2016-10-12

Devil’s Bowl Speedway 50th Season in Review – Part 1: Asphalt Sportsman Modifieds

Devil's Bowl Speedway 50th Season in Review – Part 1: Asphalt Sportsman Modifieds

Durgan takes championship thriller in a tiebreaker

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                 DBS-101116-1

 

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil's Bowl Speedway's 50th season of stock car racing in 2016 was the busiest year in the facility's history with full schedules of action on two surfaces all summer long.  In all, 268 different drivers competed at the facility on the half-mile Asphalt Track or the 3/10-mile Dirt Track, with 48 trying both. A total of 46 drivers won feature races and 10 of them earned championships and bragging rights for the winter months.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctioned weekly racing for Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, and Mini Stocks on both tracks, along with Late Models on the pavement, and the Vermont State Championship for the "Division I" Sportsman Modifieds.  The winged Sprint Cars of New England tour made five appearances, and the Enduro Series alternated between surfaces in six events.

What follows is the first of a coming series of season reviews looking at each division.

***

Sportsman Modifieds – Asphalt Track – NASCAR Whelen All-American Series "Division I"

Division Sponsor: Bond Auto Parts

Champion: Jason Durgan – Morrisonville, N.Y.

Rookie of the Year: Chuck Bradford – Addison, Vt.

 

The 50th Season opened on Saturday night, May 21, with a 50-lap feature for the Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds on the Asphalt Track.  Defending champion "VQ2" Vince Quenneville Jr. of Brandon, Vt., started things off on the right foot with a dominating performance.  Jason Durgan finished second, though, and the tone was immediately set for the season-long championship battle.

Veteran Jimmy Ryan rebounded from a tough opening night to win the Yorkmont Auto Auctions "Memorial Day 5000" event on May 28.  Asphalt newcomer Jackie Brown Jr. finished second as Durgan ran to third and took over the point lead after Quenneville crashed out.

Travis Bruno scored his first-ever Devil's Bowl win on People's United Bank Night on June 4, but fought Quenneville off the entire distance.  After a week off for local high school graduation ceremonies, the Modifieds returned "topless" on June 18.  With roofs removed to give fans a different look and the cars a different feel, Joey "Fireball" Roberts held Durgan off for his sixth career win.

Billy Lussier gave his large hometown crowd cause for celebration at the annual Rutland Regional Medical Center "Hometown Heroes Night" on June 25, earning the first open-wheel Modified win of his career and his first victory of any kind in a dozen years.  The win marked the arrival of Lussier as a bona fide frontrunner and kick-started an outstanding season.

"Durga-Mania" finally ran wild at the Coca-Cola Firecracker on July 2, as the Morrisonville, N.Y., dominated the 44-lap main event.  Dave Snow scored a career-best runner-up finish after a long fight with Brown.  Quenneville had a poor night in ninth place.

Durgan was just getting warmed up, though, winning the next event at the rescheduled double-points Friend Construction Mid-Season Championships on July 23.  Quenneville finished second ahead of Bruno, Lussier, and Bob Kilburn.  Durgan made it three-straight wins on July 30 as he won the first of two features run on Community College of Vermont Night.  Lussier won the nightcap for his second career victory.

Facing a 33-point deficit as Durgan threatened a championship runaway, Quenneville turned his season around with a big win at the Carrara Masonry & Concrete C.J. Richards Memorial 67, just as Durgan's run hit its first speed bump.  Durgan bounced off the wall twice in the final leg of the three-segment race, and the second contact ended his night.  Durgan still finished fourth in the overall scoring finish for the event, but Quenneville's comeback had begun.

Rain on August 13 meant that the next race would be Brown's Quarried Slate/Brown's Orchard & Farm Stand Night on August 20.  As Alex Bell visited victory lane for the first time since 2013, Quenneville stayed hot in second place and Durgan crashed out again, finishing 13th; his point lead was slashed to just three markers.

