by Jay | Oct 15, 2009 | Canada, New England
October 12, 2009 – Shediac (N.B.) – After a number of second place finishes over the past few years at this event, Kirk Thibeau (#28) of Fort Fairfield, Maine was finally able to enjoy a victory lane celebration after capturing the win in the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 during Sunday’s 9th annual Atlantic Stock Car Championships presented at the Centre for Speed (CFS) in nearby Grand Barachois, N.B.
Meanwhile, John Rankin (#28) of St. Martins, N.B. capped off a successful Sportsman season by winning the Vance Hanes Autoparts 75 Atlantic Championship event to go along with his 2009 season championship at Speedway 660.
The full-day event attracted 156 of the top drivers and teams from throughout Atlantic Canada and Maine to compete in six different Atlantic Championships stock car features for Pro Stock, Sportsman, Streetstock, Mini Stock, Four Fun and Legends drivers with over $50,000 in payouts and lap sponsorships on the line.
Four other Atlantic Champions were crowned in their respective divisions including Jamie Vassallo (#38) from Glace Bay, N.S. in Streetstocks, Geoff Bevan (#43) of Middle Sackville, N.S. in Legends, Martin Landry (#00) of Grand Barachois in Mini Stocks and Dan Michaud Jr. (#119) of Waverley, N.S. in the Four Fun division.
In Pro Stock action, Thibeau started third in 31-car grid for the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 as a result of his win in the third qualifying heat behind the two other heat winners, Shawn Tucker (#52) of Fredericton (pole) and Kevin Moore (#88) of Charlottetown. On the very first turn of the feature, defending event champion, Wayne Smith (#44) of Timberlea, N.S., who had battled lap traffic throughout the qualifying and semi-final events to start near the back of the field, and Terry Dougay (#14) of Albany, PEI collided sending Smith to the pit area for quick repairs which put him one-lap behind the leaders upon his return to the track.
Meanwhile, Moore took the early lead from Tucker on the first lap of the event, a lead he held until lap #18 when Thibeau got by thanks to an inside pass. Thibeau and Tucker then battled bumper-to-bumper over the next 24 laps until Tucker finally found a way around Thibeau on lap #42 to claim his first and only lead of the event with a hard-charging Smith one-lap down but third in the field behind Thibeau.
Over the next 8 laps, Thibeau battled hard to reclaim the lead on lap #50 with this time, a hard-charging Mike Stevens (#26) of Riverview parked on his back bumper followed by Tucker, Craig Slaunwhite (#99) of Terrence Bay, N.S. and Moore. The fifth lead change of the event occurred on lap #59 when Stevens took the high line to get around Thibeau – a lead he would hold over the next 12 laps.
A scary moment occurred on lap #68 when Canadian Motorsports Hall of Famer, Rollie MacDonald (#13) of Pictou, N.S. plowed hard into the turn #3 wall after coming into contact with another racecar. The good news was that MacDonald emerged from the crumpled racecar under his own power complaining of a sore ribcage as a result of the violent collision.
A few laps after the resumption of the event on lap #71, leader Stevens appeared to loose control of his racecar on his own coming out turn #4 thus handing the lead back to Thibeau. After a quick trip to the pit area, Stevens returned, but a loose handling racecar kept him well back from the lead pack.
Over the final 79 laps of the feature and a number of caution flags, Thibeau was able to hold his lead and beat back challenges from Slaunwhite, Tucker and Moore to finally capture the win that had eluded him over the past number of years. At the finish line, Moore had to settle for second with Tucker in third, Jonathan Hicken (#5) of Brudenell, PEI in fourth and Kris Fournier (#37) of Charlottetown, PEI rounding out the top five.
« I’ve been coming to this event since 2001, finished three or four times in second, and now this feels awesome, » said a beaming Thibeau in victory lane as he collected the winner’s trophy as well as the lion’s share of the purse after having led the most laps in the event.
Pro Stock semi-final winners included Hicken and Brian McNaughton (#18) of Lower Coverdale, NB.
The Vance Hanes Auto Parts Sportsman 75 saw 30 of the top Sportsman drivers from throughout Atlantic Canada take the green flag with New Brunswickers Al Snelgrove (#0) of Moncton, CFS 2009 Sportsman Champion, Dan Bourque (#15) of Grande-Digue, Cal Hatfield (#11) of Rothesay, and Jim Duke (#84) of Lakeville in the four top starting positions thanks to their earlier heat wins.
