Lou Modestino's Track Talk | The MotorSportsNews.Net(work)

Alexandra Fearn Wins Paradiso Insurance Late Model 50 at Stafford; Molleur, Chapman, Jencik, & Downey Also Score Wins

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 9, 2024

(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!

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 9, 2024

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

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 9, 2024

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

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 6, 2024

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

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 6, 2024

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

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 6, 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.

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Bobby Stirk, III Seeking First Late Model Victory in Paradiso Insurance 50 After Piecing Car Back Together

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 5, 2024

(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.

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Ferrari Challenge Confirmed As Support Race At Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 4, 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

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 4, 2024

Timmy Solomito Repeats In Riverhead Raceway Cecil Palm Tree 66 Wednesday

by Lou ModestinoSeptember 3, 2024

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.

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