By Lou Modestino
Waterford Speedbowl staged another round of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing Saturday night under seasonable weather. Taking home victories on the night included Keith Rocco of Meriden, winner of a rough and tumble SK Modified® race and Cam McDermott of Scituate, RI in the evening’s SK Light Modified race. Chris Meyer of
North Franklin won a special 50-lap Street Stock feature, his first of the year. Garrett Denton of Hope Valley, RI continued his hot start to the season in the Mini Stock division, taking his third win in five races, while Dylan Izzo of Westport won his second INEX Legend Cars race of the season.
Waterford Speedbowl kicked off its popular mid-week Wild ‘n Wacky Wednesday series on Wednesday evening, hosting a five-event program under clear skies. Scoring the opening night victories included a pair of first time winners in INEX race action, Angelo Belsito of Massachusetts in the Legend Cars and Anthony Marvin of Colchester in
the Bandoleros. Joining them were Wayne Shifflett of Preston who won in the night’s X-Car race and Jon Porter of Canterbury in the Super X-Car event. Peter Pollard of Old Lyme won the evening’s Wacky Musical Car race.
It’s strictly because of cool – and caring – people like you, the Lime Rock fan, that the “Sunday Royals’ Garage Car Show” has been a wonderful success over the past three years. Since the first one in 2010, more than $12,000 has been raised to benefit charities and institutions.
The Fourth Annual Royals’ show is Sunday, May 26, closing out the Trans-Am season-opening race weekend.
Skip Barber and Torrington’s Glenn Royals have chosen the Wounded Warrior Project to receive the funds from the entry fees this year. Everyone is a strong believer in the tremendous good WWP has accomplished since its founding in 2002. The Wounded Warrior Project “…works to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.”
And all you have to do to help is something that’s a lot of fun: Bring your cool vehicle to Lime Rock Park the morning of Sunday, May 26, and for $10, enter the car show!
The Sunday Royals’ Garage Car Show is what we like to call Lime Rock’s “Everyman’s Show.” The million dollar concours cars have their show Labor Day weekend.
This show is for people like you and me; we love our Ford Torinos and AMC Matadors and slammed Civics and want to show them off at one of the best venues in America, Lime Rock Park. And for a good cause to boot!
We want to see Muscle Cars, Tuners, Street Rods, Drift Machines, Motorcycles, Classic Cars, Antiques, Race Cars, Trucks of all kinds, and Exceptional Contemporary (that’s car-guy code for “Most excellent new cars, from SS Camaros to Lamborghini Aventadors!”), all lined up on Sam Posey Straight.
Skip’s goal is 500 vehicles, which would raise more than $5,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Here are the details… See you May 26! Rain or Shine. Four Premium Trophies awarded: Royals’ Crown, Skip’s Selection, People’s Choice and Veterans Vote No pre-registration: Just arrive between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Car Show Entry Fee $10 Spectators $5 Children 12 and under free Parking free
As the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads to Monadnock Speedway this week, a pair of drivers stand as favorites to either continue a historical trend or make their own mark on the record books.
Although the competition is nearly too close to call across the board, Whelen Modified Tour co-point leaders Rowan Pennink and Ryan Preece lead the tour contingent into the Town Fair Tire Whitcomb 200 at the quarter-mile oval on Saturday, May 11 in rural Winchester, N.H.
Pennink will look to continue the historical trend at Monadnock that has seen a different driver win each of the previous eight all-time Whelen Modified Tour events at the track. Conversely, last year’s Monadnock winner Preece will attempt to become the tour’s first two-time victor there.
Although he’s averaged a finish just outside the top 10 in his first two career Whelen Modified Tour starts at Monadnock, Pennink has run second and fifth in two races so far this season. In addition to bringing that momentum to Monadnock, where he’s already registered a Modified win this year, Pennink has had plenty of success through the years at the other quarter-mile bullring on the tour schedule – Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway – including his lone career win.
Meanwhile, Preece was the best Whelen Modified Tour bullring driver a year ago when he won at Riverhead in addition to Monadnock. Add to that his first Riverhead win in 2009 and three of his five career triumphs have come in bullring races.
Pennink and Preece may enter Monadnock atop the points and the list of favorites to win, but they’ll have plenty of competition for the checkered flag. Veterans Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher – at one and three tallies behind in points, respectively – both have career wins at Monadnock in addition to their hot starts to the current season. Additionally, Justin Bonsignore, who groomed his early racing career at Riverhead, is just five points back of the leaders and has finished in the top five the last two years at Monadnock.
Defending Pro Stock Champion Dave Darling carried his top five streak over to 2013, as the three-time champion held on through several restarts to pick up his fifth opening day victory. Darling was hounded throughout the race by Ryan Vanasse, who started on the pole. Dick Houlihan, Tom Scully Sr and Bobby Pelland III rounded out the top five.
Jeramee Lille rolled out to the top of the field early, and held on to win his first opening day event. Lillie had a few different challengers over the 30 lap distance, and in the end, brought his Chevy to Everett’s Auto Parts Victory Lane. Dylan Estrella had to come from the back of the field twice, and worked his way into second before the checkered dropped. Gerry DeGasparre, Bill Bernard and Ryan Lineham were third, fourth and fifth.
