by | Sep 2, 2013 | PASS
Ross Kenseth led the most laps, but had to fend off a furious late race challenge from rookie Jared Irvan to win the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model SoBo 100 Saturday night at South Boston Speedway. With his win, Kenseth completed a sweep of both PASS South events held at South Boston Speedway this year.
“It’s always fun coming back here, heck of a job by Jared Irvan, he raced us really clean and it was fun racing him for the win,” said Kenseth after his 4th career PASS South Super Late Model win. “I felt like we were really good, but if we got pinched down to the bottom it would take us about two or three laps to get going. Real proud of the guys, we brought the same thing back here as last time and it work really good again.”
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by | Sep 2, 2013 | VALENTI MODIFIED SERIES
Stafford Springs, CT. – Steve Masse, of Bellingham, MA, drove to victory Friday night, Aug 30, winning the Valenti Modified Racing Series sanctioned 4th Annual Shark Cycle 80 at Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT.
Masse leads all series competitors with three victories this season.
The 23-year-old driver is tied with Dwight Jarvis and Louie Mechalides with seven series wins.
Front row starters Ted Christopher, of Plainville, CT, and Keith Rocco, of Meriden, CT, at the drop of the green flag were the show. Seven lead swaps took place between the two drivers until Christopher made contact with Rocco on a lap 53 pass attempt.
With Rocco and Christopher (penalized) relegated to the rear of the field, Masse took the top spot for the balance of the 80 laps and was never challenged.
In victory lane Masse explained, “I saw Keith and Teddy on the front row and I knew it was going to be a hard fought battle up there and once I got to fourth place I just drove it around. There was plenty of race left.”
Masse, who blew an engine at Thompson, disclosed he didn’t think the Stafford race was on the radar until Wednesday.“ We threw the backup motor in. Its got a couple of seasons on it but it’s still pretty good.”
Berlin, CT, driver Ryan Preese finished runner-up from his 11th starting position. “It’s awesome to finally finish a race here with the MRS series but we got some work too do. Second place is pretty good. I’m happy with it. Especially happy that Stevie won.” Preece said.
Norm Wrenn, of Nashua, NH, has struggled throughout the season. Wrenn won his qualifying heat, started fourth in the 26-car field, never ran outside the top five, and finished in a solid third pressing Preece right to the finish.
Post race Wrenn said, “ I did not want to see that caution on lap 72 but we were good. I thought I had something for Ryan but he’s a good driver. Its nice to run that close to someone and run clean.”
Wrenn added, “ The last couple of weeks we ended up going home in a basket. Really discouraging with all the work the crew puts in. We really needed this third place finish.”
With regular driver Jon McKennedy committed elsewhere, Ken Barry, of Preston, CT, opted to compete driving Art Barry’s racer to a strong fourth place finish.
Dave Etheridge, of Portland, CT, turned in his best ever series performance rounding out the top five.
Sixth through tenth were, Zane Zeiner, Richard Savary, Rocco, Christopher, and Dan Meservey Jr.
Qualifying heat winners; Rocco, Christopher, Wrenn.
Consolation winners were, Mark Bakaj & Todd Owen
The race, slowed by eight caution flags, was completed in 1:00: 49.
A season high 36 cars entered the event. 17 of the 26-car field finished on the lead lap.
Race No.13 of 17- Stafford Motor Speedway
Entrants: 36 (26 starters)
Distance: 80-laps
Time of Race: 1:00:49.605
Best Lap Time: 18.696
Lead Changes: 8 (among 3 drivers)
Lap Leaders: Christopher (1-6,19-22, 26-32, 46) Rocco (7-18, 23-25, 33-45, 68-52) Masse (53-80)
Cautions: 8 (22,32,36,41,51,51,52,72)
Unofficial Order of Finish: (1) Masse (2) Preece (3) Wrenn (4) Barry, (5) Etheridge (6) Zeiner (7) Savary (8) Rocco (9) Christopher (10) Meservey (11) Chris Pasteryak (12) Charlie Pasteryak (13) Zachem (14) Mechalides (15) Malave (16) Drown (17) Mead (18) Goodale (19) Barrett (20) Bitondo (21) Holdridge (22) Goodenough (23) Pennink (24) Schneider (25) Owen (26) Bakaj
by | Sep 2, 2013 | Granite State Pro Stock, New Hampshire, Riverside Speedway, Touring Series News
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On Saturday night September 7th, the Granite State Pro Stock Series will invade the high banked ¼ mile of the Riverside Speedway in Groveton NH. This will mark the first visit to Riverside for the GSPSS. “We are looking forward to bringing Pro Stock/Super Late Model racing back to Riverside”, stated series president Mike Parks A limited number of teams have turned laps on the ¼ mile but all and all it will be a first for 90% of the teams. Current point leader Jeremy Davis hopes to turn his recent string of bad luck around, Davis holds a slim 7 point lead over defending Thompson Speedway champion Mike O’Sullivan. As with Davis, O’Sullivan has struggled over the last couple of events. Third place point man Matt Frahm has been on a roll over the last few events and has turned the most laps on the ¼ mile oval, Frahm is one of the favorites for the event. Rounding out the top 5 in the point standings is former Oxford 250 champion Larry Gelinas and longtime Pro Stock competitor Mike Parks. The GSPSS is coming off very successful events at Both Star Speedway where PASS invader DJ Shaw nailed down the win, and Hudson Speedway where Bobby Baillargeon took the win over 2012 Rookie of the year 15 year old Derek Griffith. There are three events left on the GSPSS schedule, after Riverside it’s off to the Cannan Fair Speedway on Sat September 14th for the last event ever to be hosted at the speedway. Than the GSPSS will crown the 2013 series champion at the Thompson Speedway during the annual World Series in October. Remember this Saturday night September 7th come on out to Riverside Speedway In Groveton NH. Post time is 6pm.
