by Jay | Jun 18, 2011 | Legends, New England, New Hampshire, NHMS
Story by Chris Roy
Once again the NELCAR Legends are returning to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, to race on the 1.6 mile road course. The legend cars are reaching speeds in excess of 110 mph as they race down the front stretch and one of the drivers looking for his first career win, is Matt Chagnot, from Derry, NH.
Matt’s thoughts on returning to NHMS, “I can’t wait for this upcoming race, and I feel like I am as prepared as a rookie can be. Since I only have a single race on a road course under my belt, I’m not 100% up to speed on how to tweak the setups to be faster. I’ll be making some minor changes when I get to the track, and bolting on a new set of tires, so I should be faster than I was the previous race on the road course.”
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by Jay | Jun 18, 2011 | Connecticut, Modified, New England, Thompson
Thompson, CT. — Mike Stefanik of Coventry, RI., took the lead on the opening lap
and went on to win the 75-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series race Thursday night at Thompson Speedway, Thompson, CT. The win was Stefaniks’ second with the VMRS making him a guaranteed starter for the annual Ricky’s Race for Kids, July 16, at Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, NH. That race carries a purse in excess of $36,000, the highest in the eight-year history of the New England based modified racing series.
Stefanik was also the series fourth different winner this season.
Pole-sitter, Dave Etheridge, Portland, CT., Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT., and Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA., challenged Stefanik, driving for car-owner Ed Marceau, but the popular Stefanik was never headed.
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by Jay | Jun 18, 2011 | New England
NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS SOUTH-EXTRA
By Lou Modestino(For 9/17-9/19/11)
Thompson Speedway in Connecticut is one of many New England short tracks that are really struggling in this tough economy. Last Thursday night, the 5/8 mile track, the biggest short track in New England, hosted the Valenti Modified Racing Series. It was that tour’s first appearance at Thompson for 2011. Considering the caliber of racing and the ticket price of $20, it was well worth it. Thompson Speedway, among others, has been suffering with short racecar counts due to the recession. Particularly in the Sunoco Modifieds, Super Late Models and the Late Model divisions. The Valenti Modified Racing Series managed to bring in 26 entries boosting the pit count of racecars to 124 which made a good night due to the racecar count. No doubt strong attendance in the pit area helped track owner Don Hoenig at the very least meet his expenses and probably even make a profit. While some would consider that the crowd was off, we estimated that the track was about 40 percent full. Not a bad turnout these days on a Thursday night in the middle of a the deepest recession since the Great Depression of 1929.
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by Jay | Jun 17, 2011 | Connecticut, New England, Stafford
2-TIME DEFENDING MODIFIED RACING SERIES CHAMPION JON McKENNEDY LOOKS TO TURN SEASON AROUND IN LINCOLN TECH 80 AT SMS
(Stafford Springs, CT)—For 2-time defending Modified Racing Series
Champion Jon McKennedy, the 2011 season hasn’t gotten off to the best of
starts. Aside from a third place finish at Monadnock, McKennedy has
encountered some mechanical issues that leave him sitting in 12th place in
the points standings thusfar after three races. McKennedy will look to get
his season turned around when the MRS hits Stafford for the first of two
visits in the Inaugural Lincoln Tech 80 on June 24th.
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by Jay | Jun 17, 2011 | Connecticut, Modified, New England, Stafford
MODIFIED RACING SERIES POINT LEADER ROWAN PENNINK READY FOR INAUGURAL LINCOLN TECH 80 AT STAFFORD SPEEDWAY
(Stafford Springs, CT)—The Modified Racing Series will make its second
ever visit to Stafford Speedway on June 24th for the Lincoln Tech MRS 80 and
leading the way will be Rowan Pennink. The former Stafford SK Modified®
Rookie of the Year is the current Modified Racing Series points leader with
a win and three top-6 finishes in the first three races of the 2011 season.
Pennink finished third in the MRS’ debut at Stafford last season, and with
two second place finishes in the first two Whelen Modified Tour events of
2011 at Stafford, Pennink is looking forward to returning to the Connecticut
half-mile. (more…)
by Jay | Jun 17, 2011 | Connecticut, New England, Stafford
CARQUEST CHAMPIONS FOR CHARITIES DRIVER SPOTLIGHT: JON McKENNEDY
(Stafford Springs, CT)—The CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday Champions for
Charities Event at Stafford Motor Speedway scheduled for June 28th is
building in momentum and excitement as the drivers gear up to raise funds
for their respective charities. The impressive field of open wheeled
division champion drivers represents over 50 championships among 14 drivers.
This week’s spotlight is on Jon McKennedy, the 2-time defending Modified
Racing Series Champion, and he will be racing to raise funds for Relay For
Life of Pelham, NH, which benefits the American Cancer Society.
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