June 19---The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return to the Thompson International Speedway this  Thursday, June 21 for the Charter Cable, Internet, Telephone 150.  This will be the second of five Whelen Modified tour events to be featured at the historic Connecticut oval.

            Leading the "Tour" line up will be current points leader Jimmy Blewett. Blewett is but one of the exciting crop of young drivers who have captured the top spots and the imaginations of race fans in the first four "Tour" events of the young 2007 season. The invasion of the "young guns" has created a frenzy among Whelen Modified Tour fans. NASCAR's oldest division has traditionally been lead by crafty veterans and not up-and- coming young drivers. However, the incredible talent displayed by this young crop of drivers has had a profound impact on the interest of both race fans and the media. As a result, the Thompson race on June 21st is expected to bring out NASCAR Modified fans from far and wide to witness this possible changing of the guard.

            While many have been predicting this change, the veteran drivers are not about to pack it in. Not one has demonstrated concern for the over 40 crowd. In fact, most long-time Modified experts express confidence that the many years of experience will provide the veterans with a winning hand before the season reaches the mid way point.

            Defending Champion, Mike Stefanik's season got off to a rough start when he was forced out of the season-opening Thompson ICEBREAKER with mechanical problems. Mechanical ills also played a role the efforts of Ed Flemke, Ted Christopher and Jerry Marquis. Other long-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers that did not fare well at Thompson were victims of on-track accidents. They included names like Rick Fuller, Reggie Ruggiero, and Tony Hirschman.

            As a result of the season's early results, fans can expect to see the veterans looking for a strong run when the green flag drops on the Charter Cable, Internet and Telephone 150. Grandstands will open at 2 PM and Whelen Modified Tour Time Trials will be held at 5:45 PM. The 150-lap main event or the "Tour" is slated to roll off at 8:30 PM.

            Joining the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be Thompson's NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions in feature only appearances. All six of these divisions will be part of the special night of competition at Thompson.

     Woody Pitkat of CT has been a hard-working driver over the last few seasons.  He has been grooming himself for that one chance to showcase his talent in front of a major NASCAR touring division crowd by working hard  in the race shop and driving three or four different racecars on a given weekend at tracks throughout the Northeast.  He's been led down roads towards big-time rides, but the last pieces of the puzzle never came together for Pitkat to make the move up.

       The hard work over the years did, however, lead to the pinnacle of Pitkat's on-track career thus far, when Pitkat scored the Sunoco Modified division track championship at Thompson International Speedway (CT), the Late Model crown at his home track of Stafford Motor Speedway, plus the lucrative NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Divisional championship in 2006. Finally, all of the puzzle pieces fit perfectly.  Pitkat's diligence in the shop and behind the wheel have earned the young Connecticut driver one of the most sought-after rides in all of short track racing, the #79 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour ride with Hillbilly Racing.

      "David Hill called me last night just to tell me pretty much that I had the ride," said Pitkat.  "I had talked to them over the last couple days or so.  Every time he called, I just answered the questions that he asked and sent him the emails that he wanted.   "You get the types of people that always get you full of high expectations and always give you this big line, but at the end when you think something's going to happen, they fold up.  I told David last night that everything he said he was going to do, he's done.   He's stuck to everything.  I told him that made me even happier to work with him because of his honesty.  He really appreciated that, and I really appreciate him and his family giving me this opportunity."

       Hillbilly Racing, owned by Roger and Sandra Hill of North Carolina (their son David is the crew chief on the #79), is one of the elite teams in NASCAR's oldest division, the Whelen Modified Tour.  In recent seasons, Modified veterans Ed Flemke, Jr., Ted Christopher and Chuck Hossfeld have brought the #79 to plenty of success in both the NASCAR Whelen Tour and its sister series based in the Southeast, but when the team parted ways with its most recent driver Hossfeld, Pitkat wanted to be the next driver to put the Hills' #79 into victory lane.

