by Jay | Jan 14, 2010 | PASS
NAPLES ME (1/13) Super Late Model racers from all over the eastern seaboard are ready to shake off the winter doldrums and take on the high banks of New Smyrna Speedway when the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models invade the sunshine state on January 30th for The PASS WInterfest 150.
The entry list is growing daily and all indications point to a battle royal between Florida’s fastest, the PASS super late model touring pros and a host of outlaws that seek out the biggest races and the toughest competition.
Tim Russell was first to file his entry for Winterfest and the Apopka driver has to be considered one of the favorites. He’s got plenty of extra distance event wins at the legendary short track, and it will be tough to beat the home track boys at their own game. Still, there’s a bunch of tough customers that are going to give it their best shot, including four time PASS North Super Late Model Champion Johnny Clark, who will make the trip from Maine to tackle New Smyrna. Lonnie Sommerville is a journeyman racer from the Canadian Maritimes, and he can’t wait to take on the challenge. Brandon Ward has taken over the wheel of Jeff and Jane Day’s potent New Day Motorsports entry, and you can expect this combination from Winston-Salem North Carolina to make some noise right out of the box. Dale Brackett is making a run at the PASS National Championship in 2010, and he will tow all the way from Strong Maine for round one of the five race PASS National Championship schedule.
Local racer Shane Snipes will be behind the wheel of a Mike Skinner owned super late model, and two of the best from the Carolinas, Jay Fogleman and Preston Peltier, have both committed to the January 30 race. Heath Hindman will make the trip from Tennessee and North Carolina’s Clay Jones has his race car prepared for the 150 green flag laps that are one of the signatures of the Pro All Stars. Since the series’ inception in 2001, all feature events race the advertised distance under green; all restarts are double file, so the action is guaranteed to be fast and furious for all 150 laps round the tough oval.
For the hardcore race fan it will be a double header weekend of diverse motorsport. Just up the road at Daytona International Speedway the Rolex 24 at Daytona gets the green at 3:30 on January 30 and the checkered won’t drop until 3:30 PM on Sunday January 31th. It’s one of the most grueling endurance racing around and short track and road racing fans alike have a rare and unique opportunity to see the best of two motorsport worlds on the weekend of January 30 and 31.
All teams will have the opportunity to practice on Friday January 29 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Pit gates will open at 12:00 Noon. On race day January 30 the pit area opens at 10:00 AM, practice runs from 12:00 to 2:30 PM and Super Late Model time trials get underway at 3:30 P.M.
For more information visit www.racewithpass.com or www.proallstarsseries.com. New Smyrna Speedway is on line at www.newsmyrnaspeedway.net . Address media and marketing questions to Norm Desjardins at (603) 539-3368. For technical information please contact PASS Technical Director Scott Reed at (207) 625-3230.
by Jay | Jan 14, 2010 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A California native, and rising star in the Joe Gibbs Racing development program, Matt DiBenedetto will return to The Golden State for the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, Jan. 29-30 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).
Originally from Grass Valley, Calif., DiBenedetto burst onto the scene in 2009 as a consistent frontrunner in NASCAR Camping World Series East action. Although he competed in just seven of the season’s 11 events, DiBenedetto piloted the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Driven Toyota to a pair of wins, five top 10s and a 14th-place finish in the final standings. The 18-year-old rookie was also impressive in his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut last fall in Memphis when he qualified fifth and finished 14th.
The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will be the first time that DiBenedetto turns a lap around Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.
“I’m really looking forward to racing at Irwindale for the Showdown. It’s an awesome track and has multiple grooves which will make for some great racing,” said DiBenedetto, who will be behind the wheel of the No. 98 Toyota fielded by car owner Mike Curb. “I’ve never been there, only watched it on TV, so I’m really looking forward to turning some laps. I’m also excited to get to race in my home state, and in front of a bunch of my family members. I want to thank Mike Curb and Joe Gibbs Racing for making this race possible.”
“We are thrilled with the opportunity to help Matt,” Curb said. “He is a true talent with a very bright future.”
The seventh running of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, which brings together the top racers from across North America for the ”Daytona 500 of short-track racing,” will be highlighted by the 225-lap Camping World Series all-star race. Each race winner during the 2009 Camping World Series season is eligible for a protected starting spot, as are the 2009 champions from each of NASCAR’s six regional touring series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion.
DiBenedetto’s rookie campaign was highlighted by wins at Tri-County Motor Speedway and the June race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The 18-year-old earned poles in his first road-course races at Watkins Glen International and Lime Rock Park, and shattered the series’ qualifying record in the season finale at Dover International Speedway, which earned him the season Coors Light Pole Award. Despite not competing in four races, DiBenedetto also earned the series’ Wix Lap Leader Award.
“2009 was a great season for me. I won a couple races and I was able to get my feet wet with the Joe Gibbs Racing guys,” DiBenedetto said. “It also allowed me to get my first Nationwide race under my belt. I’m really looking forward to the 2010 season in the NASCAR Camping World Series East.”
In addition to eligible 2009 race winners and series champions, the starting lineup will be determined through time trials, limited provisionals for Camping World Series regulars, and the last-chance “Open” race that provides drivers one final chance to make the grid.
The 2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown schedule also includes 100-lap Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model and 75-lap Late Model races. Both nights of racing will air live on SPEED.
by Jay | Jan 11, 2010 | New
Morin, LePage split Pro finals in Malone for Rock Maple Racing snocross series
MALONE, N.Y. (Jan. 11, 2010) — In almost every form of motorsports, when a talented rider, driver or team gets on a roll, they can be difficult to stop.
