|
 Within
one week of distribution, several teams have already
entered the 125-lap Modified Open at Star Speedway
which has enthused Modified fans up and down the
eastern seaboard. It's a race with no points, no
riding- only hard racing for a cash payoff on race
night that is expected to exceed $40,000.
The first to enter the race was Max Zachem, an
emerging Modified driver from Preston, Conn., who
has already found winning success as a teenager in
Legends cars. Zachem earned $1,070 with a 15th place
finish last season. Veteran Richard Savary of
Canton, Mass., who nearly won the Star track
championship the past two seasons also entered on
the first day.
Other entries already made official come from the
last two Star Speedway Track Champions, Josh Cantara
and Jacob Dore. These two Maine drivers found
success in last year's event.
Cantara's Hannaford Racing 71 Team pocketed $2,625
for his impressive third place finish, as he beat
Modified legend Mike Stefanik to the finish line by
inches. Dore was on his way to the front when a
minor incident forced him out of the race, but not
before he had earned $1,410 for a 16th place finish.
Also filing early entries last weekend were second
generation drivers Mike Douglas Jr., and Russ Wood
Jr. Both drivers have their fathers, who competed
weekly at Star in the Big Block Supermodified
division as their crew chiefs.
Douglas qualified into the SBM 125 last season,
aided by a time trial run that put him in the front
half of the field for qualifying heat races. For
Wood, this will be his first attempt at making it
into the Modified Open, which is expected to bring a
field of more than 30 cars from all three northern
Modified touring series' and beyond.
Several awards are already in place, including the
$250 "Messina's Flooring First Timer Award" which is
expected to be hotly contested among close to ten
drivers making their first-ever visit to Star for
the June 15 event. That is one of more than 15
special cash awards that will make up the SBM 125
payoff.
In fact, the total purse is being boosted by more
than 60 percent through business sponsorships and
race fan donations. It is truly an event like no
other in pavement Modified racing. Due to a high
interest in new drivers planning to compete, a
practice session has been added on Friday, June 14
from 5:00-9 PM.
There will be many more entries filed before the
June 8 deadline, including 2012 NASCAR Modified
Champion Doug Coby, who will also compete at Star on
May 18 and June 1 to get acclimated to the
quarter-mile.
Modified stars Ryan Preece, who earned $3,855 last
season, track favorite Jon McKennedy, VMRS Champion
Chris Pasteryak, and 2012 race winner and RoC
Champion Matt Hirschman, who pocketed $8,792 at last
years event are just a few of the drivers who have
committed to running this event.
The rules, schedule and entry forms will be posted
on the track web site this week at:
www.star-speedway.com. More information can
also be found on the event Facebook page. Laps are
being sponsored at a rate well ahead of 2012 pace as
well, with less than 25 laps remaining.
Lap money, which in many cases are worth more than
the minimum of $50, will again pay half to the race
leader and half to another top ten car by draw. The
lap board is listed on the track web site. For more
information on how you can become a part of this
very special event, please email Kevin Rice at:
NEChatter@aol.com.
This third annual event grew from 16 entrants in
2011 to 26 last season, and with a field of more
than 30 cars expected a "B-Main Payoff" has been
added. The first driver who does not qualify will
leave with a check for $500. The race pays a minimum
of $600 for the 24 starters.
This event, sponsored in part by the "Long Island
Mod Maniac" Jim Schaefer and Hoosier Tire East is a
must see for any fan of Modified racing. Many more
announcements will be forthcoming in the days ahead,
with 24 drivers taking the green just six weeks from
Saturday in an all-star event that is sure to be, "A
Race To Remember". |
