2008 BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS
Manchester, NH ? Lee USA Speedway celebrated the highly-successful
2008 season at the annual “Banquet of Champions” on Saturday night,
with dozens of drivers and teams honored for their accomplishments.
Larry Gelinas was the man of the hour, taking the spotlight as the
2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model champion. Larry was
also recognized for his fifth place finish in the NASCAR state
standings.
Former Rookie of the Year Miles Chipman, former two-time champion J.R.
Baril, Bryan Kruczek, Jeffrey Labrecque, Jr., Bobby Baillargeon,
Katrina Canney, Tom Fuller, Wayne Helliwell, Jr., and Charlie Rousseau
were honored as the second through tenth place finishers.
Rousseau may have just been tenth overall, but he had a strong enough
run in the three races of the Watts Triple Crown Series to score the
championship title there, with Chipman and Baril picking up second and
third place awards.
Joey Lovejoy was the cream of he 2008 rookie crop, capturing the
coveted Rookie of the Year honors, while Katrina Canney garnered the
Sportsmanship award, Baillargeon received Hard Luck, Chipman was voted
Most Improved, and Gelinas’ team went home with Best Team Performance.
In addition, Nicholas Janvrin of the Baillargeon crew scored the
prestigious 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Mechanic of the
Year award.
Wayne Helliwell, Jr. and car owner Bruce Bernhardt celebrated their
first Late Model Sportsman championship in style, taking home the Best
Team Performance award as well.
Grant Aither, Bob Melvin, Pete Evans, Geoff Rollins, Michele
Fushpanski, Jesse Bousquet, Dan Eaton, Joe Jodoin, and Tony Kawejsza
all collected awards for finishing in the second through tenth spots.
Evans took home the Rookie of the Year honors in the Late Model
Sportsmen, while Melvin grabbed the Sportsmanship award, Eaton
collected the Hard Luck award, and Fushpanski was recognized as Most
Improved Driver.
Aither was the big winner of the Watts Triple Crown series in the Late
Model Sportsman, beating out Helliwell and Jimmy Renfrew to grab the
title.
Eddie Witkum, Jr. and car owner Dave Callahan received the
championship honors in the Small Block Supers for the second straight
season, and they picked up the Best Team Performance award as well.
Dan Bowes was the best of the rest, with Danny Lane, Jim Lowrey, Jr.,
Bob Millett, Jr., Jeff Locke, Butch Valley, Jr., Ben Tinker, Mike
Spurling, and Mike Netishen following him to the stage to accept
second through tenth.
Second-generation racer Millett picked up Rookie of the Year honors
over a tough rookie field, season runner-up Bowes grabbed the
Sportsmanship award, Locke garnered the Hard Luck award, and Danny
Lane was named Most Improved Driver.
Witkum backed up his season championship with the overall win in the
Watts Triple Crown Series as well, outscoring Bowes and Lane to take
top honors.
Freshman Jimmy Russell accomplished all he could hope for in his
rookie campaign in the Hobby Stocks, winning not only Rookie of the
Year honors, but Best Team Performance, and the division championship
as well.
To top things off, Russell’s team collected the championship bonus in
the Watts Triple Crown series just for good measure, heading home with
a huge pile of hardware at the end of the night.
Alby Ovitt picked up his trophy for runner-up behind Russell, with Jim
Shorey, Wade Worster, Geoff Rollins, Chris Titcomb, A.J. Panessiti,
Patrick Tanguay, Eric Hoffman, and Ron Washburn the remainder of the
top ten.
Tanguay picked up second place honors if the Watts Triple Crown, and
he was also presented the Hobby Stock Sportsmanship award. Chris
Titcomb got third in the Triple Crown, and was voted Most Improved
Driver. Jim Shorey picked up the Sportsmanship award.
Ricky Porter doubled up in the Roadrunners, picking up the Watts
Triple Crown series and the season championship as well. Porter’s
crew was also recognized with the Best Team Performance hardware.
2008 Rookie of the Year honors went to young Lance Barthelemy, who
finished the season solidly in the runner-up slot behind Porter. Tim
Boyle picked up third place hardware, followed by Chris Jacobson and
Triple Crown runner-up Jim Piaseczny.
Veteran Dana Faulkner collected the sixth place trophy, with
Sportsmanship award winner Timmy Johnson seventh, Chris Harding
eighth, Hard Luck winner Chris Kingsley ninth, and Ken Piaseczny, Jr.
tenth.
Chris Harding picked up the big trophy for the 2008 Ironman
championship, with runner-up Kevin Emery, Shane Horvath, Rick
Fountain, C. J. Bassett, Crystal Brown and Matt Tobey all receiving
awards for their efforts.
Each year the track awards the Ed Castine & Ron Poitras Memorial
Dedication Award. This year the recipient was awarded to Paul York,
an NASCAR Official of Lee USA Speedway, for his all dedication and
hard work over the years at Lee USA Speedway.
