Bond Auto Parts...Monadnock
Speedway’s management has announced that Bond Auto Parts will
continue the tradition of being the title sponsor of the Spring Dash
2012. The Bond Auto Parts 100 will be held on Saturday, April 21st
featuring the Valenti Modified Racing Series. The special season
opening event will also include the NASCAR Whelen All American
Racing Series divisions of Sportsman Modifieds, Super Stocks, Mini
Stocks, Lightning Stocks and Thunder Stocks plus the Young Gun
division.
The management is very excited to have Bond
Auto Parts return as the title sponsor of the traditional event and
thanks them for their continued support of Monadnock Speedway and
auto racing throughout the Northeast.
Attention
Local Fire Departments...Saturday,
May 26th Memorial Day Weekend Monadnock Speedway will be holding a
special race event and would like your fire department to be a part
of it all. The special event will debut the Granite Pro Stock Series
competing in an exciting 106 lap battle and will be titled the
"David’s House 106". David’s House is a home away from home for
families of children receiving treatment through Children’s Hospital
At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (C.H.A.D.). A brochure is
enclosed to explain what a wonderful place this is. Over 800
families from the Keene area have stayed there and have benefited
from David’s House over the years.
In conjunction with the David’s House 106 we will be holding the
first annual "Firefighter Shoot-out." Each fire department will have
a firefighter, man or woman to represent them. There only a few
catches…the department can only register one member to be the racing
representative, the representative cannot have any prior racing
experience and registration is limited to the first 20 Fire
Departments who want to compete. The race format will be a two lap
time trial for each participant. Race cars will be furnished and
each firefighter will have ample practice time and a Pro Stock
driver as their coach. After everyone has run their time trial the
fastest 2 firefighter will have a 6 lap wheel to wheel shoot-out to
claim this year’s title. In addition to a trophy for the winning
fire department will receive a $1,000.00 donation to their
department! Our goal is to make this into an annual event. We need
your participation to make this a successful fun fundraising event
for the whole family!
The day of the event at Monadnock Speedway we will also be having
a Memorial Day Ceremony. There will be a Cook-Out, Live Band,
Racecar On Track Party, balloons and flags for all. This will be a
day to remember all of those who have defended our great country and
raise some money for great charity.
For more information or to register go to RickysRaceForKids.com,
or call: Don Miller - 802.299.8248 Jet Miller - 802.299.1133
Michelle Cloutier at Monadnock Speedway - 603.239.4067
(Two fire Departments have already signed up for the
challenge...Fitzwilliam & Meadowood)
Kool Karts...The
management of Monadnock Speedway has been researching the possibility
(for the upcoming season) to start a new venture for everyone to try
to master the high banked quarter mile! The speedway announced that
they are working on introduciing Kool Karts where groups and
businesses can experience the challenge of Monadnock Speedway.
Groups (Friends, Family or Leagues) and Businesses would be able ......to
choose from different packages that would include practices,
qualifiers and a final race. The speedway will supply 10 Kool Karts
and will rent out any safety items if needed (helmets, neck collars,
etc...). The Kool karts at Monadnock Speedway would make a great
birthday outing, racing league, co-worker challenge for a business
and more! Stay tune for updates!
If you
would like the idea of Kool Karts at Monbadnock Speedway , please
"like it" on the speedway's Facebook Page. Follow this link...http://www.facebook.com/MonadnockSpeedway1
Lightning &
Thunder Stocks...Monadnock Speedway
management has announced that the Lightning Stocks and Thunder
Stocks will be receiving NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series
points in the 2012 season! Last season both divisions were NASCAR
sanctioned however only speedway points were awarded. This season,
the top five will receive end of the year point fund money from
NASCAR! Competitors visiting from other tracks do not need to have a
NASCAR license to compete but will not receive NASCAR or track
points and will have to pay an entry fee. For more information email
the speedway at monadnockspeedway@ymail.com.
Speedway Management Announces Very
Difficult Decision for 2012...The management of Monadnock
Speedway has announced that the speedway's "Tour Type" Modified
division will not return in the 2012 season. This was a very
difficult decision for the owners however with the instability in
the economy and predicted car count of only 8-10 regular
competitors, the financial operation of the business would not be
able to survive the costs of running the division. In doing research
to predict the 2012 car count within the last few weeks, the
management has learned there are several Modified race teams not
returning due to circumstances not related to racing in general.
