by | Mar 22, 2014 | ACT, Touring Series News
Waterbury, VT –The best group of young talent in nearly 30 years has emerged to challenge some of the biggest stock car racing stars in the Northeast during the 2014 American Canadian Tour (ACT) upcoming season.
“Having this many talented young teams is exactly what ACT racing was designed for. All these teams have come out of weekly tracks and are now testing the longer distance events. ACT tries to create schedules that will still allow teams to race at their “home tracks” during the height of the race season. We have lots of events scheduled in early Spring and later in the Fall. Watching these new young teams develop has become one of the most fun parts of the business for me. There is nothing more exciting than to see a young racer win his/her first major event!!”, said Tom Curley, long-time promoter of ACT racing.
(more…)
by | Mar 22, 2014 | Connecticut, Thompson
Thompson, CT- Please excuse these drivers, but they aren’t your average racers. TSMP will be home to four female racers in 2014; Shelly Perry, Alicia Thatcher, Alecia Parker, and Nikki Ouellette.
Parker will be returning to the track she considers home at TSMP. The Hubbardston, MA native got her feet wet at Monadnock Speedway, but is looking for a new challenge in 2014, returning to the track she grew up near. The 31 year-old got into the sport by going to the races with her parents and helping them with their car, until they stopped racing when she turned 10. Parker would then go to TSMP to watch from the stands, and knew she wanted to be behind the wheel. Parker will be competing in the Mini Stock division with her #07 Lenny Mort the Sign Guy Ford Mustang, and hopes to be victorious this year. “Everyone wants a championship, everyone wants more than one win,” explains Parker. “We’ve found a little bit more than what we wanted wrong with the car this off-season, so bare minimum, we’d like to come away with a win.”
(more…)
by | Mar 22, 2014 | Granite State Pro Stock, Touring Series News
Walpole, NH- Excitement is brewing with the Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) fast approaching.
Pre-entries have already started pouring in for the April 5-6 show at the nation’s oldest paved oval. The defending race winner, George “Mad Dog” Bessette, has committed to attempt to grab the checkers two years in a row. RB Performance racer Dillon Moltz has sent in his entry form, as well as Windham, ME resident Brad Babb. GSPSS veterans Fran “JR” Colson and Barry Gray have filed entries for the first of the ten events in the 2014 season, as well as youngster Derek Griffith and 2013 champion Mike O’Sullivan. “I’ve been waiting for it all winter!” Griffith states. “We’re still working hard to get the car done on time, but I’m excited for the season to begin. It’s looking like the best season of my career!” To O’Sullivan, TSMP is a track that is circled as soon as it’s on the schedule. “With the season opener that I’ve been accustomed to for many years, the Icebreaker is now the opening point race for the GSPSS,” commented O’Sullivan. “It’s definitely a good feeling starting out your season at your home track.” O’Sullivan and his brother, Tommy, have a special place for TSMP in their heart, being a facility the two have been around for a long time. Mike picked up a pair of second place finishes in both races last year, and Tommy grabbed third in the final event, the World Series. These drivers and many more are anxious to dust off the cars and engage in battle.
(more…)
by | Mar 22, 2014 | Granite State Pro Stock, Touring Series News
Walpole, NH – 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.
(more…)
by | Mar 21, 2014 | ACT, Lee USA, New Hampshire, Touring Series News
Waterbury, VT –American Canadian Tour (ACT) teams look at Lee USA Speedway’s annual New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 to kickstart their race season on Sunday, April 13, 2014. The optimism is well-founded. ACT Late Models can boast 10 different winners in 11 events held at Lee since 2003.
The list of winners is impressive, with a huge diversity of experience. Starting the list of winners are two Canadian teams, featuring four-time ACT US and Canadian Champion Patrick Laperle from St. Denis, QC and NASCAR Canadian Champion DJ Kennington, St. Thomas, ON in 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Seven-time ACT Champion Jean-Paul Cyr, and three time Thunder Road Champion Cris Michaud, along with the 1995 ACT Pro Stock Champion from Fast One racing, Brad Leighton all went to victory lane at Lee USA Speedway. Pro All Star Series Champion Ben Rowe from Turner, Maine won the NH Governor’s Cup in 2008. Lee regular weekly racer Miles Chipman shocked the ACT regulars in 2010 with a win for long-time car owner David Storey.
