Driver Line Up for 5-13-19

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

News,,,,, Results, Driver Interviews

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7 time champion Gerry DeGasparre talks about his opener victory at Seekonk Speedway !

STREAK ON THE LINE FOR BRYAN NARDUCCI

Posted by Wayne G. Barber and Photo by Wayne G. Barber

THOMPSON, Conn. – Two of the top modified drivers in the Northeast will have streaks on the line over the next month at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore has been to Victory Lane in the last five Whelen Modified Tour events at the Connecticut oval, and will look to add to that already impressive streak on Wednesday, June 5, when the series returns for the Thompson 125.

But, one of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers is going to have a chance to extend his own five in a row streak coming up on May 19.

Bryan Narducci, the defending NASCAR Division III National Champion, has won five consecutive SK Light Modified® races at Thompson dating back to last year. The Colchester, Connecticut, driver opened the 2019 season with a victory at the Icebreaker, dominating the 20-lap feature, and taking the early advantage in the championship standings.

“All of the hard work in the shop every week. They always say that races are won in the shop, and I think it’s 100 percent true,” Narducci said when asked how he could put together the run of success. “All of the work that goes on to get the car ready with the setup, nut and bolt, making sure the numbers on the scales are perfect. I want to be perfect. If you want to win, you have to have all of your ducks in a row.”

In the last five wins, Narducci has managed to lead most of the laps of competition, but when the division returns to the track next Sunday afternoon, Narducci will have to start in the middle of the pack due to the handicap system in place – something he’s used to doing in his SK Light Modified® career. Narducci also competes over at Stafford Motor Speedway, where he nearly won the title last year on the heels of five victories.

“We won’t do anything different with the car, I’ve watched a lot of races at Thompson over the course of my life and learning how passing works is important. It’s definitely the hardest track to complete a pass,” Narducci said. “The outside is the preferred line, but you aren’t going to get outside of someone unless they slide down. You have to try to make the passes without getting into the other driver, and that’s why it creates such great racing. It should be fun to try to be able to get through the field to the front.”

Narducci’s busy season puts him up against a few challenges going forward. He runs the same car at both Stafford and Thompson, and with Stafford running on Friday night, and Thompson running multiple Sunday races throughout the 10-race NASCAR Whelen All-American Series schedule, the turnaround time is going to be short each week.

“I think the Sunday shows aren’t going to be that bad because we will have Saturday to get the car ready but the show that is on a Saturday when the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East is at Thompson, that will be definitely be tough,” Narducci said. “It will be a late night.”

As the defending Division III national champion, Narducci is placing his focus on that same goal again this season, before he hopes to move to the next level for the 2020 season. But, for now, it’s going to be about keeping his streak going and extending it to six straight wins in Thompson’s competitive SK Light Modified® division.

“I haven’t really thought about it that much, but I know when I pulled into Victory Lane at the Icebreaker I thought about how cool it was to win five in a row,” he said. “When Justin won the Whelen Modified Tour race, and he had five in a row, I thought that was really cool. It’s incredible to have my name up there with someone as successful as him as the defending Whelen Modified Tour champion.” 

Narducci’s next challenge is just a week away, when the division returns to competition during the Fourth Annual Limited Sportsman Extra Distance and Military Night.

“It’s great that Thompson has the military night to honor the past and the present with all of the people that have scarified everything for us. It’s nice to be able to perform in front of them,” Narducci said. “Everyone says you can be patient and pick people off, but if you can pass three cars on the restarts, you definitely want to do that. Restarts can be free positions for you. I think if you can pass some people early and start making your moves, I think you will be better off. We’ll see what happens.”

Thompson’s next event has quickly become one that fans will not want to miss. With the Limited Sportsman division going 30 laps, there is no telling what could happen in a division where excitement is always at a high level. The Late Models will also run extra distance, as they take to the track for 40 laps of high-speed action. The Sunoco Modifieds, Mini Stocks and SK Light Modifieds® will also compete in regular qualifying and feature racing.

The full schedule for the event is posted on www.thompsonspeedway.comunder the event schedule tab. It shows that qualifying heat races begin at 2 p.m., with features to follow around 3 p.m. Source: Kyle Souza Thompson Speedway Media Press Release

Stafford Speedway NAPA Spring Sizzler® Moved to Friday, May 10th, 2019,

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

NAPA Spring Sizzler® Moved to Friday, May 10th,

Weekly Racing Opening Day Slated for Saturday, May 4th

                                                                                                                                                             

(Stafford Springs, CT)---Due to the expected heavy rain, Sunday, May 5th’s NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler® Whelen Modified Tour 200 has been moved to Friday, May 10th, under the lights.  Racing will still take place this Saturday, May 4th as Stafford’s 5 Weekly divisions and the Vintage Modifies will run a full schedule in an afternoon racing format for Stafford’s first event of 2019.

All tickets purchased for the NAPA Spring Sizzler® will be honored Friday, May 10th.  NAPA Auto Parts ticket holder buffet will be held from 5:30pm to 7:30pm Friday May, 10th.  Stafford’s five weekly divisions will also be on hand Friday, May 10th in a feature only format.  The Top-18 cars in points will be locked into their respective feature events.

Saturday, May 4th will play host to Opening Day at Stafford.  Pit gates will open at 10:00AM and General Admission gates at 11:00AM.  Qualifying races will kick-off at 1:30PM with feature racing slated to begin at 2:30PM.  See full schedule below. General Admission ticket pricing for Saturday’s event will be $18.50 for adults, kids 6-14 $5, and 5 & under free.  Reserved seating is $20 for all ages and paddock passes will be $30 for NASCAR members and $35 for non-NASCAR members.