Many speedway's in the Country have experienced the same situation
and Monadnock Speedway has been forced along with many tracks
to take steps for the 2012 season, realigning divisions, to be more
successful in a tough economy. We realize there will very
disappointed competitors, crews and fans as the speedway is too. We
also realize that it can be difficult to understand the economics of
a speedway and the costs to continue offering a race venue. To
explain the economics of speedway is not very different from any
business and we hope this explanation will make it easier to
understand why the decision had to made. If a company is producing a
product that is more expensive to make than it can be sold for, how
long would that company stay in business? To stay in business, the
company would have to realign the products they offer using the
method cost vs. sales to make the company more financially secure.
This is a situation many businesses are in (not only speedways). The
management hopes all of you understand the very difficult decision
that had to be made and hopes everyone will continue to support all
the quality divisions and great competitors in the weekly divisions
at Monadnock Speedway along with all the touring divisions that
compete though out the season.The speedway will continue to host the Valenti Modified Racing Series on the Spring Dash, Firecracker Night
while adding a third date on August 25th plus the NASCAR Whelen
Modified will return on a new date this season, May 12th. The speedway's owners would like to take this
opportunity to thank all the competitors, crewmembers and fans for
supporting Monadnock Speedway and ask all individuals all over the
country to support your local speedway.
Sportsman Modifieds to Run Weekly...The
management of Monadnock Speedway has announced that the Sportsman
Modifieds will compete on a weekly basis and will be the NASCAR
Whelen All American Racing Series Feature Division at the high
banked oval. The benefits for Sportsman Modified competitors
becoming the weekly feature division improves the chances of
crowning a New Hampshire State Champion from Monadnock Speedway,
better end of the year bonus structure from the NASCAR Whelen All
American Racing Series contingencies and the opportunity for a
Monadnock Speedway Sportsman Modified competitor to compete for the
New Hampshire State Rookie Title. The speedway will also continue to
offer $1000 to win for a first time winner in the Sportsman Modified
division.
Champion Honored at 2011 Awards Banquet...This
past Saturday (November 19th), the competitors along with their
family and friends celebrated their achievements at the 2011
Monadnock Speedway Awards Banquet held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke,
Ma. The sold out banquet also included competitors from the New
England Truck Series and the speedway’s Mudbog Mudslinger Series.
Dave
Sutherland, the voice of Monadnock Speedway, opened the evening’s
awards presentation by recognizing the Young Gun division with their
race director, Ken St Lawrence presenting awards to the up and
coming stars of Monadnock Speedway. At the conclusion of the Young
Gun presentation, Sutherland moved onto awarding for the first time,
the speedway’s Mudslinger Series competitors. The top ten in all the
NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions were honored at the
conclusion of the New England Truck Series presentations.
Prior to
officially crowning the champions with their hardware, General
Manager Michelle Cloutier, addressed the guests thanking them for
all their dedication and announcing the very exciting news of the
speedway hosting the David’s House 106 in memory of Ricky Miller
debuting the Granite State Pro Stock Series On May 26, 2012.
The night
of celebration and awards continued with the special award segment
of the evening. The following were recipients of the divisional race
season awards, Rookie of the Year: Julia Raymond (Mini Stocks) & Joe
Kendall (Sportsman Modifieds); Most Improved: Joe Rogers (Mini
Stocks), Dana Shepard (Super Stocks) and Frank L’Etoile (Modifieds);
Best Appearing: Beth Adams (Mini Stocks), Jason Lafleur (Super
Stocks), Kyle Poodiack (Sportsman Modifieds) and Jim Boniface (Modifieds);
Sportsmanship: Chris Davis (Mini Stocks), Ken Springer & Dave
Striebel (Super Stocks), Russ Hersey (Sportsman Modifieds) and Rob
Williams (Modifieds). John Holland from New England Race Fuels took
the stage awarding over $1000 in race fuel certificates.
General
Manager, Michelle Cloutier, took to the podium next along with the
Johnson family in a very special and emotional presentation of the
award in honor of competitor Victor Johnson who tragically lost his
life in a house fire in May. The guidelines for the award, where
the speedway asked for nominations, included an individual who not
only was involved in racing but also was involved in helping people
within the community as Victor Johnson did. The 2011 Victor Johnson
Memorial Award was presented to a very good friend of the Johnson
family, Rob Goodell Jr.
In
conclusion of the evening’s awards were the 2011 Monadnock Speedway
Champions. First to accept their championship hardware were the
MudBog Mudslinger Champions: Dave Fraczek (4-6 cylinder class), John
Baptistella (8 cylinder class) and Jason Haber (Pro Class). Harold
Burdick and Lorraine Pard presented Andy Lindeman his championship
title for the fifth time in the New England Race Truck Series.
