RMR Snocross News: Malone, NY Event Preview
Franklin County Fairgrounds next stop for Rock Maple Racing snocross series
DERRY, NH (Dec. 28, 2008) - When all of the holiday
celebrations and family gatherings are over, one thought will return
to the minds of snowmobile racing enthusiasts here in the northeast.
Time to pack up the trailer, get back to the track and get those sleds
in the air.
Hundreds of race teams throughout the northeast will make their
annual pilgrimage to Malone, New York, on Saturday and Sunday, Jan.
3-4, as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) gets set for Round 2 on the 2009
snocross schedule at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.
Spectator gates will open at 8 a.m., with racing getting under
way promptly at 9 a.m. Admission is $12 per adult on Saturday and $15
on Sunday. Weekend passes are available in advance for $20. Pit passes
valid through the entire weekend will be available for an extra $10.
The Fifth Annual Northeast Snocross Challenge is presented by
the Malone Chamber of Commerce, who invite race fans and trail riders
to visit one of New York’s most scenic areas for a great vacation
during any season. Malone offers something for every outdoor sports
enthusiast.
Leading the charge into Malone is Pro rider Danny Poirier. The
Quebec native swept the finals in Round 1 at Maine’s Black Mountain,
as his Hulten Speed Sports Polaris sleds were perfectly dialed in.
Poirier jump-started his season by racing at Duluth, plus tested
extensively at Planet-X in Minnesota. That hard work and preparation
paid big dividends at Black Mountain.
Other Pro riders to watch in Malone include former champion
Matt Boron, who finished second to Poirier in both Pro Stock and Open
in Round 1. Boron is back to full-time competition this season with
D&Z Racing, and along with brother Jason will try to put Ski-doo back
atop the podium. Pro rookie and Vermont native Chris Chico turned
heads with a podium finish in Maine, and could have his Amsoil Arctic
Cat hooked up in Malone.
Last year in Malone, Canadian snocross veteran Dave Allard
swept the Pro finals in a rare appearance on the RMR circuit. In
Semi-Pro action, Alaska native Robert Graeber held off Jake Melville
and Aaron Pfeifer to claim the Stock 600 final. New York natives Jason
Stone and Shaun St. Onge finished one-two in Semi-Pro Open, giving the
home-state fans reason to cheer.
Corin Todd was the young man to beat in Sport division action
at Malone. The rider from Otego, NY, finished third behind Lucas
Brunelle and Seth Taylor on Saturday. On Sunday, Todd picked up the
pace. He out-dueled Brunelle to win the Stock 600 final, then
out-gunned Garrett Mees to claim the Super Stock final. Brunelle, Todd
and Mees have all moved up to Semi-Pro this season, with Brunelle and
Todd already recording final round wins.
Along with the high-flying Pro and Semi-Pro action, the Malone
event will also feature some great racing in the Sport, Women and
Junior divisions. And for the future stars of snocross, a smaller
track will again be built for children ages 6-10 who compete on their
120cc machines. These young athletes learn what a weekend of raving is
all about, and many have advanced with great success into upper
divisions aboard full-size sleds.
Rock Maple Racing is now in its 17th consecutive season of
snocross competition. Along with the Central, West and East snocross
tours, RMR also sanctions the Can-Am ATV Series during the summer
months. For more information, go to www.rockmaple.com.
Pro ALL Stars Series News- PASS South 2008 Rewind
CHARLOTTE, NC (December 24) ? There are many things that need to fall
into place in order for a series to grow. In addition to garnering fan
support, you have to have places to race and drivers that want to
race. In each of the first two seasons of the Pro All Stars Series
(PASS) South Super Late Model division, the schedule was comprised of
eight races each season. Through a process of trial-and-error, some
tracks have proved to be better venues than others for the 600
horsepower “monsters” that compete in PASS South. The 2008 season will
go down as a time when it was time to grow and expand. The PASS South
schedule was expanded to 12 races. Of those 12 races, six were
contested at tracks that PASS South had never competed on. Expanding
on the theme of growth, numerous drivers came to PASS South either on
a part-time or full-time basis that had never raced with the nation’s
top short track series.
PASS South’s new and expanded era began, ironically enough, at the
venue that has hosted more events than any other, the Hickory Motor
Speedway. Drivers like John Fleming and Shaun Turple made the long tow
from Canada. Bill Elliott development driver Mitch Cobb made his first
start. And, short track legend Butch Miller made his first foray in to
PASS South racing. The biggest surprise, though, came from a very
unlikely source. John Stancill was a familiar name to fans of Legends
car racing in the Carolinas. After a successful stint in Legends,
Stancill moved up to the Pro Challenge division where more success
followed. Coming into Hickory, the 15-year-old driver had never made a
start in any type of full-bodied stock car, let alone a PASS South
Super Late Model. Stancill started a very unassuming 26^th after
advancing to the Easter Bunny 150 through the consolation race. That’s
where Stancill’s anonymity ended. Once the green flag dropped,
Stancill made a steady charge to the front racing with the likes of
Ben Rowe, Ryan Lawler, and Corey Williams for the lead. Stancill
eventually finished third and was now on everybody’s racing radar. At
the end of the 2008 season, Stancill managed to score two more top
five finishes and just missed out on winning the first ever PASS
National Championship to Cassius Clark.
The second race of the season saw PASS making its deepest trek South
by racing at the Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA. Florida’s
Perry Brown began racing with PASS at the end of the 2007 season and
had made the decision during the off season to race for the 2008
championship. At Watermelon Capital, Brown dominated to score his
first career PASS South win over Georgia veterans Bubba Pollard and
Ryan Seig, as well as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan.
