Seekonk Speedway announces the 2019 Racing Schedule

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Dave Darling is now in a tie with 6 time Pro Stock driver Freddy Astle with 6 track championships.

Can Darling repeat in 2019 and join Late/ Model driver Gerry DeGasparre Jr as the tracks all-time champion with 7 ?

With 3 time champion Paul Lallier deciding on a partial schedule on the Race Chatter radio interview in 2019 open the door for Scotty Bruneau  to dominate ?

What New Rookie do you think will make a big entrance to their division in 2019 ?

Stafford Speedway Connecticut Releases 2019 Racing Schedule

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Bellingham's Woody Pitkat,  Crystal Snape Photo

(Stafford Springs, CT)---

Stafford Motor Speedway has officially released the 2019 racing schedule consisting of 22 events including 11 special events.  For the 48^th consecutive year, the season will kick-off with the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler on April 27^th and 28^th and will finish with the NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final Weekend, both highlighted by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. 

“2018 was another great season here at Stafford,” explained Stafford General Manager Mark Arute.  “We shaped the 2019 schedule to continue our focus on consistency and producing a quality show each and every week.  Racing at Stafford has been nothing less then unbelievable the last few years, we think this schedule gives us the opportunities to promote all the talented drivers that race at Stafford each week.  We’re excited for our 61st season of NASCAR racing.” 

The Friday night weekly racing program is set to fire up Friday, May 3^rd with the return of Best Friend Friday and will continue for 20 straight weeks ending Friday, September 13^th with First Responder Friday.  The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will make 3 stops at the Stafford, CT half-mile April 27^th and 28^th for the NAPA Spring Sizzler, August 2^nd  for the Stafford 150, and September 28^th and 29^th for the 47^th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final.  

Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair Modifiedz night returns for the 3^rd consecutive season Friday, May 24^th to kick-off Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start to summer. The biggest SK Modified® event of the year is set for Friday, June 28^th when the NAPA Auto Parts SK 5k rolls off for the 6^th consecutive year of the 100 lap event.  2018 winner Ronnie Williams pocketed a cool $10,625 for his SK 5k triumph.  The TC 13 Shoot-Out for the SK Modifieds® will return on Friday, July 12th.  The Modified Racing Series will make their one and only stop at Stafford August 30^th for the 10^th Annual Lincoln Tech 80.  Kids and families events are also highlighted on the schedule with Kids Nights scheduled monthly throughout the season along with Fireworks displays on Friday, May 31^st and Friday, July 5^th.

Arute Continued, “Our goal is for race fans to know what to expect every time they walk into Stafford Speedway, excellent racing and a great experience.  Whether it be a Modified Tour event or a weekly show headlined by the SK Modifieds®, we want race fans to be as excited as we are when Friday rolls around each week.”

Multiple new events dot the 2019 calendar including an additional Open Modified 80 event scheduled for Friday May 10^th. The open modified division will compete a total of three times in 2019 with the Twisted Tea Open 80 and Bud Light Open 80 returning to the schedule on June 14^th and July 12^th respectively.  Also new for 2019 is the Street Stock Triple Crown, a 3-event series with events to be held Saturday of NAPA Spring Sizzler and Fall Final weekends as well as Friday, June 21^st.  Points will be kept and a triple crown champion will be named. 

“We have some new additions to the schedule that we are looking forward to,” continued Arute.  “We added another Open Modified show to the schedule after receiving great feedback from fans and drivers after the 2018 events.  We also added the Street Stock Triple Crown, which will end Saturday of the NAPA Fall Final and will see a significantly boosted purse across all 3 shows especially the final event.  We will also name a triple crown champion with bonuses for the top finishers.” 

Season tickets for the 2019 race season are now available online, over the phone (860-684-2783), or at the Stafford Speedway Box Office.  Discount pricing for season tickets are available through December 14th.  Tickets for the 48th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler and 47^th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final are also now available online, over the phone (860-684-2783), or at the Stafford Speedway Box Office. For any questions please contact the track office or reach out on social media. 

For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.Source: Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release

16th Annual John Blewett North / South Shootout Victory

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Jim and Crystal Snape would like to wish you all a great holiday.

Concord Motor Speedway

Concord, N.C.

