February 11, Brockton, MA--- Drivers, car owners, crewman and fans are expected to converge on Bezema Buick, Pontiac, GMC on Sunday, June 1 on the Auto Mile, in Norwood, for the fourth annual event. The Bezema dealership is just one mile north of the long shuttered famed quarter-mile speedway that created racing legends such as drivers Bill Slater, Ernie Gahan, Bugs Stevens, Leo Cleary and five decade car owner Joe Brady. All were on hand at the recent New England Antique Auto Racers Hall of Fame Banquet and indicated their attendance on June 1. In fact all are members of the NEAR HOF. Antique racecars from NEAR, STARS and even a few from ACOT are expected to be on hand that day.

Plus, all racecars are welcome to the Annual Norwood Arena Reunion. Also, street antiques, muscle cars and classics will be part of the show. Dash plaques will be given out to racecars, street antiques, muscle cars and classics. There will also be a trophy for the best racecar and street machine awarded by peers. Coastal 181 is expected to bring some new motorsports books to the show as well as HOT CARS, COOL DRIVERS written by Lew Boyd which gives insights to the Norwood Arena racing wars during it's heyday along with other tracks in southern New England.

Also, collectable vendors are also expected. Don Thomas, the Norwood Arena Webmaster, also plans to his usual array of equipment so that attendees will be able to check the latest information on that website. Host Marty Bezema, Sr., a former competitor at the Norwood Arena and other tracks, will be there to welcome his former adversaries during the glory days at the Norwood Arena Speedway. It's set to get underway at 11 a.m. and to be completed by 4 p.m. Rain or shine.

If you didn't make the show last year mark your calendar now. And if you have any pictures, news stories or scrapbooks bring them along. A table will be provided for that purpose. Hot Dogs and Hamburgers will be served free in Marty's Cafe on the property of the Bezema dealership. For further information call Bezema Buick, Pontiac, GMC at 781-769-4700. The Bezema dealership is located at 401 Providence Hwy. (US Rt. 1) in Norwood, MA on the Auto Mile.

Erik Beers and the Berkley Auto Racing Team will make their season debut at ‘The Icebreaker’, the season opening event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, at the Thompson International Speedway on April 5-6, with intentions of racing for the Tour championship in the 16-race slate, along with select open-competition appearances at Seekonk and All-Star Speedway  (Epping, NH) throughout the 2008 season. The crew chief is Bob Katon of Berkley and Beers was hired to replace the semi-retired Dick Houlihan of Bridgewater. Houlihan is also expected to make some cameo appearances at Seekonk Speedway in the J&R Precast machine. Houli is said to be involved in some the preparation of the racecar.

Already a seasoned competitor at age 20, Waterford Speedbowl SK Modified competitor Jeff Paul is gearing up for a run at the 2008 championship. The team is preparing for its third SK season at the always-tight Speedbowl.

The Speedbowl opens the 2008 campaign on April 12-13 with the 11th annual Modified Nationals. Highlighted by the lucrative SK-150, the weekend also includes the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Models, Sportsman, and Mini Stocks. The NEMA Midgets, Legends, All Star Race Trucks, Pro4 Modifieds, and Allison Legacy Cars are part of a busy agenda as well.

The well-spoken Paul is part of an emerging new “youth group” at the Bowl along with 19-year old Tyler Chadwick and 2007 Rookie of the Year Glenn Pressel III.

“Last year we placed fifth in the final standings, and it left us with a really positive outlook,” said Paul. “We struggled with handling issues after wrecking early in the season and it slowed our program a bit. Had that not been the case, I think our showing would have been better.”

Seventeenth in last year’s SK-150, Paul understands the importance of a quick start in the point’s war. In addition to Speedbowl regulars like 2007 150 winner Jeff Pearl, defending champion Rob Janovic, all-time SK winner Dennis Gada and Dennis Charette, 2006 winner Ron Yuhas, Frank Ruocco, Kenny Horton, Rob Summers and Doug Coby are all 150 probables.