Snelgrove and Glyn Nott (#12) of Burton, NB battled for the lead throughout the first half of the event. On a lap #36 restart, there was dramatic turn of events as Snelgrove led the field to the green flag, with Knott in second and Speedway 600 champion, John Rankin (#28) of St. Martins, N.B in third. Snelgrove’s left front wheel slipped into the infield on the restart sending him spinning in front of the field. As a result of the caution flag, he had to go to the back of the pack for the ensuing restart, thereby handing the lead to Nott.
Over the next 18 laps, Rankin tried to find an opening to get around Knott, which he finally accomplished with an outside lane pass on lap #55. Knott kept pace with Rankin until lap #70 when his racecar slid up the track in turn #3, opening the door for Matt Maillet (#29) of Burton, N.B. to vault into second. Rankin then held on for the win, crossing the stripe ahead of Maillet and 2008 CFS champion, Claude Gaudet (#22) of Grand Barachois.
Sportsman semi-final winners included Ronnie Lane (#46x) of Prosser Brook, NB, Calvin Rankin (#46) of Quispamsis, NB and Luc Bourgeois (#88) of Memramcook while 16-year old Jacob Logan (#37) of Harvey Station, N.B. picked up the win in the Sportsman Consolation.
In Streetstock action, Jamie Vassallo (#38) of Sydney, N.S. continued the Cape Breton domination in this Atlantic Championship event by capturing the win in the 50-lap feature ahead of former Speedway 600 Champ, Rick Cashol (#54) of Saint John and Joey Rudderham (#67) of Marshy Hope, Cape Breton. Cashol, who also finished second in the 2008 Atlantic Championship event, started third on the 25-car grid. He quickly took the lead from pole-sitter Doug MacEwen (#40) of Charlottetown on lap #2 with Vassallo in hot pursuit in third. Four laps later (lap #21), Vassallo took the outside groove to overtake both MacEwen and Cashol and held on for the win.
In Mini Stock action, drivers from CFS dominated the field to finish in the top three positions. Martin Landry (#00) of Grand Barachois picked up the win after taking the early lead from Brad Daley (#33) of Moncton. At the finish line, Daley had to settle for second place while Pierre Gautreau (#99) of Shediac, the 2008 CFS Mini Stock champion, came in third.
In Four Fun action, champion drivers from Scotia Speedworld (SSW) in Halifax once again took two of the top three positions in the 23-car feature. Dan Michaud Jr. (#119) of Cole Harbour, N.S. capped off a very successful season by winning the Atlantic Championship event to go along with his 2009 Lightning division championship at SSW. Michaud crossed the stripe ahead of Gerald Brun (#17) of Moncton and fellow SSW Thunder division champ, Derek MacCallum (#16) of Lower Sackville, N.S.
Finally, in Legends action, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion, J.R. Fitzpatrick (#23) of Cambridge, Ontario wagged a fierce battle with rookie Brad Eddy (#28) throughout the 20-lap feature. As both drivers raced hard to checkered flag out of the final turn, their racecars collided sending both of them crashing heavily into the front straightway wall. Shaken, but otherwise uninjured, they emerged from their disabled cars to the applause of the crowd who had just witnessed a tremendous battle between two talented competitors.
The win went to Geoff Bevan (#43) of Middle Sackville, N.S. who ran a strong third throughout the event, with Shelby Baker (#53) of Halifax, NS placing second and Ray Cox Jr. (#55) of Porters Lake, NS in third.
As a result of having to move all qualifying and feature events to Sunday because of rain on Saturday, J.R. Fitzpatrick, the NASCAR Canadian Tire series champion and NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series driver for the Kevin Harvick NASCAR racing team, was unable to compete in Sunday’s delayed Pro Stock 150 event due to an early evening flight back to North Carolina.
Next Saturday, October 17th at 1 :00 p.m., the CENTRE for Speed (CFS) will present the Atlantic Demolition and Endurance Championships with up to $10,000 in winnings available to Demolition Derby competitors.
The CFS is located 5 kms east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach on Route #133 in the village of Grand Barachois, New Brunswick.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com
by Jay | Oct 14, 2009 | NASCAR, New England, Thompson
The 25th season of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will draw to a close and a champion will be crowned at the World Series of Speedway Racing presented by Xtra Mart on Sunday, Oct. 18 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.
