September 3, Brockton, MA--- The second annual Sunoco MODIFIED MANIA is on track for this coming weekend of September 8- 9.  With 400 laps of Modified feature event racing, fans of these open wheel, super-fast racecars will get to see an entire weekend of nothing but their favorite kind of short track racing.

            The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will lead the six-division MODIFIED MANIA race weekend. It will mark the fourth appearance of the Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson this year. Race winners James Civali (ICEBREAKER), Donny Lia (June 21st) and Todd Szegedy (Aug. 16th) will all be on hand along with all of the top competitors on this exciting touring
series.

            The True Value Modifieds will return for their portion of MODIFIED MANIA with a 75-lap main. A full field of True Value competitors is expected and will include qualifying race winners Kirk Alexander, Les Hinkley, Dwight Jarvis, Mike Holdridge, Jon McKennedy and Vinny Annarummo. The North and Central divisions of the R.O.C. Modifieds make up the third touring division to be part of MODIFIED MANIA. The R.O.C. roster is impressive to say the least. Drivers like Pete Brittian, Jan Leaty, Tony and Matt Hirschman, Eric Beers and many more are regulars at the R.O.C. dates.

            The fourth touring modified division to join the lineup for MODIFIED MADNESS will be the ever-popular PRO 4 Modifieds. A mix of veteran PRO 4 drivers and young up-and-coming talent will make up the starting field of these incredibly fast cars. Joe Lemay, Norm Wrenn, Jeff Zuidema, George Sherman and Kevin Iannarelli are but a few of the drivers that fans can expect to see compete in the PRO 4, 25-lap feature.

            Thompson's own Sunoco Modifieds and Thompson Modifieds will round out the six Modified divisions that will make up this two-day, open wheel extravaganza. Woody Pitkat will lead the lineup of Sunoco Modified drivers. Joining him will be Tom Cravenho, Jr, Keith Rocco, Kerry Malone, Bert Marvin and Todd Ceravolo. Thompson Modified competitors Tim Sullivan, Kurt Vigeant, Roger Larson, Jr. and many more will make up the T.I.S. Modified contingent.

            All cars will qualify on Saturday beginning at 2:45 p.m. Once qualifying is complete, racers will prepare for the Sunday Morning Fan Appreciation Party.  Racecars and drivers will assemble on the race track and fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite drivers beginning at 10:30 AM on Sunday. Fans are urged to bring cameras and items that they would like to have autographed.  Grandstands will open at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday's racing will begin shortly after 12 Noon.

       Richard "Bubby" Brouwer wasted little time in getting to the front in the 20-lap X Modified feature at the Waterford Speedbowl on Wednesday evening, taking his ninth victory of the season and sewing up the championship.  Other feature winners were Chris Bakaj (Legends), Steve Barrett (Super X Car), Mark Caise (X Car), and, Jessica Miner (Geico Women On Wheels).

           Stafford Motor Speedway returned to Friday night NASCAR racing with fireworks on the track and high in the night time sky with a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Fireworks Extravaganza program. Ted Christopher ended Woody Pitkat's five-race winning streak and won hissecond SK Modified feature of the 2007 season, Corey Hutchings won the Late Model feature, Josh Sylvester won his second consecutive SK Light feature, Sean Foster won the Limited Late Model feature, and Jim Brice won the DARE Stock feature.

     Jeff Pearl came from deep in the pack to win the first 25-lap SK segment of the "Double Down Shootout" at the Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday evening.  "It was a good race, Frankie (Mucciacciaro), slipped up the track a bit, and it enabled me to get under him," stated the winner. I knew Janovic was behind me and closing, but the setup in the car was just perfect tonight." Following Janovic was Jay Miller, Don Fowler, and, Dennis Gada.

         In the nightcap SK event, it was Todd Ceravolo followed by Dennis Gada, Keith Rocco, Tyler Chadwick, and, Jeff Paul. For the second consecutive year, Gada was the overall "Double Down" winner. Other feature winners were Kirk Alexander (True Value Modified Series), Ed Reed Jr. and Larry Goss (Late Model), Walt Hovey and Josh Galvin (Sportsman), Ken Cassidy Jr. and Phil Evans (Mini Stock).

        Ed Reed Jr. celebrated his third main event win of the season in segment one of the Late Model portion of the program. The winner battled with Ernie Bertrand before defending late model champion Tim Jordan sneaked into second on the last lap.  "Our season just keeps improving little-by-little," said Reed. Ernie ran me clean as usual, but you can believe I felt pressure from him. He was right there on my bumper almost the whole way. Ernie is really figuring it out now, and he's faster and faster each week."  Jordan, Bertrand, Ron Yuhas Jr., and, Bruce Thomas Jr. completed the top-five.

         Larry Goss took won the second segment, while it was teammate Ed Reed Jr. declared the Late Model "Double Down" champion.  Walt Hovey took the lead early, and help off defending track champion Dwayne Dorr to capture the first of two 15-lap features for the Sportsman division. Last week's winner Jack Aquilina chased Hovey for the majority of the event before becoming involved in a late race tangle. "Our car was really good on the outside tonight, we learned that in practice," said Hovey. Jack (Aquilina), seemed to be having a hard time on the restarts, his car just didn't seem to go".  Behind Procaccini it was Al Stone III, Dwayne Dorr, and, Kevin Williams.

