|
Fifty years ago in 1960 rain was the big winner at the
Stafford Springs Speedway. The Waterford Speedbowl began their
summer schedule which consisted of race dates on Wednesdays and
Saturdays. Joe McNulty won the opening night Wednesday Modified
feature. Red Foote, who in later years would make a name for himself
in Virginia was the non-Ford winner. Dick Dunn was the Bomber
feature winner. Don Collins won double features on Saturday night at
the Speedbowl. Ed Moody was the Bomber feature winner.
Forty five years ago in 1965 it rained again at Stafford. At
the Waterford Speedbowl Dick Watson won the 50 lap June Championship
for the Modifieds. Jerry Glaude was the Bomber feature winner. Kenny
Shoemaker recorded his fourth feature win of the season at the Fonda
Speedway on Saturday night. Holly Wildler won at Riverside Park and
on Sunday at Utica-Rome it was Jerry Cook over Eddie Flemke and Don
Moon.
Forty years ago in 1970, the long holiday weekend started on
Wednesday with an All Star League at Lancaster where Maynard Troyer
and Roger Treichler finished one-two to beat out the best in the
business at the time, Ray Hendrick. The following night, the league
moved to Oswego where Troyer made it two for two with Hendrick
finishing second. Geoff Bodine finished third with Richie Evans
finishing fourth followed by Roger Treichler and Bill Greco. Rain
washed out weekend events at Malta, Stafford, Fonda and Plattsburg.
The rain at Stafford was the final nail in the coffin as it was
announced that the track was almost bankrupt and would be shut down.
Bill Slater was the race director at the time and was devastated.
Rather than sit idle, Slater contacted Connecticut Construction
Company owner Jack Arute and somehow convinced him to lease the
track and keep it going. Arute agreed and the rest is history but he
was left holding the bag with a few thousand rain checks. Seabury
Tripler was the Modified winner at the Waterford Speedbowl. George
Allum was the Late Model Daredevil winner. The skies cleared on
Sunday for the twin 25's at Thompson. Ray Hendrick remained in the
north and won the opening event over Leo Cleary and Lou Austin.
Cleary won the nightcap over Fred DeSarro and Hendrick. At
Utica-Rome on Sunday night, Lou Lazzaro beat out Jerry Cook and
Robbie Kotary.
Thirty five years ago in 1975, Stafford began the Fourth of
July weekend on Thursday night with a 150-lap event. Satch Worley in
the Clarences' Steak House No.26 paid a visit and walked off with
the top money. Bugsy Stevens finished second with Eddie Flemke Sr,
third. Stafford ran again on Saturday night with Ray Miller taking
the win over Geoff Bodine and the Bugman. The Stafford management
announced that the speedway would be running small block modifieds
beginning on Sunday, July 20 in addition to their regular NASCAR
modified program on Saturday. At Islip, Fred Harbach took the win
over Gary Winters and at Shangri-La, Richie Evans won twin 50's. Bob
Potter made it two in a row at Waterford after winning the 35 lap
Modified feature. Big Mike Daignault was the Late Model Daredevil
winner. On Sunday, Maynard Troyer outran George Kent. At Thompson,
Don Hoenig on hearing that Stafford was going to be running against
him raised the modified purse to pay $600 to win instead of the $500
that had previously been paid. Leo Cleary won the 30-lap feature at
Thompson over Freddie Schulz.
Thirty years ago in 1980, the weekend started on Wednesday
with events at Westboro and New Egypt. At Westboro, Bugsy Stevens in
the Brady Bunch No.00 took the top spot and at New Egypt, John
Blewett Jr held off Tony Siscone for the win. Monadnock ran on
Thursday with Ronnie Bouchard taking the win over John Rosati and
Punky Caron. Holland also ran on Thursday with George Kent taking
the win. Stafford ran on Friday night with Richie Evans taking the
win over Ronnie Bouchard and Ray Miller. Spencer also ran on Friday
with Kent continuing his win streak. Just about everything on
Saturday with the exception of Islip rained out. Islip ran a 100
lapper with Tom McCann taking the win over Fred Harbach and Tom
Baldwin. A Race of Champions qualifier was run at Trenton on Sunday.