The annual Sugar & Spice "Double Stack Night" on August 27 brought twin 25-lappers to the table with the title contenders splitting victories.  Durgan took the first race with Quenneville as the runner-up, but Quenneville won the second race with Durgan in seventh.  For the first time since opening night, Quenneville found himself back in the championship lead with only three feature races left in the season, pacing Durgan by seven points.

Labor Day weekend's event on September 3, presented by the "Go Rutland" mobile app, set up a jaw-dropping title chase scenario.  Durgan won the race for his fifth victory of the season, and Quenneville finished fourth.  Through qualifying and the feature, the pair found each other locked in a tie for the point lead entering the Vermont 200 Championship Weekend.

Former champion Ron Proctor put on a show in Saturday's opening Heritage Family Credit Union 50 at the Vermont 200, on September 10, waiting until the final corner to pass Travis Bruno and steal his first win of the season.  Durgan was third with Quenneville fifth, and entered Sunday's finale – the Leon Gonyo Memorial 50 – with a two-point lead.  Rookie Chuck Bradford of Addison, Vt., won Saturday's fifth annual "Non-Winners Shootout."

Quenneville did everything in his power to win the title by grabbing his fourth victory of the year on Sunday, but Durgan finished second to create another mathematical tie in the point standings.  Per Devil's Bowl Speedway and NASCAR rules, Durgan captured the tiebreaker for the championship based on overall victories for the season, 5-4, to win the closest, most exciting title in Devil's Bowl history.  The two drivers were classy in victory lane, congratulating each other on a hard-fought battle, and the fans saluted both with a raucous cheer.

Proctor ended the season third in the point standings, followed by Lussier and Brown.  With 12 top-10 finishes in 16 starts, former Mini Stock champion Bradford won the Rookie of the Year title, topping Matt Bilodeau.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the "Devil's Bowl Speedway 50th Season in Review" series, which will look back at the Sportsman Modified division on the Dirt Track, coming soon.

Devil's Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of Exit 2 off of U.S. Route 4 and just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt.  For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112.  Devil's Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

 

FINAL 2016 POINT STANDINGS

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds

Devil's Bowl Speedway Asphalt Track

1.       Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, N.Y. – 828

2.       Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt. – 828

3.       Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y. – 775

4.       Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt. – 757

5.       Jackie Brown Jr., Hurley, N.Y. – 749

6.       Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y. – 730

7.       Joey Roberts, Fletcher, Vt. – 701

8.       Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt. – 649

9.       Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt. – 573

10.   Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt. – 518

 

Feature Winners: Jason Durgan (5), Vince Quenneville Jr. (4), Billy Lussier (2), Alex Bell (1), Travis Bruno (1), Ron Proctor (1), Joey Roberts (1), Jimmy Ryan (1).

 

Qualifying Heat Winners: Ron Proctor (4), Vince Quenneville Jr. (4), Dave Snow (4), Jason Durgan (3), Billy Lussier (3), Jackie Brown Jr. (2), Travis Bruno (1), Bob Kilburn (1), Joey Roberts (1), Jimmy Ryan (1).

 

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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 12.10.16 0 comments

ACCIDENT FORCES RAPHAËL LESSARD OUT OF WINCHESTER 400

RAPHAËL LESSARD

#99 FRL Express/ Team Coach Imaging/Toyota/JBLAudio

 

 

ACCIDENT FORCES RAPHAËL LESSARD OUT OF WINCHESTER 400

Knocked out of race with 5 laps to go in epic first place battle

 

WINCHESTER, Indiana, October 9, 2016– Raphaël Lessard, from St-Joseph-de-Beauce, was not able to complete the 45th Annual Winchester 400 at the Winchester Speedway when Stephen Nasse lost control of his car and brought Lessard with him. This action-packed race was one of the several non championship races in which Raphaël has decided to participate this season.

 

Qualified 9th for this race, Raphaël raced against top notch drivers, such as NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers Cody Coughlin, Christopher Bell, William Byron and Dalton Sargeant. As a matter of fact, Lessard had an amazing battle with Coughlin who eventually bowed down to the 15 year-old Québec driver. However, what impressed the most was Raphaël's comeback undertaken with 50 laps to go.

