March 5--- When the Modifieds hit the track at New Smyrna Speedway for the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing every February, it can seem like more of a big street fight than a race. Competitors from all across the county come to Florida to race Modifieds, and there is plenty of action all week long.  New Smyrna brings a Wild West mentality in racing where anything goes. Some teams were nabbed for rules violations, and some competitors were accused of being over-aggressive.

    But sophomore Modified pilot Bobby Grigas III of Marshfield wasn’t paying much attention to any of that. He just wanted to gather the best finishes possible every night with his #09 Triple G Scaffolding machine. When he got spun out, Grigas just pointed it back in the right direction and trucked on to the finish. He got through the week without any major damage and a very respectable eighth-place finish in the point standings.

      “We learned a lot last month, making the car survive nine straight nights,” said Grigas. “We were getting along. We have a couple of new people and it was a learning curve. All week long, I had the worst luck. Hopefully I’ll kick this before hitting the Whelen Modified Tour this year.”   Grigas finished more than half of his races in the top 10 and never came home worse than 14th all week. He appeared to be headed towards another top-10 finish on the final night of Speedweeks on Saturday, when a late-race incident dropped him back.

     “The caution came out, and I was wide open, and they all checked up quick,” said Grigas. “I bumped into Teddy (Christopher). I bumped into him hard, and I was on the brakes hard and spun out. At the end of the race, I was driving hard and sitting in fourth and was saying, ‘I’m ok, I’m sitting in fourth and I’m not going anywhere,’ and I don’t know what happened over there. I went around on the last lap. I may have jumped on the gas a little hard. I know Zach (Sylvester) was right there, and I don’t think he touched me. Maybe somebody else hit me. I don’t know.”

    Speedweeks was just the start of Grigas’ 2007 season. He’s competing full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour this year and also plans to run races on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and in the True Value Modified Racing Series when his schedule permits. “I can’t wait to get back into a racecar,” said Grigas. “I’m really looking forward to this season.”

     Team  44 / Affordable Chrome announced today that they have completed their “Big Move”. The big move involved moving their equipment from the shop across from the former Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, now known as Six Flags New England, to a larger facility less than three miles away. The new Garden Street Industrial Park location boasts 5,000 square feet of space.

     When reached at the spacious office of his new business home, Mario Fiore was quite enthused. “This new facility offers us room to expand our metal plating business and hopefully the opportunity to revive our motorsports program.” said Fiore. The 44 Racing operation has remained dormant for the past five years largely due to lack of sponsorship.

      Mario says, “Our Marketing Department is currently negotiating with several prospective regional corporate sponsors to re-fire our program. It is my intention to campaign a Modified on the True Value Series as they only race here in New England. We can accomplish this with less than a six-figure budget. If it comes together we’ll put a young hot-shoe back in the #44 to make a run at the TVMS championship.”

    Team 44 / Affordable Chrome is actively pursuing sponsorship for the 2007 season. Regardless of the results of these efforts, they will remain in business as New England’s affordable plating operation at their new location. Mario Fiore and the #44 team have 35 Whelen Modified Tour victories to their credit. Team 44 / Affordable Chrome has specialized in chrome plating for the New England motor sports industry for over fifteen years.  This report came from the ModScene.com webpage.

     New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) has announced the addition of the New Hampshire 75 for the United States Auto Club (USAC) Silver Crown Series presented by K&N Engineering on Saturday, September 15.  The New Hampshire 75 will be part of an already action packed NASCAR SYLVANIA 300 event weekend.

     “The addition of the USAC Silver Crown Series to our SYLVANIA 300 weekend will give our fans another chance to enjoy tremendous racing,” said Bob Bahre, NHIS Chairman of the Board.  “Some of the biggest stars in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, and Ryan Newman have developed their skills in USAC.  We are proud to be a part of this great tradition.”

           The New Hampshire 75 will also be the first USAC Silver Crown Series presented by K&N Engineering race ever run in New Hampshire and in New England.  “The Magic Mile” is the 41st track to host the USAC Silver Crown Series.

