June 23, Brockton, MA--- A limited number of grandstand tickets are available for Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Tickets start at $60. Guests who purchase tickets by Wednesday will be eligible to win a $500 Sunoco gas card, watch the SYLVANIA 300 from a luxury suite, or have their mortgage or rent paid until December, 2008. Once all grandstand seats are sold, standing-room tickets will be made available before the start of Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301. "There seems to be some confusion by race fans that we are already sold out for Sunday," said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway. "Though we are close to a sellout, we do have a limited number of tickets remaining, and we want to get that message out and encourage people to buy their tickets from our box office and not scalpers." Tickets are also available for Friday's Heluva Good!() Pole Day activities, and Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com, which includes the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour New England 100. Tickets start at $25 for adults. For more information, or to purchase tickets to the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 week events, go online to www.nhms.com or call the speedway Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931.

       At the conclusion of last year's LENOX Industrial Tools 300, Jeff Gordon said, "Obviously I would have liked to have has another lap," after Denny Hamlin beat him by just 0.068 seconds. This year, Jeff Gordon will get his wish. For the first time, drivers and fans alike will have the opportunity to see if that EXTRA MILE will make a difference, when an additional lap is added to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, making it the LENOX Industrial Tools 301. "This could create the excitement we see with a 'buzzer-beater" in the NCAA tournament or NBA Finals, a walk-off home run in the 10th inning of a baseball game or 'Sudden Death' in the NFL," said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway.

         "Look how many times an extra lap would have made the outcome different in NASCAR racing." Beyond giving the contenders on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit the chance to show off their racing skills, the extra lap was added to recognize LENOX EXTRA MILE HEROES, users and distributors of industrial tools who go the EXTRA MILE in their community. LENOX Industrial Tools and Jeff Burton will give these EXTRA MILE HEROES the opportunity to win $1 million. Tickets are still available for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on June 29, and the SYLVANIA 300 on September 14. For more information, go online to www.nhms.com or call the speedway Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931.

     All ticket holders who purchase a ticket prior to Wednesday, June 25, 2008 will be eligible to win a $500 Sunoco gas card, watch the SYLVANIA 300 from a luxury suite, or have their mortgage or rent paid until December, 2008.

       As part of a season-long celebration of 60 years of Modified champions, two-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titlist Jimmy Spencer will be honored at the New England 100 on June 28 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

      Spencer, who currently works for SPEED TV as a co-host for “NASCAR Raceday” and “NASCAR Victory Lane,” became the first driver to earn back-to-back NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships in 1986 and 1987. He is one of just three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers to capture consecutive titles.

     Although Berwick, Pa., native competed on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for just four years, Spencer left an indelible mark on the division, and the success was immediate. The Modifieds had been part of NASCAR since the very first sanctioned race in 1948, running in countless events up and down the East Coast, and 1985 marked the formation of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Spencer finished third in the inaugural NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and reached Victory Lane in the fifth event of the season. He wound up with four wins and finished eighth in the season standings. The table was then set for a dominant two year run.

     “I owe a lot to the Modified Series because it’s what gave me notoriety and exposure,” Spencer said.  “Because of my Modified career, people recognized me the minute I moved south to race. They knew who Jimmy Spencer, ‘Mr. Excitement,’ was because of what I’d done up there.”

       Following his success in the Modifieds, Spencer he went on to become one of the few drivers to earn a victory in each of NASCAR’s national series. He had two victories and 80 top 10s in 478 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, 12 wins and 93 top 10s in 212 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts and one win with 11 top 10s in 31 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts.

      Spencer registered four wins during his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship season in 1986, but it was his consistency down the stretch that proved to be the difference. He finished third or better in 11 of the season’s final 13 races and beat runner-up Jamie Tomaino by 211 points to earn the title.

        While a strong finish characterized Spencer’s first title run, his second championship was earned early in the season. Spencer had four wins in the first eight races and never looked back as he compiled six victories, 16 top fives and 21 top 10s in 28 outings and finished 99 points ahead of Reggie Ruggiero. All told, Spencer compiled 15 victories during his four seasons on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, a total that still ranks 12th all-time.

      NASCAR plans to honor each of its 31 all-time Modified champions throughout the season. The celebration began with the recognition of Frankie Schneider, Donny Lia and Richie Evans at Thompson on April 6. Since the season-opener Red Byron, Jeff Fuller, Ernie Gahan and Mike Stefanik have also been recognized.