The final stop for the Whelen Modified Tour in 2009 will be a familiar one as Thompson has played host to more events than any other venue in the Tour’s 25-year history. And as the season concludes, a familiar storyline has once again come to the forefront: a tight championship battle.
Donny Lia – the 2007 Whelen Modified Tour champion – carries a slim 26-point lead into the season finale. Lia, from Jericho, N.Y., earned his Tour-high fourth win of the year last time out at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, and consequently took the points lead for the first time this year.
Although he may have momentum on his side after winning three of the last five races, Lia will have his hands full at Thompson, however. Ryan Preece is Lia’s closest competition at just 26 markers back.
Preece, from Berlin, Conn., has been the season’s most consistent top finisher. Highlighted by a pair of wins and third-place efforts in the last three races entering Thompson, Preece has a Tour-high nine top-five finishes in 12 starts this year. Recent history has shown that – barring mechanical failure or getting caught up in an accident – Preece will be at or near the front on Sunday.
The Lia versus Preece match-up provides an interesting storyline entering the World Series. The No. 4 “Mystic Missile” driven by Lia has been a fixture in NASCAR Modified racing since 1962 with car owner Bob Garbarino, while the No. 3 “Ole Blue” Modified of Boehler Racing Enterprises began competition in 1957 under the direction of the late Len Boehler. History has come full-circle in the 25th season of the Whelen Modified Tour with Lia and Preece the title frontrunners in cars that represent the longest-running Modified teams in the Northeast by far.
For all intents and purposes, it is a two-horse race between Lia and Preece. Although still mathematically alive, Ted Christopher, Todd Szegedy and Rowan Pennink will be long shots for the championship trophy at Thompson. Szegedy and Pennink will be eliminated from contention when Lia takes the green flag and Christopher – at 109 points out of first – would need to win and have Lia finish worse than 30th to pass the current points leader. Should that happen, Christopher would also have to leapfrog Preece by finishing sixth or better, assuming Preece finished between 22nd and 32nd.
The 2009 World Series marks the second year in a row – and just the latest on the list of instances – where the championship comes down to the last race. A year ago, Christopher carried a 35-point lead to Thompson against Matt Hirschman. Christopher went on to win the race and secure his first title.
Raceday Notes: The smallest championship points differential occurred in 1995 when Tony Hirschman edged Steve Park by three points … If Lia were to win the title, he would become just the fourth driver in Whelen Modified Tour history to earn multiple championships, joining Tony Hirschman (5), Jimmy Spencer (2) and Mike Stefanik (7) … If Preece were to clinch the title, it would mark the third year in a row that the crown goes to a first time winner, following Lia in 2007 and Christopher in 2008 … Lia enters the race with 15 career wins, which has him tied with Spencer on the Whelen Modified Tour all-time list, and one shy of the totals of Mike McLaughlin and Park … The Whelen Modified Tour champion will earn a secured starting position in the 2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, to be held Jan. 29-30 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.) … Renee Dupuis will attempt to make her 100th career Whelen Modified Tour start at the World Series.
Fast Facts
The Race: World Series of Speedway Racing presented by Xtra Mart
The Place: Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway
The Date: Sunday, October 18
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The Distance: 150 laps / 93.75 miles
Race Purse: $85,971
2008 Winner: Ted Christopher
2008 Polesitter: Eric Beers
Event Schedule: Saturday: Practice 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Qualifying 2:20 p.m.
by Jay | Oct 12, 2009 | New England, Thompson
Pointing out Thompson Speedway separates the men from the boys is both a true and a tired observation. It has been so for over half a century. It will continue when the Northeastern Midget Associations 25-lap Marvin Rifchin Trophy Race joins World Series festivities Oct. 17-18 with a 25-lap feature.
It was quick back in the fall of 1974 when Dave Humphreys 21.428 seconds qualifying run raised eyebrows. Randy Cabral had a fast lap of 17.620 seconds en route to a victory at last years World Series a reduction of almost four seconds.
The race honors Rifchin, the tire manufacturer (M&H) who was a long-time contributor to NEMA.
Cabral, defending driver champion and current point leader, will be looking for his eighth career win at Thompson (five in Bertrand equipment). He has won the past two World Series and three of the last six. The owners point race, however, holds the spotlight as Mike Jarret (and driver Nokie Fornoro) hopes to chase down Cabrals owner Tim Bertrand.
