STATESVILLE, N.C. (March 18, 2021) – Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) announced today that veteran Northeast Big Block Modified driver J.R. Heffner of Kinderhook, N.Y. will compete in the team’s flagship No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS); Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. (more…)
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has blown out all the stops for its 2021 season schedule. The historic Vermont dirt track will open its 55th season on Saturday, May 1 and will race 24 straight weeks through October 2. Several special events will help to further cement Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s status as the Northeast’s leading facility for crate-engine Sportsman Modifieds, and five key dates promise to be major events in the region. (more…)
(Stafford Springs, CT) – Stafford Speedway is excited to announce GAF Roofing and Riverhead Building Supply as the newest Stafford Speedway corporate partner with a multi-year agreement. The GAF Roofing 150 presented by Riverhead Building Supply scheduled for Friday, August 6th will feature the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour along with all 5 of Stafford’s weekly racing divisions. (more…)
New York, February 1, 2021: As fans know, the pit crew are true heroes of NASCAR and arguably have the toughest and most badass job in the sport, one that is essential for the driver’s victory. It’s a job most people never even dream of doing because of the limited roles and top-notch credentials needed – but thanks to Busch beer, one lucky fan will get the opportunity to learn from this elite group. (more…)
NEW YORK – February 8, 2021 – SiriusXM will offer race fans comprehensive coverage of the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 on February 14, including the live race broadcast and in-car audio from some of the sport’s top drivers, as well as the news and events of NASCAR’s Speedweeks leading up to race day. (more…)
MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Joe Graf Jr. will return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season with SS GreenLight Racing aboard the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro beginning with the season-opener Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (more…)
● History at Daytona: Almirola scored his first career Cup Series win in the rain-shortened July 2014 race at Daytona, when he led 14 laps. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he started on the pole in his first outing in July 2007, and he captured a win there while piloting the No. 98 Biagi-Den Beste Ford Mustang in July 2016. (more…)
Over the 28-year history of the popular Long Island Daytona 500 Party hosts Bob Finan & Stephen Halpin have incurred a few obstacles along the way including the inclement New York winter weather or weather delays at the Daytona 500. (more…)
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. — Justin Bonsignore continues to add to his 2021 calendar. The Holtsville, New York, driver, and two-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, announced on Friday he will compete for Jimmy Paige in the six Tri Track Open Modified Series events. Bonsignore will drive the same No. 00 he drove for Paige in the 2020 Tri Track finale at Stafford Motor Speedway, where the combination finished fourth in the Modified Classic 81. (more…)
THOMPSON, Conn. — Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park will come to virtual life three times during the winter months, as a new iRacing series will give drivers and fans a chance to prepare for the 2021 season. In a series promoted by Souza Media, full-time Modified, Late Model & Super Late Model drivers from across New England will compete in three different races — including the virtual historic Thompson 300 — with one-race in January, another in February and a final in March.
The series will help preview the real-life season at Thompson for 2021 — which is slated to begin with the annual Icebreaker weekend from April 9-11, and hold six oval events, promoted by the American Canadian Tour and Pro All Star Series. All three iRacing events will take place on Saturday’s — January 23, February 20 and March 20 — and will all begin with the drop of the green flag at 2PM. The feature races will air live, in full, on Extreme Sim TV, via Facebook and YouTube. Qualifying heat races, consolation races and a B-Main will be conducted prior to the broadcast start.
The three iRacing events will include an opener with iRacing’s SK Modified, previewing the Sunoco Modified season at Thompson, on January 23, for a 100-lap event. The second will put some of New England’s best Late Model stars together in ACT-style Late Models for their own 100-lapper on February 20. The final will help promote and preview the return of the historic Thompson 300, as Tour-Type Modifieds are used for a virtual 300-lapper on March 20. In real-life, officials are bringing back the Thompson 300 as part of the Sunoco World Series of Racing at Thompson in October of 2021.
“This iRacing series will give drivers and fans of Thompson Speedway a chance to come together during the cold winter months for some virtual racing,” Kyle Souza, owner of Souza Media, said. “We’re looking forward to watching the Thompson 300 in real-life, but we think this virtual experience will showcase some of what it will take to win the real-life event and get fans energized for the October 2021 race.”
In order to be eligible for the events, drivers must fit one of the requirements put in place by officials. Race officials have the final determination on eligibility and may elect to refund participants who register but don’t fit qualifications. For all three events, drivers must be:
A current or past full-time weekly competitor in Late Models, Super Late Models or Modifieds
A current or past touring series competitor in Late Models, Super Late Models or Modifieds
Immediate crew member of one of the above drivers — defined as either a car owner, crew chief or spotter.