      The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will hold its fifth race of the season at New Hampshire on Saturday, June 28.  The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race will be immediately followed by the NASCAR Nationwide Series, which will run the Camping World RV Sales 200.

       The fifth race on the 2008 schedule for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour moves to the Magic Mile-New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH. The New England 100 will take place this Saturday, June 28.  It's the largest venue that the NWMT will visit this year.  NHMS' one-mile -oval  has served as host for the Mods since the facility opened in 1990. So far, there have been 46 NASCAR WMT races at that track.

     A weekend full of racing at NHMS, the NASCAR Camping World Series East will take the green flag on Friday, June 27.  The NASCAR WMT will take the track first this Saturday followed by the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will close out the weekend this Sunday, June 29.  The NASCAR WMT will qualify on Thursday, June 26.

      Drivers and fans will forward to the Mods running at NH. With long start is, drafting comes into play., which can result in a number of lead changes. Like the national series at Daytona and Talladega, the Mods require a restrictor plate at NHMS to curb horsepower.

      Donny Lia captured the New England 100 a year ago en route to the series title. His departure to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series leaves Victory Lane open to the entire field of entries, which is expected to include at least five drivers who have won on at the track before.

      This Saturday's race will be the first of two stops for the NWMT at New Hampshire. The Mods will return on September 13.

     Kansas's greatest hits, gravity defying motorcycles, and trained elephants will kick-off the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on June 29. The festivities will include classic rock band, Kansas, extreme stunts from Free Style MX motorcyclists, and trained elephants from All Star Animals. All promise to be exciting preludes to the main event - the NASCAR Sprint Cup LENOX Industrial Tools 301.


       The Freestyle MX tour, the largest and longest running motocross tour in the world, will put on a high-flying show between a take-off and landing ramp. Featured riders Brody Wilson, John Distler, James Carter and Derek Burlew will break out their arsenal of tricks including back flips, Superman Seat Grabs, Nac-Nacs, and Cliff Hangers, and other airborne tricks.

      The motorcycle riders won't be the only ones performing tricks to thrill the crowd. Trained elephants from All Star Animals will put on a circus style act, entertaining guests with their unique show. In celebration of their 30th anniversary, Kansas will take the stage on the front-stretch at 12:20 p.m. and will play songs from their new album, Two for the Show, a live compilation of their greatest hits and some new material, which has been re-mastered and is set to be released on July 1, 2008. They will rock the crowd in a 50 minute set which will feature some of their most popular songs including "Dust in the Wind" and "Carry On My Wayward Son", as well as showcase their latest efforts.

         All of this leads up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup LENOX Industrial Tools 301, where the best drivers in the world will battle each other to win the first race in the 'Race to the Chase' for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

        Gene Angelillo heads to Lee(NH) USA Speedway on June 27th looking for his ninth Northeastern Midget Association victory on the tricky three-eights mile. The Lee checkereds, part of Angelillo’s record 106 NEMA wins, have come with three different drivers.

      Drew Fornoro has six of the wins. Nokie Fornoro and Joey Payne Jr. have one each. Payne, Angelillo’s current chauffer, won back on July 18, 2003.

     “Lee is one of the most challenging places we run,” declares Angelillo. “No two turns are the same. They’re all different. The backstretch seems to be longer than the front stretch; it’s a D rather than a paper clip but it is fast, very fast.” Despite it’s uniqueness, it has hosted some memorable midget racing.

      Randy Cabral, currently holding a 22-point lead over Payne, can testify things happen quickly at Lee. Back in 2004 – the last time NEMA was at Lee – Cabral was leading late only to get caught in traffic and watch Ben Seitz and Payne sneak by.

       Payne’s ’03 victory ride included an incredible fourth-to-second fourth-turn pass that remains a vivid memory for many. “I never saw it,” says Angelillo who does recall people coming into his trailer and marveling at Payne’s move between Sean Caisse and Bobby Santos III.

      Angelillo’s wins have come in a variety of equipment. One win that he holds “especially dear” came with Drew Fornoro driving the Mazda-powered Badger on Oct. 30, 1988 – the last race of the season. They had crashed the night before at Waterford and were ready to “pack it in” before “Boston Louie” Seymour offered to take the car to his garage in Marlboro, MA.

      “Dickie Bien, who was crew chief for Mike Favulli, built us a part and we won the feature the next day at Lee,” Angelillo said. “Drew didn’t want to pass Mike because of what Dickie had done. It all wound up on national television.”

