Lou's News
  • From:  Lou Modestino (lmodestino@hotmail.com)  
    Sent: Mon 11/17/08 7:22 PM
 

    NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS SOUTH
    By Lou Modestino(for 11/21-11/23/08)

    Former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Rick Fuller brought to a close one of the most successful
    driving careers
    in the 24-year history of the tour with the announcement that he has retired from racing. Fuller, of Auburn, made
    his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut in the series’ inaugural race on March 31, 1985 at Thompson (Conn.)
    International Speedway with
    a 13th place finish in the Icebreaker. Ultimately, Thompson became the site of his last race when was caught up in
    an early
    accident and came home 30th in the No. 77 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Modified in the Xtra Mart World Series
    on Oct. 19.

    Fuller compiled 20 wins, 145 top fives, 231 top 10s and 11 Coors Light Pole Awards in 439 career NASCAR
    Whelen Modified
    Tour starts. His win total ranks seventh in tour history.



    Fuller got his start in weekly series action. He won Late Model championships at Westboro (Mass.) Speedway in
    1980

    and at Thompson in 1982. Fuller later moved on to the Modified division where he captured the Thompson track
    title in 1985.

    “Early on in my career, winning really wasn’t that big of an effort,” Fuller said. “It wasn’t uncommon in the first few
    years that

    I started out racing for me to win 30 or 40 feature events. Once I moved solely into the NASCAR Whelen Modified
    Tour, it

    was a humbling experience. To win just one or two races a year was huge. To actually win the championship was

    a monster accomplishment.”



    The highlight of Fuller’s distinguished career was his championship season of 1993. A year after his brother, Jeff,
    had

    captured the title, Fuller strung together a win and 14 top 10s in 17 starts to finish 93 points ahead of Reggie
    Ruggiero for

    the crown. As part of NASCAR’s celebration of 60 Years of Modified Champions, Fuller was honored at Thompson

    prior to the Sunoco Modified Mania 150 on Sept. 7.



    Fuller, voted the series’ Most Popular Driver in 2000, is one of just three drivers to have made starts in each of
    the first 24

    years of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour along with Carl Pasteryak and Jamie Tomaino. “The past couple of
    years

    Toyota Certified Used Vehicles had the confidence to back me in an attempt to run for another championship and I

    have to thank them and the Curt Chase family for doing the same,” Fuller said. “The championship I won in
    1993 was with

    the No. 77 team, and for them to have the confidence in me to make another run at that meant an awful lot to me.”



    While Fuller hasn’t necessarily lost the drive to compete, there are a number of reasons why 2008 became a
    good time to

    close the book on his racing career. Fuller has kids of his own who are at the beginning of their racing careers,
    and he

    has also started to turn his attention toward supporting them.



    “I had a really good run at this and I had a lot of fun, but right now I’m looking at other opportunities in racing,”
    Fuller said.

    “My son, Alex, is racing Quarter Midgets at the “Little T” at Thompson and my daughter, Meghan, says she wants
    to start,

    and that will probably occupy a lot of my time.” While the 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season will be the
    last full-

    time run of Fuller’s distinguished career, he didn’t necessarily close the door on his availability for a spot start or
    part-time ride in the future.

    Area Auto Racing News that Terry Eames will return to the helm of the Waterford Speedbowl in 2009.
    Eames will replace Jerry Robinson as the beleaguered shore side oval track struggles to stay alive. Water-
    ford has been the scene of reorganizations at the top for a decade. Hopefully Terry's return to the helm
    will calm things down at the shore side oval.

    Kristina Vorndron, 14, of Charlton was one of 12 class members to take part in the Woman In The Winners
    Circle Foundation that was held last weekend at Arizona State Univ. in Tempe.   Established in 1994, the
    Academy has a two-fold purpose: (1) identify potential champion women drivers who have demonstrated success
    on the track and have a desire to pursue a career in professional motorsports; and (2) create an experience that
    will provide the tools to further women drivers’ careers in motorsports as well as enhance their lives on and off the
    track.

