by | Mar 25, 2014 | New England, New England Motorsports South
By Lou Modestino
With the calendar declaring it’s time to go racing, and 33 confirmed race teams indicating their intent to compete, the Valenti Modified Racing Series kicks off its 2014 schedule this coming weekend March 28th, 29th and 30th. at Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, Connecticut.
The famed racing facility will host the annual “Blastoff” weekend with drivers preparing for practice and qualifying day on Saturday. The VMRS will compete in a 100-lap feature race on Sunday.
Based on high interest in the series for 2014, series director Scott Tapley requested a mandatory tire sign-in to ensure enough tires for Waterford. The rule shows 33 race teams have filed for tires. Teams have until Monday afternoon, March 24, to submit their requests.
Reigning series champion Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA, and defending “Blastoff” winner Steve Masse, of Bellingham. MA, are entered for the seasons inaugural event.
Local favorite, two-time Speedbowl winner Chris Pasteryak, of Lisbon, CT, will compete. Richard Savary, of Canton, MA, coming off a strong 2013 campaign is entered. Preston, CT’s Max Zachem and Berlin, CT’s, Keith Rocco,are confirmed. Veterans Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT., will wheel Joe Brady’s # 00. Mike Holdridge, of Madison, CT, and Dave Etheridge, of Portland, CT., are part of the opening day roster.
A Long Island invasion finds Justin Bonsignore, of Islip, NY, driving Art Barry’s #21 car, and Shawn Solomito, of Islip, looking to nail down the opening day win. Eric Goodale, and Brad VanHouton of Wading River, have entered. Todd Szegedy, of Ridgefield, CT., will debut in Kevin Stuarts # 85. Szegedy has committed to the season schedule filling in for regular driver Louie Mechalides who recently underwent back surgery.
As of Sunday March 23, additional drivers requesting tires include: Gregg Hurley, Todd Annarummo, Dana Smith, Charlie, Pasteryak, Todd Owen, Dave Schneider, Roy Seidell Jr, Tom Abele, Jr, Rob Richardi Jr, Mike Willis Jr, Dennis Charette, Chris Bakaj, Norm Wrenn, Jeff Rocco, Dylan, Kopec, Matt Mead, Jeff Pearl, Anthony Nocella, and Danny Cates.
The season’s first race will be the first of three by the VMRS at Waterford with additional events scheduled in August and September.
Testing and practice sessions with be conducted on Friday and Saturday. mThe popular pit party kicks off race day at 8:00 AM on Sunday. The “Blastoff 100” is slated to go green at 4:00 PM. The season’s first race will be the 17th appearance by New England’s premier series for modified race cars at Waterford with additional events scheduled in August and September.
After months of hard work and planning, the Northeastern Midget Association has finalized it’s schedule for the upcoming racing season. Both ends of the thirteen race schedule will be held at the traditional venues; the kick-off at the Waterford Speedbowl March 29 – 30, and will wind down at Thompson, CT in late October. The eight month, ten track span of events will take the winged warriors as far north as Evan Mills Speedway in Evans Mills, NY and Oxford Plains in Maine; and as far south as Seekonk, MA.
The first hot laps of 2014 will be turned at an open practice slated for March 28 at the Waterford Speedbowl, followed by two days of intense qualifying and features by both the NEMA and Lites divisions for the “2014 Blastoff” on the 29th and 30th. After a bit of a break, racing resumes at the Evans Mills Motorsports Park on May 24th in upstate New York.
What follows is the heart of the schedule as the teams will race in eight events over a span of three months starting with a newer track for NEMA in Wiscasset, ME on June 7. Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire is next on June 21 for the “Iron Mike” Memorial, a season highlight celebrating the life of legendary car owner Mike Scrivani. The teams return to NH for a June 28 race at the Twin State Speedway in Claremont to finish out the month.
July will be especially challenging for the teams as the mid section of the month hosts three races in eight days. On July 19 NEMA will be part of the Oxford Plains 250 short track event in Maine, a very prestigious event in the northeast. This event will offer an opportunity to claim the Marvin Rifchin Trophy, a piece wanted on all NEMA driver’s mantels. Next up, the only mid week event of the year is on July 23 in Seekonk, MA. Billed as “Open Wheel Wednesday”, the track will host the IMSA Super Modifieds. as well as the “Boston Louie”. The “Louie” is special to the NEMA fraternity as the annual race is held in remembrance of Louie Seymour, long time NEMA midget car owner. The month closes out with a return to the Waterford Speedbowl on July 26 for it’s second of four visits. It will be a very special night to say the least as much loved and missed Shane Hammond will be remembered.
