NEMA’S 900th FEATURE AT LEE USA SPEEDWAY ON SEPT 12th
Lee USA Set To Host
NEMA’s 900th Feature
Lee, NH - The Northeastern Midget Association will run its 900th
feature Friday night, Sept. 13th at Lee USA Speedway. The milestone
comes in the club’s 57th season.
It will be the 13th feature of the season and the second at Lee.
NEMA, born in the late winter of 1953 in the Thompson Speedway
clubhouse, will “properly acknowledge” the milestone. The first race
was at Seekonk Speedway on May 30, 1953. Fred Meeker, in the Kernan
#17, beat Al Pillion and Cliff Riggot.
“This is, of course, of great significance,” says NEMA President Mike
Scrivani Jr. “The club has such a great history and what’s so great is
many of the people who have made major contributions are still
around.”
It has taken NEMA almost exactly eight years to go from feature No.
800 ? Aug. 17, 2001 at Oxford Plains (Jim Miller was the winner) ? to
900. The 500th feature was at Monadnock in 1982 and was won by Drew
Fornoro in the Angelillo 45.
Point leader Randy Cabral (Bertrand 47) tops the list of 2008 winners
with five. Bobby Santos III (Santos 98) has three, Greg Stoehr
(Stoehr 29b) two and Joey Payne Jr. (Angelillo 45) and Chris Abold
(Seymour 29) one each. All had strong runs at Lee on June 27, a win
for Santos over Cabral and Payne.
Cabral’s teammate Jeremy Frankoski, Adam Cantor, (Cantor 7ny) Mike
Keeler (Seamon 63) and Erica Santos (Breault 44) head up a list of
those ready to grab a checkered.
It will be the 26th race at Lee dating back to 1966. Jeff Horn leads
active drivers with three Lee wins.
Making victory even more lucrative is joining the list of other
milestone winners: Jerry Russo (the 100th), Dave Humphrey (200th and
300th), Arnold Holly (400th), Bobby Seymour (600th) and Russ Stoehr
(700th).
Dave Humphrey and Nokie Fornoro have each won the 13th race of the
season five times. Cabral has won two of the last three including last
year.
es Announced for S?rie ACT Castrol
Autodrome St-Eustache Event Changes Announced for S?rie ACT Castrol
ST-EUSTACHE (Montr?al), QC ? The S?rie ACT Castrol stock car
championship weekend at Autodrome St-Eustache
near Montr?al has been trimmed from a two-day affair to a one-day
stand-alone race on Saturday, Sept. 20. The
14th Annual St-Eustache 300 will be the eighth and final championship
event for the S?rie ACT Castrol Late Models,
and will offer a bonus purse for any American-based teams that participate.
A 200-lap race, previously rained out on July 26, had been
rescheduled for Sat., Sept. 20 with the St-
Eustache 300 originally slated to be held on Sunday, Sept. 21. Series
and track officials have reached an
agreement that will cancel the rescheduled 200-lap race and move the
St-Eustache 300 to Saturday, Sept. 20. The
move trims the S?rie ACT Castrol championship schedule from nine races to eight.
The S?rie ACT Castrol is in action on Saturday, Sept. 6 at
Autodrome Chaudi?re in Vall?e-Jonction, QC as
the top-11 Castrol teams from Qu?bec and Ontario take on the top-11
teams in the U.S.-based American-Canadian Tour
Championship Late Model series in the Coors Light 200 “Showdown at
Chaudi?re,” a $5,000-to-win, non-points, all-
star invitational race, at 6:30pm.
PASS South Contenders Start Run To Championship at Newport
PASS South Contenders Start Run To Championship at Newport
CHARLOTTE, NC (September 2) ? Just when you think the run for the Pro
All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model championship could not
get any tighter it does. Prior to last Saturday’s Piedmont Pride 125
at Caraway Speedway, PASS South points leader Corey Williams had a 50
point lead over then, third place driver in points Alex Haase. At
Caraway, Williams was involved in a late race accident with Dean
Clattenburg while racing for second and finished back in twelfth.
Haase managed to come back and finish second after being involved in a
spin while battling race long leader Mark Gibson for the top spot.
That second place finish by Haase has allowed him and the Kyle Busch
owned Toyota team to move in to second in PASS South points just 30
points behind Williams. Perry Brown, who was second in points
entering the Piedmont Pride 125, was involved in a wall grinding crash
in turn two early in the race resulting in a disappointing 22nd place
finish. Brown’s early departure has dropped him to third in points
leaving him with a lot of work to do to prepare for this weekend’s
Daniel Boone Classic at the Newport Speedway.
