Champions, Kapish and Rispin Take Frostbite Victories at Mountain Speedway
Start/Finish Productions Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell Timed Perfectly
“Frostbite 6” Ahead for Mountain Speedway
By: Gene Ostrowski
December 18, 2011
As the holiday season approaches, racers are already feeling the itch to get back behind the wheel. However, Jack Frost normally brings the season to a halt by this time of the year, but that’s not the case for Mountain Speedway, as the track once again begins to prepare for the “Frostbite” winter enduros.
The first event of the 2012 racing season would kick off on Saturday, January 7, as the celebration of the New Year continues with the "Frostbite 6" enduro-racing event.
The Mountain Madness Enduro Series schedule will comprise of several events throughout the course of the season and the 6thannual Frostbite enduro will be the first show to highlight the 2012-racing schedule.
Run like a true to form enduro, the Mountain Madness Enduro Series features relatively inexpensive "bone stock" automobiles for low budget racers, helping make enduro racing more affordable for beginners and masters alike. Each of the two divisions have a three wide rolling start. Without any yellow flags, only red flags will be thrown for serious incidents, or if a driver is in a dangerous situation on the speedway.
Sam Ryan and Tom Szoke took victories in the 5th annual event and may be in action to score the repeat victories.
With two divisions running 100-laps each in “Frostbit 6”, race fans that are looking to fuel their racing appetites will once again have the opportunity to do so at Mountain Speedway in January.
The 2011 enduro rules will apply for the Frostbite event and they can be viewed by logging on to www.mountainspeedway.com. The speedway office can be reached at 570-384-3215 and 570-788-7544 on race days. Also, the 2012 regular season schedule will be released in early January.
The Mountain Madness enduro events are typically held rain, snow or shine. However, if there is severe weather or very deep snow, the show may be rescheduled.
The pit area will open at 10 AM and the grandstands will be open at 12 noon. The first enduro event is slated to take the green flag at 12:30 PM. Pit admission is $30 and the enduro registration fee is $50.
Mountain Speedway is just minutes from Hazleton, PA, located on St. John’s Road, between Routes 93 and 309. Grandstand admission for all regular events is just $10 for ages 11 and older. Children 10 years of age and younger are admitted for free.
Please like Mountain Speedway on Facebook or visit www.mountainspeedway.com for the entire 2011 schedule, point standings and up to date news and information.
Looking Back on Long Island's 2011 Racing Season
A unique look back at the 2011 Racing Season on Long Island by Finnegan McGhee. We thank Fin for this wonderful contribution, and encourage all of you to give it a go if you'd like. If we like it, we'll publish it here.
Looking back on another action packed racing season at Riverhead Raceway, one can only wonder what a truly special place the track know as the 'quarter mile bull ring’ has become. This season would be driven with the rise of the young guns ready to make their mark on one of NASCARS oldest tracks, to a veteran battle tested group of old school racers who are not ready to hang up their helmets just yet. So take another tug down on your racing straps and let’s take a look back at a season to remember.
The season started on another chilly spring night with all 7 division firing up their motors to break-in the 62nd season of racing. But something new, as you entered this season; the old lady had a fresh coat of paint and many other little fixer ups to spruce up the track. New race track Facilities Manager John Ellwood and staff got the place in terrific shape to get the early excitement going. Week one would see the young versus old battle and two of 2010's biggest rivals, veteran Chris Young, and young lion Timmy Solomito, put on a great show of racing and sportsmanship with “The Natural” Solomito racing to the stripe first. By week two, Tommy Walkowiak and Chris McGuire, both veterans in their respective racing classes, would double their Pleasure with back to back wins. And in what would become a magical season for youngster Chris Young, the son of opening night runner-up in the Modifieds, would grab his first career win in the Legends racing division. The junior wheelman would go on to a very special season, as he would win 5 races in total and the 2011 Legends Championship. Continuing the early season surge by the youthful drivers, Justin Bonsignore and Timmy Solomito would duel for the checkered flag in the 100 lap Hall of Fame feature, with Solomito once again coming out on top. Unfortunately for "The Natural", a wrist injury would derail what was starting out to be a tremendous season for him. Bonsignore would go on to another win, and also capture the bigger prize, the 2011 Modified Championship, his first Riverhead Championship.
It was great to see veteran Wayne Andersen return to victory lane early in the season after a medical scare in 2010. He was closely followed to victory lane a short time later by past five time track champion Don Howe who had been ‘retired’ for 15 years.
