TTOMS REGISTRATION CLOSES; STOUT FIELD OF CARS ONCE AGAIN EXPECTED

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

TTOMS REGISTRATION CLOSES; STOUT FIELD OF CARS ONCE AGAIN EXPECTED

Seekonk, Mass. (April 8, 2019): With pre-registration having closed on April 1, the roster for the upcoming season for the 2019 Tri-Track Open Modified Series (TTOMS) season is no joke. A strong roster of veterans and rising talent, totaling 33, will once again provide fans of the series with a season’s worth of racing excitement.  A handful of other teams have registered for select events during 2019.

“We are grateful once again for the support of such amazing teams,” said Series founding partner Jim Schaefer. “The list of talented drivers that come from all over the northeast helps to make our series one of the most exciting. I truly can’t wait for the first race at Claremont.”  

The list of teams scheduled to compete is highlighted by a pair of drivers, Matt Hirschman and Ron Silk, who will undoubtedly duke it out for the entire season for wins and the coveted championship. Last year’s Star Speedway winner Todd Patnode is slated to make all six starts and Mike Willis, Jr. will be on hand to defend his Claremont 100 victory.

With yet another year of Modified competition under his belt young Matthew Swanson is sure to be another contender for wins in 2019. The likes of Woody Pitkat, Les Hinckley, Russ Hersey, Richard Savary, and the always entertaining Tommy Barrett can never be counted out.

Two relative newcomers to the Series, Anthony Sesely and Ronnie Williams, will add excitement all season long as they both currently plan on competing in all six races. Sesely is a PA modified standout and former TQ indoor champion.  Williams will pilot the always ultra-competition entry for owner Gary Casella.

Series officials are also anticipating an exciting announcement regarding the driver of Geary Rinehimer’s entry.

Kirk Alexander, Brad Babb, CJ Bolton, Calvin Carroll, Andrew Charron, Dana DiMatteo, Colbey Fournier, Matthew Galko, Jeff Gallup, Mike Holdridge, Dylan Izzo, Andy Jankowiak, Jon Kievman, Carl Medeiros Jr., John Montesanto, Brian Robie, Geoff Rollins, Les Rose, Dana Smith, Billy Swartz and Kurt Vigeant have also filed full-season entries.

The TTOMS season kicks-off with the second annual Claremont 100 at Claremont Speedway on May 25, followed by long-established events like Open Wheel Wednesday at Seekonk Speedway on June 26 and the SBM 125 at Star Speedway on July 27.  New to the schedule includes the Oxford 100 at Oxford Plains Speedway on August 24 as part of the prestigious Oxford 250 weekend plus a trip to Monadnock on September 14. The 2019 season will conclude with the Haunted Hundred at Seekonk on October 26.
Source: Press Release Media : Dale Wolbrink,

To learn more about the Tri-Track Modified Series, visit tritrackmods.com. Follow the Series on Facebook and Twitter @tritrackmods. 

Mike Christopher Jr. Looks to Climb in the Standings in 2019

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

                                                                                                                                                             

(Stafford Springs, CT)--- When the SK Modifieds® hit the track for the first time during the 2019 NAPA Spring Sizzler® Weekend on April 26-28, Michael Christopher, Jr. and the #82 NAPROCO team will be looking continue their 3-race winning streak that began with the last three races from the 2018 season. 

“Since the season ended last year the anticipation has been building,” said Christopher.  “To end on a high note like that you just want to keep on going but unfortunately winter comes around.  I’m really excited to get back going at Stafford.  We had good momentum finishing last season and the experience I gained during the year is something that I haven’t had before so I want to implement that experience and see what we can accomplish this season.  All this is possible thanks to NAPROCO and the Meyhofer family, Mike’s Auto & Body Shop, Mohawk Northeast, Connecticut Trailers, Waddell Communications, and everyone else who helps us out.”

For Christopher, the first 16 races of last season was a roller coaster ride filled with highs and lows.  Christopher scored his first career win on June 15th and notched three podium finishes, but also had four finishes outside the top-15.  The final 5 races of the season was a different story with the #82 team capping off the season with 5 consecutive top-5 finishes, including 3 straight wins.  That 5-race stretch allowed Christopher to climb from 7^th in the standings and 156 points behind eventual champion Ronnie Williams to his final position of third, just 78 points back.  Christopher is focused on building off his season ending momentum and challenging for the SK Modified® championship in 2019.

