by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | Beech Ridge, Maine, New England, PASS
Naples Maine (9/8/2009) One of the most anticipated weekends of the Northern New England racing season is upon us! Beech Ridge Motor Speedway will come alive this Thursday, September 10th for four straight days of racing when the Scarborough Maine speed plant hosts the biggest and most ambitious edition of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) 400 week end ever.
Thursday evening the true little guys (and gals!) of motorsports have the spotlight to themselves , with Beetle Bugs/ Runnin’ Rebels, OPS Outlaws/ Beech Ridge Mad Bombers, Race Trucks and Beech Ridge 305’s all on the schedule. Grandstands open at 3:00 PM, and the first qualifier gets the green at 6:00 PM sharp.
Friday is a tune-up day for two days’ worth of flat out racing. There’s practice on tap for all six Friday and Saturday divisions. The stands open at 11:00AM (at no charge) and there’s rotating practice from 12:00 noon until 6:00 PM.
On Saturday it’s time to get down to business. With qualifying races for all six weekend divisions and features for the NELCAR Legends, Road Runners and a $1,000.00 to win 75 lapper for Wildcat/Strictly racers, Saturday will serve up a day of non-stop, wide open racing. The grandstands open at 10:00, just as practice takes to the track. The first qualifier goes green at 12:15 PM.
The front gate swings open at 11:00 AM on PASS 300 Sunday and there’s an hour of rotating final practice before the PASS Super Late Models get on track for their “B” feature. Then it’s time for the $2,000.00 to win PASS Sportsman 100 followed by a 50 lapper for the PASS Mods. Time and weather permitting, a front stretch driver meet and greet will precede the PASS Super Late Model 300.
Visit www.proallstarsseries.com and www.racewithpass.com for the complete weekend schedule, camping information, lap board sponsors, and much more. Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is located at 70 Holmes Road in Scarborough Maine. The speedway is on line at www.beechridge.com
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | ACT, NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Center Harbor, NH (September 7, 2009): Brad Leighton has a chance to add to an already stellar record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when he heads to the track September 18-19 for a double-header weekend that includes competing in the NASCAR Camping World Series East and ACT Invitational races. Leighton will pilot the No. 55 Irving Oil-sponsored car in both events.
Leighton has eight wins in 38 starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Series East, and has been looking to add to that total since he last won there in 2003. He’s led over 600 laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and is always a fan-favorite for the win.
“We’ve come close so many times over the last couple of years, so hopefully, this time will be our trip back to victory lane,” said Leighton, who has posted five top-10 finishes since his last win. “We’re aiming to bring home back-to-back wins.”
The Center Harbor, N.H. resident will also compete in the inaugural ACT Invitational on Saturday. Leighton earned an invitation by virtue of his win at the at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup at Lee USA Speedway earlier this year. He was the first driver to earn one of the 36 total invitations to the race.
Late last month, Leighton participated in a test session in preparation for the Late Model event that will carry a purse of more than $65,000 for invited and approved teams.
“The test went well, but we discovered we have a lot more work to do,” said Leighton. “You can really drive the ACT car deep into the corners unlike the East Series car, but the East Series cars have a lot more power. The good thing is the two races are a day apart so it’ll lessen any transition issues.”
Leighton is already the winningest driver in the history of New Hampshire Motor Speedway so a win in either division would be a feather in his cap.
“If we win the East Series race, we’ll end a dry spell I’ve been trying to end for some time now, but at the same time I’d really like to win that ACT Invitational. It’s going to be a busy weekend, but I’m going to have a lot of fun with it all. I can’t wait – I’ll be like a kid in a candy store.”
Catch Brad Leighton and the Irving Oil Chevrolet in the Heluva Good Fall 125 NASCAR Camping World Series East race on Friday, September 18th at 5 p.m and the ACT Invitational on Saturday, September 19th at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on Brad Leighton or Irving Oil, visit www.bradleighton.com
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | NASCAR K&N Pro Series
North Haverhill, N.H. (September 7, 2009): When the NASCAR Camping World Series East returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, September 18th, a new face will occupy the seat of Fadden Racing’s familiar No. 61. The car, normally piloted on a limited basis by car owner Mike Olsen, will be driven by Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk, a talented up-and-coming racer out of Hudson, N.H.
Polewarczyk has built a name for himself as a regular on the ACT Late Model Tour, where he’s currently third in the point standings. Back in June, the 20-year-old driver won the Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 at Thunder Road after fielding a second car for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart, He’s also made two previous NASCAR Camping World Series East starts with the latest at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s September event in 2008, where he finished sixth.
“It’s Cup weekend and it’s one of the Camping World’s biggest races,” said Polewarczyk on his decision to race at NHMS. “It just made sense for us. We would love to race more in that series, but a lot of it comes down to sponsorship and how much money you can bring to the table to be with one of these top teams. I’m really looking forward to the experience of working with Mike (Olsen), Harry (Norcross), and everyone at Fadden Racing.”
The No. 61 will carry sponsorship from Pole’s Automotive and sport a blue and white color scheme.
“We’re thrilled to have Joey in one of our cars for New Hampshire,” said Olsen. “He’s proven he can drive a racecar, and he’s personable on top of that. I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll be successful in this race.”
Polewarczyk is entering the Heluva Good Fall 125 with realistic expectations of a top-10 finish, but the competitive side of him is going for it all.
“A top-10 would be great and that’s what we’re going to shoot for, but if we’re better than that we’re definitely going for it. We’ll adjust our goals as the race goes on,” he said.
The Heluva Good Fall 125 takes the green flag at 5 p.m. eastern time on Friday, September 18th. Qualifying is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
For more information on Fadden Racing, visit www.faddenracing.net.
