by Jay | Sep 3, 2009 | PASS
CHARLOTTE, NC (September 3) – Since is first opened in 1993, Southern National in Kenly, NC has been one of America’s premier short tracks. Touring divisions and weekly racers flocked to race at the facility that saw drivers like Denny Hamlin and Scott Riggs hone their skills before moving on to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. But, in recent years, the track struggled to find its identity and, following a tumultuous end to the 2008 season, Southern National’s future looked bleak. While other tracks around the country have been putting on races for much of 2009, Southern National has sat idle. Leaving locals with a void that has yet to be filled. But, that will soon come to an end, when the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models breathe new life into the shuttered speedway on September 26th.
Although PASS has only raced at Southern National once, PASS President Tom Mayberry and his staff saw the potential in the speedway. That race at Southern National in 2006 was only the second race of the then brand new PASS South division and attracted drivers from near and far. Super Late Model veteran Freddie Query took his only PASS South victory at Southern National after a spirited battle with local driver Clay Jones, future PASS South champions Mike Rowe and Ryan Lawler, and Alabama hotshoe Charlie Bradberry.
“When we went to Southern National in 2006 we had an outstanding race,” said Mayberry. “The lead changed hands all day long and that race proved to us that PASS South just might have the legs to be a success. I just loved the track, but for whatever reason we were not able to put things together to get another race there.”
In the years following PASS’s visit to Southern National, track owner and former racer Kirk Leone made significant capital improvements to the 4/10 mile facility including repaving the track, paving the infield, erecting a new scoreboard and public address system, and constructing new buildings on the property. And, although the track has sat idle this season, Leone has continued to make upgrades as he tries to sell Southern National.
“We’ve got a brand new sewer system and have done a lot of work to the track to get ready for the PASS race and for any potential buyers out there,” said Leone. “The track is great and it will be a steal for whoever buys it. I just don’t have the time to devote to it that I need to for it to be a success. I’m glad PASS is coming in to put on this show and I know our fans are looking forward to it because they love their racing here at Southern National.”
PASS South has put added emphasis on the Southern National 150 by making it one of only four races in the PASS National Series. The PASS National Series consists of four special events taken from the PASS North and PASS South schedules that will help to determine an overall PASS National Champion. The Southern National 150 will be race number three of the PASS National Series and is expected to attract the top Super Late Models from across the country. In addition, former Southern National regulars such as John Batten, “Big” Jim Kelley, and Shelton McNair have expressed their intention to return to their old stomping grounds.
The PASS Late Model Trucks and 4 Cylinders will also be on the racing card at Southern National on September 26th. Southern National was one of the first racetracks in the region to race Trucks and a great field of newcomers is expected to join PASS Late Model Trucks regulars such as Grant Davidson, Jody Measamer, Clint King, Michael Cooper, and Marty Griggs. The 4 Cylinder division has a great heritage at Southern National and will add to the excitement as the local fans and drivers look to return to their home track.
But, the Southern National 150 will not be the only race held this year at Southern National. PASS South will continue the Thanksgiving tradition of racing at Southern National with the Thanksgiving Classic on November 27-28. The PASS South Super Late Models will have a special non-points race with several other divisions also racing. Those divisions competing at the Thanksgiving Classic will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Southern National 150 weekend kicks off with practice for all divisions on Friday, September 25th. Then, on Saturday, September 26th, practice and qualifying will be held prior an on track autograph sessions and main events for the 4 Cylinders, PASS Late Model Trucks, and PASS South Super Late Models.
For more information on any PASS division go to racewithpass.com or for information on the Southern National 150 go to southernnational.net.