August starts out where July left off, back the popular Waterford facility on the 9th, and then back north to Epping, NH and Star Speedway on the 23rd, a NEMA mainstay.
New York state’s second stop on the schedule is at the famed Oswego Speedway, Oswego, N.Y. The Sept 13 date at the lightning fast track is the one and only race date for the month.
The final two events of the year are two day shows starting October 4-5 at Waterford, for the clubs forth visit; and will end at “The World Series of Speedway Racing” on the high banks of Thompson Speedway on October 18-19.
The NEMA Lite Division’s 2014 schedule mimics the NEMA schedule save for the additions of races on May 10th at Waterford, May 31 at Star and Sept 6th back at Waterford. The Lites will not compete at Thompson.
As the days get longer, hopefully the temperatures will rise as high as the anticipation of this new season. The NEMA and Lites teams are winding up final preparations and as the first race date approaches we can only imagine how the season will go.
A large quantity of contingency awards awaits the drivers of the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) for the 2014 season.
Many different companies have stepped up and offered some great prizes and products this upcoming season. Not only do heat winners and the series champion receive contingency awards, there are also bonuses spread out through the entire field and random prize winners at the year-end banquet.
Sunoco Race Fuels will present the winner of any qualifying round, including heats and consolation rounds, with 5 gallons of race fuel. MacLellan Metal Finishing of Waltham, MA will also give all heat race winners a $25 check. This equates to approximately $85 added to the heat race winner’s check.
Not only will race winners reap rewards, but there are a few different companies supporting different finishing positions throughout the field. RB Performance, based out of Andover, ME, will be presenting a $50 gift certificate to the 4th and 7th place finisher in each feature event. Sherwood Racing Wheels from Owego, NY has agreed to present the 10th place finisher in each feature event with a $50 gift certificate. Bond Auto Parts will be awarding a $200 bonus to the last car on the lead lap at each event. Also, Five Star Stock Car Bodies will be handing out a $50 gift certificate with their 5th Place Finisher award. GSPSS driver Cory Casagrande is pleased with the distribution of awards. “For me, I’m mostly a weekly racer,” states Casagrande. “We do not get anything for heat races, nor do we usually receive any bonus besides gas for finishing in top 3 of the feature. The GSPSS has a unique way of paying it out through the field so it isn’t the same driver taking all the money every week.”
Also on race day, AR Bodies will be presenting a $100 gift certificate to one lucky driver at each event, picked by GSPSS officials. Drivers that gain the most positions in an event will be rewarded with the Hard Charger Award presented by Crazy Ed’s Powersports, to the tune of $100, as well as the Draco Springs award for a gift certificate for a Draco Spring. Finally, the Race Depot will present a $100 gift certificate at random at each GSPSS event. These generous awards by the GSPSS contingency sponsors total approximately $1000 in prizes and money available to drivers for each event.
The 2014 series champion will be rewarded for his hard work throughout the season at the year-end banquet. The Race Depot will present the GSPSS champ with a helmet at the 2014 Awards Banquet. Velocita Premium Driving Apparel will also present the champion with 50% off a new fire suit. These awards will accent the championship package nicely.
The series champion will not be the only driver to benefit at the Awards Banquet. AR Bodies will be sponsoring the 2014 Rookie of the Year award with a $1000 gift certificate. AR Bodies will also be giving away two $500 gift certificates at random at the 2014 banquet. Five Star Stock Car Bodies will also be giving away two $500 gift certificates at the 2014 banquet, along with Velocita Premium Racing Apparel presenting 3 $250 gift certificates for their products in a random drawing. Draco Springs has agreed to sponsor the 2014 Most Improved Driver Award, rewarding the recipient with a $500 bonus, as well as a gift certificate for four Draco Springs to be given out at random at the Awards Banquet. Drivers will have a chance to walk away with over $5000 in prizes from the 2014 Awards Banquet.
The GSPSS would also like to welcome Waddell Communications and Racing Electronics to the team in 2014. Racing Electronics is the official radio of the GSPSS for the upcoming season.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series thanks each and every one of our contingency sponsors for the 2014 season. Please show your support to these companies for helping to make the third season for the Granite State Pro Stock Series possible.
