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TRI TRACK
MODS SET FOR RETURN TO STAR - SBM 125 |
It
has been more than two years since the last SBM 125
Modified Open at the quarter-mile Star Speedway in
southern New Hampshire, but that race was so good
that it is still fresh in the minds of many. "Best
race I have ever seen," was echoed by many following
the June of 2014 SBM IV.
One of the top ten best Modified races that I have
ever seen," said longtime Modified announcer Ben
Dodge following SBM IV. "I'm pretty excited to see
this news (that SBM V will happen)," said Brandon
Paul from Speed51. "The 2014 SBM 125 was a fantastic
race."
The next chapter of this very special event takes
place on Saturday, July 30, as the Northeast Race
Cars & Parts Tri-Track Open Modified Series presents
SBM V, with the largest field of competitors in SBM
history racing for a $62,000 plus purse, by far the
biggest payoff ever at the quarter-mile which opened
in 1967.
It is also expected to bring the largest crowd of
fans in SBM history, and most importantly another
memorable finish. Part of what makes the SBM 125
special is the fact that starting position seems to
mean little if history is any indication. In SBM IV,
none of the top five starters finished in the top
eight, and of those top eight finishers, four
started the race outside of the top 15!
Another factor in making this event fun and
memorable for both race teams and fans alike are a
series of unique bonuses and awards. Past Modified
car owners Chuck Montville, Mario Fiore and Joe
Brady will each be honored with special awards that
in all will pay out more than $2,000 to recipients.
Heat races will matter, because not only do teams
want to qualify in one of those five events, but
each will pay money to the winner, and an extra
bonus goes to the driver turning the fastest last
lap in the heats thanks to Tisdell Transmission
Repair. Two consolation races will add six more to
the field, and then a purse paying B-Main will bring
one final starter, and a purse payoff of it's own.
Star Speedway has been a favorite of Tri-track
organizer Jim Schaefer since he first laid eyes on
the quarter-mile. Schaefer has donated thousands to
Star Speedway purses, and this year he has outdone
himself. Along with Dick Williams they have brought
new sponsors on board to make this a record payout.
Robert B. Our Co., Inc., Nocella Reclamation
Grading, Advanced Gas Distributors, Red Roof Inn are
among the businesses who have helped raise the SBM
purse to this record level. Alloy Wheel Repair
brings a point fund to the series, and Lu-Mac's
Package Store, Rockingham Boat and several fans of
the SBM 125 have also donated.
Adding to that are more than 20 different bonus
awards available to teams, largely on a performance
basis that could swell the winners earnings to more
than $12,000. For instance, a $300 bonus goes to the
highest finishing NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
driver, a $500 bonus to the highest finishing driver
who has never raced a Modified at Star.
Among the close to 40 race teams from ten different
states entered are past winners Jon McKennedy and
Matt Hirschman, Justin Bonsignore, Ron Silk, Les
Hinckley, Woody Pitkat, Max Zachem, Dwight Jarvis,
Rowan Pennink, 2014 fast timer Steve Masse, and the
always exciting to watch Tommy Barrett to name a
few. A full entry list will be released on Thursday.
The Star Speedway weekly headlining division 350
Supermodifieds will also be racing, and there will
be two national events for the Legends Cars, one on
Friday with modified practice and a second on
Saturday as a prelim to the SBM 125. The Woody's
Strickly Stocks and Roadrunners will also begin
qualifying at 5:00 PM with their heat races.
Five Tri-Track Modified heat races are tentatively
scheduled to begin around 6:00 PM, with features for
the support classes beginning thereafter. Two
consolation races and a purse paying B-Main for the
Modifieds will be run off in between feature events
for the support divisions in an effort to keep the
show moving along quickly.
Then the main event, the Northeast Race Cars & Parts
Tri-Track Open Modified Series SBM 125 V is
tentatively scheduled to go green just after 9:00PM.
For more information and a full event schedule,
search the facebook pages of Star Speedway, the
Tri-Track Open Modified Series or the SBM 125 event
page. Track information can be found at
www.star-speedway.com. Series information is
at:
www.tritrackopenmodifiedseries.com.
If you saw SBM IV in person, you already know what
those who weren't at Star Speedway on that June of
2014 night missed. If you weren't, this is a race
that potentially could create a racing memory that
lasts forever, as it has in the past for so many.
Admission for this special event is $30 for adults,
$25 for seniors and juniors, with kids 10 and under
admitted free with a paid adult. Star Speedway is
located on Route 27, less than five minutes from
Highway Route 101 in Epping, New Hampshire.
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Source:
Kyle Souza / Tri-Track Open Modified Series
Posted:
July 25, 2016 |
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