    “This year’s class continues to show me that there are many talented women drivers in all forms of motorsports,”
    said Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation and Driver Academy founder Lyn St. James.  “Collectively, the
    drivers we selected this year have raced in karts, midgets, sprints, stock cars, sports cars and late models.  My
    goal for these women is for them to get from Academy resources all the tools they need to become successful in
    motorsports, no matter what Series they choose to race in.”

    In 2008, the Foundation moved this ground breaking program from a four-day experience to a full year
    commitment including three onsite weekends:  Weekend 1 – Physical and Mental Preparation; 2 – Business
    Seminars and Media Training; and 3 – On-track Time and Technical.  Each participant leaves the weekend
    session with a series of assignments and deliverables that must be completed prior to being invited to the next
    session.  Academy staff are available throughout the year to give counsel and support to the participants.





    SpeedwayEXPO, sponsored by Sunoco, will return to the Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts, February 27-March
    1, 2009. Presented by Speedway Illustrated magazine, the three-day show is the largest enthusiast event for
    Northeastern drivers, teams, tracks, and vendors.

    "The 3rd annual SpeedwayEXPO will kick off the 2009 Northeast racing season with hundreds of exhibits," says
    Silvio Calabi, the magazine's publisher. "We'll have more than 200 new race cars and old favorites, and bring
    together drivers, crews, and fans from a dozen states and Canada."

    SpeedwayEXPO has earned a reputation for showcasing the latest race cars, parts, safety gear, and memorabilia.
    The Weekend includes exciting skill competitions and demonstrations as well as informative seminars presented
    by racing experts. The show's main focus is short track racing. Other forms of motorsports, from motorcycles and
    snow machines to dragsters will also be represented.

    "We're especially excited about hosting Riverside Rides Again, the Riverside Park Speedway Reunion at
    SpeedwayEXPO," Calabi adds. "We'll be commemorating the 10th anniversary of the closing of the Park with a
    display of Riverside memorabilia, including some of the legendary cars that raced at Riverside, trophies,
    programs, drivers' suits, and more. Many Riverside drivers will be on hand to sign autographs and talk about their
    years racing at the track." Riverside Rides Again is sponsored by Budweiser.

    Open cockpit sensation Burt Brooks of CT, stock car ace Harold ʽHardluckʼ Hannaford from NH and car owner
    Bertha Small of Pawtucket, RI are the Veteran Committee selections for induction into the New England Auto
    Racing Hall of Fame.
    The trio will be inducted along with drivers John Fitch, Bobby Dragon and Paul Richardson, promoters Bob Bahre,
    Jim McConnell and Tom Curley and car owner/ builders Rollie Lindblad and Art Barry on Jan. 25, 2009 at
    LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT. Still to be named are the Jack Ratta (Media) and Danny Pardi
    (Service) Memorial Award winners.
    Ticket information and request forms are available on the New England Antique Racers website NEAR1.
    com.

    New Britain, CT-based Brooks won four straight (1950-53) ARDC Ford championships and four URC Sprint Car
    crowns in five years (1954-1958) in a 23-year career that ended with his untimely death at Hershey, PA in 1968.
    With well over 100 wins, he ranks as one of New Englandʼs premier open cockpit drivers.

    The first female in the NEAR Hall of Fame, the late Small fielded cars for Jack Foley, Joe McNulty, Cy Yates, Red
    Bolduc and Hop Harrington over a 12-year (1950-61) run. The cars ran at Seekonk, Norwood, Kingstown,
    Waterford, Lonsdale. Denied entrance because of her sex, Small often directed things from outside the pit fence.

    A New Hampshire native, Hannaford made a definite mark throughout Northern New England. An outstanding
    competitor through the 1950s and into the 1960s, his resume includes two of the first three (1962, ʼ64) Milk Bowls
    and multiple championships at Thunder Road. A competitor at Daytona in the 60s, he won his last race at Bryar
    Motor Sports Park in 1966.


