Mostly
Racin' Stuff
By Tom Avenengo
Volume # 199
10/30/2014
Special
notice # 1:
I have no idea as to how this week's
column will turnout. I've been blessed
with a new computer and navigating through it might cause some problems. So far, it's been pretty easy. I find I can now just copy & paste
things, with just a font change.
Previously, I found I had to go through a couple of different things to
post into my columns.
Note:
With this new computer, I've noticed that the new links I'm supplying
have remained black, and not turned blue, like previous columns (some are still
in blue, however), so to view them you might have to copy & paste, rather
than just click on them. Also, I've
noticed some light gray areas behind some of what I've posted. Hope they turn out ok!
Special
notice # 2:
This coming Saturday is Halloween. Most places celebrate by having the handing
out of candy to the younger ones. So, if
you're driving, please be extra careful for the little guys!
Special
notice # 3:
Yup!
That time of the year again - have to set our clocks back one hour this
weekend.
Some
personal/family stuff:
My wife, who left us on
July 3, 2014.
Remember, photos can only be seen on the
New England Tractor/Race Report website, which is linked to at the end of my
columns.
These past few days - last week, really,
my daughter, Sandra, and her son, John, went back to NY with a rented van to
get more things from the house my wife and I shared for a little over 10 years,
and bring them down here to Cape Coral, where I'll basically living now. Grandson, John was able to get in the Friday
racing at OCFS. Yeah, per my
cardiologist, I wasn't allowed to make the trip via the highways. And, I thought it best I stay down here and
get myself a little more straightened out - health wise. This AM (10/26/14) I hit the scale at 158
pounds. A couple of weeks ago it was
195. I think I made a good choice.
More
memories:
After the by-pass surgery, I wasn't too
happy a camper. Best I knew, I went in
on Thursday, had the surgery on Friday, and went home on Monday. Not a happy camper because the wife never
visited me in the hospital - or so I thought.
I los tone whole week, believe it or not. She had been there every day. Funny how anesthesia
messes up our brains.
So, it was on disability from the day of
the surgery until I became 65, then made a
"lateral move" to retirement.
Yes, I missed the work and meeting all the people that were shoppers
over those years.
Racin’ stuff:
From the Dirt Track Digest Forum:
PURSES FOR EASTERNSTATES ????
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52380-purses-for-easternstates/
Note: Kinda blows one's
mind when reading some of the comments about how much the purse has gone DOWN,
over the years.
Found on the OCFS website on
10/29/14:
2015
Schedule is being worked on and filling in nicely - 2015 we will be running Modifieds, Small Block Modifieds,
Sportsman, Street Stocks and Thunder Trucks along with appearances by CRSA
Sprints and back for 2015 will be URC Sprints after many years. It won't be
long til the season kicks off in April. Any business
interested in sponsoring a night, contact Ken Sands at the Speedway Office.
Note: No idea as to DIRTCar
staying, or Brett Deyo having his race and the track
going Independent. I guess time will
tell? I, for one, figured they would
have dropped that Truck class - I mean only two for ESW and no more than two on
a Saturday?.
Alan Johnson has now had 40 consecutive
years winning Dirt Modified features.
Kevin Harvick Vows
to End Matt Kenseth’s Title Shot
http://popularspeed.com/kevin-harvick-vows-to-end-matt-kenseths-title-shot/
Martin Truex Jr.,
girlfriend in fight of their lives
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/10/28/martin-truex-jr-girlfriend-sherry-pollex-fighting-ovarian-cancer-together/18061015/
Danica Patrick questions
need for NASCAR diversity program
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/10/27/danica-patrick-questions-need-for-nascar-diversity-program/
And here's a big part of the
problem with racing today - this, found on Facebook,
from a top DIRT Modified driver:
"18' cc head motor for sale. Comes
with 750 or 850 baker carb. Built and
maintained by Bob Bruneau engine research. Best of everything. $30,000.
Message if interested or email peter@jbrmotorsport.com.au"
It
was confirmed today with Tom Bean Owner of Bubba's Raceway Park that the
Southern States Midget Series will be the host of the Midget portion of
"Bubba's Winter Dirt Games VI" with the USAC National Sprints Feb.
18-21, 2015...3 nights of racing...3 full shows...3 full "GUARANTEED
payouts. more info to come. Make plans now to
attend....
We will LOCK the top 12 in points from the first
2 nights into Sat. nights big show so you wanna make sure you're there fo
all 3 nights
Groundbreaking Announcement
http://www.nhms.com/media/headlines/ground-breaks-for-new-museum-spring-2015.html
UNITED
RACING CLUB NAMES OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2015
At a meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2014, the United Racing
Club continued working toward its return to racing in 2015. The Club named its
new President, Bill Gallagher, and Vice President, Robbie Stillwaggon.
In 2015 the board members will be Mark Bitner, Rick
Weller, Jamie Bodo, Dave Betts, Kenny Eldreth, Jeff Fithian, Billy
Gallagher and Curt Michael. Mimi Caruso will be Secretary and Billy Gallagher
was named Treasurer and Handicapper. Billy will
have the books available at every Club meeting. A long time Club supporter, Pat
Palladino, will take on the Tech Inspector duties.
The Club is also talking with others that are interested in being pit
officials.
2015
Club rules, membership guidelines, Club photographer and race payouts were all
confirmed during the meeting.
Anyone interested in scheduling races, sponsorship opportunities
or racing with the United Racing Club may contact Curt Michael at 302-344-1882.
Fans and competitors can follow all of the news and
announcements concerning the Club via its Facebook
page under United Racing Club or on Twitter @UrcClub.
Pay-Dirt Racing Facebook Post Concerning
Rolling Wheels:
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52460-pay-dirt-racing-facebook-post-concerning-rolling-wheels/
Note: Hate to tell ya
this, but there's some interesting posts in this
thread. As of Tuesday, it's up to six
pages now.
