billings,
Sportsmanship winner Jake Rheaume, Rookie of the Year Danielle Simoneau,
Most Improved Driver Evan Horvath, Hard Luck winner Justin Dawalga, Mike
Olson, Louis Lanctot, and Jeff Nadeau.

The win was Pennink’s second this season and his fourth career VMRS [...]]]> Lee, N.H. — Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon Valley, PA., started ninth in a 24 field, took the lead on lap 61, and went on to win the “Oktoberfest 100” Valenti Modified Racing Series event, Sunday afternoon, at Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH.

The win was Pennink’s second this season and his fourth career VMRS victory. Pennink also becomes the seventh different driver in seven seasons to win the fall finale.

Les Hinckley III, of Windsor Locks, CT., started the race from the third position, jumped into the lead, and held it until the 61st circuit.. When Pennink took command, Hinckley chased after the new race leader for the final 39 laps.

“The car was unstoppable all day. I have to thank my team,” Pennink said.“ We don’t normally run good here at Lee. I think we might have figured something out. I hope Gary (car owner-Casella) can get it the same next year.”

Norman Wrenn, of Nashua, NH., ran a strong race and finished third with Rob Goodenough, of Swanzey, NH., fourth, and Matt Hirschman, of Northampton, PA.,fifth.

Jimmy Kuhn, W.Bridgewater, MA., Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT., Max Zachem, Preston, CT., Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT., and Kenny Barry, also of Preston, rounded out the top ten.

Pasteryak, the 2008 series champion, won his second title topping Hinckley by 14 points. Pennink finished third in the points followed by Mike Holdridge, of Manchester, CT., and Wrenn fifth, for his best points tally to date.

Three caution flags slowed the race, which took 39:04 to complete.

Barry, Pasteryak, and Holdridge won qualifying heats. Hirschman won the consolation race.

Race Summary
October 23, 2011
Lee USA (NH) Speedway
Distance: 100-laps
Time of Race: 39:04:469
Best Lap Time: 15.022
Best Speed: 89.868 (Masse)
Margin of Victory: 2.688
Lead Changes: 1 (Lap 61)
Lap Leaders: Hinckley (1-61) Pennink (62-100)
Cautions: Lap 31, 31, 82

Unofficial Finish: (1) Pennink (2) Hinckley (3)
Wrenn (4) Goodenough (5) Hirschman (6) Kuhn
(7) D. Jarvis (8) Zachem (9) Pasteryak (10) Barry
(11) Hold ridge (12) Seuss (13) Savary (14) Mechalides
(15) Doucette (16) J. Jarvis (17) Dore (18) Dolan
(19) Lashua (20) Fellows (21) Jordan (22) Masse
(23) Emerling (73) McKennedy.

Points:(1) Pasteryak (608) (2) Hinckley (594)
(3) Pennink (487) (4) Holdridge (449) (5) Wrenn (418)
(6) Mechalides (390) (7) Goodenough (377) (8) D.Jarvis (371) (9) Doucette (350) (10) Zachem (334)

The season ending event will decide the series championship between title [...]]]> Lee, N.H. — The 2011 season for the Valenti Modified Racing Series will draw to a close this weekend, October 22 & 23, when the New England based touring division travels to Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH., for the 25th annual “Oktoberfest” weekend.

The season ending event will decide the series championship between title contenders, Chris Pasteryak, of Lisbon, CT., and Les Hinckley III, of Windsor Locks, CT. 27 points separate the two drivers.

Pasteryak, a three-time winner this season including a victory at Lee, captured the 2008 series championship. Hinckley, a two-time winner this year, is seeking his first title.

The Lee finale has been an extremely competitive race since it’s inception in 2005. Six different drivers have won the Lee fall race and all six plan to compete at the two-day event.

Bethel, CT., veteran Jimmy Dolan, the 2005 winner, has indicated he is making the trip. Andy Seuss, of Hampstead, NH., the 2007 winner is expected. 2008 winner Jon McKennedy, of East Chelmsford, MA., 2009 victor Kenny Barry, of Preston, CT., and last years winner, Steven Masse, of Bellingham, MA., are
expected. Hinckley won the race in 2006.

Drivers from throughout the Northeast are expected for the last race.

Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA., Jimmy Kuhn, W Bridgewater, MA., Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT., Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA., Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, NH., and Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH., plan to compete.

