March 9, Brockton, MA--- Marshfield's Bob Grigas, III added another driving assignment to his 2008 schedule. In addition to almost a full season with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour plus selected events in the True Value Modified Series as well as four Modified Opens at All-Star in Epping, NH. We've seen reports that he's also made a commitment to compete in the Thursday Night Thunder at the Thompson Speedway in Conn. for another team. From the sound of it, he'll be one busy guy this spring, summer and fall. He’s expected to compete in both the Sunoco Modifieds and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in next month’s Icebreaker at Thompson the first weekend in April. Also expected to return to the Sunoco Modifieds at Thompson is Raynham’s Tom Cravenho at the wheel of the Moniz Family entry sponsored by Falmouth Ready Mix.

Rob Summers hopes to at the very least dim some of the memory of last year’s result in the 12th annual SK-150 April 12-13 at Waterford (CT) Speedbowl’s Budweiser Modified Nationals.

The $5,000-to win SK-150 is the centerpiece of the 10 division “Mod Nats” which also including the jumping off point for the championship runs in the ‘Bowl’s Late Model, Sportsman, Mini Stock and Legends divisions. The Northeastern Midget Association, NEMA Lites, Pro4 Modifieds, All-Star Trucks and Allison Legacy Cars are also due.

The leader for much of the latter stages a year ago, Summers was passed on a restart with two laps left by eventual winner Jeff Pearl. “It sucks when something like that happens,” he says. “I was kicking myself around for weeks.”

This time, he insists, he will not listen to his crew on situations such as that. “They were concerned about my being black flagged for jumping the start. The guys put my head in the wrong mindset. I let my guard up and took it easy. He [Pearl] jumped and won the race.”

It will not happen again insists Summers who returned later in the season to win a True Value Modified event. The Bowl, says the 2005 SK champion, is his “favorite track". Whether its modifieds, supermodifieds, even a late model, I just like racing there.”

He remains a Speedbowl favorite. “I raced a full year there and still get along with everybody,” he says. “When I go back I feel like one of the guys.”

The first of extra-money, extra-distance SK races, NASCAR state champ Woody Pitkat, 2006 winner Frank Ruocco, Ken Horton and Ted Christopher are among the challengers who’ll take on the ‘Bowl regulars including Pearl, defending champ Rob Janovic Jr. and
Dennis Gada who begins his quest for a record seventh championship.

Summers set fast time for the 2006 “150.” He also did it in a Whelen Tour car a few years back. He is not, however, caught up in time trials. “The year I won the pole I wrecked on lap five,” he points out. “Last year I really didn’t time that well. We started 11th.”

The pole, he continues, would be “great but it’s the $5,000 at the end of the race you want to go home with.”

SK time trials will kick off qualifying on Saturday (April 12) followed by heats and consolations for the rest of the divisions. The Legends, Pro Four, Allison Legacy, All-Star Truck and NEMA Lite features follow.

Extra-distance events for the Late Models (50), Sportsman (30) and Mini Stocks (30) along with a 25-lap NEMA feature share Sunday with the “150.” Corey Cleary of Plymouth along with the Richardi Brothers of N. Easton are expected to compete in the Pro 4 Modifieds. In the NEMA Midgets defending four-time champion Ben Seitz of Monument Beach, Randy Cabral of Plymouth and Greg Stoehr of Bridgewater will also be in action at Waterford that weekend.

Stafford Motor Speedway 2008 Season Ticket Packages are available and on sale, but time is running out to take advantage of Stafford’s discounted pricing. After March 14, each Stafford Motor Speedway’s season ticket package will increase in price.

Stafford’s Season Paddock Pass grants weekly admission to the paddock area, as well as the paddock area grandstands and the general admission seats in the main grandstand. The paddock pass is priced at $450 if purchased before March 14, and increases to $500 if purchased after March 14. Season Paddock Passes can be upgraded to include a reserved seat in the main grandstand for an additional charge of $50.00. If purchased before March 14, Season Paddock Passes offer nearly 45 percent off the cost of buying a ticket each week, making the Season Paddock Pass the greatest deal among Stafford’s Season Ticket packages.

Stafford Motor Speedway is offering a unique fundraising opportunity for non-profit groups and organizations. In lieu of traditional fund raising drives, such as candy, candles and wrapping paper sales, Stafford Motor Speedway’s fund raising program offers the excitement of NASCAR. Stafford Motor Speedway will supply a minimum of 50 vouchers to your non-profit organization for the purpose of fundraising. The face value of the voucher is $15.00, which is good for 1 Adult General Admission. For each voucher sold your organization would reimburse Stafford Motor Speedway $7.00. If your group sells 100 vouchers at $15.00 per voucher that creates a profit of $800.00. Your organization could charge up to the face value of$15.00, which is a profit of $8.00 per voucher sold. The organization would take orders for the vouchers and Stafford Motor Speedway will supply the amount of vouchers requested upon receipt of payment. There is no limit tithe amount of vouchers your organization can sell.

There are several benefits of the fund raising program. The vouchers can be used to any Friday Night Event from May 2nd to September 12th and the organization does not have to come as a group on the same night. For special events priced at $30.00 for adults, the voucher may be presented for a savings of $15.00.Stafford Motor Speedway is also offering group discounts for their weekly events, which will consist of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Camping World Series East, ISMA Supermodifieds, NEMA Midgets, and Pro-4 Modifieds. Bring a group of 25 or more to the speedway and you can enjoy special discounts and benefits. For weekly events regularly priced at $15, a group of 25 to 125 will save $3 or 20 percent per ticket and a group of 126-250 will save $5 or 33.3 percent per ticket.

For NASCAR Touring events regularly priced at $30, a group of 25 to 125 will save $6 or 20 percent per ticket and a group of 126-250 will save $8 or $25 percent per ticket. For weekly extra distance events regularly priced at $18, a group of 25 to 125 will save $4 or 22.2 percent per ticket and a group of 126-250 will save $6 or $33.3 percent per ticket. And for either the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler or CARQUEST Fall Final events that are regularly priced at $35, a group of 25 to 125 will save $7 or 20 percent per ticket and a group of 126-250 will save $10 or 28.5 percent per ticket.

During Bike Week in Daytona Ken Coolbeth, sponsored by Bettencourt Honda of W. Bridgewater, won the 750/100 Round 2 at Volousia County Speedway. Coming out of that event he was leading the point standings. The circuit moved to Daytona Municipal Stadium. Jake Johnson ended up winning the two events there while Coolbeth pulled off a second and a fourth. After the two Daytona events he dropped to third overall.

We understand that the Bettencourt dealership will hold an open house, featuring Coolbeth signing autographs and mixing with the fans, on Saturday, May 17. The following day, Sunday, May 18, the Brockton Fairgrounds will host the New England Dirt Track Series (Flat Track Motorcycles), Quads and a Bike Blessing on a quarter-mile track. The NEDTS will return to Brockton on July 5 and July 6 during the annual fair. The NEDTS crowd will come back to the Brockton Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 28 for the 4th Annual Circus of Dirt on the half-mile dirt track.

In southern New England this weekend it's MotoX action indoors at MotoTown in Windsor, Conn. all day Saturday. On Sunday that venue offers Mini Sprints on a quarter-mile oval while the Capeway Rovers try to get their first round of the Jack Frost Series in after a washout last weekend.

    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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