    Terry Eames announced  that he has formed a partnership with former SK Modified driver and local businessman
    Shawn Monahan to take over control of track operations when the current operator’s lease expires on November
    30.   The duo will host a kick-off meeting on December 1 at 7 p.m. at the Groton Inn and Suites to announce some
    of their plans for the upcoming season.  Eames of Groton, CT previously managed the track from 1995 through
    2006 and is the majority owner of 1080 Hartford Road, LLC, the group that has owned the track since 2000.  
    Monahan, a Waterford native, is the owner of Critical Signs and Graphics.  He last raced at the Speedbowl in the
    2008 Town Fair Tire Finale.  


    In an effort to get back to basics, the duo has started a Board of Directors to help carry out their new promotional
    vision.  This collaborative approach is not new to the Speedbowl – a Board of Directors advised track
    management from it’s opening in 1951 through 1974.  In addition to Eames and Monahan, current members of the
    new board include Sid DiMaggio and Tom Fox, who will also serve as the track’s Race Director. “Over the past two
    years many members of the Speedbowl racing community have offered their help and advice concerning the
    future of racing in Waterford”, Eames said,  “Shawn and I feel that forming this board is a start towards getting
    them involved in seeing that racing continues here.”



    “I’m excited to be getting involved”, said Monahan, “I think I bring a racer’s perspective to the management
    team and I’m full of ideas about how to get more local fans out to the races.”   Tom Fox was the track’s
    Chief Tech Inspector in 2008.  He will now have full authority over all aspects of the race program.  Before
    retiring from weekly competition after the 2006 season, Fox was one of the more accomplished drivers in
    track history with over 60 feature wins.  He brings with him close to 30 years experience behind the wheel at
    the Speedbowl and is an experienced manager.



    Track historian Sid DiMaggio will serve as a coordinator of multi-media and events.  DiMaggio has been
    involved in many things Speedbowl over the last few years, including compiling the track’s statistical history,
    coordinating the Little League Night event, reviving the Most Popular Driver Award and publishing the track
    program.  He is also currently co-producing a documentary of this past season’s Finale event.  In addition,
    DiMaggio will now be involved in more interactive ideas with both the competitors and fans as well as
    contribute to the track’s website. The partners expect to name additional Directors over the coming weeks.



    The event on December 1 will combine the tracks annual toy drive with an informational meeting about all aspects
    of the upcoming season.  2009 driver and car number registration forms will be available.  Rules meetings and
    details about the Awards Banquet will also be announced that night.  "We want the race teams, fans, media -
    everyone - to know the Speedbowl is moving forward without delay towards a successful 2009 season"
    emphasized Eames.


    Late Model stock car drivers will get their first superspeedway experience next year as New Hampshire
    Motor Speedway will host the inaugural American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Invitational during the NASCAR
    Sprint Cup Series SYLVANIA 300 weekend on September 17-20, 2009. The Invitational will have a purse of
    more than $65,000 for invited and approved teams that attend the historic, groundbreaking event for Late
    Model stock car racing.

    "New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been looking for a way to support the short track industry throughout the
    Northeast and Québec/Ontario markets," said New Hampshire Motor Speedway Vice President and General
    Manager Jerry Gappens. "The Invitational is a great addition to our NASCAR weekend that already includes the
    Sprint Cup Series, the Camping World Truck Series, the Camping World Series East, and the Whelen Modified
    Tour."

    "New Hampshire Motor Speedway is giving short track fans and teams throughout the Northeast and Canada a
    wonderful opportunity," said ACT President Tom Curley. The ACT Invitational race will be a 50-lap all-star event
    with 36 starters. Each 2009 race winner up to the running of the Invitational on the U.S.-based ACT Late Model
    Tour and the Québec/Ontario-based Série ACT-Castrol will be awarded a guaranteed starting spot and a $500
    bonus for each win contingent upon participation at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway event.