*If all spots are not filled for the event five days prior to event start, fans of Thompson Speedway, Modifieds, Super Late Models or Late Models will be able to register to fill the spots*
The first 60 entered drivers will be registered for the event. Anyone who registers past that 60 number will be placed on a waitlist. Registration fees are $15 per event, or $45 for the entire series. Registration can be completed at kylesouza.com/thompson-
A payout is guaranteed for the top-five at the end of each race, with a minimum of $50 to win the feature. The virtual Thompson 300 will pay at least $125 to win. Sponsorship opportunities for the series are available by emailing kylesouzamedia@gmail.com. Sponsorships will include full race deals and contingency awards.
VIRTUAL THOMPSON iRACING SERIES SCHEDULE:
January 23 — SK Modified — 100 laps
February 20 — Late Models — 100 laps
March 20 — Tour-Type Modified — 300 laps
Source: SOUZA MEDIA
Source: Speed51
The year 2020 is still not over, but Tour-type Modified fans already have reason to smile in 2021, as the entry list for the 55th World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing is already packed with talent. With 19 drivers entered so far for the five nights in February at New Smyrna Speedway, the anticipation in the Northeast is high heading into Florida Speedweeks.
Three-time New Smyrna World Series Tour-type champion Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT is expected to do a part-time schedule in the No. 6 while the ‘Mighty Modifieds’ are in town from February 8 to 12, as he begins his third NASCAR Cup Series season with JTG-Daugherty Racing just up I-95 at Daytona International Speedway.
As for those going for the championship, two-time and defending New Smyrna champion Matt Hirschman is entered in the No. 60, while 2014 Tour-type & two-time World Series SK Modified champion Ron Silk of Norwalk, CT. is slated to make his return to New Smyrna for the first time since 2018, driving in the No. 16 Modified he fielded on multiple occasions in 2020.
Rounding the list of former champions is another two-time champion, Chuck Hossfeld, who is also returning to New Smyrna after a year away. Hossfeld will field the No. 2 for Gershow Motorsports; the family team also has both J.R. and Joe Bertuccio also on the provisional entry list.
The Catalano family is once again expected to be heading south in full force this coming February. Tommy Catalano is entered in the PSR No. 17 for the second-straight year. Meanwhile, the family operation has Timmy, Tyler, and Amy Catalano all entered for the week as well.
The ‘Long Island Gang’ is so far represented by two of its toughest customers, both also from the racing town of Riverhead. Former Turkey Derby winner Dave Sapienza is heading back, looking to put his No. 36 in New Smyrna victory lane for the first time. Meanwhile, Eric Goodale will look to add to his win total, and take the No. 58 to its first World Series championship.
While Preece and Silk currently form the veteran arm of Connecticut entrants, it’s Ronnie Williams who heads up the list of young guns in the No. 50, with the former Tri-Track Open Modified Series and Stafford Speedway SK Modified champion expected to make his first start at New Smyrna since 2018.
Entered for their New Smyrna debuts, 2018 Stafford SK Light champ Marcello Rufrano caught the attention of the Modified world with his first Tour-type win at Stafford in 2020. Stafford SK race winning driver and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winning crew chief Stephen Kopcik will make his first appearance as a driver in the No. 179, previously attending New Smyrna as a crew member.
Veteran Upstate New York short tracker Chris Finocchario is entered to make his World Series debut in his No. 8 Modified.
New Jersey’s Eddie McCarthy is heading back with his No. 20 after using the 2020 World Series as learning experience for the future.
Brian Robie of New Hampshire is heading back to New Smyrna with redemption on his mind, after destroying his engine early in the week in 2020. Robie and the No. 25 camp are looking for their first World Series race win after sweeping Modified track titles at Claremont Motorsports Park, Monadnock Speedway and Hudson International Speedway back home in 2020.
Perhaps most excited is the lone southern driver entered thus far, Florida’s own Jeremy Gerstner. The former Southern Modified Racing Series champion is eager to pit his new No. 55 Modified against the competition over the five nights of action.
The 55th World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing will run for nine straight nights once again 2021, February 5 through 13. The David Rogers Super Late Models, Florida Modifieds, and Pro Late Models will each run for seven of the nine nights.
The Tour-type Modifieds will begin their first of five-straight nights on Monday, February 8 with a 50-lap feature alongside the season opener for the ARCA Menards Series East. Following at 35-lap sprint race on Tuesday, the John Blewett III Memorial 76 takes center stage on Wednesday, February 10. Another 35-lap feature is on for Thursday, with the Tour Mod schedule wrapping on Friday, February 12 with the Richie Evans Memorial 100.
The World Series itself concludes on Saturday, February 13 with the Orange Blossom 100 for Super Late Models headlining the ninth night.
Stay with Speed51 for more news as Speedweeks 2021 draws ever closer.
-Story by: Connor Sullivan, Speed51 Northeast Editor – Twitter: @Connor51CT
-Photo credit: Speed51