Saturday practice begins at 12 noon followed by qualifying races for all 12 divisions at 2:00 PM. Sundays feature races will begin at 12 noon with the VMRS 100- lap green-flag race scheduled third in an eleven-race feature line-up.

Additional information is available at www.leeusaspeedway.com.

Carroll was running the main event in memory of his car owner, Paul Brown, [...]]]>
Lee, NH – The chase for the 2011 championships continued at Lee USA Speedway on Friday night, with Tony Carroll taking down the win in the Benson Lumber and Hardware-sponsored NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Small Block Supermodified feature event.

Carroll was running the main event in memory of his car owner, Paul Brown, who had passed away earlier in the week after a lengthy battle with illness. The extra motivation was just what the doctor ordered, as Carroll went flag to flag to score his first win of the year.

Sparky MacIver was next across the stripe, with “Super Dave” Sanborn, point leader Wayne Helliwell, Jr., defending champion Tommy Tombarello, Jr., Bryan Kruczek, Ben Tinker, Moe Lattime, and Mike Spurling the remainder of the top ten.

Several lead changes highlighted the Prime Storage Late Model Sportsman feature event, but when all was said and done, J.R. Baril rolled into victory lane for the second time in three starts aboard the Brian
House-owned, A Family Cab-sponsored entry.

Point leader Ryan Green and the driver he knocked off the top of the season standings a week before, Bobby Melvin, both had stints out front in the early portion of the feature event, but neither was a contender at the finish.

2010 Hobby Stock champion Todd Bregy chased Baril over the second half of the race and finished in the runner-up spot, with Michele Fushpanski, Brian Grantz, Green, Timmy “Rockstar” Johnson, 2010 Rookie of the Year Josh Ball, Kyle Roy, David Piper, and Melvin the rest of the top ten.

The David’s Race Cars and Components Hobby Stock feature fell to longtime veteran and former division champion Brian Thompson, who finally won out after a race-long duel with point leader Mark Parenteau.

The duo were among the few cars to escape an early-race melee that sent several drivers to the pits and the attention of their crews, but Parenteau had a tire go down late in the race, dropping off the pace as the rest of the field took the white flag.

Thompson collected his first win of the year at the checkers, with Patrick Tanguay and Steve Dubois rounding out the podium after finishing second and third. Fourth went to Jim Piaseczny, with Sam Peabody, Mike Williams, Brian DeStefano, Dave McCarthy, Eric Hoffman, and Parenteau the rest of the top
ten.

Kale Billings grabbed the checkers in the Ironman feature event, taking a big early lead and holding it until the checkers to score the victory. Jake Rheaume put in another solid run to finish second, with point leader Troy Washburn taking down third.

Washburn inched past at the stripe to knock multi-time winner Kyle Roy back to the fourth spot, with Danielle Simoneau, Dave Brown, Evan Horvath, Chris Murray, Justin Dawalga, and Kevin Emery the rest of the top ten.

The Senior Tour Auto Racers were a special addition to the program, with a strong field of the restored racers on hand for the night’s action. Jim Gause of Londonderry, NH grabbed the win in the Sportsman end of the program, with George Brockman of Freeport, ME taking the Modified win.

Next Friday, September 9th will be Championship Night for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Pepsi Bottling Company racing, which will begin at 7:00 PM. Please call the office for more information at 978-462-4252.

North East Racing Forum – http://www.neracingforum.com/forum

Russ Wood, winner of the inaugural ISMA event at Lee USA [...]]]>
Lee, NH – The annual Ollie Silva Memorial ISMA Supermodified Classic was the headline attraction at Lee USA Speedway on Friday night, and the traveling series put an impressive, caution-free 75-lap main event into the record books in less than 18 minutes.

Russ Wood, winner of the inaugural ISMA event at Lee USA back in October 1988, broke out to the early lead, and set the pace for the first 29 laps before losing the top spot to Jeff Locke, a former Small Block Supermodified competitor at Lee. Wood retired to the pits with mechanical issues two laps later.

Locke remained at the head of the field for the next 19 laps before another Lee alumnus, ISMA rookie Dan Bowes, took his turn out front. Bowes, the 2009 champion in the Small Blocks, moved out to a healthy lead, but as always, Chris Perley was waiting in the wings.

Bowes worked heavy lapped traffic as the race wore on, and Perley eventually ran him down, ducking to the low side coming off turn four to make the pass and leading the final three circuits to collect his second straight Ollie Silva Memorial checkered.

