by Jay | Oct 5, 2009 | PASS
Naples ME (10/3/2009) – Ryan Blaney will need to bring a note to school on Thursday October 15th. He needs to be excused from class on Friday, but he’s not going to the dentist’s office or on a family vacation. On Friday October 16th he will be at “SoBo”, Virginia’s famed South Boston Speedway to prepare for Saturdays Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South portion of the Mason-Dixon Meltdown, a 250 lap super late model feature that brings together the top guns of super late model racing every fall.
The racing teenager sits second in the PASS South standings, trailing series point leader Ben Rowe by 56 markers in the chase for the title. His statistics are impressive; in twelve starts, Blaney has four top five and eleven top ten finishes, two pole awards, and 87 laps led. Those are impressive numbers, even for a young man that comes from a family of champions on both dirt and asphalt.
Blaney’s got one stat that he wants to change at South Boston, and that’s the goose egg in his PASS win column. His results show that he’s been out front and he’s been close to the top of the podium. A pair of third place finishes at Dillon and Orange County is his best to date, certainly nothing to sneeze at in a series so deep in talent. But, he’s won in every form of racing he’s attempted and he’s got the talent and team to make it to the top of the heap. He’s a rookie in the high horsepower super late model machines and his remarkable consistency has given him the kind of track time he needs to make his way to victory lane. Blaney knows that sitting in the pits watching with a wrecked race car does nothing for his learning curve, or for the respect he needs to race side by side with veterans like Ben Rowe, Jay Fogelman, and Preston Peltier.
Blaney and his team have two more shots at Pro All Stars victory lane, the Mason-Dixon Meltdown Saturday October 16th at South Boston and the PASS season finale, The Howler at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Don’t count the young racer out at either venue. Ryan Blaney is a winner, from a family of winners. There’s little question that this talented racer will continue to carry on that tradition.
The engines will roar to life at South Boston Speedway on Friday, October 16 and Saturday Oct. 17. Highlighting the weekend’s activities will be a 250-lap race for Blaney and the touring PASS Super Late Model competitors. The PASS race is round four of the four race PASS National Championship Series, where Ben Rowe leads the title chase over Mark Gibson and Blaney. The weekend also features 250 laps for the region’s best NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car Division competitors
Practice for both divisions will be held on Friday, October 16, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM. Grandstand gates will open at 3:00 PM on Friday October 16 and will be followed by time trials for both races at 4:00 PM.
The Grandstand gates swing open on Saturday October 17 at 11:00 AM. A NASCAR Late Model last chance 50-lap race will get the green flag at noon and will be followed by a Fan Appreciation Session on the four-tenths mile asphalt oval. The first feature race of the day will get the green flag at 3:00 PM.
Check out the track’s website for the complete schedule of events at www.southbostonspeedway.com . Visit the Pro All Stars Series on line at www.racewithpass.com or www.proallstarsseries.com .
by Jay | Oct 5, 2009 | New England, Thompson
THOMPSON, CT. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship will once again come down to the final event of the year at the Thompson International Speedway. A mere 26 points separate the top two contenders going in the XTRAMART World Series of Speedway racing at Thompson.
Donny Lia, looking to win his second series title, moved into the top spot following his win at the Stafford Motor Speedway this past weekend. Ryan Preece is the driver in Lia’s rearview mirror. Preece is only 26 points behind Lia and well within striking distance of the division’s crown. Ted Christopher saw his nearly season-long points lead disappear on Sunday when an accident knocked TC out of the competition. He was credited with a 31st place finish, dropped to third in the standings, and now faces an up hill battle to erase his current 109 point deficit. Rounding out the top five as they head for Thompson are Todd Szegedy and Rowan Pennink.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title is, more often than not, decided at the XTRAMART World Series of Speedway Racing and the 2009 champ will be crowned following the WMT 150-lap main event slated for Sunday, October 18th.
Championships are a big part of the three-day XTRAMART World Series. Chris Perley will lead the ISMA Super Modified contingent into their final event of the year and Tim Bertrand, holding a slim 18 points advantage over Mike Jarret, will attempt to secure the NEMA title at Thompson.
The XTRAMART World Series is a one-of-a-kind racing spectacle. Hundreds of race cars and racing trucks converge upon the huge Thompson Speedway complex to compete in one of the fourteen different divisions that make up this extra-special event. Racers from all up and down the east coast make the annual trek to Thompson to compete on one of America’s premier short tracks. The ultra fast, high banked 5/8ths mile oval, offers competitors a chance to be part of one of the largest racing events in the country.
Thompson’s Super 6 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will play a major role in the World Series with each providing, as they have all season long, exciting, wheel-to-wheel racing action. Racing trucks from the ARTS series, Pro 4 Modifieds and three “outlaw” divisions will round out the fourteen division event.