Brown continued to be one of the most consistent drivers on the
circuit and would finish third in the final point standings.
Race number three was at yet another new venue and would see another
first time winner. Motor Mile Speedway is a beautiful facility nestled
in the hills of southern Virginia and was primed for some PASS South
Super Late Model racing. When the green flag dropped, a great field of
drivers looked to bring the Mom 150 trophy back home as a Mother’s Day
present. Alex Haase and Trevor Sanborn waged a war early on for the
lead, but an incident between the two took them out of contention for
the win. Enter Zach Stroupe, who took advantage of their misfortune,
to become the youngest winner in PASS racing at 15 years of age.
Along with the Hickory Motor Speedway, Orange County Speedway has been
a mainstay on the PASS South schedule. But, it was a new winner that
Orange County will be remembered for in 2008. Trevor Sanborn has long
been considered a talent on the rise since he first started competing
in the PASS North Series. However, with plenty of second and third
place finishes to show for himself, the wins seemed to elude Sanborn.
In 2008, Sanborn teamed with the Richard Moody Racing team on a
part-time basis as a teammate to four-time PASS North champion Ben
Rowe. In the Orange Blossom Special at Orange County in June, Sanborn
electrified the crowd by holding off Jason Hogan in a back and forth
battle to the checkered flag. In July, Sanborn was back at Orange
County for the Southern Sizzler, the second of four PASS National
races. Sanborn dominated this time to win the 200 lapper and take the
$10,000 winner’s share back to Maine.
Next up, was PASS South’s first visit to the Wake County Speedway in
Raleigh, NC. This would also mark the first time that many of the PASS
South competitors had ever raced a Super Late Model on a quarter-mile
speedway. That combination did not worry PASS South points leader
Corey Williams who was used to racing this type of track in his native
Maine. Somebody forgot to tell Alex Haase, though, that Williams was
the favorite. Haase battled from the back of the pack to pass Williams
late in the Capital City Clash for his first win of the 2008 season.
The win also marked the first for Kyle Busch Motorsports and for
Toyota in PASS. Haase came back in the Firecracker 125 at the
Greenville-Pickens Speedway to win his second straight race and signal
his competitors that he would be a contender for the 2008
championship.
As the months of August and September rolled around, three new venues
in three different states were on the slate for PASS South. First up,
was the South Carolina Clash at the Dillon Motor Speedway. Justin
Wakefield held off all his competitors to take his first PASS South
win on a Sunday afternoon that saw temperatures soar to upwards of 100
degrees. Next, it was off the Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC, for
the Piedmont Pride Classic. Despite the race being dominated by Mark
Gibson, Wakefield pounced after Gibson and Haase had problems to take
his second straight PASS South win. In September, PASS South headed to
the Volunteer State of Tennessee for the first time. The Daniel Boone
Classic would be contested on the ultra high banked Newport Speedway.
In qualifying, Tennessee native Heath Hindman blistered the track with
a lap of just over 12-seconds. Hindman looked to have the car to beat,
but was eliminated in a crash with Williams. The race would come down
to an unlikely battle between USAR Hooters Pro Cup veteran Jay
Fogleman and Bobby East, subbing for PASS South regular Brandon
Johnson. Fogleman barely held off East to win in just his second PASS
South start in what he called “the most fun racing I’ve done in
years.”
The 2008 PASS South championship would be decided at the Mason Dixon
Meltdown at South Boston Speedway in Virginia between Haase, Williams,
and Brown. While those drivers raced for the championship, 2008 PASS
North champion Johnny Clark would go on to dominate for his first PASS
South triumph. The win at South Boston capped off a phenomenal season
for Clark that saw him win three of Pass’s four “big money” races.
Despite a wreck that took him out of contention for the win, Haase
held on to win the PASS South Super Late Model title. Haase’s
championship wrapped up a season that will be remembered as a season
of growth for the PASS South Super Late Models. And that growth will
continue in 2009 with new tracks and many new faces expected to try
and make their own share of history next year.
Although the 2008 season is over, it won’t be long before the 2009
season begins. The 2009 PASS South season will begin on Saturday,
March 14, 2009, with the Fourth Annual South Carolina Clash at the
Dillon Motor Speedway in Dillon, SC. The 2009 PASS North Super Late
Model schedule is nearing completion and will be released in the
coming weeks.
Whelen Bodine Bobsled Challenge Auction Items
Be an MRN Pit Reporter for a Day Among Auction Items for Whelen Bodine
Challenge Benefit Auction
Just one of the Many Items Available for Purchase at Auction January 3
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. ? Motor Racing Network (MRN) donated “Be an MRN Pit
Reporter for a Day” for the 4th Annual Whelen Bodine Bobsled Challenge
benefit auction and dinner. The event takes place Saturday night,
January 3, at the Crowne Plaza Lake Placid Resort.
Cocktails start a 7 pm, followed by dinner at 8 pm, and the auction at
9 pm. Price is $100 per person, and tickets may be purchased at the
Olympic Center Box Office.
The MRN package allows the winning bidder to join the radio broadcast
crew at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 9, 2009 for the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The person will be allowed to work pit
road with one of MRN Radio’s award winning announcers, reporting on
the strategy of NASCAR’s top drivers and crew chiefs and includes a
full access credential for one, an MRN broadcast uniform shirt, a “Big
Break Opportunity” to interview a NASCAR driver on national radio and
more.
