by Jay | Nov 26, 2009 | PASS
CHARLOTTE, NC – Officials from the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) and Speedway Associates, Incorporated announced today a major addition to the 2010 racing schedule. The PASS South Super Late Models will stage a 200 lap event on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at the legendary North Wilkesboro (NC) Speedway. The race will fall on Labor Day weekend and will also include an optional practice day on Friday, September 3rd, 2010. The PASS South Super Late Models will be among the first touring divisions to visit the .625 mile North Wilkesboro Speedway since Jeff Gordon won the final Winston Cup Series event there in 1996.
“We are very honored that the PASS South Super Late Models will be bringing stock car racing back to the great fans in Wilkes County,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry. “This 200 lap event at North Wilkesboro Speedway will be one of the crown jewels in the 2010 PASS schedule. We look for Super Late Model drivers and fans from across the country to converge on North Wilkesboro for this prestigious event.”
“After much work and many conversations, we are proud to have PASS bring its ultra competitive form of racing to the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway,” said Speedway Associates President and Director of Operations Alton McBride, Jr. “This has already been a tremendous undertaking on our behalf and we appreciate all the time and effort PASS has put forth to make this event possible. We believe this 200 lap race will be a great way to kick off the Labor Day weekend and we hope it will be the beginning of a new tradition for years to come.”
The 2010 schedules for all PASS divisions are almost complete and will be released very soon. For more information please log on to the PASS websites, www.racewithpass.com. or www.proallstarsseries.com .
by Jay | Nov 22, 2009 | Beech Ridge, Maine
Portland,Maine- Mike Rowe, Russ Morse, Lyman McKeage and Shawn Brackett were the guests of honor at the 61st annual presentation of awards at the Holiday Inn by the bay in Portland Maine Saturday night. The awards ceremony closed out the 2009 NASCAR Whelan All American Series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in front of a capacity crowd in the banquet room.
Maine racing legend Mike Rowe was honored with the championship awards for the Pro Series division. Rowe received his championship awards from NASCAR and Beech Ridge and addressed the crowd in attendance recalling the NASCAR champions week in Charlotte and spoke some heartfelt words to his RJF Motorsports team. Rowe then recalled an evening this past season where he presented his feature winning trophy to Jordan Emerson, the young Whiz Kid racer injured in a crash 2 years ago and how that brought a big smile to her face. Rowe went one step beyond that on Saturday night as he announced that his championship trophy was going home with Jordan Emerson who was in attendance. Rowe made his way to the table Jordan was sitting at and presented his championship trophy to her much to the delight of the crowd.
Russ Morse stepped to the podium to collect the Sport Series championship awards. Morse capped off a brilliant season by thanking his team and family members who urged him to keep going when at times he didn’t think his heart was in it. This was the first championship for Morse in his 9 year racing career. Lyman McKeage collected his 3rd Beech Ridge championship on Saturday night. The elder statesman of the Wildcat division won the title by a scant 17 points and gave much of the credit to his team and family members who work tirelessly maintaining a fleet of 5 race cars that they use in various racing series’.
Shawn Brackett was the Road Runner champion for the 3rd consecutive year. Despite the fact that the Road Runner division is growing and the competition is getting tougher, Brackett stepped up his game to stay at the head of the class. Brackett thanked his family for the sacrifices they make so he can race as well as thanked his sponsors and team.
Several highly coveted awards were presented lead by the Driver of the decade award. Mike Maietta Sr. was the first winner of this prestigious award and Saturday night the award was presented to Bobby Babb. The annual Driver of the year award was announced and to nobody’s surprise Mike Rowe was the recipient of the award. The award for Outstanding new driver was presented to third generation racer Justin Cusack.
Rookie of the year awards went to Bradley Babb (Pro Series), Justin Cusack (Sport Series), Matt Gain (Wildcat) and Matt Dow (Road Runner). Most Improved drivers were Aaron Ricker (Pro Series), Nate Leavitt (Sport Series), Dan Bean (Wildcat) and David Turner (Road Runner).