       "To be fortunate enough to get thrown into a situation with a good team like that is unbelievable," added Pitkat.  "It's a championship-caliber team.  They've got all the right stuff.  It's going to be big shoes to fill with all the great drivers that they've had.  But David just told me there was no added pressure on me and not to be nervous.  Just go out there and do what I can do.  I know once I get in the car, though, it will be just like anything I've ever done.  I'm just going to go out and do the best I can just like always."

        Pitkat's first Whelen Tour event on Thursday, June 21 at Thompson may be his debut in the #79 car, but it will be in a very familiar setting.  Not only is he a track champion at Thompson and a veteran of the weekly racing at the 5/8-mile track, but Pitkat has also been grooming himself for the Whelen Tour ranks by turning wrenches for several teams in recent years.

"I've been working on the Tour over the last couple years, starting with Doug Coby, and this year with James Civali and the King Racing team.  I've been getting to know people and getting familiar with the cars and the way everything's run. "This deal in the #79 is like a dream come true for me.  This year I've been working with the King team, and they have RaceWorks chassis cars.  The True Value Modified Series car I run sometimes is a RaceWorks car, and I'm going to be running a RaceWorks car now on the Tour.  I think with me working with teams that run those kinds of cars is just going to speed up the learning process a lot and should get us going a lot quicker at Thompson."

       Pitkat's jump to the Whelen Modified Tour does not mean that he will leave his weekly rides at both Stafford and Thompson.  Pitkat still plans to compete in the Sunoco Modifieds at Thompson and the SK and Late Model divisions at Stafford Friday nights in addition to every Whelen Mod Tour race for the remainder of the year. "If it wasn't for The Davidson Company, the guys who own my cars and my crews, and them leading me to the championships and the Regional points championship, my phone probably would've never rung for this opportunity.  I don't want to just throw them to the curb because they've been so good to me.  I'm going to finish the year and still do the best that we can with them." Pitkat's first Whelen
Modified Tour race with the Hillbilly Racing team starts at Thompson this Thursday night.

      Tony Stewart has entered the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) on Saturday, June 30.  The Rushville, Ind. native will drive the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Old Spice Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com will be the second NASCAR Busch Series race that Tony has entered at "The Magic Mile".  Stewart had a second place finish in the Gumout Long Life Formula 200 in May of 1998 in his only other Busch Series start at NHIS.

      For Tony the key to success on the 1.058 mile oval is simple. "It's just a matter of keeping a well-balanced car all day," Stewart says.   "It seems like you can have bad track position, but if you have a car that drives well, you can drive your way to the front."

       The Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com is part of a racing doubleheader which will also see the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour compete in the New England 100.  The doubleheader follows the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practice sessions for the LENOX Industrial Tools 300.  Tony Stewart will be seeking his third NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victory at "The Magic Mile" on Sunday, July 1.

    After a comprehensive review of the "Flash" format, NASCAR has announced changes effective for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at Twin State Speedway in Claremont (N.H.) Sunday, July 8. The race, the seventh in the 16-race schedule, will be 100 laps in length. The 30-car field will be set through time trials and twin heat races.

       "After evaluating the first-ever NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour "Flash" event at Wall, we have decided to tweak the format for the upcoming "Flash" event at Twin State Speedway," said George Silbermann, NASCAR managing director of racing operations. "These adjustments strive to enhance the quality of the show, while maintaining overall goals and objectives for growing the Tour."

Qualifying will be as follows:

> All cars will time trial. The top 20 percent of cars entered will be locked into the feature, and will redraw for starting spots. For example, if 40 cars are entered, the top eight cars in time trials will advance to the feature and redraw for the first eight spots.

> The remaining cars entered will be divided into twin 25-lap heat races. The heat lineups will be set by qualifying lap time, with the odd numbered qualifiers in one heat race and the even numbered in the other.

> Cautions will not be counted for the heat race nor the first 50-laps of the feature. Caution laps will be counted for scoring purposes for the final 50 laps of the feature.

These changes will be in effect for the "Flash" event at Twin State Speedway and will be assessed further prior to the season's final "Flash" event at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway Aug. 4.

