Richard Savary of Canton plans to take in the Outlaw Modified race this Saturday, 4/11/21 at the 5/8-mile Thompson Speedway in CT which will open the 2021 racing season. He originally planned to only race in the Tri Track Open Modified Series which is comprised of just six events this season.
” Our prep during this past winter went well and we decided to get an earlier start beyond our previous plan and hopefully it works out for my team as a good test. It’s a one-day program and we’ll have to qualify and race the 125-lap, ” said Savary. Due to a bad weather forecast on Sunday the Icebreaker will go off on Saturday afternoon and Saturday night
He still has another asset in the form of Randolph’s Joey Kourafas his crew chief. Kourafas retired as a Late Model driver some years ago after a very successful career in the Late Models accumulating over 100 victories as well as Championships up-and-down the east coast. Those were with NASCAR North, Busch Grand National, ACT Tour and many Open Comp events. He was also the first winner of the Oxford 250 in ME. Kourafas also doubles as Richard’s spotter during qualifying and feature events.
Not expecting to overhaul the big field, Richard realizes that he’s got to get by top Mod men such as Ryan Preece, who now races in the NASCAR Cup Series and when he has time. Preece takes in selected Tour Type and NASCAR Whelen Modified races where he built his reputation. Others joining the fray Sunday are Keith Rocco, Chase Dowling and Bobby Santos, III of Franklin. Freetown’s Mike Bohler will also have Matt Swanson behind the wheel of his potent Old Blue #3 Modified race car.
Starting with this Saturday’s Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway will be the beginning of a long seven-month run of some 40 Tour Type Modified races to be held in New England, NY, PA, NJ, VA and NC that won’t end until Halloween. That’s a lot of racing. Considering weather conditions and the Pandemic, some of those events will have to be rescheduled or possibly cancelled.
East Bridgewater’s Ryan Kuhn returned to the local area after a foray down to Hickory Speedway in NC last weekend in which he drove his family-owned Super Late Model to a 7th and 8th place in a double header. “I’m not racing in PASS and the ACT Late Models and chasing points for a championship. I’m only going to run in selected PASS and ACT races that have good purses.
Asked if he also plans to race in both divisions in the same meets, he’s not sure. ” it looks like we’ re are going to compete in just 21-23 races. Those events will take place at NHMS in Loudon, NH on April 16- 17 followed by White Mountain in NH, Thunder Road in VT and Oxford Plains in ME, ” he revealed. Kuhn’s team is comprised of his dad Jimmy Kuhn, Jr and grandfather Jimmy, Sr., both of West Bridgewater.
Ryan was also racing a Tour type Modified a few years back and his team ended selling the race car to a Connecticut based group. “As of right now I’m concentrating only on the Super-Late Models and Late Models because it’s really a full plate to contend with.”
We got a look at the MA Cruisers 2021 Schedule. According to that club’s newsletter both April Thursday nights were scratched at Foxboro’s Patriot Place due to Covid 19 concerns. That club is now shooting to reopen with Thursday night May dates. The Wheels of Time of Brockton has yet to announce when they will open the 2021 at Raynham Park’s parking lot on Rt. 138.
Other smaller Cruise Nights are expected to assemble on Tuesday nights at 5 pm in Cobb’s Corner on the Stoughton/Canton/Sharon line. As will the Friday afternoon Cruise at the Trinity Episcopal Church on Blue Hill River Road in Canton just below Big Blue Hill at 5 pm. At both events you will need to wear a mask and maintain Social Distancing.
New England Dragway in Epping, NH was supposed to open Easter Weekend. Now reset for this past Wednesday and Friday nights with Street action at 5 pm from now on. They are also planning to race over this weekend.
The Capeway Rovers MX complex on the Carver/Middleboro line off Rt.44 on Plymouth St. ran over Easter Weekend and will return this Saturday and Sunday with NCSC and NEMA MX action. (end)
Information for this column came from press releases and personal notes