by Jay | Aug 10, 2012 | Connecticut, Modified, New England, Thompson
Thompson, CT: Donny Lia earned his 16th career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race and his third at Thompson International Speedway when he won the Bud 150 in convincing fashion and ended a winless drought that dates back to 2009. Danny Gamache, Jr. visited Thompson International Speedway victory lane for the first time in his career when he checkered the Thompson Modified division in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. Other winners included Ryan Preece in the Sunoco Modified division, Tommy O’Sullivan in the Late Models, Jesse Gleason in the Limited Sportsman division, Eric Bourgeois in the Monster Mini Stocks, and Cam McDermott in the Lite Modifieds.
In the Bud 150, pole sitter Mike Stefanik battled Ron Silk to lead all but one circuit in the first 75 laps before losing the point to Todd Szegedy coming out of turn four. A red flag stopped the action at lap 87 when Woody Pitkat’s No. 11 machine landed on top of Ed Flemke’s No. 28 machine and remained there halfway down the backstretch. On the restart, Silk drove underneath Szegedy heading into turn one and after a side-by-side battle drove to the front coming out of turn three. The race remained green until a caution tightened the field up for a restart at lap 123. Silk held the lead at the green, but Donny Lia took it away at lap 129 in turn two. Lia pulled away from Silk as the laps ticked off and drove to the checkered flag for the first time since 2009.
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by Jay | Aug 7, 2012 | Connecticut, Modified, Thompson
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads for Thompson International Speedway this Thursday night for the annual running of the King of Beers Budweiser 150. The Bud 150 will mark the Tour’s first appearance at Thompson since the track hosted the season-opening Icebreaker back in April.
Fresh off his win at Stafford, Doug Coby, current WMT points leader, will head a potent field of New England’s most popular touring series to the historic speedway for what is traditionally one of the best races of the year. The race has become a true fan favorite based in its rich history of incredible competition by NASCAR’s best Modified drivers.
Defending WMT champion, Ron Silk opened the season by winning Thompson’s Icebreaker and he will look to repeat that magic in the Bud 150. Silk, who comes into the race sitting third in the points battle, will face Ryan Preece, second in points, and others who have seen much success at Thompson. Some on that list include Jimmy Blewett, Ted Christopher, Justin Bonsignore, Eric Beers, Rowan Pennink, Mike Stefanik and many more.
Preece has had a tremendous year in Thompson’s Sunoco Modified division and will be tough to beat. To date, Preece has four wins, two seconds, a third and a fourth in this division and is the current points leader.
Mike Stefanik, always tough at Thompson, claimed the win at NHMS in July and the seven-time champ proved that he is still very much a factor in WMT competition. Other former champs, Todd Szegedy and Donny Lia will be part of this star-studded field. The WMT will be joined by Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series ‘Super 6” divisions.
Grandstands will open at 2 PM so that fans can watch race teams practice prior to qualifying time trials slated for 5:30 PM. Feature event races will follow time trials with the King of Beers Bud 150 scheduled to take the green at roughly 8:30 PM.
by Jay | Aug 6, 2012 | Lee USA, Modified, New Hampshire
Legendary car builder Jim Belfiore has been chosen as Grand Marshall for this Friday night’s Annual 75 lap Ollie Silva Memorial Summer Classic at the Lee USA Speedway presented by Haffner’s Gasoline and Fuels, “It Kicks.” Belfiore , who considered Ollie Silva as a personal friend, describes his selection as “A great honor.”
Born and raised in Haverhill, MA, Jim Belfiore was a participant during the early days of super modified racing both as an owner and a driver, and was a charter member of New England Super Modified Association organization. He also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at U Mass Lowell. Career opportunities took him to San Jose, CA where he resided for several years. He attained a Master’s Degree in California, and it was in the Golden State where his enthusiasm for super modified racing was rekindled.
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by Jay | Aug 3, 2012 | Connecticut, Modified, New England, Thompson
Duane Noll dominated the 20-lap New England Truck Series race at Thompson International Speedway Thursday night while Chad LaBastie earned his first career Thompson Modified win in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. Other winners included Ryan Preece in the Sunoco Modifieds, Cam McDermott in the Lite Modifieds, John Falconi in the Late Model division, Steve Kenneway in the Limited Sportsman division, and Scott Michalski in the Monster Mini Stocks. Paul LaPlante won the Antique Racers feature event.
Duane Noll put his Thompson experience to use as he dominated the 20-lap New England Truck Series race to take the checkers and extend his point lead in the division. Noll took the early lead from Nate Bubello at the start of the New England Truck Series race with Jason Lafayette close behind in third. The trio pulled away from the rest of the field as Corey Coates moved into the fourth spot more than a second behind them. The first caution flew at lap eight when Mike Ledoux and Daniel McGouran made contact on the front stretch. Noll drove right back out front as Lafayette used the bottom groove to get by Bubello for second. Coates moved into third as Bubello fought unsuccessfully to hold on to fourth. Noll dominated out front as Coates looked for a way around Lafayette – first looking high, and then low. Finally, at lap 17, Coates dropped to the bottom and tried to maneuver his No. 75 machine in alongside Lafayette, but Lafayette shut the door. Noll went unchallenged at the checkers while Lafayette held on for second and Coates in third.
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by Jay | Aug 3, 2012 | Massachusetts, Modified, New England, Seekonk Speedway
Matt Hirschman picks up Seekonk’s Modified Madness and the $10,000 to go along with it. Seth Carlson is NEMA winner, while Shaun Buffington winds Legends main.
Matt Wentz and Jon McKennedy brought the 25 car field down to the green flag, and it was Wentz who jumped out front. Matt led the first few laps before VMRS Champion Chris Pasteryak took over and started to pull away. Matt Hirschman, who started sixth, quickly moved behind Pasteryak, and put on the chase. Wentz followed in third until the defending Open Wheel Wednesday winner Doug Coby moved past. At the lap 25 mark, McKennedy had moved back into fourth with Louis Mechalidas was fifth.
By lap 40, Todd Annarummo and Ryan Preece had moved into fourth and fifth. While battling for the lead, Pasteryak and Hirschman got together, and both were taken out of the lead pack. Coby was involved as well, as he and Hirschman locked bumpers. This handed the lead over to Annarummo, with Preece, Todd Patnode, Austin Kochenash and Dave Berghman the top five. Kochenash had already pitted earlier in the event, and had worked his way back through the field.
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by Jay | Jul 30, 2012 | Connecticut, Modified, New England, Thompson
Ted Christopher earned his 97th career victory at Thompson International Speedway when he scored the checkers in the 75-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series event. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series wins were captured by Ryan Preece in the Sunoco Modifieds, John Falconi in the Late Models, Cam McDermott in the Lite Modifieds, John Lowinski-Loh in the Thompson Modifieds, Scott Sundeen in the Limited Sportsman, and Steve Violette in the Mini-Stocks.
Ted Christopher survived a caution-filled 75-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series event to take the victory behind the wheel of the No. 00 Joe Brady-owned machine. It was his second win of the season in the division. Christopher came from deep in the field to earn the win. Christopher inherited the lead after Rowan Pennink was black flagged for a leak.
“I was behind him and I could never get throttle up and off and than I saw him spraying the water,” said Christopher about Pennink.
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