Lee USA Speedway 8/1/14 Race Report

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photo by Rich Hayes

Lee, NH – The battles for the 2014 season championships rolled on at Lee USA Speedway on Friday night, with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Supermodifieds taking center stage with the running of the Supermodified Shootout, a three-segment race with best combined finished determining the winner.

 

Rookie Lance Barthelemy of nearby Fremont was first to step up, dominating the action in the first EKeys 4cars-sponsored 25-lap segment and holding off a late-race challenge from Jake Stergios of Candia to grab the victory, making him the first two-time winner of the 2014 campaign.

 

Stergios inched ahead of Barthelemy in the high groove to lead lap 19, but he couldn’t complete the pass and fell back in line behind the freshman sensation, settling for runner-up honors at the finish. Defending champ Tommy Tombarello, Jr. of Haverhill, MA rounded out the podium with a third place run.

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NEMST – The Who’s Who and What’s What Leading Into NHMS

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NEMST

Sunday August 3rd will set records for the young North East Mini Stock Tour. The highly publicized event will highlight a blockbuster year for the ever growing series on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway 1 mile NASCAR oval. This event will produce the highest car count to date for the series in its 6th season and also be held on the largest oval track in New England.

“Being offered the opportunity to race on the oval at NHMS is legendary. It shows that hard work does pay off and fulfills the dreams of many NEMST competitors. I owe a ton of thanks to everyone from the staff at NHMS to all of the drivers, teams, and fans.” Said NEMST Founder and Promoter Bob Guptill.

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M&M Beverage Enduro Returns to Thunder Road

troadBarre, VT – This Sunday, August 3 will see the 30th running of the M&M Beverage Enduro 200 at Barre’s Thunder Road. The “People’s Race” as it has become known features 200 laps of thrashing and crashing with no cautions. Over 50 drivers have already signed up for the event, including several notable Thunder Road competitors.

 

At 68 years of age, Don “Dipstick” Tofani of Plainfield has become a staple of the “People’s Race” and even won back in 1987. He has competed in every one of the 29 previous events and finished second in last year’s race.

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Patrick Dillion – “100% Focused for all Twelve Laps.”

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Photo by RPM

Story by Chris Roy

Patrick Dillon of Portland, Maine is racing the #45 legend car in the MOAT Mountain Legend road course series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS). “I raced the NHKA Racing Series (Karting) for two years. I loved the racing experience and the NHKA group, but at 240 lbs. I broke a lot of kart parts. After totaling my last kart, I decided to invest in a Legends car.”

The road course at NHMS has long straight aways’, hair pin turns, inclines and declines, so for the race teams setting up the race cars is a lot of work. Though Patrick has quite a bit of experience racing on the road course. “Time, team and the people in the paddock. Between NHKA, The 24 Hours of Lemons and The Moat Mountain Road Course Series, I have quite a few laps on the track, but I’m still learning the course. In five years on the track, I’ve been happy with my line through turn three only a handful of times.
I’m grateful to have Bob Weymouth and Jeff Gaudette set up the car.
I’m lucky to have a team that pulls together when there’s a problem.
When teammate Luke Hiebert’s motor blew, Luke, Steve and myself, were able to replace the motor in an afternoon due the support of the track and other people in the paddock. The competition on the track is transitioned into help and support off the track.”

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NEAR Announces 2014 Hall of Fame Class

NEAR Announces 2014 Hall of Fame Class

Drivers Deke Astle, Jim Martel, Mike Rowe, Fred Schulz, Ron Wyckoff, drag racing icon Bob Tasca, historian R.A. Silvia and car builder/mechanic Dave Tourigny make up the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame’s class of 2014.

They, along with the still to be announced pioneer class, will be inducted at NEAR’s 16th Hall of Fame banquet Sunday, Nov. 16th, at The Lodge at Maneeley’s in South Windsor, CT.

Banquet ticket information will be announced shortly and will be posted on the New England Antique Racers’ website (www.NEAR1.org) in the near future.
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NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH For July 30th

NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH
By Lou Modestino

Barre’s Jason Corliss claimed his second career Thunder Road Late Model win and became the first repeat winner in the division for 2014 during Safelite Auto Glass night on Thursday, July 24. Corliss came from the ninth starting spot and got under Lt. Governor Phil Scott late in the 50 lap event to gain the lead and eventually the win.

Young Kyle Pembroke led early in the race until relinquishing the lead to Brett Gervais on a restart just past halfway. Gervais then held the lead until losing control on a lap 32 restart handing the lead to Scott. Corliss ran down Scott and took over the lead with under 15 to go. He cruised to the win over the final laps. Derrick O’Donnell also got by Scott to claim second. Kyle Pembroke took fourth and Eric Badore completed the top five.

Nick Sweet, Scott Dragon, Dave Pembroke, Josh Demers and Joey Laquerre rounded out the top ten. The event saw just four cautions.

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