With two races completed in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Racing Series at Grandview Speedway Brett Kressley is on top in the T.P. Trailers Modifieds and Kenny Gilmore leads the standings for the T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman. A third class of competition, not part of the NASCAR sanctioned events, has Glenn Strunk leading in the new 602 Sportsman division which will be seen in a handfull of races this season. Next race for the 602 Sportsman will be May 8th. (more…)
Steve
Hebert Finally Tastes NHMS Victory at Northeast Classic
Loudon, NH — Reigning American-Canadian Tour (ACT) champion Jimmy Hebert of Williamstown, VT finally scored a long-awaited victory at Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) on Sunday, April 18 in the inaugural Northeast Classic. Hebert was awarded the win following post-race technical inspection, giving the veteran a triumph he’d been chasing for his entire decade-long Late Model career. (more…)
Overflow Pit Area Greets First Riverhead Raceway Practice Day Saturday, John Beatty Jr. Quickest In Nascar Modifieds
The sun was shining, spirits were high and the pit area was overflowing Saturday afternoon at Riverhead Raceway as Eddie & Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz hosted the first of two practice days leading up to the 2021 opening weekend Saturday May 1st and Sunday May 2nd.
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Formula One announces 10-year deal for Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium
It’s official: Formula One racing is coming to South Florida.
F1 announced Sunday the Miami Grand Prix will be hosted at Hard Rock Stadium in a 10-year deal, which will begin in 2022. The 2022 race date will be announced later with hopes of it being held in the second quarter of next year (April-June).
By SAFID DEEN, SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL
“It’s a great moment for Formula One and a great moment for Formula One fans in America,” said president and CEO Stefano Domenicali during a press conference in Imola, Italy.
“We’re very excited to bring the world’s greatest racing to the most dynamic city in the United States,” added Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium CEO Tom Garfinkel, the new managing partner of the race.
Sunday’s announcement ends a nearly three-year quest by Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium owner Steve Ross, now the chairman and owner of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, to bring F1 racing to South Florida.
For Ross and Garfinkel, the Miami Grand Prix is just another event that adds to the allure of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
The venue has hosted 11 Super Bowls with Super Bowl 54 most recently in Feb. 2020, multiple college football national championship games, and will host games during the World Cup in 2026.
“We had a vision to create a global entertainment destination. The site exists to bring in the biggest events in the world,” Garfinkel told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“With the Super Bowl, the [college football] national championship game, international soccer, Miami Open tennis, and really there’s no bigger event in the world than Formula One racing.”
Race organizers and the city of Miami Gardens recently announced an economic package that will include a $5 million commitment, including a STEM education program and race conditions that must be abided by to benefit the area despite significant resistance from local officials and residents in the area.
Ross initially hoped to have the F1 race in the downtown Miami, starting in 2019, until that proposal was also met with apprehension from residents with noise and pollution concerns.
“This is something we’ve worked on for a while,” Garfinkel told the Sun Sentinel. I think frankly, while it feels like it took a long time, when you look at the amount of diligence that goes into it, taking the time to listen to the community, and putting that diligence in during a global pandemic we’ve all been dealing with, it actually wasn’t a long time when you put it in perspective because what it takes to put one of these things on is pretty significant.”
The race circuit will be 3.36 miles, have 19 corners, 3 straights and potential for 3 DRS zones with an estimated top speed of 198.8 mph with the stadium at the heart of the action.
FI and Hard Rock Stadium officials will work together to build a track to provide high speed straights, multiple overtaking opportunities and exciting racing while meeting the highest safety standards, according to a press release.
Miami will be the 11th location Formula 1 has raced in the United States since the Championship series began in 1950. Since that time Formula 1 has raced at Riverside, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, Indianapolis and Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
The Miami Grand Prix will be the second U.S. race on the F1 circuit next year, joining Austin, Texas.
“There was never a time we didn’t want it to happen or didn’t think it was going to happen,” added Garfinkel. “I think sometimes you will things to happen when you have great partners to get that accomplished.”