Mike Cavallaro hasn’t missed a beat over the winter, and picked up the win in the 25 lap Sport Truck main event. Mike took off from his pole position and never looked back. Rick Martin chased him over the distance, but could do nothing with him. John Paive was third, with Scott Dion fourth and Rob Murphy fifth.
Rey Lovelace inherited the Street Stock victory after the apparent winner was disqualified. Ryan Lineham crossed the finish line and accepted the checkered flag, but his car did not pass post race tech. This handed the victory to Lovelace.
Nick Ladyga was victorious in the Nick’s Pit Stop Legends. Nick battled with Nick Lascoula through a pair of restarts, as they swapped the lead back and forth over several laps. Ladyga held on for the victory, with Lascoula, Shaun Buffington, Ton Gray and Taylor Martin your top five.
Defending Pure Stock champ moved past Bill Doyle just past the halfway point, and never looked back as he picked up the opening day victory. Chris Lima followed suit into second, with Doyle hanging on to third. Amy Arsenault and John Robidoux were fourth and fifth.
The Thompson Speedway will once again host its annual Eve of Destruction on Sunday, May 26th. This annual holiday weekend fan favorite will excite, thrill and astonish fans with stunts, crashes, explosions, monster trucks, motorcycles, demo derbies, trailer trash, fireworks and much more.
Bigfoot, the world’s original Monster Truck, will headline the show as it defends its reputation against the Instigator and XDP (Xtreme Diesel Power). These Monster Trucks will race, crush and jump in an incredible show of power, size and speed.
Bigfoot is, by far, the most famous Monster Truck in the world. It has thrilled fans all around the globe and holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Making its first-ever appearance at Thompson, this incredible machine stands 11feet, six inches tall, weighs 10,000 pounds and is powered by an 1800 horsepower Ford engine. Instigator is a 1500 horsepower Ford Super Duty and XDP, also a Ford Super Duty, is powered by a nitrous injected Cummins Diesel engine.
Back by popular demand is the fire breathing, car eating, Transaurus. This mechanical marvel is 35 feet high, 51 feet long and weighs more than 37,000 pounds. Transaurus has an insatiable appetite for cars that have been left by unsuspecting owners.
Freestyle FMX and Street Bikes will play a major role in this year’s Eve of Destruction as riders perform death-defying stunts and tricks on both ramps and flat surfaces. Death-defying is a term that also applies to the auto stunt shows of 47 year veteran, the Maine Maniac, Crash Moreau and Chris Morena. Morena has worked with Moreau the past two years at Thompson and brings with him the reputation of being one of the world’s greatest stunt performers. He is the star of the Disney World Lights, Motors, Action extreme auto thrill show.
An all new performance of Jet Powered vehicles will join in on the thrills. Indy Boys Paul Stender will roar around the Thompson Speedway in some of the world’s most incredible machines as fans soak up the roar of the huge jet engines that power them.
The demolition derby has been a mainstay of the Eve of Destruction for years and plans are for at least two separate shows. One show will be for full size cars and the other for compact cars. Add to that mayhem of the ever-popular Trailer Trash race and a huge fireworks display and it will be a night to remember for years to come.
Youngsters will love the midway attractions that will be on hand beginning four hours before the actual Eve of Destruction show begins. These attractions are huge inflatable activities for kids and offer them hours of fun and great exercise.
The Thompson Speedway will open its gates at 2 p.m. and the Eve of Destruction is set to kick off at 6 p.m. Admission is family priced at just $20 for adults and $11 for youngsters ages 6-14. Little ones ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge.
Here’s what else is happening in southern New England. There’s Wednesday night stockcar action at the Waterford Speedbowl in CT at 7 p.m. On Thursday night Raynham-Taunton Park offers a cruise night at 5 p.m. at the same time Moose Family Center in Chicopee hosts a auto flea market and car show.
Friday has a cruise night at McDonald’s in Cumberland, RIat 5 p.m.. There’s a NASCAR program at the Stafford Motor Speedway in CT at 7 p.m. Trinity Church just below Big Blue in Canton has a cruise night at 5 p.m. Waterford returns on Friday with hole shot drags at the same time.
The momentum picks up Saturday with the Fusion Sports Bar on Rt. 1 in Foxborough offering a car and motorcycle show in the afternoon. Gold’s Gym on Rt. 109 in Millis also hosts a cruise at 5 p.m. There’s a car and bike show all day starting at 9 a.m. at Memorial Park in Lanesboro. At the same time Thompson Speedway in CT will host the CT Dragway Reunion. Stockcar action is on at the Seekonk Speedway at and the Waterford Speedbowl both at 6 p.m.
For Saturday and Sunday at the Comcast Center in Mansfield there’s the annual automotive swap meet starting at 9 a.m. each day. At the same time Misquonmet Beach in Westerly, RI offers the Springfest Car Show all day long.
Sunday’s offerings include mineature motorsports at Silver City Speedway in Meriden, CT, a car show at the Elk’s Club in Windsor, CT.