Long Island Motorsports News - New England Motorsports South by Lou Modestino Weekly Column

He held off fellow Busch East driver Peyton Sellers, who turned 24 Saturday, following a green-white-checkered finish to the 250-lap event that has been dubbed the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing.’

"I just had a great race tonight," Logano said. "My crew, they picked it up a ton. To be able to run up front all night, this team is unbelievable. ... I just have a lot of confidence. That's what you have to have to win. We came here knowing we can win and that's what we did."

Fellow Nutmeg State driver Matt Kobyluck of Uncasville, CT was fourth while Ed MacDonald of Rowley was fifth. Mike Olsen of N. Haverhill, NH took eighth with John Selemi of Nashua, NH ninth. Among the casualties were Sean Caisse of Pelham, NH was 36th and Michelle Theriault of Bristol, CT came in 40th. Both were involved in accidents.

A year ago, Speedway Illustrated announced a new racing exposition. Then, after months of preparation, the first-ever SpeedwayEXPO was presented to an expectant crowd in early March this year. By all measures, the event was a resounding triumph. SpeedwayEXPO had successfully rejuvenated a Northeastern tradition and brought together short-track and big-league enthusiasts, drivers, teams and suppliers.

As the ’07 racing season winds down, the magazine’s staff is hard at work on the 2^nd annual SpeedwayEXPO, February 29 - March 2, 2008. According to Karl Fredrickson, the magazine’s editor, “We threw a party for 7,000 of our friends. This one’s going to be even bigger and better!”

In 2008 all the excitement of SpeedwayEXPO will be under one roof. The event has been moved to the Mallary Complex, adjacent to the two smaller buildings where XPO’07 was held, at the Eastern States Exposition grounds in Springfield.

Dick Berggren, Speedway Illustrated’s founder, said, “The Mallary Complex is one of the Big E’s newest and best venues—and, with 130,000 square feet, it’s got room for everything, including the special events and seminars and the autograph sessions.” With a larger floor and updated amenities, the Mallary Complex will be a welcome change for exhibitors at SpeedwayEXPO ’08, and show-goers will no longer have to brave the weather to walk from one building to another.

A broad mix of tracks from around the Northeast will offer asphalt and dirt racing with drag racing and other forms of motorsports. Vendors of performance parts and accessories again will be one of the main attractions for enthusiasts and racers.

As SpeedwayEXPO ’08 develops, the racing community is invited to follow its progress online at www.speedwayexpo.com. The site is the comprehensive source for all show information, and it provides a look back at the fun and excitement of the ’07 event as well.

One of the big surprises of the '07 season was the popularity of the new Sunoco 300 Modified race at the Thompson Speedway in CT. A brilliant move by track management to break the event into three separate races, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, True Value Modified Racing Series and the NY State based Race of Champions back in '06 was brilliant. The result of which gave fans a reason to turn out in strong numbers. Because prior to the change it was just a long distance NASCAR WMT. We also heard that NASCAR wasn't happy with the change but stayed on as they needed the event to help their lean schedule.

Pro Stocks - Weds - Nov14th @ 8:15pm

Late Models - Weds - Nov 14th @ 6:30pm

Trucks - Thurs - Nov 15th @ 6:30pm

Street Stocks - Thurs -Nov 15th @ 8:15pm

SYRA - Weds - Nov 28th @ 6:30pm

Pure Stocks - Weds - Nov 28th

They will be held at the American Legion Post in Seekonk. .

Jimmy Rosenfield of Middleboro, who won two consecutive PASS Outlaw Late Model Championships, will have to back off from any efforts to make it three in a row. "Because most of the races are on Sundays up in northern New England and most of my crew have to be at work bright and early Monday mornings," revealed Rosenfield. Jimmy also reflected on the recent All-Star Speedway Pro Stock Open in Epping, NH that paid 10 grand to win. "I was up front and got caught up in one of those early scrapes. My car had some body damage and had to go to the back of the field. Then I got back up to sixth and started to lose a tire and had to pit for a tire change. I got back out for the race and it ended due to the curfew. Had I know it was going to end because of the curfew I would have stayed out, nursed the failing tire, and kept racing, " he lamented.