JEGS Automotive is donating a signed Jeg Coughlin, Jr., helmet, a
signed collectable rig, a Jeg Coughlin, Sr. collectable, a 2005
JEGS/Mopar Pro Stock collectable, a 2007 JEGS collectable as well as a
JEGS.com / Kenny Wallace late model collectable. There will also be a
2000 NHRA Team Champion jacket. This extra-large jacket was handmade
by Jeff Hamilton, and only team members received them. 2000 was the
first year Jeg Coughlin, Jr. won a professional title.
Numerous other items including autographed merchandise from NASCAR and
NHRA drivers will be available to bid on.
The Bodine Bobsled Challenge features NASCAR and NHRA drivers piloting
specially-made bobsleds down Lake Placid’s infamous track in fun races
geared to raise money for the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project. In Race 1, all
the drivers will be competing against the clock as they take two runs
down the track. Race 2 features head-to-head racing between the NASCAR
and NHRA drivers, with the winner from each division squaring off in
the final heat for bragging rights.
The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc., was started in 1992 by NASCAR driver
Geoff Bodine, and has built American-made bobsleds for United States
athletes competing in the World Cup, World Championships and Olympic
Winter Games. Monies raised from the Bodine Bobsled Challenge go
directly to this project.
Fan packages, interactive offerings and event merchandise for the 4th
Annual Whelen Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge may be purchased online
at www.bodynbobsled.com. The television shows of the 2006, 2007 and
2008 Bodine events are also available for purchase on DVD at
www.bodynbobsled.com .
PASS releases North Super Late Model Schedule
PASS releases North Super Late Model Schedule
Naples ME ( December 23) - Pro All Stars Series (PASS) President Tom
Mayberry has announced a 14 race PASS North Super Late Model schedule
for 2009.
The new season kicks off at Speedway 95 in Hermon Maine on Sunday
April 19th, followed by a Saturday May 3rd date at Scarborough’s Beech
Ridge Motor Speedway. Wiscasset Raceway is up next on Saturday May
16th and the touring pros head for the mountains on Saturday May 23rd
for the first of two visits to White Mountain Motorsports Park.
Three speedways return to the PASS North schedule in 2009, including
Speedway 660 (formerly New Brunswick International Speedway) on
Saturday June 13th. Unity Raceway is back in the PASS fold too, with a
Sunday June 21st 150 lapper on tap.
Beech Ridge hosts it’s second of three 2009 races on Friday June 26th,
and then it’s off to Connecticut for the annual visit to the high
banks of Thompson International Speedway on July 11th. Race teams will
have a quick turn-around when the Super Late Models return to Lee USA
Speedway on Tuesday night July 14th for a 200 lap special that’s
guaranteed to pack some surprises.
Groveton NH’s Riverside Speedway is on board for 150 laps on Saturday
July 25th, with Saturday August 1st reserved for a date still under
negotiation. There are 250 laps of Super Late Model excitement set for
Wiscasset Raceway on Sunday August 16, and then it’s off to Beech
Ridge Motor Speedway on September 12th and 13th. for another extra
distance show. The 2009 PASS North Super Late Model Champion will be
crowned one week later when the season wraps up at White Mountain
Motorsports Park on Saturday September 19th.
“I’m very pleased with our 2009 PASS North schedule”, said Mayberry.
“It’s a great mix of the top short tracks in the Northeast, and with
Unity, Lee USA and Speedway 660 back on board there will be some new
challenges for many of our race teams as well. This season all
fourteen races will count towards the championship, so you can be sure
that all the title contenders will be at each and every race.”
Keep track of all the off season Pro All Stars Series news by visiting
www.racewithpass.com or www.proallstarsseries.com .
2009 PASS North Super Late Model Schedule
Sun April 19 Speedway 95
Hermon ME 150 laps
Sat May 3 Beech Ridge Motor Speedway
Scarborough ME 150 laps
Sat May 16 Wiscasset Raceway
Wiscasset ME 150 laps
Sat May 23 White Mt. Motorsports Park
N Woodstock NH 150 laps
Sat June 13 Speedway 660
Fredericton NB CA 200 laps
Sun June 21 Unity Raceway
Unity ME 150 laps
Fri June 26 Beech Ridge Motor Speedway
Scarborough ME 150 laps
Sat July 11 Thompson Int’l Speedway
Thompson CT 75 laps
Tue July 14 Lee USA Speedway
Lee NH 200 laps
Sat July 25 Riverside Speedway
Groveton NH 150 laps
Sat Aug 1 TBA
TBA TBA
Sun Aug 16 Wiscasset Raceway
Wiscasset ME 250 laps
Sat/Sun Sept 12-13 Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Scarborough
ME 200 laps
Sat Sept 19 White Mt. Motorsports Park
N Woodstock NH 150 laps
Airborne Speedway Redesigned, Fall Foliage 300 Returns to ACT Schedule
Content-Disposition: inline
Airborne Speedway Redesigned, Fall Foliage 300 Returns to ACT Schedule
PLATTSBURGH, NY =96 Airborne Speedway Promoter M=
ike Perrotte has announced plans for a major renovation of
the historic Plattsburgh, NY stock car track, including a total reconfigura=
tion of the racing surface and layout
for the 2009 racing season. As a result, the track has added a secon=
d American-Canadian Tour Late Model
Championship event, the storied Fall Foliage 300, to its 2009 schedule.
The addition of the race brings the ACT schedul=
e to 13 championship events, and compliments the annual
Spring Green 100 at Airborne on May 9. The 38th Annual Fall Foliage 3=
00 will be held on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009.
The 300-lap distance will also be the first of its kind for the present-day=
ACT Late Model Tour.