 

It is behind the wheel of his Toyota Racing Camry #99 FRL Express/Team Coach Imaging /Toyota/JBLAudio, wearing for the occasion the I Brake for Trains logo, the latest safety campaign from CSX Transportation, that Raphaël went from 9th position to 1st place. Prepared by David Gilliland Racing, Lessard proved  once more that his car excels every time he attacks the leaders in closing laps of a race.

 

Five laps before the end, the worst happened when Lessard was trying to protect his first place against Dalton Sargeant and Stephen Nasse. After a contact between Sargeant and Nasse, who by then had passed Lessard, Nasse lost control of his #51 car and hit the wall. Raphaël was then on the outside of the field, and was not able to avoid him.

 

"Prior to the accident, the race was going very well, we led for many laps. At the beginning, we were safeguarding the car, we tried not to go to the front because it was rough racing.  The strategy was to get to the 300th lap without forcefully attacking, and then for the last 100 laps, we would go for it.  At the restart we were first, but we were passed because we had not stopped at the pits, the strategy being different.  When we came in to the pits for the last time, the team changed the tires on the right side and it did great for the car.  We were still leading the race until a yellow flag came up with 5 tours remaining. On the restart, Stephen Nasse and Dalton went through. I think that Dalton forgot to brake, because he hit Nasse and I was not able to prevent the accident."

 

Raphaël states that the team will be ready for the next CARS Tour Super Late Model race.  In all he is happy with the experience:  "Overall, we raced with the best in stock-cars, we even overtook them.  Of course, we go to the races to win them, so to not finish an event is disappointing, but we shall come back stronger. I can only thank the crew of David Gilliland Racing and TRD for their support and amazing work at preparing race after race a very performing car."

 

Once again, the commentators from Speed51 repeatedly commented on Raphaël undeniable talent. While the commentators had predicted that Christopher Bell, Dalton Sargeant or William Byron would win the race, they quickly changed their minds when they saw what Lessard was able to do behind the wheel. They were quite disappointed to see Raphaël abandon the race.

 

Raphaël's next race will be on October 29 for the second to last race in the CARS Tour Super Late Model series at the Hickory Motor Speedway.

 

We invite you to visit Raphaël's Facebook page for more details and information on each on-track appearance and also to follow his Twitter feed: @raphael_lessard. Photos and support documents are also available if you click on this Dropbox link.

 

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RAPHAËL LESSARD VICTIME D’UN ACCIDENT AU WINCHESTER 400

RAPHAËL LESSARD

# 99 FRL Express/Team Coach Imaging /Toyota/JBLAudio

 

 

 

RAPHAËL LESSARD VICTIME D'UN ACCIDENT AU WINCHESTER 400

 Contraint à l'abandon à 5 tours de la fin alors qu'il se battait pour la première place

 

WINCHESTER, Indiana, le 9 octobre 2016 -- Raphaël Lessard, le pilote originaire de St-Joseph de Beauce, n'a pu terminer la 45e édition du Winchester 400, au Winchester Speedway lorsqu'il n'a pas été en mesure d'éviter Stephen Nasse, victime d'une sortie de piste. Cette course haute en action faisait partie de la série de courses hors championnat que Raphaël effectue cette année.

 

Qualifié en 9e place, Raphaël a eu la chance de se frotter à des pilotes de haut niveau durant cette course, notamment les pilotes de la NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Cody Coughlin, William Byron et Dalton Sargeant. D'ailleurs, Lessard a eu une excellente bataille avec Coughlin qui s'est finalement incliné face au pilote québécois de 15 ans. Cependant, ce qui a le plus impressionné est certainement la remontée de Raphaël alors qu'il restait un peu plus de 50 tours à l'épreuve, lorsqu'il a décidé d'attaquer pour finalement prendre la tête du peloton.

