MA
new event that promises to bring New Hampshire's
Center of Speed, the Lee USA Speedway, its highest
car count and biggest payday of the season,
currently estimated at $44,000 is only three plus
weeks away.
A field of close to 40 Tour-Type Modified teams will
tow in from roughly ten different states for the 1st
annual 100-lap, "Bullring Bash Powered by Sunoco" on
Sunday, May 11. One of very few drivers competing in
this event that has called Lee home is Mike Douglas
Jr., from Auburn, N.H.
"That's where I started and kind of where I grew up
watching Supermodifieds," began the 34-year-old, who
races a Spafco Chassis Modified at the nearby Star
Speedway. "I got my first ever race win at Lee in a
Hobby Stock so this event definitely holds special
meaning to me."
Douglas will be among the 'underdogs' so to speak,
because there will be a host of champion drivers
vying for the $5,000-to-win prize plus lap money and
contingencies. Verbal entries have come from names
like Rocco, Christopher, Preece, Hinckley,
McKennedy, Hirschman, Bonsignore, Barrett, Masse,
Jankowiak and Seuss to name just a few.
"To just get into the show is going to be like
getting into an all-star race," Douglas adds. "I
think it's going to be good for local racing. Rather
than splitting everybody up between the Race Of
Champions, Whelen Modified, Valenti Modifieds and us
weekly racers from places like Star and Riverhead,
it brings everybody together.
"As long as drivers use their heads and don't do
anything too stupid, too early, I think it's going
to be a great show. It's going to be a win, win, win
with Star and Seekonk (Mass.) rounding out the
shows."
The three race 'Open Show' format put in place by
avid race fan Jim Schaefer and returning race
promoter Dick Williams, who has been away from the
sport for some time, added this Lee event to the two
existing open shows to form what is known as the
Tri-Track Open Modified Series.
Williams is part of a group of racing enthusiasts
who have been pooling their money together in recent
years to help individual drivers financially,
allowing them to keep racing. Now, they are helping
create this Lee race with their donations. Williams,
Steve Main, Fred and Butch Perry, and Charlie
McGowan are all part of 'The Racing Guys', helping
make this May 11 race a reality.
Schaefer orchestrated a grass roots sponsorship
program with businesses like Sunoco also on board,
making this Lee event a big player on the 2014
Modified schedule. Additionally, with the
sponsorship of Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists of
Quincy, Mass., a $10,000 point fund was established
for the three race points total.
The Lee event will be unique in that not only is it
the first Modified Open held at the three-eights
mile oval in several years, but it will pay $1,000
just to qualify for the main event. Additionally,
there will be a B-Main paying a purse for the teams
who do not make the feature event.
Lap money paid to the race leaders could add as much
as another $2,100 to the race winner payoff as well.
An additional $250 will be paid to the driver who
leads the most laps of this Mother's Day afternoon
event, so there are plenty of incentives to bring in
talented drivers.
The Small Block Supermodifieds will also be on the
schedule with a points race paying $1,000 to win,
which is more than their typical weekly show payout.
The always unpredictable Hobby Stocks and speedy
Classic Lites round out the schedule.
Practice time will be available to teams on Saturday
as well, with a brief warmup session on Sunday. Heat
races begin at approximately 1:30 PM on Sunday, May
11. For more information check out the Tri-Track
Open Series Facebook page or log onto
www.leeusaspeedway.com and
www.tritrackopenmodifiedseries.com. |