Airborne Speedway’s 4/10-mile, D-shaped layout =
will be partially razed to allow construction of new,
sweeping, progressively-banked corners, creating multiple racing grooves an=
d closer competition. The present
layout has been in use since 1990. Previously, Airborne Speedway had =
been a 5/8-mile track with both dirt and
asphalt surfaces since 1954.
The Fall Foliage event has a grand history, beg=
inning in 1972 as a 200-lap race at the former Catamount
Stadium in Milton, VT. After Bobby Dragon won the inaugural event, th=
e race distance was increased to 300 laps.
Winners of the era included Canadians Don Beiderman and Jean-Paul Cabana, s=
outhern stars Butch Lindley, L.D.
Ottinger, and Robbie Crouch, and New Englanders Stub Fadden and Dick McCabe=
. When Catamount closed its doors
after 1987, the race moved to Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway for three =
seasons, won by Crouch, Buzzie
Bezanson, and Dave Dion.
Crouch won the first two Fall Foliage 300s at A=
irborne Speedway in 1991-92, while the present-day Late
Model division took over in 1996 with a 200-lap race. That year produ=
ced one of the most memorable finishes in
ACT history, as Dave Whitcomb beat Ron Weston and Jean-Paul Cyr in a three-=
wide photo finish for the victory. For
2002 only, Vermont’s Thunder Road hosted the race, won by Maine rookie Ryan=
Moore. Cyr won as the Fall Foliage
returned to Airborne in 2003, while Brent Dragon and Patrick Laperle won th=
e race in 2004 and 2005, respectively,
as a 150-lap event.
Open-wheel Modifieds took control of the race i=
n 2006-08, each year won by future hall-of-famer Kenny
Tremont, Jr. Tremont’s 2006 victory was in a 75-lap event, while 100-=
lap scores came in each of the last two
years.
”The Fall Foliage 300 has certainly had a quirk=
y history, but it’s a glorious one with a past winners list
that reads like a who’s-who of short track racing,” said ACT President Tom =
Curley. ”ACT’s Late Model division got
its start at Airborne Speedway, and we know that the return of the Fall Fol=
iage event there will be an important
happening for many of our race teams and fans.”
The ACT Late Model Tour is expected to bring ra=
ce teams from across New England, New York, and Canada to
the Fall Foliage 300. The event now becomes the final qualifying race=
for the first-ever ACT Invitational at New
Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH on Sept. 18-20. For more infor=
mation, call (802) 244-6963 or visit
www.acttour.com.
Fall Foliage 300 Past Winners, 1972-2008
Year Winner &=
nbsp; Hometown  =
; Track  =
; &nb=
sp; Laps
1972 Bobby Dragon Mil=
ton, Vt. &nb=
sp; Catamount Stadium (Vt.) 200
1973 Don Beiderman Oakville, Ont. =
Catamount Stadium (Vt.) &nb=
sp; 300
1974 Bobby Dragon Mil=
ton, Vt. &nb=
sp; Catamount Stadium (Vt.) 300
1975 L.D. Ottinger Newport,=
Tenn. Catamount Stadium (Vt.) &nb=
sp; 300
1976 Claude Aubin Lav=
al, Que. &nb=
sp; Catamount Stadium (Vt.) 300
1977 Butch Lindley Greenvil=
le, S.C. Catamount S=
tadium (Vt.) 300
1978 Butch Lindley Greenvil=
le, S.C. Catamount S=
tadium (Vt.) 300
1979 Robbie Crouch Tampa, Fla. &nb=
sp; Catamount Stadium (Vt.)  =
; 300
1980 Stub Fadden Nor=
th Haverhill, N.H. Catamount Stadium (Vt=
.) 300
1981 Hector Leclair Fairfax,=
Vt. C=
atamount Stadium (Vt.) 300
1982 Dick McCabe Ken=
nebunkport, Me. Catamount S=
tadium (Vt.) 300
1983 Robbie Crouch Tampa, Fla. &nb=
sp; Catamount Stadium (Vt.)  =
; 300
1984 Robbie Crouch Tampa, Fla. &nb=
sp; Catamount Stadium (Vt.)  =
; 300
1985 Robbie Crouch Tampa, Fla. &nb=
sp; Catamount Stadium (Vt.)  =
; 300
1986 Jamie Aube &nbs=
p;North Ferrisburg, Vt. Catamount Stadiu=
m (Vt.) 300
1987 Jean-Paul Cabana Sherrington, =
Que. Catamount Stadium (Vt=
.) 300
1988 Robbie Crouch Tampa, Fla. &nb=
sp; Beech Ridge Motor Speedway (M=
e.) 300
1989 Buzzie Bezanson Plaistow, N.H.  =
; Beech Ridge Motor Speedway (Me.) =
300
1990 Dave Dion  =
; Hudson, N.H. &nbs=
p; Beech Ridge Motor Speedway (Me.) 300
1991 Robbie Crouch Tampa, Fla. &nb=
sp; Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) &nbs=
p; 300
1992 Robbie Crouch Tampa, Fla. &nb=
sp; Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) &nbs=
p; 300
1993 Junior Hanley Oakville=
, Ont. Airbor=
ne Speedway (N.Y.) 3=
00
1994 Ralph Nason Uni=
ty, Me. &nbs=
p; Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) =
300
1995 Brad Leighton Center H=
arbor, N.H. Airborne Speedway (N.=
Y.) 300
1996 Dave Whitcomb Essex Jct., Vt. =
Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) =
200
1997 Brian Hoar &nbs=
p;Williston, Vt. &n=
bsp;Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) &nbs=
p; 200
1998 Phil Scott &nbs=
p;Montpelier, Vt. A=
irborne Speedway (N.Y.) &n=
bsp;200
1999 Patrick Laperle St-Denis, Que.  =
; Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) =
