by Jay | Sep 9, 2012 | Lee USA, NEMST, New Hampshire, Touring Series News
Drivers from six New England states converged on Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH for the Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock Tour’s make-up event that was scheduled after the original Juy 27th date was called off due to weather. Skies were sunny and the air was humid as 20 NEMST cars rolled into the pit area of the fast 3/8 mile oval.
Road course winner Mike Mason has taken a small hiatus from NEMST competition but returned with a vengeance at Lee laying down the fastest lap times through practice and winning his heat from the outside pole position. Other notable drivers include former Lee champion Loren Smith, NEMST point leader Danny Field, and multi-time Lee winner Emerson Cayer.
September 7th marked Championship Night at Lee where all regular divisions would crown their season victors. 7:15 marked the start of events with 2 NEMST heats. The heats started with a bang as a fast moving Calvin Rose was shuffling to the front on the first lap as Nic Skillings got loose. Both cars careened into the turn four retaining wall bouncing across the track and coming to a stop on the infield. The red flag was displayed as drivers were checked on by NEMST and Lee USA officials. Both cars would be finished for the night due to the extensive damage. After the clean-up pole sitter Billy Osborne paced the field for the duration of the event taking home the heat win, his second in as many races.
by Jay | Sep 6, 2012 | NEMST, Touring Series News
Championship Banquet and Rules Meeting Nov. 17
The Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock season has been eventful to say the least throughout the first seven events in 2012. The top six drivers are separated by a mere 76 points and numerous competitors are signing on to finish out the season with the ever growing NEMST.
As the temperatures cool off and competition levels rise it becomes time to plan the year end festivities. This season the NEMST will offer a Championship Banquet catered by series title sponsor Texas Roadhouse that will showcase and award the drivers finishing in the top ten points positions over the year. For the first time the year-end banquet will be held in a central location to try and increase attendance while making it easier for all drivers to attend. The banquet will be held at the Days Inn Convention Center in Methuen, MA located conveniently near both I-93 and I-495 in northern Massachusetts.
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by Jay | Aug 27, 2012 | All-Star Speedway, NEMST, New Hampshire, Touring Series News
8/26/12 – Seventeen cars lined up at Star Speedway for the seventh event of the 2012 Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock Tour season. As practice rounds were clicked through the front wheel drive vehicles showed a definite advantage on the tight Epping, NH course. The track had lots of grip early on due to the high outside temperatures.
After practice the NEMST drivers were gathered for the drivers meeting. NEMST regular Loren Smith won the Tater’s NASCAR Merchandise cash bonus and drew the $90 chip out of the bucket. Teams were given the lineup for the two qualifying heats and made final preparations before lineups.
Emerson Cayer drew the pole for his heat with tour points runner up Danny Field right to his outside. Point leader Shawn Swallow would start fifth in the first heat along with Field and Cayer. Cayer would prevail for the heat win as a strong battle ensued behind him between Field and Swallow. Swallow took home the second place. Mike Parker worked his way through the field in the second heat passing Matt Sonnhalter and Billy Osborne before claiming the checkers. Cayer drew an inversion of 6 rows for the feature lineup.
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by Jay | Aug 6, 2012 | Connecticut, NEMST, Waterford
Swallow Builds Point Lead With Consecutive Wins
Point leader and Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock Tour rookie Shawn Swallow extended his point lead in a thrilling photo finish victory at Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, CT Saturday night. As the pit gates opened at 2 P.M. NEMST and weekly Speedbowl competitors began to line the pit area and descend on the NEMST sign in table, By 5:30 when the heat races began for the nights events thrity-one tour style mini stocks had registered for the nights 50 lap feature event.
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by Jay | Jul 8, 2012 | NEMST, New Hampshire, NHMS, Touring Series News
Stark, NH native Shawn Swallow became the thirteenth different winner in North East Mini Stock Tour competition, and the third winner of the 2012 season. This was the series second visit to the largest sporting facility in New England, New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Last time the high revving four-cylinders were at The Magic Mile they ran the famed 12 turn road course. This time was a completely different course constructed by NHMS and INEX officials originally intended for NELCAR legends racing.
The sharp turned ¼ mile track is very technical with half of the track being on the banking of the NASCAR turn 1&2 and the other half running around the flat apron of the road course. Cars and crews struggled all day trying to get the large passenger based race cars to negotiate their laps around the track. Through the first rounds of practice NEMST cars were turning laps in the 17.03 second range exciting NHMS officials and personnel.
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by Jay | Jul 3, 2012 | Connecticut, NEMST, New England, Thompson, Touring Series News
2012 Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock Tour
The weather couldn’t of been any perfect in Northeast Connecticut for the Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock Tour to make their third appearance at New England’s largest short track, Thompson International Speedway. 21 tour style mini stocks rolled into the gate early Thursday afternoon along with 25 Thompson regular minis for the 3rd Annual Northern Tour Shootout.
The point leader coming into the night was John Kelly fresh off of two third place finishes in the first two events of the season. John would experience motor difficulties in practice which sidelined him for the heat race. As practice continued there was definitely a battle brewing between Twin State feature event winner Emerson Cayer along with last years Thompson winner Mark Panaroni, Shawn Swallow and, last years Thompson champion Danny Field.
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