    Three non-championship events will also be Invitational qualifying races with a $500 New Hampshire Motor
    Speedway bonus: the CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in
    Barre, Vt.; the TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine; and the Coors Light 200
    "Showdown at Chaudière" all-star race at Autodrome Chaudière in Vallée-Jonction, Quebec on Saturday, August
    29.

    Other invitees will be 2009 champions and/or point leaders as of September 17, 2009 on the ACT Late Model
    Tour and Série ACT-Castrol, as well as at the following ACT-affiliated short tracks: Thunder Road International
    Speedbowl, Oxford Plains Speedway, Lee USA (Lee, N.H.) Speedway, Twin State Speedway (Claremont, N.H.),
    White Mountain Motorsports Park (North Woodstock, N.H.), Seekonk Speedway (Seekonk, Mass.), Waterford
    Speedbowl (Waterford, Conn.), Capital City Speedway (Ottawa, Ont.), and Kawartha Speedway (Peterborough,
    Ont.). Provisional starting spots will be awarded to fill the field to 36 cars, if needed.

    "Short track racing is grass roots racing and is the engine that drives the entire stock car industry," said Curley.
    "Jerry Gappens and his New Hampshire Motor Speedway team are to be commended during these challenging
    times with their proactive, innovative ideas to be inclusive of the region's short tracks. Obviously, the American-
    Canadian Tour teams and fans, along with their affiliate Late Model tracks, are very excited and appreciative
    about this opportunity."

    "This is great news for Late Model racing as a whole," said ACT Late Model Tour veteran Brent Dragon of
    Milton, Vt. "Racing at Loudon is something I think all drivers in this region want to do, and now we've all got
    even more motivation to win races. Being at New Hampshire Motor Speedway brings this group to a whole
    new level."

    "I'm very proud of the fact that ACT is going to New Hampshire," said Donald Theetge of Québec City, the
    2006 Série ACT-Castrol champion. "It will be great for our drivers, our fans, and it would be a great thing to
    win a race in front of the Sprint Cup teams. I know I'm going to try everything I can to get in that race and
    win it."

    Promotions will be held in all major markets of the region, including the Canadian metro areas of Montréal,
    Ottawa, Québec City, and eastern Toronto, and U.S. metro areas including Providence; Portland; Boston;
    Hartford; Burlington, Vt.; Manchester, N.H.; Plattsburgh, N.Y.; and more, to make attending this event
    affordable, and so that the fans will get more action and value for their ticket money.

    "It is our intention to give the best short track teams in the region a chance to compete at the premier
    superspeedway in the northeast," said Gappens. "We are very excited to have the ACT race fans join us for this
    incredible weekend of racing."
    The Série ACT-Castrol 2009 schedule was released at the annual Banquet of Champions in
    Drummondville, Que. on Saturday, November 15. The 2009 ACT Late Model Tour schedule will be released
    in the coming days.



    Stafford Motor Speedway welcomed a guest list of over 500 people consisting of teams, drivers, and
    employees this past Friday
    night, November 14, 2008 at the La Renaissance Banquet Facility in East Windsor to officially honor Keith Rocco,
    Ryan Posocco, Joe Allegro, Jr., Bill Davis, and Norm Sears as the 2008 Stafford Motor Speedway NASCAR
    Whelen All-American Series track champions.
    With Stafford Motor Speedway broadcasters Matt Buckler and Tony Sutton serving as the Masters of Ceremony,
    the 39th annual Stafford Motor Speedway




    NASCAR Champions Awards Ceremony not only honored the five track champions, it also honored the top-20
    points finishers from the SK Modified, Late Model, SK Light, Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock divisions. Other
    awards that were presented during the evening’s festivities were Most Popular Driver Awards, Most Improved
    Driver Awards, and the Reliable Welding & SpeedRookie of the Year awards.