The 2010 NASCAR Whelan All American Series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway will kick off in May. Expect to see return visits from the Pro All Star Series and the American Canadian Tour as well as the True Value Modifieds.
by Jay | Nov 22, 2009 | ACT, Canada, New England, Thunder Road
DRUMMONDVILLE, QC – 2009 Série ACT Castrol Stock Car Champion Donald Theetge of Boischatel, Quebec was honored at the annual Série ACT Castrol Banquet of Champions at the Best Western Hotel Universel in Drummondville, QC on Saturday, November 21. It is Theetge’s second career Série ACT Castrol Championship, with his previous title coming in 2006. The top ACT teams, officials and fans were in attendance to help honor Theege and his team. Theetge beat 2008 ACT Tour Champion Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, Quebec in the closest point battle in Série history to become the first Série ACT Castrol repeat champion. With his two victories during the 2009 season, Theetge also became the all-time Série ACT Castrol wins leader with 14. Theetge’s championship earned him a point fund paycheck of $9,000.
Justin Holtom of Ottawa, Ontario received the 2009 Série ACT Castrol Rookie of the Year Award. Holtom was the only Série regular from outside the province of Quebec. The 19 year old picked up his career best finish (5th) at Autodrome Montmagny in August and contended for the win at several events during the season on his way to 12th place in the Série ACT Castrol Championship Standings.
St-Félicien, Quebec’s Karl Allard earned the votes of his fellow competitors and Série officials to win the Série ACT Castrol Sportsmanship Award for the second time in his career. Allard earned the award based on his competitive but fair nature. Allard finished the season third in the Championship Point Standings and finished an impressive 12th at the Inaugural ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September.
The 2009 Série ACT Castrol Most Improved Driver Award was also awarded based on driver and official votes. Earning the most votes was 19 year old Jonathan Desbiens of Levis, Quebec. Desbiens finished 10th in the Championship Point Standings in just his third season with the Série. He also improved his best career finish in 2009 with a 6th at Autodrome Chaudiere in August.
Drivers in attendance from the top 15 in the 2009 Championship Point Standings also received personalized award plaques as well as point fund earnings of over $35,000. Also awarded were certificates for product from Bassett Racing Wheels and Five Star Race Car Bodies.
The 2010 Série ACT Castrol schedule has been announced with 12 events throughout the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The season will begin on Saturday, May 22 at Autodrome Ste-Eustache. For more information visit www.acttour.com or www.laserieactcastrol.com.
2010 Série ACT Castrol SCHEDULE
# DATE DAY TRACK LAPS
1. May 22 Sat. Ste-Eustache 100
2. May 29 Sat. Montmagny 100
3. June 05 Sat. Chaudiere 150
4. June 12 Sat. Capital City 100
5. June 19 Sat. Riverside 100
6. June 03 Sat. Montmagny 250
7. July 10 Sat. Ste-Felicien 135
*** July 18 Sun. Oxford 250
8. July 26 Mon. Riverside 100
9. July 31 Sat. Ste-Eustache 100
10. Aug. 07 Sat. Chaudiere 150
11. Aug. 14 Sat. Riverside (Combo*) 200
*** Aug. 28 Sat Chaudiere (Showdown) 200
12. Sept. 26 Sun. Ste-Eustache 300
***non-championship point counting event
*Combination race with Série ACT Castrol and U.S. ACT Tour
by Jay | Nov 20, 2009 | New England, PASS
Naples ME (11/17/2009) Johnny Clark’s 2009 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Championship is remarkable unto itself, given the level of competition in the New England super late model ranks. But two in a row and four titles in the nine years that PASS has been sanctioning super late model racing is a feat that only one other driver has managed to accomplish. Clark tied Ben Rowe for the most series titles by beating Rowe for the thirteen race crown in 2009, and it’s fitting that the two drivers that top the all time PASS standings are now tied in the titles won column.