Perhaps the two sleepers for the PASS South championship are fourth in
points Mark Gibson and fifth in points Heath Hindman. Gibson and his
Yarborough Transfer Company #62 have been one of the hottest cars on
the circuit as of late. Gibson has recorded top five finishes in
three of the last five races and led all but 25 laps of the Piedmont
Pride 125. Car owner Jeff Day says the team has worked hard on few
areas of the car that were lacking and the difference in performance
has been stark with Gibson moving up to fourth in the PASS South
standings just 58 points out of the lead. For Hindman, the last few
weeks have been just the opposite of Gibson. Since 2007, Hindman has
been consistently won of the fastest cars at each and every PASS South
event and that has carried over to 2008. However, where there has
been speed for Hindman in 2008, there has not been any luck. Through
the first six races, Hindman finished in the top ten in every race but
one. In the last three races, though, Hindman has struggled through a
combination of crashes and mechanical problems to only average an 18th
place finish and fall to fifth in points. But, luck looks to turn
around for the native of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, first by racing
this weekend in his home state at the Newport Speedway’s Daniel Boone
Classic. Then, Hindman heads to the Hickory Motor Speedway as the
defending winner of the Over the Mountain 150.
Newport Speedway will not be an easy adversary for the drivers of the
PASS South Series. At 3/8 of a mile and with corners banked at 24
degrees, regulars of the Newport Speedway like to brag that it is a
miniature version of the Bristol Motor Speedway. And, with laps
expected at less than 13 seconds in qualifying, many drivers say that
by the time you see an accident happen, it’s already too late because
you are already in it.
Hooter’s Pro Cup North veteran Jay Fogleman, fresh off a third place
finish in that series first Championship Race held at Mansfield, Ohio,
will join a strong group of Newport Speedway Super Late Model drivers
in the hopes of taking the coon skin cap away from the PASS South
regulars.
Action gets kicked off on Friday, September 5th at the Newport
Speedway with practice for the PASS South Super Late Models from 3 PM
to 7 PM. On Saturday, September 6th, pit gates open at 2 PM with
practice starting at 4PM, and qualifying for the Daniel Boone Classic
at 6:30 PM. In addition to the PASS South Super Late Models on the
racing card will be the Limited Late Models, Street Stock, Road Rage,
and Front Wheel Drive.
?Back To School Night at Lee Friday?
“Back To School Night at Lee Friday”
Lee, NH (Sept 1, 2008) - - “Any young race fan afforded the
opportunity to ride in a stock car will always remember the moment,”
said speedway announcer John Spence. “I know I have, some 47 years
later, it’s a sound, a feeling, an image I’ll never forget.”
Reflecting on his journey around a race track he would later become
affiliated with Spence added, “It was Bob Dube, a racer out of
Haverhill, MA, a Hudson Speedway Class B regular, he probably never
knew, but he gave me a life long remembrance, so clear, it was like it
was yesterday.”
Kids will have the chance to experience the same Friday night,
September 5th, when Lee USA Speedway hosts its annual “Back to School
Special” with kiddie rides in race cars at the Route 125 oval. The
annual event has become a popular attraction. Parents are encouraged
to arrive early as rides are generally conducted prior to the start of
the race program. The annual event has become a popular attraction.
The NASCAR sanctioned Whelen All-American Series race program will
feature Late Models, Late Model Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Roadrunners,
Small-Block Supermodifieds, and Ironman Divisions. Race time is 7:15
PM.
Track management has announced an addition to its schedule on Sunday
September 28th.
Labeled, a “Prelude to Octoberfest” the track will conduct an
afternoon of racing featuring a big 8-in-1 show with the Small-Block
Supermodifieds, Late Model Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Roadrunners,
Trucks, Mini Cup, Ironman, and Spectator Drags, all for $10.00 for
Adults
Wakefield back in PASS South Victory Lane at Caraway
Wakefield back in PASS South Victory Lane at Caraway
Naples ME ? (September 1, 2008) Every racer knows that before you can
win, you must put yourself in position to win. Saturday night, Justin
Wakefield did just that in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South
Piedmont 125 presented by presented by 93.1 FM The Wolf at Caraway
Speedway.
Wakefield ran at the front of the field all night long and was sitting
in third when race leader Alex Haase got a bump from Mark Gibson on
lap 122 of the 125 lap PASS feature. The contact slid Haase back to
sixth, Gibson was sent to the tail end of the field and Wakefield was
suddenly the new race leader. Wakefield survived two more restarts to
claim the victory over Haase and Bradley McCaskill. Gibson raced back
to fourth at the checkers and Dean Clattenburg completed the top five
Wakefield now has a two race win streak in PASS South super late model
competition after scoring his first on August 2nd in the South
Carolina Clash at Dillon Motor Speedway.
It was a tough night at the races for several of the front runners in
the PASS South championship battle. Point leader Corey Williams wound
up twelfth after a wreck knocked him out of the top three with two to
go. Perry Brown took a hard shot into the wall on lap two to end his
night; Brown was 22nd in the final run down. Haase and Gibson
salvaged second and fourth place finishes respectively, but fourth
place points man Heath Hindman was credited with 20th spot after
mechanical woes ended his day.
PASS South is back in action next Saturday night with their first ever
visit to the Volunteer State. Newport Tennessee’s Newport Speedway
will host the fastest full fendered racers in the east for the Daniel
Boone Classic.