After winning the 2013 Stafford Speedway track championship in the Limited Late Model division, Palmer, MA native Josh Wood will join the 2014 rookie class in Stafford’s Late Model division. Wood made one start in the Late Model division in last year’s season ending Fall Final event and based upon that experience he is looking forward to making an impression during his rookie campaign.
NAPA Auto Parts, the elite sponsor of Stafford Motor Speedway is excited to be the presenting sponsor of the July 4th SK 5k race. The SK 5k Presented by NAPA Auto Parts is a new and unique event for Stafford’s premier SK Modified® division that will pay $5,000 to the winner from a purse of over $27,000. The race will be unique in the fact that Stafford has opened the race format up to a fans vote, which will allow fans to vote on all aspects of the race format beginning in late March.
After a banner season that saw him claim the 2013 Late Model championship at Stafford Motor Speedway, Adam Gray is ready to defend his championship with a new sponsor on the side of his #97 machine. Along with returning sponsors Meadows Motor Cars, Leon’s Auto Repair, Hawley’s Autobody and Repair, Barrco Automotive, OJS Landscape and Construction, Trackside Motors, Perry’s Autoparts, Gregg Orlen Construction, Pizza Shoppe, Billy the Kid Engines, Distance Race Chassis, Buzzy Transmissions, and Magnus, Gray will welcome Statewide Auto Auctions of Meriden to his list of sponsors as he prepares to tackle another season of Late Model racing.
-With the 43rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler just over a month away from taking the green flag, one driver who is looking forward to the race is Bobby Santos, III. In just a short amount of time, Santos is working his way towards becoming a Sizzler legend. In only five starts in “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring”, Santos has 2 wins and a second place finish to go along with 2 DNF’s. The DNF’s came in Santos’ first two Sizzler starts in 2004 and 2007 and he has been absolutely magical since then with his Sizzler performance.
Driving for the Bob Garbarino owned Mystic Missile team, Santos won the pole in 2010 and he led the first 54 laps of the race before contact with a lapped car sent him into a spin and he had to restart at the rear of the field. Santos charged his way back through the field but couldn’t get by Ted Christopher in the final laps and had to settle for second place. In Santos’s first Sizzler victory in 2011, he started third and led a race high 152 laps and after missing the 2012 Sizzler, Santos returned with the Sully Tino #44 team in 2013 and won the pole and led 197 of the 200 laps for his second career Sizzler victory.
“Definitely a big part of it is driving for good teams with good cars,” said Santos. “But something about Stafford agrees with me really well. I do like the longer distance races, I think it suits my driving style a little more. The big races always get you a little more excited and the Sizzler is a race that everybody wants to win and win it as many times as you can.” Santos will return to this year’s NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler with the same #44 Curb Records / Tino Corp. team and he has a good feeling about his chances of repeating his Sizzler victory of one year ago.
The Inaugural SK 5k Presented by NAPA Auto Parts promises to be the biggest SK Modified® race the track has ever hosted and the entry list for the race just added former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Todd Szegedy. Szegedy will team up with Steve Greer’s Gunsmoke Stables team to pilot its #19 entry as a team car to Ryan Preece. While Preece will be driving the team’s #2 entry, Szegedy will drive the same car that Woody Pitkat drove as the #27 last season to the SK Modified® track championship.
One week after winning at Bristol Motor Speedway in the K&N Pro Series East’s third race of the season, Eddie Mac appeared headed for a seventh place finish in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at historic Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Some rough driving after a lap 145 restart cost Eddie Mac three positions over the last five laps to push the Grimm Construction Chevy to a tenth place finish. Despite the run, both driver and owner (Rob Grimm) gained one more spot into fifth place in the point’s race after four starts.
“We didn’t have the car we had last week at Bristol but it was decent and I thought we could get up to fifth but the # 4 car (Pena) nearly wrecked us,” said an unhappy Eddie Mac. “When the green flag waved with only five laps to go, the #4 car lifted my rear end off the ground and drove me sideways all the way down the backstretch. I even waved to him out of my side window but he did it again in turn one. Everyone thought he was going to wreck me but I was able to get it straightened out but the damage was done. I guess he really wanted that all-important seventh finishing position,” said MacDonald sarcastically. (Pena finished ninth)
During the first practice the #71 posted a 16th fastest time but the team was not expecting a lot with Eddie Mac saying, “This place chews up tires and we didn’t use new ones for mock qualifying runs in either the first or the second practice like most of the teams. We felt we had a pretty good car so the strategy was to get what we could before the break near the halfway lap, put on four new tires, make necessary adjustments, and hopefully be in position near the end of the race to make a run for the win. Unfortunately I messed up in qualifying and drove it in too hard in the turn and with the track as flat as it is and rough there was no way to regain what we lost. We had to start further back than we expected.”