Clark’s 2008 championship was a come from behind effort that saw the Farmingdale Mainer come on strong in the second half of the season. His 2009 title drive started out just the opposite, winning two out of the first three races (Speedway 95 and Unity) and scoring a seventh at the Beech Ridge PASS opener. Clark’s consistency was challenged throughout the campaign by perennial title contender Ben Rowe and upstart Adam Bates.Derek Ramstrom, Richie Dearborn and Kelly Moore were all ready to pounce should Clark falter.
But Clark and his veteran crew kept their train on the tracks, posting another win in the series’ return to Lee USA Speedway and never finishing outside the top ten after that. The final tally was Clark 2799 -Rowe 2767, a 32 point bulge.
Clark’s 2009 stats are remarkable: thirteen starts, three wins, eight top fives and twelve top tens in the North, plus another top ten in The PASS South opener at Hickory Motor Speedway, a fourth place in the Mason-Dixon Meltdown at South Boston and capped his year of with a win in the season closer at Greenville-Pickens Clark’s only hiccup of the season came at New Brunswick Canada’s Speedway 660 where a wheel departed the Clark’s Car Crushing /Port City Race Cars 54, resulting in a fourteenth place run.
That’s the kind of consistency that championships are made of, and a big chunk of the credit goes to the team that keeps Clark on the speedway lap after lap. From crew chief Robert Green to brother Bobby Clark on the spotters stand, John Marshall taking care of the tires and Heidi Marshall keeping track of the stats. Dad John Clark, Tim Clark, Terri Davies, Craig Smiley and Herb Geraux, each played key roles in the 2009 PASS title for Johnny Clark Motorsports. In fact,many of the team’s members have played a role in all four championships.
The right equipment, team work, consistency, and most of all, the talent and will to win. Those are the key elements to any championship. Johnny Clark and his race team have once again proven that they have them all in spades.
The Pro All Stars Series will return to action in ten weeks, kicking off their 10th season with the non points PASS Florida Speedfest at New Smyrna Speedway on January 29-30, 2010. Keep up with all the off season news at www.proallstarsseries.com and www.racewithpass.com .
by Jay | Nov 19, 2009 | New England
Photographers Howie and Mary Hodge, mainstays on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series, are the winners of the New England Antique Racers Jack Ratta Memorial Media Award.
The Hodges will accept the award at the 14th annual New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame induction banquet Sunday, Jan. 31 at LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT.
The Hodges, who have been recording New England racing history for 30 years, will share the limelight with 12 new members of the Hall of Fame. Howie started snapping pictures “seriously” in 1979. Mary joined him three years later.
The Hall of Fame “Class of 2010” includes drivers Geoff Bodine, the late Mike Murphy, George Savary, Pete Fiandaca and the late Chuck Arnold, car owner/builders Billy Simons, Bob Garbarino, Vic Miller and Marty Harty and contributors extraordinaire Frank Ferrara and the late Archie Blackadar.
Ticket forms will be on the NEAR website (www.near1.com) in the near future.
Hodge calculates he and his wife of 46 years have visited 130 racetracks and traveled almost a quarter-million miles as photographers. They have been part of the Modified Tour since 1991, “taking to the road” after almost a decade as the track photographer at Stafford Motor Speedway and, briefly, at Waterford Speedbowl.
The Hodges, who spent a number of years photographing the Busch North Series as well, have captured classic images up and down racing’s hierarchy.
Previous Ratta Award winners include Lou Modestino, Charlie Mitchell, Val LeSieur, Sam Weisberg and Chris Economaki.
by Jay | Nov 17, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New England
The 2009 season for the NASCAR Camping World Series East featured arguably the best rookie class in history as four first-year drivers finished in the top 10 in the standings and nearly two-thirds of the checkered flags were captured by cars with a yellow stripe.
Heading the class was Ryan Truex, who not only earned Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, but captured the 2009 Camping World Series East championship as well. Only current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rising star Joey Logano had accomplished that feat prior to Truex.
Truex, from Mayetta, N.J., won three races in his first season as a development driver for Michael Waltrip Racing. For the son of Martin Truex Sr. and younger brother of Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. – both former competitors in the Camping World Series East – the season didn’t get off to a roaring start. A stellar mid-season run and strong finish, however, was enough to edge veteran Eddie MacDonald by 34 points for the title.