New England competitors boycotted the event because of the then
considered high pit fee of $15.00 and $25.00 entry fee. Needless to
say the event was run without them. The event ran 81 of
the 134 laps that had been scheduled when the rains came. Geoff
Bodine who was leading when the event was stopped was declared the
winner. Richie Evans ended up second and was followed by John
Blewett Jr., Bob Riley, George Kent and Charlie Jarzombek. Thompson
was also scheduled to run on Sunday but was also rained out.
Twenty five years ago in 1985, the modified tour was at New
Egypt on Wednesday. Jim Spencer took the win over George Kent and
Brian Ross. Rain washed out Stafford on Friday night but at Spencer,
Richie Evans took the win over Jan Leaty and George Kent. Rain also
washed out Waterford, Riverside and Thompson. Randy Hedger scored a
popular win at Shangri La over George Kent and Bill Park won the
Race of Champions qualifier at Riverhead. Closing out the weekend
was a special event at Oswego where Richie Evans was boss as beat
out Mike McLaughlin, Jim Spencer, Brian Ross, and Charlie Jarzombek.
Twenty years ago in 1990, the Featherlite Modified Tour
stopped at Riverhead Raceway on Wednesday night. Mike Ewanitsko and
Tom Baldwin scored a Long Island sweep as they finished one-two in
the 151-lap event. Reggie Ruggiero finished third with pole sitter
Bob Park finishing fourth. Stafford rained out on Friday and Phil
Rondeau got his first modified win at Waterford on Saturday night.
Stan Greger won at Riverside where it was announced that Ben Dodge
had decided against leaving after tendering his resignation. The
mods invaded Oswego where Tony Hirschman beat out Jan Leaty and John
Preston.
Fifteen years ago in 1995, Steve Chowanski won a 100 lap SK
Modified event at Stafford. Steve Park finished second with Lloyd
Agor, third. The Featherlite Modifieds were at Beech Ridge in Maine
on Saturday. Steve Park in the Banzul No.8 went pole to pole to win
the 100-lap event with Mike Stefanik in tow. Satch Worley, Ed Flemke
Jr and Jan Leaty rounded out the top five. Ted Christopher borrowed
his brother Mikey's car and won at Waterford with it on Saturday
night. Bert Marvin finished second with Jim Broderick, Todd Ceravolo
and Jerry Pearl rounding out the top five. It rained at Riverside
and at Riverhead it was Don Howe over Ed Brunnhoelzl. In Winston Cup
action, Jeff Gordon won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.
Ten years ago in 2000 the weekend started on Thursday night Thompson
where Ted Christopher took the SK modified win over Todd Ceravolo
and Darrell Tiezzi. Christopher carried his winning ways over to
Stafford on Friday night where he won the Busch North
Series-150.Christopher started 20th and had broke into the top 10 by
lap 30.In taking the win, Christopher went the entire 150 lap
distance non-stop. Curt Brainard won the crash fest SK-50.Kerry
Malone finished second. Ron Yuhas beat out veteran Mark LaJunesse at
Waterford and Howie Brode got the best of Wayne Anderson at
Riverhead. Ralph Nason, at the age of 60,won the Oxford Plains 250
for the third time. In Winston Cup action at Daytona, Jeff Burton
took the win over Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Five years ago in 2005 The Fourth of July weekend got its
start at the Thompson Speedway on Thursday night. Ted Christopher,
who had been winless in two previous tries, got it all together to
take his first win of the year in the Sunoco Modifieds. Christopher
dodged an opening lap tangle to take an early lead and the eventual
win. For the season which has seen him run in 42 different events
the Thompson victory was his 13th win overall for 2005. Bert Marvin
turned in a strong showing to finish second with Kerry Malone,
third. Bo Gunning finished fourth with Todd Ceravolo, fifth. Other
Thursday Night Thunder winners were Ben Seitz in the NEMA Midgets,
Woody Pitkat in the Late Models, Chris McGee in the Pro Stocks,
Larry Barnett in the Limited Sportsman, Terry Boudreau in the Mini
Stocks and Chad Gaudiosi in the TIS Modifieds.
