NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Results, Stafford Speedway

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Fin	Str	Car	Driver	Team	Laps	Points	B/Points	Status
1	4	6	Ryan Preece	TS Hauler Chevrolet	200	47	4	Running
2	1	2	Doug Coby	Mayhew Tools Chevrolet	200	44	2	Running
3	6	15	Chase Dowling	15-40 Connection Chevrolet	200	41		Running
4	3	58	Eric Goodale	GAF Roofing Chevrolet	200	41	1	Running
5	9	0	Ted Christopher	Brad Brady Racing Chevrolet	200	39		Running
6	8	3	Rowan Pennink	Cape Cod Copper Chevrolet	200	38		Running
7	13	56	Craig Lutz	Lutz Motorsports Chevrolet	200	37		Running
8	7	82	Ron Silk	Horton Avenue Materials Chevrolet	200	36		Running
9	5	51	Justin Bonsignore	Phoenix Communications Inc. Chevrolet	200	35		Running
10	16	36	Dave Sapienza	SAP Enterprise Chevrolet	200	34		Running
11	12	16	Timmy Solomito	Starrett Tools Ford	200	33		Running
12	17	46	Woody Pitkat	Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet	200	32		Running
13	15	64	Rob Summers	Hoosier Tire East/Fast Track Elect/Hughes Motors	200	31		Running
14	19	89	Matt Swanson	Starrett Tools Ford	199	30		Running
15	22	4	Gary Putnam	Curb Records Chevrolet	198	29		Running
16	21	17	Kyle Ellwood	First Data/Clover Chevrolet	198	28		Running
17	24	33	Wade Cole	Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil Ford	197	27		Running
18	26	78	Walter Sutcliffe Jr. *	Last Minute Racing Chevrolet	193	26		Mechanical
19	10	48	Shawn Solomito	Eastport Feeds Chevrolet	189	25		Running
20	18	28	George Brunnhoelzl III	Dunleavys Repair Chevrolet	186	24		Running
21	14	20	Max Zachem	MPZ Motorsports/Lu-Macs Chevrolet	175	23		Accident
22	11	7	Donny Lia	Bardahl Chevrolet	169	22		Accident
23	2	85	Todd Szegedy	Montanari Fuel/Stuarts Auto/J&R Pre-Cast Chevrolet	148	21		Brakes
24	27	1	Melissa Fifield	Eastern Propane & Oil Chevrolet	83	20		Mechanical
25	23	39	Calvin Carroll *	Power with Prestige/Cruising w/Betty Chevrolet	79	19		Overheating
26	20	24	Andrew Krause	Supreme Manufacturing Chevrolet	64	18		Mechanical
27	28	92	Anthony Nocella	Nocella Paving/Airgas Chevrolet	50	17		Mechanical
28	25	38	Gary Byington *	Perf Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan's Chevrolet	5	16		Accident

RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Doug Coby, Time: 17.896 Seconds, Speed: 100.581 mph
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 29 mins, 9 secs Average Speed: 67.302 mph Margin of Victory: 0.220 SecondsCaution Flags: Laps 6-11; 42-47; 61-65; 74-77; 81-85; 155-160; 168-172; 176-181; 189-191.  9 for 46 laps.Lap Leaders: Doug Coby 1-44, Ryan Preece 45-86, Doug Coby 87-162, Eric Goodale 163-165, Doug Coby 166-186, Ryan Preece 187-191, Doug Coby 192, Ryan Preece 193-200.Source: NASCAR HOMETRACKS PRESS RELEASE

Ed Flemke, Jr. and Paula Bouchard Named NAPA Spring Sizzler® Grand Marshals

Posted by Wayne G.Barber 

(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that Ed Flemke, Jr. and his sister Paula Bouchard will serve as Grand Marshals of the 46^th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®, April 29-30.  Flemke and his sister will give the command to send the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour field of cars on their way to the green flag in “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring.”

“This will be the first time for me being a grand marshal and it will be quite an honor,” said Flemke.  “I remember going back to the very first Sizzler, my father was really excited about the race because he thought it was a good combination of being a great spectator race as well as being a great drivers race.  That race has always had momentum behind it and it’s always cool to have a big race at the start of the season.  The Spring Sizzler is just like the Daytona 500.”