Three races into the season, Truex had recorded an average finish of 21st, but the turnaround was dramatic. In the fourth race of the season, Truex captured his first 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light at South Boston (Va.) Speedway and finished third in the race for his first career top five. That effort began a streak of seven straight podium finishes – highlighted by wins at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway and Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. – that moved him from 12th in the standings to just one race away from the title.
Heading to the season finale at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, Truex maintained a slim 30-point margin on MacDonald, but when the checkered flag flew, the former crossed the line one position ahead of the latter and the trophy was in hand.
In the season finale at Dover, Truex wasn’t the only standout rookie celebrating. Brett Moffitt of Grimes, Iowa, dominated at the “Monster Mile” for the second win of his rookie campaign. Driving for Camping World Series East veteran Andy Santerre, Moffitt won the pole in his series debut and went on to register six top fives and nine top 10s, good enough for third place in the season standings.
Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Matt DiBenedetto made a big splash as well in 2009. The Grass Valley, Calif., native had an average finish of 6.7 in just seven starts with a win at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C., and a last-lap battle with Truex in June at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., that resulted in another victory. DiBenedetto earned a series-high three 21 Means 21 Pole Awards presented by Coors Light and led more laps than any driver despite participating in just two-thirds of the races.
While Truex, Moffitt and DiBenedetto were perhaps the most prominent, the 2009 rookie class also had depth. Alan Tardiff registered eight top 10s – including a season-best third place at Tri-County – and finished seventh in points despite not competing in one race. Alex Kennedy’s respectable season resulted in a 10th-place finish in the standings with three top 10s, highlighted by a career-best finish of fourth at Lime Rock.
Matt Kurzejewski made nine starts and was 15th in the standings while Jarit Johnson, the younger brother of three-time defending Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson, finished 17th in points with seven starts.
A host of other up-and-coming racing talents also had impressive efforts in spot starts in 2009. Richard Childress Racing’s Ryan Gifford had an average finish of 6.3 in four starts while Childress’ grandson, Ty Dillon, had a pair of top 10s in three outings. Max Gresham, who split time in the JGR No. 18 with DiBenedetto, also recorded two top 10s in three events. Noted road racer Patrick Long had an average finish of ninth in four outings and nearly won at Watkins Glen while dirt racers Kevin Swindell and Josh Richards showed plenty of asphalt talent in their six combined starts.
by Jay | Nov 13, 2009 | Canada, New England
Poirier returns to defend Pro title
Semi-Pro division wide open for 2009-10 RMR season
DERRY, NH (Nov. 13, 2009) — If there’s going to be a new face atop the northeastern regional snocross ranks in 2010, that rider will need to get past one smooth, determined athlete.
After one of the most dominant seasons in series history, 2009 Pro division champion Danny Poirier will return to action, as teams around the region get ready for the 2009-10 Rock Maple Racing (RMR) season.
Poirier, of St. Theodore, Quebec, won all but two Pro finals last season, an amazing feat in such a competitive series. When the new season revs up just one month from now, Poirier will return with a new yet well known teammate in the Hulten Speed Sports/Polaris trailer. Bobby “The Rage” LePage will join the RMR ranks this season, and he’s not the only big name headed to New England for 2009-10.
Quebec native Mathieu Morin, who won the last RMR Pro final of 2009, will join the Ingles Performance/Ski-doo squad and should be among the top contenders. Both Morin and LePage are highly-skilled athletes with national experience, adding a great deal of excitement for race fans here in the northeast.
As Poirier looks to defend his 2009 title, a host of veterans and newcomers will be after his crown. Multi-time champion Jason Boron will be back aboard the D & Z Racing Ski-doos this season. While his brother Matt has retired from snocross, Jason isn’t quite ready to hang it up. He’s one of the most consistent, rock-solid athletes to ever climb on a sled, and will no doubt be running up front again in 2009-10.