Practice and qualifying races for eight divisions will make up the on-track activity on Friday. Saturday will feature qualifying for the WMT, ISMA, NEMA and the remaining divisions that will race on Sunday. Once Saturday qualifying is complete, eight feature races will make for an exciting and fun filled Saturday night. Sunday’s action starts at 12 Noon with the heavy hitters in six incredible feature races.
The XTRAMART World Series of Speedway Racing is also host to some of racing’s greatest party atmospheres. It’s the last major event of the season and race fans enjoy all of the food, fun and entertainment at the Raceway Restaurant and Lounge.
Tickets for the XTRAMART World Series at Thompson are available by calling the Thompson track office. 860-923-2280.The entire weekend’s schedule is available on the Thompson web page. www.thompsonspeedway.com
by Jay | Oct 5, 2009 | New England, New Hampshire
Claremont, NH – October 4, 2009 – The Pro Four Modifieds of New England (PFMNE) completed their twelfth race of the season at Twin State Speedway. Fifteen modifieds hit the pavement for the Bot-L-Gas and RF Logic feature at Open Wheel Sunday in Claremont, NH. The #58 of Henry Sirigano and the #00 of Dave Richardi won their respective heat races and also finished in the top five for the feature. But it was the #1m of Norm Wrenn who proved unstoppable in the race to the finish.
The PFMNE 25-lap main event was led by D. Richardi and the #07 of Phil Lausier. Wrenn started in ninth, but quickly moved into the high groove, passing the #31 of Michael Crawford, the #26 of Mike Patnaude, and Sirigano on the first lap. By lap three, Wrenn tucked in behind the #4 of Cory Cleary, who saw an open door under the #11a of Dan Meservey. Coming out of turn four on the sixth lap, the #86 of Mark Charette drove outside the #34 of Mark Giordano for eleventh as he chased down a spot in the top ten. Wrenn found an opening below Cleary and passed him on lap seven for the fourth position. On lap seven, a caution came out for the #99 of Billy Joerres who spun in turns three and four.
On the restart, D. Richardi and Lausier continued to lead the field, followed closely by the #10 of Brian Vincent and Wrenn. Within one lap of the restart, Wrenn drove outside Vincent and had begun racing side by side with Lausier. The battle continued for a lap before Wrenn’s machine claimed the second position. Meanwhile, Meservey and Cleary raced side by side, vying for the fifth position, but Cleary was able to keep his advantage. Wrenn challenged D. Richardi for the lead, and the two raced side by side for several laps—with neither holding the advantage for very long. By lap fourteen, however, Wrenn’s machine completed the pass and would took over the lead for the rest of the race with D. Richardi at his heels. On that same lap, Cleary drove under Vincent to claim the fourth position. On lap sixteen, Joerres was about to pass Charette but had an unfortunate spin in turns three and four that brought out the second caution of the event.
Wrenn and D. Richardi led the field on the restart, followed by Lausier and Cleary. Sirigano restarted in seventh, but quickly made his way around Meservey and was looking to pass Cleary as well. But on lap seventeen, Cleary headed to the pits and was unable to return to the track. The third caution of the event occurred on lap twenty, when the #16 of Stan Mertz and Joerres spun on the frontstretch.
A single file restart brought on some side by side racing in the back of the field, but within five laps, it was Wrenn who claimed his tenth victory of the season. He was followed by D. Richardi, Lausier, Vincent, and Sirigano to complete the top five. Meservey, Patnaude, Mertz, Charette, Joerres, Crawford, Giordano, Cleary, the #56 of Dave Bedard, and the #07x of Robin Berghman rounded out the rest of the finishing order. Stan Mertz was the first Limited Pro Four to cross the finish line, followed by Joerres and Giordano.
The PFMNE’s next race will be at the D. Anthony Venditti Memorial at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday.
by Jay | Oct 5, 2009 | Video
A recap of the races that took place at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT on the weekend of (more…)
by Jay | Oct 4, 2009 | ACT, New England, Thunder Road
Hebert, Mullen and Yates Crowned 2009 Champions
Barre, VT – Graniteville’s John Donahue won the 47th Annual Chittenden Milk Bowl at Thunder Road International Speedbowl on Sunday, October 4. Donahue’s fifth place finish in the third segment was enough to edge out Brent Dragon by just four points. Dragon went into the third segment as the overall leader after winning the first segment and placing 10th in the second segment. His tenth place finish in the third segment gave him an overall score of 21 points for the three segment event.
Donahue took the green in the final segment trailing Dragon by just one point. The two fought hard through traffic to get to the front but Donahue got into the open air quicker and made it up to fifth and secured the win with a combined score of 17.