                                                                                                                                            

C'est au volant de sa Toyota Racing Camry #99 FRL Express/Team Coach Imaging/Toyota/JBLAudio arborant le logo I Brake for Trains, la plus récente campagne de CSX Transportation, que Raphaël a réussi une belle remontée, passant de la 9e place à la première. Comme d'habitude, la voiture de Raphaël -- préparée par David Gilliland Racing, s'est montrée excellente en fin d'épreuve. C'est à cinq tours de la fin que le pire s'est produit, alors qu'à la relance Lessard se battait pour maintenir sa première place au profit de Dalton Sargeant et Stephen Nasse. Suite à un accrochage entre Sargeant et Nasse qui venait de le dépasser, Nasse a perdu le contrôle et frappé le mur. Raphaël était alors sur la ligne extérieure et n'a pu éviter la voiture de Nasse.

 

« Avant l'accident, la course se déroulait très bien, on a même mené plusieurs tours. Au début, je ménageais la voiture, j'essayait de ne pas aller en avant vu que ça brassait beaucoup. La stratégie était de se rendre jusqu'au 300e tour sans attaquer fort, puis pour les 100 derniers tours j'allais foncer. Lors d'une relance je suis parti parmi les premiers, mais je me suis fait dépasser parce que je n'avais pas fait d'arrêt aux puits, la stratégie était différente. Lorsque je suis rentré aux puits pour la dernière fois, l'équipe a changé les pneus côté droits et là ça allait vraiment bien. Je menais la course jusqu'à une neutralisation vers le 5e tour, puis, à la relance, Stephen Nasse et Dalton m'ont dépassé. Je pense que Dalton a oublié de freiner à un moment donné, car il est venu frapper Nasse, et je n'ai pas pu éviter l'accident. »

 

Raphaël précise que l'équipe sera prête pour la prochaine course en CARS Tour Super Late Model. Somme toute, il se dit content de son expérience : « Nous avons tout de même roulé avec les meilleurs de stock-car, même que nous les avons dépassés. C'est sûr que nous allons aux courses pour gagner, alors de ne pas terminer l'épreuve c'est décevant, mais nous allons nous reprendre. Mais je ne peux que remercier David Gilliland Racing et TRD pour leur soutien et le travail fantastique qu'ils font pour me préparer de voitures performantes. »

 

 

Encore une fois, les commentateurs de Speed51 étaient élogieux à l'endroit de Raphaël, confirmant son talent indéniable de pilote d'ovale. Si les commentateurs avaient prévu que Christopher Bell, Dalton Sargeant ou bien que William Byron remporterait l'épreuve, ils se sont vite ravisés voyant ce que Lessard était en mesure de faire derrière le volant. Eux-mêmes étaient d'ailleurs très déçus de voir Lessard poussé à l'abandon.

 

La prochaine course de Raphaël sera le 29 octobre pour l'avant-dernière épreuve en CARS Tour Super Late Model au Hickory Motor Speedway.

 

Nous vous invitons à visiter la page Facebook de Raphaël pour plus de détails et informations sur le déroulement de ses sorties en piste, ou sur son compte Twitter @raphael_lessard. Pour des photos de Raphaël Lessard en action ou des documents de référence, veuillez cliquer sur ce lien Dropbox.

 

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2016-10-06

45e Winchester 400 - une course de 400 tours avec arrêts aux puits

Fier d'une remontée spectaculaire de la 29e à la 3e position lors du All American 400 de la fin de semaine dernière, Raphaël Lessard reprend le volant de sa Toyota Racing Camry #99 de nouveau en fin de semaine,  pour une autre course de 400 tours hors championnat, cette fois au Winchester Speedway  en Indiana, pour le 45e Winchester 400.

 

Le jeune pilote de St-Joseph de Beauce participera pour la deuxième fois en carrière à une course de 400 tours avec arrêt aux puits.  Plus de 30 pilotes vont tenter de se faire une place pour la finale de dimanche le 9 octobre.

 

Le Winchester Speedway, localisé à Winchester en Indiana, porte le sobriquet du '' demi mile le plus rapide au monde''. Cet oval est d'une longueur de 0.5 mille (0,8 km) avec des inclinaisons de 37 degrés dans les courbes, ce qui en fait une des pistes avec la plus forte inclinaison. Le circuit existe depuis 1914 et des pilotes de renom tels que Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin ont couru sur cette piste.