Visit www.racewithpass.com for all the latest news on all five Pro All
Stars racing series. Check out the 4/10th mile high banks at Newport
by logging on to www.newportspeedway.com .
Unofficial Results ? PASS South Super Late Model Piedmont Pride 125 ?
Caraway Speedway, Asheboro NC - 8/30/2008
1) Justin Wakefield 2) Alex Haase 3) Bradley McCaskill 4) Mark Gibson
5) Dean Clattenburg 6) Ryan Blaney 7) Spencer Wauters 8) Michael
Buckner 9) Trey Mitchell 10) Billy Leslie 11) Trevor McKinley 12)
Corey Williams 13) Michael Bellines 14) Matt Bowers 15) Hal Goodson
16) Tim Pinion 17) Alex Fleming 18) Duane Linville 19) Cale Gale 20)
Heath Hindman 21) John Batten 22) Perry Brown
Ainsworth Rebounds With Bond Auto Win at Thunder Road
Ainsworth Rebounds With Bond Auto Win at Thunder Road
Greenslit, Vilbrin take first ‘08 victories, Leighton wins ACT 200
BARRE, VT ? Pete Ainsworth of Middlesex turned his Tiger
Sportsman stock car racing season around with a 30-lap feature
victory in the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic program at Barre’s Thunder
Road on Sunday afternoon. Ainsworth started tenth on the 28-
car grid and methodically worked his way to the front. He reached
leader Chris Lacey, a rookie from Burlington, on lap 20,
battled door-to-door with Lacey for three laps, then drove away for the win.
Lacey spun out of contention in Turn 1 on lap 25, allowing
Middlesex rookie Josh Demers to slip by for second place.
Demers’ runner-up finish was his second of the weekend, as he equaled
his result from the 30-lap event on Thursday night.
Hometown driver David Finck finished third for third time in six events.
Rick Garand of Middlesex and Hinesburg driver Tom Therrien
finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Shawn Sicard, Craig
Bushey, Eric Badore, rookie Mike Ziter, and Jimmy Hebert completed the
unofficial top ten finishers in order.
David Greenslit of Waitsfield earned his first Allen Lumber
Street Stock win of the season in the 25-lap Bond Auto event.
Greenslit battled Elmore rookie David Whitcomb for the entire
distance, and was following Whitcomb on lap 24 when Whitcomb lost
control and spun to the infield. Greenslit avoided contact and drove
to the win. Another rookie, Mike MacAskill of Williamstown,
finished in second place. Michael Moore of East Haven took third
place at the finish line from Randolph Center’s Markus Farnham.
Shawn Powell of Jericho completed the unofficial top five.
Josh Vilbrin of Northfield won a two-segment Power Shift Online
Junkyard Warrior feature for his first career victory.
Vilbrin had finishes of third and fifth in the two 10-lap segments,
for a total low score of eight points. Mike Gay of South
Burlington also scored eight points after winning the first segment
and finishing seventh in the second segment. Vilbrin was
awarded the overall victory due to his higher final-segment finish.
Jamie Davis of Wolcott came back from a three-time rollover
on Saturday to finish third overall in Sunday’s feature with ten
points. Jeff Martin, Jr. (10 points) finished fourth overall
with Mark LaFleche (11 points) in fifth place, unofficially.
Brad Leigthon of Center Harbor, NH scored an unlikely victory
in the 30th running of the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200
for the American-Canadian Tour Championship Late Models, pocketing
just over $9,600 including bonuses. Leighton survived two wild
off-track crashes and a total of four flat tires to take the win.
Cris Michaud of Northfield finished second over Eric Williams
of Hyde Park. Ben Rowe of Turner, ME was fourth, with Montreal driver
Patrick Laperle fifth, unofficially. For more information
on the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200, visit www.acttour.com.
Thunder Road’s 49th season of stock car racing concludes with
the Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl on Sat./Sun., Sept. 27/28.
The race will be the final championship event for Thunder Road’s
Sportsman, Street Stock, and Warrior classes, as well as the ACT
Late Model Tour. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit
www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
All-Star Speedway 8-30 Race Report
Epping, NH ? All-Star Modified points leader Louie Mechalides moved
even closer to the 2008 Whelen All-American Series championship at
All-Star Speedway Saturday night, picking up wins in both ends of a
doubleheader night for the Modifieds.
Mechalides looked underneath leader Josh Cantara on lap eight in the
first feature, taking over the lead and cruising on to a convincing
win. Cantara checkered second, with Bruce Batchelder, Mike Murphy,
J.R. Baril, Luke Royea, Brandee Tree, Bobby Gahan, Bill Goodrow, and
John Burnham the rest of the top ten.
It was a tougher run in the second feature, as Mechalides was involved
in an incident along the way that sent him to the rear of the field
nearing the halfway mark.
But once again, Mechalides charged to the front and scored the win,
making it three straight for the Tyngsboro, MA veteran. Baril picked
up his best finish of the year in the second spot, followed by
Cantara, Jon McKennedy, Eric LeClair, Royea, Tree, Goodrow, Burnham,
and Gahan.