              “To say we are anything less than ecstatic about the USAC Silver Crown Series coming to New Hampshire International Speedway would be an understatement,” said USAC President/CEO Rollie Helmling.  “USAC participants and fans are thrilled to be included in this great racing weekend.  We have a strong fan following in New England and the addition of USAC Racing will greatly enhance what is already one of America's greatest racing weekends.”

              USAC was founded in 1955 and currently operates 19 series of automobile racing and annually sanctions and conducts in excess of 300 events.  In addition, USAC Properties Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of USAC, conducts land speed record trials and automotive testing for many leading manufacturers in the United States.  USAC is a member organization of the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS-FIA), which provides a direct link with the International motor sports governing body, and FIA, and in that capacity serves as the host nation organizing club for the United States Grand Prix.

      Good seats are available for the USAC Silver Crown Series presented by K&N Engineering New Hampshire 75 on Saturday, September 15.  Saturday’s schedule will also feature the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series New Hampshire 200 and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour New Hampshire 100.  Tickets may be ordered by calling Speedway Guest Services at (603) 783-4931 or by visiting the Speedway’s Web Site at www.nhis.com to purchase tickets online.

      Scott Fearn of Wilbraham has been absent from the southern New England racing wars for a bit. However, it didn't mean he gave it up. He's been successful as a car owner with the American Canadian Tour Series and the Thunder Road Speedway in VT. Fearn will have new driver in his Late Model this coming season in the form of Shawn Fluery of Middlesex, VT at the Quarry Hill oval. Also, the team's crew chief is top wrench Jeff Laquerre of E. Montpelier, VT.  While Fluery will be driving Shawn's car on Thursday nights and special dates at T Road, Fearn and Laquerre have a plan to field a second car in selected events for Tracie Bellerose of Gorham, NH. Bellerose is planning on a slow comeback to the northcountry racing action this season. Tracie had a promising career with ACT until a major accident cut that short three years ago. Bellerose suffered some severe broken bones in one of her arms as a result of the crash. Up until that  career ending injury, Tracie was told by the medical people that to continue racing and injuring that arm again could result in severe consequences. It appears that she feels ready to rejoining the racing this year at T Road.

        Two top flat track motorcycle riders will return to MotoTown in Windsor, CT on Saturday, March 24, 2007 for a rematch. Last month Kenny Coolbeth of Warren, CT showed his championship form when he  rode his  two Honda machines  to a pair of wins against Bryan McKenna of Plymouth in both the 250 Open and Premier  Class.  Both are team mates for the Bettencourt Honda/Suzuki dealership  in  W. Bridgewater.

       McKenna has managed to keep busy during the outdoor off-season doing some ice racing and his last outing at MotoTown in the middle of last month.  "The indoor ice racing is tough. Just qualifying for the main is a feat in itself. He finished sixth in Trenton, NJ and did even better in Lewiston, Maine where he came in fourth.  "You might say that those two races got me in shape for MotoTown's indoor race in February. You can get some traction on the ice with the right set-up. But, it's different on the dirt where you really have to focus on your next move like at MotoTown.  Well, the long and short of it is that doing this ice racing and the indoor dirt at MotoTown will  get me in the groove by the time the outdoor flat track season starts up in a few months," revealed McKenna.

      The Plymouth rider has been racing on the ice since 1990 even before he took up the flat track competition. An electrician by trade, his full time job takes him into the busy Boston area as well as to some jobs out on Nantucket Island off Cape Cod.  He's a graduate of Silver Lake Regional in Kingston, class of '91.  He also did some post grad work at Blue Hills Technical Institute/Massasoit Community College  in Canton.