Although there have been exceptions, Thompson tends to favor the veteran competitors. Cabral, the all-time Thompson NEMA winner with seven, can also expect plenty of competition from Greg and Russ Stoehr, Adam Cantor and Jeff Horn, all winners this year.
Thompson is a stand on it place, says Tim Bertrand, a test of both driver and car. Straightaway speeds are over 125 mph.
You have to challenge the place but you have to show it the utmost respect, says Fornoro, a four-time Thompson winner.
The Thompson NEMA win list, going back to a victory by Dutch Schaefer in 1960, is one of the most impressive in NEMA. The good drivers have always looked forward to Thompson, says NEMA President Mike Scrivani Jr. A Midget victory at Thompson looks very good on the resume.
Dave Humphrey, Hank Rogers Jr., Gene Bergin and Nokie Fornoro won at Thompson in cars owned and prepped by Mike Jr. and his legendary father.
Like the Scrivani family, the Stoehr brothers have a long Thompson history. Greg Stoehrs Thompson win, in the Zahar car back in 1993, came after a late-race pass of brother Russ. The brothers have not raced together at Thompson since that day.
Gene Angelillo, Russ Stoehrs current owner, grabbed his 100th NEMA win at Thompson in 2000. Joey Payne Jr., in a backup car, passed Russ Stoehr with two to go.
NEMA Winners at Thompson
No. Driver First Last
7 Randy Cabral 2001 2008
6 Johnny Mann 1972 1978
5 Drew Fornoro 1985 2003
4 Johnny Coy Sr. 1969 1981
4 Nokie Fornoro 1982 2005
4 Armond Holley 1976 1977
3 Bob Cicconi 1978 1987
3 Ben Seitz 2005 2007
3 Russ Stoehr 1994 2002
2 Mark Buonomo 2001 2004
2 Dave Humphrey 1970 1971
2 Russ Klar 1969 1972
2 Hank Rogers 1980 1980
2 Bobby White 1979 1979
One-time Thompson winners: Gene Bergin (1969), Lennie Boyd (1979), Kyle Carpenter (2002), Joey Coy (1992), Johnny Coy Jr. (1981), Ryan Dolan (2002), Leigh Earnshaw (1979), Ronnie Evans (1970), Mike Favulli (1989), George Ferguson Jr. (1978), Walt Gale (1968), George Monsen (1978), Joey Payne Jr. (2000), Bobby Santos III (2003), Dutch Schaefer (1960), Greg Stoehr (1993), Butch Walsh (1986), Hank Williams (1960).
by Jay | Oct 12, 2009 | All-Star Speedway, New England, New Hampshire
Epping, NH – The thunder of the ISMA Supermodifieds rolled into All-Star Speedway on Saturday night for the 44th running of the annual Classic, with a full field of the high-powered open-wheelers signed into the pits for the night’s action.
Looking to tie all-time Classic win leader Bentley Warren, five-time winner Russ Wood started out in fine form, setting fast time when the Supers hit the high banks for qualifying. But the best he could do in the main was a fifth place run.
Bobby Haynes led the 22-car field to green, but outside polesitter Justin Belfiore flew past on the outside to take the lead in the early going. Belfiore was running as if on rails, pulling away to a straightaway lead by the 30-lap mark.
By halfway however, Belfiore had Mike Lichty right on his tail, and points leader Chris Perley lurked right behind Lichty in the potent Vic Miller machine. Belfiore got tangled up as he negotiated lapped traffic on lap 52, with Lichty coming out of the scramble with the lead.
Perley immediately went to work on Lichty, and on lap 66, he made the pass and took over the top spot. He was on cruise control the rest of the way, leading them under the checkers to score his second straight Classic win, and fourth overall.
Former event winner Lou Cicconi of Pennsylvania had to settle for runner-up honors aboard the Rick Wentworth machine, with Ohio driver Dave Shullick, Jr. taking home the third spot in the Clyde Booth entry.
The All-Star Modifieds ran a special 50-lap feature event as part of the Classic night festivities, with Kenny White, Jr. holding off a tough challenge from four-time winner Eric Hudson to pick up the win.
J.R. Baril led the first 35 laps of the race, but he fell to the hard-charging White on lap 36, with Hudson following him past Baril to the front. Hudson challenged hard in the closing laps, but White held on to pick up his first win of the year.
Hudson came up just short in the runner-up slot, with Baril holding on to collect a third place finish. George Baldwin put in a strong run to checker fourth, with Sumner Scott beating out Brandee Tree to close out the top five.