The Super Streets spent the first half of the race chasing Rob
DeAlmeida, who broke to the front early, and was holding off Lee Weldy
when they took the crossed flags. But Weldy quickly made his way past
DeAlmeida for the lead after halfway, with teammate Phil Baril
following him to the front.
Late in the race, the rest of the Team Daley regulars joined the fun
up front, making it a four-car sweep when the checkers waved. Weldy
led the way to pick up his second win of the season, followed by
Baril, Chris Lee, and Sandy Lee.
Timmy Casey was the best of the rest of the field, taking down the
fifth spot over Shaun Waites, Tony Kawejsza, Russ Douphinette,
DeAlmeida, and Tony Carroll in a backup Daley machine he borrowed for
the feature after suffering mechanical problems with his own car.
Stephen Dubois jumped out to the lead when the Strictly Stock feature
went green, leading Ken McIlvaine and Steve Douphinette the first time
around. Douphinette gained the advantage and took second on lap
three, with he moved past Dubois to the lead five laps later.
Art Joslin got past Dubois for second on lap ten, and he and
Douphinette put on one of the best races of the year, battling
side-by-side for the lead for the next several laps. Douphinette
eventually won out and picked up the win, while Joslin dropped back a
couple of spots at the finish.
Gary Beauregard moved up late to claim runner-up honors, with Rick
Woodside, Jr., Joslin, Dubois, McIlvaine, Mike Asselin, Chris
Augevich, and Johnny Gervais next in the final rundown.
Ryan Foley broke out to the early lead in the Fast-8 feature event,
with Jean Desilets taking over the top spot on lap three. Lane
Hodgkins was next to break out of the pack, following Desilets to
second, with Bobby MacArthur right on his bumper in third.
MacArthur made quick work of Hodgkins and Desilets to take his turn at
the lead, and from there, Bobby Mac was off and running, picking up
his second win of the year at the checkers. Hodgkins, Desilets, Brian
Destefano, Jeff Evans, Christin Burns, Mark Nevers, Travis Nevers,
Foley, and Matt Walker finished up the top ten.
In Fast-4 action, it was once again Shaun Waites, Jr. who was the
class of the field, adding to his division-leading win total with
another trip to victory lane. Jamie Scott busted out of the pack to
set the early pace, with Jim Deveau chasing him for the first half of
the race.
Waites was third at the crossed flags, but by the time they reached
five to go, he was out front for good, and he cruised on to score the
win. Patrick Sheehan, Deveau, Scott, Matt Magee, Jef James, Tyler
Mailhut, and Brian Scott were next across the stripe.
Young Driver Makes History! Craig Slaunwhite Takes the Peterbilt 250.
Young Driver Makes History!
Craig Slaunwhite Takes the Peterbilt 250.
August 31st, 2008
Fredericton, NB - A gorgeous sunny day always leads to a WicKID day or
racing at Speedway 660. Today’s event, the Peterbilt 250 could be not be
described with just one word, but a cupellation of many. Craig Slaunwhite in
the #23SFR, winner of the 8th annual Peterbilt 250, made history tonight at
Speedway 660 as the youngest driver to win the Peterbilt 250. Aside from
age, Slaunwhite is the eighth different driver to win the Peterbilt 250,
making 2008 a non-repeated winning year.
Today’s event was kicked off with a start time of 2pm. Heats, qualifying and
consolation races ran through out the afternoon for all three divisions, the
Coast Tire Street Stock division, the Legend cars along with the many Pro
Stocks. After very few wrecks and the car count for making the race dropping
fast, the Pro Stocks were given one final chance to qualify for the
Peterbilt 250 with the consolation race before intermission. The winner of
the consolation race had a guaranteed spot in the Peterbilt 250 and this
spot was given to the lucky dog and Speedway 660 familiar Brent Wiggins in
the #17 who won the final qualifying opportunity for the race.
After having a relaxing and entertaining intermission, fans returned to
their seats long enough to hear the Steve Wylon band finish their final song
while Speedway 660 officials prepped for opening ceremonies. Travis
Kittleson in the #29c started the evening off in the pole position while the
#17 of Travis Benjamin started shotgun to the pole. The beginning of the 250
laps was a slow start with a numerous caution laps within the first 50 laps
of the race. After getting comfortable and continuing the race for a lengthy
time, the Pro Stock drivers began to widen the space between the first place
position and the final position. Halfway through the race, there were only 8
cars on the lead lap while Wayne Smith in the #44 took the halfway challenge
of one thousand dollars sponsored by Bulletproof Solutions. The remainder of
the race was held exciting as the top three drivers, Wayne Smith in the #44,
Travis Benjamin in the #17 and the #23 of Craig Slaunwhite bumped and edged
one another continuously. On lap 147 Travis Benjamin gave Wayne Smith a
little nudge, just enough to get him swirly, which opened the door for the
young Slaunwhite to take the lead. Slaunwhite continued to lead the race and
take home a whopping cheque of $15,358. Not only was Slaunwhite the youngest
driver to win the Peterbit 250, the history continues as Slaunwhite makes
the 2008 Peterbilt 250 the 8th different driver to take home the prized
race.