From Rolling Wheels Raceway:
"Rolling Wheels Raceway
is in the process of updating contact information on the web site and Facebook page and will be announcing our first event for
next year on Sunday October 26, 2014, and this event will be HUGE!!!---The
Sprint Cars and other supporting classes will be involved in a double
elimination tournament format, in this format the car crew will be as important
as the driver......stay tuned for details..."
"Rolling Wheels Raceway
is now officially owned by Pay-Dirt Racing, the 2015 Race Schedule will be
announced soon and this Schedule will be the most exciting and highest paying
racing venue this area has ever seen."
Me:
"Yeah, read about this.
Also read they're thinking of a big end of season race - Hmm, opposite ESW?
Would not surprise me one bit, especially when reads things on the Internet -
like no WoO at OC in 2015, URC making a return to OC
etc, etc. Gurda going with Deyo? Gurda dropping
DIRT & going Independent?"
Rolling Wheels Raceway:
"Hi Tom--no end of
season race, the closing of the track was long and difficult, we are
concentrating on track improvements, sponsors and giving the fans shows that
will keep them coming back. Our initial plans had us running races in 2014, we assumed buying a turn-key track would not be
difficult. As it turns out, the closing was very complicated and once the
season started, it just made sense to wait until the end of the season and get
prepped for 2015. Our group is made up of people who just want to put on a good
show, pay big money to guys who put so much time and effort into their cars,
and we are going to be non-partial and have no ownership in any car that
competes at our track and the best drivers and teams will win."
"Pay-Dirt Racing is now
official as the owner of Rolling Wheels...The 2015 Race Schedule will be
announced shortly and is one of the highest paying and exciting racing venues
this area has ever seen."
Found on SJDR message board
on 10/24/14:
New Midget Racing Series
Click Here to have an E-mail Sent to you when a new message is
added to this thread
Author: WingNut71 Date: 10/24/2014 7:27:34 AM +2/-3
USAC President, Kevin Miller,
will be in
The meeting will be held at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/388543701294685
https://www.facebook.com/midatlanticmidgets
New Midget Racing
Series - continued:
just another
atempt by usac to build a
series around one of their sponsors....Honda. they
tried this with the ford focus motor and it may have had a chance if they had
not bowed to other sponsors and manufacturers and allowed things like pavement
specific cars, carbon fiber, Ti and basically made the series an unlimited
budget spec motor class...and it died. then they tried
it with the nascar sponsored "speedway silver
crown car" and just about killed the silver crown class....then, while
that class was on life support, they made "Ignite" racing fuel
(another sponsor) mandatory for the class and after quite a few guys burned
down motors the class had one foot in the grave. luckily
and hopefully, there are still enough drivers, owners and fans that want this
class to live and it may be coming back to life.
obviously,
if this class gets off the ground, it is going to hurt claases
and series like ARDC, Speedstrs, 600 and 270 micros
and probably pull a few racers from the already too many sprint and modified
classes....and now the crate wingless sprint class.
it was a
great idea when it was introduced as the "focus midgets" and would
have been an even better idea if tobias had stuck to
his original plan of a "spec" midget when he originally discussed it
probably 15 years ago but given the history of usac's
spec classes, and the already overflowing amount of classes in the tri state
area with a very limited amount of tracks, it
would be a big gamble no matter how good the presentation and idea looks.
Former
OVRP Dirt Oval runners:
Looks like this will be the last week for
this year.
Roger Coss was
15th in the Modified 130 lap feature at
Jacob Hendershot was 18th in the 270 Micro feature at
Linda's.
Eastern States:
Sportsman:
Brian Krummel
won the feature. Matt Pappa was 2nd, Matt Hirchcock 3rd,
Matt Janiak 4th, LJ Lombardo 5th ,
John Virgilio 9th, Joe Conklin 11th, Joey Bruning 15th, Winter Mead 20th, Zack Vavricka
23rd, Andrew Reeves 24th and Jimmy Johnson 25th. Joe and Anthony Falanga,
Johnny Illanovsky, Rich Coons and Seth Pacella were all DNQ's.
Note:
Again, for about the third time this year, the top five.
Small Block:
Danny Creeden
was 9th, Anthony Perrego 15th, Tyler Dippel 19th, Billy V 31st, Matt Janiak
32nd, Tim Hindley 35th. Joe Falanga, Matt
Hitchcock, RJ Smykla, LJ Lombardo, Andrew Reeves and
Joe Conklin were DNQ's.
Big Block 200:
Tim Hindley was
3rd, Clinton Mills 11th, Billy V 15th, Anthony Perrego
19th, Tyler Dippel 21st, Danny Creeden
30th, Mike Ruggiero 31st, Mike Kolka
33rd. RJ Smykla,
LJ Lombardo and Matt Hitchcock were DNQ's
Coming up:
At Accord:
SATURDAY, November 1st
Sponsored by Liggan Insurance
4 Cylinder Enduro $1500 to win
4 Cylinder Demo
Run What Ya
Brung $1000 to win
Pro Stock $300 to win*
Pure Stock $200 to win*
Jr Slingshot $200 to win*
All Star Slingshot $200 to
win*
Powder Puff
Pit gate opens at 11am -
Spectator gate opens at 12 noon
Grandstand Admission
Adult $14 - Seniors $12 - Kids $3
Family 4 Pack $44 - Indoor seating $20
Pit Admission $35
Five Mile: National Quarter Mile Dirt Track
Championship Weekend.
Friday, October 31st –
Saturday, November 1st.
http://www.fivemilepointspeedway.net/14quartermileweekend.html
OVRP’s Dirt Oval:
Novemberfest information (October 31st,
November 1st
& 2nd): http://www.oaklandvalleyspeedway.com/current-race-news/
$1750 in GUARANTEED PAYOUT FOR
PRO CLASSES*
$500 to Win : $250 for 2nd
: $125 for 3rd
*Must
Run an Additional Class to be Eligible for Pro Classes
The annual Stan Lobitz EMMR Auction, Movie Party, Lunch, Sit Down Dinner and a bunch of fun is just around the corner -
coming up on Sunday, November 9, 2014.