The 2017 season marks the 50^th season since Stafford Speedway was first paved, ushering in the era of asphalt racing.  The winner of the very first feature to be run at Stafford on the new coat of asphalt was Ed Flemke, Sr. on June 1, 1967.  The win was also the first of 23 career modified wins at Stafford for Flemke.  Flemke also nearly won the very first Spring Sizzler® in 1972 driving the #34 Pinto for owner Fred Vigliarolo but after leading the race from lap 7 to lap 70, a water pump failed on Flemke’s car and he ended up finishing 17^th while Fred DeSarro ended up taking the checkered flag in the Len Boehler “Ole Blue” #3 machine.  Flemke was one of 7 Pintos in the starting lineup of 33 cars that marked the beginning of the Pinto Revolution at Stafford.  Flemke then came back the very next year in 1973 and won the Spring Sizzler® driving Bob Judkins’ #2x.

Flemke, Jr. was a 26-year veteran of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with the last of his 439 career NWMT starts coming in the season finale of the 2013 season.  Flemke Jr. has 17 career NWMT wins, with three of those wins coming at Stafford.  Twice a runner up in the race for the NWMT championship, Flemke Jr. finished second to Tony Hirschman in 2004 and second to Mike Stefanik in 2006.

“I miss racing but I’m still at the track every week with my drivers and my cars,” said Flemke.  “I miss the competition but I really miss the people in racing.  It’s been hard but not quite like I thought it would be.  Racing has been in my life for the better part of 60 years and I used to live by the racing calendar.  If I knew how well I was able to adapt to not racing, I probably would have retired a couple years earlier than I did.”

The 46^th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler® action gets underway Friday, April 28 with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions and the Mr. Rooter Trucks.  The practice session will be open to the public at no charge.  Action continues on Saturday, April 29 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions and the Mr. Rooter Trucks.  Saturday will wrap up with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, DARE Stock, and Mr. Rooter Truck divisions.  Spring Sizzler® action continues on Sunday, April 30 with the NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party from 11am-noon followed by Stafford’s SK Modifieds® and Late Models joining the Whelen Modified Tour in feature action.

Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office.  Tickets are priced at $40.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult.  Reserved seating is priced at $42.00 for all ages.  Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.  Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday admission.  All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Discount Tickets are now available at all 71 participating NAPA Auto Parts stores.  For a full list of the 71 locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, please call the speedway office or visit us on the web at www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores.

Preece clean sweeps MTS opener

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Monadnock Speedway. Winchester,N.H.

   Ryan Preece driving the TS Haulers, Ed Partridge owned #6 scored the first victory on the MTS schudle for 2017 on Saturday 4/22. It only took 14 laps for Preece to come from his fifth place starting position and overhaul race leader Richard Savary. From that point on Preece set a blistering pace  running all 125 laps without a caution flag.

   "My car was good tonight , maybe too good at first. At about lap 80 I had to slow my pace to cool the right rear tire. My only concern was about Jon (McKennedy) he has a great car and knows how to set it up".

   Jon Mckennedy turned in his usual outstanding performance driving the Exit Reality sponsored #29 to a second place finish. He glued himself to Preeces rear bumper but just never had enough to get by him.

   "It was a decent run, we ended up second but got beat by that spect motor again, its a hundred pounds lighter, handles better and better on tire wear. At 80 laps we were just as good as them but as the race progressed it was hard to keep up so we got a second place finish. The American Racer (tire) doesnt have the grip like a Hoosier but they last a lot longer and seem to repeat a lot better, overall they're a good tire".

   Rowan Pennink and team had to rebuild the front end of their car after a heat race crash and that hard work paid off. Pennink came from his third row starting position to take down the final podium finish. He put pressure on McKennedy all race long but had to settle with a third place finish at the end of the 125 grind.

   Chris Pasteryak came from deep in the pack and had a hard fought battle with Savary settling with a forth place finish. Pole sitter and early race leader Savary brought his brand new mount home in fifth.

Summary

Date-April 22, 2017

Track- Monadnock Speedway, Winchester,N.H.