Kressley, Hoch And Glenn Strunk Win Features At Grandview Speedway
Brett “The Threat” Kressley became the first repeat winner of the new season on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway in the TP Trailers 358 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series 30-lap Modified feature. (more…)
Duane Howard Wins VP Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial At Grandview, Kyle Lilick Tops In Sportsman
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. April 4, 2021 . . . There was quite chill in the air for the 4th Annual VP Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker 50-lap race on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway, but the action was hot and heavy as Big Block Modifieds went up against Small Block racing talents.45 Modifieds entered the pits to attempt to qualify for the Rogers Memorial while 33 Sportsman took to the track for their second part of the night’s racing action. (more…)
NASCAR “Positive” and “Promising” After Rain Tire Test at Martinsville
Words such as “positive” and “promising” were among the descriptors used by John Probst, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Racing Innovation, as the one-day session drew to a close. The test, he said, wasn’t a tipping point toward a full-fledged yes or no on going forward with wet-weather tires on shorter oval tracks in certain conditions, but it was key to gathering data and feedback for further assessment. (more…)
Fendered Divisions Going Full-Throttle With Big Thompson Icebreaker Slate
Waterbury, VT & Naples, ME – Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park is now less than two weeks away from the season-opening Icebreaker on April 10-11. As part of a packed 10-division lineup, there are a mix of fendered divisions, open-wheel modifieds and winged Midgets.
The fendered side of the schedule is packed with three Thompson local divisions and three touring series classes. The stars of the Pro All Star Series lead the way with a 75-lap feature as the headliner of the Saturday slate. They are joined on Saturday by the EXIT Realty Pro Truck Series, Mini Stocks and a special $1,000 to win, 8-Cylinder Street Stock open race.
On Sunday, the Limited Sportsman and Late Models get their crack at opening the season. The Limited Sportsman have a special 25-lap feature while the ACT-type Late Models go 40 laps in support of the $10,000-to-win Icebreaker 125 for the Outlaw Open Modified Series.
The early entries for the Mini Stock season include a list of tenured veterans who are heading back to Thompson in search of more glory. The 2019 track champion, Doug Curry, is joined by Steve Michalski, Russell Barboza, Tommy Silva and more as the early contenders. In two Mini Stock races at the Connecticut oval in 2020, Jared Roy collected checkered flags in both. The Mini Stocks are often Thompson’s most affordable class for a competitor but put on some of the best racing at the track.
As part of the Limited Sportsman division, all eyes will be on some of Thompson’s most polished veterans. Former track champions entered for the season include Kyle Gero, Ryan Waterman, Scott Sundeen and Larry Barnett. All four drivers have proven they can get the job done, but it’s been Waterman who has done the most winning lately, taking both races at Thompson during the 2020 season. Additional registered drivers include former division winners Corey Fanning and Brent Gleason, former Thompson Mini Stock champion Curry, Kristopher Kay, former Seekonk Speedway regular Ed Flanagan Jr. and more. The Limited Sportsman division is long known for three-wide action and drivers sliding around the track in search of the checkered flag.
Some of those same Limited Sportsman drivers will be competing on Saturday when the $1,000 to win, 8-Cylinder Street Stock race hits the high-banks. At the World Series in 2020, it was Christopher Buffone who scored the win, and he’s planning on returning to attempt to keep that crown. Buffone led laps early but fell to fourth-spot by halfway. It wasn’t long before he was back out front after all three drivers in front of him suffered mechanical failures, propelling him to victory. This time, he’s hoping to not depend on Lady Luck and dominate the show instead. His victory at Thompson came in his first start at the 0.625-mile oval.
“I’m super excited to head back to the track I grew up watching my Uncle Tom and Mike O’Sullivan in the Pro Stocks and Late Models up until 2011,” Buffone said. “Being able to win my first race there last year was pretty amazing. But I had lots of help from the years of experience my family has there in weekly racing. I think my chances of going back and repeating are just as likely as they were the first time, just this time I’m going in with a few more laps under my belt. There will be a ton of top-notch race cars there, along with ours, so winning would be a huge feat — especially to go back-to-back.”
