By Lou Modestino
The Canaan Speedway dirt track in NH got a new race director the other week. That’s when GM Dick Therrien promoted Mike Conrad to take the position. Therrien, the promoter for both the dirt and paved tracks, made the appointment in order to reorganize and bring new ideas into the race complex.
Conrad has experience as a race driver, crew member, track official. He’s considered to have the skills to improve the dirt track program. Previously Conrad the race directors post at the Legion Speedway in Rumney, NH this past season. Conrad will also be assisted by Charlie Rockwell. Both Conrad and Rockwell be have total charge of racing at the Canaan dirt track on race day in 2013.
We also understand that the SCone 360 Sprints have six dates at the Canaan dirt track in 2013. Therrien is pleased that this dirt track open wheel series will make a half dozen appearances at his track in western NH. Five of those dates will be on Friday nights, May 17, June 7, July 3, Autust 9 and August 30 the sixth Scone date set for Saturday, October 13.
From the Monster Energy drink comes this item. Not content with winning the 2011 East and Overall AMA Pro Racing Supersport Championships Monster Energy’s James Rispoli, formerly of Londonderry, NH, took on the West Coast division for 2012 and followed up with another pair of #1 plates. Tackling the full AMA Pro race schedule for the first time in his young career Rispoli put his stamp on the class with 8 wins onboard the Celtic Racing Suzuki GSX-R 600 en route to the West and Overall 2012 Supersport Championships. With his impending move to Daytona Sportbike class for 2013, James leaves the Supersport class as the most successful racer in its history.
ARbodies, a leader in short track stock car racing bodies, will sponsor the Granite State Pro Stock Series Rookie of the Year award in 2013. ARbodies will celebrate the rookie of the year by presenting the ARbodies Rookie of the Year Challenge winner with a $1,000 gift certificate.
“We are happy to have ARbodies on board with us for the 2013 season,” said Granite State Pro Stock Series president Mike Parks. “ARbodies is one of the leading manufacturers of ABC bodies in the country. We are proud to have them as our rookie of the year sponsor.”
ARbodies will also present a weekly $100 gift certificate for the hard luck award in 2013 to a Granite State Pro Stock Series driver. ARbodies will also present two random Granite State Pro Stock Series drivers that attempted every race a $500 gift certificate at the series annual banquet.
ARbodies and the Granite State Pro Stock Series will also honor the 2012 Rookie of the Year with a $1,000 gift certificate at the series banquet on Friday, January 18. ARbodies will also present $500 gift certificates to two random drivers who competed in every event in 2012 during the awards banquet.
The 2013 Granite State Pro Stock Series season will begin on Saturday, May 5 at Canaan Fair Speedway in Canaan, NH with a 100-lap kickoff event. The remainder of the schedule will be announced during the series banquet on Friday, January 18, at The Yard Restaurant in Manchester, NH.
Jon McKennedy, of E. Chelmsford, MA and Art Barry, of Preston, CT., were crowned champions Saturday night December 8, as the Valenti Modified Racing Series conducted it’s 9th annual awards banquet at the Clarion Conference Center, W. Springfield, MA.
McKennedy, winner of three races in 2012, captured his third series title. Barry, a long-time race car owner and fabricator, captured his first VMRS owner’s title. Both were highly complimentary of each other’s efforts and expressed thanks to the teams families, crewmembers, series sponsors, and officials. Barry received a standing ovation when presented the annual ‘Dedication To Racing’ award.
In addition to the champions, the top 15 drivers and owners received awards.
Drivers Rowan Pennink, Norm Wrenn, Chris Pasteryak, Louie Mechalides, Tommy Barrett, Les Hinckley, Max Zachem Mark Bakaj, Mike Holdridge, Joe Doucette, Dwight Jarvis, Todd Owen, Tim Jordan, and Geoff Gerhard were recognized.
Owners Gary & Kim Casella, Norm Wrenn, Kevin Stuart, Charlie Pasteryak, Max Zachem, Mark, Bakaj, Tom Barrett, Joe Doucette, Jack Bateman, Dale Holdridge, Chuck Montville, Patrick Jordan, Rob Goodenough, and Bonnie Jarvis were recognized.
Series founder Jack Bateman made the annual Hoosier Tire East award presentation to McKennedy. Norm Wrenn received the Sunoco Hard Charger award, Spafco Most Improved Driver recipient was Max Zachem, Tough Luck award, the 06 CMR team, Sportsmanship award, the JRB # 17 team, Mechanic of the Year, Dave Berghman, Mountainside Graphix Rookie of the Year, Mark Bakaj, the Bob Polverari “711” plaque, to Joe Doucette, and the series ‘Above and Beyond” award to chief scorer, Jenn Ready.
Bateman in his annual state of the series remarks spoke of the 19-race schedule in 2013, recognized and thanked series sponsor, the Valenti Auto Group, series officials, and welcomed newly named race director, Scott Tapley, of Poland, ME., who was introduced.
Bateman also disclosed a rules meeting will be scheduled in January on a date to be announced.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, “Vermont’s Fastest Family Fun,” is offering discount season passes for the 2013 stock car racing season just in time for the holidays. The half-mile track, located in West Haven, VT just 20 minutes outside of Rutland City, will host regular Friday night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events throughout the summer months.
General Admission season passes are available for the 16-event schedule to be announced soon. The 2013 season pass includes admission for all NASCAR events during the summer, along with several high-profile special events. The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models will open the 2013 Devil’s Bowl Speedway season in conjunction with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series on Sunday, May 5 with the historic “Spring Green 113” event, and will return with a special summer Sunday event on July 28.