Aside from the fast pace Peterbit 150, the Coast Tire Street Stock division
had their second biggest event tonight, the Fredericton Hyundai Street Stock
50. The winner of the Street Stock 50 hasn’t had the best of luck in the
2008 season, wrecking his car only a few weeks before the event. However,
Shawn Hyslop and his crew have always worked hard to return with a big
comeback and did just that in tonight’s Fredericton Hyundair Street Stock
50. Hyslop took home the feature win while the #54 of Rick Cashol finished
in second and the #2 of Matt Matheson rounded out the top three.
Make sure you tune into Speedway 660 tomorrow for the Championship run for
the Enduro Drivers. Could the team of Ruff and Hathaway take home their next
championship or could another contender put up the run for champion? Make
sure you swing by the Geary woods tomorrow for another outstanding day of
racing at Speedway 660 and the final wrap up of Leisure Family RV Centers
SPEEDWEEKEND 2008..
Next Event:
Enduro 200 Championship
Monday, September 1st, at 2:00pm
Analyzing the Sunoco Modified Mania 150 at Thompson International Speedway
Analyzing the Sunoco Modified Mania 150 at Thompson International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 1, 2008) ? The Sunoco Modified Mania 150
will be the fourth of five appearances in 2008 at Thompson (Conn.)
International Speedway for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The n1th
race of the season will go green on Sunday, Sept. 7.
At Thompson International Speedway:
? Since the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour formed in 1985, there have
been 103 races at Thompson International Speedway.
? There have been 29 different race winners at TIS, led by Mike
Stefanik’s 14 victories.
? Tony Hirschman is tied with Jeff Fuller for the most poles won at
TIS with 13 … There have been 35 different pole winners at TIS.
? Ed Flemke Jr. won the first NWMT race of the year at TIS, the
Icebreaker … Ronnie Silk has since captured the June and August
races at TIS.
? Silk became the first back-to-back winner at TIS since Tony Hirschman in 2003.
? This race could feature 11 drivers who have previously reached
Victory Lane at TIS.
Season Recap:
? Ted Christopher assumed the season points lead for the first time
last week at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park when he captured the
Whelen 150 … He also won the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler earlier this
year at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.
? Chuck Hossfeld, who led in points for eight straight races, is now
60 points behind Christopher… He has victories at SMS (5/23) and New
Hampshire Motor Speedway (6/28).
? Ronnie Silk won the last race at Thompson (Conn.) International
Speedway … He has two wins this year, both at TIS.
? Jimmy Blewett won back-to-back races at Riverhead Raceway (8/2) and SMS (8/8).
? Ed Flemke Jr. captured the season-opener at TIS (4/6), his first
victory since 2004.
? Matt Hirschman earned his first career NWMT victory at Spencer
Speedway on July 12.
? James Civali, Bobby Grigas III and Ryan Preece have earned their
first career poles in 2008.
Last Time Out ? Mansfield, Aug. 23:
? Ted Christopher earned his second win of the season and took the
season points lead in the process … He also moved past Mike
Ewanitsko into sole possession of fifth place on the NWMT all-time
wins list.
? Ryan Preece recorded his best career finish, third.
? Rookie Erick Rudolph registered a seventh place finish, the best in
his six career starts.
? Richmond Corwin Jr., part owner of Glen Tyler’s No. 8 team, fielded
a second car for driver Dion Ciccarelli with a SPEC engine … It was
the second time a SPEC had been run in an NWMT race … L.W. Miller
ran a SPEC at NHMS in June.
Selected Driver Highlights:
Eric Beers (No. 46 Chevrolet)
? Has two wins and eight poles in 122 career starts.
? Has five top-five finishes in 10 starts this year.
? Won at TIS on Sept. 10, 2006.
Jimmy Blewett (No. 19 Chevrolet)
? Has four wins and one pole in 56 career starts.
? Earned his first NWMT wins at Riverhead on Aug. 2, and at SMS on Aug. 8.
? Is eighth in the NWMT season standings and was 14th in last week’s
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national Top 500 before adding a win
at Thompson on Thursday.
Ted Christopher (No. 36 Chevrolet)
? Has 29 wins and 13 poles in 255 career starts.
? Has a 60-point lead in the season standings over Chuck Hossfeld.
? Won the last time out at Mansfield on Aug. 23 … Also won the
Tech-Net Spring Sizzler at SMS on April 27.
? Has at least one victory in 10 consecutive seasons.
? Has led 428 of 1328 (32%) total laps this year, nearly three times
as many as any other driver.
? Has six career NWMT wins at TIS … The next would put him in sole
possession of fifth on the NWMT wins list at TIS.
Doug Coby (No. 28 Chevrolet)
? Will drive the No. 28 of Don King this week … Shares the ride with
Woody Pitkat.
? Has one win 11 top fives and 24 top 10s in 77 career starts.