It was Perley’s third straight ISMA win at Lee, and the fourth in his six starts on the ISMA trail this season. Bowes scored his best ISMA finish to date in the runner-up slot, with Justin Belfiore filling out the podium in the third spot.

2009 race winner Mark Sammut finished fourth, with Locke a car length behind at the checkers to collect fifth. Sixth spot went to former NEMA Midget champion Ben Seitz, with Rob Summers, former Lee Small Block champ and 2010 ISMA Rookie of the Year Joey Scanlon, Jon Gambuti, and Mike Lichty the rest of the top ten.

The Benson Lumber and Hardware Small Block Supermodifieds lined up 16 strong for their feature event, with Ben Tinker moving quickly from the outside pole to the lead. After a couple of tough weeks in a row, Tinker was hoping to catch a break this time out.

2010 Small Block champ Tommy Tombarello, Jr. would have no part of that, as he knocked Tinker off the point a couple of laps later, and took command of the race. Tombarello was the class of the field once again, leading the rest of the way to pick up his third checkered flag of the 2011 season.

After being greeted by an army of well-wishers in the post-race victory lane celebration, Tombarello was presented the Frank Callahan Memorial trophy for his win, with the Callahan family joining him in victory lane for the awards presentation.

Tinker held onto the second spot until a spectacular late-race, three-wide pass by Mike Ordway, Jr. dropped him back to third, where he eventually finished the night. Polesitter Tony Carroll was fourth across the stripe, with Sparky MacIver rounding out the top five.

Super Dave Sanborn collected sixth in the Howdy Clapp machine, with points leader Wayne Helliwell, Jr. seventh in the Witkum Brothers Racing entry. Leslie Keyser finished eighth, with George Perreault, Jr. ninth, and Matt Seavey rounding out the top ten.

The David’s Race Cars and Components Hobby Stocks continued their chase for the 2011 championship, with Jim Shorey running a strong race to take down his second win of the season over Patrick Tanguay and Eric Hoffman.

Veteran Brian Thompson grabbed a fourth place finish, with Mike Williams, points leader Mark Parenteau, Jim Piaseczny, Rookie of the Year contender Brian DeStefano, Sean Nordin, and Kenny Scott closing out the top ten.

The NEMA Lites made another special appearance as part of the Ollie Silva Memorial program, with Paul Bigelow capturing the win over Jim Santa Maria, Carl Medeiros, David Moniz, Andy Barrows, Ryan Bigelow, Seth Carlson, Russ Wood, Jr., Anthony Nocella, and Randy Cabral.

North East Racing Forum – http://www.neracingforum.com/forum

Kayla Cazares was first to lead the extra-distance affair, setting the pace for [...]]]> Lee, NH – Another full night of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly action went into the record books at Lee USA Speedway on Friday night, including the annual running of the 50-lap Lance Davis Memorial for the Prime Storage Late Model Sportsmen.

Kayla Cazares was first to lead the extra-distance affair, setting the pace for the first six circuits before giving up the top spot to Timmy Johnson. Johnson’s time out front was short, as Bobby Melvin nosed ahead of him just nine laps later, but Melvin’s was even shorter.

As quickly as Melvin got past Johnson on lap 15, J.R. Baril got past both and took command, immediately pulling away from the field. Over the next 25 laps, Baril took off to a full straightaway lead, but a lap 40 caution eventually erased his huge advantage.

Baril easily survived the restart, and went on to lead the final ten laps to score the victory. Members of the Davis family joined Baril for the victory lane ceremony, with Bobby Melvin and Tony Kawejsza presented for second and third.

Ryan Green collected a fine fourth place finish, with former Hobby Stock champion Todd Bregy, Peter Cook, Brian Grantz, Michele Fushpanski, Johnson, and Cazares the rest of the top ten.

Matt Seavey set the pace for the first 11 laps of the Benson Lumber and Hardware Small Block Supermodified feature event, at which point the race was red flagged due to a multi-car incident that blocked the track between turns three and four.

Mike Ordway, Jr. got a great restart when the race went back to green, and he snagged the lead on lap 12. Another quick caution re-aligned the field two laps later, and this time it was Wayne Helliwell, Jr. running the high groove to the lead.