Grant Aither made his second appearance of the year in the Super Streets, and for the second straight time, he went home with the feature win. Aither finished third in qualifying, but he stepped it up a notch for the main event.
Pulling away from the field by as much as a straightaway at times, Aither was easily the class of the field on the way to victory. Former champ Ron Bolduc came up short in the second spot, with heat winner Tony Kawejsza taking the final podium spot.
The 350 Supers were another special addition to the Classic night program, and they put on quite a show in their feature event. Third-generation driver Billy Osborne was the man to beat in that one, collecting his first career Super win in the process.
Tommy Tombarello, Jr. put in a strong bid to take the win away from Osborne, but he eventually settled for second. Third spot went to Dan Bowes, with Mike Netishen, Steve Dickey, Mike Spurling, Doug Sanborn, John Burke, Matt Riley, and Scott Keddy following.
Stephen Dubois looked like he had a sure shot at victory in the Strictly Stock feature, pulling ahead to nearly a straightaway lead in the early laps. But when Mike Williams finally broke out of the pack, he set his sights on the leader and went to work.
Williams slowly reeled the Dubois in, catching him with the laps quickly winding down. With the finish in sight, Williams made the pass, and he went on to score the win. Dubois checkered second, with Mark Parenteau, Randy Carmichael, and Chuck Roberto the rest of the top five.
Jason Hodgdon set a fast pace as he pulled away to the early lead in the Fast-4 feature event, but it was Chris Jacobson who was out front when it counted. Jacobson made his way to the front by halfway, and he held off Jason Poisson to score the win.
Ken McIlvaine came home in the third spot, with Joey Fernandez, Gary West, Sr., Tyler Mailhot, Greg Cummings, Ken Mailhot, Cindy Sevigny, and Matt Magee rounding out the top ten finishers.
by Jay | Oct 12, 2009 | ACT, Canada, Maine, New England, Oxford Plains Speedway
Eric Williams Wins Fall 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway
Oxford, ME – Williston’s Brian Hoar captured his sixth career American Canadian Tour Championship with a fourth place finish in the New England Dodge Dealers Fall 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday, October 11. Hoar’s most recent title came in 2000, after which he took several years off from ACT competition. Hoar returned for the 2009 season with a new car owner in Rick Paya. Paya has seven previous ACT championships as a car owner. Hoar earned the championship over Scott Payea who finished in the runner-up position for the second year in a row.
Hyde Park’s Eric Williams scored his second ACT Tour win of the season and first career win at Oxford Plains. Williams took the lead from John Donahue on 119 and held off Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. during several restarts in the final ten laps. Polewarczyk held on for second followed by Donahue, Hoar and Oxford regular Tim Brackett. Bradley Babb, Jay Laquerre, Scott Payea, Brent Dragon and Jamie Fisher completed the top ten.
The New England Dodge Dealers Fall 150 was completed in just over one hour and was slowed by just six cautions. Twenty-eight of the thirty-three drivers that took the green flag were running at the finish. Four different drivers led a lap.
The New England Dodge Dealers Fall 150 caps off the 2009 ACT Tour season. Hoar will be honored among others at the 2009 ACT Banquet of Champions. The date and other information will be announced at a later date.
Unofficial Results
New England Dodge Dealers Fall 150
Oxford Plains Speedway
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Pos Car # Driver
1 7VT Eric Williams
2 97NH Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
3 26VT John Donahue
4 37 Brian Hoar
5 68 Tim Brackett
6 60NH Bradley Babb
7 50 Jay Laquerre
8 89 Scott Payea
9 55VT Brent Dragon
10 18 Jamie Fisher
11 7ME Glen Luce
12 03 Travis Adams
13 15VT Joey Laquerre
14 2 Aaron Ricker
15 55NH DJ Shaw
16 94 Shawn Martin
17 9VT Chip Grenier
18 57 Austin Theriault
19 73ME Joey Doiron
20 17 Eddie MacDonald
21 6 Tom Ricker
22 26ME Corey Morgan
23 78NH Quinten Welch
24 88 Nicholas Sweet
25 02NH Randy Potter
26 71 Scott Dragon
27 25 Shawn Knight
28 51ME Ricky Rolfe
29 41 Pete Potvin, III
30 5 Jeff White
31 38VT Tyler Cahoon
32 10NH Ben Rowe
33 40VT Eric Chase
by Jay | Oct 9, 2009 | NASCAR, New England, Thompson
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2009) – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is a racing series steeped in history. Whether you trace its roots to the beaches of Daytona in 1948, or the paved banks of Thompson, Conn., in 1985, there is plenty of history and tradition to go around. The present-day incarnation of that tradition will be on full display as the Tour heads to Thompson International Speedway to crown the 2009 champion.