Lobitz Catering Hall
Rt 940
(Behind Fairway Chevrolet
Dealership on 309 N)
Things usually start around
9:00 AM and sit down dinner a little while after 5:00 PM
One never knows who will show
up as far as well known people from auto racing.
Note: This is an event I really planned on
attending this year, since I was down in
From Port Jervis, via I-84
West & I-81 South, and getting off on Rt 80 East
to the first exit, then to
From
Jayski:
Krista Voda moves to NBC in 2015:
NBC Sports
Group announced that Krista Voda has signed a
multi-year agreement to serve as host of NBC Sports' upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup
and XFINITY Series pre- and post-race coverage, beginning in 2015. Her on-air
duties will also include regular appearances as host of NASCAR
Krista's résumé is among the strongest in NASCAR broadcasting. When she joins
NBC Sports in 2015, it will mark her 14th continuous year covering the sport on
network television. She is the current host of the NASCAR Camping World Truck
Series pre-race show for Fox Sports, and was the first female to ever host
NASCAR's Daytona Duels, as well as the NASCAR All-Star Race in
"This role is a dream opportunity for me and I'm honored to be a part of
NBC's return to NASCAR," said Voda. "We say
it often, but it's true: NASCAR is more than a sport, it's a community. I've
been blessed, for many years, to stand alongside colleagues who I also consider
dear friends. I'm looking forward to this new chapter and the chance to share
my knowledge and enthusiasm for storytelling."
On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement
that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the
final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series events,
select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content,
beginning in 2015.(NBC Sports)(10-29-2014)
Brad Daugherty to Remain with ESPN:
Brad
Daugherty, a former five-time NBA All-Star and college basketball standout,
will serve as an NBA and college basketball analyst beginning in November.
Daugherty will appear regularly on NBA Tonight,
Daugherty most recently served as an ESPN NASCAR analyst on NASCAR Countdown,
NASCAR Now and across ESPN platforms. He previously covered college basketball
as a reporter for ESPN and ABC on ACC telecasts from 1999-2001. Before joining
ESPN, Daugherty served as a game analyst for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the
San Antonio Spurs local telecasts. Daugherty played eight seasons in the NBA
for the Cavaliers after being selected as the first overall pick in the 1986
Draft. Throughout his career, Daugherty averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds a
game. His No. 43 jersey, a number he wore in honor of Richard Petty, was
retired by the Cavaliers in 1997. A 1986 graduate of the
Gordon delivers millionth meal for Drive To End
Hunger to 89-year-old race fan:
As a
four-time Sprint Cup champion and one of the most recognized and popular
drivers in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon admits he "gets to do a lot of really cool
things." On Thursday [Oct 23rd], Gordon was able to do another
"really cool thing," but it was also extremely meaningful in the
process, delivering the one millionth meal served by one of Gordon's key
sponsors, the Drive To End Hunger. On his way to
Martinsville Speedway, Gordon stopped by the house of 89-year-old Freida Evans, who lives not far from the speedway in
Gordon's driver's ed
teacher killed in crash:
A retired
Plea deal for Tyler Walker in chase:
A former
NASCAR driver accused of leading police on a 150-mph chase through parts of
NASCAR sends memo to teams about Ebola:
NASCAR sent
a memo to teams [Monday], sharing guidelines from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention outlining the transmission of the Ebola virus. All three
NASCAR National Series travel to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend.
From
Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
Ryan Newman 2014 Sprint Cup Champion
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/190038-Ryan-Newman-2014-Sprint-Cup-Champion
From
the AARN:
This week in AARN:
Ryan Smith
Astounds PA Posse With
Brett Hearn
Sweeps Eastern States Weekend At
Hirschman
Outruns Mahoning Rivals, Claims Big Bucks
Alan Johnson
Gets First Win Of Year In Yates Co. Big Block Special
Rising
George, King,
Blaney, Ballou Win
Big At Atomic
Per
this weeks AARN - Brett Deyo expanding south - Georgetown,
Del, Bridgeport (4/19), Big Diamond (guess they elected to go with him rather
that w/DIRT), Glen Ridge, Woodhull, Thunder Mt., Accord, OCFS with Penn
undecided due to possible owner change. No date mentioned yet for OC.
Press releases:
Last paragraph: December 12,
Not January
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 22, 2014
DICK JORDAN
6TH "WINTER DIRT
GAMES" FEBRUARY 18-21 AT
"Winter Dirt Games
VI" will showcase USAC's AMSOIL National Sprint
Car stars in three consecutive nights of racing at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala,
Fla. February 19-20-21. An open practice session is scheduled February 18 and
February 22 is reserved as a rain date.
The
Brady Bacon and Bryan Clauson opened the 2014 AMSOIL National Sprint series with
Clauson also won the 2013 opener, but Tracy Hines swept
rounds two and three. Damion Gardner and Darren Hagen
scored 2012
Larry Dickson swept a pair of
Sprint races at
In 2005, Dave Steele won at
"I'm always to ready to
get going early in the year," says series point leader Bacon. "The
The entire 2015 AMSOIL USAC
National Sprint Car Series schedule is expected to be released the weekend at USAC's "Night of Champions" National Awards
Dinner in
--USAC--
Devil’s Bowl Speedway
Postpones Dirt Track Finale Again
Wet grounds force
rescheduling to November 1
For Immediate Release
DBS-102414-1
WEST HAVEN, VT – Devil’s Bowl Speedway is
again postponing its final dirt track stock car race of the season. The Autosaver
Ford/Springfield Buick-GMC “Vermont Freedom & Unity” event has now been
moved three times from its original date due to weather-related conditions; one
final attempt will be made at running the race on Saturday, November 1 at 1:00
p.m.
