The Lee USA Speedway will kick off its 2013 NASCAR Whelan All-American Series season on May 3. All four of Lee USA Speedway’s weekly divisions will be in action for the first Friday night event of the season; the Benson Lumber & Hardware Small Block Supers, Prime Warehouse & Storage Late Model Sportsman, David’s Race Cars Hobby Stocks, and American Used Auto Parts Ironman divisions.
Defending Small Block Supermodified champ Tommy Tombarello hopes to represent Lee USA for the third time at NASCAR’s Whelan All-American Championship Week in Charlotte, NC at the end of the season. Wayne Helliwell Jr. may have other ideas. He’s won four titles at Lee USA and would like to supplant Tombarrello in Charlotte in November. Peter Stergious, Tony Carroll, and Sparky Magiver are among the many other drivers that will be fighting for the first checkered flag of the 2013 season on Friday night. Fourteen supers were on track for the first test and tune session and another 4 or 5 are on the way making for a stout small block supermodified line up for 2013.
JR Baril was the man in the late model sportsman division in 2012 in the Family Cab #88, but last year Michelle Fushpanski won her first feature event at Lee USA and was a close second to Baril in the points chase. Over the winter, Fushpanski acquired an all-new ride built by renowned late model racer Bob Belanger and expects to give Baril a run for his money this year. But the big news in the late model sportsman division is the return of Grant Aither. Aither has won two previous late model sportsman titles at Lee USA . He took some time off last year , but was back for the 50 lap open competition event on Governor’s Cup Weekend in a new car and easily prevailed. Other late model sportsman standouts expected to take the green flag on Friday night include Aither’s team mate Ricky Porter, Alby Ovitt, and Jimmy Russell.
Patrick Tanguay has been runner-up in hobby stock points for the second year in a row. Last season he was edged for the title by Jim Shorey who will be back to defend his crown. Paul Palen and the ageless Brian Thompson will be among the many unpredictable hobby stock competitors in the mix for the season opener. Fan favorite Danielle Simoneau, Jacob Rheaums, and Evan Horvath are among the some of the entries expected in the ironman division.
In other big news at Lee USA this season, Bob Yerko, veteran auto racing videographer will call Lee USA his Friday night home. Yerko has been capturing the racing action at the Monadnock Speedway for years and brings his 4 camera crew to Lee USA for the first time. Bentley’s Rewind will replay all the action in the Checkered Flag Pub, and videos of the racing action will be available to the fans each and every week.
Kids will be happier than ever at Lee USA this season. Swings and Things, who graciously provided the sand lot paradise that every kid at the track seems to frequent every week, has refurbished the entire playground for the new season.
The Northeast Classic Lites are set to make their first of 5 appearancesat Lee USA on Friday May 17th. DBT Inc. has posted a $1,000 point fund for the exciting mini open wheel machines awarded at the conclusion of the series at the Oktoberfest . George Helliwell dominated the series last year with 12 straight wins. Edddie Gilman, Eric Skofield, Robby Bryant, and Chris Sullivan are some of the Classic Lite standouts. The popular midget NEMA Lites will make their first of four visits to Lee USA on May 31. Their season finale will also be at the Oktoberfest.
Pit gates will open at 2PM for this first race of the season with practice starting at 4PM. Tech and tire crews will be available early to assist in readying the race cars for competition. An extra hour of practice has been made available to race teams to make up for the previously cancelled test and tune sesseion on April 24. General admission is $12. Kids under 12 are always free.