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Posts Fourth Place Finish In West Series Race
Newton, IA (September 7, 2009): Brett Moffitt waged a battle in the closing laps of the Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway Friday night to post a fourth place finish in No. 4 Andy Santerre Motorsports Chevrolet. Moffitt, making a rare appearance in the NASCAR Camping World Series West, pressured Max Gresham throughout the closing laps in his bid for third place but just fell short at the checkers.
“It came down to the end of the race and Brett caught Max (Gresham),” said Santerre. “We really came on in the last 25 laps. I told Brett to give it everything he had. He got under Max, but couldn’t quite clear him. They raced side-by-side for the last ten laps. We would get beside him in the turn, but Max would beat us down the straightaway. It was good racing and they put on a good show.”
Moffitt was among the six fastest cars in both practice sessions, but had to start 11th after posting a qualifying time of 24.339 seconds.
“The track slowed down a lot. We took the same car we had there in the spring for the combination race, but qualifying speeds were almost a second slower than it was back in May,” said Santerre. “The set-up we had was really good. We were close, but we never got the car balanced perfectly.”
Moffitt moved up to ninth at the drop of the green and settled into seventh by the halfway mark. The second half of the race was the most productive for Moffitt, who moved up to fourth by the time the race reached lap 100.
With eventual winner David Mayhew setting a torrid pace, Moffitt had to shoot for a top-three. When the car came in, Moffitt took off and immediately started challenging Gresham for third. It was a 20-lap battle that highlighted the closing laps of the race.
“This was the car that we wrecked at New Hampshire, and it had a new front clip and a new body. It was the first time out with it. We were pretty happy with how it ran and the set up that we had,” said Moffitt. “Obviously, I would have liked to win, but a top-five finish is nothing to balk at especially considering we had to come up through from 11th.”
Moffitt returns to action in the NASCAR Camping World Series East at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, September 18th. For more information on Brett Moffitt or Andy Santerre Motorsports, visit www.brettmoffitt.com or www.andysanterremotorsports.com.
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | Monadnock Speedway, New Hampshire
Winchester, NH: Monadnock Speedway hosted a very busy race venue this past Saturday which included all the regular divisions along with tour appearances from NEMA and Allison Legacy. Kirk Alexander cruised in victory lane for the Modifieds as Bryon baker celebrated his first Outlaw Pro win of the season. Nick Gravel took the checkers for the Super Stock along with Mini Stock competitor Beth Adams. Heath Renaud and Rob Morton took down the Enduro victories.
The Mini Stocks rolled onto the track for the first feature event. Beth Adams led the field to the green. Adams, the early leader, showed the way as Chris Davis, Derek Berquist, Chris McTaggart and Dennis Wallace followed. By lap ten, a battle for second developed between Davis and McTaggart. Fifteen laps in the books, Adams continued to lead as she worked through lap traffic as McTaggart followed on her back bumper. Lap seventeen, a caution came out for debris. On the restart, Adams held off McTaggart for the lead as Joey Kendall moved into third chasing down the top two. Three laps to go, the caution again came out setting the field up for a three lap shoot out. On the restart, Adams again held of McTaggart as the top three ran bumper to bumper. On the final lap, it was Adams celebrating her first win of the season followed by McTaggart, Kendall, Bergquist and Davis.
The Super Stocks took to the track with Dana Shepard on the pole. On the start, contact was made between Andy Brooks and Shepard bringing out a caution. On the restart, Gravel inherited the lead as David Striebel followed close behind. By lap ten, Gravel began to pull away as Striebel and Ken Springer settled in the top three. Nancy Muni and Bill Johnston battled for fourth as Ed Brehio III ran close behind. Five laps to go, a four car battle developed for third between Springer, Muni, Johnston and Brehio III. Gravel continued to have a good lead as Striebel was on his own in second. At the checkers, it was Gravel taking the victory followed by Striebel, Springer, Muni and Johnston.
Barry Gray brought the Outlaw Pro field to the green with Steve Gauthier on the side of him. By lap two, Gray felt the pressure of Bryon Baker for the lead. On lap four, Baker made his move to the inside of Gray and took the lead. Mike Parks and Russ Hersey followed leaving Gray in fourth. Half way to go, Parks placed the heat on Baker for the lead attempting the outside for several laps. Hersey ran on Parks back bumper awaiting his opportunity to take over second. Gray and Gauthier battled for fourth. Five laps to go, the top three continued to run bumper to bumper as they approached lap traffic. As the top three worked around lap traffic, Parks took the high side in turn three as Hersey went low and moved into the second spot. At the checkers, it was Baker followed by Hersey, Parks, Gray and Gauthier.
Modified pole sitter, Rich Hammann, was scored the early leader of the feature event until Vic Johnson took it away. By lap eight, Kirk Alexander moved into second and began chasing down Alexander for the lead. On lap thirteen, Alexander took over the lead as Dale Evonsion moved into third. Hammann and JR Baril challenged each other for third. At the half way mark, Alexander worked his way through lap traffic as Johnson gained some ground on him running second. Jim Boniface and Bryan Shumway moved into the top five. Ten laps to go, Alexander again worked through lap traffic as Johnson continued to run second. Evonsion began to feel the presence of Boniface, Shumway and Todd Patnode behind him as they all ran tight. Two laps to go, Boniface and Shumway battled with Shumway taking over the fourth spot. On the final lap, it was Alexander posting back to back wins followed by Johnson, Evonsion, Shumway and Boniface.
This Saturday, the Modifieds return to the high banks of Monadnock Speedway along with the Outlaw Pros, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, 4-cylinder Enduros and Classic Lies. Following the race event, the speedway will host a demolition Derby. Race time is at 6pm. For more information, log onto www.monadnockspeedway.com.