Starting 20th in the 26 car field, Eddie Mac was patient moving slowly through the field when the green flag waved. By lap 50 The Grimm Construction/Multiple Sclerosis Chevy ran in 16th position and into 15th on the lap 68 restart and drove into the top ten, ninth place, when the competition halfway flag flew on lap 76.
“We took on four tires, fuel, and made minor adjustments for the final half of the race and felt we had at least a top five car,” said Eddie Mac. “We knew it would be tough to get to the front but anything can happen so I knew I had to be patient with a purpose and take the spots when the opportunity came about. The track chews up the tires pretty quickly after 30 laps so I knew everyone would be slipping and sliding around near the end so we just had to be lucky and be in the right spot to take advantage. Toward the end it got pretty crazy out there. “
By lap 135 Eddie Mac rode in the seventh spot when the fifth caution flag flew on lap 138. With only five laps remaining when the final green flag waved on lap 145, Eddie Mac was poised to move forward only to be driven into by Pena with Eddie Mac saying, “We started on the inside and I figured some guys would be sliding up the track on worn tires so I stayed on the bottom ready to make a move. Unfortunately y the #4 wanted to drive through me and that’s when he almost wrecked us. Once wasn’t enough so he did it again on the next lap. We were hoping for a better finish but at least we held on to tenth and didn’t load up a wrecked racecar. We are now fifth in the point’s race and heading next to Richmond. I really want to thank Rob and Carla Grimm, the crew, sponsors, and all our fans for all the support.”
Grimm Construction is the main sponsor but the Grimm Racing Team also receives the support of Stilo, HMS Motorsports, Schroth Racing, Peterson Auto, Waymart Building Center and RB Fries. It proudly displays the banners for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Racing with Jesus, and New Path Adventures. The Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 will be televised on Fox Sports 1 on Friday, March 28, at 11 a.m. The fifth event on the NASCAR K&N Series East schedule will take the green flag on April 25 in the Blue Ox 100 at Richmond (Va.) International Speedway.
by | Mar 21, 2014 | New England Motorsports South
By Lou Modestino
Another solid competitor has signed up to make his run for the championship in the GSPSS. Waterford, CT’s Dillon Moltz will be running the RB Performance/ Brackett Mechanical/ Magnus Transmissions Chevrolet in each of the 10 events in the 2014 season, and has his sights set on the grand prize, the 2014 championship.
Moltz is no slouch when it comes to racing. The 22 year-old driver got his start at “Little T”, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park’s 1/10 mile quarter midget track, and picked up a championship before moving to the Allison Legacy series, where he added his second career championship in 2005. Moltz ran with the PASS series in ’06, before pulling back on touring and running at Stafford Motor Speedway from 2007-2011 in a late model. In 2012, Moltz strapped in at Waterford Speedbowl, within earshot of his home, where he picked up his third career championship under car owner Mark Cooper.
Moltz made his debut with the GSPSS at the World Series at Thompson, and turned some heads by putting down blistering laps in practice all day long. A mishap in qualifying forced Moltz to start mid-pack in the feature, but fought his way up to a seventh place finish to conclude the 2013 season.
The youngster will be running for car owner Mark Brackett of RB Performance housed in Andover, ME. Brackett brings experience to the table, as he and fabricator Ricky Rolfe have built multiple championship winning chassis in their time together. Brackett, Rolfe, and Rolfe’s son Matt will be behind the scenes of the number 5 this season, as well as long time crew members of Moltz’s team, including his spotter and friend Sean Smith.
Moltz states when talking about the mixed crew “We act like we’ve known each other for a lifetime.” He is also quick to point out that everything is done as a team. He says he rarely uses “I” in victory lane, it’s a team effort. The team is the same, whether or not you take home the trophy or leave the track on the flatbed, according to Moltz. “When you turn around and the chips are down and the dust settles, whoever still stands behind you, those are your true friends, family, and supporters.”