Paul spent his “formative” years in quarter midgets before finding considerable success in the Speedbowl Legends class.

“I found it more difficult going to the SK Modifieds than I did advancing from quarter midgets to the Legends,” Paul says. “Everybody is so equal. You have to be on the top of your game all the time. There’s no slacking-off in the division, especially at Waterford where everyone runs so tight, and there are so many good teams.”

Paul was a consistent performer in both the Legends and Wild n’ Wacky Wednesday X-Modifieds, actually winning 11 overall features and the Saturday night Legends title in 2005. Paul won his first SK feature on the way to he 2006 Rookie of the Year trophy. He won again in 2007.

Paul maintains a busy schedule outside of racing. A sophomore at Three Rivers Community College he is also a working apprentice in the field of television satellite installation.

“I’m very fortunate that I have such a dedicated and knowledgeable crew. If it were not for their efforts each and every week, I’d not be competing at this level,” he points out. “I never have to worry about how the car is prepared, because I know it’s going to right each time. That in itself instills a lot of confidence in a driver.“

For 2008, the team will maintain a two-car stable, again carrying Paul’s TV of Groton as their primary sponsor. “Both cars are nearly identical which helps on the technical-side of things, and both are powered by Larry’s Auto Machine,” Paul says. “Consistency is a huge part of it, and we’re going to put a great deal of effort into being there at the end of each event. We managed to win twice last year, and with a little luck, I’m confident we can better that record.”

With the recent additions of two New Hampshire ovals –All-Star (Epping) and Twin-State (Claremont)–Northeastern Midget Association competitors will face a 19-race agenda in 2008. Eight tracks are involved in NEMA’s largest schedule in 20 years. The 56th NEMA campaign gets underway at Thompson Speedway’s traditional season-opening Icebreaker on April 5-6. The winged wonders are part of Waterford Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals on April 12-13.

“Over the winter tracks were coming to us,” says president Mike Scrivani Jr of Brockton. “Good fields of talented drivers and excellent equipment make NEMA one of the best tours in the northeast. We are excited at the prospect of showing it off.” All-Star (the former Star Speedway) has had more NEMA races than any other track. Ben Seitz won the 138th NEMA race at All Star last September. Kyle Carpenter won the last visit to Twin State back in 2005, besting Joey Payne Jr. and Adam Cantor.

Charter members Waterford Speedbowl (four dates), Seekonk Speedway (4) and Stafford Motor Speedway join Thompson (3), Monadnock (3) and Lee USA (2) Speedways are on the busy agenda. The schedule includes traditional headliners XtremeTuesday July 8 at Stafford, Open Wheel Wednesday at Seekonk on July 16 and the Boston Louie also at Seekonk on Aug. 9. The traditional triple-header finale – Waterford’s Finale Oct. 4-5, Seekonk’s DAV Memorial Oct. 11-12 and Thompson’s World Series Oct. 17-19, is also intact.

2008 NEMA SCHEDULE

April 5-6 Thompson (Icebreaker)

April 12-13 Waterford (Modified Nationals)

May 3-4 Seekonk

May 10 Waterford

May 24 Monadnock

June 27 Lee USA

July 3 Thompson

July 8 Stafford

July 16 Seekonk (Open Wheel Wednesday)

Aug. 2 Waterford

Aug. 9 Seekonk (Boston Louie)

Aug. 30 Monadnock

Sept. 12 Lee USA

Sept. 20 All Star Speedway

Sept. 27-28 Claremont (Twin State)

Oct. 4-5 Waterford (The Finale)

Oct. 11-12 Seekonk (DAV)

Oct. 18-18 Thompson (World Series)
 