With steady rain in eight of
the last nine days at the facility, the clay surface of the dirt track has
become too saturated for crews to be able to prepare a quality racing surface
in enough time for competition on Sunday afternoon.
“We want to give our racers
and fans the best quality show that we can, and any attempt at running a race
on Sunday would just result in a rutted, muddy track,” promoter Mike Bruno
said. “The good news is that the weather
forecast looks great for next week, and we’re optimistic that we’ll be able to
finish the season on a high note.”
The Autosaver
Ford/Springfield Buick-GMC “Vermont Freedom & Unity” event is the third and
final leg of the “
Grandstand general admission
on Saturday, November 1 is $20 for adults and free for kids 12 and under, with
pit passes at $40. Pit gates will open
at 9:00 a.m., with the grandstands open at 11:00 a.m. Hot laps will begin at 12:00 noon, followed
by Sportsman time trials at 12:30 p.m.
Green flag racing action starts at 1:00 p.m.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is
located on Route 22A in
-30-
Contact: Justin St. Louis,
Media Director
Email: devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com
Cell Phone: (802)
355-3282
Track
Information Line: (802) 265-3112
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
45TH SOUTHERN TIER OPEN AT
FIVE MILE POINT SPEEDWAY TO SETTLE THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS DIRT MODIFIED TOUR
TITLE ON SATURDAY. 100
LAPS - $5,555 TO WIN PLUS A NUMBER OF BONUSES.
Friday racing will see the
Race of Champions Sportsman Tour Championship decided with a 100 lap special of
its own. This event will settle the tour
championship for the RoC Sportsman teams. The Racesaver 305
Sprint Car Nationals will be part of the big Friday evening of racing as well
as a front wheel drive Four Cylinder event and Factory Stock open. Racing on Friday begins at 7:05 p.m.
For the youngsters there will
be some Halloween fun in store as well on Friday. Kids will be able to go “Trick or Treating”
with the drivers prior to the start of the Race of Champions Sportsman 100. Kids 12 and young are admitted free of charge
for both the Friday and Saturday racing program. There will be a pumpkin carving contest with
a winner for best racing themed pumpkin and best traditional Halloween carved
pumpkin. There will be a $50 cash price
for the best “Halloween Camping Display Theme” as well.
Saturday activities will
begin at 9 a.m. with the annual Racer’s Flea Market. The annual event will be held in the turn
four pit area prior to the race day activities.
The daytime racing program will begin at 1:45 p.m. with early racing for
the Race of Champions Street Stocks, Xcel 600 c.c. Modifieds,
Four Cylinders and IMCA Modifieds.
The Saturday afternoon
program begins at 5:15 p.m. with the weekend highlighted 45th Annual Southern
Tier 100 for Modifieds. The race takes once again takes on important
significance as the 10th Anniversary Race of Champions Dirt Modified Tour
Championship will be determined.
Currently two drivers will compete for the RoC
Dirt Modified Tour title – Stewart Friesen and Matt Sheppard. The duo are two of
the most winning drivers in dirt Modified racing. Friesen a former Five Mile Point Speedway
Track Champion is also the defending Race of Champions Tour Titlist as
well. Friesen,
has won the Southern Tier 100 on two occasions and is fresh off his October
Syracuse 200 Modified victory.
For Sheppard Five Mile Point
Speedway had been elusive until this past spring. Sheppard won the held-over RoC 100 Championship race back in April as once again he
and Friesen were racing for the RoC title. The race was held-over from last fall after
raining out on the original date. The
points were held-over to the spring race as the rescheduled Southern Tier 100
was a conflict for many of the teams.
The 44th Southern Tier 100 took place in November and was won by Mike Mahaney. Although
Sheppard won the championship race, Friesen remained close enough to win the
Race of Champions title.
The two will once again do battle
in an event that will decide who will reign supreme. The friendly rivalry remains intense for the
two young stars. Both were recently
nominated by the Eastern Motorsports Press Association as the “Richie Evans
Driver of the Year”. Race of Champions
Asphalt Modified Champion Chuck Hossfeld also made
the ballot to be announced in January.
Currently Friesen leads
Sheppard by only 37 markers. The race
will award 100 points to the winner with a lot to be decided with the 45th
running of this prestigious season ending event. Pennsylvania/New Jersey star Rick Laubach is currently third in the RoC
point standings. Laubach
recorded the win in the Race of Champions Modified Tour stop earlier this
summer at the Grandview Speedway (PA). Laubach has never won at Five Mile Point Speeedway. In fourth
place in the RoC Modified points is current Five Mile
Point Speedway Modified star Anthony Perrego. Perrego, a Modified
rookie at the speedway won an impressive seven feature events this season, more
than any other driver. Perrego also won the American Racer Cup Champions Dash
recently held at Five Mile Point Speedway.
Danny Johnson is currently
fifth in the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Tour Championship points. Johnson, nicknamed “The Doctor” hopes to perform
surgery in the Southern Tier 100.
Johnson has won the race on four occasions including his first Southern
Tier 100 win back in 1991. He is tied
with
The Saturday afternoon
program featuring the Southern Tier 100 for Modifieds
will also see the GRIT Series finale for 602 Crate Sportsman along with the
Race of Champions Street Stock title race.
That 40 lap event will pay $2,000 to the race winner.
For more information please
phone 607-775-5555 or log on to www.fivemilepointspeedway.net. Kids 12 and younger will be admitted to the
racing action on both Friday and Saturday.
Below is an all-time winners list of the Southern Tier 100 at Five Mile
Point Speedway.