The World Series of Speedway Racing presented by Xtra Mart – the finale for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s 25th season – will see two of the most notable teams in the history of the New England Modified racing battling for the trophy. Donny Lia, pilot of the No. 4 “Mystic Missile” Dodge owned by Bob Garbarino, will take a 26-point lead on Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 3 “Ole Blue” Chevrolet, of the famed Boehler family.
“It’s pretty cool – this being the 25th season [of the Tour] – and the two longest running teams going for the championship,” Preece said. “It just goes to show you that experience helps a lot to contend for a championship.”
The only two Modifieds that carry a nickname, the Nos. 4 and 3 have been around longer than any other teams. Garbarino fielded his first “Mystic Missile” in 1961, nearly a quarter of a century before the present-day Whelen Modified Tour was founded. “Ole Blue” dates back even further as legendary car owner and builder Len Boehler founded the team in 1957.
Garbarino’s dedication to NASCAR Modified racing through the decades was finally paid off in 2007 when Lia delivered the longtime owner his first championship. The No. 4 has featured a host of notable drivers in the seat through the years, but the pairing of Lia with the team in 2007 resulted in the perfect combination to bring home the trophy. Garbarino, who was recently selected as a 2010 inductee for the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame, has only the utmost respect for the No. 3 team.
“We’ve been parking alongside of them for a long, long time, and anything that’s in my truck they can have, and I think that goes the other way too,” Garbarino said. “I’m happy for them – I’m glad that they’re in the running for this whole deal.”
Garbarino reasoned that because the teams have been so close through the years, it will be tough for one to leave Thompson disappointed.
“I almost wish it was any other car in the pit area [in championship contention],” Garbarino said. “I consider those guys all good friends – and this won’t change the friendship at all – but somebody’s going to win and somebody’s not going to win.”
Now in their sixth decade of Modified competition, Boehler Racing Enterprises continues to be a stalwart. The cars built by Boehler – a 2004 NEAR Hall of Fame inductee – produced NASCAR Modified national championships in 1967-69 with Bugs Stevens behind the wheel. “Ole Blue” earned another three-peat in the mid-1990s as Wayne Anderson (1994) and Tony Hirschman (1995-96) captured the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titles. And while Len passed away in 2001, his widow, Jan, and son, Michael, have sustained the family tradition.
Like Garbarino, BRE President and Manager Michael Boehler has mutual respect for the competition.
“Bob and his wife Joan are great, great people – they’re first class,” Boehler said. “They’re always the first ones there to lend a hand if something goes wrong. They’re positive, encouraging people, and they’ve given their life to the sport like we have. There’s not many of those families left that do that, so it’s just great that it’s the “Mystic Missile” against “Ole Blue” [for the title].”
The significance of the two teams competing for the title is not lost on the drivers either, even though they are only in the second year with the respective teams.
Following his win at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway on Oct. 4, Lia acknowledged the history of the two cars that will battle for the 2009 championship.
“The 3 car and the 4 car – they’ve been around forever – and are a big part of Modified history,” Lia said. “So for me, whether I was driving the car or not, I think it’s pretty cool that those two cars are going for it.”
While Lia is already part of – and will look to add to – the history of the “Mystic Missile,” the 18-year-old Preece is just in his second year behind the wheel of “Ole Blue,” and his third year of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour racing overall.
“I’m really happy that the 3 car is where they are, and that we’re going for the championship together,” Lia said. “He’s a good kid, and he’s got a great future ahead of him. Hopefully we can hang on and win it, but if they do, that’s pretty cool.”
The young Preece is well-versed in Modified history. His grandfather – Bob Judkins – was a longtime Modified car owner.
Lia can clinch his second Whelen Modified Tour crown by finishing fifth or better at Thompson, but with Preece just 26 points out, there are a number of scenarios that will make every lap important in the season finale.
The World Series of Speedway Racing presented by Xtra Mart will commence with practice and qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour on Saturday, Oct. 17. The 150-lap race is set to go green on Sunday, Oct. 18 at approximately 3:30 p.m.