11.10.2018

   It didn't take long for Jon McKennedy of North Chelmsford, Mass to show everyone how potent the Tommy Baldwin Jr. prepared 7NY modified was for the John Blewett Memorial North/South

   From victory lane McKennedy said "The last 20 laps were tough for sure, it seemed Andy (Seuss) myself and a few other guys were all even and I knew we needed a good 6 or 7 lap run when the car was really the strongest. I told my guys on the radio my best chance to get him (Seuss) was on the restart and that's exactly what happened, it all worked out and here we are." He added "The long red flag delay on lap 105 really helped us with the heat cycle on our tires, my car was getting tight and the heat cycle made it loosen up. We led a lot of laps (56) got the pole with the quickest time and won the race, its an awesome day. There's a lot of good cars here today so this win feels great."

   Turning in the quickest time of the day with a 15.296 second lap gave McKennedy the pole for the 125 lap marathon. Brandon Ward of Winston-Salem, N.C. started along side McKennedy with a 15.486 sec. lap.

   When starter Randy Smith showed the 28 car starting field the green, McKennedy became the first leader of the event until he pitted for adjustments on a lap 42 caution flag. 

   The crashed filled event was slowed or stopped 11 times, the worst on lap 105 when 6 cars tangled on the front stretch blocking the track which resulted in a 30 minute delay. That crash eliminated Chase Dowling, Cameron Sontag, Chuck Hossfeld and Jeremy Gertsner from the event.

   When racing resumed on lap 106 McKennedy wasted no time overpowering race leader Andy Seuss, (Hempstesd,N.H.) then held off all challengers including Matt Hirschman (Northhampton,PA.) who starting picking off competitors one at a time until he found himself in second place behind McKennedy on lap 123. Hirschman glued himself to McKennedy's back bumper but never found the opening to challenge the race leader for the win.

  At the checkered flag McKennedy, Hirschman and Jimmy Blewett (Howell,N.J.) who turned in a stellar performance, ran nose to tail.

   John Smith (Mount Airy,N.C.) and Andy Seuss finished 4th and 5th.

   Runner up Hirschman said, "It didn't go the way I wanted it to go, there were a few things that didn't go my way. It was so close at the end, you could say one more lap or a few more laps but when the checkered flag comes out at 125, it's all over. We were right there but a little too short." He added, "There were just so many cautions, delays and red flags, I don't know, just a lot to process really. It was just a very wild race and a break here or there would have made a difference in the outcome, but it is what it is."

   Third place Blewett said "It was interesting, a lot of ups and downs. For the most part we were able to get the car fixed and get back out on the track." (lap 57 Blewett stalled and stopped in turn 3.) "We got a flat in practice and hitting the fence was disheartening for us but we just started working and to come back to finish third really means something to me. I thought I might have something for those guys at the end (McKennedy-Hirschman) but it just got too loose."

   Anthony Nocella (Woburn,MA.) looked to be a serious contender for the win even without power steering for the last 50 laps but ran out of fuel under yellow while running third. Nocella came back to finish 7th.

Track- Concord Speedway, Concord,N.C.

Track size- 1/2 mile- Tri Oval

Starting Field- 28 Cars

Quick Time- 7NY, McKennedy-15,296 sec.

Race Leaders- 7NY, McKennedy--#76, Jimmy Zacharias--#11, Ron Silk--#25, John Smith--#57, Andy Seuss--#1, Burt Meyers--#19, Brandon Ward

Caution/Red Flags-11--Laps 24,31,42,57.87.87.89.93.93.94.105 

story by Jim Snape, photos by Crystal Snape

	#7 Johnathan McKennedy   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:48.702	99	00:15.885
2	#60 Matt Hirschman   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:48.836	114	00:15.973	0.134	0.134
3	#76 Jimmy Blewett   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:49.778	99	00:15.961	1.076	0.942
4	#25 John Smith   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:51.853	97	00:16.019	3.151	2.075
5	#57 Andy Suess   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:53.856	100	00:15.904	5.154	2.003
6	#17 Bobby Measmer   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:54.781	98	00:16.048	6.079	0.925	Jr
7	#92 Anthony Nocella   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:56.480	97	00:15.942	7.778	1.699
8	#81 Todd Owen   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:56.784	100	00:15.993	8.082	0.304
9	#07 Patrick Emerling   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:00:59.627	98	00:16.137	10.925	2.843
10	#79 James Civalli   Tour Modifieds
	Laps	Total Time	Best Lap	Best Time	Diff	Gap
	125	03:01:01.874	2	00:15.924	13.172	2.247