 

Le Winchester 400 sera diffusée en direct sur Speed51.com (option payante). Vous pouvez également suivre sans frais et en temps réel les performances sur piste de Raphaël sur le site Web Race-Monitor.com.

 


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 6.10.16 0 comments

Shane Pecore is Looking for a Strong Run at Brockville’s Northeast Fall Nationals

Shane Pecore is Looking for a Strong Run at Brockville's Northeast Fall Nationals

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 



It could very well be the biggest event of his career.

 

Shane Pecore took the 2014 Sportsman-Modified honours during the 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals, but if everything falls into place, a solid finish could net the 23 year-old from St. Andrews, Ontario his first career Mr. DIRTcar Series championship. After an impressive season at Brockville and the track championship at his hometown Cornwall Motor Speedway, the second generation speedster is taking a 23-point lead into the Super Dirt Week satellite events at Brewerton and Weedsport Speedways (near Syracuse, New York), with his sights set on clinching the crown during the Saturday, October 15th season-ending spectacular at The BOS.

 

"I've never really been the type of driver to worry about points; just winning races and getting the best possible finish," said the youngster. "My focus has changed a bit lately and I've become more aware of who is running where in the order. Every position that we can gain on the track is worth a little more in the standings and we're looking to take as big a cushion as we can into the final show at Brockville."

 

The late season events on the calendar have already been very kind to Shane Pecore. He won the Pete Mitchell Memorial at Mohawk International Raceway, finished 7th during the Applefest Shootout at Brighton Speedway and was 5th out of a stellar field of 82 Sportsman-Modified entries during the Outlaw 200 Weekend at Fulton Speedway. The #0 Bicknell Racing Products machine made its way to the winner's circle a total of 10 times during the 2016 campaign and in addition to the point title, earned the 'Race for the Cure' title for a 3 race mini of 100 lap shows at Cornwall Motor Speedway.

 

"Momentum is an important component of this sport and I'm happy with the position we've put ourselves in heading-down the home stretch," admitted the confident racer. "The hard work we've put into our program this season has paid dividends since the first green flag of the year and I think we're in a good spot to be a contender for the overall title. To have the final race of the play out on a track where we've run all season puts our time into a strong position."

 

Behind the scenes and at track, Pecore's equipment is prepared and maintained by the driver himself, his girlfriend Chelsea Periard along with his parents Marcel and Cindy. Shane Pecore would like to thank the team's sponsors St. Andrews Service Centre, Mister Sew & Sew, Fox/Fastline Racing Shocks, Tru$peed Technical Services & Driver Consulting and NAPA Auto Parts; as well as his family, friends and fans for their support throughout the 2016 season.

 

Photo attachment: Team supplied

 

After an impressive 2016 regular season, Shane Pecore (#0) is in the running to clinch the overall Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman-Modified title during the Northeast Fall Nationals event at Brockville Ontario Speedway.

 

Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


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24th Annual Autumn Colours Classic Takes the Green Flag Friday at Peterborough Speedway

24th Annual Autumn Colours Classic Takes the Green Flag Friday at Peterborough Speedway

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media







 

Casual conversation will be replaced by enthusiastic excitement as the 24th Annual Autumn Colours Classic – presented by Lucas Oil Products – gets rolling Friday, October 7th at Peterborough Speedway. With 10 divisions of racing throughout the weekend, Canada's Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval has been transformed into Central Ontario's hub of short track excitement.

 

Different drivers look at a win in the show tabbed as the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing in different ways. Peterborough's Chris Mitchell has been a fixture at the track for a number of years and although out of town work commitments have kept the 39 year-old from winning a track championship, he says he's extremely proud of his 2011 victory at the season-ending spectacular and wouldn't swap it for an annual crown in the Late Model field.