Included in the 2013 season pass with the ACT events are the People’s United Bank Memorial Day Special in May, July’s Coca-Cola Firecracker event, the second annual C.J. Richards Memorial race, the jam-packed Vermont 200 Weekend in September, the wild-and-wacky Vermonster 150 Enduro in October, and more. On tap for 2013 are the ground-pounding Bond Auto Parts Modifieds and the J&S Steel Late Models, plus Renegades, Bombers, Enduros, Spectator Races, and other special attractions and events to be announced soon.
While the Adult General Admission season pass has seen a minimal five-dollar increase to $190 from the 2012 price, the savings have also increased to nearly 15% off the race-day ticket gate price. The Senior General Admission season pass is available for only $160 for race fans age 62 and up for nearly 20% off the race-day Senior ticket price. As an added benefit, all season pass holders will get a 15-minute head start in selecting their grandstand seats at every event.
Season pass order forms are available online at www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com or by emailing a request to [email protected]. Orders may be placed by telephone at (802) 265-3112, by fax at (802) 773-0147, or are accepted by mail or delivered directly at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway office at 261 Randbury Road in Rutland, VT 05701.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway opens its 47th season of stock car racing on Sunday, May 5, with the Spring Green 113; the full season schedule will be announced soon. For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or click www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com.
Stock car driver Wayne Helliwell, Jr., has been named the Vermont Motorsports Magazine 2012 Driver of the Year by the readers of www.vtmotormag.com.
Over 23,000 votes were cast across eleven categories in the two-week online poll at the Vermont Motorsports Magazine website. Dover, NH driver Helliwell earned 31% of the vote in the overall Driver of the Year category. The American-Canadian Tour, Canaan Fair Speedway Late Model, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series New Hampshire, and Ford Blue Oval champion finished ahead of Airborne Speedway Limited Late Model champion Bucko Branham of Plattsburgh, NY, who received 16% of the vote.
Chris Donnelly of Piermont, NH finished third with 8% of the vote after he captured his second Sprint Cars of New England championship. Bear Ridge Speedway Limited Late Model champion Jordan Fornwalt of Bradford, VT finished fourth in the overall vote, just one vote behind Donnelly. Devil’s Bowl Speedway Late Model champion Craig Bushey of Fairfax, VT was fifth, just one vote behind Fornwalt. Brian Hoar of Williston, VT, Adam Pierson of Fairlee, VT, Ron Proctor of Charlton, NY, Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT, and Nick Sweet of Barre, VT, were also on the ballot and received votes.
“We are extremely pleased how the fans made their voices heard and took the Driver of the Year seriously,” Vermont Motorsports Magazine editor T.J. Ingerson said. “All 65 nominees should be proud of their season and recognition for that season. We are extremely thankful for the support from our readers for the votes we received. The entire Vermont Motorsports Magazine staff congratulates Wayne Helliwell, Jr., and the rest of the winners on their terrific seasons and well-deserved honors.”
Helliwell also claimed top honors in the Touring Series and Late Model categories. American-Canadian Tour runner-up Brian Hoar was second and Donnelly was third in the Touring Series category. In the Late Model category, Branham claimed the second spot, while Fornwalt took third place honors.
Stone was voted Airborne Speedway and Open Wheel Driver of the Year. Stone took Airborne honors over Branham. Kevin Boutin of Swanton, VT was third. Vince Quenneville, Jr., finished second to Stone by just two votes for Open Wheel Driver of the Year top honors. Last year’s Driver of the Year, Kevin Chaffee of Fairlee, VT was third.
Fornwalt claimed top honors in two categories, Bear Ridge Speedway and Breakout Driver of the Year. Fornwalt edged Pierson by just a single vote for Bear Ridge Speedway Driver of the Year. Donnelly was third. In Breakout Driver of the Year, Hunter Bates of Middlebury, VT was second and Jason McClatchie of Plattsburgh, NY was third.
Bushey was voted Devil’s Bowl Speedway Driver of the Year by the readers. Quenneville was second, followed by Proctor. Sweet was named Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Driver of the Year. Tiger Sportsman champion Bobby Therrien of Hinesburg, VT was second and Phil Scott of Berlin, VT was third.
Eric Lang of Groton, VT claimed Four Cylinder Driver of the Year. Thunder Road Street Stock champion Nick Pilotte of Jefferson, NH was second and Devil’s Bowl Speedway Bomber champion Josh Masterson of Bristol, VT was third. Fifteen-year-old Emily Packard of East Montpelier, VT took top honors in the Rookie Driver of the Year. East Thetford, VT’s Brandon Gray was second with Masterson third.
Wayne Helliwell, Jr., becomes the fourth driver to win the overall Vermont Motorsports Magazine Driver of the Year award; Kevin Chaffee claimed the honors for the 2011 season, while Don Miller and Tom Placey won the honors in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Vermont Motorsports Magazine covers stock car racing in and around Vermont with on-site event reporting, breaking news, feature stories, weekly columns, photography, and more. For more information, visit the website at www.vtmotomag.com, follow Vermont Motorsports Magazine on Twitter at @VMMUpdates, or find VMM on Facebook and YouTube.
Vermont Motorsports Magazine Driver of the Year Award Winners:
Vermont Motorsports Magazine 2012 Driver of the Year: Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH
VMM Airborne Speedway Driver of the Year: Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
VMM Bear Ridge Speedway Driver of the Year: Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
VMM Devil’s Bowl Speedway Driver of the Year: Craig Bushey, Fairfax, VT
VMM Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Driver of the Year: Nick Sweet, Barre, VT
VMM Touring Series Driver of the Year: Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH
VMM Open Wheel Driver of the Year: Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
VMM Late Model Driver of the Year: Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH
VMM Four Cylinder Driver of the Year: Eric Lang, Groton, VT
VMM Breakout Driver of the Year: Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
VMM Rookie Driver of the Year: Emily Packard, East Montpelier, VT