June 4--- After a ten year hiatus, the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) returns to Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH this Saturday night, June 9. Since the time that NEMA raced at that track the roster of driving talent has changed. It will be a new venue of the likes of three time champ Ben Seitz of Monument Beach and Plymouth's Randy Cabral among the dominant drivers. Then there's  Erika Santos of Franklin and E. Bridgewater's Shane Hammond both also having an opportunity to shine at Madog.  They'll each get a flavor for the quarter-mile banked track in practice and qualifying heats prior to the feature event.
 
      In 20 NASCAR Busch Series races at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS), no driver has ever visited Victory Lane more than once.  Carl Edwards, David Green, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Jason Keller, and Matt Kenseth will be looking to end that streak at the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com on Saturday, June 30.
 
     Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer are among the many drivers who will be looking to keep the streak alive.  Bowyer has the added incentive of giving the event sponsor a win in his No. 2 Camping World Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
 
     “We’re really happy with our program for New Hampshire,” Bowyer says.  “It’s the type of racing I really enjoy.  For me to win the Camping World 200 in their car at NHIS would be a dream come true.”
 
            The NASCAR Busch Series Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com is part of a NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, June 30 that will also include the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour New England 100.  The final two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practice sessions for the LENOX Industrial Tools 300 will start this incredible day of racing action.
 
       Qualifying was held for all six Whelen All-American Series divisions before heavy rains hit Thompson International Speedway forcing Speedway management to cancel the night’s feature activities. Keith Rocco of Wallingford and Kerry Malone of Needham, MA, topped the heat races for the Sunoco Modified division while Jim Kiley, Jr. of Griswold and Mark Jenison of Danielson were tops in the Late Model heats.
 
      Larry Barnett of Ledyard and Jay Sundeen of Douglas, MA, were heat races winners as the Limited Sportsman competitors prepared for their marquee event of the season. The division’s 50-lap extra-distance race was scheduled to be the highlight of Thursday Night Thompson Thunder. Heat races were also held for the Pro Stock, Mini Stock and TIS Modified divisions.
 
      The Limited Sportsman division will get their chance to shine next week as the continuation of the race program will take place on June 7, 2007. All rain checks will be honored next week.  The feature only format will get underway at 6:15 p.m. after a lengthy practice session. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. Practice begins at 3:45. The main grandstand will be open to the public at 4:30 p.m.
 
         The month of June will bring racing activities at the Thompson International speedway to full song. Three of the four Thursday Night Thompson Thunder race programs will offer fans something special including the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
 
            Race number five on the “Tour” schedule will be run on Thursday, June 21st and will be presented by Charter Cable, Internet, Telephone. This will be the second appearance of the year for the NASCAR Whelen Modifieds at Thompson. The season began for NASCAR’s oldest division with the running of the ICEBREAKER back in April. That race was won by James Civali of Meriden, CT.  Civali beat Chuck Hossfeld, Ronnie Silk, Jimmy Blewett and Matt Hirschman to the finish line. It was a great victory for the sophomore driver who had to withstand a green-white-checkered finish in what turned out to be a 152 lap event.
 
            NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory lane has belonged to the young guns this season. Civali will be looking for his second win of the young ’07 campaign with the same being true for current points leader, Jimmy Blewett. However, Donny Lia has already scored two wins and will definitely be a threat when the Modifieds return to Thompson.  The ’07 season has not been kind to the veterans of this ultra-fast, open wheel division. Each one of those veterans will be looking to turn the tide in the 150 lap Thompson race.
 
            Leading the points race heading into the Thompson Charter Cable, Internet, Telephone 150 is Jimmy Blewett. He is followed by Civali, Matt Hirschman, Lia and ICEBREAKER Bud Pole winner, Todd Szegedy. The drivers at the top of the points standings reflect that same invasion of the young hot shoes who have dominated the  Tour’s first four events this year.
 