The Stafford Motor Speedway fell victim to rain on Friday night. The
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series made up their rained out Haynes
150 from Memorial Day weekend on Sunday night. Ted Christopher took
the win after taking the lead with three laps to go. Doug Coby in
the Curt Chase No.77 dominated almost the entire event only to lose
it due to worn tires. Coby ended up third behind Chuck Hossfeld.
Jamie Tomaino and Rick Fuller rounded out the top five. Ronnie Silk
was the SK Modified winner while Carla Boticello won in the DARE
Stocks and Mike Quintiliano won the Late Model feature.
In Saturday night action at the Waterford Speedbowl Ron Yuhas
survived an early race accident and came back to record his second
SK Modified victory of the 2005 season. In what turned into a
marathon session of close to 90 minutes for the 35 lap feature,
Yuhas’ crew did some thrashing and was able to make the necessary
repairs to get him back in action. Yuhas made a bold outside move
with two laps to go to take the lead from Ted Christopher. It was
Christopher’s race to lose and had it not been for a right rear tire
going flat the outcome would have been different. Dennis Gada ended
up in second spot with Chris Pasteryak, third. Jay Miller originally
finished third but was disqualified when his car failed to meet ride
height requirements. Diego Monahan ended up fourth with Christopher,
fifth. Allen Coates made it two in a row in the Late Models and
Vinnie Esposito was declared the winner of the Legends feature after
Len Beebe was disqualified. Al Stone was the Sportsman winner and
Bill Leonard won in the Mini Stocks.
While rumors of doom and gloom continued to circulate concerning the
demise of the Waterford Speedbowl and the Riverhead Raceway on Long
Island word came of an impending project that could have resulted in
increased racing activity on Long Island. Top Gun Sports and
Entertainment was proposing multi-venue motorsport and entertainment
facility in Yaphank which is in Suffolk County. The complex which
would include a ¾ mile oval with a 3/8 or ¼ mile oval inside would
also include a drag strip is adjacent to the Grucci fireworks plant,
the Firematic training facility and the County prison farm. In a
somewhat related announcement one of the Waterford Speedbowl owners,
Terry Eames told the New London Day that there had been no decision
made by a proposed developer on an option to buy the Speedbowl
property.
Tony Stewart made it two in a row in Nextel Cup competition as he
won the rain delayed Pepsi 400 at Daytona.
Last year, 2009, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, after the
completion of the first three, of 14 events, wound up their second
“Spring Break” on Saturday, June 27 when the ground pounders
traveled to Loudon, NH. There were 39 Modifieds on hand for the New
England 100. Doug Coby captured his second career NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour Coors Light Pole Award Thursday evening in qualifying.
Coby, who was the next-to-last car to go out among the 39 entries,
knocked Todd Szegedy off the provisional pole with a fast lap of
30.003 seconds (126.947 mph), just under Szegedy’s time of 30.005
(126.939). Ted Christopher, who entered the day having won the Coors
Light Pole Award in each of the first three races of the 2009 NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour season, ended up third-fastest. Donny Lia
(30.039 seconds/126.795 mph) and Rowan Pennink (30.065/126.686)
rounded out the top five. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Ryan Newman
qualified seventh at 30.160 seconds (126.286 mph). Following Newman
in the top 10 were Ryan Preece, Ed Flemke Jr., Kevin Goodale and
Bobby Grigas III.
Donnie Lia took advantage of an accident involving Ted Christopher
and Todd Szegedy as he inherited the lead and eventual victory of
the New England 100. Christopher had driven his heart out after a
first lap spin that was precipitated by an oil leak. After losing a
lap plus receiving a lucky dog free pass Christopher had placed
himself in the lead by lap 90. The final ten laps sore numerous lead
changes. Christopher led at the white flag, with Lia, Szegedy and
Ron Silk jockeying for position. Lia dove inside of Christopher as
he headed into Turn 3. Moments after Lia took the lead, Szegedy
swept underneath both to the front of the line. As they came out of
the final turn heading to the checkered flag, all four bounced off
each other, with Christopher collecting Szegedy into the wall as Lia
slipped by to grab the win. What many saw and thought what happened
in the final seconds of the event was cleared up by a statement made
by Ron Silk following the event. Silk apologized that he had hit the
back left rear of Lia which he believes caused Lia to get into
Christopher who in turn got into Szegedy. Silk also accused
Christopher for his bonsai type tactics that he used to get to the
front.
