by Jay | Aug 31, 2009 | Thompson
THOMPSON, CT. With only five races remaining on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 2009 schedule, the competition for that division’s championship is really heating up. Defending champion, Ted Christopher, will enter the Budweiser 150 presented by the New England Dodge Dealers at the Thompson Speedway this Thursday night with a slim 29 point advantage over Todd Szegedy. Ryan Preece finds himself only three points behind Szegedy.
The extremely competitive Whelen Modified Tour (WMT) finds itself in a very familiar position with regard to the race for the title. Virtually every year, the lucrative championship honors are not determined until very late in the season if not at the final event of the year at Thompson. This Thursday’s running of the Bud 150 at Thompson will play a vital role in determining the outcome of the title chase for 2009.
` Christopher has maintained the points lead for most of the season. He gave it up briefly to Szegedy but roared back to put himself at the top once again. Szegedy, however, is one tough customer and has the 2003 title to his credit and finished 2nd in 2007 and 3rd last year in the final standings.
The dark horse in what may appear to be a two-man race is Ryan Preece. The eighteen year old driver from Berlin, CT has won two of the last four WMT events and is a mere 32 points away from Christopher. Preece has positioned himself to be a real contender for the prestigious crown. Other drivers in the top five in points are the 2007 champ, Donny Lia and one of the busiest drivers in the northeast, Rowan Pennink. The title will not be settled this Thursday, but the Bud 150 at Thompson is sure to play a major role in determining the eventual winner.
The WMT will be joined by Thompson’s own NASCAR Whelen All American Race Series divisions in their features only presentation. Those races will be preceded by time trials for the WMT. It all gets underway at 5:30 PM. Grandstands will open at 2 PM.
For more information and the complete schedule for the day, fans are urged to visit the Thompson web site. www.thompsonspeedway.com Advance ticket sales are available by calling the track office at 860-923-2280.
by Jay | Aug 31, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New England
Harrisburg, N.C. (August 31, 2009): Andy Santerre Motorsports together with driver Brett Moffitt have announced that they will compete in this weekend’s Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway, a NASCAR Camping World Series West event. Moffitt will be driving the No. 4 Chevrolet sponsored by Karl Chevrolet. This will be Moffitt’s third start at the track closest to his Grimes, Iowa hometown.
“We’re really excited to be heading back to Iowa Speedway,” said Moffitt. “The last time we were there we had a really competitive car, but we got tight in the last 20 laps or so and finished sixth. I know we can go there and run good so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll have my friends and family there, and I really think that Iowa is one of the best tracks I’ve gone to with the Camping World Series. I can’t think of a better place to give them a win!”
Moffitt is currently sixth in the NASCAR Camping World Series East point standings with one win, four top-five, and seven top-10 finishes. Only 14 points separate him from the fourth and fifth place drivers as the series comes to its final two-race stretch that kicks off at New Hampshire Motor Speedway later this month. The extra seat time at Iowa should be an advantage for the 17-year-old driver.
“Our last two races are on tracks a mile or bigger,” said Moffitt. “Iowa isn’t quite a mile, but its close enough. The seat time is what’s important. When you’re on track you get a momentum, you get better. We’re still within striking distance of the championship in the East Series so anything I can do to get closer to that, I will.”
Moffitt has cemented a reputation as a go-getter in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. He’s earned a place in the record books as the youngest driver in series history to win a pole, win a race, and lead the series point standings. But this weekend will mark his debut in a West Series stand-alone event.
“I raced with these guys back at the combination race with the East Series in May,” said Moffitt. “Everyone I raced with was clean, and I raced them clean. There are some talented drivers in the field and I look forward to racing with them again.”
The Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125 takes place under the lights with an 8 p.m. start time on Friday, September 4th. For more information on Brett Moffitt or Andy Santerre Motorsports, visit www.brettmoffitt.com or www.andysanterremotorsports.com.
by Jay | Aug 31, 2009 | PASS
Naples, ME 8/31/09- He may only be thirteen and it may have only been his first ever Pro All Stars Series ( PASS) South super late model start but Chase Elliot looked as if he knew each and every move to make to score his first career PASS South series win in his first career start. Elliot used the lapped car of John Batten as a pick to make his way by third place finisher Cassius Clark and then ran down second place finisher Jeff Choquette from ten car lengths back making a last lap pass on his way to securing the win. Bradley McCaskill showed that you can do a lot with a little as he scored his career best finish of fourth followed by another newbie to the series, Andy Loden, who rounded out the top five in his first career start and his second race in a super late model.
John Stancill grabbed the Pro Photo Productions fast qualifier award after posting a time of 14.914 around the 3/8th mile track. Qualifying times easily showed how tough PASS South competition has gotten over the years as half a second separated Stancill from the last place qualifier. After the series top ten redraw it shuffled several drivers around especially Cassius Clark who benefited the most by moving from eighth to the pole position to take the green flag.
An early race caution took out several drivers who never really had a chance to show what they had including Preston Peltier, Alex Yontz, and Tayla Orleans who all could have been a factor late in the going. At the same time the caution flag was being displayed Jeff Choquette had made his move by Cassius Clark for the top spot. From that point on Choquette’s #33 machine lead the next most laps, unfortunately for him that was one lap that he didn’t lead was the one he needed to. Elliot and Choquette raced side by side with the white flag in the air before finally clearing Choquette’s #33 machine coming off of turn four for the win. With dad Bill Elliot and mom Cindy Elliot celebrating in victory lane along with him, it couldn’t have been more fitting for the youngster to add his name to the list of famous drivers that have won at the historic track.
In PASS truck series competition Jody Measamer made it back to back Hickory wins as he cruised to the win in the fifty lap event. Michael Cooper muscled his way past Grant Davidson on the final lap to finish second. The win by Measamer propelled him to second in points over Clint King who previously held the position, however, they all trail Grant Davidson who has lead the newly formed series since the second race of the season back in April.
Next up is round two of the PASS National Championship series, the $10,000.00 to win PASS 300 at Scarborough Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on September 12th and 13th. Two weeks later on Saturday September 26th the PASS South series will breathe new life into Kenly, North Carolina’s Southern National Speedway which has been dormant the entire 2009 racing season thus far.
For more information including schedules, standings, and results for all PASS sanctioned touring series visit their home on the web at www.racewithpass.com. For marketing or media questions contact Norm Desjardins at 603-539-3368 or for technical information contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230.
Unofficial Results – PASS South Super Late Model Over the Mountain 150 – Hickory Motor Speedway – Hickory NC – 8/29/2009 (with finishing position, car number, driver)
1 – 9 – Chase Elliott
2 – 33 – Jeff Choquette
3 – 8 – Cassius Clark
4 – 18 – Bradley McCaskill
5 – 29 – Andy Loden
6 – 10 – Ryan Blaney
7 – 9 – Keeton Hanks
8 – 35 – Devin Jones
9 – 4n – Ben Rowe
10 – 05k – Gene Kirlia
11 – 98 – Justin Wakefield
12 – 18x – Billy Leslie
13 – 48 – John Batten
14 – 4s – Jay Fogleman
15 – 51 – Michael Pope
16 – 23 – Jimmy Weller
17 – 47 – Corey Williams
18 – 1 – Fred Moore
19 – 22 – Perry Brown
20 – 05 – Alex Fleming
21 – 74 – Ryan Moore
22 – 91 – Heath Hindman
23 – 02 – Tim Nooner
24 – 20 – John Stancill
25 – 26 – Preston Peltier
26 – 00 – Jeramie Whorff
27 – 93 – Tayla Orleans
28 – 55 – Alex Yontz
by Jay | Aug 31, 2009 | Canada
Aug. 30, 2009
Fredericton, NB – It was a beautiful day for racing in the Geary Woods. A great day for crowning champions. After being washed out on Saturday evening today’s Fan Appreciation day was a success.