2019 ACT Late Model Tour Schedule of Events

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

#             DAY       DATE     EVENT                                                  

TRACK                                                   LOCATION

1              Sun         Apr 14    Oxford Plains 150                                                Oxford Plains Speedway                     Oxford, ME

2              Sun         Apr 28    Community Bank N.A. 150                  Thunder Road Speedbowl                  Barre, VT

3              Sat           May 11   Spring Green 119                                White Mtn. Motorsports Park           N. Woodstock, NH

4              Sat           Jun 1       Chaudiere 150                                     Autodrome Chaudiere                        Vallée-Jct., QC

5              Sat           Jun 15    Thompson 75                                        Thompson Speedway                          Thompson, CT

6              Sat           Jun 29    Star 150                                                 Star Speedway                                      Epping, NH

7              Sat           Aug 3      Midsummer 250                                  White Mtn Motorsports Park            N. Woodstock, NH

***         Sat           Aug 17   Bacon Bowl 200                                   Autodrome Chaudiere                        Vallée-Jct., QC

8              Sat           Aug 24   Oxford Plains 150                                                Oxford Plains Speedway                     Oxford, ME           

9              Sun         Sep 1      Coca-Cola Labor Day Classic 200       Thunder Road Speedbowl                  Barre, VT               

***         Sat/Sun  Sep 28/29  57^th Vermont Milk Bowl                 Thunder Road Speedbowl                  Barre, VT

10           Sat           Oct 12    World Series 75                                   Thompson Speedway                          Thompson, CT

Schedule subject to change

R..I.P. David Pearson

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

David Pearson, a NASCAR pioneer and longtime rival of Richard Petty, has died. He was 83.

Pearson died today, The Wood Brothers racing team said, but details were not immediately available.

Pearson was a three-time Cup champion, and his 105 career victories trail only Petty's 200 on NASCAR's all-time list.

Born just outside of Spartanburg, S.C., Pearson made his NASCAR debut in 1960 and along with Petty, Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough, they raced all over the country as the cornerstone during NASCAR's period of slow growth beyond a regional racing series. Pearson was inducted into the second class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

2018 PASS NATIONAL SLM CHAMPION DEREK GRIFFITH #12G

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Hudson, NH residend Derek Griffith finished second to capture the PASS National Championship Super Late Model title and third place finisher Matt Craig took his third straight PASS South championship.

Griffith's championship season culminated on a day that saw it nearly slip away in morning practice. He avoided the wall after breaking a trailing arm bracket, which allowed his team to make the necessary welding repairs at Setzer's nearby shop prior to qualifying.

"This is just amazing, the guys did a great job to get the car repaired," said Griffith. "I can't thank Brandon and Dennis [Setzer] for letting us use their shop. Ray Christian, my nearest competitor for the championship, he offered to let me use their backup car. I mean, what can you say about that? This has just been a great year and I'm so proud of what we've been able to accomplish."

The Mason-Dixon MegaMeltdown 200 from Hickory will air on MAVTV on Wednesday night, January 23, 2019 at 7 PM Eastern as part of Speed51's Short Track America.

The 2018 PASS Super Late Model is complete, but continue to monitor ProAllStarsSeries.com over the coming weeks for moreinformationon the upcoming season.  Source: PASS SUPER LATE/MODEL PRESS RELEASE AND PHOTO.

2018 Stafford Speedway Track Champion Spotlight

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Photo by Wayne G.Barber

(Stafford Springs, CT)---With the final checkered flag of the 2018 season displayed at the NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final,  Ronnie Williams, Tom Fearn, Marcello Rufrano, Jeremy Lavoie, and George Bessette, Jr. have etched their names in the Stafford Speedway history books as 2018 track champions.  Here we take a brief look back at each champion’s drive to their title success this season.