200
2000 Brian Hoar &nbs=
p;Williston, Vt. &n=
bsp;Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) &nbs=
p; 200
2001 Mark Lamberton Mooers Forks, N.Y. &nb=
sp; Airborne Speedway (N.Y.)  =
; 200
2002 Ryan Moore &nbs=
p;Scarborough, Me. T=
hunder Road Int’l Speedbowl (Vt.) 200
2003 Jean-Paul Cyr Milton, =
Vt. A=
irborne Speedway (N.Y.) &n=
bsp;200
2004 Brent Dragon Mil=
ton, Vt. &nb=
sp; Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) &nbs=
p; 150
2005 Patrick Laperle St-Denis, Que.  =
; Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) =
150
2006 Kenny Tremont, Jr. West Sand Lake, N.=
Y. Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) =
75
2007 Kenny Tremont, Jr. West Sand Lake, N.=
Y. Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) =
100
2008 Kenny Tremont, Jr. West Sand Lake, N.=
Y. Airborne Speedway (N.Y.) =
100
Total Victories: Robbie Crouch (7), Kenny Tremont, Jr. (3), Bobby Dragon (2=
), Brian Hoar (2), Patrick Laperle (2),
Butch Lindley (2), Jamie Aube (1), Claude Aubin (1), Don Beiderman (1), Buz=
zie Bezanson (1), Jean-Paul Cabana (1),
Jean-Paul Cyr (1), Dave Dion (1), Brent Dragon (1), Stub Fadden (1), Junior=
Hanley (1), Mark Lamberton (1), Hector
Leclair (1), Dick McCabe (1), Ryan Moore (1), Ralph Nason (1), L.D. Ottinge=
r (1), Phil Scott (1), Dave Whitcomb (1)
RMR Snocross News: Rumford, ME Event Recap
Poirier sweeps Pro finals at Black Mountain for Rock Maple Racing
RUMFORD, ME (Dec. 15, 2008) - Veteran snowmobile racer Danny
Poirier began a new season in dominant style Sunday, sweeping the Pro
class finals as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) opened its 2008-09 snocross
campaign at the Black Mountain of Maine ski area.
Poirier, of St. Theodore, QC, passed early leader John O’Malley
at the top of the hill on lap 2 of the 14-lap Pro Stock final and led
to the checkered flag. Former champion Matt Boron powered his way to a
solid second place finish, while O’Malley hung on for third.
In the Pro Open final, Jason Rudd got the holeshot and led the
first couple of laps. Poirier picked up speed on the downhill section
of the track, took command at lap 3 and cruised home to complete the
sweep. For Poirier’s Hulten Speed Sports (HSS) Polaris team, the
weekend couldn’t have gone any better. Matt Boron got by Chris Chico
late in the going to post his second runner-up finish of the day,
while Chico piloted his new Amsoil-sponsored Arctic Cat to third for a
podium finish. After years on Polaris sleds, Chico is making the
transition to Cat quite well.
Cory Culberson was the first winner in final round action
Sunday, claiming the five-lap Pro Vet final over Vermont’s Rene
Desrochers and New York’s Joey Santy. Based in Malone, Santy is known
as “the racing chiropractor” and gets around the track in fine
fashion. Defending class champion Joe Lemieux drew a gasp from the
crowd when he crashed hard while going for the lead headed for the
final corner. Fortunately, Lemieux was uninjured and completed the
race.
Although her uncle Joe may not have had the best season opener,
Michelle Lemieux gave the family from St. Johnsbury, VT, reason to
smile. Michelle, who now resides in Cabot (yes, the home of Cabot
cheese) held off defending champion KC Anderson to claim the Pro
Women’s final, with Janell Smith finishing third. When she was racing
full time a couple of years ago, Michelle was ranked in the top three
nationally among female snocross competitors.
In Semi-Pro action Sunday, Corin Todd and Lucas Brunelle kept
the crowd cheering. Todd, of Otego, NY, grabbed the holeshot in
Semi-Pro Open and never looked back. Lincoln Lemieux, who jumped up to
Semi-Pro this year from the Junior ranks in 2007, impressed all in
attendance with a solid second place run. Brennan Berardo
(Land-Air/Ski-doo) kept the pressure on all race and came home third.
In Semi-Pro Stock, Brunelle got the advantage early and held off
Garrett Mees (All Island Plumbing/Ski-doo) for top honors. Todd capped
a strong weekend performance with a third place finish.
Sport division standout Joey Stock kicked off his new season in
fine fashion, holding off Charles House and Mike Simonson for top
honors in the Semi-Pro Stock 440 final. Simonson would not go home
empty-handed, however, as he claimed the Plus 25 final over Scott
Edwards and Culberson. Stock also claimed the Sport Super Stock finals
on Saturday and Sunday, along with Sunday’s Sport Stock 600 final.
Edwards found redemption in the Sport 500 class, holding off
Andrew Bailey and Bruce Gaspardi Jr. for the win. Anderson picked up
three wins to go along with her second place run in the Pro Women’s
final. The gifted athlete from Franklin, Maine, won Saturday’s Women’s
Stock 600 final, then capped a great weekend with victories in Stock
500 and Stock 600 on Sunday.
