Oktoberfest, Lee USA Speedway’s traditional season ending weekend racing bash, will commence on October 19th through the 21st. Over 300 cars from all over the northeast are expected to compete in the 12 divisions of race cars that will be featured. Last year seven states and several Canadian provinces were represented, the farthest coming from Nova Scotia. This year, three series championships will be decided, and for the rest, bragging rights throughout the winter will be on the line. Everyone wants to win their Oktoberfest feature event.
More importantly however, Oktoberfest is about fun for all. A full itinerary of social events will complement the non-stop racing action throughout the weekend. A Friday night Beer Bash will follow practice for all divisions from 3PM to 7PM. Breakfast will be offered on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Also, on Friday and Saturday nights, there will be hay rides for kids big and small. Then after Saturday’s heat race action, another Lee USA Oktoberfest tradition, the Spaghetti Supper with a DJ and dancing until late into the night. Fan and competitor commradery will be the weekend’s theme.
Gates will open on Friday at 2PM for practice which will conclude at 7PM. On Saturday, heat races will be held for all 12 competing divisions which will include: Small Block Super Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Valenti Modified Racing Series, NEMA Midgets, NEMA Lites, ACT Similar Late Models, Late Model Sportsman/Super Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks/Strictly Stocks, 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks, Outlaw Mini Stocks, Ironman and other 6 Cylinder Cars, North East Classic Lites/Dwarf Cars.
Gates on Saturday will open at 8AM with one round of practice for each division beginning at noon. Prior to racing activities, all cars must pass safety inspection conducted by Buzzy Bezanson and his Lee USA tech staff. In addition to heat race action, the NEMA Lites will make up a 20 lap feature event rained out from the Ollie Silva Memorial Classic event. Their regularly scheduled 20 lap feature will be held on Sunday that will decide the championship. The 2012 NEMA Midget title will also be decided Sunday. Highlighting Saturday’s activities will be one of two 50 lap Pro Stock feature events to be held over the weekend. The field will be inverted for the second 50 lapper to be held on Sunday.
On Sunday, feature racing action begins at 12PM. Recently crowned Lee USA Small Block Super Modified champ, Tommy Tombarello will be looking to cap off his season with a victory over rivals Sparky Maciver and Wayne Helliwell Jr. Helliwell, who is also, currently on top of the ACT standings is also expected to compete in late model and pro stock action.
The Valenti Modified Series will also crown its championship at the conclusion of its 100 lap feature event. Former two time champion Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, MA is locked in a close race with Pennsylvania driver Rowan Pennick for the crown. The last time the series visited Lee USA, McKennedy appeared well on his way to victory until rookie driver Tommy Barrett Jr. stormed from last to second and tangled with McKennedy in the third turn with 10 to go. The incident triggered a mad scramble for the lead that sidelined the next three cars and handed the unexpected win to another former champ, Les Hinckley. It was by far the most dramatic finish all season for the series and the season finale is expected to be just as exciting.
Brian Thompson, Patrick Tanguay, and Lee USA’s 2012 Hobby Stock champ Jim Shorey will have to defend their turf in their 25 lap event. George Helliwell won the last event the Northeast Classic Lites held at Lee USA, and has been undefeated in his last 9 races. Will this unprecedented streak continue or will he be thwarted by the large contingent of outside dwarf cars that are expected to be in attendance?
Oktoberfest at the Lee USA Speedway October 19th, 20th, 21st will be the last big racing bash of the 2012 season, and a fun time for everyone.