      So how is going to do when he faces off against his Bettencourt Honda/Suzuki teammate and AMA Champion Ken Coolbeth  on Saturday, March 24?  "I think it will be better this time. Last month it was my first time on that short track. Kenny had an advantage over me because he was able to practice on the track earlier in the week. When I showed up race day it was the first time I saw the layout.  You know I do this racing thing part time while Kenny is a full time professional flat track racer. But now after the first race at MotoTown I've got the experience and I'm familiar with the track itself. I've got the suspension and gearing set-ups down pat, now. Provided the track conditions are the same, I expect to be a major threat to my teammate Ken Coolbeth," said McKenna who spoke with  a lot of insight. "I don't have that much to lose while it's a different story for Kenny.

    Bryan McKenna wants the fans and his peers to know that if wasn't for the support of his sponsors and family he wouldn't have the assets to compete in motorcycle racing.  "I really owe a lot to the Bettencourts of W. Bridgewater. Also to Factory Connection the suspension specialists in Rochester, NH. Nantucket Auto Supply out on that island and Berik Boot Co., the Italian boot company who makes motorcycle boots. In addition there's Acerbis the company that makes plastic motorcycle fenders and Regina Race Chains. Both of those companies are also in Italy. Then there's Fuel Clothing who do a lot of T-Shirts and Suomy Helmet Co., another supporter from Italy.  And I can't forget  my mom and dad who are always encouraging me."

     A practice session starting at 11 a.m. on race day will precede the Go-Kart events which will get the green flag wave off commencing at 12:30 p.m on Saturday, March 24. The Flat Track Motorcycles are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. post time. For further information on Round Two of three meets of the 2007 Sideways Promotions Indoor Series contact Pete Giammalvo, phone him at 978-874-1732 or e-mail peterg11@verizon.net on the internet. For complete schedule of classes go to www.sidewaysprom.com or check ot the facility at www.mototownusa.com webpages on the internet.

    According to Len Sammons of Area Auto Racing News the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will not be part of the late October Toyota Showdown held at the Irwindale (CA) Speedway. Rumors and some reports during the winter talked about the WMT joining the NASCAR Busch East and West Tours for the post season event out of the left coast. At the time we thought that this deal didn't make sense because because there's no equivalent Modified racing series out in California that could be combined, like the Busch East and West Series. Also, the expenses to drag race cars, crews and drivers across country is staggering not to mention the 40 hour Banzai drive without stopping coast-to-coast.   We really think that NASCAR would be better off picking a southern venue in the Carolinas where both the Whelen Southern and Modified Tours could be combined for a post season event.

    We caught up with Jimmy Rosenfield of Middleboro at the recent Speedway Expo held at the Big E in W. Springfield. Jimmy won the PASS Northeastern Regional Outlaw Late Model Series in 2006. The local driver plans to return to that circuit when it opens in this Spring.  "I'm not planning to race in any of the Southern Division races so you might say that I'm focusing on defending my title," he said.

     The recent Speedway Expo at the Big E in W. Springfield could have used some more representation from northern New England tracks. However, with the economy being what it is, we feel that we are now in a recession even though there are no acknowledgements from the government or the business sector. The culprit here is the high price of oil which has seen gasoline and heating oil prices up and down like a yo yo. In spite of all that show promoter Dick Berggren of Speedway Illustrated and Fox Sports Network's man in the pits is trying to revive the old Racearama which some perceive to be a "dead horse". We have to admit that there was a lot of excitement  at the show with a full agenda and schedule of things to do over the three days.  Berggren also brought in some top NASCAR names to spice up the show. That factor has been absent from this pre-season show for several years. However, the price to pull this off adds some serious money to the overhead and producing some high profile names.  The sponsor Town Fair Tire also offered discount tickets if you dropped by one of their many stores. We also thought that it was clever of the show promoters to offer a $5 discount against the purchase of a year's subscription to Speedway Illustrated a magazine covering stockcar racing by Berggren.  The price to park at the Big E was $5 and when you paid the fee you got the discount coupon.

          The Capeway Rovers in Middleboro gets the 2007 racing season off and running with the first round of three called the Jack Frost Series this Sunday at noon.  Last weekend's practice session was cancelled due to the weather.

    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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