The Chrome Horn - Champ Trail with Phil Smith

Champ Trail - September 15, 2015


  At the Stafford Motor Speedway this past Friday night the track paid tribute to those who help others with a First Responders Appreciation Night that recognized Fire, Police, EMS, and all First Responder personnel. Taking down weekly feature wins on the night were Ryan Preece in the SK Modified® feature, Tom Fearn in the Late Model feature, Tony Membrino, Jr. in the SK Light feature, Al Saunders in the Ltd. Late Model feature, Nicole Chambrello in the DARE Stock feature, and Teddy Hodgdon in the Legend Cars feature.
  In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event Preece took the lead following a caution on lap 4 of the 40 lap event. Preece dedicated his win to his grandfather, legendary car owner Bobby Judkins. Ronnie Williams, Joey Cipriano, Woody Pitkat, and Keith Rocco rounded out the top-5. For Preece it was his third win of the season. For Fearn it was his tenth.

  The New London-Waterford Speedbowl hosted the Tri-Track Open Modified Series finale 100 lap Championship last Sunday. Despite threatening skies 40 Modifieds and a packed grandstand of race fans saw what many felt was one of the best ever Modified races. Ron Silk who dropped off the racing radar after parting with car owner Eddie Partridge took on the best in the business and walked off with the top prize. Silk, in the Bob Horn #50, started 11th and took the lead from Steve Masse following a lap 81 restart. Masse finished second with Matt Hirschman, third. Hirschman is the unofficial overall champion of the series. Ryan Preece and Les Hinckley rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Andy Jankowiac, Norm Wrenn, Ted Christopher, Chris Pasteryak and Woody Pitkat.
  Christopher drew the pole and led the event until making contact with Masse which caused him to spin out. Masse led from Lap 71 to a restart following on lap 81when he was overtaken by Silk. There were 17 cars on the lead lap at the finish. Among those who failed to finish was pre-race favorite Keith Rocco who had the misfortune of having his engine break a rocker arm while running second to Christopher on the 22nd lap.
  Many time track champion Bob Potter was the Grand Marshall of the event. Prior to sending the field on their way Potter publicly thanked track owner Bruce Bemer for saving the shoreline oval and for making it a great place to race or just be there. Potter also thanked Shawn Monahan and his staff for the great job they have done in such a short time.
  The total payout was $51,850 ( including lap leader money, bonus money, etc). The series now has a month off, before concluding the season with a non-points event at the Speedbowl on October 25.
  Other Sunday winners were Cory Barry in the SK lights and Jason Palmer in the Late Models.

  In regular weekly action at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl an impending rain storm threatened throughout the afternoon and into the first few races of the night but it didn't put a damper on the efforts of Timmy Jordan and Ted Christopher who won the twin SK Modified 30 lappers at the shoreline oval. Late Model, Mini Stock and Limited Sportsman events were rained out.
  The first event of the night was the track’s premier division of SK Modifieds. These drivers were set to race twin 30 lap features. The first 30 laps started with the biggest field of SK Modifieds of the season with 27 cars in the field. Ed Puleo took the lead on the first lap of the race until the 1st caution which came out with 18 laps remaining in the race. Timmy Jordan took the lead on the restart and held that lead through the second and 3rd cautions. Timmy Jordan won the first SK Twin 30 lapper, Ed Puleo was second, and Rob Janovic Jr. was 3rd. Keith Rocco and Tyler Chadwick rounded out the top five.
  NEMA Lites and NEMA Midgets were run next with Randy Cabral taking the Lite win and Doug Coby taking the Midget win.
  The fourth event and final event of the night was the second twin SK 30 lapper. Diego Monahan and Keith Rocco came into the event tied in the division points. Rocco, who had missed two events because of Whelen Modified Tour commitments, took over the division point lead after Monahan wrecked. Rain threatened to fall and finally did which resulted in a shortened event. The race was Red- Checkered due to the rain coming and stopping all racing for the night. The lead changed a few times between Jeff Gallup, Tyler Chadwick, and Ted Christopher. Through the wreck fest of the last 15 laps of the race Christopher kept the lead until the red checkered. Keith Rocco was second, and Joey Gada was 3rd.

