March 12--- Matt Kobyluck's #40 Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet picked up an award as the Best Touring Division Racer at last weekend's SpeedwayEXPO, which was held in West Springfield at the Big E Exposition Center. Kobyluck's car was on display in the NASCAR exhibit for nearly 10,000 people who attended the show to view.

           "It's quite an honor for the judges to recognize our car as the best," said Kobyluck.  "Our team was impressed with the entire show. It had a great turnout by both participants and fans, and it was really a great way to kick off the 2007 season."

           Kobyluck was one of more than a dozen drivers to participate in the Regional Touring Division autograph session held on Saturday, and the team also brought a spec engine to the show for NASCAR to display in their booth.

           The show was organized by Dick Berggren's Speedway Illustrated magazine. More than three acres of indoor building space was used to house a massive display of race track organizations, touring divisions, and special events dedicated to the motorsports industry.

           Kobyluck's unique orange, purple, black, and white paint scheme drew the attention of judges and fans alike. The sweeping flames and deep, bright colors have always been a favorite among Busch East Series fans. "The crew does a great job with the paint design on the Mohegan Sun Chevrolet," said Kobyluck. "They are the ones that deserve all the attention for how good the cars look. That's why I've decided to let the guys have this trophy for the shop."

           Kobyluck will campaign for the 2007 Busch East Series Championship in 2007 with backing from the Mohegan Sun Casino. In addition, the team plans on running two NASCAR West Series races beginning with the NASCAR West Series 150 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 19th.

       Frank Ruocco calls last year’s victory in the SK-150 at the Waterford (CT) Speedbowl “one of the biggest accomplishments I’ve had in racing.” A second straight SK-150 win would be “incredible, unbelievable,” and he has “definite plans” to do just that.

     The SK-150 tops the bill for the Speedbowl’s season opening March 31-April 1 Budweiser Modified Nationals. The granddaddy of the extra-distance, extra-money SK-Modified events, the 11th annual SK-150 is part of a menu that also includes extra-distance races for the Speedbowl’s other NASCAR Whelen All-America Series divisions – the Late Models (50 laps), Sportsman (30)
and Mini Stocks (30).

    The Northeastern Midget Association, Legends, AllStar Trucks, Pro4 Modifieds and Allison Legacy Cars are on the schedule as well.  “We’re coming with plans to win it again,” continues Ruocco. “I’m just not sure Kenny Horton will let me do that.” Horton, who finished second last year after coming from the rear, remembers a bumping incident with Ruocco two laps from the checkered.

      “I’m going to finish ahead of Frank whatever it takes,” says Horton who plans a full assault on the 2007 Speedbowl title.   “Everybody knows we’re good friends and we’re both very competitive,” says Ruocco. “It was a great race last year. We were able to dice it up pretty good and I’m looking forward to doing it again. If it comes down to Kenny and me again I will be pleased.”

    Last year the top seven cars were in the third and fourth turns at the checkered, a fact not lost on Ruocco. It will be, in fact, a much deeper field led by Speedbowl regulars like defending champion Dennis Gada, Tommy Fox, Rob Janovic Jr., Jeff Pearl, Shawn and Diego Monahan, Jeffrey Paul and Frank Mucciacciaro Jr.  Ted Christopher, Dennis Charette, Rob Summers, Doug Coby and Jay Miller are other threats.

    “You have to be conservative for 100 laps and then you have to go because there is no way you can plan the cautions,” offers Ruocco. He hopes to join Eric Berndt as the only two-time SK-150 winner, Berndt doing it back to back in 2001 and ’02.  A good time trial, he adds, is also vital. “That’s especially true at the Speedbowl,” he explains. “The winner usually starts near the front.”

    SK time trials will be first on Saturday’s schedule followed by heats and consis for the other divisions. The Legends, Pro4, Legacy and AllStar Truck features will follow. The Midgets share Sunday with the SKs, Late Models, Sportsman and Minis. A Pit Party kicks off Sunday’s activity.

      Thompson (CT) International Speedway will soon be ready to open the gates for a brand new season of NASCAR racing. The  Connecticut speedway will host two open practice sessions before the official opening of the season. That opening will be the running of the ICEBREAKER on the weekend of April 14 and 15, 2007.

           Even though snow and ice still cover much of the facility, Thompson’s staff is busy in preparation for the first open practice day scheduled for Saturday, March 31st. The pit area will open at 11 AM so that once 12 Noon arrives, the practice sessions can begin. Racecars will be allowed onto the speedway by division and practice will be run in a “round robin” format until 6 PM. The same procedure will be followed on the second day of open practice which is scheduled for Saturday, April 7th.