Just ask anybody in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series garage, as they try to figure out how to stop four-time champion Jimmie Johnson from dominating their sport. Momentum plays a huge role in week-to-week results, and snocross racing is no different.
Veteran riders Mathieu Morin and Bobby ‘The Rage’ LePage carried the momentum from last month’s season opener into Malone, splitting the Pro finals as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed Round 2 of its 2009-10 season Sunday at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.
Morin (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo), of Val-D’ Or, Quebec, chased down early leader Danny Poirier and checked out to win Pro Stock. Poirier crossed the line four seconds later as the runner-up, while LePage settled for third. LePage (Hulten Speed Sports/Polaris) used lapped traffic to his advantage in Pro Open to take top honors. Morin settled for second in this one, giving Ski-doo and Polaris a true split in the manufacturers battle for supremacy. Only three riders completed all 20 laps in the Open final, while seven completed all 20 laps in Pro Stock.
Perhaps the best show all weekend in the Pro division was the inspiring performance Poirier gave in the Open final. The defending champion got upside down in a major off-sled venture early on, then steadily powered all the way up to third at the finish. Poirier redefines determination when it comes to battling back from adversity.
Defending Pro Am champion Joe Lemieux continued his hot streak in Malone, winning the final over fellow Vermonter Rene Desrochers and Jason Soucy of Sabattus, Maine. Jennifer Pare prevailed in a hotly-contested Pro Women final, with RMR veterans Melanie Acker and Steffanie Lemieux filling out the podium.
In Semi-Pro action Sunday, Garrett Mees and Corin Todd were the guys to beat. Mees, of Setauket, NY, piloted his All-Island Plumbing Ski-doo to victory in the Open final in dominant style. Lincoln Lemieux grabbed the holeshot, but he and Todd got together in the moguls and crashed. Mees carefully snuck through the snow dust and proceeded to check out on the field. Cody Flach made an outstanding return to RMR, coming from dead last to finish second. Ash Woskob stepped up big-time Sunday, as the motocross veteran from Pennsylvania claimed third ahead of Lucas Brunelle.
Todd powered his way around Mees with two laps remaining in Semi-Pro Stock and hung on for top honors. The young athlete from Otego, NY, was the pre-season favorite to win the Semi-Pro title in 2010, and he’s proving why every time the green flag is waved.
In Junior division action at Malone, Montana Jess and Edward Bandel each won multiple finals. Jess, of Westminster, Mass., rode his Ski-doo to victory in Jr. 10-13 380 and 600c action each day, while Bandel won Saturday’s 600 liquid final and two more races on Sunday. Max Burrier and Mason Pierce also earned wins in Jr. 8-10 action at Malone.
Other final round winners over the weekend in Malone include Daryl Nutting (Plus 25 Stock); Rene Desrochers (Plus 35 Masters); Joe Bishop (Sport 500); and rising star Jake Scott (Sport Super Stock Sat.& Sun., and Sport 600).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank Steve Bailey and everyone at the Malone Chamber of Commerce for hosting last weekend’s event. Thanks to extra effort in providing snow, the track was one of the best seen in many seasons.
Next up is a trip north of the border for RMR’s Pro and Semi-Pro teams, as they travel to Mirabel, Quebec, for a joint race with Marcel Fontaine’s SCM group. This will be a points race for these teams while Sport, Junior and Women riders have the weekend off.
To see full results in all classes from Malone or for more information, please go to www.rockmaple.com.
by Jay | Jan 11, 2010 | New England, New Hampshire
Raymond N.H. – The Northeast Classic Lites held their annual awards Banquet on January 9th at Strikers East Function Hall in Raymond N.H.
After a buffet dinner, Master of Ceremonies Dennis O’Brien began by introducing special guests Phil Boriello of PB Chopper Shop and Rods, Dave Joyce of Davids Racecars, photographers Bob and Rich Hayes, Dan Provost, and Bob Munroe who came out of retirement from flagging to serve as the clubs dedicated flagman when the Classics Lites race at Hudson Speedway.
Trophies were then handed out those drivers that finished in the top twenty five in points. Drivers that finished eleventh through twenty fifth included Paul Colson, Ralph Cook, Jim Ryder Sr., Jeff Gilman, Shane Reinhold, Dan Shields Sr., Sean Kehoe, Dave McGinn, Adam Giacomozzi, Tom McGowan Jr., Dwayne Schofield and Kyle Pittman.
Finishing tenth through second were Roger Provost, Josh Provost, Eric Bacon, Jeff Miller, Jon Provost, Danny Shields, Eddie Gilman, Dennis O’Brien and Jimmy Ryder Jr.
On the strength of five feature wins and eleven top fives in fifteen races Billy Ryder received the Championship trophy.
The Winners Circle Club includes any driver that won at least one feature or heat during the season. These drivers are Reinhold, Jeff Gilman, Ryder Sr., Cook, Colson, Josh Provost, Bacon, Miller, Jon Provost, Eddie Gilman, Ryder Jr. and Billy Ryder.
Jim Ryder Sr., Sam Gilman and John Dimambro received Appreciation Awards. Paul Colson and Dennis O’Brien both received Sportsmanship Awards. Jim Ryder Jr. received the Hard Luck Award. Dan Shields received the Best Appearing Car. Shane Reinhold was Most Improved Driver and Jeff Miller was Rookie of the Year. All drivers in the top five received a check from club sponsor nhyogamatters.com.
The 2010 Northeast Classic Lites schedule has yet to be finalized, please visit www.neclassiclites.com for updates.
by Jay | Jan 11, 2010 | Video
Some old car commercials