Dillon Moltz will tell you he is a hard-nosed racer. “I’m not going to give an inch,” explains Moltz. “I’ll run you the way you run me, but when it comes down to the white flag, the gloves come off.” Moltz stresses he isn’t looking to cause a wreck or dump someone, but when a win is on the line, he is not afraid to rattle someone’s cage for the top position. His driving style has led to many successes, including winning the Richard Petty Driver Search in 2010, competing against 12 drivers from around the world. By winning the competition, Moltz drove an ARCA race for “The King” at Pocono, finishing in the 20th position. “The experience was incredible,” states Moltz. “Running against guys that have been running there forever, guys like (Frank) Kimmel and Bobby Gerhart, it was an experience of a lifetime.”
Even outside of racing, Dillon Moltz is searching for the next big trophy. When not at the track, Moltz is an avid outdoorsman. Living in the southeast corner of Connecticut, Moltz spends his down time in the summer on his boat fulfilling his other passion, fishing. Come the end of race season, Moltz can be found in the woods hunting. Even in the winter, Moltz stays busy by strapping on skis and hitting the mountain. Adrenaline and the outdoors keep Moltz ticking.
Moltz has high hopes for the Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on April 5-6. Qualifying for the GSPSS will take place on Saturday at approximately 3:30 p.m., and opening ceremonies will start at noon on Sunday with racing to follow.
The inaugural SK 5k on July 4th will be an exciting night for Stafford Speedway drivers and fans. With a purse of over $27,000 for the SK Modified® feature and $5,000 for the winner, the SK 5k will be surely demand the best from the star-studded field of weekly competitors at Stafford. We caught up with a few of our weekly SK Modified® competitors and asked them some questions about the race format, purse money, and potential of a non-weekly competitor to come in and threaten for a win. Here is what they had to say:
Woody Pitkat:
The Race: “I think it’s going to be a cool race and it’s great to be racing for that kind of money. You don’t see things like this at other tracks. It’s great to have the fans involved in the race rather than just coming to the track and watching the race from the stands, they will have their own part in the event.”
The Purse: “I’m really looking forward to the race because I seem to do better at the longer distance races and the year that I won the 150 I think my check was around $4,000-$4,200 so it was a nice check to take home. The purse is pretty evenly spread through the field you’re definitely going to have to be on your A-game for that race.”
Outsiders: “I’m sure you’re going to see a lot of guys from other tracks come to Stafford to try to win some of that money. I’m sure you’ll see some guys from Waterford and Thompson as well as some other guys like Matt Hirschman show up that night.”
Ryan Preece:
The Race/Purse: “How can you not like this race? It’s a big paying race and it not only pays up front but it pays well down throughout the field. I think the format is pretty interesting. Whether my car has a full tank of fuel or not, it handles the same. Sometimes when you race for big money you have to do things for the fans. The fans are why we’re there. They want to see a show and hopefully that’s what we’re going to be able to give them that night.”
The Outsiders: “I’m pretty sure the Stafford front runners are going to be the front runners in the race but who knows what will happen. You could have someone from Thompson, Waterford, or maybe someone from Pennsylvania has an SK car and they’ll be fast that night. I know it’s going to be tough to win that $5,000.”
Doug Coby
The Race/Purse: “I think it’s going to be exciting. Sitting on the front stretch not knowing what type of strategy you’re going to have, there’s nothing like this race out there. There’s also not too many SK shows that pay $5,000 to win. It’s nice that Stafford is doing something like this to get the fans involved. We’ll definitely be there with the 15 car and we’re going to try to win that $5,000. I’ve already submitted my ideas for the race on Twitter and I hope the fans come up with some really cool ideas to vote on. It should all make for an exciting night.”
Dan Avery:
The Race: I think this race is going to be pretty cool. With $5,000 to win you might see some guys who are really hungry for a win drive a bit more aggressively during the race, which will really make the race exciting to watch. I remember back in the Riverside days we had a $10,000 to win mini championship series and those races really changed how a lot of guys raced. Everyone was more aggressive during those races.
The Purse: “I would say $5,000 is definitely a motivating factor to win the race. Especially if you’re in the top-3 or top-5 towards the end of the race, that $5,000 will definitely be in the back of your mind and you’ll be trying to figure out how to get your car into the lead.”