One of the “High-Lites of the Evening” was “The New Hampshire Food
Bank” collection of non perishable Food Items. The items where
collected at the door, from the Lee USA Speedway Racing Family
attending the 2008 Banquet of Champions. Some 300 lbs of food and
enough cash was donated to purchase $500 worth of additional food,
which was delivered to the Food Bank by NASCAR Whelen All American
Late Model #82, Bobby Baillargeon and his team members on Sunday
morning with hopes that the less fortunate will be able to celebrate a
great Holiday Season.
Monadnock Speedway Crowns Champions
Monadnock Speedway Crowns Champions
Winchester, NH: On Friday, November 21st, Monadnock Speedway honored
their champions and achievements of the top ten in all division along
with special awards at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee, Ma.
The night of celebration began with Bob Duval from NASCAR addressing
the competitors stating they should be proud of their achievements and
that the success of any short track begins with them. Duval thanked
the competitors for their support and wished them luck for the future
season ahead.
The 4-cylinder Enduros and Full Size Enduros were the first divisions
to collect their hardware which included the second place through
tenth place finishers. Next to be honored were the NASCAR Whelen All
American Series second through tenth place finishers of the Mini
Stocks, Super Stocks, Late Models, Super Stocks and Outlaw Pros.
Prior to the special awards and championship presentations, General
Manager Michelle Cloutier addressed the competitors thanking them for
their dedication and support throughout 2008 especially in a tough
economy. Cloutier also extended special appreciation to the Late Model
teams for their support throughout the years and wished them luck in
their future whether in new division at the Monadnock Speedway or at
another local track. The employees were recognized for their
dedication with Carleton Merrill receiving a special recognition for
the many years he has been involved with short track racing. Merrill
accepted his award with a very deserving standing ovation from the
competitors, fellow employees and race teams. A special award was also
given to Marcus Stetson, owner of the M2B race team of John Hall for
the generous donation of a kid’s four wheeler to be given away at the
speedway this past season.
The championship presentation followed the special awards segment of
the banquet where each champion took to the podium. All the champions
thanked the speedway, their fellow competitors, their teams and
sponsors. Both enduro champions of Josh Houle (4-cylinder) and Jeff
Kirley (Full Size) addressed their fellow competitors and what a fun
season they had. Mini Stock champion, Derek Bergquist, highlighted in
his speech that it was an honor to be champion in only the second year
in competition. Two time champion, Dan Frederick collected his awards
thanking the many people possible for his achievement. The father and
son championship duo of Adam Gray (Late Model) and Barry Gray (Outlaw
Pro) stated it was very exciting to be a part of history as being the
first Father and Son achieving the championship title in the same
season.
The evening concluded with celebration along with teams and management
reminiscing about the 2008 season while talking about the new goals to
be reached in 2009 to continue to make Monadnock Speedway a track they
all are proud to represent.
4-cylinder Enduro Award Recipients (Champion ? 10th): Josh Houle, Dick
Houle, Pat Houle, CJ Johnson, Matthew Gauffin, Jason Spaulding, Adam
Houle, Fred Rogers, Eric Starkweather and Julia Raymond.
Full Size Enduros Award Recipients(Champion ? 10th): Jeff Kirley, Ryan
Rivet, Mark Rosenblatt, Joe Ethier, Bucky Sheats, Duane Stonier, Barry
Schonborg, Matt Pereira, Rob Morton and Mike Comeau.
Mini Stocks Full Award Recipients(Champion ? 10th): Derek Bergquist
and Car Owner Lenny May, Brandon Warren and Car Owner Hollie Warren,
Joey Kendall, Timothy Jackson, Chris McTaggart and Car Owner Lenny
May, Joe Rogers, Ed Brehio III, Kim Rivet, Beth Adams and Dennis
Wallace. Special Awards: Joey Kendall (Most Improved and
Sportsmanship), Timothy Jackson (Rookie of the Year) and Ed Brehio III
(Best Appearing)
Super Stocks Award Recipients (Champion ? 10th): Dan Frederick and Car
Owner Amy Braman, Bob Bedaw and Car Owner Paul Barnard, Ken Springer
and Car Owner Chuck Fontaine, Bill Johnston and Car Owner Dana
Johnston, |Nany Muni and Car Owner Ray Ruot, John Hall, Paul Smith,
Dana Shepard, Craig Cashman and Jeremy Sorel. Special Awards: Nancy
Muni (Most Improved), Paul Smith (Rookie of the Year), Bob Bedaw (Best
Appearing) and Dana Shepard (Sprotmanship).