Race- O'Reilly Auto Spring Dash

Time of Race- 27:45.783

Margin of Victory- 1.059

Best lap time- 12.892

Best Speed- 69.811

Best Lap By- 6-Ryan Preece

Finish

1---6-Ryan Preece

2---29-Jon McKennedy

3---25-Rowan Pennink

4---15ct-Chris Pasteryak

5---99-Richard Savary

6---52-Woody Pitkat

7---21-Les Hinckley

8---9-Tommy Barrett

9---58-Eric Goodale

10-43-Kirk Alexander

11-12-Todd Annarummo   

12-M6-Dylan Kopec

13-15nh-TJ Bleau

14-0-Mike Holdridge

15-77-Matt Mead

16-4-Jeff Gallop

17-58ny-Sal Accardi Jr.

18-13ma-Steve Masse

19-Andrew Molleur

Next Race Event- May 6 New London Waterford Speedbowl-125 Laps 

by James Snape

photos by Simply the Best, Crystal Snape

MONADNOCK SPEEDWAY 2017 EVENT SCHEDULE

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

4/22

5PM

SPRING DASH 2017 PRESENTED BY O’REILLY’S AUTO PARTS - MODIFIED TOURING SERIES 125 LAPS (MTS), SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS,  SUPER STOCKS, MINI STOCKS, LIGHTNING STOCKS, THUNDER STOCKS,  YOUNG GUNS (RAIN DATE: SUNDAY - 4/23/17)

PIT ADMISSION - $40 GENERAL ADMISSION - ADULTS $25, SENIORS(65+) &  STUDENTS $20, CHILDREN 10 & UNDER FREE

Thunder Road International Speedbowl has been sold !

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BARRE— Thunder Road International Speedbowl has been sold.
Business partners Cris Michaud and Pat Malone signed documents Tuesday afternoon to make official the biggest and most important transaction in Vermont stock car racing history, purchasing the 56-year-old facility from founder Ken Squier and longtime promoter Tom Curley.
The purchase price was not disclosed publicly.
Michaud, a three-time Thunder Road champion from Northfield, became a race official in 2014 upon his retirement from driving competitively. He served in several roles for Curley’s organization, which included the American-Canadian Tour, though his primary role was as race director.
Malone, who owns Montpelier-based Malone Properties, is a commercial real estate investor and developer, and has been involved in local motorsports as a sponsor of race cars for several years.
The change in ownership is the first for Thunder Road since a messy, yearslong legal battle that began in 1978. Squier and Barre’s Cooley brothers built and opened Thunder Road in 1960. The track was a smash hit, drawing crowds averaging 6,000 in its first year. Once adopting sanction from NASCAR in 1965, the track rose to national prominence and flourished in the early 1970s.
With commitments growing as his national television and radio broadcasting roles expanded, Squier put Thunder Road up for sale. Tommy Kalomiris, a businessman from Long Island, purchased the track in 1978 with grandiose plans, but struggled mightily and the track quickly fell into disrepair; he ran just six races before shutting the doors.
Only five races were run over the next three years as lawyers and banks postured. Squier and new partner Curley won the deed back, opening again in June 1982. Since then, Thunder Road hasreclaimeditsspot as a standard bearer for short track racing, both competitively and promotionally; Curley was named the national Auto Racing Promoter of the Year in 2004 by Racing Promotion Monthly, the industry’s highest honor.
Curley, who is 72, has been in declining health in recent years due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Squier, 82, i s ready to be out of the track ownership business. Curley will still own and operate the American-Canadian Tour in 2017, and Squier continues to work daily at Radio Vermont and WDEV, which has been in his family and operated in Waterbury since 1931.Source: Rutland Herald site

Timmy Solomito on quest for Whelan Championship

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Timmy  Solomito and the #16 Starrett Tools team won the season opening race at Myrtle Beach and followed that up by sitting on the pole and finishing runner-up in the second event of 2017 at Thompson. 

“It’s been a pretty good start to the season so far,” said Solomito.  “We’re taking things race by race and trying to do the same things we did last year and get better each time we come to the racetrack.  We’ve been strong at Stafford and have been close to winning in the past but haven’t been able to seal the deal.  The start to the season has given us an extra boost of confidence and momentum is picking up for us.  We have Myrtle Beach and Thompson behind us and now the focus is on putting together a good car for Stafford.  Hopefully with what we’ve learned and my experience behind the wheel we can take that to Stafford and be even better.”

One area that Solomito will have to improve on if he is to carry his early season momentum to Stafford will be a good qualifying lap to get a starting spot towards the front of the field.  In 14 previous NWMT starts, Solomito has qualified in the top-5 only twice but feels that a recent rule change might play to his benefit for qualifying this season.