In the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Division I, SK Modifieds®, the fight for the championship was a season long duel between Williams and Keith Rocco.  Rocco began the season with a 4-race winning streak that established himself as the championship favorite.  Williams and the #50 Les’s Auto Center team were finishing races right behind Rocco on the podium, allowing him to keep the deficit to Rocco in the standings to a reasonable margin.  A big win on June 29 in the NAPA SK 5K, with a payday of $10,625, was definitely the boost the #50 team needed as they pursued the race for the championship.  Williams took the point lead for the first time following a win on July 6 and he led the standings for the remainder of the season and won his very first track championship at Stafford.  For the season Williams posted 4 wins, 14 top-5 and 17 top-10 finishes.

Tom Fearn and the #92 King Ward Coach Lines team enjoyed a season for the ages in the NWAAS Division II, Late Models.  In 21 starts this season, Fearn finished on the podium 19 times with 12 wins, 6 second place finishes, and one third place finish.  Fearn’s 12 wins this season set a Stafford Speedway Late Model division record and he also set a division record with six consecutive wins from May 18 to June 22.  For the season Fearn posted 12 wins, 19 top-5 and 19 top-10 finishes with a miniscule average finish of 2.4.  Fearn’s 12 wins this season also made him Stafford’s winningest driver in Late Model history with 48 career wins, passing Ryan Posocco who had 45 career Late Model wins at Stafford.

The NWAAS Division III, SK Light Modifieds, produced one of the tightest championship races in the track’s long and storied history.  Marcello Rufrano and Bryan Narducci, two drivers who grew up racing against each other in the Stafford Wild Thing Kart Series, renewed their friendly rivalry in grand fashion this season.  The two drivers took turns swapping the point lead back and forth this season with the pair combining to win 11 of 21 races.  Rufrano took the checkered flag in the biggest SK Light race of the season, the May 25 Dunleavy’s Modifiedz Night extra distance race that paid an SK Light season high $2,025 with purse and contingency bonuses.  Narducci looked to have the championship within his grasp late in the season, but two 15^th place finishes in the 4 races leading into the season ending NAPA Fall Final allowed Rufrano to enter that race tied with Narducci in the standings.  As the two were racing for the lead in the final race, they made contact and both drivers crashed out of the race.  With Rufrano being in front of Narducci on the last completed green flag lap, he was scored one position ahead of Narducci and became the SK Light champion.  For the season, Rufrano and the #88 Wheelers Auto Service team posted 6 wins, 11 top-5, and 16 top-10 finishes.

The NWAAS Division IV, Limited Late Model crown was dominated by Jeremy Lavoie and the #6 Aspen Hill Farm team.  The season didn’t begin under the best of circumstances for Lavoie as a mechanical issue left him in last place in the season opening race.  But Lavoie showed that he would be a force to be reckoned with this season with wins in four of the next five races after his mechanical issue, including a three-race winning streak.  Lavoie would go on to record a second three race winning streak later in the season and he took control of the points race with a 6-race stretch from June 29 to August 3 that saw him win 4 times and finish second twice.  Lavoie clinched the championship with one race to go and for the season he posted 8 wins, 16 top-5, and 20 top-10 finishes.

After finishing second in the NWAAS Division V Street Stock points as a rookie in 2017, George Bessette, Jr. and the #39 Lasco Roofing and Sheet Metal team returned to Stafford in 2018 as a championship favorite.  Two of Bessette’s main rivals this year in the championship race were Meghan Fuller, daughter of former Whelen Modified Tour champion Rick Fuller, and Brandon Michael.  All three drivers each took a turn leading the points early in the season but Bessette went on an amazing run in the second half of the season to leave his closest pursuers in his rearview mirror and claim the championship.  In the final 12 races of the season, Bessette notched up 11 podium finishes that included 4 wins, including a win in the extra distance R.A.D. Auto Machine Street Stock 30 that paid a Street Stock season high $575 with purse and contingency bonuses.  Bessette’s consistency allowed him to clinch the championship with one race left to go but that didn’t slow him down as he won the season ending NAPA Fall Final feature event to close out his season in style.  For the season Bessette posted 5 wins, 17 top-5 and 19 top-10 finishes. 

For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.