Late Model Award Recipients(Champion ? 10th): Adam Gray and Car Owner
Leon Chartier, John Lavoie and Car Owner Jeff Bemis, Darrell Keane,
Jason Lafleur, Matt Mead, Andy Brooks Jr, Jason Maki, Aaron Fellows,
Geoff Rollins and John Meany. Special Awards: Adam Gray (Most
Improved), Andy Brooks Jr (Rookie of the Year), Matt Mead (Best
Appearing) and Darrell Keane (Sportsmanship)
Outlaw Pros Full Award Recipients (Champion ? 10th): Barry Gray and
Car Owner Leon Chartier, Jeff Zuidema and Car Owner David Maynard,
Phil Meany, Brandon Ovitt and Car Owner Greg Horrocks, Rob Williams
and Car Owner Kelly Williams, Fran Colson, Steve Gauthier, Ron Smith,
Adam Brooks and James Hancock. Special Awards: Brandon Ovitt (Most
Improved), Phil Meany (Best Appearing), Rob Williams (Sportsmanship),
Barry Gray (Teddy Bear Pools and Spas Outlaw Pro Triple Crown
Champion) and Jim Valliere (Craftsman Mechanic of the Year)
Lee USA Speedway 11-22 Banquet Report
Content-Disposition: inline
Manchester, NH =96 Lee USA Speedway=20
celebrated the highly-successful 2008 season at the annual “Banquet=20
of Champions” on Saturday night, with dozens of drivers and teams=20
honored for their accomplishments.
Larry Gelinas was the man of the hour,=
=20
taking the spotlight as the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late=20
Model champion. Larry was also recognized for his fifth place=20
finish in the NASCAR state standings.
Former Rookie of the Year Miles Chipma=
n,=20
former two-time champion J.R. Baril, Bryan Kruczek, Jeffrey Labrecque,=20
Jr., Bobby Baillargeon, Katrina Canney, Tom Fuller, Wayne Helliwell,=20
Jr., and Charlie Rousseau were honored as the second through tenth place=20
finishers.
Rousseau may have just been tenth over=
all,=20
but he had a strong enough run in the three races of the Watts Triple=20
Crown Series to score the championship title there, with Chipman and=20
Baril picking up second and third place awards.
Joey Lovejoy was the cream of he 2008=
=20
rookie crop, capturing the coveted Rookie of the Year honors, while=20
Katrina Canney garnered the Sportsmanship award, Baillargeon received=20
Hard Luck, Chipman was voted Most Improved, and Gelinas’ team went=20
home with Best Team Performance.
In addition, Nicholas Janvrin of the=
=20
Baillargeon crew scored the prestigious 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American=20
Series Mechanic of the Year award.
Wayne Helliwell, Jr. and car owner=20
Bruce Bernhardt celebrated their first Late Model Sportsman championship=20
in style, taking home the Best Team Performance award as well. =
Grant Aither, Bob Melvin, Pete Evans,=
=20
Geoff Rollins, Michele Fushpanski, Jesse Bousquet, Dan Eaton, Joe Jodoin,=
=20
and Tony Kawejsza all collected awards for finishing in the second through=
=20
tenth spots.
Evans took home the Rookie of the Year=
=20
honors in the Late Model Sportsmen, while Melvin grabbed the Sportsmanship=
=20
award, Eaton collected the Hard Luck award, and Fushpanski was recognized=
=20
as Most Improved Driver.
Aither was the big winner of the Watts=
=20
Triple Crown series in the Late Model Sportsman, beating out Helliwell=20
and Jimmy Renfrew to grab the title.
Eddie Witkum, Jr. and car owner Dave=
=20
Callahan received the championship honors in the Small Block Supers=20
for the second straight season, and they picked up the Best Team Performanc=
e=20
award as well.
Dan Bowes was the best of the rest,=20
with Danny Lane, Jim Lowrey, Jr., Bob Millett, Jr., Jeff Locke, Butch=20
Valley, Jr., Ben Tinker, Mike Spurling, and Mike Netishen following=20
him to the stage to accept second through tenth.
Second-generation racer Millett picked=
=20
up Rookie of the Year honors over a tough rookie field, season runner-up=20
Bowes grabbed the Sportsmanship award, Locke garnered the Hard Luck=20
award, and Danny Lane was named Most Improved Driver.
Witkum backed up his season championsh=
ip=20
with the overall win in the Watts Triple Crown Series as well, outscoring=
=20
Bowes and Lane to take top honors.
Freshman Jimmy Russell accomplished=20
all he could hope for in his rookie campaign in the Hobby Stocks, winning=
=20
not only Rookie of the Year honors, but Best Team Performance, and the=20
division championship as well.
To top things off, Russell’s team=20
collected the championship bonus in the Watts Triple Crown series just=20
for good measure, heading home with a huge pile of hardware at the end=20
of the night.
Alby Ovitt picked up his trophy for=20
runner-up behind Russell, with Jim Shorey, Wade Worster, Geoff Rollins,=20
Chris Titcomb, A.J. Panessiti, Patrick Tanguay, Eric Hoffman, and Ron=20
Washburn the remainder of the top ten.
Tanguay picked up second place honors=
=20
if the Watts Triple Crown, and he was also presented the Hobby Stock=20
Sportsmanship award. Chris Titcomb got third in the Triple Crown,=20
and was voted Most Improved Driver. Jim Shorey picked up the Sportsma=
nship=20
award.
Ricky Porter doubled up in the Roadrun=
ners,=20
picking up the Watts Triple Crown series and the season championship=20
as well. Porter’s crew was also recognized with the Best Team=20
Performance hardware.
