ANOTHER WILD SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT
MOTOTOWN USA
The Bud Light 12 Pack Car Racing Series at Mototown, USA in Windsor, CT
recorded another event Sunday afternoon and with only five races
remaining on the winter schedule, what drivers come out on top is still
anyone’s guess.
Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT led the 600’s to the green
flag but there was no stopping Matt Pupello of East Greenbush, NY who
dove deep into turn one on the opening circuit coming out of two with
the lead and never looked back. Pupello scored his first Mototown trip
to victory lane. While the 600 field was slowed for one yellow that
involved Christopher and Randy Cabral of Plymouth, MA ending both of
their days, the restart was a chance for Anthony Nocella of Woburn, MA
to challenge for the win but this day, it was all Pupello. A left rear
tire down kept Timex Morgan of Rochester, NY from being a threat for the
win but not enough from finishing as he brought his sprint across the
line for third collecting valuable points.
Sunday was only Christopher’s third time racing dirt, his first in a
600. “I came here, went to the Rolex in Daytona, came back here, went to
Florida (New Symrna) and now back here,” said Christopher as he sited
his already diverse 2008 season. “It’s fun,” Christopher continued.
“It’s not far to go, it’s only 25 minutes from my house. I’m trying to
acclimate myself to be a dirt racer on the weekends, in the winter.” The
challenge for Christopher is the dirt surface itself. “It changes so
much every week. From like they said last week to being soaking wet to
this week so dry. It’s not like racing asphalt like you pretty much know
what you have. But, I’m learning myself.”
Christopher would fair better in the 750 sprint finishing
second to the seemingly unstoppable Marc Guerard of Hartford, CT who
claimed his 5th win of the season. While Christopher returns to the 36
when the NASCAR Whelen Modified season gets under way, for now he will
be back at Mototown, USA for the next event on Friday March 7th .
On paper, it looks easy when you see that Matt Norrie of West Suffield,
CT started on the pole, lead every lap and won the 1200 sprint feature.
Don’t believe everything on paper. Norrie had to survive over half a
dozen restarts while in hot pursuit by the likes of Richard Wood, Jimmy
‘Bubba’ Broderick and Marc Guerard. For Norrie however, this was indeed
his day as he went on to capture the win, his third trip to victory lane
in the 1200’s.
“It was a little bit slick, I couldn’t come off the corners
as well as I did last week,” said Jimmy ‘Bubba’ Broderick who was in a
different 1200 this week. “Nothing you can do about it. I tightened up
the car a little bit, but I’ve never been in this car before. I’ve think
we have a good set up now.” The winter series here at Mototown, USA is
somewhat of a warm up for Broderick who looks to run for Rookie of the
Year in the American Sprint Car Series. The last time I really spoke to
Broderick, I was definitely the taller one and judging by the way he has
to look down on me now- that was quite a while ago. But it really wasn’t
all that long ago was it that Bubba’s dad Jimmy was the one stealing the
headlines winning modified titles?
“The track is good and I think they’re going to make it better,” said
Bubba’s dad Jimmy who notes the changes they see from week to week.
“It’s a beautiful facility. I tried it a couple of weeks ago. It was
fun, but I’ve had my time. I just enjoy watching my son out there on the
track. He adapts so quickly. He’s ten times the driver I was at that
age. The biggest thing, he does everything – works on the car, cleans it
up. How are you going to learn? You need to know your car.”
Indeed he made it out of retirement. Ted Chalmers, the former
Riverside Park stand out including the Teddy Bear Pool Truck Champion at
the Park, may have just found a new way to spend his Sunday afternoons.
“I’m having fun,” said Chalmers who in 2000, exited his late model at
Claremont Speedway in victory lane and announced his retirement.
Hard to believe that was eight years ago, but one of Chalmers claim to
fame is he had won features, at least once every decade for the last
five. There was no win today for Chalmers who was in the hunt for a
podium finish before exiting the feature a bit early in the 8 cylinder
division with an overheating motor. “I never raced dirt,” said Chalmers
smiling. “I’m going to have to get used to this.” Rod Sellers may have
had something to do with Chalmers dusting off his helmet. But returning
for the next event, it’s all Chalmers doing. “I’m coming back and run a
few more. I have to keep at it until I get it right. Then maybe I’ll
retire again.” He came in under the radar to help out his friend and
fellow NEMA competitor Randy Cabral, but Bobby Santos left Mototown, USA
with the possibility of taking a run himself in a 600. We’ll follow up
on that one.
The whole day was great, but watching Howie Hodge in a ride along, that
was the best. Timex Morgan brought out a side by side 600, the one used
as a pace car for the New York Modified Midget Series.
With Morgan behind the wheel and Howie tucked in close by, it was the
best intermission I’ve watched in a long while. Morgan didn’t hold back
lap after lap; honestly, it just looked plain fast and well, fun. “He
definitely had a lot of right side weight,” confessed Howie laughing
afterwards. “Too bad you couldn’t see my grin from ear to ear. I’d do it
again in a heartbeat. It was a blast!”
Click Thumbnails
Mototown takes a week off before returning for double weekend
event, the first show on Friday March 7th then all over again on Sunday
March 9th. A full list of results as well as the schedule can be found
on
www.mototownusa.com.
[Howie
Hodge Photo Gallery] [Fran
Lawlor Photo Gallery]