     Joshua Galvin took the first-ever victory of his career in round-two of the Sportsman event, while it was Walt Hovey crowned the overall Sportsman "Double Down" champion. Ken Cassidy Jr. wrestled the top spot from Lou Bellisle early in the first 15-lap Mini Stock segment, taking the victory by several car lengths.  Stated Cassidy; "We've been down on motor lately. After a lot of work, our car is finally in top-form again. It took a bunch of work, but being competitive makes it all worth it." Bellisle, Danny Field, Phil Evans, and Joseph Godbout III followed Cassidy.  In the second Mini Stock race Phil Evans prevailed. Louis Bellisle was declared the overall "Double Down" champ.

          Kirk Alexander drove into the lead on lap seven of the True Value Series Modified Town Fair Tire 100, and was never seriously challenged. Les Hinckley, Mike Holdridge, Todd Patnode, and, Jack Bateman completed the top-five.  W. Bridgewater's Jimmy Kuhn managed a 12th place at the finish. Some 27 entries took part in the TVSM event at The Bowl.

     In Thursday Night Thunder at the Thompson (CT) Speedway Keith Rocco won the Sunoco Modified feature while Raynham's Tom Cravenho took a fourth place. Jeff Zuidema won the Pro Stock main with Les Rose, Jr. of E. Wareham finishing fourth while Kingston's Nick Ribbe placed eighth. Tom O'Sullivan won the Late Model feature and Plymouth's Paul Newcomb came in seventh. Raynham's Richie Ferreira ended the night in second behind Thompson Modified Series winner Roger Larson.

     In NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour action last weekend Donny Lia won the long distance event at the Martinsville, VA beating Ted Christopher of CT to the stripe. Dick Houlihan of Bridgewater had a strong finish placing seventh. Rick Savary of Canton managed to break into the top ten while Marshfield's Bob Grigas, III was 14th. Jerry Marquis driving the Brady Bunch entry out of Brockton came in 17th. Not so lucky was Bobby Santos, III of Franklin, in the Mike Boehler car out of E. Freetown, who had an accident on lap 175 and was awarded 32nd place. It was another high WMT attrition event with some 43 starters with only 26 finishing.

      Rehoboth's David Darling inherited the lead when Todd Annarummo and Fred Astle, Jr. crashed while battling for the win on the white flag lap and held off David Hutchins in a green-white-checker finish to post his sixth victory of the season in the 40-lap Pro Stock feature at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday night.  Taunton's Scott Dion and Rick Martin rounded out the top five. Sixth place went to John Dabrowski of W. Bridgewater with Scituate's Steve O'Brien next then Rob Murphy of Rochester, Scott Fournier of Berkley and Raynham's Todd Henshaw rounded out the top ten.

    The Late Models had Kyle Casper beating his brother Kevin to the finish line for the win. Mike Becker of Avon came in sixth while Mark Hudson of Norton rounded out the top ten. Charlie Rose, Jr. took the checkered flag first in the Sport Truck main event. Taunton's Zach Tucan managed a fourth in that one while Middleboro's Andy Jeffery cracked the top five while Adam Murphy of Rochester ended the night in eighth. Mike Lema of Taunton won another Street Stock feature while sixth went to Mark Henshaw, Jr. of Raynham.

     Ken Coolbeth of Morris, CT won the AMA GN Twin race at Lake Odessa, MI on his Harley-Davidson machine beating out Jared Mees of MI in the process. Ken also won his qualifying heat. He leads the point tally due to five wins and is some six points ahead of Mees.

       Edwin F. Yerrington, Sr., 78 passed away Thursday, August 30, 2007, at his home. He was born October 14, 1928 in Norwich, the son of the late Lucius Yerrington, Sr. and Adelaide (Tracey) Yerrington. He married Shirley O'Rourke March 16, 1951 at Central Baptist Church in Westerly, RI. She survives him. He served in the United States Navy for nine years and was a Veteran of World War II and Korea. He was the owner and operator of a service station on Route 12 in Preston. He was the President and General Manager for the Stafford Motor Speedway where he was the Co-creator of the SK Modified Division. He also was an Operator and Promoter at the Waterford Speedbowl. He was an avid race car driver, racing along the East Coast for over 25 years, retiring in 1990. He was the 1970 Track Champion at the Stafford Motor Speedway. He was also a Technical Inspector for NASCAR at Daytona International Speedway. He was an avid antique car collector and especially enjoyed showing his cars within CT and MA.

     Let's see what else is on the motorsports scene this weekend. Friday night is another NASCAR Whelen All American Series meet at the Stafford Speedway in CT.  Seekonk plans a five division racing program on Saturday at 6 p.m. while Waterford, down on the CT coast, will offer a full NASCAR Weekly Series program. The same night Whip City in Westfield brings in the Empire State Mini Sprints to it's already busy card. On Sunday the NEAR Antique Racers will be at the Brooklyn (CT) Fairgrounds starting at 8 a.m. NHIS in Loudon, NH has a SCCA Regional road racing program all day Saturday and Sunday. For the draggers it's Funny Cars Under The Stars at New England Dragway in Epping, NH on Saturday night while Jr. Dragsters and ET racing are at that same venue on Sunday. The Wachusetts Valley Riders Club in Winchendon host the New England Dirt Track Series(flat track motorcycles) on Saturday night under the lights. Practice goes at 5 p.m. with racing to follow at 6 p.m.

    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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