2008 Rookie of the Year honors went=20
to young Lance Barthelemy, who finished the season solidly in the runner-up=
=20
slot behind Porter. Tim Boyle picked up third place hardware,=20
followed by Chris Jacobson and Triple Crown runner-up Jim Piaseczny.=
Veteran Dana Faulkner collected the=20
sixth place trophy, with Sportsmanship award winner Timmy Johnson seventh,=
=20
Chris Harding eighth, Hard Luck winner Chris Kingsley ninth, and Ken=20
Piaseczny, Jr. tenth.
Chris Harding picked up the big trophy=20
for the 2008 Ironman championship, with runner-up Kevin Emery, Shane=20
Horvath, Rick Fountain, C.J. Bassett, Crystal Brown and Matt Tobey all=20
receiving awards for their efforts.
American-Canadian Tour 2009 Schedule to Test Race Teams
American-Canadian Tour 2009 Schedule to Test Race Teams
WATERBURY, VT ? Exciting changes have been announced for the
2009 American-Canadian Tour Late Model
Championship stock car racing schedule. The 12-event calendar will
put the Northeast’s premier Late Model touring
series race teams to the test, bringing them to championship races at
nine vastly different tracks in the United
States and Canada, with an additional five “bonus” events at four
tracks, including the division’s first
superspeedway race at the 1-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The series begins its 18th season at the 3/8-mile Lee USA
Speedway in Lee, NH on Sunday, April 19, with
the race distance increased from 100 laps in 2008 to 150 for 2009.
The second event is the Merchants Bank 150 at
the 1/4-mile Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl bullring in Barre, VT on
Sunday, May 3. The Airborne Speedway half-mile
in Plattsburgh, NY hosts the 35th Annual Spring Green 100 on Saturday,
May 9, with Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway
holding the first of its two 150-lap races on Sunday, May 17. The ACT
Late Model Tour returns to Thunder Road on
Sunday, May 24 for the 47th Annual Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic,
a Twin 100 doubleheader with the open-wheel
True Value Modified Racing Series.
The historic, 3/8-mile Waterford Speedbowl on the Connecticut
shoreline will return to the ACT schedule on
Saturday, June 13 for a 100-lap event, and the scenic White Mountain
Motorsports Park 1/4-mile in North Woodstock,
NH will hold its annual 150-lap race on Saturday, June 27. Ontario’s
Kawartha Speedway, a state-of-the-art, 4/10-
mile oval near the city of Peterborough, will host the Summer Sizzler
200 on Sunday, July 12.
ACT racing makes its much-anticipated return to the 1/3-mile
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough,
ME, just outside Portland, on Saturday, July 25. Also making a return
to the ACT schedule is the 1/3-mile Twin
State Speedway in Claremont, NH, on Friday, July 31. The ACT Late
Model Tour last visited Beech Ridge in 1993,
while Twin State last hosted the Tour in 2004.
Thunder Road will host the 31st running of the Bond Auto Labor
Day Classic 200 on Sunday, September 6,
with the championship season drawing to a close at the Oxford Plains
Speedway 3/8-mile on Sunday, October 11.
Five dates have been held open for a series of non-points
events, beginning with the CARQUEST Vermont
Governor’s Cup 150 at Thunder Road on Thursday, June 25, and followed
by the 36th Annual TD Banknorth 250 at
Oxford Plains Speedway, on Sunday, July 19 and the 2nd Annual Coors
Light 200 “Showdown at Chaudi?re” at the high-
banked Autodrome Chaudi?re in Vall?e-Jonction, QC on Saturday, August
29. Each of these races will award the
winner a guaranteed starting spot in the first-ever ACT Invitational
at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon,
NH. The ACT Invitational will be held on the weekend of Sept. 18-20
as part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’
Sylvania 300 weekend. The winners of each ACT Late Model Tour and
S?rie ACT-Castrol event to the date of the ACT
Invitational will also receive guaranteed starting berths at NHMS.
The final “bonus” event is the 46th Annual
Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl at Thunder Road on Sat./Sun., Sept. 26/27.
Many local Late Model competitors are expected at their home
tracks to challenge the ACT Late Model Tour
championship contenders, attempting to win a qualifying position for
the NHMS event. Weekly Late Model
competitors at nine Northeastern speedways compete under ACT-compliant
rulebooks. Ricky Rolfe of Oxford Plains
and Thunder Road’s John Donahue were each victorious in ACT events at
their home tracks in 2008, while Waterford
Speedbowl’s Bruce Thomas, Jr. led 50 laps and finished second in the
Nutmeg State 100.
ACT Late Model Tour Champion Patrick Laperle of
St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, QC will be honored at the 2008 ACT
Banquet of Champions in South Burlington, VT on January 10, 2009.
Details about the Banquet of Champions will be
released soon. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit
www.acttour.com.