        This Saturday, June 23 the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) heads to the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, CT, for the second of four visits scheduled at the facility for the 2007 season. In the season opener, the Bertrand Motorsports team dominated with a one-two punch by winner Lou Cicconi, Jr. of Aston, PA, and runner-up Randy Cabral of Plymouth. The Club hopes to avoid another knock-out punch by Mother Nature and run the Speedbowl race on schedule. The 2007 season has been plagued by rain and the Club is hoping for a sunny weekend when they head to one of the most competitive facilities on their schedule.

       For many years, the historic shoreline oval has been the site of many exciting Midget races. In recent years, the likes of Cabral, Joey Payne, Ben Seitz of Monument Beach and Franklin's Bobby Santos have provided the thrills. Veteran Nokie Fornoro has been outstanding in recent visits to the Speedbowl but have had to chase the Club's young lions.

      The Bertrand Motorsports Team would like nothing more than a repeat of their April feat; however, Payne has proved to be a worthy opponent for the Super Team with a podium finish in the opener and a victory at All-Star Speedway last month. Defending Series Champion, Ben Seitz was a three-time race winner at Waterford in 2005 but was shut out of victory lane at the Speedbowl in 2006. Without a win to his credit in the short season thus far, the ultra-competitive Seitz is undoubtedly very hungry for a win this weekend.

      Pete Pernesiglio of Lake Grove, NY, cannot be counted out either. This former NEMA winner has put together two very strong runs this season and looks poised to make his return to victory lane. Adam Cantor and Ryan Dolan are looking to end winless streaks as well.  In 2005, Tim Heath scored his first career win at the Speedbowl. Other likely candidates to score their first victory at the shoreline oval include Shane Hammond of E. Bridgewater and Erica Santos of Franklin. The famous #29 of the Seymour Family has visited victory lane a number of times at the Speedbowl in recent years with the likes of Randy Cabral and Bobby Santos at the helm. Rookie contender Aaron Wall could join the ranks of both categories.

       On Saturday, the Northeastern Midget Association will join a full-slate of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition featuring SK Modifieds, Late Models, Sportsman and Mini Stocks. All the action gets underway on Saturday with practice at 2:30 p.m.  Grandstands open at 3 p.m. with general admission for adults at $14.00. Children are admitted for $5.00. Qualifying begins at 5 p.m. and includes 10-lap heat races for the NEMA Midgets. Features will go green at 7 p.m.

     Ken Coolbeth of Morris, CT finished eighth in the Peoria, Ill AMA Hotshoe flat track motorcycle race which was won by Henry Wiles of MI. In the point chase Sam Holbert of WA leads the tally while Jared Mees of MI is second. Coolbeth, sponsored by Bettencourt Honda/Suzuki of W. Bridgewater, is fifth overall. Each rider has taken one event this season.

       AMA standout Ken Coolbeth, Jr. of Warren, CT also made a cameo appearance at the Ben Campanale Memorial Flat Track Motorcycle race held at the Rochester (NH) Fairgrounds during Laconia Bike Week. Ken was aboard his HD machine in the Twin event besting Ohio's Daniel Gedeon and New York's Weidman for the podium positions. The Harley machines swept the top nine positions at the finish while Toby Stay of NY managed to put his Suzuki in ninth place while Eldred Bristol of CO rode his Aprilla to tenth.

        The top nine finishers in the 450 Pro Series were all on board Hondas starting with Michigan's Logan Meyers, Ohio's Dan Gedeon and New York's Matt Weidman. Adam Laviolette of Palmer came in ninth.  Shane Narbonne of Lowell took the 450 Pro Sport aboard his Honda ahead of Ben Evans of Ohio (Yamaha) and Thomas Connel of NY (Honda).  Local favorite Troy Estabrook of Londonderry, NH ended the night in fourth riding his Honda while Bryan McKenna of Plymouth came in seventh at the finish line aboard his Bettencourt Honda entry.