Ed Flemke Jr. wound up second, followed by Silk and Rowan Pennink.
Christopher managed to gather the severely damaged car up enough to
get it across the line and salvage a fifth. Doug Coby, Richard
Savary, Szegedy, Woody Pitkat, and Glenn Tyler rounded out the top
10.
There were five caution periods for 28 laps. The 100 lapper produced
16 lead changes among eight drivers.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman led 13 laps and swapped
the lead back-and-forth with Szegedy in the early going before he
spun on lap 64 and exited the race. The other NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series driver in the race, Kasey Kahne, was involved in a Lap 72
accident. Kahne finished 31st and Newman 34th. Estimated Attendance:
37,000. Purse: $166,917.
In Thursday Night Thunder action at the Thompson Speedway Ted
Christopher made his hasty retreat from Loudon after qualifying well
worth his while as he won the Sunoco Modified feature at the
northeastern Connecticut oval. Christopher missed the qualifying
heats but it didn’t hinder his march to the front in the 30 lap
feature. Christopher led only one lap, the last one. Keith Rocco
appeared to have victory in sight until he exited turn two, that’s
where Christopher made his move. Rocco was unable to make a final
run at Christopher and settled for second. The rain ceased and the
clouds parted allowing the speedway to host a full night of racing
competition. The action included a full card of NASCAR All-American
Series racing plus two bonus features. In other action, Mike
O’Sullivan earned his first of the season in the Super Late Models
while John Materas was the winner in the Late Models. In the Limited
Sportsman division it was Paul Palen celebrating in victory lane.
John St. Germain took the All Star Race Trucks victory in a
photo-finish. R.J. Marcotte scored his first of 2009 in the TIS
Modifieds. Tim Taylor and Brad Caddick share Mini Stock honors.
Rain and heavy thunder and lightning prevailed at the Stafford Motor
Speedway.
Despite a weeks delay because of rain the Waterford Speedbowl
celebrated Norwich Night which honored the City of Norwich’s 350th
birthday with great racing. Jeffrey Paul picked up his second
consecutive SK Modified win, Bruce Thomas Jr. returned to Speedbowl
victory Lane in the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Models, while it was
veteran competitor Allen Coates taking the checkered in the NEATV
Truck Series. Kyle James and Ronnie Oldham Jr. rounded out the
night’s winners capturing the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock and Street
Stock events respectively. With threatening skies looming overhead
during the evening, the full five-division event was completed by
9:15pm.
Kyle Busch passed Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano near the end
of the Camping World 200 at Loudon, NH and held off the 19-year-old
to get the victory at New Hampshire International Speedway. Logano,
who started from the pole and led 108 of the 200 laps, beat Busch
out of the pits by the length of a hood on the final pit stop by the
two leaders. But Busch was able to stay with the leader and
eventually drive past him with 36 laps left.
In Nextel Cup racing at Loudon, Joey Logano became the youngest
winner in the history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, winning the
rain-shortened race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The 19-year-old
rookie came back from a crash that put him a lap down earlier in the
Lenox Industrial Tools 301 and won his first Cup race in his 20th
start. Logano was among a group of drivers who moved to the front of
the field after getting out of sequence on fuel stops. The youngster
took the lead when Ryan Newman, trying to stay on track as long as
possible with rain threatening, ran out of gas on lap 264 in the
event scheduled to go 301 laps. Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon
moved into second and was steadily cutting into the lead as Logano,
with a nearly empty gas tank, conserved as much fuel as possible.
But the rain began falling three laps later. The competitors ran six
slow laps under caution before NASCAR put out a red flag in hopes of
drying the track. But the rain began falling harder and the race was
called after 273 laps.
Gordon was disappointed with the second-place finish. Kurt Busch,
who won a rain-shortened event at Loudon last June, finished third,
followed by David Reutimann and Stewart, now part owner of his own
team and the series leader by 69 points over Gordon.
|
This week are several vintage racing
photos Courtesy of SpeedwayLineReport.com & VintageModifieds.com
Click on Photo for Full Size |
That’s it for this week from 11 Gardner
Drive, Westerly RI 02891. Ring my chimes
at 401-596-5467. E-Mail is:
smithpe_97_97@yahoo.com |