           Each year competitors take full advantage of this valuable track time to prepare for the season-opening ICEBREAKER. The two-day Thompson ICEBREAKER will feature seven different racing divisions lead by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Joining the Whelen Tour will be all six of Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All American Series (NWAAS) divisions. They include the Sunoco Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Late Models, Thompson Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.

           Race teams continue to register with the speedway and secure car numbers before the season opens. Anyone looking to secure a car number is urged to check the track’s web page first. Click on ‘rosters’ to see what numbers are available in each of the six NWAAS divisions. Car numbers are being assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

           Schedule highlights at Thompson include five appearances by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, a NEMA Midget special, the annual 100 lap race for the NASCAR Busch East Series, an entire day set aside for a Vintage Antique Car Extravaganza and Truck Show, Modified Mania, the incredible World Series of Speedway Racing, the annual Eve of Destruction and Don Hoenig’s Swap Meet and Flea Market. Add to these highlights, weekly Thursday Night Thompson Thunder racing and fans have yet another season of fun, excitement and unequaled

    The first annual SpeedwayEXPO presented by Town Fair Tire at the Big E in W. Springfield is now history. After a weekend heaving with activity dedicated to auto racing, exhibitors and visitors alike were left hoping that history will repeat itself.

      "We were delighted to hear from so many people who said they had a good time at SpeedwayEXPO," said Dick Berggren, executive editor of Speedway Illustrated Magazine, which hosted EXPO. "The celebrities who came to sign autographs, the pedal car races, motorized beer cooler races, seminars and car displays were all hits. Every vendor I talked to said they want to come back next year. So, we're looking forward to the 2008 SpeedwayEXPO and are planning an even bigger event."

    Those walking through the doors of the three-day event were greeted with a large and varied assortment of exhibits. The center aisle fairly vibrated with authentic race cars from the likes of New Hampshire International Speedway, Thompson International Speedway, Bear Ridge Motor Speedway and Lebanon Valley Dragway & Speedway, as well as groups such as the Quaboag Riders, the WKA Northeast Pavement Series, the Killington Sports Car Club and a host of others, including the Northeast's top touring series, the ACT Tour and the growing True Value Modified Racing Series.

     "We wanted to offer something for everyone involved in auto racing, at every level," said Cal Green, head of exhibit sales. "Whether you're a competitor, a die-hard enthusiast or a more casual fan, you could find your niche at SpeedwayEXPO."

    SpeedwayEXPO honored outstanding exhibits with show awards in several categories. The weekend's big winner was STAR, the Senior Tour Auto Racers, whose 1950s theme infused their display of vintage race cars and took Best of Show  honors. The WKA Northeast Pavement Series was honored with Junior Best of Show  for a landscape design that showed off their immaculate go-karts. A large gear was the backdrop of Jones Racing Products Best Commercial Display winner, and Thompson grabbed Best Track/Racing Organization honors. Thanks to a tremendous effort, the Boivin Racing family earned the trophy for Best Independent/Individual Car Display.

     In the vehicle categories, 12 teams were honored for their beautifully prepared racers. Winners included Les Hinckley and Chuck Montville for the Best Open-Wheel; Mike O'Sullivan for Best Full-Bodied Car; Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. for Best Late Model/Pro Stock; Bobby Melvin for Best Street/Strictly Stock and Tommy McVay for Best Mini Stock. Best Drag Racer went to Ronny Deedy while the Best Touring Division Racer was Matt Kobyluck's Mohegan Sun Busch East Series entry. Jaime Martel, daughter of Supermodified competitor Scotty Martel, scored Best Go-Kart/Quarter Midget honors and Jim Lowrey, Jr.'s nostalgic car won Best Vintage Racer. Kenny Barry of SPAFCO Race Chassis received the Fabricating Marvel Award and Jimmy Phelps and H&H Motorsports were honored with the Best Presentation of Paint & Design award.


       The show was packed with cars and vendors, wrote attendee John Sirko of Enfield, CT, in an email after EXPO. "I hope you will have the 2nd annual SpeedwayEXPO next year. I look forward to coming back year after year! Congratulations on a great show."

     Most motorheads also enjoy fishing and can take in this weekend's Mass. Striped Bass Annual Sports Fishing Show at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough in the Fidelity Center. Also getting underway on Sunday is Round 2 of 4 of the Jack Frost MotoX Series at the Capeway Rovers in Middleboro.

    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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