“I think we can carry the momentum with us and our number one goal this year is to win the championship,” said Christopher.  “In order to win the championship you have to win races and more importantly you have to finish races.  I look at the championship kind of like a Formula 1 point deal where they only pay points to the top-10 finishers.  Looking at the championship like that you have to understand that sometimes it’s better to settle with what you have rather than make a bold move.  To add my name and another Christopher name in the record books as a Stafford champion is something that I’ve always dreamed about.  It would mean a lot if we could win the championship this year and put my name up there with all the greats that have that have succeeded at Stafford.”

As Christopher continues his racing career, he is looking to not only establish himself but he is also carrying on the legacy of his late uncle Ted, who is Stafford’s winningest driver with 131 feature wins and 9 SK Modified® championships.  Christopher’s #82 car is the same car that Ted drove to 6 wins in 2017 and carrying on the family tradition makes any race win extra special.

“To continue that legacy is something that is always in the back of my mind as a goal,” said Christopher.  “That’s obviously important to me, my family, everyone involved, and all the fans who followed Ted.  We won a couple races on special dates last year.  Our first win was right around Teddy’s birthday and our third win was the one-year anniversary of the week that he passed away, so those races meant a lot.  Any time we win a race we always think about Teddy and what he accomplished.”

Christopher’s impressive four-wins in 2018 were the first SK Modified® feature wins of his young career.  As strong as Christopher and the #82 team were at the end of the 2018 season, Christopher says there’s always room for improvement to become even stronger as a driver.

“Last year the couple of races we won we had a dominant race car with a lot of speed, so there wasn’t a lot of having to race the last couple of laps with the front running drivers,” said Christopher.  “This year I’m going to have to learn about getting down to the wire what you have to do behind the wheel to win races.  The light bulb finally clicked for us last year and our team operation is running on all cylinders right now.  We made a name for ourselves at the end of last season and showed that we can be a threat to win races at the end of the day.”

The 2019 season gets underway at Stafford with the NAPA Spring Sizzler® spanning 3 days kicking off Friday, April 26th with a full afternoon of practice for Stafford’s weekly divisions.  The weekend continues Saturday, April 27 with qualifying for all divisions including group qualifying for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as well as feature racing for the Vintage All-Stars, Limited Late Models and Street Stocks.  New for 2019, the Saturday Street Stock feature will be a 30-lap special event as part of the RMSPCO.com Street Stock Triple Crown.  Sizzler® weekend is capped off Sunday, April 28 with the NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party and feature racing for the SK Modifieds®, Late Models, SK Light Modifieds, and finally the NAPA Spring Sizzler® 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now by calling the Speedway Box Office 860-684-2783 or online at www.staffordspeedway.com.  Discount NAPA Spring Sizzler® tickets that include access to the NAPA lunch buffet are available at participating NAPA Auto Parts Stores.  For a full list of participating locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, please call the speedway office or point your web browser to www.staffordmotorspeedway.com/participating-napa-auto-parts-stores: Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release

Granite State Pro-Stocks Fine Tuning for 2019 !

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

As racing season approaches, last minute preparations are what’s     happening in the shops of the Granite State Pro Stock Series teams. With the first race less than a month away at Claremont Motorsports Park in NH, cars are being finished, trailers are being organized and haul trucks are being checked.

In Vernon VT Josh Kings pair of race cars are almost ready to hit the race         track. “One more good day in the shop and we’ll be ready to go” said king while attending the Ice breaker at Thompson Speedway. “We’ll be ready to go for Claremont” he added. When asked about his 2019 plans he responded “we’ll see how the early part of the season goes and figure it out from there”. “If we’re running well we’ll run the full schedule”.

Further south just outside of Springfield Mass, two time series champion Mike O’Sullivan prepares to head into his second season with his Hamke Chassis race car. Last year at this time, O’Sullivan and his team were making the mad thrash to complete a brand new race car for competition. “This off season has been much more relaxed” said O’Sullivan during a recent pause in preparations. “We started just before Christmas and went through every piece of the race car trying to lighten and improve any were we could”. “We fired the motor last Saturday and the body is done” he added. “We are just about ready and looking forward to the Claremont test”.

