by Jay | Oct 2, 2009 | New England
Hundreds of victories and dozens of championships are represented in the New England Auto Racer’s Hall of Fame “Class of 2010.”
Drivers Geoff Bodine, Mike Murphy, George Savory and Pete Fiandaca, car owners Billy Simons, Bob Garbarino and Vic Miller and contributor Frank Ferrara will be inducted at the 13th annual induction banquet on Sunday, Jan 30, 2010 at the LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT.
Still to be announced are the inductees from the Veterans Committee and the Jack Ratta Memorial (media) winner.
Ticket forms will be on the New England Antique Racers website (www.Near1.com) in the near future.
The Class of 2010 is the result of a nomination/selection process that includes voting by a special selection committee and the living members of the Hall.
Before winning 18 Sprint Cup races including the 1986 Daytona 500, Bodine established new standards for Modified driving for Massachusetts’s Dick Amstrong in the late 1970s. He won 55 features in 1978 alone including the Race of Champions, the Spring Sizzler, the Thompson 300 and a sweep at Martinsville. Credited with hundreds of Modified wins (he was named one of NASCAR’s top-10 Modified drivers in 2003), he is a multi-time champion at both Stafford and Thompson Speedways.
A car owner for almost 40 years, Simons, a Cromwell, CT native, won 10 championships – eight at Waterford Speedbowl and two at Riverside Park. With drivers like Ray Delisle, Hank Stevens, Don Collins, Ray Miller, Dick Caso, Stan Gregor, Ricky Summers and Dan Avery, he won at a number of tracks including Waterford, Lebanon Valley, Riverside Park, Stafford, Monadnock and Thompson.
The Late Murphy, who campaigned out of Woburn, MA, was a paragon of consistency, winning in several divisions including Modifieds, Supermodifieds, Pro Stocks and Late Models over almost three decades (1961-2000). Murphy, who won 22 straight ProStock features at Hudson in 1985, captured eight championships (four in a row at Hudson) including the 1989 NASCAR ProStock crown at Star Speedway.
Starting as an owner/mechanic Springfield, MA native Ferrara has served New England motorsports for well over 50 years. The association started as a car owner at Riverside Park in the early 1950s. He has a been a flagman (the Northeastern Midget Association and Stafford), a race sponsor (The Ferrara 100s), driver and, presently, a track owner (Whip City Speedway).
Coming out of the famous Gasoline Alley in Needham, MA, Savory raced with great success for 43 years. Competing throughout the east, he won an estimated 300 features and grabbed championships at Norwood Arena (1970), Westboro Speedway (1977) and Riverside Park (1994). He followed that with four “Pro 4 Modified” championships.
The “Traveling Man,” Fitchburg MA’s Fiandaca is the ultimate racer. Since 1967, he has won at least 320 features in everything from “bombers” to Modifieds and Pro Stocks. Fiandaca has 16 championships at five different tracks. A living legend in every sense of the phase, the immensely popular Fiandaca battled the best and prevailed not only with talent but also with smarts and determination.
Garbarino’s cars have carried the number V4 and the name “Mystic Missile” for 40 years, testimony to his longevity as a Modified car owner. The 2006 national championship capped off a run that began in the early 1960s at Waterford Speedbowl. The Mystic, CT-based team went to NASCAR in 1967 and became a charter member of the current Modified Tour set up in 1985.
Miller’s numbers are astonishing. Since 1965, cars prepared and/or owned by Miller have won on 32 tracks in 11 states and Canada. A five-time ISMA champ, he owns eight Thompson World Series, six Star/NESMRA Classic and six Oswego Nationals wins. Current driver Chris Perley is on a list of Miller drivers that includes Ollie Silva, Don MacLaren, Eddie West and Bentley Warren.
by Jay | Oct 2, 2009 | New England, Thompson
THOMPSON, CT. The 36th annual XTRAMART World Series of Speedway Racing is coming to Thompson the weekend of October 16rh-18th. This amazing three-day racing extravaganza is the largest, most diversified and most incredible racing program anywhere in the country.
Hundreds of race cars and race trucks and thousands of race fans will converge on the Thompson International Speedway to be part of one of auto racing’s annual gems. Fourteen different divisions of race cars and trucks will compete for championships, money and prestige as the 2009 racing season comes to an end.
The huge Thompson pit area will be filled to capacity with racers representing the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, ISMA Super Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, ARTS Trucks, Thompson’s “Super 6” NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Pro 4 Modifieds and three different “Outlaw” divisions. Many of the touring division will crown champions at Thompson including the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Friday’s schedule includes practice and qualifying races for 8 of the 14 divisions. These divisions will compete in feature races on Saturday night. Prior to the running of those Saturday night feature races, the remaining 7 divisions will practice and qualify during the day on Saturday. Those qualifying on Saturday will run their feature races on Sunday. The Sunday lineup will spotlight ISMA Super Modifieds, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NEMA Midgets along with Thompson’s Sunoco Modifieds, Super Late Models and Late Models to complete this amazing lineup of racing cars and stars.