The season also sparked the return of some terrific car counts to the Late Model division. And with this came some great racing. Early on, Chris LaSpisa would drive his Late Model to an emotional victory as he dedicated the win to the late wife of racing teammate Kenny Alfano, who’s wife Julie passed away earlier in the year. The championship battle for the Late Models would be an epic one as four drivers would have a chance at glory on the final racing night of the season. In the end Mike Bologna would best Scott Kulesa, Jarrod Hayes and Peter ‘Buzzy’ Eriksen, with all four finishing only 6 points apart and Bologna and Kulesa tied in points, with Bologna winning the championship with his 2 wins compared to none for Kulesa.
Tommy ‘Wild Child’ Walkowiak and Chris ‘The Cranberry Kid’ Turbush would continue to show the young pups why they are multi-time champions. Both Walkowiak and Turbush would power their way to five wins each, and earn the end of season championship hardware. Walkowiak’s championship victory would be easier to achieve as early season rivals Tom Pickerel and Scott Maliszewski would both suffer mechanical and racing issues and young ‘veteran’ Rob Bader would also fall off. Turbush on the other hand had to rely on all his experience and talent to hold off good friend and racing rival Chris McGuire in what became a last night to remember. The two put on a battle at the quarter mile bull ring that became heart break for McGuire, and a championship for Turbush.
The figure eight championship would also be settled on the final night with Arne Pedersen, who lost the championship on the last night of 2010, driving to a very popular win. Roger Maynor, the grizzled figure eight veteran with over 100 career feature wins, would give Pedersen all he could handle, but would have to settle for a second place finish in the standings, just a mere 4 points behind Pedersen.
The 2011 Super Pro Truck champion, in what was yet another last night battle, was ‘Dangerous’ Dave Koenig, who beat out Frank Dumicich Jr. by the slightest of margins, just 2 points. The two put on a race and show of sportsmanship that showed what great racing is all about.
Some memorable wins from 2011, well where do we begin? So many and some real heart warming ones as well. The ‘Pistol’, Paul Parisi's win on 7/2/11 felt like Christmas in July. Parisi lost his wife Traci earlier in the year and re-decorated his race car in her favorite holiday, Christmas. Not a dry eye in the house as family, friends and fellow drivers watched as ‘The Pistol’ parked his race car in victory lane. How about young driver Jack Handley Jr. driving his Blunderbust car to a victory, the first ever for the 15 year old hot shoe. On the same night, Erin Dumicich with the very popular victory in the Super Pro Truck division, the first at Riverhead for a female driver since 1998. Ronnie Silk would duel fellow Whelan Modified Tour driver Todd Szegedy and win the 77 Lap Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek Memorial race. Also in the modifieds, how about Tommy Rogers Jr. winning on 3 tires, yes that was 3 tires, as one tire was going flat and coming off the rim! Bonsignore would win the biggest race of the season and of his life when he beat the field to the checker in the 200 Lap Lighthouse Mission Whelan Modified Tour race. Once again Jim Schaefer, also know as the Long Island Mod Maniac, would make this winning purse and the 77 Lap memorial race much sweeter, as his fund raising made both winning checks much more valuable. 2010 Super Pro Truck Champion Roger Turbush, battling electrical demons all season, would finally get it all figured out and then be able to visit victory lane another 3 times before the season is up. Tom Ferrara would notch 3 victories in the Figure Eight division and Jarrod Hayes would win 3 Late Model feature events, including the last two of the season putting the division on notice for 2012. 1999 Charger Champion Ray Minieri would return to Riverhead and post two victories in the Charger division. Rob Bader Jr. would set a new track record in time trials on the last night of the Blunderbust racing season. The ‘father’ of the Late Model division, Roger Oxee, with career win number 60. Shawn Solomito of the famed Solomito racing family was able to notch his first Riverhead Raceway Modified win. Eddie Brunnhoelz achieved his first victory to end a three year dry spell at Riverhead. Great to see the McElearney name back in victory lane as Brian McElearney won his first Super Pro Truck main event. Brian is the son of 45 time feature event winner Paul McElearney.
There was also some impressive showings but some other drivers. John Beatty Jr. notching a win and finishing 3rd in the modified point standings, along with a fine showing from rookie modified driver Jason Agugliaro. A experienced driver to many different divisions, but a rookie in the Late Model division, Rob ‘The Racer’ McCormick drove some very good races and showed he has what it takes to be considered a front running driver. Charging his way up the Charger division, CJ Lehman drove some wild races, finished 5th in the point standings and grabbed a victory. I am sure he is raring to go for the 2012 season. In what is becoming one of the toughest divisions to even make a feature event, Justin Strumpf and Kevin Nowak gave Legends champ Young all he could handle this year. The Legend racing division has grown, and with car counts expanding quicker than the national debt, we are going to see some tremendously exciting racing in the coming seasons.