 

On the other side of the coin, Bryan Sudsbury – who captured the season's title in 2012 – says he'd do almost anything to take an Autumn Colours checkered flag. Originally from Bowmanville, but now calling Cobourg home, 'Sudsy' says he and his crew worked hard for their Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model championship. The 27 year-old admits he'll be working hard to add a win at the prestigious event to his resume.

 

Willie Reyns is no stranger when it comes to winning track championships. The former Thunder Car standout grabbed a pair of honours while running weekly at Kawartha Speedway and finished 2nd in a 2013 Street Stock Nationals event in Newton, Iowa. The 31 year-old from Baltimore, Ontario – who along with wife Cheryl recently celebrated the arrival of a daughter – is looking to be first across the line in the highly competitive Pro Late Model field.

 

Of this year's track champions, only James Townsend – who claimed the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock honours – has an Autumn Colours Classic win, thanks to his Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun victory in 2013. Jeremy Kelly, Howie Crowe and Rick Spencer-Walt – the remaining members of the 2016 championship class – are hoping to head to Dart Heating & Air Conditioning Victory Lane on Thanksgiving Weekend.

 

The 24th Annual Autumn Colours Classic – presented by Lucas Oil Products – gets underway Friday, October 7th and continues 'til Sunday, October 9th at Peterborough Speedway. The opening day's activities will include pre-race inspection and practice, along with opening round qualifying for the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Jiffy Lube Mini Stock, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car, Late Model, Pro Late Model and OSCAAR Modified divisions; as well as the APC Auto Parts Young Guns Races in the Mini Stock and Thunder Car classes. Pit gates will open at 10:00, with the spectator grandstands unlocked at5:00 and racing getting underway at 6:00.

 

Full schedule details for the annual Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing – along with up to the minute news and results – are always available at www.peterboroughspeedway.com and selecting 'Autumn Colours' from the drop-down choices. You can also like the track on Facebook or follow it on Twitter. Fans can download the free Peterborough Speedway app for their Smartphone.


Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 

Chris Mitchell (#22) and Bryan Sudsbury fight for a spot during Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model action at Peterborough Speedway. Both drivers are looking for strong runs during the 24th Annual Autumn Colours Classic.

 

Baltimore, Ontario's Willie Reyns (#87) will be looking to add a Pro Late Model Autumn Colours Classic checkered flag to an impressive resume in the provincial Thunder Car and Street Stock ranks.

 

For Jeremy Kelly (#80) an Autumn Colours Classic victory would be the crowning moment to a 2016 season that included his first career Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun championship at Peterborough Speedway.

 

Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


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John Smith Takes 4th SMRS Modified Win Of Season At Hickory

John Smith Takes 4th SMRS Modified Win Of Season At Hickory

 

  • For Immediate Release

 

HICKORY, NC (October 1) – Mt. Airy, NC's John Smith played the pit strategy game correctly again to claim his fourthSouthern Modified Racing Series (SMRS) presented by PASS win Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway in the Hickory 125.  With his win, Smith and Burt Myers are unofficially tied for the series points lead heading to the season-ending Kenny Minter Memorial 125 on October 22 at Caraway Speedway.    

            "Yeah, we sat there and took care of our tires for the first 50 or 75 laps and my guys are good on pit road and I made a deal with them that if they got me out first that I thought we could win and luckily we did," said Smith, driver of the Mumy Financial #25.  "Going to Caraway, we've just got to race our hearts out.  Burt [Myers] is a helluva racer and we've just got to go at it and let the chips fall where they may."

            For the fourth time this year, Brandon Ward was able to capture the Precision Built Spindles Pole Award with a lap of 14.371 seconds (90.933 MPH) around the 66-year-old facility.  But, after the top six qualifiers redraw, Bobby Measmer, Jr. and Burt Myers would move to the front row, while Ward would move back to the fifth starting position.

At the drop of the green, Measmer would move to the point, before Tom Buzze would flex his muscle and move into the lead on lap 7.  The leaders would go back-and-forth over the first 50 laps, exchanging the lead amongst Buzze, Measmer, and Ward at least 12 times.  The first caution of the night waved on lap 46 for debris giving teams the first opportunity to pit for tires.  The only taker on this round of stops would be Scott Hall.

