GRANITE STATE PRO STOCK SERIES PRESENTED BY SPRINGFIELD BUICK GMC

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Five action packed divisions of racing to be headlined by the $3500 to win Rocky Ridge Trucks 150 lap pro stock race this Sunday, September 2^nd at 5:00pm at Claremont Speedway in Claremont, NH. Joining the Granite State Pro Stock Series presented by Springfield Buick GMC is the North East Mini Stock Tour. Their 50 lap event this Sunday night will be a good test of mettle for their 100 lap $1500 to win national event on September 14^th.

Local flavor will be abound with a 40 lap $1000 to win Super Street feature, a 35 lap $750 to win Street Stock feature, and a 25 lap Wildcat feature. But that's not all, many local stars will be coming back to Claremont Speedway to join the GSPSS regulars for our 150 lap main event. Guy Caron, Aaron Fellows, Byron Baker, Jimmy Zullo, Luke Hinkley, Ricky Bly, and Josh King are some of the 26 drivers pre-entered into the big show.

And a big show it will be, “We are thrilled this is the first GSPSS promotion of a full event with the help of Springfield Buick GMC and Rocky Ridge Trucks” series President Mike Parks said. “With our support divisions everything looks incredibly stout as the response has been huge.” “Coming on this weekend is Asetex Tire & Auto in Claremont, NH whom will be posting fast time awards during time trials, $150 for first, $100 for second, and $50 for third.” “This certainly will be one of our largest events of the 2018 season.”

General Admission: $20, children ages 6-12 $5, Pit Gate Admission: $40

Racing begins at 5:00pm

Drivers pre-entered for the Rocky Ridge Trucks 150:

#08 Mike O'Sullivan

#05 Jacob Dore

#39 Nick Lascuola

#18 Mike Scorzelli

#29 Barry Gray

#00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr

#93ct Ray Christian III

#21 Josh King

#72 Guy Caron

#43 Devin O'Connell

#7 Cory Casagrande

#9 Kyle Welch

#73 Joey Doiron

#42 Aaron Fellows

#09 Jeremy Davis

#m32 Steven Murphy

#24 Todd Patnode

#11 Bryon Baker

#10 Jimmy Zullo

#1x Todd Stone

#31 Luke Hinkley

#09nh Ricky Bly

#40 Mike Mitchell

#15 George Bessette

#4 Tommy O'Sullivan

#60 DJ Shaw

Source: GSPSS Media Press Release and Photo

Sam Rameau Up For Challenge In Lincoln Tech VMRS 80 at Stafford

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Stafford Springs, CT)—One year after finishing fifth in the Valenti Modified Racing Series championship race as a 15 year old rookie, Sam Rameau has quickly dispelled any notion of a sophomore slump. The Westminster, MA native and driver of the #6 RaceChoice.com Chevrolet recorded his first VMRS feature event win earlier this season at Lee USA Speedway and he comes into the August 31 Lincoln Tech VMRS 80 at Stafford Speedway sitting second in the points standings.

“Before the season started, my goal was to get a top-3 finish in the points and I would be stoked if we could win the championship this year,” said Rameau. “At 16 years old, I would be the youngest driver to win the championship and that would be pretty cool. We don’t have to concentrate on wins, we just have to concentrate on good finishes, that’s how you win championships.”

With Rameau sandwiched in between last year’s VMRS champion Anthony Nocella and former VMRS champion Woody Pitkat in the standings, he will be looking for his first top-10 finish at Stafford to maintain his push to become the 2018 VMRS champion.

“Obviously I’d love to win the race but I’d be real happy with a top-5 finish,” said Rameau. “We’re points racing so any finish we can get in front of Anthony Nocella would be good for us. Two weeks ago we were behind by 58 points and now we’re only 18 points behind so hopefully we can continue on the championship push.”

While he has limited experience with only 4 previous starts at Stafford, Rameau has shown speed but he hasn’t had the best of luck. The VMRS 80 that was held back in May at Stafford was actually the first time that Rameau saw the checkered flag in VMRS competition at the Connecticut half-mile track and he will be looking for another race where he finishes all 80 laps.

“We’re always fast when we come to Stafford, we just haven’t had the best luck there,” said Rameau. “The May race was actually the first race at Stafford that I was able to finish. I had raced 3 times before at Stafford and one race I was running fourth with about 40 laps to go and the transmission broke, one race I was collected in a big pileup on the backstretch, and the other race the motor blew up. I don’t have much experience at Stafford but we’re going to give it our all. Knock on wood we’ve had pretty good luck so far this season and hopefully we can continue that at Stafford.” Source: Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release.