All-time Southern Tier 100
Modified Race Winners and Year: Kenny Meahl(1964), DeForest Chalker(1965), Chuck Akulis(1966),
Don Beagell(1967), Dave Kneisel(1968),
Roger Beagell(1969), Don Beagell(1970),
Don Beagell(1971), Gerald Chamberlin(1972), Stan Ploski(1973), Sammy Beavers(1974), Don Beagell
(1975), Jack Johnson (1976), Chuck Akulis (1977),
Kenny Brightbill (1978), Jack Johnson (1979), Chuck Akulis (1980), Carl Reynolds (1981), Alan Johnson (1982),
Jim Mahaney (1989), Mike Colsten
(1990), Danny Johnson (1991), Billy Decker (1992), Mike Colsten
(1993), Brett Hearn (1994), Bob McCreadie*(1995),
Brett Hearn*(1996), Billy Decker (1997), Jim Crawn
(1998), Dave Rosa (1999), Brian Davis (2000), Kirk Horton (2001), Mitch Gibbs
(2002), Mike Clapperton (2003), Mitch Gibbs (2004),
Mike Ricci (2005), Danny Johnson (2006), Stewart Friesen (2007), Brett Hearn
(2008), Stewart Friesen (2009), Danny Johnson (2010), Jimmy Phelps (2011),
Danny Johnson (2012), Mike Mahaney (2013).
* denotes the years that the
race was a 200 lap event (the event was not held between 1983 and 1988).
RACING NEWS FROM
BRETT HEARN, B.H. RACING ENTERPRISES, INC.
WWW.BRETTHEARN.COM
CONTACT: John Snyder 845.216.8103
Brett Hearn…for 40 years
the Standard of Excellence in Modified Racing…“We’re
never satisfied. We’re always working to get better, to stay ahead of the
competition. We’re all about winning races, championships, being the best
team in Modified racing.”
BRETT HEARN SWEEPS EASTERN STATES
WEEKEND
FOR THE FIFTH TIME
Scores Victories No. 300 and 301 at
On
Saturday, October 25, Hearn set fast time, started from the pole position, and
led every lap to capture the Eastern States 100 for Small-Block Modifieds, winning $5,000, a bonus for fast time, and all
the posted lap prize money. It was the 15th time Hearn has won this fall classic.
And more significantly, the victory marked his 300th feature race win at the historic
five-eighths-mile “Hard Clay” speedway.
After
setting fast time on Friday, October 24, Hearn took advantage of his pole
starting position to win, on Sunday, October 26, the 53rdEastern
States 200, the oldest continuously-run championship race for dirt track Modifieds and a key event in the Super DIRTcar
Modified Series. Hearn led the vast majority of laps, only surrendering his top
spot following his mandatory pit stop during the race’s middle portion. The
win, worth $20,000 plus bonus and lap money, was his 11th Eastern States 200 victory and third
consecutive.
The
wins Hearn’s boosted Hearn’s 2014 victory total to 22. His 860-win career
record includes 532 Big-Block Modified victories, 336 in Small-Block Modified
competition, and two United Racing Club (URC) Sprint Car wins. A master of
extra-distance races, Hearn has posted 352 (41 percent of all his wins) in
races of 50 laps or longer. Hearn has won races at 49 different speedways in 11
states and two Canadian provinces.
In
addition to his 860 feature race victories, Hearn has garnered 84 individual
track and series point championships and is the defending and eight time Super DIRTcar Modified Series titlist.
“Our
wins this week prove we never give up, that we bounce back from
disappointments, and that we go out to win every time. We have a true team
that’s dedicated to being the best in our type of racing,” said Hearn. “I’ve
always had support from a great number of people---family, friends, team
owners, crew members, sponsors, racing businessmen, and fans; all have played
key roles in our success.”
Hearn
began his racing career in 1975 at age 16…too young to drive on the
highways. He has been a full time race car driver since the early 1980s.
During
the ten-month Northeast dirt track racing season, Hearn drives his familiar No.
20 Big- and Small-Block Modifieds fielded by the
merged Madsen Motorsports/B.H. Racing Enterprises, Inc. team.
Media
representatives may contact Brett Hearn by calling 973-702-0819, weekdays
during business hours. B.H. Racing Enterprises, Inc. information is available
online at www.bretthearn.com.
Brett Hearn
powers to 11th career Eastern States 200 victory
Hard-charging
Matt Sheppard finishes 2nd to claim Super DIRTcar
Series point lead going into
"It takes a lot of people to make this
happen," the
Hearn made a clean sweep during Eastern States
Weekend, fast timing Friday with a lap time of 20.763 and winning Saturday's
358-Modified feature race. He started Sunday's Super DIRTcar
Series event on the pole, with Tim Hindley at the
outside pole. At the green flag, Hearn took the lead, but it was Stewart
Friesen, of
Several cautions early in the race kept the
leaders from picking up momentum, but Hearn was strong enough on every restart
to maintain his position over Friesen. In lap 60, Bob McGannon
went into the wall in turn four to bring the eighth caution of the race, and
soon after the pits opened for mandatory pit stops.
Hearn pulled into pit road to fuel up, and most
of the field followed him, either refueling as well or changing a tire. Jerry Higbie and Gary Edwards, Jr. inherited the front row and Higbie took the lead position off the lap-70 restart.
Within 10 laps, Hearn had advanced to 16th place. Super DIRTcar
Series point leader Billy Decker was running in 26th at lap 80 and Matt Sheppard, second in
point standings, was in 13th.
Edwards soon started gaining ground on Higbie, and in lap 82 was at Higbie's
back bumper. Edwards went for the pass in lap 83 to become the new race leader,
but lost his position in lap 115 when he pulled off to make a pit stop. In
those 30 laps, Hearn, Sheppard and Decker had rapidly progressed through the
field. By the lap 122 green flag, Sheppard and Hearn shared the front row and
Decker restarted from fourth place.
At the restart, Hearn charged ahead of the field
to reclaim the lead.