by Jay | Sep 3, 2009 | Maine, Oxford Plains Speedway
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘A’ (20 laps): 1. Ryan Robbins, Dixfield; 2. David Childs, Oxford; 3. Steve Moon, Gray; 4. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 5. Chris Burgess, Sabattus; 6. Addison Bowie, Auburn; 7. Jim Drake, Hebron; 8. John Patria, Turner; 9. Jay Wilkins, Gray; 10. Carey Robertson, Leeds; 11. Chris Coolidge, South Paris; 12. Dan Brown, Peru; 13. Steve Brill, Bridgton. DQ: Zach Bowie, Lisbon; Josh Childs, Leeds.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Guy Childs, Turner; 2. Jim Davis Jr., Sabattus; 3. Fred Clavet, Buckfield; 4. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 5. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 6. Tyler Belanger, Sumner; 7. Josh Paradis, Sumner; 8. John Spencer Jr., Farmington; 9. Clint Sherwood, Poland; 10. Shannon Judd, Jay; 11. Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester; 12. David Brown, Poland; 13. Scott Hethcoat, Danville Junction; 14. Jerry Freve, Buckfield; 15. Kyle Curtis, Oxford.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘C’ (20 laps): 1. Nic Stanley, Buckfield; 2. Brian Picard, Gorham; 3. Gerry Richard, Leeds; 4. Todd Hall, Auburn; 5. Chad Truman, South Paris; 6. Keith Landry, Oxford; 7. Scott Veinott, Greene; 8. Phil Knowlton, Poland; 9. Dottie Patria, Turner; 10. Justin Vining, Peru; 11. Todd Bisbee, South Paris; 12. Ryan Hewins, Leeds; 13. Dennis Morang, South Paris; 14. Don Veinott, Sabattus. DQ: Glen Henderson, Sabattus.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘A’ (20 laps): 1. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 2. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 3. Jason Berry, Turner; 4. Matt Dufault, Turner; 5. Craig Bartlett, Waterford; 6. Troy Jordan, Turner; 7. Corey Beaulieu, Oxford; 8. Ryan Hewins, Leeds; 9. Dustin Salley, Auburn; 10. Jamie Leavitt, Minot; 11. Scott Farrington, Minot; 12. Zach Audet, Wilton; 13. John Childs, Leeds; 14. Mike Ward, Harrison; 15. Roger Bourgoin, Sabattus; 16. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 17. Derek Cook, Livermore Falls; 18. Craig Farrington, Hebron; 19. Kyle Hewins, Leeds; 20. Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Jeff Hebert, Auburn; 2. Jim Hart, Turner; 3. Ryan Philbrick, Greenwood; 4. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 5. Derek Cairns, Waterford; 6. Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester; 7. Eric Rowles, Lewiston; 8. Jonah Farrington, Hebron; 9. Randy Desmarais, Auburn; 10. Todd Sawyer, Pownal; 11. Charlie Hall, Oxford; 12. Chad Wills, Mechanic Falls; 13. Curt Chapman, Lewiston; 14. Bill Sprague, Minot; 15. Gene White, Lisbon; 16. Carl Conant, Lewiston; 17. Michael Carver, Durham; 18. Bob Lucas, Peru.
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Yogi Hiscock, Jay; 2. John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls; 3. Kevin Oliver, Gray; 4. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 5. Opie Allard, Harpswell; 6. John Reynolds, Wells; 7. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 8. Jerry Stevens, Searsport; 9. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 10. Laurette Theriault, South Casco; 11. Brad Corson, Sumner; 12. Chad Binette, Arundel; 13. Nathan Merrill, Norway; 14. Duane Booth, Wells; 15. Eugene Corson, Sumner; 16. Corey Williams, Sumner; 17. Wade Hanscom, Arundel.
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Debbie Marston, Hartford; 2. Dottie Patria, Turner; 3. Kayla McCubrey, Hollis; 4. Deanna Robertson, South Paris; 5. Lisa Brooks, Auburn; 6. Missy Morgan, Lewiston; 7. Tori Burgess, Sabattus; 8. Sue Veinott, Sabattus; 9. Missy Blash, Oxford; 10. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 11. Kristen Brown, Poland; 12. Annie Chartier, Mexico; 13. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 14. Christina Spaulding, Lewiston; 15. Shannon Wheeler, Auburn.
GOULET HOME INSPECTIONS RENEGADE (10 laps): 1. Jason Hannigan, Greene; 2. Bill Grover, Waterford; 3. Charlie Hall, Oxford; 4. Bob Morey, Lisbon; 5. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 6. Justin White, Wiscasset; 7. Spencer Morse, Waterford.
by Jay | Sep 3, 2009 | Thompson
Keith Rocco has been named the new driver for the T.S. Haulers # 12 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour car owned by Ed Partridge. Rocco will replace Jimmy Blewett for the balance of the 2009 season beginning with this week’s running of the Bud 150. In addition, Ronnie Silk has been given the seat in Partridge’s Sunoco Modified in Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All American Series division. These changes were announced Monday by team owner Ed Partridge. Rocco will continue to drive the number 6 Interstate Diesel Sunoco Modified in Thompson’s weekly competition.
In announcing the change, Partridge told Thompson Speedway that “things have gotten to be too much for Jimmy. He has huge family and family business commitments and he just needed a break. All is good between Jimmy and me and he will still drive my car at Wall Stadium. He will probably drive one of our Sunoco Modifieds at Thompson’s World Series,” Partridge concluded.