Back under way, Buzze continued to lead, with Burt Myers leading for a short stint from laps 52 through 56. Buzze opened up more than a straightaway advantage before the caution waved again for debris with 37 laps to go.  All the leaders would use this opportunity to pit for tires, with the exception of Hall who had pitted earlier.

Back under green, the cars with fresher tires quickly disposed of Hall, as Smith assumed the lead for the first time on lap 91.  With 23 laps to go, B. Myers nearly saw his championship hopes slip away as he spun off turn four while battling for third due to a broken axle.  Luckily for B. Myers, Buzze, Darren Shaw, and Dan Speeney tangled in turn two causing an extended caution that allowed the #1 team to replace the axle without losing a lap.

Smith continued to lead, but was being pressured heavily by Ward.  But, with 7 laps to go, Ward fell off the pace with a mechanical problem, allowing Smith to cruise on for the win over Jason Myers, B. Myers, Measmer, and Andy Jankoiak. Rounding out the top 10 were Buzze, the Mod Lite winner, Hall, Ward, Speeney, and Shaw.

The Southern Modified Racing Series Presented By PASS will be in action again on Saturday night, October 22 at Caraway Speedway for the Kenny Minter Memorial 125 season finale.  Entry forms will be available at SouthernModifiedRacingSeries,com.  Be sure to "Like" the Pro All Stars Series and Southern Modified Racing Series on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @PASSSLM14.

 

                 SMRS Modifieds – Hickory 125 – Unofficial Results

  1. 25 – John Smith
  2. 4 – Jason Myers
  3. 1 – Burt Myers
  4. 14 – Bobby Measmer, Jr.
  5. 37 – Andy Jankoiak
  6. 5 – Tom Buzze
  7. 54 – Scott Hall
  8. 19 – Brandon Ward
  9. 08 – Dan Speeney
  10.  17 – Darren Shaw
  11.  70 – John Barilka
  12. 75 – Ronnie Souders, Jr.


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 6.10.16 0 comments

There’s No Race Like Home at Brockville Speedway’s DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals

There's No Race Like Home at Brockville Speedway's DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 









At the weekly level, short track stock car racing has long been focused on family and friends. With the 8thrunning of Brockville Ontario Speedway's 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals less than a month away, the thought of a Saturday night regular taking the checkered flag is a distinct possibility. Car counts in the Small Block and Sportsman Modified divisions at The BOS have been strong for a number of years and several of the drivers in each class are members of racing families.

 

13-time track champion Danny O'Brien – who competes in the 358 Modified field with his older brother Pat and younger sibling Tim – followed in the footsteps of his father, Pat O'Brien Sr. Stephane Lafrance added an extra digit to the #15 made famous over the years by his father Marcel and made his own mark in the sport with his craft-built, limited edition racecars.

 

After practicing his craft at a number of different tracks in past campaigns, Matt Billings – a former go kart racer – returned home this year and logged a pair of main event wins, while finishing 7th in points. Chris Herbison – a former Sportsman division champion – developed a passion for the sport from watching his father George compete and this year, his son Jarrett – who also graduated from the karting ranks – finished 16th during his rookie Sportsman-Modified season.

 

The Brockville hometown attitude continues with the Evoy clan and 2016 Sportsman division track champion Dylan – whose race shop is about a 10-minute drive from the speedway – and even extends to nearby Spencerville, with the father and son duo of John and Madison Mulder, who finished 10th and 12threspectively in the recently concluded Small Block Modified standings.

 

For the 8th annual edition of the 1000 Islands RV Northeast Fall Nationals – A Craig Revelle Tribute, presented by St. Lawrence Radiology, Rez-X Racing and sponsored by 103.7 BOB-FM, the Brockville Recorder & Times and CKWS-TV – the Friday, October 14th program has the final Mr. DIRTcar championship event for the 358 Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks, with a 7:00 green flag. The Saturday, October 15th agenda is headlined by DIRTcar Big Block Mods, the championship final for Sportsman Modifieds, Mini Stocks and Outlaw Vintage Mods. Racing gets underway at 4:00.