"The fact that I even beat him on an outside
restart like that, I have to give Kevand Cross a lot
of credit for taking the carburetor out today and making sure that thing took
off like that on restarts. That was awesome. I don't think anybody beat anybody
off the outside today except off that one restart," Hearn said. "I
just went and gave myself a little bit of room there, started on my line, and
tried to stay off the right rear tire."
Hearn outlasted a number of cautions throughout
the second half of the race, fending off challenges from Sheppard.
A hard-charging Sheppard,
who struggled all weekend, starting the race in a backup car at the rear of the
field, finished second.
"I had a great team for it. We started in
the last row and we finished in the front row," Sheppard said. "I
can't say enough about this whole team. We had some trouble in the Consi, and we ended up going to a backup car. The thing
never even saw the race track until the start of the feature here tonight. It
was just awesome, the guys really worked their tails
off."
The hard work paid off, earning Sheppard enough
to surpass Decker, who finished seventh, for the series point lead. Hindley finished third, Kenny Tremont finished fourth and
Jimmy Phelps finished fifth.
The Super DIRTcar Big
Block Modified Series is racing into its final rounds, a pair of 40-lap feature
races at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. World of Outlaws World
Finals at The Dirt Track kicks off Thursday, Nov. 6, with practice and
qualifying rounds for the Super DIRTcar Series, World
of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Late Model Series. The
next two nights, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7 and 8, all three premier series
will take on the
For more information and the
latest updates about the Super DIRTcar Big Block
Modified Series, clickwww.superdirtcarseries.com,
follow @SuperDIRTcar on Twitter or "like"
the DIRTcar Racing Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/DIRTcar.
A-Main (200 laps):
Pos. [Start] No. Driver / Hometown (Winnings)
1. [1] 20 Brett Hearn /
2. [43] 9H Matt Sheppard /
3. [2] 1H Tim Hindley /
4. [40] 115 Kenny Tremont, Jr. /
5. [15] 98H Jimmy Phelps /
6. [22] 14h Jeff Heotzler
/
7. [13] 91 Billy Decker /
8. [38] 11 Rich Ricci, Jr. ($1,000)
9. [25] 99L Larry Wight /
10. [12] 74F Tim Fuller / Edwards, N.Y. ($800)
11. [39] 21
12. [20] 5 Jimmy Horton /
13. [6] 97 Jerry Higbie
/
14. [8] 3 Justin Haers
/
15. [9] 10 Billy VanInwegen
/
16. [16] 42p Pat Ward /
17. [7] 21J Gary Edwards, Jr. /
18. [18] 33 1/3 Tommy Meier /
19. [5] 55 Anthony Perrego
/
20. [26] 7z Erick Rudolph /
21. [3] 1T Tyler Dippel
/
22. [17] 44 Mike Ricci /
23. [44] 74M Matt Billings /
24. [23] 43 Keith Flach
/
25. [35] 24s Chris Schulz /
26. [33] 27J Danny Johnson /
27. [14] 4* Tim McCreadie
/
28. [19] 88 Steve Dodd /
29. [11] 19 Chuck McKee /
30. [30] 16x Danny Creeden
/
31. [29] 4R Mike Ruggiero /
32. [34] 21a Pete Britten /
33. [36] 25 Mike Kolka
/
34. [10] 57 Donnie Corellis
/
35. [28] 99 Ryan Phelps /
36. [4] 1F Stewart Friesen /
37. [21] 7s Michael Sabia
/
38. [24] 21m Bob McGannon
/
39. [41] 53 Ric Hill /
40. [42] 8 Rich Scagliotta
/
41. [32] 34 Andy Bachetti
/
42. [27] 41 Jim Davis /
43. [37] 87x Paul Gilardi
/
44. [31] 673 Gary Tomkins /
Did Not Start:
16 Willy Auchmoody /
11z Darrell Ford
71d Frank Doty /
14 C.G. Morey /
20g Craig Hanson /
72 Ray Hall, Jr.
10e Richie Eurich /
51m Dominick Buffalino /
79 Jeremy Markle / Port
66 Duane Howard / Oley,
T21 Roger Chrysler /
4sL Bobby Hentschel /
60 Brian Berger /
66p Sean Mandell
19m Jessey
Mueller /
21p Pep Corradi
33h Matt Hitchcock /
220 John Ferrier /
265
21k Randy Chrysler /
93x Craig Mitchell /
m22 Mike Dubois
35x L.J. Lombardo /
55H Brett Haas /
3s R.J. Smykla
57e Rich Eggers /
20x Rob Rowe
Mike Mahaney / King
Ferry, N.Y.
B-Main 1: Tomkins, Britten, Gilardi, Tremont,
B-Main 2: Bachetti, Schulz, R. Ricci, Hill,
Berger, Hentschel, Howard, Markle,
Roger Chrysler, Sheppard
B-Main 3: Johnson, Kolka, Mills, Scagliotta, Randy
Chrysler, Ferrier, Smykla, Lombardo, T. McKee,
Dubois, Eggers
Qualifying Heat Results (Top 4 Transfer)
Heat 1: Edwards, Decker, Dodd,
Wight, Britten,
Heat 2: Haers, McCreadie,
Horton, Rudolph, Tomkins, Gilardi, Auchmoody, Doty, Hanson, Eurich, Buffalino
Heat 3: VanInwegen, J. Phelps, Sabia, Davis, Bachetti, Sheppard,
Howard, R. Ricci, Hentschel, Mandell,
Corradi
Heat 4: Corellis, Ward, Heotzler, R. Phelps, Markle,
Schulz, Hill, Roger Chrysler, Berger, Mueller, Hitchcock
Heat 5: C. McKee, M. Ricci, Flach, Ruggiero, Johnson, Kolka,
T. McKee, Randy Chrysler, Dubois, Haas, Eggers
Heat 6: Fuller, Meier, McGannon, Creeden, Scagliotta, Ferrier, Mills, Mitchell, Lombardo, Smykla, Rowe
Time Trials: 1. Hearn 20.763, 2. Hindley 20.837, 3. Dippel 21.043,
4. Friesen 21.052, 5. Perrego 21.072, 6. Higbie 21.072, 7. Edwards 21.080, 8. Haers
21.123, 9. J. Phelps 21.164, 10. Heotzler 21.191, 11. Flach 21.198, 12. Fuller 21.204, 13. Decker 21.207, 14. McCreadie 21.209, 15. VanInwegen 21.220, 16. Corellis 21.220, 17. C. McKee 21.245, 18. Meier
21.252, 19. Britten 21.253, 20. Horton 21.261, 21. Sheppard 21.272, 22.