Racing is, of course, the main focus of the XTRAMART World Series. However, the fact that it is also one enormous, season-ending race party is also a large part of this fun-filled outing. Thousands converge upon the Speedway grounds for the entire weekend and take full advantage of the great times offered up by the Raceway Restaurant and Lounge, the tailgate parties that fill the parking lot, the Raceway Golf Course and driving range and the many attractions within easy driving distance of the Speedway. Race fans meet up with old friends and make many new ones during the many social hours that make up this extra-special weekend.
The complete three-day schedule along with stories, accommodations listings and much more are all available on the Thompson web page. www.thompsonspeedway.com Tickets are available by calling the Thompson Speedway track office at 860-923-2280.
by Jay | Oct 2, 2009 | ACT, New England, Thunder Road
Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) announced today that they are planning a ten (10) race program for their ACT Late Model division located in Canada for the 2010 race season. This will be one additional event from the recently concluded 2009 schedule on the Série ACT Castrol. There will also be special events available to the ACT Castrol competitors such as the SHOWDOWN at Chaudiere, the Oxford 250, an anticipated return to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH for those who qualify, as well as ACT events throughout New England, including the Spring Green and Fall Foliage 300 at the new Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY.
This will be the fourth season of ACT Late Model racing throughout Quebec, which also includes a stop in Ottawa as a part of the proposed 10-race schedule.
“We have sent proposals this week to all our track promoters. We hope to have a confirmed schedule before the month of October is completed”, said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour. “We still have two more events to be run this season on the US Tour schedule (Thunder Road’s rain-postponed Milk Bowl this Sunday and the final event at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday, October 11), but with all the rumors that have been floating around Quebec, we wanted to let our competitors know that we will continue to organize and sanction race events on the Série ACT Castrol in 2010”, continued Curley.
Plans call for an additional event in 2010 at the Autodrome Ste. Felicien in the Lac St. Jean region. The track is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2010, and negotiations are underway between ACT and promoter Louise Boulanger to have the Castrol Série help them celebrate. ACT last raced at Ste. Felicien in 2008.
It was also announced today by ACT headquarters that the annual Série ACT Castrol Banquet of Champions will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Drummondville, QC. ACT will distribute over $30,000 in point fund and prize money to the ACT Castrol competitors. Donald Theetge of Boischatel, QC will be crowned the ACT Castrol Série Champion.
by Jay | Oct 1, 2009 | ACT, New England, Thunder Road
Waterbury, VT – For Cris Michaud it was a pretty easy decision.
Michaud was injured when he fell off a ladder at a job site and broke a vertebrae. When doctors informed him that he would not be able to race in the rained-out 47th annual Chittenden Milk Bowl at Thunder Road this coming Sunday, October 4, the three-time track champion went after one of his biggest Thunder Road rivals to fill the seat for him.
“What better guy to take over my ride in the Milk Bowl than Chad (Wheeler)? I really wanted to win the three Thunder Road Championships in a row in 2006 (Michaud won the Thunder Road track championships in 2004 and 2005, along with his title in 2001), but Chad was unbelievably consistent with his finishes all season long. He deserved to win the title that year”, said Michaud convalescing at his home in Williamstown, VT.
The 2004 winner of what is known as the ‘toughest short track race in America’ went on to say, “I think the Milk Bowl is the perfect race for Chad to come back and have some fun. He is a patient and smart racer and that’s what it takes to raise the milk can and kiss the cow,” concluded Michaud.
Over $70,000 in purse money, with a guaranteed minimum of $10,000 to win, is up for grabs by the American Canadian Tour (ACT) starting field of competitors. The thirty car field was set last Saturday in the unique format of time trials, triple 50 lap qualifying races, and a ‘Last Chance Race’. Fifty-four (54) teams attempted to qualify for the prestigious event.
A pair of ACT young guns will sit on the front row. 2008 ACT Rookie of the Year, Nick Sweet, in only his second year of racing Late Models, will lead the field to the green flag in segment one of the unique three-segment event. The first segment is lined up according to time trials and the Triple 50 qualifiers. The following two segments are reversed from the previous segments, with the best having to come from the rear twice to have a chance to win the Milk Bowl. Sweet, a hometown favorite from Barre, VT, will start beside Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., a three-time pole sitter and holder of the Thunder Road track record of 12.935 seconds.
“I have heard that Cris had a heck of a run in the Triple 50 qualifiers last Saturday. Coming from dead last to finish fourth was pretty darn impressive. I know I will have a good car under me and I am excited about trying out the only Ford engine. I had a great time racing against Cris for a lot of years and beating him for the title in 2006 got me to thinking that there really wasn’t much more for me in the sport at this time in my life. I wanted to spend a lot of time with my young boys, but now maybe there is one more thing I could accomplish with racing. It sure will be fun to try. I am looking forward to it, and I appreciate the confidence Cris has in putting me in his car,” said Wheeler.