ACT Late Model Tour ? 2009 Schedule
Event No. ? Day/Date ? Track ? Location ? Laps
1. Sun., Apr 19 ? Lee USA Speedway ? Lee, NH ? 150
2. Sun., May 03 ? Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl ? Barre, VT ? 150
3. Sat., May 09 ? Airborne Speedway ? Plattsburgh, NY ? 100
4. Sat., May 17 ? Oxford Plains Speedway ? Oxford, ME ? 150
5. Sun., May 24 ? Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl ? Barre, VT ? 100
6. Sat., Jun 13 ? Waterford Speedbowl ? Waterford, CT ? 100
*** Thu., Jun 25 ? Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl ? Barre, VT ? 150
7. Sat., Jun 27 ? White Mountain Motorsports Park ? North Woodstock, NH ? 150
8. Sun., Jul 12 ? Kawartha Speedway ? Fraserville, ON (Peterborough) ? 200
*** Sun., Jul 19 ? Oxford Plains Speedway ? Oxford, ME ? 250
9. Sat., Jul 25 ? Beech Ridge Motor Speedway ? Scarborough, ME (Portland) ? 150
10. Fri., Jul 31 ? Twin State Speedway ? Claremont, NH ? 100
*** Sat., Aug 29 ? Autodrome Chaudi?re ? Vall?e-Jonction, QC ? 200
11. Sun., Sep 06 ? Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl ? Barre, VT ? 200
*** TBA, Sep 18-20 ? New Hampshire Motor Speedway ? Loudon, NH ? 50
*** Sat./Sun., Sep 26/27 ? Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl ? Barre, VT ? 150
12. Sun., Oct 11 ? Oxford Plains Speedway ? Oxford, ME ? 150
Thunder Road Announces 50th Anniversary Season Schedule
Thunder Road Announces 50th Anniversary Season Schedule
For Immediate Release
TR-111708-1
BARRE, VT ? The 50th Anniversary stock car racing season
schedule has been released for 2009 for Barre, VT’s Thunder Road Int’l
Speedbowl. Nineteen events will be held during the summer-long
celebration at “The Nation’s Site of Excitement,” beginning with the
traditional Merchants Bank 150 for the American-Canadian Tour
Championship Late Models on Sunday, May 3. The Merchants Bank 150
will raise the curtain on Thunder Road racing for the 11th straight
year.
The ACT Late Model Tour will be back in the second-annual “Twin
100″ bill with the open-wheel True Value Modified Racing Series on
Sunday, May 24 with the 47th running of the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day
Classic. John Donahue of Graniteville won the ACT portion of the
event in 2008, while multi-time champion Kirk Alexander of West
Swanzey, NH became the first Modified driver to win at Thunder Road
since 1965.
Thunder Road’s 50th Thursday night season begins on June 11 at
6:30pm with Ferguson Waterworks Night. Thursday, June 25 will see the
CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 100 for the Late Model division, where
the winner will earn a guaranteed starting position in September’s
first-ever ACT Invitational at the 1-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway
in Loudon, NH.
July begins with the Pepsi Independence Day Fireworks
celebration on Thursday, July 2, followed on Sunday, July 5 with the
Thunder Road 50th Anniversary Celebration presented by Casella Waste
Management at 5:00pm. The 50th Annual Times Argus Mid-Season
Championships will be Thursday, July 16 with double championship
points on the line.
The “People’s Race,” the 25th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro ?
increased to 250 laps, with a $5,000 winner’s purse ? for nearly 100
amateur racers driving virtually street-legal cars, will take place on
Sunday, August 2, along with special events for the Street Stock and
Warrior divisions. A special 50th Anniversary Finale Celebration ?
and the crowning of the 50th “King of the Road” Track Champion ? is
scheduled to close out the regular season on Thursday, August 27.
Bond Auto Parts will host the 31st Labor Day Classic 200 in the
ACT Late Model Tour’s final appearance of the season on Sunday,
September 6. The Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 is the longest Late
Model event on the Thunder Road schedule, and has proven to be one of
the most exciting races of the year. Brad Leighton of Center Harbor,
NH survived two flights off the top of the Turn 2 embankment to win
the race in 2008 over Cris Michaud of Northfield, VT and 2008 “King of
the Road” Eric Williams of Hyde Park, VT.
Thunder Road’s 50th Anniversary season draws to a close with
one of the most prestigious stock car events in the country, the 46th
Annual Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl. Booth Brothers Dairy and H.P. Hood
present Qualifying Day on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1:30pm, while
Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl Sunday (Sept. 27) begins with the
last-chance qualifying race at 1:30pm, followed by opening ceremonies
for the race. The Milk Bowl is a three-segment, cumulatively scored
event with full field inversions between segments and a special
three-segment point system to determine the race winner. And, in one
of the most unique traditions in motorsports, the winner gets to kiss
the beauty queen ? a Vermont dairy cow!