“We haven’t quite hit the qualifying like we need to yet at Stafford,” said Solomito.  “I think our best qualifying there has been a third.  I’m hoping the new procedure of going out by practice times will help us out.  We’ve usually gotten an early draw and Stafford is a track where a later draw can really help you out.  We never seemed to have much luck pulling a late number for qualifying so we’re hoping to have a good practice lap that will allow us to go out a little bit later in the qualifying session.  No matter if you have 50 laps or 200 laps at Stafford, passing is tough.  The cars are getting more and more equal and teams are making each other step their games up.  Track position is going to be huge and a good qualifying effort is a good start for track position.”

Stafford hasn’t always been Solomito’s favorite track as his first seven starts he netted only one top-10 finish.  But in his last seven starts, he has 6 top-8 finishes, including a best finish of second in last year’s NAPA Fall Final.  Solomito has also yet to lead a lap at Stafford during his career, winning the NAPA Spring Sizzler® would be huge for Solomito.

“The Sizzler is a race that you always want to win,” said Solomito.  “I think last year we dragged a jack down pit road when we were running third and we had to go to the back of the pack and ended up finishing fourth.  The Sizzler would be huge to win with the history behind the race for the entire team.  Hopefully we have a good car and we can be in a position to go for the win as the race gets close to the end.”

With the NAPA Spring Sizzler® being 200 laps in length, the race strategy varies differently from many of the standard 150-lap events that the Whelen Modified Tour partakes in.  With the majority of the NWMT field utilizing the NASCAR Spec Engine, teams will have to pit twice for fuel and tires but the question remains when is the best time and what is the best combination for teams to use when making the two pit stops during the race?  For the tire stop, there is a new rule that allows teams to bolt on a softer right rear tire than they start the race on, which brings up the possibility of a late pit stop to make a charge back through the field.

“Usually we try to see how the race goes and play things from there,” said Solomito.  “Most guys usually come around lap-50 or lap-60 for fuel and an adjustment to the car and then kind of ride until the tire stop, which is when everything usually breaks loose.  I’m sure there’s still some guys that can pit late and charge back through the field although it’ll be tough.  We have the new rule where you can put a softer tire on the right rear so I think it could be done but it’ll be tough.  You’ll need to have a really good car since the tires fall off pretty quickly.”

The “Greatest Race in the History of Spring,” the 46th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®, takes the green flag on April 29-30.  Tickets are available and on sale now at the Speedway Box Office.  Tickets are priced at $40.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult.  Reserved seating is priced at $42.00 for all ages.  Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.  Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday admission.  All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Discount Tickets are now available at all 71 participating NAPA Auto Parts stores.  For a full list of the 71 locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, please call the speedway office or visit us on the web at www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores.

For more information or to order tickets for the 46th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

Barry Gray, Granite State Pro Stock Series

 Barry Gray has been driving race cars for the last three decades and the Belchertown, Mass. resident shows no signs of slowing down soon.

   

   "I was getting ready to retire, I was so pissed off at the car because we couldn't make it go no matter what we did. Our first race was good and then it got a little rocky. We changed who we were using to set the car up and from then on everything got better and we did well from that point on."

   Well enough that the Meadowsmotor.com team took down their first G.S.P.S.S. championship without the benefit of a single season victory. His 8 top 10 finishes helped propelled him to the series championship.

   "Unfortunately we had no wins, Imagine a series championship with no wins, that's the first time in I don't know how many years without a victory. Every year we've  raced we won a feature except this year. I started racing when I was 29 and now I'm 58."

   It wasn't the first time that Gray won a championship without the benefit of a feature victory. He was the Riverside Park Speedway champion pulling off the same feat, but went on to win multiple victory's at other tracks including the Monadnock N.H. speedway where he was a five time track champion along with being the New Hampshire State Champion.

   "We're excited about the 2017 season, we went through the car and made a few changes, then sent it up to Jeremy Davis and he tweaked it a little more. After last year Davis started working on it  and we learned a little more about the car and now the team and I are excited again to race another season".

   Opening day for G.S.P.S.S. will be April 30 at the Lee U.S.A. Speedway in Lee, N.H. but Gray has his sights on the event taking place at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon,N.H. on July !st.