From there on, it was all Helliwell, as he piloted the Witkum Brothers Racing entry to its second win of the season. Ordway held on for runner-up honors, with “Super Dave” Sanborn filling out the podium in the third spot.

Sparky MacIver put in a solid run to score fourth, followed by Seavey, Matt Riley, Bryan Kruczek, Tommy Tombarello, Jr., Jim Barker, Butch Valley, Jr., Mike Netishen, Tony Carroll, Mike Murphy, Leslie Keyser, and Ben Tinker (dns).

Patrick Tanguay was the man to beat in the David’s Race Cars and Components Hobby Stocks, busting out to the lead with Mike Williams hot on his heels. Tanguay held Williams at bay for the first 20 caution-free laps, but that changed in a hurry.

Lap 21 saw caution on the field after the leaders got tangled up coming out of turn four, and Tanguay spun to a stop with some front-end damage and some ground to make up. Williams led the balance of the event to pick up his second win of the year, with points leader Mark Parenteau and Brian Thompson taking second and third.

Steve Dubois wound up in the fourth spot, with Tanguay rebounding for fifth followed by Sean Nordin, Jim Piaseczny, Brian DeStefano, Jim Shorey, and Steve Douphinette.

Troy Washburn broke Kyle Roy’s recent stranglehold on RE/MAX Ironman victory lane, holding off the winner of the past five straight races to collect the win. Washburn did a great job holding on for the victory, beating Roy by a fender for the winner’s trophy.

Jake Rheaume finished in the third spot followed by early-race leader Danielle Simoneau, who set the pace for most of the first half of the race, and Evan Horvath, still looking for his first podium of the season.

The Northeast Classic Lites were on hand for the second straight week, and they once again put on an entertaining race for the fans. Russ Bryant took down a hard-fought win this time out, beating out Eddie Gilman to take top honors.

This Friday, August 19th Lee USA Speedway will be hosting the Ollie Silva Memorial ISMA Super Modified Classic along with the Small Block Supers, Hobby Stocks plus the NEMA Lites. Please the office for information at 978-462-4252 or go to our web site at www.leeusaspeedway.com.

Division sponsors David and Annette Joyce of David’s Race Cars and Components were on hand [...]]]> Lee, NH – Lee USA Speedway played host to the annual David’s Race Cars and Components Hobby Stock Shootout 50-lapper on Friday night, with Groton, MA racer Geoff Rollins outrunning the biggest field of the season to collect the win.

Division sponsors David and Annette Joyce of David’s Race Cars and Components were on hand in the VIP tower celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, and they headed trackside to present Rollins with the hardware in the post-race victory lane ceremony.

Polesitter Sammy Peabody was out front for the first 16 laps, but Rollins was on the move after starting eighth on the grid, and he headed to the lead on lap 17. The rest of the big guns were hot on Rollins’ heels, with former champ Brian Thompson, Mike Williams, Jim Piaseczny, and Peabody filing the
top five spots at the crossed flags.

Rollins was in control the rest of the way, holding off repeated challenges from Thompson to take the checkers. Thompson, Piaseczny, Williams, Sean Nordin, Mark Parenteau, Patrick Tanguay, Bill Helliwell, Chris Kingsley, and Steve Douphinette rounded out the top ten.

In the Benson Lumber and Hardware Small Block Supermodifieds, it was Bedford, NH driver Matt Riley leading flag to flag to post his first career feature win. Riley was out to the lead quickly after starting the event on the front row, and he stayed there until the checkers waved to score the victory.

Rookie competitor Leslie Keyser followed in Riley’s tire tracks all the way, collecting his best finish of the season in the runner-up slot. Super Dave Sanborn finished up the podium in third, with Sparky MacIver, defending champ Tommy Tombarello, Jr., Butch Valley, Jr., points leader Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Mike Netishen, and Tony Carroll closing out the top ten.

Bobby Melvin brought another winner’s trophy home to Groton, MA, picking up his third Prime Storage Late Model Sportsman feature of the season and extending his points lead over veteran Jimmy Renfrew with just a handful of races left in the 2011 season.

2010 Rookie of the Year Josh Ball broke out to the early lead in the feature, but he was no match for Melvin, who quickly worked his way up through the field from seventh on the grid to take over the lead.

Michele Fushpanski was next the break out of the pack and claim second, but Melvin had already built up a considerable lead, nearly a half-straightaway ahead. Fushpanski gained a little ground when Melvin got into traffic, but there was no stopping his drive to victory lane.