    The race for the SK Modified track championship came down to a two-man race between Keith Rocco and Ted
    Christopher. Rocco and Christopher see-sawed the points lead back and forth over the course of the season, but
    it was Rocco’s amazing level of consistency down the stretch that allowed him to outlast Christopher. Rocco
    closed out the 2008 season with a dominant
    five-race stretch that saw him score a win and four second place finishes to lock up the championship.
    Rocco posted 2 wins, 14 top-5, and 14 top-10 finishes in 17 starts.




    The race for the Late Model track championship came down to a two-man race between Stafford veteran Ryan
    Posocco and second year man Dillon Moltz. Moltz quickly established himself as the championship favorite with an
    early season three race winning streak, but Moltz could not match the superior consistency exhibited by Posocco.
    Posocco ended Moltz’ streak at three wins
    and went on a three-race win streak of his own that put him into the points lead, a position that he would
    hold for the remainder of the season. For the season, Posocco posted 7 wins, 16 top-5 and 17 top-10
    finishes, which included 14 podium finishes in 17 starts. Posocco’s championship is the fourth of his career
    at Stafford, placing him behind only Ted Christopher with 6, and Bob Potter with 5, for career
    championships earned at Stafford Motor Speedway.

    The race for the SK Light Modified championship was the closest points battle of Stafford’s five divisions. Heading
    into the CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend, four drivers were in the running for the championship. While three of the
    drivers experienced problems during the race, Joe Allegro, Jr. stayed out of trouble and rode to a third place
    finish and the 2008 championship. Allegro didn’t reach victory lane during the 2008 season, but he posted 11 top-
    5 and 15 top-10 finishes to outlast Chris Matthews, Mark Bakaj, andRaymond Grassetti for the title.

    The chase for the Limited Late Model championship was a two-man battle between Bill Davis and defending
    champion Sean Foster. Davis won the Spring Sizzler and he remained consistent throughout the season, leading
    the points standings for all but one week during the 2008 season. Davis posted three victories along with 15 top-5
    and 16 top-10 finishes to hold off Foster at season’s end for the title.

    Norm Sears drove to his third consecutive DARE Stock track championship, putting him into the Stafford record
    books alongside Phil Rondeau and Ryan Posocco as the only drivers to win three consecutive Stafford track
    championships. Sears posted 2 wins, 10 top-5, and 14 top-10 finishes to nip Scott Roy by an 8-point margin at
    season’s end.

    Receiving awards for Most Improved Driver were Kirk Zervas in the SK Modified division, Michael Bennett in
    the Late Model division, Tony Santangelo in the SK Light division, and Michael Chaves in the Limited Late
    Model division. The Most Improved Driver award is given to a driver who exhibits the greatest degree of
    improvement in on-track performance over the past season. Nominees are selected and voted upon by a
    committee of select Stafford Motor Speedway management and track officials.

    The Reliable Welding & Speed Rookie of the Year awards were presented by Brad and Linda Hietala of
    Reliable Welding and Speed to Steven Reed from the SK Modified division, Brian Chapin from the Late
    Model division, Adam Skowyra from the SK Light division, and Carla Botticello from the Limited Late Model
    division. The awards will be worth a $700.00 bonus to Reed, and$500.00 bonus to Chapin, Skowyra, and
    Botticello from Reliable Welding and Speed. Each Rookie of the Year bonus will be paid out in $100.00
    weekly increments to each driver as they attend events during the 2009 season.

    The winners of the Most Popular Driver Awards were Ted Christopher in the SKModified division, Ryan Posocco in
    the Late Model divisions, Chris Matthews from the SK Light division, Carla Botticello from the Limited Late Model
    division, and Kyle Casagrande from the DARE Stock division. The Most Popular Driver Awards are voted on by
    the fans who attend Stafford Motor Speedway race events and fill out the ballots found weekly in the track’s
    PitStopper Magazine.


    NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS
    RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.