The Northeastern Midget Association’s new “Lite”division has announced nine dates for 2008 with the prospects for more according to club Vice President Tim Bertrand. The “NEMA Lites” will make their debut at Waterford Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals April12-13. The “NEMA Lites” is a more economical route into open-cockpit racing. While the cars will be traditional Midgets, the motors will be less expensive Ford Focus and Oldsmobile Quad 4 engines. Bertrand reports “extraordinary interest” in the “Lites” and expects strong fields. The new division will run in conjunction with the full-fledged NEMA cars at Lee USA Speedway twice (June27 and Sept. 12), at Seekonk Speedway three times (Open Wheel Wednesday June 16, the Boston Louie Aug. 9and the DAV on Oct. 11-12) and at Twin State Speedway on Sept. 27-28. Waterford’s Finale Oct. 4-5 is also on the agenda. “The Lites will visit traditional Midget tracks and we believe that in important,” continued Bertrand. “The objective is to pave the way for competitors to move into full-powered cars.”

NEMA LITES 2008 SCHEDULE

April 12-13 Waterford Speedbowl (Nationals)

June 27 Lee USA Speedway

July 16 Seekonk Speedway (Open Wheel Wednesday)

Aug. 9 Seekonk (Boston Louie)

Sept.. 12 Lee USA

Sept. 20 All Star Speedway (Epping, NH)

Sept. 27-28 Twin State Speedway (Claremont, NH)

Oct. 4-5 Waterford (The Finale)

Oct. 11-12 Seekonk (DAV)

Rockland's Doug Hurst Racing plans a Pit Stop For Life with a day of fun and racing in support of Michael's Fund and their fight against Cancer. It's scheduled for this Sunday, February 17, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Harmon's Golf & Fitness Club, 168 Concord St., Rockland. There will be entertainment, a silent auction plus a Boston comedian will entertain attendees. There will also be Radio Controlled Stockcar Track in action. NASCAR drivers Doug Hurst and former Rockland native Dale Quarterley will be signing autographs all day. It's a $5 donation for adults and kids are admitted free. There's a free buffet. The Pit Stop For Life/Boston Bruins Chevy Monte Carlo will be on display.

Motorsports publisher Coastal 181 has announced the upcoming release of ED OTTO, NASCAR’s Silent Partner, a gripping new biography of Ed Otto, one of America’s greatest all-time motorsports promoters. The book will be launched formally as part of the 50th Daytona International Speedweeks celebration.

Few fans of racing today may know the name Ed Otto. However, it is safe to say that the sport would be very different now if not for the cigar-smoking super-promoter from New Jersey. Deeply involved in the formative seasons of NASCAR 50 years ago, Otto was a dynamo of a man. He offered up hundreds of shows at facilities across North America, a feat that would seem impossible before the advent of email and cell phones, let alone the national highway system. He was unendingly creative, establishing a list of firsts that has never been equaled. Among them were the first use of TV to broadcast races; the organization of the inaugural NASCAR races in California, at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, and at Chicago’s Soldier Field; as well as the NASCAR events at Watkins Glen. He was first to use airplanes to transport drivers from one event to another; he ran motorcycle races in Yankee Stadium and the Winter Nationals drag races in Florida with Wally Parks. As NASCAR’s 40 percent silent partner, it was his charge to take the fledging association out of the South to a national audience.

ED OTTO, NASCAR’s Silent Partner was written by Ed’s son Edgar Otto and acclaimed Miami-based author Joann Biondi. It is the 15th motorsports book published by Coastal 181 and, as with other Coastal 181 books such as GOTTA RACE! by Ken Schrader and RICHIE! (the Richie Evans story) by Bones Bourcier, it is full of unusual photographs, some never before published.

ED OTTO, NASCAR’s Silent Partner is 208 pages, with hard cover. It will be available for purchase on February 12, 2008 for $29.95. Orders maybe placed online at www.coastal181.com or by calling 877-907-8181 toll free during business hours.