            Two of Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions will also be in the spotlight in June. The Late Model division drivers will run their longest race of the season, 50 laps, on June 14. The Sunoco Modifieds will also face a fifty-lap event on June 28.
 
            All of this action is packed into the first full month of the 2007 competition at the historic Connecticut oval and it sets the stage for similar excitement during the months of July, August and September. Thursday Night Thompson Thunder (TNTT) has become a fan favorite in southern New England and Thompson’s management has responded by presenting a full line up of exciting race events.
 
       AMA Racing has confirmed the official results from that Sunday’s Grand National Twins event from the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  Results were in question pending confirmation of the weight of race winner Ken Coolbeth’s motorcycle.
 
      Post race technical inspection had indicated that Coolbeth’s motorcycle may have been under the minimum weight limit as set forth in the AMA Flat Track Championship Rule Book. After calibration of the scales along with a separate measurement by Holtgreven Scale and Electronics Corporation of Findlay, Ohio, an accredited lab; It was determined that the motorcycle meets the weight limit.
 
       AMA Racing, Doug Neubauer, confirmed the findings. “We made the decision to send Ken’s (Coolbeth) motorcycle to the certified lab as a precaution based on what we found after Sunday’s race,” explained Neubauer. “We also took the opportunity to make certain our equipment is accurate.  We apologize for any inconvenience and confusion this may have caused, but are confident that it was the appropriate course of action given the circumstances.” Coolbeth currently resides in Morris, CT.
 
       A statement from Bob and Gary Bahre, Chairman of the Board and President of New Hampshire International Speedway, regarding the passing of Bill France, Jr.: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bill France, Jr.   Bill was not only a great friend of ours personally, but he was a great friend of the Speedway as well.  Our entire family will cherish the many memories that we shared with him.  His influence on the sport of auto racing will be felt forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with Betty Jane, Brian, Lesa, and the entire France family.”
 
       Seekonk Speedway managed to get last Saturday night's race card in spite of iffy weather. In the Pro Stock feature Tim Scully of RI managed to hold off Fred Astle of Westport in the 50 lapper. Dean Pettey of Assonet ended up settling for third place. Taunton's Ken Spencer wound up seventh, Scott Fournier of Berkley took eighth, Rochester's Brian Murphy was next and Scituate's Steve O'Brien cracked the top ten. Scott Dion of Taunton ended the night in 13th with Raynham's Todd Henshaw 15th and then John Dabrowski of W. Bridgewater.
 
    In the Late Models Rhode Island's Gary DeGasapari came home first while fifth place went to Avon's Mike Becker. Norton's Mark Hudson took down eighth while Dick Benoit of Middleboro ended up 12th with Barry Shaw of Holbrook took 15th at the finish line. Sport Truck action had Mike Cavallaro taking the checkered flag while Rochester's Adam Murphy was the runner-up. Zach Tucan of Taunton was next then Alan Jeffery of Middleboro while Hugh Bowser of Taunton cracked the top five with Brockton's John Dumas taking a seventh at the finish line.  Paul Lallier won the Street Stock main while Taunton's Mike Lema came in fifth. Going down through the finishers Frank Duquette of Freetown placed eighth and Chris DeMoura was 21st.  Jesse State of NY won the USAC Ford Focus Midget feature while Kingston's Nick Ribbe was seventh at the checkered flag. Ribbe raced previously in Seekonk's various divisions but decided to try tour racing with the USAC Ford Focus Series.
 
     Even though it was overcast and threatening rain all day on Sunday, June 3, the 3rd Annual Norwood Arena Reunion held at Bezema Buick, Pontiac, GMC went off without any interruption. The US Route 1 AutoMile managed to escape heavy rain while nearby cities and towns were hit with major downpours. Never the less, the biggest crowd ever along with a record number of antique race cars and classic cars converged on Marty Bezema's dealership early in the morning.
 