? Was 16th in last week’s NWAAS National Top 500 standings.
Ed Flemke Jr. (No. 10 Chevrolet)
? Won the season-opener at TIS.
? Has 17 wins and 16 poles in 364 career starts.
? Has made a record 305 consecutive starts … The last time he did
not start an NWMT race was on July 22, 1992 at Riverside Park
Speedway.
Rick Fuller (No. 77)
? 1993 NWMT Champion … Will be honored prior to this race as part of
NASCAR’s celebration of 60 Years of Modified Champions.
? Has 20 wins and 11 poles in 434 career starts … Last won at
Waterford in May, 2003.
? Has eight career wins at TIS, tied for third-most all-time … Last
win was the 2001 Icebreaker.
Bobby Grigas III (No. 09 Chevrolet)
?Captured his first career Coors Light Pole Award at TIS on June 19.
?Registered best career finish, third, at TIS in this year’s Icebreaker.
Matt Hirschman (No. 59 Chevrolet)
? Has 25 top 10s in 49 career starts.
? Earned his first NWMT win at Spencer on July 12.
? Has finished on the lead lap in 27 consecutive races, the most among
all drivers … Is the only driver to complete all 1328 laps this
year.
? Has top-10s in six of the last eight races and is up to third in the
standings, his highest ranking this year.
Chuck Hossfeld (No. 4 Dodge)
? Trails Ted Christopher by 60 points in the season standings …
Maintained the points lead for eight weeks before the last race at
Mansfield.
? Finished in the top four in each of the season’s first six races …
Last four outings have resulted in finishes ranging from 15th to 28th.
? Has won this year at SMS (5/23) and NHMS (6/28).
? Has seven wins, 42 top fives and 61 top 10s in 105 career starts.
? Has one win at TIS, the 2003 Icebreaker.
Ryan Preece (No. 3 Chevrolet)
? Has one pole and seven top 10s in 24 career starts.
? Currently ranks 11th in the season standings with five top 10s in 10 starts.
? Recorded best career finish, third, last time out at Mansfield.
? Has led 135 laps this year, third among all drivers.
Ronnie Silk (No. 79 Pontiac)
? Has won back-to-back races at TIS … All three of his career wins
have come at TIS … Has won three of last five NWMT races at TIS,
dating back to 2007.
? Is fifth in the standings, his highest ranking this year … Has
top-10 finishes in six of the last seven races, including two wins.
? Has 19 top-10s in 49 career NWMT starts.
Mike Stefanik (No. 16 Pontiac)
? Seven-time NWMT Champion … Was honored at SMS on May 23.
? Has a NWMT record 68 victories in 375 career starts.
? Has eight top 10s in 2008 and is fourth in the season standings.
? Is the all-time NWMT wins leader at TIS with 14 … Last win was the
2006 Icebreaker.
Todd Szegedy (No. 2 Ford)
? The 2003 NWMT Champion … Will be honored at New Hampshire on Sept. 13.
? Has 12 wins in 104 career starts, the best start-to-victory ratio
(9:1) of any active driver.
? Like Chuck Hossfeld, he finished in the top 10 in each of the
season’s first six races, but not in the four outings since.
Jamie Tomaino (No. 99 Chevrolet)
? The 1990 NWMT Champion … Was honored at Spencer on July 12.
? Has missed only four of the 497 races in the history of the NWMT (1985-pr.).
? Is one of three drivers (Rick Fuller, Carl Pasteryak) to make a
start in all 24 years of the NWMT.
Upcoming Milestones/Benchmarks:
? With a win in this race, Ronnie Silk would become the first driver
to capture three-straight races at Thompson International Speedway
since Mike Stefanik swept all four dates in 1998.
? Todd Szegedy’s next win would be the 13th of his career, which would
put him in sole possession of 13th on the all-time list.
? Mike Stefanik has 40 career poles … The next would place him in a
tie with Tony Hirschman for the all-time lead.
? Jamie Tomaino will extend his own series record by making his 494th
career start.
? Ed Flemke Jr. is expected to extend his record consecutive starts
streak to 306.
UNITY RACEWAY - 8/29
The cloudy morning turned into a wonderful afternoon for the final
race of August. The crowd was there in anticipation of what the Flying
Fernald was going to jump thru this year. The fans were pleased to
find out it was another mobile home. This year the jumping vehicle was
a mini van. The jump had to be just perfect. George again proved to be
right on the mark as he cleared the whole trailer on the first jump.
The fans were in for a treat as he made the jump a second and third
time. The only thing that calmed him down was the van had seen it’s
better day. We can only wonder what next year will bring.
The Ladies division is getting more and more competitive each week.
This week saw thirteen cars challenge for the lead. The heat race saw
caution fly on lap one as Kayla Robinson spun in turn one. Melissa
Higgins used this opportunity to jump to the lead. Meagan Allen made a
return trip to the track to run a close second. Higgins increased her
lead and took her first checkered flag of the season. The feature
would again have caution fly on lap one. A spinning machine forced
point leader, Samantha Letourneau, hard into the turn one banking.