Other final round winners at Black Mountain Sunday include
Sarah Acker (Girls 10-13 Stock 600 Fan); Joe Klimas Jr. (Sport Stock
600 Fan); Amanda Patenaude (Women Stock Novice); William Defocie (Jr.
16-17 Stock 600 Fan); Nick St. Amand (Jr. 16-17 Stock 500); Jake Scott
(Jr. 14-15 Stock 500 and Jr. 14-15 Stock 600 Fan); Leo Patenaude (Jr.
10-13 Stock 600 Fan); Montana Jess (Jr. 10-13 Stock 380 Fan); Jessie
Kirchmeyer (Jr. 8-10 Freestyle Sat.); Hunter Patenaude (Jr. 8-10 300
Freestyle Sun.); Derek Corey (Trail 600 Saturday); and Brandon Bell
(Trail 600 Sunday).
RMR’s East Series teams were also in action over the weekend at
Black Mountain. Final round winners Sunday afternoon include Matt
Simonson (Semi-Pro Open); Joe Mosher (Sport Stock 600); KC Anderson
(Women Stock 600); Whitney Covill (Jr. 16-17 Stock 500); Nick St.
Amand (Jr. 14-15 Stock 500); Leo Patenaude (Jr. 10-13 Stock 600 Fan);
and Montana Jess (Jr. 10-13 Stock 380 Fan).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank operations manager Peter
Chase and the entire staff at Black Mountain for hosting last
weekend’s event. With the help of several volunteers from local
snowmobile clubs, the place was more than ready for racing when RMR
officials arrived on Friday. An intense snow making effort produced
tons of the white stuff for a great track, and our racers were deeply
appreciative. Having host sites like Black Mountain makes it a whole
lot easier to conduct a motor sports event of this size.
Over 450 entries made for an action-packed weekend, with tight
competition among all divisions. While cold temperatures and a
persistent wind made it hard on fans Saturday, Sunday brought a nice
warm-up so everyone could enjoy the final rounds. Overall, it was a
fantastic way to kick off the new season.
For full results from Black Mountain in all classes or for more
information, please go to www.rockmaple.com. On behalf of president
Tara Saxton and the entire RMR staff, Happy Holidays to one and all.
RMR’s next event is set for Jan. 3-4, 2009, at the Franklin County
Fairgrounds in Malone, New York.
BE RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL EVENT
AUTOPARTS SWAP N’ SELL: JANUARY 17th & 18th , 2009
AUTOPARTS SWAP N’SELL CONTINUES TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL EVENT
Automotive enthusiasts from the entire eastern seaboard
assemble every year on the third weekend of January for AUTOPARTS SWAP
N’ SELL. This unique automotive event is New England’s largest
automotive swap meet & collectors flea market in western
Massachusetts. This traditional event, held January 17th & 18th of
2009, is held at the Eastern States Exposition complex on Memorial
Avenue in West Springfield, MA. The show is held in doors and fills a
building with three acres of floor space, heat and showcase lighting.
AUTOPARTS SWAP N’ SELL will be held regardless of the weather,
guaranteed!
This unique event has 300 vendor spaces that attract
premiere vendors from NASCAR, IHRA, STREET ROD, ANTIQUE, TUNER FOREIGN
and much more.
Whether you’re looking for parts to go racing or brochures for the
antique you are restoring, chances are you will find it at AUTOPARTS
SWAP N’ SELL on the weekend of January 17th & 18th, 2009. Combine this
with race collectables, tools and the latest in automotive technology
and you’ve got over one million parts and equipment in this show of
shows.
AUTOPARTS SWAP N’ SELL is nationally recognized as a
national event with years of tradition. Hemmings Motor News says that
this event is a “diamond in the rough of winter automotive swap
meets.” “AUTOPARTS SWAP N’ SELL is a favorite of collectors and
automotive buffs,” said Hemmings’ Conrad Cole.
Corky Stockham of the National Parts Peddler states that
this show is a huge event. It services more automotive buffs in
western MA. than any show on the east coast. I recommend this show for
racers and car crazy enthusiasts,” said Corky.
AUTOPARTS SWAP N’ SELL is just around the corner. Space is
still available but it must be reserved in advance. Display space
measures 15 feet by 12 feet. Doubles and triples are still available.
Remember, everyone from the back yard mechanic to the high-tech
professional is welcome to sell their wares. No special license is
necessary but sellers must conform to Massachusetts State regulations.
For more details, call Start-Finish productions at
860-871-6376 or 860-268-1787. A free brochure is available by writing
to Start-Finish Productions, P O Box 2124 in Vernon, CT 06066-5124.
Don’t miss it, AUTOPARTS SWAP N’ SELL, January 17th & 18th
, 2009 at the Eastern States Exposition on Memorial Avenue in West
Springfield, MA.
2008 PASS South Rewind: Hard Luck Drivers
2008 PASS South Rewind: Hard Luck Drivers
CHARLOTTE, NC (December 9) ? Obviously we when look back at the 2008
season for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models, we
look back at what were the high points: Alex Haase’s three wins and
the championship, Justin Wakefield winning two straight, PASS North
regular Trevor Sanborn’s sweep at Orange County, and John Stancill
challenging for the National championship in his rookie season. But,
this week, we look back at 2008’s “hard luck” drivers. Drivers that
helped make the 2008 PASS South season a success just by being there.
At the same time, challenging for the championship and wins, while not
quite being able to get there.
