July 10, Brockton, MA--- In an outstanding show of support for those who serve, Thompson (CT) International Speedway will host  “Freedom Team Salute Day” in conjunction with their annual “Full Fender Frenzy” 14 July 2007.  Track owner Don Hoenig has offered free admission to the event to all those currently serving in the military who attend in uniform and present a current military I.D.  Soldiers and families who attend will witness a full day of racing beginning at noon and culminating at 8:30 p.m. when the green flag flies to start a 100-lap NASCAR Busch East race.
 
    The event, which will be held at Thompson Connecticut’s storied 5/8th-mile-high-banked-oval, will also recognize three Connecticut citizens who have gone out of their way to support the troops.  “Freedom Team Salute” is a national US Army program that gives Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers the opportunity to recognize and honor a parent’s service, a spouse’s commitment, and an employer’s long-standing support with a Commendation tailored to their contribution.  Brigadier General Steven Scorzato, Assistant Adjutant General, CT National Guard, will serve as the event’s grand marshal as well as present the Freedom Team Salute Awards.
 
      In addition to a full-day of racing, fans will also be able to interact with soldiers in Thompson’s midway.  Climbing walls, games, equipment displays and even Casey Mears’ #25 National Guard Nextel Cup Car will be on display throughout the day.  Soldiers will perform several pre-race activities including the National Anthem which will be sung by Specialist Matthew Martin of the 102d Army Band, Bristol CT.
 
       Bobby Santos III of Franklin won the  Lucas Oil USAC National Sprint Car Race At Richmond International Raceway in VA. Santos is a pretty busy guy racing in NASCAR Modifieds, True Value Modifieds, NASCAR Busch Series and the ARCA stockcar circuit. He's scheduled to race every weekend coast-to-coast until mid-November.
 
     The NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series event to be held at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) on Friday, September 14 will be named the Aubuchon Hardware 125 presented by HardwareStore.com.
 
     Aubuchon’s CEO, William Aubuchon III, proudly stated “We are thrilled by the honor – there are a number of ways that we were hoping to commemorate our approaching 100th Anniversary in business that we will be celebrating next year – this is certainly a unique one.  We want to thank DuPont driveway sealer for their participation in this event.”
 
      Family-owned since 1908, Aubuchon Hardware operates more than 130 hardware stores throughout Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut and Upstate New York.  Aubuchon Hardware is a neighborhood hardware store, offering just what you need at prices you can afford and the help you would expect from a friend.
 
     “We are proud that Aubuchon Hardware will be sponsoring our September Busch East race as they begin to celebrate their 100th Anniversary,” said Bob Bahre, Chairman of the Board of New Hampshire International Speedway.  “Their support of this event is another great example of the popularity of NASCAR racing here in the Northeast.”
 
         The Aubuchon Hardware 125 presented by HardwareStore.com is the twelfth event of the 2007 NASCAR Busch East Series schedule.  The event will be telecast live at 5:00 p.m. EDT on HDNet and tape delayed on SpeedChannel.
 
      Marc Curtis, Jr. of Worcester returned to the weekly ACT racing at the Thunder Road Intl. Speedbowl in Barre, VT last week and finished ninth in the Late Model Sportsman feature.
 
     In Thursday Night Thunder at Thompson Speedway Keith Rocco won the Sunoco Modified main with Raynham's Tom Cravenho taking fourth while Kerry Malone of Needham came in sixth. The Thompson Modified main was taken by Kurt Vigeant of CT and Leo Oliveria of Rayham broke the top five. Mike Viens of Seekonk was seventh and Richie Ferriera of Raynham was eighth.  RI driver Rick Gentes won the Late Model feature while Plymouth's Paul Newcomb was seventh.  Mike O'Sullivan of Springfield won the Pro Stock main while Dave Berghman of Seekonk had to settle for runner-up. Fred Astle, Jr. of Westport took a fourth and E. Wareham's Les Rose was seventh. Ben Seitz of Monument Beach won the NEMA Midget feature with Greg Stoehr of Bridgewater next and then Plymouth's Randy Cabral. Shane Hammond of E. Bridgewater was ninth, Erica Santos of Franklin came in 12th, Corey Cleary of Plymouth was next while Paul Scally of Raynham took 15th and 19th went to Holbrook's Paul Luggelle.
 