Outsiders: “I definitely think that the Stafford regulars will have an advantage in the race. I’ve raced in a lot of different series at a lot of different tracks and the SK Modified® division at Stafford has to be the most talented group of guys I’ve ever raced against. On any given night, there are about 12 cars that can win a race. There are good drivers, good cars, and good competition every Friday night.”
Ted Christopher:
The Race/Purse: “I’m really looking forward to having some big money to race for. It’s nice for us to be able to race for that kind of money. Stafford always likes doing different things and this should be a great race. Hopefully we can have a good run. We won the big race last year and we seem to do pretty well in the longer distance races.”
Todd Owen:
The Race/Purse: “The race is fantastic, I think it’s a great idea. It’s nice to be able to race for $5,000 to win and it’s a great purse that pays pretty good throughout the entire field.”
Outsiders: “Stafford is such a tough track that if you’re not in the handicap, it’s going to be tough to win the race starting in the back. With the purse that is on the line, I think there will definitely be extra cars showing up to Stafford for the race.”
Keith Rocco:
The Race/Purse/Outsiders: “I think the purse is great, everyone wants to race for a big purse like this race has. I think the race will draw a lot of cars and Stafford already has the best guys in New England like Woody Pitkat, Ryan Preece, and Ted Christopher, so I think a Stafford guy will win the race.”
Eric Berndt:
The Race/Purse: “I’m excited for the race, I can’t wait for it to get here. I think it’s great to get the fans involved in the race. It’s going to leave some mystery for the drivers sitting on the grid but that’s something that Sprint Cup has been doing and it seems to be working out pretty well for them.”
Purse: “The purse money is pretty cool. The 150 paid really well but it was a long race and really put a lot of wear and tear on the equipment. With $5,000 to win, it’s really nice any time you can put money right back into the race car. I see the race pays really well through the top-10 positions so that shows that Mark Arute is really looking to help the racers out.”
Outsiders: “There’s never really been an outsider that has come in and won one of the longer races. I think the Stafford regulars will definitely have an advantage because history doesn’t favor the outsiders.”
Rowan Pennink:
The Race/Purse: “I was just reading about that race the other day online and the race sounds pretty cool to me. It’s a great way to help put fans in the stands and get them involved with the race. I’m sure the $5,000 to win is going to get all the drivers fired up to go racing and it will make the race even more exciting than it usually is.”
Outsiders: “It seems like most of the top SK drivers are already at Stafford so I would say the guys with track experience week by week will be the drivers to beat.”
The fans will play a direct role in the July 4th SK 5k race as they will choose the entire race format from lap count to qualifying procedure. Fans will be allowed to vote on every aspect of the July 4th SK Modified® race.
But before voting opens Stafford Speedway officials would like to hear insight from the fans on what to include on the SK 5k ballot. Stafford Speedway encourages everyone to share their ideas on Stafford Speedway social media and as well as any other media outlets. The voting will begin in late March.
Veteran Eddie MacDonald showed a little late-race mastery Saturday afternoon and brought home the winning trophy from Bristol Motor Speedway.
The 33-year-old driver from Rowley, Mass., took the lead on a green-white-checkered finish at the PittLite 125 and held off Gray Gaulding and Ben Rhodes to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at “The Last Great Colosseum.”
It’s MacDonald’s first win since September of 2009 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway snapping a 53-race winless streak and the seventh of his career.
The rookie Rhodes, 17, was looking for his first career win in his 10th start. He won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award in qualifying Thursday and led every lap Saturday up until the final restart. A late wreck set up the extended finish that pushed the race to 132 laps.
MacDonald qualified 13th and steadily worked his way to the front on the high-banked half-mile. He took second on Lap 120 and got past Rhodes for the lead heading into Turn 3 on the penultimate lap. Gaulding also got by Rhodes at the finish to take second.
Brennan Newberry and Austin Hill rounded out the top five.
Patrick Staropoli finished sixth, followed by Dave Garbo Jr., Brandon Jones, Matt Tifft and Michael McGuire.
Daniel Suarez, who won the first two races of the season, pitted out of the top 10 late in the race for a flat time and wound up 26th. His misfortune allowed Gaulding to take the points lead by four of Suarez and six over Rhodes.
The PittLite 125 will air on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday, March 22 at 11:30 a.m. ET. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will return to the track on Saturday, March 22 for the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST-PittLite 125
Saturday
At Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Tenn.
Lap length: 0.533 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (13) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 132 laps, 57.110 mph.