First up is Raleigh, North Carolina’s, Alex Fleming. Alex came into
the 2008 season pumped for his first full year competing in PASS
South. And why not? Fleming dominated the previous year at the Wake
County Speedway, his hometown track, to become the 2007 track
champion. It seemed at each and every race Fleming was among the
fastest in practice, but more times than not, fell out early due to
engine problems or a crash. His dedication was never in question,
though. Often times, Alex traveled to each race with only his dad,
David, there to help. In April, Alex competed in a local show at Wake
County on Friday night, and then drove all night, deep into Georgia to
race with PASS at the Watermelon Capital Speedway. Alex even managed
to lead some laps there before being taken out in an accident when
Zach Stroup spun. It wasn’t until August that Fleming was able to
finish a race and when he did, he did it in style, by finishing second
in the South Carolina Clash at Dillon. At season’s end, Fleming and
his family owned team learned a lot and were able to finish sixth in
PASS South points and lead 57 laps during the season.
Next, we look at Signal Mountain, Tennessee’s Heath Hindman. Heath
broke into PASS South in a big way in 2007 as an unlikely candidate to
challenge Ryan Lawler for the championship. Not because people
thought he couldn’t do it, but because a lot of folks didn’t know
about him. It didn’t take long, though, as Hindman was a consistent
challenger week in and week out, eventually scoring his first PASS
South win in the Over the Mountain 150 at the Hickory Motor Speedway.
Hindman would go on to finish the 2007 season fourth in points after a
crash in the season finale at Concord took him out early.
This year, Hindman was not about to creep up on the competition.
Everyone in PASS South was well aware of the soft spoken mountain man.
Hindman started the season off strong finishing fifth at Hickory and
scoring three top five’s in the first five races. Among those top
five’s was a third place finish at Wake County Speedway where Hindman
appeared to have the fastest car in the waning laps of the race. This
is where Hindman’s luck began to sour. At many of the following
races, Hindman paced practice only to be stricken by a myriad of
problems. At the Southern Sizzler at Orange County, Hindman fell out
early after being taken out in an accident with Preston Peltier and
Alex Haase. At Dillon, Hindman again paced practice and had his car
set up for a Saturday night race. What happened? The race was rained
out and ran on a sweltering hot Sunday afternoon. Despite struggling
with an ill handling car, Hindman managed a sixth place finish. At
Caraway, fastest again in practice, but out early with a mechanical
problem. And, then there’s the Daniel Boone Classic at Newport
Speedway in Hindman’s home state of Tennessee. Arguably, it was the
greatest disappointment of the year for Hindman and his team. Heath
blistered the track in qualifying with a sub-13 second lap and the
fastest time of the session. In the race, the only person to pass him
was Alex Haase on a restart. Eventually, Hindman dropped back to
fourth after a dust up on another restart and would end the night on a
wrecker after a hard crash with Corey Williams. Hindman closed out
the 2008 season finishing fifth in points with three top fives, two
pole awards, and having led 72 laps.
Finally, we look at the 2007 PASS South Most Popular Driver,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina’s, Mark Gibson. Mark came to PASS South
with a lot to live up to. His dad, G.W., was a former Daytona winner
in the now defunct NASCAR Dash Series. His owner, Jeff Day, has owned
winning Super Late Models for years with drivers such as the late John
Paul Linville. The learning curve for Mark has been steep making the
leap from Legends cars to PASS South in 2007. But, Mark proved he’s
got what it takes finishing sixth in PASS South points in his debut
season. The 2008 PASS South campaign started slowly for Gibson and
the Yarborough Transfer team as they did not score a top five finish
until finishing fourth at Wake County Speedway in June. In the next
three races, Mark finished fourth at Greenville-Pickens, 13th at
Orange County, and seventh at Dillon. Then came the Piedmont Pride
125 at the Caraway Speedway. Mark dominated leading 99 of the first
100 laps. After losing the lead to Alex Haase on a late race restart,
Gibson caught Haase and made contact with him sending Haase into a
spin. Despite being penalized by PASS South officials for rough
driving, Gibson still managed a fourth place finish. The rest of the
year would be a struggle for Gibson, losing an engine in practice a
Newport, struggling to a 15th place finish at The Howler 150 at
Greenville-Pickens, and then falling out early due to an accident at
South Boston. Nonetheless, Gibson had his best career PASS South
points finish coming home fourth in the final standings with three top
fives.
Hopefully for these drivers it’s like the old saying says, “You have
to crawl before you walk.” If that proves to be he case, these
drivers might leave their troubles behind and make a run towards the
2009 PASS South Super Late Model championship.
Although the 2008 season is over, it won’t be long before the 2009
season begins. The 2009 PASS South schedule was recently released and
will begin on Saturday, March 14, 2009, with the Fourth Annual South
Carolina Clash at the Dillon Motor Speedway in Dillon, SC. The 2009
PASS North Super Late Model schedule is nearing completion and will be
released in the coming weeks.
Bodine Bobsled Challenge Announces Field of Drivers
Champions Johnny Benson, Jeg Coughlin, Jr. Complete Field for 4th
Annual Whelen Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge
NASCAR Drivers to Faceoff Against NHRA Drivers in Charity Event
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. ? NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Johnny
Benson and NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Champion Jeg Coughlin, Jr. have
signed on to compete in the 4th Annual Whelen Geoff Bodine Bobsled
Challenge, slated for January 2-4, 2009 at the Olympic Sports Complex.
Benson, who competed in his first Bodine Bobsled Challenge last year,
won his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship this year.
Last year, the driver finished third in the final standings, and was
runner-up to fellow Bodine bobsled competitor Todd Bodine in 2006.
Benson is making his second appearance in the Challenge and is hoping
to improve his bobsledding results.