Schulz 21.279, 23. M. Ricci 21.283, 24. Creeden 21.312,
25.
USAC Silver Crown Series to Make Return to
Iconic open-wheel franchise set to race
June 20, 2015
CONTACT: Dick Jordan, USAC VP,
Communications: djordan@usacracing.com or Edward Williams, Iowa Speedway
Communications, ewilliams@iowaspeedway.com
"The Silver Crown Series has a long,
rich tradition in this region and we're extremely pleased to have them back in
central
When USAC last appeared at the 7/8 mile
asphalt paved tri-oval, Bobby East thrilled fans when he took the checkered
flag for the third time at Iowa Speedway.
In 2015, the 12-14 degree compound banking
in the turns of Iowa Speedway will pose a tremendous challenge for the Silver
Crown drivers. The cars will be capable of reaching speeds of 180 miles per
hour. Kody Swanson set the Iowa Speedway Silver Crown
track record with an average lap
speed of 146.212 mph in 2012. The
maximum speeds of 180 mph happen generally toward the end of the straightaways. Drivers accelerate all the way down the
straight, reaching top speed just before braking to enter the turn. It's anticipated
that all-time USAC speed records will be shattered as the cars take on
"The Fastest Short Track on the Planet."
"Iowa Speedway is one of the premier
facilities in motorsports and having it as part of our list of Silver Crown
venues is the next step as we continue to elevate the series profile,"
said series coordinator Andy Hillenburg. "The
past USAC races at Iowa Speedway are a big part of USAC's
history in the
Hillenburg was named series coordinator for USAC
last December. He remains a team owner in the ARCA Racing Series presented by
Menards. As a USAC Silver Crown Series driver in the late 1980s, he amassed
more than 20 top-10 finishes. He also made several starts in the NASCAR Sprint
Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
The Silver Crown Series will cap a
spectacular weekend of racing at Iowa Speedway that includes the NASCAR Camping
World Truck Series on Friday, June 19, 2015. The 2014 American Ethanol 200
presented by Enogen saw rising NASCAR star Erik Jones
pick up his first victory of the season, out racing championship contenders
Ryan Blaney and Matt Crafton.
Page two of two
Once the 2015 Iowa Speedway schedule is
completed; more details, including on-sale dates and season ticket holder
renewal information, will be announced. Iowa Speedway will continue to focus on
enhancing the fan experience, and will build upon successful improvements made
in 2014.
About USAC
Described as the world's most competitive
major racing series by Auto Racing Analysis, the USAC Silver Crown™
Championship continues to thrill fans nationwide. To compete in USAC's premier series is the pinnacle for many American
open-wheel competitors and to win the championship is a prestigious milestone
in any driver's career. Previous champions include Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart,
Ryan Newman, J.J. Yeley, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser Sr.
About
Iowa Speedway, "The Fastest Short
Track on the Planet," is a state-of-the-art 7/8 mile asphalt paved
tri-oval race track and motorsports facility located in
USAC Silver Crown Pavement Chassis Facts
The cost of a new Silver Crown™ racecar
can run as much as $75,000 for a car to compete on the pavement and dirt ovals.
WEIGHT: 1625 pounds minimum, with driver
CHASSIS: Tubular 4130 aircraft steel;
minimum 1 1/2 inch O.D. and .095 wall thickness
HORSEPOWER: 750 to 800
ENGINE: Normally aspirated, production
based V-8 engine with 355 cubic inch displacement maximum
FUEL: Methanol or Ignite Ethanol
CAPACITIES: Fuel, 65 gallons
average
Oil, 11
quarts average
SPEED: Over 180 mph straightaway speeds
WHEELBASE: 96 inches minimum
OVERALL WIDTH: 80 inches maximum
OVERALL LENGTH: 15 feet maximum
OVERALL HEIGHT: 56 inches average to top
of roll cage
SUSPENSION: Solid front and rear axles
with torsion bar or coil spring suspension
WHEELS: Aluminum, 15 inches in diameter.
Rears - 15-18 inches wide. Front wheels - 10 inches wide.
TIRES: Bias-ply racing tires
BRAKES: Disc
DRIVELINE: Direct drive with clutch.
Quick-change gears are behind the rear end assembly
Note:
What bothers me about this - will they have enough cars? Basically, USAC has gotten away from pavement
racing. Also,
$75,000.00 for a new car?
Racin'
stuff found on Facebook:
Why
doesn't Rich Ricci Jr have a Saturday night ride?
Just a few things being said
about ESW:
I'm
still trying to figure out the DIRT CAR rules on the pitstop
for Sundays race..... After lap 60 FIRST yellow you
could do fuel ONLY but that's where the confusion starts.... WHY if your NOT changing tires MUST you drive down pit road a
second time???? I'd be OK if they had a rule that said ANY pitstop
you could ONLY take fuel or a tire but NOT BOTH on same stop.... LET'S face
facts these drivers DON'T make pit stops very often during the year and pit
road is DEFINITELY a safety issue for the 44 teams x 5 guys of 220 people in
harm's way..... NASCAR the pit stops are poetry in motion and fun to watch but
why do you want a DIRT modified on pit road any more then NEEDED because 90% of
these stops look like 5 monkey's trying to f*ck a football!!! That's just my
opinion because I'm either dumb or JUST DON'T understand the logic behind it!!!