Keith Rocco is thrilled at the chance to drive a top notch WMT race car. “I am definitely excited. This is a great opportunity, said Rocco. Jimmy Blewett and I are really close friends and he has been giving me tips and pointers on the car and the Tour. He’s given me some great advice and it means a lot.” Rocco has competed once before in a WMT car at Thompson. That outing came last October when he drove the Joe Brady car during the World Series of Speedway Racing.
Rocco is in a tough battle with Woody Pitkat for the Thompson Sunoco Modified championship and is also in the thick of points battle for the NASCAR national championship.
Ronnie Silk will join the ranks of the Sunoco Modified division in the Partridge owned #12 this week. Silk has had much success at the Thompson. He has three WMT wins to his credit. The first coming in September of ’07 and that was followed by back-to-back wins in June and August of ’08.
The New England Dodge Dealers presentation of the Bud 150 is scheduled for Thursday, September 3rd. Qualifying begins at 5:30 PM with the Bud 150 scheduled for a start time of approximately 8:45 PM.
by Jay | Sep 1, 2009 | ACT, New England, New Hampshire
Waterbury, VT – The upcoming Labor Day weekend will bring a major test for the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model race teams. The first double-header weekend of the season takes place with a rain make up event at the Twin State Speedway in Claremont, NH on Friday night, September 4. Post time is 7 pm. Following the event at Twin State; the TOUR will head to Thunder Road for the 31st running of the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 on Sunday, September 6, 2009.
“This is just like the old days, when we used to race lots of double header weekends”, said Tom Curley, President of the ACT. “I actually liked doing a couple of races a weekend back when we ran the old NASCAR North and ACT Pro-Stock Tours. It seemed to build great camaraderie among the teams who helped put the cars together with each other, and certainly those weekends created some interesting short term rivalries”, continued Curley.
Five points separate Milton, VT’s Scott Payea and his closest competition with fellow Vermonter and 5 time ACT Champion, Brian Hoar. With the ‘best pick 10’ system used on the ACT, Hoar actually leads Payea by a single point if the worst point races of 2009 were dropped by the two drivers. “I will just have to keep doing what I have been doing all season”, said Payea. “I am trying to win every race and not get caught up in the Championship point battle. I know winning the title is our goal, but the focus for our team has been to try and win races and finish well in every race…if we can do that, the points will follow”, continued Payea. Payea has plenty of experience with how the points work. In 2008, the Payea team lost the ACT title by one point following the Chittenden Milk Bowl final event at Thunder Road. Patrick Laperle had to win the Milk Bowl to win the championship. He won the Milk Bowl and thus the championship.
Not one for being conservative in his young racing career, hard charger Joey Polewarczyk Jr. of Hudson, NH has taken over as the leader of the ‘young guns’ on the ACT. ‘Joey Pole’, as he is known, is a two-time winner in ACT competition this season. “I was pretty disappointed last Sunday at the Showdown when we started to overheat from a pin hole in the radiator. I am anxious to race at Twin State Speedway. Our team always likes the challenge that new tracks like Twin State present, and I can’t wait to get back to Thunder Road”, said Pole. He was leading the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic 100 before flying off the turn three burm with just a handful of laps left. The team led by his father, Joe Pole, rebounded at the Vermont Governor’s Cup in June, when they fielded a car for Tony Stewart in his appearance at Thunder Road. Joey Pole went on the win the Governor’s Cup. The 97 team trails front runner Payea by only 35 points with four events to go on the 2009 ACT schedule.
Post time for the Twin State 100 this Friday is 7 pm. There were 37 teams that attempted to qualify when the rains came on August 2. The gates will open at Thunder Road for Labor Day holiday camping at noon on Friday. Over 40 Late Models from throughout New England and Canada are expected to try and qualify for the Labor Day Classic.
Saturday will be qualifying for the Thunder Road regular divisions and Sunday will be a full day of racing with qualifying and the 31st Annual Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 for ACT Late Models. The Thunder Road Sportsman, Street Stocks and Warriors will also run features on Sunday, September 6. Gates open at noon on Saturday, and 10 on Sunday morning. Post time is 1:30 on Sunday. Advance tickets are now on sale at over 30 Bond Auto locations throughout Vermont and New Hampshire. There is a five-dollar ($5) discount if tickets are purchased in advance until 5 o’clock on Friday, September 4, 2009. Day of race tickets will be $25 for the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200. The posted purse is over $40,000.00