Coughlin is a four-time NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Champion, and is
currently the two-time defending champion (2000, 2002, 2007, and
2008). Coughlin won the bronze medal as a bobsledding rookie in his
first race and is looking to dethrone fellow NHRA competitor Morgan
Lucas as the top bobsled driver on the dragster circuit.
The Bodine Bobsled Challenge features NASCAR and NHRA drivers piloting
specially-made bobsleds down Lake Placid’s infamous track in fun races
geared to raise money for the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project. In Race 1, all
the drivers will be competing against the clock as they take two runs
down the track. Race 2 features head-to-head racing between the NASCAR
and NHRA drivers, with the winner from each division squaring off in
the final heat for bragging rights.
The NASCAR field will be lead by five-time Bodine Bobsled Champion
Boris Said. Said has dominated the bobsledding field, losing only the
first-ever Bodine Bobsled race to Kevin Lepage. Said has commented in
the past that maybe “bobsledding is in my genes” as his father Bob
Said was an Olympic bobsled competitor.
Joining Said is NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie driving sensation Joey Logano
as well as the 2008 NASCAR Whelen racing series champions Philip
Morris, Brian Loftin and Ted Christopher. “Sliced Bread” Logano
competed last year in the Bodine Bobsled Challenge, finishing eighth.
Morris, a 2007 Bodine Bobsled Challenge participant, is returning
again this year after winning the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series Championship. Loftin clinched the NASCAR Whelen Southern
Modified Tour by a mere 30 points for his first career NASCAR
championship while Christopher won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Championship to claim his place in the bobsledding field.
Rounding out the drivers is Todd Bodine, the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Champion and brother of the Bodine Challenge founder Geoff
Bodine, Daytona Rolex pole winner Eric Curran and19-year-old sprint
car driver Tom Tolbert out of Ohio. Bodine has participated in every
Bodine Bobsled Challenge and has started a similar support program for
the U.S. Skeleton Federation. Curran, a road course racing ace, has
competed in the NASCAR Camping World Series, American Le Mans, Grand
Am Rolex, Koni Challenge and World Challenge GT series. He and
Tolbert will be part of this year’s bobsled rookie class.
Coughlin will be joined by NHRA Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas, JR
Todd, and Bob Vandergriff. This will be the third event for Lucas and
Todd, with Lucas giving Said a run for his money in last year’s NASCAR
versus NHRA showdown before losing to Said in the final round. Lucas
has bought his own sled for this competition and has Said in his
sights. Lucas has also won two silvers medals during this event. Todd
is looking to improve upon his Top 10 finishes. Vandergriff placed
ninth in his first race last year, and then lost to Lucas in the NHRA
final round.
The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc., was started in 1992 by NASCAR driver
Geoff Bodine, and has built American-made bobsleds for United States
athletes competing in the World Cup, World Championships and Olympic
Winter Games. Monies raised from the Bodine Bobsled Challenge go
directly to this project.
SPEED channel will again televise four hours of the Whelen Geoff
Bodine Bobsled Challenge, on Jan. 18 at noon and Jan. 25 at 2 pm. MRN
Radio has signed on to provide live coverage of the Bodine Bobsled
Challenge all three days.
The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project concept paid dividends with gold, silver
and bronze medals in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Game, the first
time that the USA Bobsled Team won Olympic medals since 1956, and
scored again with silver in Torino. New sled designs are being created
by Bodine and sled builder Bob Cuneo of Chassis Dynamics in
Connecticut. It will be tested during national and international
competitions leading up to the next Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver
in 2010.
Other sponsors of the Whelen Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge include
Columbia Sportswear Company, MAC Tools, Racing Electronics, PPG, Lucas
Oil, JEGS Automotive, Summitt Building Solutions, EXA and the National
Guard.
Fan packages, interactive offerings and event merchandise for the 4th
Annual Whelen Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge may be purchased online
at www.bodynbobsled.com. The television shows of the 2006, 2007 and
2008 Bodine events are also available for purchase on DVD at
www.bodynbobsled.com .
Former Track Owner Receives Top Industry Award For Racing Contributions
NEW YORK (Dec. 4, 2008) ? Bob Bahre, long a champion promoter and
supporter of stock-car racing in the New England region, collected one
of NASCAR’s most prestigious and longest-running awards today in New
York City.
Bahre received the Buddy Shuman Award during the 2008 NASCAR NMPA
Myers Brothers Media Luncheon. Presented since 1957, the award
annually recognizes individuals who have made significant
contributions to NASCAR racing.
It honors the late Buddy Shuman, a pioneering NASCAR driver who died
in a hotel fire in Nov. 1955.
“Bob was a pioneer in NASCAR’s growth in the northeast,” said NASCAR
President Mike Helton. “He’s one of the most respected men in the
sport ? ever.”
Bahre, 80, is the former owner of New Hampshire Motor Speedway and
Oxford Plains Speedway. A resident of Paris Hill, Maine, he purchased
what is now New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 1989 and re-opened it ?
following reconstruction and renovations ? in 1990.
NASCAR events have been held at the track since July 1990.
Bahre also owned and operated Oxford Plains Speedway from 1986-’94.
He’s also renowned for his collection of vintage cars, which he shares
with the public each summer during a Founder’s Day festival in Paris
Hill.
As New England’s largest sports facility, New Hampshire Motor Speedway
includes a 1.056-mile oval track and a 1.6-mile road course and room
for 105,491 spectators. A new chapter in the track’s history began in
Nov. 2007, when Bahre and his son Gary sold the facility to Speedway
Motorsports Inc.
More recognition is forthcoming: Bahre will be inducted into the New
England Auto Racing Hall of Fame on Jan. 25, 2009.