Last month's Lakeville Speedway Reunion caused quite a stir and which resulted in an almost rowdy Selectman's meeting according to the Standard-Times of New Bedford. The adjacent neighbors were up in arms because of the perception that racing was going to start up, again, at the old Camp Joe Hooker/Golden Spur/Lakeville Speedway site. Because the antique race cars did a parade of five laps on the recently plowed out 5/8 mile dirt track. However, the Lakeville Lion's Club, the current owners of the property, told the assembly that they plan no such effort. They just want to hold some non-racing events. The abutters still are not buying it and are demanding that the Lakeville Town fathers keep the place shut down. However, we are not so sure that they can because the land could still be the Lakeville Fairgrounds. However, any events held there would still require a permit from the Town of Lakeville.

The fields of Pro Stocks at both the Seekonk and Thompson (CT) Speedways are each in the mid-teens. That's really not enough entries to round out a field. However, each track does not intend to eliminate or merge the Pro Stocks into the Late Model Sportsman in the near term. All that according to statements from the managements of both venues. However, if the Pro Stock fields continue to drop, management may have to reconsider their options. Such as dropping the division entirely or merging the Pro Stocks with the Late Models. Either way it's two painful decisions. Consider that a dozen years ago every track in New England, with the exception of the Waterford (CT) Speedbowl, featured the Pro Stocks as either the top or secondary division. In northern New England the Pro Stocks are also a very endangered species.

In last weekend's North/South PASS Shootout at the Greenville-Pickins Speedway in SC, Maine's Cassius Clark and Mike Rowe came in one-two at the Concord Speedway in NC. Derek Ramstrom of Worcester made a late-race dash to the front after pitting early, crossing the line in third. Series points leader Ryan Lawler did what he needed to do to clinch the title in the series’ final event at Concord Motorsport Park (NC) the middle of this month by staying out of trouble, coming home fourth ahead of fifth-place finisher Corey Williams.

The final event of the 2007 PASS South Super Late Model tour, the second-annual Mason-Dixon Meltdown, comes November 16^th and 17^th to Concord Motorsport Park.

Don Hoenig’s Original Automotive Swap meet and Flea Market will open for the 36^th time this weekend, November 3^rd & 4^th, on the grounds of the Thompson International Speedway. Over 1,500 vendors and literally thousands of buyers will gather at the historic speedway for this annual, two-day, buy, swap and sell event.

Like so many things, Don Hoenig’s Original Automotive Swap Meet and Flea Market began with only a few vendors and a few hundred buyers. But, the success of that very first event proved that it had the potential to grow quickly. However, nobody envisioned the growth to be as rapid as it was or to become as famous as it has. The Thompson Automotive Swap Meet and Flea Market is now one of the largest events of its kind in the country.

The sprawling Thompson International Speedway complex offers over one hundred acres of display area. It includes the Speedway’s huge pit area, race track, infield and acres of open space behind the track. Visitors can expect to see everything from well equipped display trailers offering new automotive items of every possible description to an old pick up truck filled with items that have been taking up space in a person’s garage or cellar. The variety is amazing and the ‘wheeling and dealing’ is a classic New England tradition.

Those wishing to sell items may purchase a space (15’ X 30’) for seventy five dollars for the weekend. Sellers are admitted beginning at 5 a.m both Saturday and Sunday. Sellers wishing to secure a preferred space may arrive on Friday between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. for the opportunity to choose an area and to set up their display one day ahead of the opening. Friday entrance will cost an additional $25.00. Buyers have the deal of the year with an admission fee of only $10.00. There is something for everyone.

Anyone with questions may consult the Thompson International Speedway web site at www.thompsonspeedway.com the staff in the Speedway office is also prepared to answer questions. Callers should dial 860-923-2280. The event is held rain or shine.

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.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by columnists and all others on this website are strictly their own, and may not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of the management of Long Island Motorsports News.