   "I cant wait to race Loudon this year. I never had a chance to race on a one mile track. My son Adam ran an ACT race there last year ,and that was a lot of fun being a part of that team. Now I'm looking forward to it. It will be different from what I'm use to and it will be a learning curve and I'm sure a lot of fun drive ".

   With expectations being at an all time high the Rick's Auto Body, Statewide Auto Auction sponsored number 29 probably wont be shut out of victory lane this year.    

Written by Jim Snape

photos by Crystal Snape

'

Jesse Gleason Spanks the Field in the Limited Sportsmen at Thompson

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Jesse Gleason, who claimed a dominating victory in the XtraMart Limited Sportsman Series 20-lap feature, Next up for Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park is the Limited Sportsman Long Distance event on Sunday, May 21. The day will include a 30-lap XtraMart Limited Sportsman race as well as features for the Sunoco Modifieds, Late Models, Mini Stocks, and Lite Modifieds. Active military members will be admitted

1.	81	Jesse Gleason	20
2.	36	Scott Sundeen	20
3.	87	Chris Meyer	20
4.	75	Ryan Waterman	20
5.	55	Shawn Monohan	20
6.	01	Brett Gleason	20
7.	73	Larry Barnett	20
8.	77	Phil Jacques	20
9.	7	Troy Waterman	20
10.	02	Mike Palin	20
11.	37	Kevin Mason	20
12.	13	Jeff VanPelt	20
13.	45	Tommy Shea	20
14.	3	Kevin Bowe	20
15.	11	Jack Aquilina	20
16.	39	Jon Porter	20
17.	26	Steve Kenneway	20
18.	1	Scott Cook	19
19.	46	John Carpenter	19
20.	27	Ed Correia	19
21.	31	Nick Bendiak	19
22.	29	Meghan Fuller	19
23.	00	Nick Anderson	19
24.	10	Hank Stott	19
25.	47	Dan Coutu	18
26.	12	Bo Norman	5
27.	24	Randy Waterman

Bourgeois Ready for Mini Stock Title Run

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

THOMPSON, CT - For nearly 25 years, Eric Bourgeois has been on the local motorsports scene.  Beginning in 1994, behind the wheel of a go kart, the veteran driver has recorded 20 wins and earned two titles at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, one in 2004 and the second nine years later in 2013. Bourgeois finished his 2016 season with a win at the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing, and hopes to carry that momentum into his home track’s Icebreaker on April 7-9.  

2016 “ was not one of the best years.  We had motor problems, then got wrecked in the first race followed by getting wrecked in the practice of the second race. The only good thing about last year was winning the World Series, and placing 4th overall. Hopefully that win can carry over into the 2017 season,” the driver of the No. 87 Mini Stock explained. 

Bourgeois has worked all winter to get ready for the 2017 season, preparing two cars for the seven race championship campaign.  “We are absolutely prepared for the Icebreaker. Both of the cars are ready to go. We just got the valves done in the primary car, also the backup car was finished last Thursday for the Test and Tune, which didn't happen, but that’s alright.” 

Like so many Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park drivers who have been profiled this winter, racing is a family affair for the East Haddam, CT-driver.  His 14 year old son, Evan, who has been racing since he was a young boy, has driven both the Tiger Sprints, and more recently, the Outlaws in Wild Thing Karts at Stafford Motor Speedway.   Eric is planning to move him up to a full body car, as his teammate in the Mini Stock Division at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.  This will have to wait a bit, though, as Divisional Rules require drivers to be at least 15 years of age.   

So for now, Eric will focus on his own efforts.  He optimistically reported, “The race car was fast last year, and sticking with that fast pace with some fine tuning, we should be in contention for the championship if no problems arise.”  Bourgeois’ pursuit of his third MIni Stock Division Championship begins at the Icebreaker on Friday, April 7 - Sunday, April 9.

For more information on Icebreaker 2017 and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, visit thompsonspeedway.com, or follow them on social media.

Martinsville Qualify Day Falls to the Rain Gods

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

#42-Kyle Larson will start from the pole for the STP 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway after qualifying was cancelled. The starting lineup was set by the rule book.
#24-Elliott starts second, followed by #78-Truex, Jr., #2-Keselowski, #22-Logano, #1-McMurray, #21-Blaney, #14-Bowyer, #4-Harvick, and #18-Busch.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 38 were entered for 40 spots.