First time champions, excitedly accepted their awards including
Champions Gordon Farnum (Lightning Stocks), Ed Lofland Thunder
Stocks), Eric Dejackome (Mini Stocks) and John Lavoie (Super Stocks)
as he expressed his emotions regarding a surprise appearance at the
banquet from his Mother who lives out of the area to share his
racing achievement. Repeat champions, Bill Kimball, graciously
accepted his Sportsman Modified championship along with Barry Gray
in the Super Late Models. Last but not least the 2011 NASCAR Whelen
All American Feature Division Modified Champion Kirk Alexander was
called to the stage to accept his second title. Alexander took the
podium with an emotional dedication of his championship title to his
very close friend, Victor Johnson.
The
banquet concluded the 2011 race season at Monadnock Speedway as the
owners, competitors, race teams and fans look towards the 2012 race
season to come.
Monadnock Speedway Rules Meeting...Monadnock
Speedway held their annual rules meeting on Saturday - October 29th.
All the meetings went well with track management and competitors
working together with one goal in mind...minimal changes due to the
economy while making the rules more inviting to attract new
competitors in 2012. The following is a recap of what was discussed
in each meeting. In the Mini Stocks...the management announced in
2012 16 valve single cam cars would be allowed, due to upcoming
availability of those cars for competitors looking to build a car or
competitors with existing 16 valve single cam cars already built and
interested in racing at the speedway. The Mini Stock offset
for all makes and models will be 2"-4". Mini Stock
competitors will be allowed to use 2 - 8" stagger tires on the left
side only. The speedway will also be adopting the current Seekonk
Speedway 4-cylinder trucks rules for the Mini Stock division. The
management will also be researching the ride height rule to be more
in line with other tracks making it easier for visiting competitors
to come in and compete. The Super Stock meeting was quick and
to the point...management and competitors were in agreement that
nothing needs to be changed in the rules. The Sportsman
Modifieds also had few changes, tech official Red Landry
announced a change in the weight rule to ensure equal competition.
The changes are as follows: Any "Stafford Type" will weigh 2650 and
must follow the Stafford carburetor rule of competing with a 2
barrel, Pre 2009 GM 602 motors will continue to weight the same at
2575 (with 4 barrel), Any GM 602 manufactured after 2009 will weigh
2610 (with the 4 barrel) due to the changes that were made in the
motors, the Late Model type engine will weigh 2625 (with the 2
barrel and restrictor plate) and the GM 603 will remain the same as
2011. Red Landry also requested that any work done on the GM
crates motors must have the engine builder send a report of
everything that was done along with part numbers installed to the
speedway (the report must come directly from the engine builder to
the speedway). The Sportsman Modified competitors requested
that if they are rained out on an event, that they have Twin 25s on
the following event and requested a 50 lapper during the summer if
the car count could support it. The last item that was
discussed was to allow oil coolers to be placed in line with the
body. Again in the Tour Type division, there were little
changes except in the tire rule and enforcing the 12:1 compression
rule as used by the MRS. The tire rule change is as follows:
The initial inventory will be 6 and must be met by the second event
(or you will lose it) and once the inventory is met competitors will
allowed to purchase 3 tires per event. The 3 tires purchased
must be used in the heat race and feature. There will be no
spares for cut tires during the season in all division that have a
tire rule. A discussion was also held regarding the engine
rule, the speedway will continue to go by the MRS rules including
the 12:1 compression rule and will be teched by an outside source.
The final meeting of the day was the Thunder Stock division.
The management of the speedway announced that the rules would be
opened up a little to allow the old Strictly Stocks (under the 2007
or older) to compete in the division. In reviewing the 2007
Strictly Stock rule, there were a few rules that were updated for
the Thunder Stocks and those are as follows: Thunder Stocks will
have the option to have rear jacking bolts, the shocks must remain
in stock location, under racing springs, the line stating "pig tail"
end will be eliminated, maximum treadwidth will be 7.5" from bead to
bead and the clutch assembly (OEM Stock or OEM replacement) will be
allowed to weigh a maximum of 31lbs and will be defined as written
in the Super Stock rules. The speedway will also allow the old
(pre 2009) 602 crate engines with a 2 barrel and may be subject to a
weight penalty. The only exception for a Strictly Stock under
the Thunder Stock rules will be they will not be allowed to run
headers and must follow the rule as defined in the Thunder Stock
division and a percentage rule was added to be 55% left side.
The Lightning Stocks did not meet however the management has
announced the 16 valve single cam car will also be allowed to
compete in the Lightning Stock division. The rules will
be available and posted by the end of November. We thank all
the competitors for attending the meetings and hope all made it home
safe before the storm hit.