January 20--- For a second year, the partnership between Bettencourt’s Honda of W. Bridgewater and Kenny Coolbeth of Warren, CT will remain aggressive. The AMA Ford Quality Checked Twins Champion had an exceptional year but struggled in the singles series by finishing sixth overall. His best finish a podium second at Springfield, Illinois.

     Coolbeth met with Dave Bettencourt looking for sponsorship help for 2006 when the series split into two separate entities. Dave was eager to help a fellow New Englander on the pro circuit. “ I was pumped up when Dave jumped on board and really got involved in the program, He (Dave) is involved with the sport and supports many riders with their amateur programs” expressed Coolbeth in 2006.

     Bettencourt's Honda/Suzuki (West Bridgewater) has been in business for over 65 years and is proud to be New England's oldest and largest Honda /Suzuki dealer.  “Now that Kenny and I have a year under our belt , 2007 is a year to excel in the singles. At this time last year Bettencourt's and Kenny were building new bikes. Now the bikes are fresh and ready to go. Kenny has the #1 plate, Bettencourt’s Honda is giving Kenny the tools, we are looking forward to being on the box every race with the 450 program,”  said Dave Bettencourt, Owner of Bettencourt’s Honda/Suzuki.

     Before the season opener in Daytona March 7, 2007, Coolbeth will join Bettencourt’s in Boston for the Northeast Motorcycle Expo. The primary show focus is on family oriented motorcycle shows for the motorcycle enthusiast. The first show was held in 1997 in Methuen and now 7 shows are produced in 6 different states. Future plans call for adding more shows and rounding out the year, providing the northeast biker with a consistent year round show season. Coolbeth will be signing autographs and displaying bikes under the Bettencourt’s booth. Building hype and interest to the dealer, sport and rider is Coolbeth’s objective.

      “All of us in the Northeast are so happy for Kenny and excited for 2007. It’s an honor to have been a promoter and friend of his and all of his family since he was young. New England’s first AMA GNC #1 Champ. It’s a boost for flat track racing here, it’s an incentive for our young riders and it’s an opportunity for all of us to be part of from a marketing standpoint. Kenny is a great ambassador for the sport. He understands that public appearances are important and is very well liked,” said  Pete Giammalvo, who promotes Sideway's Promotions Flat Track circuit in New England and operates NEDT's flagship track Wachusetts Valley Riders Club in Winchendon.

      Kenny’s AMA Flat Track Singles Series will be headed by Bettencourt’s Honda. The following will also impact for a competitive, successful season: Arai, Tuff Plates, Keith Jacobsen, Spectro Oils, Moto Town, Vortex, Motion Pro, Fox Racing, K&N, Supertrapp, Hinson, G2 Ergonomics, Topar, Works Connection, Cometic, Jupiter Wheels, Maxxis Tires, Saddlemen, TSS Graphics, Dragon Optical, Digger Helm, Jeff Lescinski, Mad Hatter, Weiss Racing, Revolution Performance, She Loves Racing, Jones Powersports, Mom and Dad.

       An overflow crowd at the Groton Inn and Suites celebrated Dennis Gada's record-tying sixth SK-Modified championship Saturday night at the 2006 Waterford Speedbowl Awards Banquet.   Tim Jordan (Late Models), Dwayne Dorr (Sportsman), Danny Field (Mini Stock) and Mark Bakaj (Legends) also carried off championship trophies. It is the second straight championship for Field and the first for Jordan, Dorr and Bakaj, although each did it in record style.

    The event also marked the beginning of The New Waterford Speedbowl LLC, the promotional team that will lead the ‘Bowl into the 2007 season. General Manager Bill Roth introduced his partner Jerry Robinson, announced an ambitious schedule and pointed out that negotiations with NASCAR are going along without a hitch.

     The Speedbowl will open with the Modified Nationals on March 31-April 1. The racing season, which includes the TrueValue Modifieds and the Supers, will run through September.  Account Executive John Stewart represented NASCAR at the Banquet.

       Gada, who won three times, joins Bob Potter and Phil Rondeau in the three six-championship club. Field won four races. Dorr set a division record with 10 wins; Bakaj tied the consecutive win record while seven-time winner Jordan had maybe the best rookie campaign in track history. The top 15 in each division were recognized.

     Jordan was a “lock” for Late Model Rookie of the Year. Other top rookies were Jeffrey Paul  (SK), Joe Bertholet (Sportsman), Mark Panaroni (Mini Stock) and Art Moran Jr. (Legends).  Teenager Brian Quimette was the recipient of the first Jerry Robinson Young Lion Award. Quimette, 14, finished eight in the Legends standings.