In Belchertown Mass it’s several new parts for former champion Barry Gray. A lightly used Howe Chassis was purchased from fellow competitor Todd Stone and a new trailer will get it to the track. Gray is looking to rebound from an extremely frustrating 2018 season and is hoping an off season retooling of his equipment will lead to better results. While displaying his new ride at the Big E car show, Gray thought back on his 2018 season. “Last year was the most frustrating season of racing I can remember”. “We just couldn’t seem to get it right no matter what we tried” he continued, “We threw everything we could at the car and none of it worked”.

Photo credit, Simply the Best,Crystal Snape

At Davis Chassis Works Jeremy Davis is preparing two cars for battle at Claremont Motorsports Park. He will be driving his familiar 09 and has tabbed late model sportsman veteran Craig Smith to drive a second car. When asked about this opportunity Smith said “it’s been a dream of mine to be able to run a pro stock”. “My goal is to finish the race with all the body panels still on”. Smith will definitely be at the open test session scheduled for April 27 at the Claremont NH speed plant, and Davis hopes to have his car there as well.

In Hampstead NH Matt Frahm, his father Dave and their team are just about ready to hit the track. In 2018 they competed in just two events with little to show for it. His plan for 2019 is to race as much as time allows. “We are going to run the first few and see where we stand” said Frahm during a brief break from his busy work schedule. “If we are happy with how we are running and business obligations don’t pop up, we would like to run the full schedule.” Frahm is a former winner with the series but it’s been a couple of years since he visited victory lane. “I just needed a break from the grind o

of racing” stated Frahm “but now I’ve got the itch back and a great group of guys so hopefully we can have some success”.

The race in Claremont will not only kick off the Granite State Pro Stock Series season but the all new Claremont Motorsports Park season as well. For 2019 there is new ownership at the NH speed plant and the teams and officials of the GSPSS are looking forward to being a part of their first event. “The Granite State Pro Stock Series is proud and excited to be a part of the first ever event at the new Claremont Motorsports Park” stated series president Mike Parks. “We are looking forward to helping to kick off a new era at the track that held the first ever GSPSS event”. Mike Parks Press Release Media

What a Race !!!!

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Wreck in California road race leads to fatalities.  1916

On this day in 1916, at the Boulevard Race in Corona, California, an early racing car careens into a crowd of spectators, killing the driver and two others. At the time, racing events were still a relative rarity and the fatal accident helped encourage organizers to begin holding races on specially built tracks instead of regular streets. The first organized race of “horseless carriages,” as they were then called, was held in France in 1894. The winning speed was less than 10 miles per hour and the winner was disqualified because his steam-driven tractor was deemed not to be a practical vehicle. The first Grand Prix was held 12 years later.

As time went on and speeds increased, the races became more dangerous. The 1916 Corona Boulevard Race was run on Grand Boulevard in Corona, east of Los Angeles. “Wild Bob” Burman, who had previously set a world speed record for hitting 129 miles per hour, was driving a blue Peugeot. Leading the race, Burman lost control when a wheel broke and his car crashed through a barrier. Burman perished in the accident, along with his ride-along mechanic and a spectator. Five others in the crowd were seriously injured.

Subsequent racing events have been even more deadly. When a car crashed into a spectator area at the 1955 Le Mans, 80 people were killed. Two years later in Italy, 10 spectators were killed at Mille Miglia, the last time that race was run. In July 1996, three separate races on the same day claimed victims among the spectators.

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Perhaps the most dangerous of all races has been the off-road Dakar Rally. The best guess is that 47 competitors have been killed in the race s 27-year history and many more spectators have also lost their lives. The original Dakar Rally ran from Paris to Dakar, Senegal, but fatal accidents in France forced a change in course. The routes have varied since 1999. Modifications have been made over the years to reduce the risk to the public, but drivers remain vulnerable to things such as the many land mines in North Africa.

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Ice Breaker Schedule 2019

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photo Wayne G. Barber Library

Friday, April 5th    11:00 AM 10:00 PM   RACEWAY RESTAURANT OPEN (SEAFOOD MENU)  12:00 PM 5:00 PM   GUEST REGISTRATION OPEN, PIT TICKET SALES OPEN 12:00 PM 5:00 PM   HAULERS ENTER, PIT AREA OPEN 1:00 PM     ROTATING PRACTICE, 3 ROUNDS MINIMUM    12:00 PM 5:00 PM   DRIVER REGISTRATION OPEN (HANDICAPPER’S BUILDING) 