The Riverhead Raceway Enduro racing would be limited in 2011 due to a lighter schedule, but this did not stop it from some exciting racing. The champions in each division were: Grand Enduro- Dave Antos, 4/6 cylinder trucks – Robin Vollmoeller, 8 cylinder- Dominic Ranieri, 6 cylinder- Gene Burbol, and 4 cylinder- Dennis Nelson. The demolition deby champion was James Kilkenny. The 2011 season also marked the return to drag racing on Long Island, as Riverhead Raceway hosted the 100 Ft. Hole Shot Drag competition. Many unique and very cool and powerful drag racing cars showed up and put on a very nice show.
Yes, 2011 was a wild ride around the quarter mile bull ring known as Riverhead Raceway. Many young drivers established themselves as true champions and perhaps future champions. But as 2012 approaches right around the corner, the veteran battle tested group of racers that have been pounding the pavement at Riverhead will be there to let the youngsters know that these old dogs still have a few tricks of their own.
BETHEL MOTOR SPEEDWAY ADDS EMPIRE SPORT TRUCKS TO SCHEDULE IN 2012
December 30, 2011
BETHEL, NY – With the holidays wrapping up, some drivers in the Northeast are being given an additional gift, as the Bethel Motor Speedway office announced plans to add a limited number of Empire Sport Truck series races to the 2012 schedule.The Empire Sport Truck series made two stops at Bethel during the 2011 season, and drew in enough interest for drivers to approach speedway management to request additional shows in the upcoming season. The track is presently still working on the 2012 schedule, but has confirmed that six potential dates are being planned for the EST series.“Based on the extreme interest that the series drew last season, we are looking forward to an exciting year hosting the series on our schedule on a fairly regular basis,” stated Bethel’s Business Operations Manager, Tracy Chirico. “We have already spoken with several potential teams, and we have confirmed that trucks have been purchased to be run as part of the series at Bethel.”The EST series trucks are four-cylinder trucks designed to be fun and affordable. They race both at sanctioned tracks on a weekly basis, and also take part in the All American Builders Tour, comprised of races at several different tracks. The series’ inaugural season wrapped up in October with a two-way tie between Dan Wood and Steve Argus.“The tie in the inaugural season just goes to show how close the competition is, and it foreshadows the potential for growth in the class,” Chirico commented. “We are excited that Bethel is going to be a part of that excitement in 2012.”In October, Bethel wrapped up a successful season that saw record car counts on the resurfaced asphalt quarter-mile and packed grandstands week after week, with the champions being crowned at the speedway's awards banquet earlier this month.With the finishing touches presently being added to Bethel’s 2012 schedule, it is expected that the tentative schedule will be released in January.More information about the EST series – including tentative 2012 rules – is available online at www.estracing.com. All questions regarding rules should be directed to the series promoter, Brandon Clapperton, at brandon@empiresporttrucks.com .
“Live Wire” and Adams Racing Team up for 2012 Run
Berwick, PA (12/29/11) - With direction from Tyler Jett Motorsports Marketing and Frank Kielb Entertainment, Scott Adams and the entire Adams Racing team are pleased to announce their partnership with Live Wire, a nationally known AC/DC tribute band.
Scott Adams, of Lake Ariel, PA, is a second-generation driver and grew up watching his father, Mike win races on both two wheels and then four, most recently behind the wheel of an Asphalt Modified. Scott decided to take his turn behind the wheel and during his first full season of competition in the factory stock division, he nearly won the track championship, but engine woes denied him that feat on the final lap of the 2008 season.
Since then, Scott purchased an open wheel asphalt Modified and has been competitive at many tracks in the tri-state area. His main focus this season is to compete at Mountain Speedway, but he may take a few laps at Mahoning Valley Speedway, and also at Shangri-La II in Tioga, NY.
Both Scott and his father are thrilled about working together with Live Wire in 2012 to help cross promote Modified racing and the classic rock-n-roll that the band plays around the world.
“This whole deal with Live Wire has been great so far”, noted Scott. “When my dad first heard of the deal he became really excited- he’s a huge AC/DC fanatic.”
“We’re just looking forward to working with them this season and also looking forward to displaying the race car at some of their shows in 2012.”
Considered by many to be the ultimate AC/DC tribute band, Live Wire is equally excited about their new endeavor and they to believe that rock-n-roll and motorsports go hand in hand.
Both parties cannot wait for the 2012 season to begin, and for Live Wire, that time is sooner than one would think.
The agreement between the two parties couldn’t have taken place at a better time, as Live Wire is set to rock Northeastern Pennsylvania, first this Friday night (Dec 30) at Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, PA and then at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA on New Year’s Eve. Doors open at 8 PM and show time is at 9 PM. For more information and ticket information, visitwww.pennspeak.com.