The 47th annual Chittenden Milk Bowl is re-scheduled for this Sunday, October 4th, after having been rained out last Sunday. Gates will open at 10:00 am and pre-race ceremonies, which will include the Catamount Pipe and Drum Corps, the Norwich University color guard and Shock Platoon Drill Team will kick off the festivities at 1:00 pm. Racing will start at 1:30, and all the competitors in the various Thunder Road divisions, except the Late Models, will complete their championship seasons. Late Model racer Jean-Paul Cyr, from Milton, VT was named the King of the Road for 2009 at the final Thursday night event in August.
The Milk Bowl will bring down the curtain on the 50th Anniversary celebration of the racetrack.
by Jay | Oct 1, 2009 | New England, New Hampshire
Winchester, NH – September 26, 2009 – The Pro Four Modifieds of New England (PFMNE) completed their eleventh race of the season on Saturday at Monadnock Speedway. The Bot-L-Gas and RF Logic-sponsored race brought out the best car count of 2009, with a total of 21 cars. The #5 of Dan Meservey, Jr. and the #83 of Franky Perry each won a heat race, but it was the #1m of “Stormin’ Norman” Wrenn who claimed the victory, his ninth of the season.
The PFMNE were led by the #00 of Dave Richardi and the #13 of George Sherman as the field took the track for their 25-lap feature. As the green flag waved, the #07 of Phil Lausier advanced from his fourth starting position into second, around the #12 of Rob Richardi, Jr. and Sherman. The #10 of Brian Vincent followed close behind Lausier to claim the third position. Towards the back of the pack, the #19 of Tim D’Amico passed under the #86 of Mark Charette and the #31 of Michael Crawford for the eleventh position. But on lap three, Richardi Jr. and Sherman got loose and made contact heading into the backstretch, necessitating the first caution of the event.
Before the restart, the #39 of Travis McCalister headed to the infield for the remainder of the race. When racing got underway again, it was D. Richardi and Lausier who led the field. D’Amico moved under the #16 of Stan Mertz to claim the eighth position. Vincent was able to move himself around Lausier to claim the bridesmaid spot, but then the second caution came out, slowing all progress.
The restart quickly became a caution when D’Amico found himself in the frontstretch wall; he was unable to return to the event. Dave Richardi and Vincent led the field on the restart, followed closely by Lausier and the #4 of Cory Cleary—who had started the feature in tenth. Perry drove his machine passed the #11a of Dan Meservey, while the #49 of Joe Lemay headed pit side. Wrenn drove under the #07x of Robin Berghman to capture the ninth position; and Cleary was able to steal the third spot away from Lausier. On lap five, however, the caution flag was brought out for #34 of Mark Giordano, who spun alone on the frontstretch.
On this restart, D. Richardi and Vincent led the field again. Wrenn drove into the seventh spot, after moving under Charette and the #99 of Billy Joerres; and within one more lap, he’d driven under Meservey and Lausier to claim a spot in the top five. On lap seven, D. Richardi got loose coming out of turns three and four; Vincent was able to pass him to claim the lead. Meservey, Jr. was making an impressive run through the field from his 20th starting position; on lap nine, he passed Meservey for seventh. On lap ten, the caution flag was displayed for the #26 of Mike Patnaude who spun.
On the restart, Vincent and D. Richardi took the green with Perry and Wrenn at their heels. One lap later, Meservey and the #60 of Andy Majors were putting on some great side-by-side racing, with the nose of Majors’ machine holding a slight advantage. On lap twelve, however, Lausier spun in turn two, bringing out another caution.
When racing got underway again, it was Vincent, Perry, Wrenn, D. Richardi, and Cleary in the top five. Majors moved from seventh into sixth position when he passed under Meservey, Jr. Fighting their way to the front, Richardi, Jr. followed Lausier as they passed under Joerres and Charette. On lap fifteen, Wrenn moved his machine ahead of Perry to claim second. By lap nineteen, Wrenn had caught up to Vincent and had begun challenging him for the lead. But on the next lap, Perry and Cleary made contact, and Cleary’s machine spun on the backstretch. Cleary parked his car for the rest of the night, while Perry restarted at the rear of the field.
Because there were only five laps to go, the PFMNE had a single file restart. But on the first attempt, D. Richardi spun and brought out the caution. He drove into the infield, where he remained for the rest of the race, while Meservey, Jr. headed into the pits. Once racing began again, Wrenn moved outside Vincent on the backstretch, but they stayed side-by-side for a lap before Wrenn held the advantage. When the checkers unfurled, Wrenn claimed the win, followed closely by Vincent, Majors, Meservey, and Berghman to round out the top five. Right behind them, Lausier, Richardi, Jr., Perry, Patnaude, Giordano, Charette, Cleary, D. Richardi, Meservey, Jr., Joerres, Mertz, Sherman, D’Amico, Lemay, Crawford, and McCalister rounded out the rest of the field. Charette was the first Limited driver to cross the line, followed by Joerres and Mertz.
Catch the PFMNE at Twinstate Speedway in Claremont, NH next Sunday afternoon for their twelfth race of the 2009 season.