For
those geeks like me who haven't started studying this already, have a look at
the scoring link for yesterday's 200, particularly the lap chart
ESW 200 MyLaps lap
chart link:
http://www.mylaps.com/en/lapchart/3326377
Note:
OK, I'm down in
I
normally don't air out dirty laundry about racing, but what happen yesterday
with cars going down a lap because of coming in for a pit stop after the A-hole
on the one way (dirt motorsports) said pits are open then decides to say some
of us pitted to soon was bs.
The best part was after our car past the favorite ones then to
lose positions under caution, was very hard to watch.
Dirt Motorsports sucks and I hope they never come back. But on
another note they did take care of their own.
Bring
on the Brett Deyo show for ESW next year.
I agree Bill, they had nobody to show pits open,need a flagger to hold up yellow or red flags on the
entrance on the backstretch, not the pace truck.......come on Dirt Motorsports
get your act together
Matt Sheppard is prime example of taking care of
their own. Never pitted in the window and still gets second total BS!
Note: Again, not shown on MyLaps
that he pitted after the 60th lap.
This is dirt racing not Nascar.
Well that's interesting that you bring that up, because the
guy on the one way used to work in Nascar
and must think this is Nascar.
In the drivers meeting he was knocking the
track. Classes poeple.
When you here the words 'Go to the tail end of the longest
line' you know that the NASCAR BS has arrived in dirt racing. Sad.
Or the flat tire and the pits aren't open ....wtf really? ??
Why two pitstops after lap 60
caution??? Isn't pit road dangerous ENOUGH rather then have to drive thru for
no reason if you didn't plan on changing tires then?? I'm OK with fuel ONLY but
why have to drive thru the second time???
We were forced into 3 stops, so on the third one we gave
Dan Creeden an ice cream bar. Thanks to Dirt
motorsports.
I have to wonder if this is how Dirt Motorsports is run, then god help
this great event, go back to green pits open red pits closed, let drivers and
crews put race in there hands not this bs, they
ruined the ES 200 BS of crappy rules
So.
Rich Scagliata, a regular on the big block Dirt
circuit, turns a 21.9 second lap in time trials. The 44 sportsman, turns a 21.7
with a "legal" 602 crate engine?? I'm no hater but I call bullshit.
Dude
is a wheelman! Flat out! I've seen him turn same times in a borrowed ride, not
from his own team! Same shit as LJ! All of a sudden LJ's
a cheater bc he's kicking
ass nightly, but when his car took a shit he took a completely different car,
he's never touched from the rear to 6th in a race w very minimal cautions! I
respect most drivers so don't get me wrong when I say this but. Quit WHINING,
get WORKING!
Rolling Wheels Raceway
Rolling
Wheels Raceway is now officially owned by Pay-Dirt Racing, the 2015 Race
Schedule will be announced soon and this Schedule will make Rolling Wheels
Raceway the most exciting and highest paying racing venue this area has ever
seen.
Comment
by me:
" Yeah, read about this.
Also read they're thinking of a big end of season race - Hmm, opposite ESW?
Would not surprise me one bit, especially when reads things on the Internet -
like no WoO at OC in 2015, URC making a return to OC
etc, etc. Gurda going with Deyo? Gurda dropping
DIRT & going Independent?"
Comment from Rolling Wheels:
" Hi Tom--no end of
season race, the closing of the track was long and difficult, we are
concentrating on track improvements, sponsors and giving the fans shows that
will keep them coming back. Our initial plans had us running races in 2014, we assumed buying a turn-key track would not be
difficult. As it turns out, the closing was very complicated and once the
season started, it just made sense to wait until the end of the season and get
prepped for 2015. Our group is made up of people who just want to put on a good
show, pay big money to guys who put so much time and effort into their cars,
and we are going to be non-partial and have no ownership in any car that
competes at our track and the best drivers and teams will win."
Fastrax Raceway in Albany and Poughkeepsie
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52489-fastrax-raceway-in-albany-and-poughkeepsie-closed-by-the-police/
Note: I guess we now know why it never has opened
in the mall in
This week’s photo:
I'm fortunate that I started
going to races back in 1946 when midgets looked a lot like this one,
below. Those that never saw them back
they have no idea as to what the missed.
Again, photos can only be
seen on New England Tractor, which is linked to at end of each of my columns.
A video for ya:
I've seen this one before,
and it came up on Facebook, again this past
Wednesday.
Tommy Hinnershitsz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b4g_QNx14v0
This weeks jokes:
Really, I can't help myself
on this first joke:
All the numerous yellow flag
laps at ESW this weekend. Really a joke,
I'd say. I mean, I was told nine laps to
remove a car with a flat tire? Absolutely no reason.
No need to keep yellow out just because some have to make pit
stops. I'm 100% in favor of no pitting
under yellow, unless you're the case.
I'm also in favor of getting rid of driver communication between driver
and crew, but keep communication between driver and track. And, if a driver is told by the track as to
where he's supposed to start, and does not go to that position, he gets one
lap, then no longer is scored. That's
getting to be a joke, too.
Husband takes the wife to her high
school reunion.
After meeting
several of her friends
and former school mates, they are sitting at a table where he is yawning and
overly bored. The band cranks up and people are
beginning to
dance.
There's a guy on the dance floor
living it large, break dancing, moon walking, back flips, buying drinks for
people, the works.
Wife turns to her husband and says,
"See that guy? 25 years ago he proposed to me and I turned him
down.
Husband says: "Looks like he's still
celebrating!!!"
Oops -- he'll pay for that- she'll pass on to him that
rare Hawaiian disease. You know -- lacka - nookie
Until my next column –
more than likely next week now.
Columns are available on the
Dirt Track Digest at: http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/ (Click on “Recent Columns – and I hope it works!)
And:
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
Where I also have some neat
photo articles
I can be reached, via e-mail, at: ygordad@yahoo.com