The Open Modified 80 event scheduled for May 10th has been moved to May 24th in conjunction with Dunleavy’s Truck and Trailer Repair Modified Night.

“We appreciate all of our teams working with us,” explained Stafford GM Mark Arute.  “This weather has been tough but we want to get a race in for all the teams, drivers, and fans.  It made the most sense to bring the Modified Tour back next Friday for a one day show.  Hopefully we can put the bad weather behind us.”

Race Chatter Line-Up for 4-22-19

Posted by Wayne G. Barber  Photos by Wayne G. Barber

News, Schedules, Driver Changes, and Driver Interviews too !


Late Model Winner  Tom Carey III talks about his 2019 season and big win at the Ice-Breaker

2019 Ice Breaker Photos

Monster Mini winner Steve Michalski will state what it will take to claim the 2019 division track championship

  E-Mail the show at waynewnri@yahoo.com

Northeast Racing Legend to Return with the Granite State Pro Stock Series.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber  GSPSS Photo and Media Press Release

For the 2019 Granite State Pro Stock Series Season, car owner Wright Pearson has tabbed northeast racing legend Tommy Rosati to pilot one of his two entries. Rosati, the 1979 Oxford 250 winner and multi-time pro stock champion, hasn’t competed in 17 years, but that’s not deterring the duo.

   Rosati has a history of success throughout New England, in just about every                          type of race car. He won multiple championships at both Riverside Park and Stafford motor speedway in Pro Stocks, and the record books will show numerous poles and a win in what is now known as the K&N East series. 1994 was Rosatis most succesful year in NASCAR competition running the Busch North Series, where he and his Tic Tac sponsored team ran 18 of the 20 scheduled races. They scored one win, six top five’s and 10 top ten’s while leading 415 laps and finishing ninth in the final point’s standings. During his lengthy career he also ran Modifieds, Pro-four modifieds and made two starts in what is now the Xfinity series.

   In the summer of 2018 during a conversation with Tommy O’Sullivan, Pearson found out that Rosati had “gotten the itch to race again”. Weeks later, the team and driver got together for a test session at Monadnock Speedway. The test went so well that they agreed to return to the track for the 2018 JBH 100. Unfortunately, due to a scheduling conflict, the plan was derailed but the seed had been planted. Just before Thanksgiving Rosati called Pearson and told him “I’m all in for whatever you want to do”. Subsequent talks have led to a very busy season as Pearson has three cars and a fourth on the way to be run across three different series.

   Throughout his career Rosati has had the opportunity to compete on most of the tracks that the Granite State Pro Stock Series visits. When asked about the tracks that he will race on this year he said “I really like Lee and Waterford. I think we should run really well everywhere we go, but those two are the ones I am most looking forward to”. Rosati then added that “Speedway 51 is the only track I have never competed on, so I’m looking forward to to racing there”. When asked about goals for the season he said “I think we can win two to three races and contend for the championship”.

   Both Pearson and Rosati want to focus on the GSPSS schedule but have ambitious plans for 2019. “We are going to focus on Granite State as long as things are going well” stated Pearson. “We want to have some fun and not tear up equipment and as long as that’s happening we will continue to chase the series championship”. Rosati then added “This could be my last chance so it needs to be fun for everyone”. “When it stops being fun we will do something else”.

   One of the details that pushed Rosati to make this happen was the friendship between himself, Pearson and former car owner Tom O’Sullivan. In 1997 Rosati won the last of his championships at Stafford Motor Speedway driving a car fielded by O’Sullivan. On the crew during those years were Tom’s sons Mike and Tommy who has also driven a car for Pearson in the past, and will step into the role of spotter for 2019.

   These days its Mike O’Sullivan doing the driving for the family owned team and he looks forward to competing against his hero. “I have the utmost respect for that Guy” states O’Sullivan. “I watched him drive for my father when I was eight or nine”. When asked about Rosatis influence on him, Mike had this to say. “When I started driving in late 1996 we had two cars. He’d follow me or I’d follow him and he’d talk to me on the radio for two or three laps at a time. Imagine the advantage of learning like that” he added.

   Now the the two will be competitors, both with the same goal of winning the 2019 GSPSS title. At the same time they will be pseudo team mates. When asked about crew Pearson said “I don’t have a whole lot of help. We’ll park with the O’Sullivans and some of Tommys (O’Sullivan) old guys are gonna help out. Also, I’m sure Mikes Guys will jump in if needed”. “Tommy (Rosati) asked me what would happen if we got a flat and I told him we would get it changed. My back is pretty screwed up so it might be tomorrow but we will get it changed” he added with a chuckle.

   Pearson also plans to run a second car in just short of half of the 2019 GSPSS races. Brandon Barker will be doing the driving and his pit crew will help out when that car runs. “I think the first race we will run both cars will be the Lee race in May” Said Pearson “Brandon has a real good group so that will be a big help on the second car”.

   The new pairing can be seen throughout the 2019 season anywhere the Granite State Pro Stock Series Races. The first opportunity for series to hit the track will be at the new Claremont Motorsports Park. The third mile oval in Claremont NH will host a test session Saturday April 27 followed by the first race of the season Friday night May third.

   Follow the series and check out the 2019 schedule on Facebook and Twitter as well as the website at www.gspss.net.

Rained Out Notification From: Stafford Motor Speedway

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Rained Out Notification

Stafford Motor Speedway

April 20 ,2019 Open Practice at Stafford has been cancelled

Champion Line-Up on tonight's program

Posted by Wayne G. Barber Photos by Wayne G Barber Library

News, Driver Changes, Who is Hot, and Who is Not ! Schedules and Driver Interviews too !!


Champion Shawn Monahan kicks off the show and then Derek Griffith

 chimes in on his National Championship and his schedule for 2019