Perennial front-runner Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. from Hudson, NH was a first-time winner in 2008. “I remember what a great feeling it was to win that race. I started my ACT career at Lee and to get that win really gave my career a boost. I think Brian (eight (8) time ACT Champion Brian Hoar from Williston, VT) is the only guy who has won the Lee opener twice, and that is definitely my goal this year. If we can start the season like we ended 2013, this could help us get that first ACT Championship this season. I can’t wait for the season to begin,” said Pole.
The defending New Hampshire Governor’s Cup winner, Jimmy Hebert, from Williamstown, VT stunned the veterans and the full house a year ago, with his first ever ACT win in just his second year of competition. “It was with a lot of help from my team and Dale Shaw that got me that win, but really with the number of cars and quality of race teams we raced with, it was pretty much a shock to me. I only remember coming around with the checkered flag victory lap and seeing my father jumping up and down on the track. That was pretty special. I hope to repeat this year,” said Hebert.
The ACT opening event at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH will take place with a full practice on Saturday, April 12 and a 150-lap feature event on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Qualifying will begin at 1:00 on Sunday.
by | Mar 21, 2014 | PASS
CHARLOTTE, NC (March 18) – When the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models and PASS Pro Late Models come to Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC, there is always excitement. The high-banked, 3/8 mile speedway has hosted some of the series’ most competitive races ever since 2006. It is a favorite stop on the schedule for both fans and drivers alike. But for 13-year-old PASS South Super Late Model driver Tate Fogleman, there might just be a little extra incentive to perform well as PASS prepares to return to Orange County for the 9th Annual Orange Blossom Special on April 5.
Being from nearby Durham, NC, Fogleman grew up in the shadows of Orange County Speedway. Both his grandfather, Kent, and father, two-time PASS National Champion Jay Fogleman, have raced and won at Orange County. So naturally, anytime the Foglemans race there it attracts a lot of family and friends.
(more…)
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.
by | Mar 21, 2014 | New England, New England Motorsports North
By Lou Modestino
Veteran Eddie MacDonald showed a little late-race mastery on 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 Vt will 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. Four 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.
by | Mar 19, 2014 | NASCAR
“This win is fantastic and unbelievable for our team,” beamed Eddie Mac after outdueling Ben Rhodes in the green-white-checker finish in NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East’s Pittlite 125 on the famed half-mile at Bristol. “Our team has worked so hard without much success of late so to get this win on this track is huge for our owner, crew, and fans. Winning at Bristol is a dream come true for any driver and I am humbled to win on such an historic track. It is easily one of the biggest wins of my career and I thank a lot of the people involved in this race team in helping me get this win.”
The Grimm Construction/Multiple Sclerosis Chevy showed promise during practice and eventually in qualifying. The #71 ranked 16thand 18th in the two practices (16.363sec-117.265 mph—16.334sec.-117.265mph) only two tenths of a second behind the leader on the fast, high-banked oval known as “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.” On the second of two qualifying laps, Eddie Mac posted a 16.249sec-118.087mph run to start 13th on the grid. (more…)
by | Mar 19, 2014 | Maine, Wiscasset Raceway
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY DRIVER PROFILE:
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery gallery_type=”thumbnails” theme_id=”1″ gallery_id=”4″ sort_by=”order” image_column_number=”5″ images_per_page=”30″ image_title=”undefined” image_enable_page=”1″ thumb_width=”180″ thumb_height=”90″ popup_width=”800″ popup_height=”500″ popup_effect=”none” popup_interval=”5″ popup_enable_filmstrip=”1″ popup_filmstrip_height=”70″ popup_enable_ctrl_btn=”1″ popup_enable_fullscreen=”1″ popup_enable_comment=”1″ popup_enable_facebook=”1″ popup_enable_twitter=”1″ popup_enable_google=”1″ watermark_type=”none” watermark_link=”0″]
James Osmond #05
By Lisa Maguire
James Osmond has been in the racing business since he was a child. Osmond said, “I have been into things with engines since I was nine. Whether it was dirt bike, ATV’S, or ice racing with the first car I had, a Voltzwagon.”