2. (5) Gray Gaulding, Colonial Heights, Va., Chevrolet, 132.
3. (1) Ben Rhodes, Louisville, Ky., Chevrolet, 132.
4. (14) Brennan Newberry, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 132.
5. (3) Austin Hill, Winston, Ga., Ford, 132.
6. (24) Patrick Staropoli, Plantation, Fla., Toyota, 132.
7. (29) David Garbo, Jr., Stonington, Conn., Toyota, 132.
8. (12) Brandon Jones, Atlanta, Ga., Chevrolet, 132.
9. (9) Matt Tifft, Hinckley, Ohio, Dodge, 132.
10. (18) Michael McGuire, Vinton, Va., Toyota, 132.
11. (11) Clint King, Denton, N.C., Toyota, 132.
12. (21) Brodie Kostecki, Perth, Australia, Toyota, 132.
13. (10) Jesse Little, Sherrills Ford, N.C., Chevrolet, 132.
14. (20) Cole Custer, Ladera Ranch, Calif., Chevrolet, 132.
15. (32) Jay Beasley, Las Vegas, Nev., Toyota, 132.
16. (36) Brandon Glover, Cuba, N.Y., Dodge, 132.
17. (7) Cameron Hayley, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Chevrolet, 132.
18. (15) Sam Hunt, Midlothian, Va., Toyota, 132.
19. (16) Anderson Bowen, Suwanee, Ga., Dodge, 132.
20. (19) Kaz Grala, Westborough, Mass., Chevrolet, 125.
21. (33) Mackena Bell, Carson City, Nev., Toyota, 125.
22. (6) Kenzie Ruston, El Reno, Okla., Chevrolet, 121, accident.
23. (28) Ronnie Bassett, Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C., Toyota, 116, electrical.
24. (26) Sergio Pena, Winchester, Va., Toyota, 111, accident.
25. (2) Brandon Gdovic, Yorktown, Va., Toyota, 111, accident.
26. (17) Daniel Suarez, Monterrey, Mexico, Toyota, 111, accident.
27. (25) Scott Heckert, Ridgefield, Conn., Chevrolet, 110, accident.
28. (27) Jeremy Burns, Simpsonville, S.C., Chevrolet, 109, accident.
29. (22) Nick Drake, Mooresville, N.C., Toyota, 101, accident.
30. (4) Cale Conley, Vienna, W. Va., Chevrolet, 52, accident.
31. (8) Lee Pulliam, Semora, N.C., Toyota, 51, accident.
32. (34) Jerry Dawson, Saugus, Mass., Toyota, 50, accident.
33. (31) Trey Hutchens, Lexington, N.C., Chevrolet, 40, accident.
34. (23) Ryan Gifford, Winchester, Tenn., Toyota, 18, accident.
35. (35) Chuck Buchanan, Jr., Hildebrand, N.C., Chevrolet, 6, mechanical.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 13 minutes 55 seconds
Margin of Victory: .728 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Rhodes * (119.656 mph, 16.036 seconds)
Caution Flags: 7 for 40 laps.
Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B. Rhodes 1-130; E. MacDonald 131-132.
Standings: 1. G. Gaulding, 118; 2. D. Suarez, 114; 3. B. Rhodes, 112; 4. P. Staropoli, 107; 5. C. Hayley, 100; 6. E. MacDonald, 99; 7. K. Ruston, 99; 8. A. Hill, 98; 9. B. Jones, 98; 10. B. Newberry, 93.
Dirt track racing in NH and Vtwill be getting a boost with the announcement that DIRTcar will be sanctioning racing events at both Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT and Legion Speedway in Rumney, NH. For DIRTcar Sportsman Modified events will be run at those two dirt ovals. That’s good news for the region considering that at the end of last year the dirt and paved tracks at the Canaan Fairgrounds closed up following the sale to a green group that plans to test electric cars at that site.
CHARLOTTE, NC (March 25) – As the 9th Annual Orange Blossom Special approaches at Orange County Speedway on April 5, fans and racers alike are eagerly awaiting a trip to one of the favorite stops on the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model schedule. Several teams have already tested at the high-banked, 3/8 mile speedway near Durham, NC. While fans are equally excited thanks to PASS Fan Appreciation at Orange County Speedway with special admission pricing featuring $25 per vehicle for up to 6 people or $10 admission per person. But, one long time PASS South team might be even more anxious to get to Orange County than all the rest.