Melvin went on to easily score the win, with Fushpanski settling for second. Third spot went to former Hobby Stock champion Todd Bregy, with Renfrew, Ricky Porter, Ryan Green, Ball, Brian Grantz, Tony Kawejsza, and Mike Mitchell fourth through tenth.

Kyle Roy continued his domination of the RE/MAX Ironman division, running off to score his fifth straight win in the main event. Troy Washburn was the best of the rest for a second place finish, with Kale Billings, Jake Rheaume, and early leader Evan Horvath closing out the top five.

The Northeast Classic Lites made a special appearance on Friday, and it was once again George Helliwell showing them the fast way around. Helliwell always seems to step up his game when the Classic Lites come to Lee, and this race was no exception.

Helliwell made a slick, three-wide move to pass early-race leader Tom Harton a former Ironman champion at Lee, and from there it was all over. Helliwell went on to post the win, with Rob Bryant and Harton taking second and third place honors.

The Senior Tour Auto Racers also participated in Friday night’s program, with Gary Moore of Manchester, NH taking down he Sportsman win, and Charlie Grassie of Rehoboth, MA scoring the Modified victory.

Next up at Lee USA on Friday, August 12th will be the annual running of the Prime Warehouse & Storage Lance Davis Memorial for Late Model Sportsman, with a 50-lap main event on the program. The Small Block Supers, Hobby Stocks, and Classic Lites will also be in action. For information please contact the office at 978-462-4252 or go to our web site at www.leeusaspeedway.com.

Stoehr took the lead [...]]]> Lee, NH – The NEMA Midgets made their only 2011 appearance at Lee USA
Speedway on Friday night, with veteran Greg Stoehr taking down the feature
win. Stoehr spent the early part of his racing career campaigning a Late
Model at Lee, which made the win doubly sweet.

Stoehr took the lead on lap two, and was never seriously challenged on the
way to his first feature event win of the 2011 season. Jeremy Frankoski,
Jeff Abold, defending NEMA champ and Greg’s brother Russ Stoehr, and Anthony
Nocella wrapped up the top five spots.

Russ Wood, Jr. of nearby Pelham put on an impressive show in the NEMA Lites
portion of the program, coming from deep in the field to collect the
checkers and take home the win, the second time the second-generation driver
has scored a victory at Lee.

Jake Stergios nearly stole the show when he took the lead away from Wood on
a late-race restart, but another quick yellow flag turned the lead back to
Wood, who went on to post the win over Stergios, Anthony Marvuglio, Andy
Barrows, and Jim Santa Maria.

In the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Small Block Supermodifieds, it was
defending champion Tommy Tombarello, Jr. showing the fast way around the
3/8th’s mile oval, outrunning the field for his second feature win of the
2011 campaign.

Ben Tinker put in another solid run to checker second, with two-time 2011
winners “Super Dave” Sanborn and Butch Valley, Jr. coming across the stripe
in third and fourth. Fifth went to points leader Wayne Helliwell, Jr.,
followed by Matt Riley, Matt Seavey, Sparky MacIver, Mike Ordway, Jr., and
Johnny Burke.

With the annual Stratham Fair scheduled for this weekend, July 21-24, Bobby
Melvin couldn’t have picked a better time to put his main sponsor’s name in
victory lane, which he did in the Prime Storage sponsored Late Model
Sportsman feature event.

Tony Kawejsza wasted little time getting out front at the drop of the green
flag, taking the lead from Josh Ball on lap two in the LMS main. Kawejsza
showed the way until lap 26, when tangle sent Kawejsza to the pits, Ron
Bolduc to the rear, and Jimmy Renfrew to the lead.

Melvin was outside pole on the ensuing restart, and he eventually prevailed
in the four-lap shootout that brought them to the checkers. Renfrew scored
runner-up, with Ryan Green, Michele Fushpanski, Brian Grantz, Timmy Johnson,
Mike Mitchell, Ball, Ryan Gath, and Bolduc the rest of the top ten.

With the David’s Race cars and Components Hobby Stocks taking the night off,
Picnic Table Factory Ironman competition closed out the weekly division
action, with Kyle Roy nailing down the feature win once again.

Early leader Troy Washburn had to settle for a second place finish, with
Kale Billings, Jake Rheaume, and Justin Dawalga rounding out the top five.