Eric Williams finished third overall with 26 points, followed by Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (28), Brian Hoar (29), Dave Pembroke (31), Jamie Fisher (31), Nick Sweet (31), Joey Laquerre (34), and Chip Grenier (37) rounded out the top ten.
In the Tiger Sportsman division Shawn Fleury of Middlesex took home his second win of the 2009 season at Thunder Road. His previous win was in the Tiger Tri-State Series 100 back in August. Fleury was followed to the line by Jason Corliss, Derrick O’Donnell, Tony Rossi and Bobby Therrien.
Williamstown’s Jimmy Hebert was crowned the 2009 Tiger Sportsman Champion after point leader Pete Ainsworth finished just one position shy of qualifying for the main event. Hebert recovered from an early spin to edged out Tony Rossi for the title.
Tommy Smith of Williamstown took his third win of the season in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks. Mike Martin, Danny Doyle, Gary Bashaw and Marcus Farnham completed the top five.
Gary Mullen of Tunbridge took the Allen Lumber Street Stock title over Mike Martin after Tucker Williams failed to qualify. Mullen secured the championship after finishing ninth in the feature. With that ninth Mullen finished the year with ten top tens in 16 starts.
Cabot’s Ken Christman took the Power Shift Junkyard Warrior feature win over Keith Fortier and Kevin Streeter. Donnie Yates of Montpelier was crowned the Power Shift Junkyard Warrior Champion even though he did not qualify for the feature. He had a big enough lead over Christman going into the feature that he could not be beaten. Yates had an amazing six wins during the 2009 season.
The 47th Annual Chittenden Milk Bowl capped off the 50th Anniversary Season at Thunder Road International Speedbowl. The American Canadian Tour title will be decided next Sunday, October 11 at Oxford Plains Speedway.
47th Annual Chittenden Milk Bowl Results
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Pos Car # Driver TOTAL
1 26vt John Donahue 17
2 55vt Brent Dragon 21
3 7vt Eric Williams 26
4 97nh Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. 28
5 37 Brian Hoar 29
6 44 Dave Pembroke 31
7 18 Jamie Fisher 31
8 88 Nicholas Sweet 31
9 15vt Joey Laquerre 34
10 9vt Chip Grenier 37
11 11vt Jean-Paul Cyr 38
12 14 Phil Scott 39
13 89 Scott Payea 40
14 55nh Brad Leighton 41
15 38vt Tyler Cahoon 44
16 7me Glen Luce 45
17 1 Tony Andrews 45
18 27 Wayne Helliwell Jr. 47
19 73me Joey Doiron 47
20 78nh Quinten Welch 50
21 42vt Matt White 59
22 6 Chad Wheeler 62
23 77nh Mark Hayward 63
24 32 Mike Olsen 63
25 40vt Eric Chase 63
26 16 Joe Becker 65
27 41 Pete Potvin, III 66
28 8vt Rich Lowrey 71
29 00 Mike Bailey 77
30 25 David Whitcomb 85
NAPA Tiger Sportsman Results
Pos Car # Driver
1 31 Shawn Fleury
2 61 Jason Corliss
3 68 Derrick O’Donnell
4 90 Tony Rossi
5 4 Bobby Therrien
6 89 Ray Stearns
7 94 Brendan Moodie
8 48 Tom Therrien
9 10 Josh Demers
10 18 Lance Allen
11 37 David Finck
12 06 Jeff French
13 58 James Hebert
14 15 Troy Gray
15 99 Cody Blake
16 04 Eric Badore
17 23 Matt Potter
18 19 #Neal Foster
19 2 John Lambert
20 55 Brian Delphia
21 1 Scott Coburn
22 32 #Erik Steel
23 84 Richard LaFond
24 33 Jason Allen
25 16 George May
26 0 Mark Barnier
27 79 Jason Bonnett
28 26 Mike Ziter
Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Power Shift Junkyard Warrior Results
Pos Car # Driver
1 22ss Tommy Smith
2 01ss Mike Martin
3 51ss #Danny Doyle
4 92ss Garry Bashaw
5 13ss Markus Farnham
6 68ss Bruce Melendy
7 83ss Bunker Hodgdon
8 38ss Greg Adams Jr.
9 29ss Gary Mullen
10 30ss Lloyd Blakely
11 34ss Timmy Campbell
12 77ss Dave Whitcomb
13 43ss #Jamie Davis
14 61ss Jason Corliss
15 42ss Tyler Therrien
16 73ss Vern Woodard
17 2ss David LaFleche
18 24ss Marvin Johnson
19 6ss #Daniel Lathrop
20 4jyw Ken Christman
21 35jyw Keith Fortier
22 61jyw Kevin Streeter
23 87jyw John Prentice
24 88jyw Thomas Elwood
25 31jyw Kevin Wheatley
26 06ss Michael Moore
27 7ss Martin Ingram
28 09ss #Amanda Habel