In the Coast Tire Street Stock we saw a new champion being crowned. Brian Fox won his first Coast Tire Street Stock Championship. Going into the feature there were just a couple points between Fox and Rick Cashol. Unfortunately Cashol had a mechanical problem which forced him to the pits. He came back and was still on the lead lap but he ran out of time and laps. The rookie of the year was the # 4 of Richard Hartley. Kevin McKeen was the other big story in the Street Stock division taking home the Robin’s Inn Hat Trick Award. McKeen has been getting stronger each week. Matt Matheson finished a close second as Charles Gaddess rounded out the top three.
In the Martin’s Home Heating everyone was on the edge of their seats with the points battle being so close. Michael Banks headed into the day with the points lead but after the heats and dash he saw himself sitting in 2nd, two points behind John Rankin. In the feature Banks was running mid field for most of the race and then moved up to be within a couple spots of Rankin. Banks would pass Rankin and finish one spot ahead forcing the tie breaker for the championship. . Rankin received the championship because he had more feature wins. This is the first championship for Rankin. He has had a great season picking up a couple feature wins. Derek Christie won the 30 lap Sportsman feature. Christie was very strong holding off challenges from George Jamieson and Wade Harris who finished second and third. The rookie of the year was Steve Halpin. Halpin has been around racing for years with his family and this year was his rookie season in the Sportsman divsion.
Greg Fahey is now a repeat Irving Lubricant’s Pro Stock Champion. Fahey was 12 point’s ahead of four time champion Glenn Rasmussen going into today. Fahey had a good run in the 40-lap feature where he finished in second to Brian MacNaughton. Leon Christie was back at Speedway 660 again this week and quietly drove himself into third place. MacNaughton made a daring three wide pass for the lead to claim his first victory of the year. Michael Kyle was the Irving Lubricant’s rookie of the year.
In the 4-cylinder division it was Robert Flowers taking home victory over Kyle Dunster and Kevin Peterson.
There was so much excitement going on at the speedway today. Race fans got a chance to go trackside to meet their favorite drivers in a pre-race autograph session. It was just Halloween in August for sure. Fans were going around gathering treats and pictures and autographs from the drivers. Congratulations once again to Brian Fox, John Rankin and Greg Fahey, they will definitely have some celebrating to do!
by Jay | Aug 31, 2009 | ACT, Canada, New England
U.S Team Takes Overall Victory
Vallee-Jct., QC – Milton’s Brent Dragon dominates the final half of the second annual Showdown at Chaudiere 200 at Autodrome Chaudiere and leads the U.S. team to the overall victory. The first 91 laps saw a battle between former Serie ACT Castrol champion Karl Allard and current ACT Tour point leader Scott Payea.
The two swapped the lead a total of five times before Dragon took the lead from Payea on lap 92. Dragon came from the ninth starting position to lead the final 109 laps of the 200 lap event. The U.S. team took 7 of the top 10 positions on its way to taking the team win for the second year in a row.
The race was slowed by only 5 cautions and took just over an hour to complete. Dragon has already qualified for the ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 19.
Next weekend is a doubleheader for the ACT Tour. They will head to Twin State Speedway in Clairmont, NH on Friday, September 4 for the Twin State 100, before heading to Thunder Road International Speedbowl on Sunday, September 6 for the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200. Saturday, September 5 will be qualifying day for the local divisions at Thunder Road.
Showdown at Chaudiere 200
Unofficial Results
Pos Car # Driver
1 55vt Brent Dragon
2 89 Scott Payea
3 02nh Randy Potter
4 80 Donald Theetge
5 41 Pete Potvin, III
6 37 Brian Hoar
7 48qc Karl Allard
8 21qc Jean-François Déry
9 73me Joey Doiron
10 9vt Chip Grenier
11 5qc Patrick Cliche
12 97pq Jacques Poulin
13 9pq Yvon Bédard
14 28qc Dany Ouellet
15 68 Brooks Clark
16 51me Ricky Rolfe
17 91 Patrick Laperle
18 11pq Claude Leclerc
19 26vt John Donahue
20 27 Alexandre Gingras
21 51pq Patrick Hamel
22 97nh Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