by | Aug 30, 2013 | Connecticut, Thompson
Rocco, Gentes, McDermott, Kenneway, Bourgeois Champs
Thompson, Conn: The 2013 season was celebrated in the final installment of Thursday Night Thompson Thunder (TNTT) with Keith Rocco, Rick Gentes, Cam McDermott, Steve Kenneway, and Eric Bourgeois earning division titles. NASCAR Whelen All American Series winners included Woody Pitkat in the Sunoco Modified division, Tom Carey, Jr. in the Late Models, Glenn Griswold in the Lite Modifieds, Scott Sundeen in the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman division, and Eric Bourgeois in the Mini Stocks. Toby Wells took down the victory in the North East Mini Stock 20-lap feature.
Tom Carey, Jr. hasn’t won at Thompson Speedway since 2003 when he ran in the then-titled NASCAR Busch North Series. But Carey has a lot of winning left in him.
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by | Aug 30, 2013 | ACT, Touring Series News
Phil Scott, Darrell Morin, Will Hennequin and Al Derrington Claim Wins
Barre, VT – Phil Scott made Kyle Pembroke pay for one mistake at the front of the field on lap 37 of the VP Racing Fuels Late Model 50 Thursday at Thunder Road and went on to his 2nd win of the season and the 29th of his career.
Scott shot between a backmarker in the low lane and Pembroke on the rim of turn two in a go-for-broke move for the last of six lead changes.
“I knew I had to take the opportunity, when I saw it,” Scott said.
During the first half of the event, Pembroke and pole sitter Joe Becker raced side by side for more than 20 laps with Scott and eventual runner-up Joey Laquerre in close pursuit.
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by | Aug 30, 2013 | PASS
PASS North Series: Bradley Babb
White Mountain Motorsports Park Race Preview
THE STORY
WINDHAM, Maine – Bradley Babb of Windham, Maine, joins the PASS North Series for a rare doubleheader with two PASS 150s at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, N.H., on Saturday, August 31. The starting field was set for the first PASS 150 before the main event was rained out on August 4, while the second PASS 150 will be the one originally scheduled for the date. Babb finished third – his best career PASS North Series finish – at White Mountain in 2011, the last time he competed on the scenic, high-banked quarter-mile. Babb sits 21st in the current PASS North standings, despite making only four starts, with two qualifying race wins and one Top-10 finish. The 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Maine state champion is hoping to rebound at White Mountain after a blown engine at Oxford Plains Speedway during qualifying forced him out of the TD Bank Oxford 250 last month.
THE FACTS
WHO: Bradley Babb, Windham, Maine
TEAM: No. 4 Babb Wood Contractors/McGoldrick Bros. Blasting Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Bobby Babb, Windham, Maine
BEST CAREER WHITE MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS PARK FINISH: 3rd (September 2011)
LAST RACE AT WHITE MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS PARK: 3rd (September 2011)
WHAT: PASS North Series Twin 150s
WHERE: White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, N.H. (.25-mile banked oval)
WHEN: 4 p.m., Saturday, August 31
PASS North Series
LAST RACE: August 6, Budweiser 150, Autodrome Chaudiere, Vallee-Jonction, Que. (N/A)
NEXT RACE: September 7, PASS 200, Autodrome Chaudiere, Vallee-Jonction, Que. (.25-mile oval)
CURRENT POINTS POSITION: 21st
DID YOU KNOW?
Bradley Babb became the first third-generation champion in Beech Ridge Motor Speedway’s top division when he won the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Pro Series championship at the track. His father Bobby Babb and grandfather Robert Babb are both multi-time Beech Ridge champions in the top division.
Bradley Babb was honored at the NASCAR Hall of Fame convention center in Charlotte, N.C., in December as both a state and track champion in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Bradley Babb finished second in a 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature event at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on June 1.
Bradley Babb won the pole for his most recent start at Oxford Plains Speedway in April, led nearly a third of the race and had a solid Top-10 run going when he was shuffled back by contact from another car on a green-white-checkered restart at the end of the 150-lap event.
