Barre, VT — Wrecks, wins, thrills, heartbreaks and the weekly adrenaline of a full season at the Nation’s Site of Excitement has all come down to this. The 2024 track championship season at Barre’s Thunder Road International Speedbowl comes to a close this Friday, September 13 with Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Championship Night! All three track champions will be crowned to cap off the point chase in season 65 for Thunder Road with everyone getting their final tune-up prior to October’s Vermont Milk Bowl! (more…)
Author: Lou Modestino
Tom Carey III Takes ‘the Brookside Ride’ to $5,000 Back to School Bash Victory
Thompson, CT — The Street Stocks got Sunday’s Back to School Bash at Thompson Speedway off to a rip-roaring start with polesitter Austin Flanagan quickly losing the lead under the green flag with an ill-handling machine. Flanagan’s fumble gave Ryan Waterman open range at the front of the pack as Al Stone III and Corey Fanning attempted to reel him in during their 20-lap feature. The lone caution flag flew just before the halfway point as Mike Viens went into the spin cycle in turn one. Although his early lead evaporated in an instant, Ryan Waterman again powered through on the restart to lead the Street Stocks under the checkered flag with Al Stone III and Corey Fanning joining the podium. (more…)
Justin Bonsignore Looks For Third Straight Ed Partridge 256 Win at Riverhead
Justin Bonsignore is heading for the final five NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at the top of the championship standings. The chase for his fourth championship continues this Saturday night, September 14, as the Whelen Modified Tour rolls to Riverhead Raceway for the Ed Partridge 256.
In honor of the late Partridge, who operated the track for many years, the Whelen Modified Tour runs this special event each September, with extra laps, and a special pit road set up in the infield for pit stops. In the two-year history of the race, Bonsignore went to Victory Lane both times. The New York native has 11 career Riverhead Raceway Tour wins, tied with Mike Ewanitsko for the most all-time. Bonsignore leads all active drivers in the category.
Dale Quarterley and His Son to Race ARCA Series
At Watkins Glen, there won’t be one “1/4 ley” racing, but two of them! Welcome to the ARCA Menards Series Alex Quarterley. Alex will be racing alongside his father Dale Quarterley at Watkins Glen for the General Tire 100 on September 13th. The 30-year-old driver from Westfield, Massachusetts has a racing background that goes back to go-karts, motorcycles, as well as getting his feet wet in the late model scene recently.
While his father Dale will be in the #4 car, Alex will be in a 2nd 1/4 ley Racing entry, the #3. Alex’s effort in the #3 will be run under the Mullins Racing banner though using their owner points, and Willie Mullins himself will be serving as crew chief for the car. Van Dyk Recycling will be serving as the primary sponsor for both cars while Applewood Controls, Motul Oil, Motorcycles 508, Walker Furniture will be amongst the associate sponsors for the cars. Alex and Dale will become the 2nd father-son duo to race in ARCA this year after Brian and Alex Clubb both drove a few races together.
Highmark Building Efficiency To Present Jason Sheppard Crew Chief Of The Race Award At Eddie Partridge 256 Saturday
Monday afternoon, John Ellwood, GM of Riverhead Raceway along with Rich Gerbe of HighMark Building Efficiency announced the Jason Sheppard Crew Chief of the Race Award for the WMT Eddie Partridge 256 Saturday at Riverhead Raceway. The award celebrates the racing career and life of Jason Sheppard, longtime crew chief for Eric Goodale on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour who passed away suddenly in August.
Here’s How The New England Drivers And Those With Connections To The Six State Area At Atlanta Did
Joey Logano of Middletown, CT won the Cup race with Corey LaJoie coming in 15th and Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT finishing 18th. Corey LaJoie is the son of Two-Time Xfinity Champion Randy LaJoie whose hometown is Norwalk, CT.
Austin Hill crossed the finish line of the Xfinity race first with Parker Kligerman of Westport, CT finishing up second. Kyle Weatherman took the 11th place with Anthony Alfredo of Ridgefield, CT taking 14th and Blaine Perkins coming in 19th. Weatherman and Perkins both drive team cars for father and daughter of Cape Cod’s Chris and Mary Hour of Chatham, MA.
Motorsports Television Broadcast Listings for September 9 – 15, 2024
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Justin Bonsignore & Ron Silk Bring 2024 WMT Championship Fight To Riverhead Raceway Eddie Partridge 256
There is nothing like a good old-fashioned NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour tussle on a quarter mile bullring with huge championship implications hanging in the balance. That is the scenario awaiting Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville and Ron Silk of Norwalk heading to Riverhead Raceway for the Eddie Partridge 256 Saturday September 14th. For the two most recent WMT champions Saturday’s race will be Déjà vu all over again after they waged a titanic battle during last year’s 256 prior to Justin Bonsignore taking the victory.