At the opening night at the New Smyrna Speedway in Fla. Glen Griswold and Eric Goodale, both of Conn., came in fifth and sixth in the Sk Modified Feature. In the Tour Modifieds Marshfield's Bob Grigas ended up second with Ted Christopher coming in third in the Brady Bunch entry out of Brockton. On Saturday Griswold was second and Goodale took a fifth in the Sk's while Butch Perry of Taunton ended the night in ninth. In the Tour Mods TC was the runner-up in the Brady Bunch entry while Gigas came in ninth also Charlie Pasteryak of Conn. placed 14th.

According to reports in Area Auto Racing News Bob Garbarino of Mystic, Conn. hasn't committed to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour because he was awaiting word from his driver Don Lia. Both shared the championship in the WMT last year giving Bob his first title ever. Lia was said to be trying to work out a deal for a NASCAR Craftsman Truck driving assignment. However, nothing has materialized for the Long Island driver. Bobby Santos, III of Franklin has similar problems trying to break into the NASCAR top tier series and he drove the Mike Boehler entry out of E. Freetown last year. Bobby is supposed to be a development driver for Bill Davis Racing which has NASCAR Toyota Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck teams. Thus far, Santos has not been named as a driver for one of Davis' entries. It could be result of several open wheel drivers from the IRL and Champ Car moving into NASCAR and bringing sponsors with them. If Santos does not come back to the WMT, Boehler can take his pick of a lot of drivers looking for a good ride.

Then last Sunday this story broke. Following his 2007 breakthrough season that culminated with his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, Donny Lia has secured a ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 2008 with TRG Motorsports.

Lia, a native of Jericho, N.Y., will drive the No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado for Kevin Buckler and TRG Motorsports. In five full seasons on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Lia collected 11 wins – including six in 2007. Lia was the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco Rookie of the Year in 2003.

“I think it is a great opportunity,” Lia said. “TRG Motorsports is a name that might not be too recognizable in NASCAR, but when it comes to road racing, they’re right at the top. They’ve been in the business for 15 years now and they’ve won numerous championships in the road racing side of motorsports.” Based on this piece of news Gabarino has to decide if he wants to continue on fielding a Modified entry. He had indicated that the 2007 season would be his final year in the sport.

NASCAR announced that Chad Little has been named the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour director. Little, a former NASCAR driver, has been an official with NASCAR since 2005, most recently as advisor to the NASCAR Mexico Series.

“Modified racing is an integral part of NASCAR history,” Little said. “The series is strong and I am looking forward to helping it continue to grow. I had the chance to meet and get to know a lot of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour officials, competitors, promoters and fans last year. There is not a more passionate group than those involved with Modified racing, and that translates into some of the best racing in NASCAR.” Former tour director Ed Cox will handle special projects with the NASCAR competition division.

“The 2008 season is very important,” Little said. “Not only is NASCAR celebrating its 60th anniversary, but the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is commemorating its history of 60 years of champions. As rich as the history is, the future of the tour is just as bright.” At the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour banquet, series sponsor Whelen Engineering announced it was extending its entitlement sponsorship through 2016. In addition, Jason Cunningham assumed the duties as the full-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour media coordinator beginning in January. Cunningham joins NASCAR from Ohio University, where he was an assistant sports information director for three and a half years.

Little got his start racing NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks in the northwest and was the NASCAR Camping World Series West champion in 1987. He went on to make more than 200 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He will continue to serve in his advisory role to the NASCAR Mexico Series.

“Chad has been involved with NASCAR racing on the regional and weekly level all of his life,” said Richard Buck, NASCAR Touring Series Director. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to the position as both a competitor and a race official.”

In southern New England this weekend MotoTown in Windsor, CT plans MotoX action on Saturday at noon and comes back Sunday with the NEMA Winter Series MotoX. On Sunday there's ice racing at the Hamilton Sportsman Club in Sturbridge as the New England Dirt Track Series takes to the ice at noon

    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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