Season passes are now available at the Thunder Road office in
Waterbury, VT, just in time for the holidays. For more information,
call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl (Barre, VT) ? 2009 Schedule
No. ? Day/Date ? Event ? Post Time
1. Sun., May 03 ? Merchants Bank 150 (ACT Late Model Tour) ? 1:30
2. Sun., May 10 ? Harvest Equipment Mother’s Day Special ? 1:30
3. Sun., May 24 ? Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic (ACT Tour/True
Value Modifieds) ? 1:30
4. Thu., June 11 ? Ferguson Waterworks ? 6:30
5. Thu., June 18 ? Sanel Parts Plus ? 6:30
6. Thu., June 25 ? CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 100 (NHMS Qualifier) ? 6:00
7. Thu., July 02 ? Pepsi Holiday Fireworks ? 6:30
8. Sun., July 05 ? Casella Waste Management 50th Anniversary Celebration ? 5:00
9. Thu., July 09 ? Charter Communications ? 6:30
10. Thu., July 16 ? Times Argus Mid-Season Championships ? 6:30
11. Thu., July 23 ? Fisher/Federated Auto Parts ? 6:30
12. Thu., July 30 ? WDEV Radio/Calkins Portables ? 6:30
13. Sun., Aug. 02 ? 25th M&M Beverage Enduro 250 (Street Stock/Warrior
Special) ? 6:00
14. Thu., Aug. 06 ? NAPA Auto Parts ? 6:30
15. Thu., Aug. 13 ? Vermont ACE Hardware Dealers ? 6:30
16. Thu., Aug. 20 ? Kinney Drugs ? 6:30
17. Thu., Aug. 27 ? 50th Anniversary Finale Celebration ? 6:30
18. Sun., Sept. 06 ? 31st Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 (ACT Late
Model Tour) ? 1:30
19. Sat., Sept 26 ? Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day ? 1:30
Sun., Sept. 27 ? 46th Annual Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl ? 1:30
New Hampshire Motor Speedway to Host ACT Invitational in 2009
New Hampshire Motor Speedway to Host ACT Invitational in 2009
LOUDON, NH ? Late Model stock car drivers will get their first
super-speedway experience next year, as the 1-mile New Hampshire Motor
Speedway in Loudon, NH hosts the inaugural American-Canadian Tour
(ACT) Invitational on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 weekend,
September 18-20, 2009. The ACT/NHMS event will have a purse of more
than $65,000 for invited and approved teams that attend the historic,
groundbreaking event for Late Model stock car racing.
“New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been looking for a way to
support the short track industry throughout the Northeast and
Qu?bec/Ontario markets. ACT offers the perfect conduit to help us
meet our marketing goal,” said NHMS Vice President and General Manager
Jerry Gappens.
“New Hampshire Motor Speedway is giving short track fans and
teams throughout the Northeast and Canada a wonderful opportunity,”
said ACT President Tom Curley.
The ACT Invitational race will be a 50-lap all-star event with
36 starters. Each 2009 race winner on the U.S.-based ACT Late Model
Tour and the Qu?bec/Ontario-based S?rie ACT-Castrol as of Sept. 18,
2009 will be awarded a guaranteed starting spot at NHMS, along with a
$500 bonus for each win, contingent upon participation at the NHMS
event.
Three non-championship events will also be NHMS qualifying
races with a $500 NHMS bonus: the CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 100
at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl in Barre, VT, the TD Banknorth 250 at
Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, ME, and the Coors Light 200
“Showdown at Chaudi?re” all-star race at Autodrome Chaudi?re in
Vall?e-Jonction, QC on Sat., August 29.
Other invitees will be 2009 champions and/or point leaders as
of Sept. 18, 2009 on the ACT Late Model Tour and S?rie ACT-Castrol, as
well as at the following ACT-affiliated short tracks: Thunder Road
Int’l Speedbowl, Oxford Plains Speedway, Lee USA (NH) Speedway, Twin
State Speedway (Claremont, NH), White Mountain Motorsports Park (N.
Woodstock, NH), Seekonk (MA) Speedway, Waterford (CT) Speedbowl,
Capital City Speedway (Ottawa, ON), and Kawartha Speedway
(Peterborough, ON). Provisional starting spots will be awarded to
fill the field to 36 cars, if needed.
“Short track racing is grass roots racing, and is the engine
that drives the entire stock car industry,” said Curley. “Jerry
Gappens and his NHMS team are to be commended during these challenging
times with their proactive, innovative ideas to be inclusive of the
region’s short tracks. Obviously, the American-Canadian Tour teams
and fans, along with their affiliate Late Model tracks, are very
excited and appreciative about this opportunity.”
“This is great news for Late Model racing as a whole,” said ACT
Late Model Tour veteran Brent Dragon of Milton, VT. “Racing at Loudon
is something I think all drivers in this region want to do, and now
we’ve all got even more motivation to win races. Being at New
Hampshire Motor Speedway brings this group to a whole new level.”
“I’m very proud of the fact that ACT is going to New
Hampshire,” said Donald Theetge of Qu?bec City, the 2006 S?rie
ACT-Castrol champion. “It will be great for our drivers, our fans,
and it would be a great thing to win a race in front of those Sprint
Cup teams. I know I’m going to try everything I can to get in that
race and win it.”
A strategic marketing plan will be created for race fans
throughout the northeastern U.S. and Canada to make attending the
event affordable and give fans more action and value for their ticket
money. Promotions will be held in all major markets of the region,
including the Canadian metro areas of Montr?al, Ottawa, Qu?bec City,
and eastern Toronto, and U.S. metro areas including Providence,
Portland, Boston, Hartford, Burlington, VT, Manchester, NH,
Plattsburgh, NY, and more.