Alexandra Fearn Wins Paradiso Insurance Late Model 50 at Stafford; Molleur, Chapman, Jencik, & Downey Also Score Wins
(Stafford Springs, CT)—Stafford Speedway returned to weekly racing action with the Late Model division taking center stage with their extra distance Paradiso Insurance Late Model 50 feature event on Friday night, September 6th. Alexandra Fearn was the big winner of the night by surviving several green white checkered attempts to finish the race and hold off Adam Gray and then Darrell Keane to score her first win of the 2024 season. Andrew Molleur was a first time 2024 winner in the SK Modified® feature, Tyler Chapman won for the seventh time this season in the SK Light feature, Devon Jencik won for the second time in the Limited Late Model feature, and Travis Downey recorded his third win in the Street Stock feature. (more…)
Brandon Gray Claims Record-Breaking Seventh Flying Tiger Victory, Clinches Championship on McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday!
Barre, VT — The Maplefield/Irving Late Models started off McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday with their 50-lap trophy dash to kick start Super Friday’s five division showcase. Outside polesitter Taylor Hoar got off to a sour start, careening into the infield on lap one to bring out the early caution. Chip Grenier put the pedal down to lead the restart on the outside groove over Stephen Martin and set the pace out front. The caution flew once more on lap 16 as Christopher Bedard stacked up the middle of the pack in turn four, sending Jason Corliss hard into the Widowmaker frontstretch wall and ending his night early. (more…)
Renfrew Lights Up the Highbanks for $5,000 R&R Street Stock 100 Victory
N. Woodstock, NH — Following heat race qualifying and the all-important Late Model Semi Feature, the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Minis started off an early schedule Saturday at White Mountain Motorsports Park. Led to green by former first-time winner on the year, Connor Rueda paced the early circuits with Donnie Baumgardner keeping watch on the outside groove. The best on-track battle saw tied championship hopefuls Todd Derrington and Patrick Switser duke it out midpack for a top-five finish before last-lap fireworks up front.
Entering turn one on the final lap, Rueda found himself across the nose of Baumgardner and into the infield, prompting race control to dock the #18 to last on the lead lap finish and young McKenna Merchant found herself the winner in victory lane. Derrington and Switser joined Merchant on the podium to keep the championship battle at a continued close call leading into the final weeks of the season. (more…)
McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday Hits Home Stretch for Thunder Road Championships
Barre, VT — Following the Labor Day Classic to open the month of September, the Thunder Road track championship season hits its home stretch starting Friday, September 6 with the rain-postponed McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday program! Headlined by a visit from the New England Supermodified Series (NESS), the Maplefield/Irving Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and rk Miles Street Stocks have just two events left in the season to decide their champions while the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors joust in double feature action!
Following his win last Thursday, with his spectacular Labor Day Classic victory not counting towards weekly King of the Road standings, Milton’s Scott Dragon remains in striking distance of Kaiden Fisher’s lead on the Maplefield/Irving Late Models. Dragon has come on strong in recent weeks but has already had a stellar season with the Todd Rueda-owned, CDR Concrete team having taken both the Vermont Governor’s Cup and the Labor Day Classic along with the inaugural Squier Cup triple crown! Capping the 2024 season with his third track championship would put the cherry on top but Fisher still holds a 60-point lead on the veteran. (more…)
Sunday Program Set for Final Thompson Test & Tune Prior to October’s Sunoco World Series
Barre, VT & Naples, ME — The 0.625-mile oval at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park is back to rip-roaring action this Sunday, September 8 for the Back to School Bash! Headlined by the Back to School Bash 75 for the Thompson Late Models featuring a $17,000 purse, including a $5,000 winners share, the Thompson Sunoco Modifieds, AZ Roofing SK Light Modifieds, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks make it a full card of Sunday afternoon racing at the Big-T!
The Thompson Late Models are expecting quite the invasion for Sunday’s Back to School Bash 75. Top runners Nick Johnson, Derek Gluchacki and Brian Tagg will be among the weekly track championship faithful ready to hold back the flood gates and battle hard on the highbanks for the $5,000 winner’s prize! Longtime hot-shoe Tom Carey III will make his return to Thompson Speedway in the Brookside Ride while the top American-Canadian Tour rookie Kasey Beattie will also make the trek southward for some practice at the northeastern Connecticut oval. (more…)
Ted Christopher Drive for Safety Initiative 2024
(Stafford Springs, CT)—For the fifth consecutive season, the Ted Christopher Safety Initiative will support local driver safety at Stafford Speedway. Established prior to the start of the 2020 season by Quinn Christopher, the Ted Christopher Safety Initiative will provide an SK Modified® driver with a brand new fully custom and embroidered Pro Series Double Layer firesuit.
Unlike years past when there has been a drawing in NAPA Victory Lane to determine the firesuit winner, this year’s Leaf firesuit will be awarded via a driver vote. Only SK Modified® drivers who have attended every race thus far during the 2024 season will be eligible to vote and that same group of drivers will be the only ones eligible to receive the new firesuit. The winner will be announced during the Friday, September 13 TC 13 Shootout / First Responders Night program.
