Lou Modestino’s Track Talk

Supermodifieds Ready for McGee Hyundai Super Thursday Night Opener at Thunder Road

by Lou Modestino
The New England Supermodified Series returns to Barre’s Thunder Road to help kick-off the Thursday Night racing season with McGee Hyundai of Barre. (Alan Ward photo)

Barre, VT – After a spectacular Sunday afternoon affair that saw Shelburne’s Kaiden Fisher make Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour history, the Thunder Road faithful return to Quarry Hill to ring in the season with the first Thursday night race of the summer on June 6! McGee Hyundai of Barre presents the Thursday Night Opener and it’s a SUPER Thursday with an invasion from the lightning-fast New England Supermodified Series!

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Ladies Acceleration Tour Kicks off Sophomore Season at Speedway 95

by Amy Worrey
Ladies Acceleration Tour Kicks off Sophomore Season at Speedway 95

Written By: Amy Worrey – Chasing the Checkered

Unfavorable weather conditions detoured the start of the 2025 Ladies Acceleration Tour season and nearly delayed another event on Saturday as the races at Riverside Speedway were cancelled. Fortunately, Speedway 95 stepped in and asked if the tour would like to join their racing program on Sunday, in which they happily obliged.

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Sophomore Kaiden Fisher Becomes Youngest Winner in Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour History with Community Bank 150 Checkers

by Lou Modestino
Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour victory lane for the 27th annual Community Bank 150 (L-R) Raphael Lessard (3rd), winner Kaiden Fisher and Christopher Pelkey (2nd). (Mark A. Cote photo)

Barre, VT — Over forty Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour teams were on the Thunder Road property at the originally scheduled date on May 3 and 4 with thirty-two teams able to make the return trip back to the Nation’s Site of Excitement for the rain-delayed 27th annual Community Bank 150 on Sunday, June 1.

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Kyle Ellwood Steers New Modified Combination To Riverhead Raceway Victory Sunday

by Bob Finan
Kyle Ellwood Steers New Modified Combination To Riverhead Raceway Victory Sunday

During the winter months Kyle Ellwood’s INEX Legend Race Car owners Eric Lutz and his son Chance decided to add a NASCAR Modified to their 2025 Riverhead Raceway plans with Ellwood at the wheel. Sunday, in just their third start the new combination scored the 50-lap NASCAR Modified victory, the ninth of Kyle’s career. A Saturday rain out implemented the new rain date policy announced by management during their schedule release.

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Dan McKeage, Jr. Goes 2-for-2 in Super Streets Debut at Wiscasset Speedway

by Amy Worrey
Dan McKeage, Jr. Goes 2-for-2 in Super Streets Debut at Wiscasset Speedway

Written By: Amy Worrey – Chasing the Checkered

While most race tracks in the Northeast cancelled their Saturday racing events due to unfavorable weather, Wiscasset Speedway rolled the dice and won, hosting an action-packed Group #1 racing program which included the Norm’s Used Cars Pro Stocks, Kennebec Equipment Rental Thunder 4 Minis, Davis Erector Group 207 Crate Modifieds and double features for the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros and Gosline Insurance Group Super Streets.

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Fisher Takes Career First Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour Win on Hometown Highbanks

by Lou Modestino
  • Longtime Renegade Star Robert Gordon Takes 1st Tiger Win, Delays Celebration till Wife Julie Can Join!
Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour top three in Community Bank 150 victory lane (L-R) Raphael Lessard (3rd), first-time winner Kaiden Fisher, Chris Pelkey (2nd). (Alan Ward photo)

Barre, VT – Central Vermont race fans and teams made the trip to Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Sunday for the rain-delayed Community Bank 150 invasion from the Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour. Thirty-two teams made the return trip with a legendary name standing tall in victory lane.

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Here’s How New England Drivers Performed At Nashville, Detroit, And Epping, NH

by Lou Modestino
Here’s How New England Drivers Performed At Nashville, Detroit, And Epping, NH

By Lou Modestino

Ryan Blaney won the Cup race at Nashville.  Joey Logano of Middletown, CT  ended his day in fourth and Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT came in 28th position.
Justin Allgaier won the Nashville Xfinity race.  Anthony Alfredo of Ridgefield, CT came in 29th.  Kris Wright came in 31st.  Wright steers a for Cape Cod’s Chris and Mary Our entry.  Both owners reside in Chatham, MA.
At the Indy Car race Detroit, MI was taken by Kirkwood beating second place driver Santino Ferrucci of Woodbury, CT, his best show in that sanction.
Early Exit on Race Day
Heading into Sunday’s Funny Car eliminations at New England Dragway in Epping, NH , Bob Tasca III of Hope, RI was confident in the team’s setup and potential. But any hopes of a deep run at his home track were dashed in Round 1. Facing Phil Burkart, Tasca lost traction just past 60 feet and smoked the tires, coasting to a 7.569 at 94.02 mph and a first-round loss.
“Too much,” Tasca said. “Lost traction around 60 feet.”
Eyes on Bristol
Despite the early exit, the team leaves New England with key positives—most notably, top-tier speed and valuable data from their No. 2 qualifying effort.
“We’ve set speed records. We’ve been 340 mph,” Tasca said Friday. “But we have got to go down the racetrack consistently.”
The Tasca Racing crew will look to bounce back quickly as the NHRA tour rolls on to Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee, for next weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. With the car showing serious horsepower and the crew focused on consistency, Tasca will arrive in Tennessee ready to contend.
Are the NASCAR fans unhappy about having to pay to see five Cup races in the middle of the season Here’s a more detailed look at the different perspectives:
Negative Reactions:
  • Disappointment and Frustration:  Many fans express feeling “slapped in the face” by the exclusivity of these races, especially if they prefer watching on traditional TV.
  • “Unfair” to Regular Viewers:  Some fans, like the one on Facebook who mentioned Jimmie Johnson fans, feel that NASCAR is prioritizing a new audience and leaving regular viewers behind.
  • Increased Cost and Complexity:  The shift to streaming and pay-per-view adds to the cost of watching NASCAR, potentially making it less accessible for fans on fixed incomes or those who prefer free options.
More Positive or Accepting Views:
  • NASCAR’s Growth Strategy:   Some fans understand that NASCAR needs to adapt to the changing TV landscape and see streaming as a way to reach new audiences and expand the sport’s reach.
  • The Future of Sports Broadcasting:  Others view streaming as the future of live sports and are open to exploring new platforms like Amazon Prime for watching races.
  • Benefits of Streaming:  Some fans see potential benefits to streaming, such as less commercial interruption and a more streamlined viewing experience.
Other Considerations:
  • The Internet Makes It Easier to Find Information:  While the shift to streaming might seem confusing to some, fans can still use the internet to find out where and when races are being broadcast.
  • NASCAR’s Financial Position:  Some fans acknowledge that NASCAR needs to generate revenue and that streaming may be a way to achieve that.
  • Boycotts and Alternative Strategies:  Some fans are actively boycotting the streaming races or finding alternative ways to watch.
Our own view is that NASCAR will lose more fans than ever!
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