     Richard Staskowski failed to crack the top 10 in 2005. This past season he had 11 top fives including a win and grabbed the Sportsman division Most Improved Driver trophy. Larry Goss (Late Model), Diego Monahan (SK), Kyle James (Mini Stock) and Michael Gervais Jr. (Legends) also picked up Most Improved trophies.

     Coveted Sportsman of the Year hardware went to Rich Duranti (SK), Vin Esposito (Late Models), Al Stone III (Sportsman), Nick Pappacoda (Mini Stock) and Mark Esposito (Legends).

    Veteran Don Fowler, whose return to racing following a serious medical problem was one of the season’s high points, received special recognition from Roth.  The Lozyniak #28 crew that came back from the worst crash in recent memory to race the next weekend, is the  Late Model Pit crew of the Year.  Overcoming diversity with determination was also the key for other top pit crew recipients – the #37 Godbout Mini Stock operation, the #66 Wendell Dailey SK effort, the #17 Palmer Family Legends team and the  Ed Giles #87 Sportsman group.

    Chris Williams’ dogged dedication and persistence finally paid a dividend this year when he captured his first-ever Mini Stock checkered. It also earned Williams this year’s Race Director’s Award from Steve Harraka.  Media director Pete Zanardi was Employee of the Year.  Matt Buckler and Gary Danko shared the master of ceremonies duties.

     Stafford Motor Speedway has announced that The Davidson Company has renewed their commitment to the SMS Contingency Program for the 2007 season.  The Davidson Company will pay a $150 bonus to each SK Modified feature event winner.  The 2007 season will mark the third consecutive season that The Davidson Company has offered the $150 first place bonus for SK Modified competitors. “We’ve been involved at Stafford as a sponsor for 14 or 15 years now, and being part of the contingency program is a way for us to help the teams out with a little extra money each week,” said Dave Rowe, Owner of The Davidson Company.  “We like to be able to help racers achieve their dreams, and who knows, one day you may see someone from Stafford racing on Sunday in the Nextel Cup Series.  You never know who you might be helping to advance their career, and that’s why we keep coming back to the contingency program.  We’ ve been to a lot of racetracks over the years, and we feel that Stafford is the best track to be involved with, and we feel right at home there on Friday nights.”

       In addition to their SK Modified contingency program sponsorship, The Davidson Company’s involvement with team sponsorship at Stafford Motor Speedway has evolved into a family that now includes five teams.  The Davidson Company both owns and sponsors the SK Modified cars of Jeff Malave and Woody Pitkat and the Late Model car driven by Michael Bennett.  The Davidson Company is also the primary sponsor of the Kretschman Motorsports owned Late Model entry that was driven to the 2006 track championship by Pitkat, who will defend his championship as the pilot of the #48 in 2007, and the #20 car driven by Mike Lane in the SK Light Modified division.


     “It’s great to have a company like Davidson as a track partner,” said SMS CEO/GM Mark Arute.  “We promote a family atmosphere here at the track every Friday night, and Mr. Rowe, the Rowe family, and everyone associated with The Davidson Company epitomize what family is all about, and we’re proud to be able to list them as one of our track sponsors.” The Davidson Company is the largest wholesale specialty food distributor in Southern New England.  The Davidson Company is number one in customer service, and has been owned and operated by Dave Rowe and his family since 1974.  Davidson offers over 4,000 specialty food products, including the complete line of Cosmos Antipasto Specialties of West Haven, CT.

      We saw a copy of the 2007 AMA MotoX schedule and the traditional mid-June date is now  April 21-22 at MX 338 Southwick and it also carries double points for the series. Unfortunately, though, there's a 50 percent chance of rain in New England during the entire month of April!  The Southwick event also will be a qualifying race for the big Loretta Lynn race to be held in mid-July in Tennessee.

      Marshfield's Bob Grigas and Ted Christopher of CT have both confirmed their entries for next month's World Series at the New Smyrna Speedway in Samsula, FL just down the road from the Daytona Intl. Speedway. They will race in the Tour Modified eight race series along with Butch Perry of RI. Two Sk Modified racers Darne Renihan of CT and Shelley Perry of RI are also heading for northern Florida.   Dennis Pierce of E. Hartford, CT has also entered his IMCA Modified in the World Series. Westport's Steve Demaris plans on towing down his Limited Late Model for the New Smyrna action.

    Lou Modestino is a long-time columnist and Public Relations person, working for numerous tracks in the northeast, and now writes for The Enterprise in Brockton, MA.  He may be reached at lmodestino@hotmail.com. 

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