Bobby Stirk, III Seeking First Late Model Victory in Paradiso Insurance 50 After Piecing Car Back Together
(Stafford Springs, CT)—With Stafford Speedway’s Late Model division set to run their annual extra distance feature event, the Paradiso Insurance 50, this Friday September 6, Bobby Stirk, III and the #9 team sponsored by A6A Associates, Tri-State Elevator & Hoist, and Costa & Son Construction are ready to fight for their first Late Model victory. The fact that Stirk will even be at the track to try to win the race would be a small miracle after crashing his car and seeing the front end briefly catch fire in last week’s feature event. But thanks to some hard work by his crew, Stirk will be at the track ready to chase the checkered flag.
Ferrari Challenge Confirmed As Support Race At Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
LAS VEGAS (September 4, 2024) – FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX has confirmed Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli as a support race when the highly anticipated event returns November 21–23. The addition of the Ferrari Challenge series to the racing schedule means ticketed fans will now see two racing series speed down the iconic Las Vegas Strip during the Las Vegas Grand Prix race weekend.
“The addition of the Ferrari Challenge series further demonstrates our commitment to delivering an even bigger and better racing event than ever before,” said Silvia Bellot, VP of Sporting and Race Operations at Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. “Last year we made the dream of racing down Las Vegas Boulevard a reality, and we are thrilled that we can now offer fans twice the racing action for the price of a single ticket. Whether it be on or off-track, we are dedicated to providing fans with a truly unforgettable experience.”
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McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday Hits Home Stretch for Thunder Road Championships
Barre, VT — Following the Labor Day Classic to open the month of September, the Thunder Road track championship season hits its home stretch starting Friday, September 6 with the rain-postponed McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday program! Headlined by a visit from the New England Supermodified Series (NESS), the Maplefield/Irving Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and rk Miles Street Stocks have just two events left in the season to decide their champions while the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors joust in double feature action!
Following his win last Thursday, with his spectacular Labor Day Classic victory not counting towards weekly King of the Road standings, Milton’s Scott Dragon remains in striking distance of Kaiden Fisher’s lead on the Maplefield/Irving Late Models. Dragon has come on strong in recent weeks but has already had a stellar season with the Todd Rueda-owned, CDR Concrete team having taken both the Vermont Governor’s Cup and the Labor Day Classic along with the inaugural Squier Cup triple crown! Capping the 2024 season with his third track championship would put the cherry on top but Fisher still holds a 60-point lead on the veteran. (more…)
Timmy Solomito Repeats In Riverhead Raceway Cecil Palm Tree 66 Wednesday
For the second consecutive season, the Cecil Palm Tree 160 was adversely affected by weather the original date forcing Riverhead Raceway management to reschedule the race run in honor of Eddie Partridge. The race was shifted to Wednesday night, the distance again modified to 66 laps, which was just fine with defending race winner Timmy Solomito of Islip who led all the way scoring his third win of 2024.
Solomito set the tone in qualifying laying down a lap of 11.750 with Mark Stewart and John Beatty Jr. clicking off identical laps of 11.815. It would be Stewart lining-up alongside Solomito as the field took the green from Partridge’s nephew Tom Gatz and daughter Alexis. Solomito, winner of the most recent event at Riverhead winning the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 on August 17th broke right to the lead with Stewart right behind.
Ron Silk Scores First-Ever Race Of Champions Victory At Spencer Speedway In Maynard Troyer Classic V This Past Friday
– Kevin Timmerman Drives to First-Ever Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series Win; Joey VanLane Scores Another Race of Champions Rocket Performance 602 Sportsman Modified Series Victory –
Williamson, NY – (September 1, 2024) – Ron Silk of Norwalk, CT, drove to his first-ever Race of Champions Modified Series victory this past Friday night at Spencer Speedway in Williamson, NY, and it was in one of the most lucrative victories in the history of the Speedway, with over $54,000 in purse money for the Modified event. Silk took home $11,000 for his efforts in what is considered the best per lap for Modified racing in the region.
Silk started 5th and slipped past Jake Lutz of Hamburg, NY, on a restart when Lutz missed a shift. From that point Lutz pressured Silk all the way to the checkered flag, however, it was to no avail as Silk narrowly earned the victory.
NHMS EVP/GM David McGrath Excited for 2025 NASCAR Playoffs Weekend at “The Magic Mile”
New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series during the Sept. 19-21, 2025 NASCAR Playoffs weekend, which will also feature the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
LOUDON, N.H. – New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) Executive Vice President and General Manager David McGrath spoke to media Thursday following NASCAR’s 2025 schedule announcement, which includes a Sept. 19-21 visit to NHMS by the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT).
The 2025 NCS race at NHMS will kick off the Round of 12 on Sunday, Sept. 21 while the NCTS race will join the Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race on Doubleheader Saturday, Sept. 20 and serve as a Round of 10 cutoff race to solidify the Round of 8.