“I started racing at Wiscasset back in 2005,” said Osmond. “So, I’ve been racing cars for about ten years. I started in Super Street, and I was Rookie of the Year.”
In 2007 Osmond moved to the Late Model division. But, he moved back to Superstock in ’08. Osmond said, “I did all right, but in 2009 went back to Late Models and had about five top wins. It was my best season in Late Models. I also won The Army Strong Driver Award that year”
Osmond took 2010 off and was crew for Josh Bailey. “We had a lot of fun together that year,” said Osmond.
The years of 2011 and 2012 Osmond raced at Unity.
In 2013 Osmond returned to Wiscasset where he raced the Super Stock division. Osmond had five top places finishes, the most in the class. Osmond was awarded the Driver of the Month Award for the month of July, 2013. Then, at season’s close, Osmond won the Driver of the Year Award at Wiscasset. The award spotlights drivers who show a noticed balance of on-track performance, improvement, sportsmanship, and cooperation with track officials.
Track promoter, Ken Minott, said, “The reason we chose James for the Napa Driver of the Year is that he epitomizes what we want a Wiscasset Speedway driver to be. He’s got talent behind the wheel and he wins races. But, that’s only part of it. He’s enthusiastic and eager to learn and get better. More importantly, he displays great sportsmanship. He’s respectful of the other guys on the track with him. He races as hard as anyone out there, but if he knows his car isn’t going to get him to victory lane, he’s gonna get what he can out of it and load it on the trailer in one piece, and let his fellow drivers do the same. I respect that, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
“My best finishes were last season,” said Osmond. “I don’t always win because I try to be fair to everyone. If I can’t beat ‘em. I can’t beat ‘em!”
“I did finish in the top five every single race. I have ten trophies from this season alone. It was a good season, and it was a good feeling. The funny thing is that I was going to retire before last season started. Then, I didn’t because I wanted to win at least one race. I didn’t want to fail. I wanted to try it and see if I could get it done.”
When asked about the best races he had competed in over his years of racing, Osmond replied, “The best races are ones I race with my friends: Josh Bailey, Bobby Mesimer, Adam Chadbourne, actually, all of the guys are really friends. We have a good time together.”
Osmond recounted, “Josh Bailey and I were racing back in 2008. We were last and second to last, and we knew we weren’t going to do anything. So, we blocked each other and tried to hold each other back. People thought we were fighting, but we were just laughing about it!”
“Even though we are friends,” said Osmond. “Racing Superstock at Wiscasset is aggressive and competitive. I had to work very hard for my wins, especially against Adam Chadbourne.”
When posed with the question: “When racing, what percentage of your overall success is in the car? The driver? Luck?”
Osmond replied, “The car is huge. There is not much you can do with an ill-handling car. If the car just won’t go, there is nothing you can do. Even the best driver can only do much with a bad car. I would say the car is 50%, the driver 25%, and luck the other 25%.”
Soon the conversation turned to the season of 2014. Osmond said, “I am using the same car this season. I have not made any changes except it is painted white and orange. It is still #05. I do have a new sponsor this year, Paul Garber Construction. Also, Red’s Eats, Cahill Tire, and Drummonds Automotive Equipment are some of my other sponsors.”
When asked about his hopes for the coming season, Osmond had this to say, “I know I won’t have the year I had last year. But, I will be happy with half of what I did last year, or, at least win one more race!”
Even when away from racing, Osmond does follow a training regimen of sorts. In the summer months he lifts weight three times per week, and in winter he cross country skis. Osmond said, “It helps me deal with the heat in the car while driving.”
Osmond is a family man away from the track. He works as an assistant manager at Cahill Tire in Edgecomb. Osmond has been with his wife, Tabatha, for over thirteen years. Osmond said, “We have two children. An eleven year old son named Brett, and a six year old girl named Danika. I try to be active and spend time with my kids. We play basketball or try to relax.”
Wiscasset Speedway offers not only fun for the drivers, but for the fans, and all involved.