Stafford Speedway Results

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Michael Gervais, Jr. and Troy Talman brought the field to the green flag and they were still side by side at the completion of lap-3 with Todd Owen and Ronnie Williams side by side behind them for third.  Talman got clear to the lead on lap-4 with Gervais and Williams now side by side for second with Owen in fourth and Matt Galko and Joey Cipriano side by side for fifth.

Williams took the lead from Talman with a pass in turn 3 on lap-9.  Talman was now side by side with Gervais for second with Gervais taking the place on lap-10.  Owen was now on the inside of Talman for third and he took the spot.  Michael Christopher, Jr. and Keith Rocco were making their way through the field and they were up to fourth and fifth behind Williams, Gervais, and Owen when the caution flew with 18 laps complete for a spin in turn 4 by Tommy Membrino, Jr.

Williams took the lead on the restart with Gervais and Christopher, Jr. side by side for second.  Owen was fourth in line with Rocco and Galko side by side for fifth.  Rocco went around Gervais to take fourth and he took Owen as well for third on lap-23 with Christopher, Jr. still giving chase to Williams for the lead.

With 10 laps to go it was Williams, Christopher, Jr., and Rocco out front with Owen and Eric Berndt making up the top-5.  Berndt got by Owen to move into fourth on lap-34 with Rocco and Christopher, Jr. still giving chase to Williams for the race lead.  Glen Reen came to a stop backwards on the backstretch access road to bring the caution out with 36 laps complete and set up a 4-lap sprint to the finish.

On the restart, David Arute and Gervais touched wheels with Gervais spinning into the turn 2 wall to bring the caution right back out.  Williams took the lead on the restart with Rocco and Christopher, Jr. side by side for second, Berndt in fourth and Owen in fifth.  Membrino spun in turn 3 to bring the caution back out with 38 laps complete to set up a green white checkered finish.

Williams took the lead on the restart but coming out of turn 2, Rocco and Williams touched with Williams sliding through the grass and falling to the rear of the field.  Then Rocco spun on the frontstretch and collected the car of Membrino to bring the caution back out and set up another green white checkered finish with Christopher, Jr. now the race leader with Berndt, Owen, and Josh Wood making up front two rows.

Christopher and Berndt went side by side on the restart and as they came to the white flag, Berndt had the lead by a nose.  Berndt cleared Christopher going into turn 1 on the final lap and he led Christopher back to the checkered flag to pick up his third win of the 2018 season.  Owen finished third with Galko and Matt Vassar rounding out the top-5.

SK MODIFIED® (40)

1) Eric Berndt, Cromwell

2) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott

3) Todd Owen, Somers

4) Matt Galko, Meriden

5) Matt Vassar, Plantsville

6) Chase Dowling, Woodbury

7) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma

8) Tony Membrino, Jr., Berlin

9) Joey Cipriano, Waterbury

10) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown

11) Nick Salva, Cheshire

12) Ronnie Williams, Tolland

13) Keith Rocco, Berlin

14) Troy Talman, Oxford, Ma

15) David Arute, Stafford Springs

16) Tom Bolles, Ellington

17) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect

18) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury

19) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma

Most interesting division race in New England with two to go in 2018

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Never mind a lock on the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park ROTY award for 2018

Late Models

As of 8/8/2018

View All

Pos	Car	Driver	Hometown	Wins	Top 5	Top 10	Features	Points	Gap
1	6	Nicholas Johnson	Rehoboth, MA		5	5	5	235	-
2	5	Tom Carey III	New Salem, MA		3	4	5	220	15
3	91CT	Woody Pitkat			3	4	5	216	19
4	4MA	William Wall	Shrewsbury, MA	1	3	4	5	215	20
5	31	Ryan Morgan	Pawcatuck, CT	3	3	4	5	211	24
6	22RI	Mark Jenison	Warwick, RI	1	3	4	5	211	24
7	81	Paul Charette	Woodstock, CT		2	4	5	202	33
8	3	Glenn Boss	Danielson, CT		1	5	5	200	35
9	10	Chad Baxter	Pascoag, RI		1	3	5	160	75
10	11MA	Randy Tucker	Millis, MA			3	5	156	79