       Jimmy Kuhn, Jr. of W. Bridgewater saw action last weekend in the True Value Modified Series at the Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH. He ended up seventh in a race won by NH driver Kirk Alexander. Vinnie Annarummo of Swansea was 12th in that one.
 
      Seekonk's Pro Stock main was won by Mike Brightman of Acushnet who kept Taunton's Ken Spencer in second at the finish. Hometown driver Dave Darling was next, then Fred Astle, Jr. of Westport and Rob Murphy of Rochester cracked the top five.  Berkley's Scott Fournier was sixth. John Dabrowski of W. Bridgewater  ended the night in ninth while Dean Pettey of Assonet broke into the top ten.  Taunton's Scott Dion was 13th, Matt Proc of N. Dighton took 16th and Raynham's Todd Henshaw was 17th. In the Late Models Gary DeGasparre of RI came over the line first ahead of Avon's Mike Becker. Barry Shaw of Holbrook took an eighth while John Debrowski of W. Bridgewater had double duty and came in 13th.
 
     On the same card RI driver Charlie Rose, Jr. won the Sport Truck main beating Rochester's Adam Murphy to the stripe. Zach Tucan of Taunton ended up fourth while Andy Jeffery of Middleboro managed to place tenth and E. Wareham's Karl Brimlist was next. Taunton's Mike Lema won the the Street Stock feature. Lakeville's Elmer Wing, III of Lakeville came in 16th, Mark Henshaw, Jr. of Raynham was 22nd and Frank Duquette of E. Freetown placed 26th. Taunton's Tom Blackwell came in 14th in the Pure Stock Feature.
 
       On the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Twin State Speedway in Claremont, NH James Civalli of CT won while Jerry Marquis driving the Brady Bunch entry out of Brockton came in sixth. Canton's Rick Savary was 18th, Bob Grigas of Marshfield had an accident and ended up 23rd while Dick Houlihan of Bridgewater placed 25th. In the point tally Marquis is 11th,
Savary is 14th, Houlihan is 16th and Grigas holds down 20th position.
 
      Suddenly there is a four-way battle for the SK-Modified championship at Waterford Speedbowl. Only 30 points separate first through fourth heading into the 35-lap feature that highlights Saturday’s five-division program.  Rob Janovic Jr., who took the lead last week, is a mere four points up on Shawn Monahan. Six-time champ Dennis Gada (-30) and Jeff Pearl (-38) have jumped into the championship battle as well. A 30-lap Late Model Sportsman and 20-lappers for the Sportsman, Mini Stocks and Legends are also on the agenda. Qualifying begins at 5 p.m.  with features at 7 p.m.
 
     In the AMA GNC Twin flat track motorcycle series, Ken Coolbeth, who is sponsored by Bettencourt Honda/Suzuki in W. Bridgewater, came in behind winner Jared Mees of MI at Joliet, IL last weekend. Ken also won his qualifying heat. Mees leads the point tally while Coolbeth is next some 13 points behind the leader. The next event for them is at Saluda, VA this
Saturday. 
 
      A check of the southern New England Motorsports Calendar reflects the following. Stafford Speedway in CT adds the NEAR Antique Racers to it's Friday night program at 6:45 p.m. Seekonk Speedway offers a five division card on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The same night the Wachusetts Valley Riders Club in Winchendon hosts the NEDTS flat track series at 6 p.m.  For the drag crowd, it's Night of Thrills at New England Dragway with all types of Jet Dragsters.  We took in last Sunday's Bay State Auto Show at the Endicott Estate in Dedham. As usual, it was a fantastic display of classic, muscle cars and antiques that spanned from 1900 to 1979 in the vast acreage with some 1,200 entries which ranged in price from $11,000 to millions.  It's been going on for 39 years and is the best classic auto show in the metro-Boston area. This Sunday Bay State Ford in Stoughton will host the 23rd Annual Mustang/Ford Summer Round-Up all 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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