This would force Letourneau to the pits for the night. Meagan Allen
would jump to the lead. Carol Wilson is using the inside lane to fly
up thru the pack. Wilson catches Allen and charges by on the inside.
Rhonda Lyford has taken over second position from Allen. Allen is
being challenged for third by Molly Feeney. Shelby Kimball, moving up
from the Teen division to run with the Ladies, breaks into the top
five from her rear starting position. Feeney has cleared Allen and put
her sights on Lyford. Feeney makes her way around Lyford. Wilson has
driven away from the field. Time is running out for Feeney to catch
Wilson. Wilson bobbles out of four allowing Feeney to close up the
gap. Wilson is able to hold on for the win. Feeney finishes a very
close second. Rhonda Lyford joins the pair in victory lane with third.
Allen has a strong run in fourth. Shelby Kimball finishes fifth in her
debut in the Ladies division.
Ben Clark and Cary Davis cleared the field and started pulling away in
the heat race. Davis challenges Clark in the inside. Rackliff has
joined the pair. Clark holds them off for the heat race win. Jim Denis
takes the early race lead. Davis moves into the second spot. Steve
Rackliff uses the inside lane to take over third from Ben Clark. Bill
Ellis is having a fine run in fifth. Rackliff has moved to the inside
of Davis to challenge for second. The pair are catching leader, Denis.
Mechanical problems for Dennis causes him to spin and bring out the
first caution. Dennis is taken to the pits, but is able to rejoin the
field before the restart. Rackliff and Davis race side by side for the
lead. Clark has moved back into the third spot. Rackliff has cleared
Davis and taken the lead. Clark is gaining slightly on Davis. Dennis
has weaved thru traffic to take over the fourth spot. Rackliff cruises
to the win. Davis follows in second. Ben Clark has another fine run in
third. Dennis recovers from his spin to finish in fourth. Corey Walker
follows up last weeks top three with a fifth place finish.
Brandon Greenleaf started the Teen division heat race out with a bang.
The #68 machine rolled under the flag stand bringing out the red flag.
Greenleaf was okay, but the car was done for the night. Ben Nile and
Shelby Kimball go side by side on the restart for the lead. Nile is
able to take the lead from Kimball and cruise to the heat race win.
Lucas Porter is able to clear traffic and take the early race lead.
Shelby Kimball is following in a strong second. Jeremy Ludden is
passing the field on the outside. Ricky Palmer tries to follow Ludden,
but the door is shut. Ludden has caught Porter and taken over the lead
spot. Palmer has cleared the traffic and moved into the second
position. Ben Nile is making his presence known in the top five by
passing Kimball for fourth. Ludden is pulling away from the field.
Nile is reeling in the third place Porter. Caution would fly on lap 12
as ten year old, Westley Turner, would spin in turn 3. Ludden and
Palmer would race for the lead on the restart. Palmer would take the
lead and the win. Ludden would take home second. Lucas Porter would
bring home the hardware with a third place finish. Ben Nile has a
strong run in fourth. Shelby Kimball finishes out the top five.
The Unity Variety and Video Wildcats heat race saw point leader,
Dustin Hubbard, jump to the early race lead. Carl McAlpine weaves thru
traffic from his last place starting position to take over second.
Hubbard has a commanding lead and cruises to the win. Hubbard again
would take the lead on the start of the feature. Troy Patterson clears
Mike Snow to take the second position. Patterson has a rear view
mirror full of Carl McAlpine. The pair go side by side with McAlpine
using the inside lane to take second. Tim Hudson is up to challenge
Patterson for third. Hubbard has a straight away lead over McAlpine.
Todd Rollins is having a fine run in fifth. Hubbard’s lead would be
erased as the spinning lapped car of Tim Hopkins comes in contact with
Hubbard’s machine bringing out the caution. McAlpine would jump to the
lead on the restart. Hubbard would take over second position. Tim
Hudson followed the pair in third. Hubbard continues to gain on
McAlpine. Time would run out. McAlpine takes another win. Hubbard
would follow a close second. Hudson follows in third. Troy Patterson
cruised to a fine fourth place finish. “Hurricane” Hal Stratton
finished out the top five.
The Sportsman division saw a fine battle between the Bill Smith and
Bryan Robbins. Smith jumped to the early race lead. Robbins would try
every line around the leader. He could just not quite have enough to
get around. Smith would take home his first heat race win of the
season. Kris Huff recovered from last weeks crash to jump to the early
race lead. Bryan Robbins follows in second. Bill Smith and Kris Watson
bump coming off turn 2 to bring out the first caution closing up the
field. Huff would again jump to the lead. This time Brad Bellows would
follow Huff. Bellows would take the lead has Huff would experience
transmission problems at the start finish line. Caution would fly
again as Mark Dodge spins off turn 3. The Dodge machine would not
refire and retired to the pits. Bellows would take the lead. Don York
moves into second as Bryan Robbins is getting loose. Brian Fortin
returns to the track running in the fourth position. Bill Smith has
moved into the fifth spot. Robbins is trying the inside line around
York. Bellows has checked out on the field to take the win. York beats
Robbins to the line for second. Bryan Robbins, to the liking of son
Colby, takes home the third place trophy. Fortin has a fine run in
fourth. Bill Smith finishes out the top five.