Saturday, April 6th
 
6:30 AM     PIT BOOTH & GUEST REG OPEN 7:00 AM     HAULERS ENTER (ALL EXCEPT NWMT) 8:00 AM 7:00 PM   PRO SHOP OPEN 9:00 AM 9:25 AM VMRS  PRACTICE 9:30 AM 9:55 AM PASS  PRACTICE 10:00 AM 11:15 AM   FINAL ROTATING PRACTICE 10:30 AM     GENERAL ADMISSION GATES OPEN 11:20 AM 11:45 AM VMRS  FINAL PRACTICE 11:50 AM 12:15 PM PASS  FINAL PRACTICE 12:15 PM     EXIT REALTY PROTRUCK CHALLENGE QUALIFYING (5 MINUTES)  TO FOLLOW   NWAAS  LIMITED SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING RACES (8 LAPS) TO FOLLOW   NEMA   LITE QUALIFYING RACES (8 LAPS)  TO FOLLOW   VMRS  QUALIFYING RACES (10 LAPS) TO FOLLOW   PASS  QUALIFYING RACES (10 LAPS) TO FOLLOW     EXIT REALTY 375 SPORTSMAN CHALLENGE QUALIFYING (5 MINUTES) TO FOLLOW    NWAAS  SUNOCO MODIFIED QUALIFYING RACES (8 LAPS) TO FOLLOW   NWAAS  LATE MODEL QUALIFYING RACES (8 LAPS) TO FOLLOW   NWAAS  MINI STOCK QUALIFYING RACES (6 LAPS) TO FOLLOW   NWAAS  LITE MODIFIEDS QUALIFYING RACES (8 LAPS)  TO FOLLOW   VMRS   CONSOLATION RACE (12 LAPS, IF NECESSARY) TO FOLLOW   PASS  CONSOLATION RACE (12 LAPS, IF NECESSARY) 2:45 PM 3:30 PM NWMT  PRACTICE 3:35 PM     PRE RACE CEREMONIES TO FOLLOW     EXIT REALTY PROTRUCK CHALLENGE RACE (35 LAPS)  3:55 PM 4:40 PM NWMT  FINAL PRACTICE  TO FOLLOW   NEMA  LITE RACE (20 LAPS) TO FOLLOW   VMRS  RACE (50 LAPS) TO FOLLOW     EXIT REALTY 375 SPORTSMAN CHALLENGE RACE (35 LAPS) TO FOLLOW     LITE MODIFIED RACE (20 LAPS) 

THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK 2019 EVENT SCHEDULE
3/18/2019  TSMP 1   TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Sunday, April 7th  

8:00 AM     PIT BOOTH, GUEST REG & PRO SHOP OPEN 8:30 AM   NWAAS  SUNOCO MODIFIED PIT EQUIPMENT LOAD-IN BEGINS 8:30 AM 8:50 AM NWAAS  MINI STOCKS PUSHED TO TRACK 8:50 AM 9:10 AM NWAAS  LIMITED SPORTSMAN PUSHED TO TRACK 9:00 AM   NWMT  TIRE IMPOUND OPENS 9:10 AM 9:30 AM NWAAS  LATE MODELS PUSHED TO TRACK 9:30 AM 9:50 AM PASS   PUSHED TO TRACK 9:50 AM  10:10 AM NWAAS  SUNOCO MODIFIEDS PUSHED TO TRACK 10:00 AM     GENERAL ADMISSION GATES OPEN 10:00 AM     CHAPEL SERVICE (TBD)  10:10 AM 10:30 AM NWMT  PUSHED TO TRACK 11:00 AM 11:50 PM NWMT  DRIVER AUTOGRAPH SESSION (ON TRACK) 11:50 AM   NWMT  CARS PUSHED BACK TO GARAGE 12:15 PM     PRE-RACE CEREMONIES  12:30 PM   NWAAS  SUNOCO MODIFIED RACE (30 LAPS)  TO FOLLOW   PASS  RACE (75 LAPS) TO FOLLOW   NWAAS  LIMITED SPORTSMAN RACE (20 LAPS) TO FOLLOW   NWAAS  LATE MODEL RACE (25 LAPS) 2:45 PM   NWMT  QUALIFYING (GROUP) (IMPOUND) 

TO FOLLOW   NWAAS  MINI STOCK RACE (15 LAPS) 3:45 PM (APPROX)  NWMT  RACE (150 LAPS / 93.75 MILES)