    Fornoro won a USAC race at Lee on July 4, 1985. Angelillo also remembers a great “cigarette-after-cigarette” battle between Drew Fornoro and Bobby Seymour. He's got the tape of that one.

    Nokie Fornoro, in a Pontiac-powered Lindblad upright, was leading the feature when, with six laps to go officials pulled him in. “They thought he was leaking water,” Angelillo says. “They finally decided he wasn’t and put him back in line. He won.” That was Oct. 22, 1989.

      “Funning thing,” continues Angelillo, “the next time out at Thompson the same thing happened and this time he was leaking.”

    Angelillo and Fornoro were going for a second straight USAC win at Lee in June of ’86. “There was a red flag and we couldn’t re-fire,” Angelillo says. “We had no battery. When they were charging it, the cord was cut on the charger and nobody noticed. The next night we won at Seekonk.”

            Late Model stock car driver Cris Michaud of Northfield, VT won a thrilling two-lap shootout over Hyde Park’s Eric Williams in the Sanel Parts Plus 50 at Barre’, Vermont's Thunder Road on Thursday night. Michaud, a three-time Thunder Road Track Champion, had a full straightaway lead lap 48, as the race had run caution-free until rookie Matt White hit the wall to bring out the yellow flag and bunch the field for the restart. From there, Williams raced inches away from Michaud for the win but fell three feet shy at the finish line.

     Robbie Crouch of Tampa, FL posted his first Thunder Road podium finish in nearly two decades with a third-place effort. Phil Scott of Montpelier held off Middlesex driver Dave Pembroke for fifth. Jamie Fisher, Dennis Demers, Mike Bailey, Trampas Demers, and Shawn Fleury rounded out the unofficial top ten in order. Sean McCarthy of Williamstown scored a major upset first-career win in the NAPA Tiger Sportsman division. McCarthy won in only his third career feature start, holding off rookie Dan Eastman of Thetford Center in the 30-lap event. Barre drivers Scott Coburn and rookie Cody Blake turned in a fierce side-by-side performance with Coburn edging Blake for the third spot. Groton’s Tony Rossi finished a career-best fifth.

      Bolton’s Vern Woodard captured his first career Allen Lumber Street Stock victory in a 25-lap event. David Greenslit of Waitsfield was a season-best second over West Topsham’s Tim Campbell, Dave LaFleche of Graniteville, and Montpelier rookie Brett Pierce.

        Jamie Davis of Wolcott earned his second Power Shift Online Junkyard Warrior victory of the season over Waterbury’s Neal Foster. Scott Weston of Berlin, Cabot’s Ken Christman, and South Burlington’s Mike Gay rounded out the unofficial top five.

       Speed51.com Editor Mike Twist of Lyman, ME posted his second-straight win in the annual “Media Madness” race. Twist drover Jamie Davis’ Junkyard Warrior to the win over Stowe (VT) Reporter writer Jesse Roman and WCAX-TV (CBS) Sports anchor Mike McGill.Thunder Road’s 49th season of stock car racing is back in action with the CARQUEST VT Governor’s Cup 100 next Thursday, June 26, with a special start time of 6 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, with kids 12 and under free. Adults can save $3 off general admission with a ticket stub from the Sanel Parts Plus event.

                       Nineteen year-old Late Model stock car driver Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. of Hudson, NH wiped away two months of bad luck with a dominant American-Canadian Tour victory in the Dunkin’ Donuts 150 at Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway on Saturday night. Polewarczyk won the season-opening ACT Late Model Tour event at Lee (NH) Speedway in April, then finished no better than 18th in the next five events.” We’ve been competitive and we’ve always had a fast car, we’ve just had no luck,” said the NH driver. “After the last race at Waterford we had a team meeting, and we decided to try and just shake it all off and re-focus on winning races. We tried a crazy setup tonight that we’ve never run before, and it paid off. This is a huge weight off our shoulders.”

        Another big crowd filed into the P.A.S.S. sanctioned Riverside Speedway this past Saturday night, and when the dust settled, it was Reno Gervais, Jason Kenison, Tyler Therrien, Traci Nelson, Kyle Pembroke, Lyndsay Dawson, and Charlie Rockwell all scoring impressive wins on North Country Ford night.