Bradley Babb was the 2010 ACT Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
BRADLEY BABB, Driver of the No. 14 Babb Wood Contractors/McGoldrick Bros. Blasting Chevrolet, On heading to White Mountain Motorsports Park this weekend: “It’s my favorite track. I’ve always liked going there and watching races, even. The first time I went there, I didn’t have any luck. I ended up losing power steering, but it was still so much fun to drive.
“It was the first place I ever ran besides Beech Ridge. The next time we went back, I had the fastest car all day and had a chance to win an ACT race there. It’s always been my favorite place to go, even though I’ve never had the luck when I’ve gone there.”
On how racy White Mountain Motorsports Park is: “Some guys can’t figure out the top, but if you figure out how to drive out there, there definitely is an outside groove. Maybe you wouldn’t run it if you were alone, but you can go out there and make passes.
“It’s a driver’s track, once you get the hang of it.”
On if his approach to races has changed now that he’s no longer chasing points: “Not really. The way my whole season’s been going, I’m sort of looking for more of the same of what we had at Oxford the week before the 250 – where we had a good run. If we can just come out of there with a good run, don’t stove anything up and have a good finish, hopefully we can run some more races this year.”
UP NEXT
The PASS North Series returns to Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Que., for the PASS 200 on Saturday, September 7.
by | Aug 30, 2013 | New Hampshire, NHMS
Emily Packard Heats Up In Season’s Second Half
16-Year-Old High School Junior To Test At NHMS Next Week
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – To the surprise of nobody, Emily Packard is happy to talk about how well the second half of her season has gone.
The second-year driver from East Montpelier, Vt., has two Top-5 finishes and four straight finishes in the top half of an ultra-competitive Late Model field at the notoriously difficult Thunder Road International Speedbowl in nearby Barre as she heads into this weekend’s ACT Late Model Tour event at the quarter-mile track.
Given that there are a number of high-profile events over the final month and a half to close out the 2013 season, this is a great time for Packard to be hitting her stride.
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by | Aug 30, 2013 | New England
Dirty Dozen Cup: Reid Lanpher
Motor Mile Speedway Race Preview
THE STORY
MANCHESTER, Maine – Reid Lanpher of Manchester, Maine, concludes his season with JR Motorsports with a doubleheader weekend of Late Model racing, beginning with the Dirty Dozen Cup New River Bank Twin 125s at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., on Friday, August 30, and followed with the 37th annual Bobby Isaac Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C., on Saturday, August 31. The 15-year-old Lanpher is coming off two of his best career finishes at the respective tracks, including a Top-10 finish at Motor Mile earlier this month and an impressive ninth-place finish in his Hickory debut in early July.
THE FACTS
WHO: Reid Lanpher, Manchester, Maine
TEAM: No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Seth Kooika, Mooresville, N.C.
BEST CAREER MOTOR MILE SPEEDWAY FINISH: 10th (August 2013)
LAST RACE AT MOTOR MILE SPEEDWAY: 10th (August 2013)
WHAT: Dirty Dozen Cup New River Bank Twin 125s
WHERE: Motor Mile Speedway, Radford, Va. (.416-mile oval)
WHEN: Friday, August 30 – 8 a.m., practice; 6:45 p.m., qualifying; 8 p.m., race
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by | Aug 29, 2013 | PASS, White Mountain Motorsports Park
NAPLES, ME (August 28) – As far as the weather goes, the 2013 season has not been kind to racers of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS). An unprecedented number of cancellations has made an already long season even longer for North America’s top short track racers and left fans clamoring for more events. This weekend, thanks to 2013’s unruly weather, PASS competitors from New Hampshire to Virginia will be making history. Saturday’s scheduled 400 laps of competition between PASS North’s Twin 150’s at White Mountain Motorsports Park and PASS South’s 100 lap make up event at South Boston Speedway will mark the most laps of PASS Super Late Model racing action ever held in a single day.
The historic day of racing will begin Saturday afternoon at New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park with a truly unique day of competition. For the first time ever, PASS North Super Late Model competitors will compete in two points paying events in the same day. The first 150 lap race will be a continuation of an event that was cancelled due to rain on August 4 and will be lined up based on heat races held that day. Following the first 150 lapper, PASS North teams will reset and hold heat races on Saturday to determine the starting lineup for race two.
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by | Aug 29, 2013 | ACT
Waterbury, VT – Defending American Canadian Tour Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. of Dover, NH holds a 36-point lead over Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. as the Tour returns to its home track, Thunder Road in Barre, VT this Sunday, September 1. The running of the 35th annual VT Foodbank Labor Day Classic 200 will set the stage for the ACT 2013 finale at Airborne Speedway at the end of September, just as it did one year ago.
Last year, Helliwell was on top of the standings heading into this event with a 22-point lead over eight-time ACT Champion Brian Hoar. Hoar claimed the Labor Day win to pull within eight points as they headed into the Airborne Fall Foliage finale. Helliwell ended up snagging the Fall Foliage win and the 2013 title in an epic last race battle.
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