The Enduro divison saw a fine field of cars start the race. Dominic
Bailey jumped to the early race lead. Nick Lizotte followed in second.
Bobby Seger followed a close third. As the leaders caught lapped
traffic, the field was jumbled. Mickey Landry, Jr., making his debut
in the Enduro division, took the lead. As Landry was weaving thru the
traffic, Douglas Kus was trying to keep the 01 machine in his sights.
Dominic Bailey had given up his lead, but the leaders were not pulling
away. Henry Boudreau, moving to the machine vacated by Alex Fernald,
is running in the fourth position. The red flag would fly as a racing
competitor did not stay in his car and was walking the infield. The
restart would find Landry in the lead again. Kus and Bailey would
follow. Boudreau has problems with a lapped car allowing the field to
close up for the fourth position. When the dust cleared, it was Landry
taking the checkered. Kus follows in second. Bailey has a fine run in
third. Boudreau would recover from his spin to take home the fourth
spot.
The Men’s Peanut division saw Ryan Ripley jump to the lead in the heat
race. Josh Childs has cleared traffic and gaining on the leader.
Childs can’t catch the leading Ripley as he takes the heat race win.
Cody Sleeper streaks to the early race lead. Kyle Gallant follows in
second. Ripley has already broken into the top three from his rear
starting position. Childs is attached to the rear bumper of Chris
Williams running in fourth and fifth. Cody Sleeper continues to check
out on the field. Ripley works his way around Gallant for second.
Childs follows him thru for third. Ripley is catching Cody Sleeper but
the laps are winding down. Cody Sleeper is able to hold on for the
win. Ripley follows a very close second. Josh Childs makes another
trip to victory lane in third. Kyle Gallant has a fine run in fourth.
Dan Quillia, making his 2008 debut at the track, finishes out the top
five.
Josh St Clair and Deane Smart race door to door. Josh St Clair gains a
little on the outside only to have Smart fight back on the inside.
Josh St Clair gets loose on the outside bringing out the caution. The
restart finds Joey Doyon and Smart going door to door. Smart is again
able use the inside to take the heat race win. Dustin Hubbard would
take the lead in the feature. Josh St Clair would challenge Hubbard on
the inside. A caution on lap 4 would close the field up. Josh St Clair
would take the lead on the restart. Brad Bellows fights for the second
position on the inside. Hubbard is hanging tough on the outside. Smart
is passing the field on the inside and is challenging for the second
spot. Joey Doyon has moved up from the rear of the field into the
fourth position. Seth Raven, making is first 2008 Unity start,
challenges Hubbard for fifth. Smart has caught Josh St Clair. Smart
sneaks by Josh St Clair on the inside to take the lead. Bellows is
holding on to the third position. Doyon and Hubbard finish out the top
five. Smart is checking out on the field. Bellows catches Josh St
Clair. The pair go side by side. Smart crosses the line first for the
win. Josh St Clair holds off Bellows for second. Bellows continues his
fine runs in third. Doyon takes home the fourth spot. Hubbard finishes
out the top five with a fine run.
Richard Jackson took the lead in the dirt from Duane Dunifer Sr in the
Monsta Mini heat race. Richard Jackson would follow in the footsteps
of girlfriend, Melissa Higgins, by taking the heat race win. Gary
Richards takes the lead with Markus Lowe on his bumper in the feature.
Richard Jackson has already taken over third position from the rear of
the field. Richard Jackson is challenging Lowe on the inside for
second. Chad Elkins is keeping the leaders in his sights in fourth.
Point leader, Mike Wilson, runs in fifth. Lowe and Richard Jackson
continue to run door to door for second. A violent rollover on lap 9
brings out the red flag. Duane Dunifer Sr caught the front tire of the
spinning Matt Picard launching the car in the air. Dunifer would get
out of his car under his own power. The car was retired. Richards
jumps to the lead again on the restart. Richard Jackson is able to use
the inside line to take the lead. Wilson and Lowe battle for third.
The restart would have the battle between Richard Jackson and Richards
surface again. Richards would use the outside to take the lead. Lowe
is all over the rear bumper of Richard Jackson’s machine. Richard’s
drifts wide out of turn four allowing Richard Jackson to take the
lead. Richards would try the inside and out to get back by. Richard
Jackson would take his first checkered of the 2008 season after many
second place finishes. Richards would follow up in second. Lowe would
make a trip to victory lane in third. Chad Elkins would have a fine
run in fourth. Paul Jackson finished with another top five finish.
This week will have the return of the Nelcar Legends, the final kids
bike race of the season, as well as the fund raiser for the Humane
Society. Teen Thunder drivers, Ben Nile and Shelby Kimball, will also
be having a raffle with all proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle
Network. Hope to see you all there.