“It’s our intention to give the best short track teams in the
region a chance to compete at the premier super-speedway in the
northeast,” said Gappens. “In addition, it will also help to
encourage more passionate short track race fans to visit our speedway
during our mega-event NASCAR race weekends.”
The S?rie ACT-Castrol 2009 schedule was released at the annual
Banquet of Champions in Drummondville, QC last Saturday night. The
2009 ACT Late Model Tour schedule will be released in the coming days.
PASS North celebrates at Eighth Annual Banquet of Champions
PASS North celebrates at Eighth Annual Banquet of Champions
Westbrook ME- (November 15, 2008) A full house gathered at Verillo’s
Conference Center Saturday for an evening of socializing, libation,
bench racing and awards presentations at the eighth annual Pro All
Stars Series (PASS) North Banquet of Champions.
Series President Tom Mayberry opened the evening with a review of the
2008 season, thanks to all of the series’ competitors, officials and
sponsors and a glimpse at how the 2009 season is shaping up. In
addition to releasing a fourteen race PASS South schedule, Mayberry
hit upon several points of interest to competitors in all three North
divisions, including a return to Lee USA Speedway for the Super Late
Models on Tuesday July 14, a twin state series for the PASS Mods and
added dates for the PASS Pluffybilt Racing Tractors Sportsman.
Complete schedules for all three divisions will be released in the
weeks to come.
Next Mayberry presented his promoters awards for 2008, by division.
Outlaws: Most Improved: - Joe Decker
Pluffybilt Racing Tractors Sportsman: Most Improved-Jonathan Ledger,
Sportsmanship- Steve Bennett Sr., Hard Luck ? Terry Merrill
PASS Mods: Most Improved ? Scott McDaniel, Sportsmanship ? Tom Oliver,
Hard Luck, Greg Ellis
Super Late Model: Most Improved ? Adam Bates, Sportsmanship - Kelly
Moore, Hard Luck ? Donnie Whitten
Special Appreciation Awards were presented to Jack Gerbrands and Bill
Hill of Northern Race Tires for their service and dedications to the
series. Billy Clark received the Lifetime Achievement Award in
recognition of his may years as one of the regions top drivers, and
his role as crew chief for his son, 2008 PASS Super Late Model
National Champion Cassius Clark.
Northern Race Tires Rookie of the Year awards came next, recognizing
the top newcomer in each division. Scott Alexander received the Outlaw
Rookie honors, Kyle Hart in the Sportsman division, Andy Shaw for
the Mods and D.J. Shaw in the Super Late Models.
PASS North announcer Mark Thomas took over the podium and presented
trophies and awards to the top five drivers in the abbreviated 2008
PASS Outlaw season, where Mike Harnnish Jr. reigned as Champion. The
top ten in both the Sportsman and Mod divisions were recognized next.
PASS Sportsman Champ Richie Morse received his Championship hardware,
as did Mark Lucas, now a two time PASS Mod titlist.
The top ten PASS North Super Late Mode drivers received their trophies
and point fund checks, culminating in the Champions’ presentation to
Johnny Clark for his third PASS North Super Late Model title. Clark
scored four wins, eight top fives, and eleven top tens on his way to
the 2008 Championship.. The entire Clark’s Car Crushing team came to
the podium to receive their championship jackets presented by Northern
Race Tires.
The ceremonies wrapped up with Cassius Clark, car owner Ed Chapman,
Crew Chief Billy Clark and team members receiving the accolades for
Clark’s 2008 PASS National Championship title.
NEAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Open cockpit sensation Burt Brooks, stock car ace Harold ‘Hardluck’
Hannaford and car owner Bertha Small are the Veteran Committee
selections for induction into the New England Auto Racing Hall of
Fame.
The trio will be inducted along with drivers John Fitch, Bobby Dragon
and Paul Richardson, promoters Bob Bahre, Jim McConnell and Tom Curley
and car owner/ builders Rollie Lindblad and Art Barry on Jan. 25, 2009
at LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT.
Still to be named are the Jack Ratta (Media) and Danny Pardi (Service)
Memorial Award winners.
Ticket information and request forms are available on the New England
Antique Racers website NEAR1.com.
New Britain, CT-based Brooks won four straight (1950-53) ARDC Ford
championships and four URC Sprint Car crowns in five years (1954-1958)
in a 23-year career that ended with his untimely death at Hershey, PA
in 1968. With well over 100 wins, he ranks as one of New England’s
premier open cockpit drivers.
The first female in the NEAR Hall of Fame, the late Small, from
Pawtucket, RI, fielded cars for Jack Foley, Joe McNulty, Cy Yates, Red
Bolduc and Hop Harrington over a 12-year (1950-61) run. The cars ran
at Seekonk, Norwood, Kingstown, Waterford, Lonsdale. Denied entrance
because of her sex, Small often directed things from outside the pit
fence.
A New Hampshire native, Hannaford made a definite mark throughout
Northern New England. An outstanding competitor through the 1950s and
into the 1960s, his resume includes two of the first three (1962, ‘64)
Milk Bowls and multiple championships at Thunder Road. A competitor at
Daytona in the 60s, he won his last race at Bryar Motor Sports Park in
1966.
NEAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Open cockpit sensation Burt Brooks, stock car ace Harold ‘Hardluck’
Hannaford and car owner Bertha Small are the Veteran Committee
selections for induction into the New England Auto Racing Hall of
Fame.
The trio will be inducted along with drivers John Fitch, Bobby Dragon
and Paul Richardson, promoters Bob Bahre, Jim McConnell and Tom Curley
and car owner/ builders Rollie Lindblad and Art Barry on Jan. 25, 2009
at LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT.
Still to be named are the Jack Ratta (Media) and Danny Pardi (Service)
Memorial Award winners.
Ticket information and request forms are available on the New England
Antique Racers website NEAR1.com.
New Britain, CT-based Brooks won four straight (1950-53) ARDC Ford
championships and four URC Sprint Car crowns in five years (1954-1958)
in a 23-year career that ended with his untimely death at Hershey, PA
in 1968. With well over 100 wins, he ranks as one of New England’s
premier open cockpit drivers.
The first female in the NEAR Hall of Fame, the late Small, from
Pawtucket, RI, fielded cars for Jack Foley, Joe McNulty, Cy Yates, Red
Bolduc and Hop Harrington over a 12-year (1950-61) run. The cars ran
at Seekonk, Norwood, Kingstown, Waterford, Lonsdale. Denied entrance
because of her sex, Small often directed things from outside the pit
fence.
A New Hampshire native, Hannaford made a definite mark throughout
Northern New England. An outstanding competitor through the 1950s and
into the 1960s, his resume includes two of the first three (1962, ‘64)
Milk Bowls and multiple championships at Thunder Road. A competitor at
Daytona in the 60s, he won his last race at Bryar Motor Sports Park in
1966.
Edwards Wins Race, Johnson Takes Third Straight Title
HOMESTEAD-MIAMI — Jimmie Johnson has accomplished racing’s version of
the hat trick…. three championships in a row.
He did it with a 15th -place finish in southern Florida’s grand finale
for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Carl Edwards won the battle,
so to speak, but Johnson won the war.
On a day when he only needed a 36th-place finish to clinch his third
title in a row, Johnson brought his Lowe’s Chevrolet into the thick of
the battle, steadily clicking off position after position in the
267-lap race.
Johnson’s championship run was the first three-peat in NASCAR since
Cale Yarborough did it 30 years ago.
While Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus were the men of the hour,
hard-charging Edwards, for the second time this season, coaxed extra
mileage out of his Ford and hung on to win the race on fuel mileage.
However, it was not a fuel mileage fluke. Edwards led the most laps
and was clearly the fastest cat on the track all day and into the
night.
Trailing Edwards across the finish line were Kevin Harvick, Jamie
McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Travis Kvapil, Casey
Mears, Tony Stewart and Martin Truex, Jr.
The win was Edwards’ ninth of the year and cemented Carl’s position as
a serious challenger to Johnson for the championship next year.
A slew of caution flags in the last 100 laps kept the outcome in doubt
until the very end, when leader Matt Kenseth ran out of fuel with just
a couple laps left. Edwards, as he did once before this season, proved
he can be just as smooth letting up on the gas pedal as he is in
mashing it down. He backed off just enough to finish in front of the
field.
David Reutimann, the first-time pole winner, led a lap at the start
before former champion Kenseth passed him.
Beautiful, balmy, South Florida weather welcomed the drivers as they
streaked around the Homestead-Miami track at 180 miles an hour.
Johnson, who started 30th, charged towards the front right from the
git-go. At just 10 laps, he had moved past nine drivers to 21st
position.
Edwards, Johnson’s only threat for his third championship in three
seasons, moved past Kenseth for the lead on the 13th lap. Edwards was
flat-out-all-caution-to-the wind, planning to give it everything he
had in the season finale.
Johnson was 18th by Lap 19. He was 17th when Edwards, the leader,
pitted on the 51st lap. Harvick led a lap when Edwards pitted. Montoya
also led a lap when the field started pitting.
Once the pitting cycle ended, Edwards was back out front and Johnson
had gained two spots to 15th.
The top 10 at 60 laps were Edwards, Harvick, David Ragan, Reutimann,
Truex, McMurray, Kenseth, Mears, Stewart and Jeff Burton.
Johnson, meanwhile, had moved into 14th spot and was continuing his
charge to the front. The first caution of the afternoon waved on the
68th lap when Aric Almirola spun on the frontstretch.
At 90 laps, Edwards was in control, followed by Ragan, Harvick,
Reutimann, Stewart, McMurray, Bowyer, Kenseth, Mears and Hamlin.
Johnson had worked his way to 11th.
By the halfway point, it was clear Edwards had come to Florida with
one thing in mind — winning the race.
It was Edwards, Ragan, Stewart, Hamlin, Reutimann, Harvick, McMurray,
Earnhardt, Johnson and Gordon. Johnson had come from 30th to ninth in
134 laps.