 

Fans can find complete Northeast Fall Nationals details by checking www.brockvillespeedway.com, as well as the track's Facebook page and Twitter feed.


Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 

Stephane Lafrance (#115) wheeled his latest home-built 358 Modified creation to a feature event win and 13th place in the final 2016 point standings at Brockville Ontario Speedway.

 

Coming 'home' for the first time in a couple of years, Brockville's Matt Billings (#74) logged a pair of feature wins and a 7th place finish in the Small Block Modified standings at Brockville Speedway.

 

With a pair of Fall Nationals Sportsman Modified wins on his resume, Chris Herbison (#63) wheeled his 358 Mod to a feature win and coached his son Jarrett to a 16th place finish in his rookie Sportsman campaign at Brockville Speedway.

 

The father and son duo of John (#12) and Madison Mulder (#7M) showed their stuff during 2016 Small Block Modified action at The BOS.

 

Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 6.10.16 0 comments

Craig Graham is Locked-In and Loaded for Peterborough Speedway’s Autumn Colours Classic

Craig Graham is Locked-In and Loaded for Peterborough Speedway's Autumn Colours Classic

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 




The clock is running and hours are ticking away. In less than a week, Central Ontario's most anticipated motorsports events will take the green flag, with the arrival of the 24th Annual Autumn Colours Classic at Peterborough Speedway. For the first time since 2014, Craig Graham will be in the Late Model starting field when the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing rolls from the staging area. The 44 year-old father of 2, from Orono, Ontario – who has served as mentor and coach for his son Brandt's Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series effort over the last 2 years – says he's looking forward to running the popular event.

 

"I've had some good success at Peterborough over the years and this is a race I always enjoyed being part of," said the former multi division track champion. "Autumn Colours is the culmination of a season of hard work for teams in every division and to take home a win from the season-ending spectacular would be quite an accomplishment. Even though I haven't raced much lately, it all comes back to the forefront once the seat belts are fastened and the steering wheel gets locked into place."

 

The 75 lap main event for the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Models may seem like a long race, but depending on the circumstances, it has the potential to roll-by quite quickly. While his goal is to get to the front of the pack, everyone in the starting field will be facing the same challenges. Craig Graham says he'll have to wait until the green flag waves to see if he'll take a cautious or aggressive approach to the event.

 

"Peterborough Speedway's bottom line has long been the preferred racing line, but we can't all run there," said the driver. "You'll have to be daring enough to venture up to the top at some point to pick up a position or 2, but then it can become an issue to get back down. That's where a good handling race car and spotter who's on their toes can be a huge benefit."

 

After finishing 6th at the Chase for the Colours event, Craig Graham has a provisional starting spot for what is tentatively scheduled to be 5th in the order of feature races Sunday, October 9th. The weekend will also be a role reversal of sorts for Graham Racing, with Brandt Graham serving as spotter while his father tackles the action on the track.

 

"A strong showing at Autumn Colours would be the icing on the cake for our team," said Craig Graham, who until this year has run the year-end event Pro Late Model event, with a string of showings in and around the top 10. "Brandt's Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series championship run was a great way to start the late-season events and I'm hoping we'll have a strong enough Late Model effort throughout the weekend to continue that charge."

 

Graham Racing thanks their 2016 sponsorship partners Full Circle Automation, Arcade Pools, J & M Restoration, Auto Care, Hot Rod Swag and Squirrel Head Music, DJD Graphics and Mayhew Graphics for the support throughout the season. Team media and promotional services are provided by Clarke Motorsports Communications.

 

Follow the team behind the scenes and at the track by checking @Graham_Racing on Twitter and the Graham 98 Racing page at www.facebook.com. Look for www.graham98racing.com, an Image Factor web-site.


Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 

Orono, Ontario's Craig Graham is looking forward to running with the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model division during the Autumn Colours Classic – October 7th to 9th – at Peterborough Speedway.

 

Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 6.10.16 0 comments

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