      The Antique Race Cars came from the NEAR, STARS and ACOT clubs while the Mass. Cruisers, Canton Classics clubs and others comprised the street car contingent.  Each car, classics and racecars, were given a dash plaque as a souvenir of their participation. Mary Lema of STARS and Peter Newcomb of NEAR both judged the Street Classics with Steve Delaney of Dedham getting the Best of Show Trophy for his black 68 Camaro. Jim Keating of the Sharon Drag Lynx and Canton Classics judged the antique race cars with Fred Levange's #41 Chevy yellow/blue NASCAR Modified, out of Easton,  was picked as the top race car among the large group of participants. It was a restored Brady Bunch machine driven by various drivers including Leo Cleary of Hanover.
 
    There wasn't any shortage of well know drivers from the Norwood Arena Speedway era who showed up for this event.  Among them were Bill Slater of Manchester, CT, NASCAR Modified Champ Ernie Gahan of Berwick, ME, three time NASCAR Modified titlist Bugs Stevens of Rehoboth, Norwood Mini Stock and Pro 4 Modified Tour champ Jerry Capazzolli of Stoughton, Don McCullough of Walpole, Leo Cleary, George Savary of Westwood, George Summers of Upton, Dave Dion of Hudson, NH, Jeff Horne of Ashland, Jim Buck of Walpole, Jack Malone of Needham, Dick Jackson of Norfolk, Jack and Jim Darlington, both of Foxborough, Buddy Cook of Wrentham and the host Marty Bezema, Sr. of that same town. Also present was car owner Joe Brady of Brockton who is still active on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with driver Jerry Marquis of CT. Officials present were Norwood Chief Steward and Race Director Carl Merrill and Flagman/Starter Dan Brundage. Also on hand was Maury Dumas a former NEMA Midget Flagman/Starter and current NHIS Victory Lane Coordinator.
 
    A light lunch of cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hotdogs and chips was served, courtesy of Marty Bezema, Sr.,  in the on site Marty's Cafe where drivers, officials and fans talked about the glory days of Norwood Arena during the Midget, Cutdowns, NASCAR Modifieds and the Late Model Sportsman years at the now long gone Norwood Arena.

   Norwoodarena.com webmaster Don Thomas, formerly of Mansfield, served up some racing tapes in the service bay converted over from 8 mm color films on a TV monitor of the glory days of NASCAR racing at Norwood Arena. Thomas made his annual trip from Fremont, CA to  be at the Norwood Arena Reunion. Representatives of Coastal .181 were also on hand with the latest racing books covering the local and the national circuits.
 
    Marty Bezema, Sr. reflected on the passing of two top former wheelmen at the Norwood Arena such as Bobby Sprague of Foxborough, Bob Santos of Millis and Fitzie Fitzgerald  and how they were missed this year.  The entire driver entourage in attendance posed for a group picture. Peter Newcomb of NEAR also presented Marty Bezema, Sr. with an appreciation plaque for holding the Norwood Arena Reunion for the last three years.
 
   Steve Rubin of Needham, who is the concessionaire at the Thompson Speedway in CT., dropped by and gave the first six classic car entries a pair of tickets to the Thursday Night Thunder events which will be scheduled now through September at that 5/8 mile oval.
 
    If you missed the 3rd Annual Norwood Arena Reunion and any of the previous editions you will get another chance next year. And if you have attended all three just  mark your calendar right now for the 4th Annual Norwood Arena Reunion for Sunday, June 1, 2008.
 
     Let's see what's happening this weekend in southern New England. he NASCAR Busch East Series makes it's first New England appearance of the season at the Stafford Speedway in CT on Friday night. Seekonk Speedway goes to a two night a week format with Mini Cups, Karts and Pure Stocks set for Friday night. On Saturday the Cement Palace  adds the Pro 4 Modifieds while the Waterford Speedbowl in CT hosts the True Value Modified Series for the second time this year which gives W. Bridgewater's Jimmy Kuhn a shot at taking his first win of the season.  Jet Wars at the New England Dragway in Epping, NH are on for Saturday and Sunday.

    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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