     A pair of New York State riders Ryan Wells and Michael Linehart were the top two in the 85 CC event while Alex Paquette of nearby Milton, NH completed the podium. All were riding Honda powered machines. The Vintage event  Ed Fatzinger of PA, riding his Triumph took that event while Henry Landry of Concord, NH put his Bultaco in second place while James Poole of Berwick, ME cracked the top three with his Honda machine. James Rispoli of Attica, NY, at the controls of his Woods Rotax, was the top Sportsman besting Dennis Flynn and Michael Radley, two other Honda riders making the tow in from the Empire State, were next to complete the podium finish.   Shawn Ford of Repentigny, Que. came in fourth.

      Jared Mees, the 2004 AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year, leads the AMA Grand National Twins Championship for the first time in his young career as the series moves to Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., this Saturday, June 23. Even though the Pennsylvania native is excited to be leading the series, he's realistic about what it means this early in the season. "It's nice for our sponsors and to be able tell friends and fans that you're leading the point standings," said Mees, who rides Johnny Goad-tuned race bikes for Blue Springs Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson/Saddlemen. "I know in reality though that we're only two races into the championship and I'm only one point ahead of Kenny Coolbeth. It's a tight championship and I think it could be that way the entire year."

    On the AMA Hillclimb circuit, Tiverton, RI rider Ryan Thiebault took a sixth at Steel City, PA in a race won by Phil Libhart of PA who leads the point chase. Ryan is fourth overall. Thiebault also competes in the Unlimiteds where he placed tenth. Anthony DeHart was the winner and leads the points in that class while Thiebault is fourth.

     Franklin standout racer Bob Santos, III continues to maintain high national visibility as he won a major sprint car race out at Indianapolis (IN) Raceway Park  last weekend. Elsewhere, The True Value Modified Series race that the Lee USA Speedway last weekend proved that the home court advantage works. Tyngsboro driver Louis Melichides posted the win. Jim Kuhn of W. Bridgewater came in fourth while Vinnie Annarummo of Swansea ended up 11th. Tom Cravenho of Raynham, who races a Sk Modified at Thompson (CT) Speedway, entered by didn't make the cut in qualifying. Rick Martin of Westport continues to race far from his home base. Martin took a 14th place in last weekend's PASS DNK 150 at Unity Raceway in ME. Henry Stampfl of Plainville won the Modified feature at the All-Star Speedway in Epping, NH last weekend.

        At Seekonk Dave Darling took another Pro Stock feature last Saturday night. Dean Pettey of Assonet took the runner-up spot while Taunton's Ken Spencer came in third. Scott Fournier of Berkley cracked the top ten. Holbrook's Barry Shaw won the Late Model feature at the Cement Palace while Avon's Mike Becker ended the night in fifth. Rochester's Adam Murphy won the Sport Truck main event while Middleboro's Andy Jeffery came in third with Zach Tucan of Taunton recording a sixth place and Steve Dumas of Brockton finished seventh. A night earlier at the Route 6 oval Chris Igo of Easton took a third in the SYRA 600 Mini Cup feature while fourth went to Tim Brown of Norton and Holbrook's Robert Perry came in seventh. Wayne Woodworth of Hanson ended up sixth in the Pure Stocks. Matt Burke of Plymouth placed second in the SYRA 750 Mini Cup feature while East Taunton's Jariah Rodrick took a fifth and sixth went to Brian Mondeau of Bridgewater.

       Let's see what else is happening on southern New England tracks this weekend.  On Friday it's NASCAR Weekly Racing Series action at the Stafford (CT) Speedway with Fast Friday going at Seekonk with three divisions including Pure Stocks, Karts and SYRA (Mini Cups).  Seekonk adds the True Value Modified Series to the race card on Saturday night while Whip City in Westfield offers Mini Sprints and 4 Cylinder Street Stocks. On Sunday Stafford hosts a motorcycle swap meet all day. For the drag racing crowd it's Import Wars on Saturday and Jr. Dragsters going off on Sunday starting at 8 a.m. each day.

    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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