Other riders to watch this season within the Pro division include Norwegian veteran Stale (pronounced Sto-lay) Eggen, who joins Bruce Gaspardi’s Team Southside organization; Jason Stone, part of the powerhouse Ingles Performance squad; Chris Chico, back for his second season on the mighty Amsoil/Arctic Cat Sno Pro 600; and Renaud Alexandre, back with Hulten Speed Sports.
Team Southside is also proud to announce the return of Alaska native Robert Graeber to RMR competition. Graeber turned a lot of heads when he joined RMR as a Semi-Pro rider two years ago. He’s recovering nicely from a serious accident in March of 2008, and everybody is thrilled to see this determined, talented young man with a big heart return this season.
While Graeber will compete in the Semi-Pro division for 2009-10, two other former Semi-Pro sensations are making the move up to Pro. Vermont-based veterans Brennan Berardo (Essex) and Jake Melville (Pownal) will be part of the hottest rookie class in recent memory, which will only enhance the competition. Think RMR’s Pro division will be exciting this year? Just wait until they throw the green flag Dec. 12-13 at the Hickory Ski Center.
Rock Maple’s Semi-Pro division is where future stars hone their skills, and they provide a ton of excitement as they rise to regional stardom. While defending champion Aaron Pfeifer won’t be back, there are plenty of athletes gunning to take his place. Among the top contenders is Corin Todd (D&Z Racing/Ski-doo), who many feel is the favorite to secure a title.
Yet talented young guns like Trevor Bouchard (now on Arctic Cat), Brad Davis, Garrett Mees, Lucas Brunelle, Lincoln Lemieux and Michael George have other ideas. A newcomer to the Semi-Pro ranks this year is motocross veteran Ash Woskob, of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Woskob (D&Z Racing/.Ski-doo) is a multi-time MX champion and finished sixth in his RMR snocross debut last spring at Windham.
One of the sport’s rising stars is making the move up from Sport to Semi-Pro for 2009-10. Joey Stock, of Bearsville, NY, won the Sport 600 title in 2009 and finished only one point shy of Joey Mosher in Sport Super Stock. Watching this young man take his program to the next level will also be entertaining this winter.
Jake Dasilva and Andrew Bailey are two more former Sport division stars making the move to Semi-Pro. These two will run part time on both the RMR and International Series of Champions (ISOC) circuits for 2009-10. When ISOC rolls into historic Rockingham Park for the inaugural New England Nationals Feb. 13-14, Dasilva and Bailey will be going all-out for wins.
While RMR’s headline Pro and hotly-contested Semi-Pro divisions are expected to have banner seasons in 2009-10, the Sport, Women and Junior divisions are full of talented riders, as well. Add those eager young racers (ages 6 through 10) on the 120cc machines competing on their own little track, and you’ve got the recipe for another fantastic winter of snocross fun.
Some of Rock Maple’s teams will get a jump on the new season this month, as they travel to Minnesota to compete in the 18th annual Amsoil Duluth Nationals on Nov. 27-29. Look for a report on how these teams make out shortly after the event. Good luck to all as a new season of high-flying snocross competition get under way.
To follow all of the action this season or to learn more, go to www.rockmaple.com. Rock Maple Racing is the proud eastern affiliate of ISOC, the national sanctioning body for snocross.
by Jay | Nov 13, 2009 | New England
NEAR Hall of Fame Adds
Harty, Blackadar, Arnold
Pioneer car builder Marty Harty, the late race official Archie Blackadar and the late Chuck Arnold, a driver with much open-cockpit success, have been added to the New England Auto Racing’s Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 by the organization’s Veterans Committee.
The trio will join eight previously selected nominees at the 14th annual Induction Banquet on Sunday, Jan. 30 at LaReiaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT. Ticket forms will be on the NEAR website (www.near1.com) in the near future.
The three veterans will be inducted along with the previously selected drivers Geoff Bodine, the late Mike Murphy, George Savary and Pete Fiandaca, car owner/builders Billy Simons, Bob Garbarino and Vic Miller and contributor extraordinaire Frank Ferrara.