            The North Country Ford Late Models struggled with cautions in their forty lap main event, but none the less, Reno Gervais, and Grant Folsom battled each other to the checkered flag. The final caution flew on lap 29, and the field restarted single file. Folsom jumped to the outside of Gervais and hung in the high lane for three laps before settling into second spot, where he remained until the checkers flew. The big battle came for the third spot as Bryan Mason battled brother Corey and Mike Kenison to the stripe. When it was all over, Gervais had picked up his second victory of the season, followed by Folsom, Bryan Mason, Corey Mason and Kenison. ARP Body heat checkers flew for Stephen Hodgdon, Corey Mason, and Grant Folsom.

            Rookie driver, Jason Kenison jumped out front early in the Budweiser Super Stocks, and then withstood a torrid challenge from point leader Luke Shannon, and Brian Gosselin to capture his first career Super Stock victory. Gosselin slipped by Shannon with two laps remaining to secure the runner-up position. Jerrad Ledger and Jeff Fysh completed the top five. Kenison and Jamie Longley were victorious in their preliminary rounds.

            Another rookie, Tyler Therrien took and early lead, and survived a pair of cautions and a red flag to nail down his first ever River Bend RV Street Stock main event. The red flag flew for point leader Shawn Swallow as he tangled with another car in turn four an ended up on his roof. The car suffered extensive front-end damage, but the crew went to work and got him back on the track as the race went back to green. Therrien and Theroux then battled hard over the final laps as Therrien forged ahead with four laps remaining to pick up his first ever, Street Stock win. Theroux, Cody Hodge, Brendon Hunt and Bill Stebbins Jr. rounded out the top five. Therrien and Theroux won the respective qualifiers.

            Traci Nelson charged to the front from deep in the pack to pick up her first win of 2008 in the Leo Enos Landscaping Angels feature event. Her road to victory lane was not an easy one as Johanna Christman, Jennie Dion and Vanessa Brown were right on her heels. Newcomer, Danielle Brigham completed the top five.

            The Kids Only Daycare Daredevils performed a rare feat as both the Rookies and the Veterans ran green to checkers. The Rookies saw the young lady, Lyndsay Dawson win her first ever-main event, as she defeated Nick Miller, Nick Gilcris, Jerrad Ainsworth and Stephen Donahue. Kyle Pembroke dusted the Veterans field, winning handily over Brandon Lambert, Jesse Switser, Dilyn Switser and Keith Lord.

            The final event of the night was the Jiffy Mart Cyclone 50 lapper. Young Kristopher Russell had his best run of the season going as he led the first 22 laps before giving away to “Chargin” Charlie Rockwell. Russell held off the advances from Luke Shannon before mechanical problems sent him pit side on lap 32. From there it was all Rockwell, with Shannon in chase, and that’s the way they finished. The big battle was for third spot as Rick Utley Jr. nipped Josh Lafleur at the stripe for third. Anthony Hill finished out the top five.

            Riverside Speedway moves to Friday night’s for the next two weeks in observance of Cup weekend at Loudon and the 4th of July. This coming Friday night, your local Jiffy Mart stores present all the racing excitement. On the card will be the Outlaw Sportsman, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Angels, Dwarf Cars and Round #2 of the Bear Ridge / Riverside Hornet vs Cyclones challenge. Post time is 7pm.

    Let's see what else is happening in northern New England this very busy weekend.  There's an ACT 100 feature at Thunder Road in Barre, VT this Thursday night. All-Star in Epping, offers a big PASS weekend with qualifying on Friday night and features on Saturday evening. In Maine Beech Ridge in Scarborough holds a Demo Derby as does Oxford Plains in the western part of the state. Canaan Fairgrounds in NH offers 360 Sprint Cars among other divisions. Twin State in Claremont, NH hosts the Whelen employees that night. Unity, also in Maine, has a stockcar program. For the draggers it's action at the Oxford Dragway in Maine. Other Saturday night short track action in the three northern New England States includes; Bear Ridge in Bradford, VT, the Canaan(NH)paved track adds the Allison Legacy Series while Oxford Plains hosts the STAR Antique Racers. 95 in Hermon, Maine goes with a multi-division stockcar program while White Mountain hosts a 100-lap ACT Tour Late Model event. Sunday winds the weekend down with Devil's Bowl in W. Haven, VT offering dirt track Modifieds at 6 p.m. Way up in northern Maine, Spud Speedway in Caribou has stockcar action on Sunday afternoon.

    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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