 The Riverhead Raceway fell victim to rain on Saturday. Spectators at the Long Island oval are upset over the fact that rain checks would not be honored. The INEX Legends ran their heats and the Grand Enduro feature was run. The Blunderbust race ended early on a caution due to the start of the heavier rain (as said by the announcer). On the rain check ticket it states "if postponed before the fourth event...". It's decisions like that will be remembered the next time disgruntled fans are thinking about taking in the races. The Modifieds, Chargers, Late Models, INEX Legends and the 4 Cylinder Enduro were washed out. The Riverhead Raceway will be back in action this coming Saturday with all divisions closing out the regular season.
  Upon further review Barbara & Jim Cromarty have announced that grandstand rain checks from this past Saturday September 12th WILL BE honored this Saturday September 19th only.

  On the speedway stock market scene last week two of the three speedway stocks finished out the week on the positive side. Speedway Motorsports went up 0.37 to 19.11 and the International Speedway Corporation went up 0.24 to 32.44 while Dover Entertainment dropped 0.01 to 2.34. NASCAR tire supplier Goodyear went up 0.36 to 29.58 while NASCAR fuel supplier Sunoco (Energy Transfer) dropped 1.73 to 45.98 and NASCAR cup sponsor Sprint dropped 0.07 to 4.88. The big three car manufacturers were all positive. Leading the way was General Motors which went up 1.27 to 30.15. Toyota went up 0.60 to 117.10 and Ford went up 0.15 to 13.71. In the home improvement sector, Home Depot jumped 1.02 to 115.44 and Lowes jumped 0.83 to 68.63. The big team sponsor's stocks were all in the green. Leading the way was Coca-Cola which went up 5.70 to 163.05. McDonalds went up 2.56 to 97.41 while Fedex went up 2.47 to 151.08, Target went up 1.46 to 77.88 and Aarons Rentals went up 0.25 to 38.27.

  On the tube this coming week:

  Friday, September 18

3:00 AM, NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 2
6:00 AM, NASCAR America, NBC Sports Net
7:00 AM, NASCAR America, NBCSN
10:00 AM, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chicagoland final practice, FOX Sports 1
12:30 PM, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chicagoland practice, NBCSN
2:00 PM, NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicagoland final practice, NBCSN
4:30 PM, NCWTS qualifying, FS1
6:30 PM, NSCS Chicagoland qualifying, NBCSN
8:00 PM, NCWTS SetUp, FS1
8:30 PM, NCWTS Chicagoland race, FS1

  Saturday, September 19
3:30 AM, NCWTS Chicagoland race re-air, FS1
1:30 PM, NSCS Chicagoland practice, CNBC
3:00 PM, NXS Chicagoland qualifying, NBCSN
4:30 PM, NSCS Chicagoland final practice, NBCSN
5:30 PM, Countdown to Green, NBCSN
6:00 PM, NXS Chicagoland race, NBCSN

  Sunday, September 20
11:30 AM, NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
1:30 PM, NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN
2:30 PM, Countdown to Green, NBCSN
3:00 PM, NSCS Chicagoland race, NBCSN
6:30 PM, NSCS Post Race Show, NBCSN
7:00 PM, NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN
11:30 PM, NASCAR Victory Lap re-air, NBCSN

  Monday, September 21
12:00 AM, NASCAR Victory Lane, FS1
2:30 AM, NASCAR Victory Lane re-air, FS1
6:00 AM, NASCAR Victory Lap re-air, NBCSN
7:00 AM, NASCAR Victory Lap re-air, NBCSN
8:00 AM, NASCAR Victory Lap re-air, NBCSN
2:00 PM, NSCS Chicagoland race re-air, NBCSN

   That’s about it for this week from 11 Gardner Drive, Westerly, and R.I.02891. Ring my chimes at 401-596-5467.
E-mail: smithpe_97_97@yahoo.com.

Phil Smith has been a columnist for Speedway Scene and various
other publications for over 3 decades.
 

Source: Phil Smith / Champ Trail
Posted: September 15, 2015

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