For more information on Live Wire, visit www.acdctributeband.com and for information on Scott Adams and the Adams racing team, log onto www.scottadamsracing.com
Sponsorship and marketing opportunities for Adams Racing can be directed to Tyler Jett Motorsports Marketing at www.tylerjett.com. Bookings for Live Wire can be made through Frank Kielb Entertainment at www.therockbands.com.
Kick Your Automotive Project into High Gear at Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell
Vernon, CT (December 28, 2011): Whether you are as old school as your current restoration project or as contemporary as the latest in performance technology, automotive enthusiasts will find the right parts, at the right price, right at their fingertips at the Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell. This all automotive indoor swap meet will be held on January 21&22, 2012 in the Better Living Center located on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA.
The more traditional bargain hunters will appreciate the practicality of the customary swap meet/flea market atmosphere and the art of negotiating a sale. Typical online shoppers seize the opportunity to inspect products for a relatively risk-free and immediate purchasing experience without the cost of shipping.
All will enjoy the large and diverse selection of quality new and used merchandise for all automotive applications. Nearly 125,000 square feet of exhibit space will feature wholesalers and retailers offering tools, parts, accessories, safety equipment, literature and more. Many will offer exclusive “Show Specials”. Individual sellers are also welcome at the Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell.
Millions of parts and accessories will be found inside the brightly-lit and heated building for street and racing applications including hot rods, classics, customs, imports; drag, asphalt stock and dirt auto racing and more.
Attendees at Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell will discover an interesting blend of modern technology and vintage treasures. Sellers will find an equally as intriguing mix of buyers-restoration specialists, racers, backyard mechanics, and gearheads.
Single-day adult admission in only $10.00; kids under 12 are admitted free with a paid adult. Show hours are 8AM to 5PM on both Saturday and Sunday, January 21&22, 2012.
Limited vendor space is still available. To reserve a 12’x15’ vendor space exhibit space for $125 call Start-Finish Productions at 860.871.6376 or 860.268.1787.
Eastern States Exposition is located at 1305 Memorial Ave, W. Springfield, MA. For more details, call Start-Finish Productions or visit thompsonspeedway.com.
Merry Christmas
THOMPSON RELEASES 2012 RACING SCHEDULE
THOMPSON, CT. The 2012 NASCAR racing schedule at the Thompson International Speedway has been released. The twenty race lineup has generated considerable excitement as it contains a wide variety of racing programs for both competitors and fans.
The 2012 racing season at Thompson will kick off with the traditional Icebreaker event on the weekend of April 14-15 which will mark the opening of both the Thompson season and that of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The season will conclude with the traditional World Series of Speedway Racing in October. Competitors and fans are urged to download a copy of the 2012 schedule so that they can see the entire, season-long lineup of racing action at the historic speedway.
Some of the highlights of the all-new Thompson race schedule include four events for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour including the return of the UNOH Showdown event that features both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. The format will remain similar to the inaugural UNOH Showdown including the 50-lap, $50,000.00+ showdown between the two tours. There will also be two appearances of the Modified Racing Series, extra distance races for each NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions plus the addition of the Lite Modified division as part of the track’s Thursday Night Thompson Thunder lineup. The popular Mini Stock Northern Twin Challenge will return for the third time in 2012 and some additional events are still in the works by track management for the Thursday night weekly race programs.
In adding the Lite Modifieds to the weekly lineup, track owner, Don Hoenig, said that the Lite Modifieds had been part of both the Icebreaker and the World Series recently and the positive response from both competitors and fans made the decision to add the Lite Mods to the weekly program an easy one. “This is an exciting division to watch and it has caught the imagination of all of us. We are looking forward to having the Lite Modifieds join us on a weekly basis and we anticipate that the division will grow and become a real fan favorite,” said Hoenig.
In other off-season activity, Thompson’s web site has the 2012 general safety rules that apply to all divisions along with the specific rules for each of the tracks NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race cars. Late Model competitors will also want to become familiar with the proposed rules for their division in 2013-2014.
The track is accepting car number registrations in all divisions. Racers are reminded that car numbers should be renewed by January 15th if they wish to keep their car number. Competitors who earned NASCAR points in 2011 will have their car numbers held until the January 15th date. However, after that date, any numbers not renewed will be available on a first come, first served basis. Renewal forms are available for download from the Thompson web site.
Thompson’s Banquets of Champions are scheduled for Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th. Tickets are available to all competitors that finished in the top ten in points in their respective divisions. The tickets are going fast and race teams are urged to contact Thompson’s Office Manager, Mary Ann Rossi, to place their orders.
The 2012 racing schedule, car number renewal forms and racing rules are all available on the track’s web page.www.thompsonspeedway.com