A Stamford, CT product, Arnold started in Modifieds in the late 1940s but soon moved to Midgets and Sprints. The 1953 NASCAR Midget champion, he went to score wins in NEMA, ARDC and USAC Midgets and USC Sprint Cars into the 1960s. He competed in the 1959 Indianapolis 500. He died in 1997.
New Hampshire’s Harty, a World War II veteran, started building racecars in 1949. Success was almost immediate and it continued for over two decades at tracks like Hudson, West Peabody, Fitchburg, Brookline and Catamount with drivers like Leo Richard, Jimmy Travers, Freddie Borden and Ernie Gahan.
Another World War II veteran, Blackadar began as a starter notably at a number of Vermont tracks, starting cars on the track. He was also involved in track ownership but is best known as a NASCAR Chief Steward throughout New England and New York State for 30 years. He passed away in 1993.
by Jay | Nov 13, 2009 | Canada, Maine, New England, PASS
Clark, Grant, Martin honored at PASS Banquet of Champions
Naples ME (10/11/09) Pro All Stars Series race teams, officials and fans gathered in Westbrook Maine Saturday night for the ninth annual PASS Banquet of Champions. Series president Tom Mayberry opened the evening by thanking all of the competitors for racing with PASS in 2009, especially given the challenges of our current economy. Although the 2010 PASS North Super Late Model schedule is about two weeks away, Mayberry did touch upon the upcoming season, including the January 29-30 PASS Florida Winterfest hosted by New Smyrna Speedway.
The President’s awards were up next and the most improved driver awards went to Derek Ramstrom (Super Late Model) and Scott McDaniel (PASS Mod). The award that no one hopes to receive came next. Hard Luck drivers for 2009 were Adam Bates (Super Late Model), Dan Somes (PASS Mod) and Dan McKeage (PASS Sportsman). Northern Race Tires Rookie of the Year accolades were collected by Nick Ribbe (Super Late Model), Scott Grant (PASS Mod) and Clyde Hennessey (PASS Sportsman).
Master of Ceremonies Mark Thomas and Michael Mayberry distributed the hardware to the top ten in each series. Carey Martin made it official, claiming the 2009 PASS Sportsman Champion’s spoils. Scott Grant came out on top in the PASS Mod series where he earned both the championship and rookie of the year.
2009 PASS National Champion Ben Rowe and the Richard Moody team were recognized for their accomplishments, and 2009 PASS Super Late Model Champion Johnny Clark closed out the awards presentation, making his fourth walk to the podium as Champion in the series premier division. Clark’s team received championship jackets and travel bags from Northern Race Tire and Superior Image Embroidery.
by Jay | Nov 13, 2009 | Hudson, New Hampshire
Hudson NH – The Hudson Speedway annual awards banquet was held this past Sunday at the Kings Court in Hudson N.H.
For the first time in speedway history a father and son were both crowned champions in the same year as Dean Wendell won the Rookie Stock title and his father Mitch Wendell won the Outlaw Sportsman title. Keith Caruso, third generation driver and grandson of Mario “Fats” Caruso, won the V-6 Modified crown. Thirteen year old Dylan Bilodeau won the Thunder Lite title. Louie Maher won the Roadrunner title and Eric Bacon went home with the Classic Lites championship hardware.
Most improved driver awards went to Dan Murphy Jr. in the Rookie Stocks, Eric Miller in the Roadrunners, Ron Lord Jr. in the Outlaw Sportsman and Jen Lord in the Thunder Lights.
Sportsmanship awards went to Sammy Gilman in the Thunder Lights, Jef James in the Roadrunners, Jerry Lepage in the Rookie Stocks and Bobby Allen in the Outlaw Sportsman.
Rookie of the year awards went to Derek Griffith in the Thunder Lights, John Morin the Rookie Stocks and Don Soucy in the Roadrunners.
Dedication to racing awards went to Dennis O’Brien and Jim Ryder Sr. and multi car owners Jim Daley and Lewis Fortin.
The 2010 season opener is April 25th. Please visit www.hudsonspeedway.info for more information.