The Late Models open the season with a $1,200-to-win, 40-lap feature part of the Sunday portion of Icebreaker weekend. In their debut race on the new ACT Hoosier tire, drivers from across New England will commence at Thompson to help open the New England Late Model Challenge Cup. Originally slated to open last year, but halted due to COVID-19, the Challenge Cup allows registered competitors to take their best 10 eligible finishes at participating tracks across New England towards the season-long point standings. A guaranteed minimum point fund of $14,000 has been posted with a minimum prize of $3,000 to the overall winner.
Perhaps the favorite heading into the new year is former track champion Woody Pitkat, who returns to competition with the Hartwell Motorsports team after a successful two years together. In 2019, Pitkat went into the World Series of Speedway Racing in contention to win the championship on the strength of multiple wins. In 2020, in a shortened season due to COVID, Pitkat swept the two races at the Connecticut oval. His partnership with Hartwell Motorsports has proven to be a strong one that is nearly unbeaten of late.
Additional former Late Model track champions in the field include Brian Tagg and Nick Johnson, while names like defending American-Canadian Tour Rookie of the Year Derek Gluchacki, Tom Carey III and others are also expected to contend in the opener.
“I always feel confident going into Thompson,” Carey, a former winner at Thompson in the weekly division, said. “I feel like I should have a couple ACT Tour wins there already — I just kind of got plagued with bad luck. I’ve always had a really fast hot rod there, though. The first time I got taken out with five laps to go, and then on the first lap the second time — both times while I was running on the front row. It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to the changes that ACT and PASS have planned for the place. Hopefully they bring the venue back to the glory that it deserves.”
The EXIT Realty Truck Series returns to Thompson with their stout list of competitors. The defending champion of the division is Duane Noll, who is always a top driver. He will be joined by a strong contingency of regulars for their feature. Ken Morin was the first driver to file a registration for the Icebreaker.
Thompson Speedway opens its 82nd season with the annual Icebreaker on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11. A total of 10 divisions will compete across two days of racing. Sunday’s card features the $10,000-to-win Icebreaker 125 for the Outlaw Open Modified Series with qualifying going green at 1:15pm. There’s also a 40-lap ACT-type Late Model shootout plus the Limited Sportsman and SK Light Modifieds.
Saturday’s six-division card is highlighted by the season-opening Thompson 75 for the PASS North Super Late Models beginning at 1:00pm. They’re joined by the Sunoco Modifieds, NEMA LITES Midgets, EXIT Realty Pro Truck Challenge, Mini Stocks, and an 8-Cylinder Street Stock Open. An optional Test N’ Tune practice day is slated for Friday, April 9 with all Icebreaker divisions welcome.
Adult general admission is $30 for Saturday and $35 for Sunday. Kids ages 12 and under are $10 each day. Advance tickets are available at https://happsnow.com/event/
Speed51.TV is also offering a live pay-per-view broadcast for both days of the Icebreaker. Sign up at www.speed51.tv. PPV passes are $30 for Saturday-only, $35 for Sunday-only, and $55 for both days.
For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.
For technical information concerning all PASS divisions, and for media or marketing questions, please contact passracing@roadrunner.com or visit www.proallstarsseries.com. Don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow on Twitter @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.
For general Thompson Speedway inquiries and camping reservations, call (860) 923-2280, email oval@thompsonspeedway.com, or visit www.thompsonspeedway.com. You can follow Thompson Speedway on Facebook and Instagram at @ThompsonSpeedway or on Twitter at @ThompsonSpdwy.
Richie Evans’ Ford Pinto Visiting NASCAR Hall of Fame Until September, 2021
Richie Evans’ Ford Pinto, which has been kept in Brockton (MA) at Shoe City Auto Sales, the oldest car dealer in the city, is owned by Steve and Glenn Zimmerman. In February, they shipped the #61 Ford Pinto, to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC in February, where it will remain until September. (more…)
BMR Drivers Academy Joins With NASCAR For Driver Development Program In 2021
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2021) – The 2021 BMR Drivers Academy – a NASCAR development program – will feature 14 full-time drivers competing in 16 two-day race events on the West Coast, culminating in opportunities in the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The program opens on March 26-27 at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. for its 40-race campaign. (more…)