November 11, Brockton, MA--- For the third time in four years, Swanzey, NH., modified racer Kirk Alexander will be crowned series champion when the True Value Modified Racing Series plays host to it’s  4th annual awards banquet honoring competitors for their achievements for the 2007 season. The gala event will be held Saturday, Dec 1, 2007, at the Knights of Columbus Banquet Facility, 460 Granby Rd, Chicopee, MA.

In addition to Alexander picking up top honors, a series of achievement awards will be presented. Those recipients are chosen by tour officials. The categories include Rookie of the Year, Hard Charger, Most Improved, Tough Luck, and Sportsmanship awards.

Special sponsorship awards are also presented by series supporters, Black Mountain Painting, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Hoosier Tire East and True Value stores.

The 2007 “711” award, in honor of New England Racing Hall of Fame member Bob Polverari, will be presented. This year’s recipient will be chosen by previous winners Dwight Jarvis and Jack Bateman. The award goes to the driver that shows professionalism on and off the track, good sportsmanship, and is always willing to help fellow competitors when in need.

Alexander, a twenty six time feature winner, scored five feature wins in 2007. The 3 time champ also reached another milestone this season when he won the “Oxford 100” giving him a victory on each race track the TVMRS has competed on.

The 2008 schedule will be announced by series founder and President Jack Bateman. Included on that schedule will be the recently announced date planned for Memorial Day weekend  May 25 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre, VT. It will be the first ever appearance by the tour at the famed speedway.

Doors will open at 6:00 PM with a social hour taking place until 7 p.m. Dinner will then be served followed by the awards presentation. Dancing will follow until 12 a.m. For additional information contact the TVMRS office at 800-924-2594 or call Bonnie Jarvis at 802-674-2836.

Vermont's Shawn Fleury reports that his Late Model car is on jack stands and being prepared for next year. Fleury drove most of the year for Worcester car owner Scott Fearn, but purchased a former Mike Rollins chassis (which, in turn, was a former Cooper MacRitchie ride) in August to compete with his own family team. “We made a lot of changes on the car trying to make things work, and we were going really good in the B feature at the Milk Bowl before we were caught up in a crash,” he said. “That car was a lot different than Scott’s car, but my crew caught on quick and they did a good job. We were fourth in points entering double-points night when we blew a clutch, so that can’t be too bad for our first full year in a Late Model.” Fleury finished the year with his #31 VT Army Guard/Ultramar team in a three-way tie for 13th overall with feature winners Kip Stockwell and Dwayne Lanphear. While a win wasn’t in the cards for Fleury, a career-best runner-up effort on Pepsi Night in July and a third-place finish behind quasi-teammate John Donahue (driver of the National Guard car) on NAPA/Make-A-Wish Night in August were highlights.

Worcester's Derek Ranstrom is one of a handful of drivers/car owners who compete for the most part in northern New England with the PASS Pro Stock/Super Late Model organization. Derek heads to the Mason/Dixon Meltdown this weekend with a dozen or so ME and NH drivers and race teams. He'll be looking for a strong finish in the post season event in the Tar Heel State.

 Defending NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East champion Joey Logano will return to NASCAR’s top developmental series to start the 2008 season before heading to the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the end of May. Logano, 17, of Middletown, Conn., is expected to run NASCAR Grand National Division races until he turns 18 May 24. Eighteen is the minimum age for eligibility to enter events in NASCAR’s three national series. Joe Gibbs Racing announced Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway that Logano will make his Nationwide Series debut at Dover International Speedway May 31


This Saturday night, November 17, the New England Dirt Track Series will hold its Awards Banquet at the K of C Hall, 110 S. Main St., in Gardner, MA Dinner is set for 6 p.m. followed by the awards presentation. Advance ticket buyers are eligible for a door prize. NEDTS conducts flat track motorcycle events at its flagship track Wachusetts Riders Club in Winchendon, MA, Jolly Roger Motorsports Park in E. Lempster, NH, Brockton Fairgrounds (MA), Rochester Fairgrounds (NH), Northhampton Fairgrounds (MA) and the Cheshire Fairgrounds in NH.

Retired Nextel Cup driver Jerry Nadeau of Danbury, CT was a  guest instructor at last  Friday's Endurance Kart race school held at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC.

Here's something from the Capeway Rovers in Middleboro.  If the  Capeway Rovers where to be granted the race dates, they are polling New England racers if they be interested in 2 double day weekends weather permitting on 11/24 - 11/25 and 12/1 - 12/2. These races will be benefit races for the Middleboro Veterans Affairs to raise money to bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall to Middleboro in 2008.

    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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