NEW ENGLAND MOTOR SPORTS NORTH for Feb 2 to 4

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By Lou Modestino

Hampshire Motor Speedway officials announced the entitlement sponsorship extension of OSRAM SYLVANIA, which will keep the SYLVANIA 300 on the Magic Mile marquee for another five years. The deal, which was revealed at the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour, will partner New England’s largest sports and entertainment facility and one of the world’s largest lighting companies through the 2017 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. SYLVANIA has sponsored the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at NHMS for the last decade.
Since taking over as the entitlement sponsor in 2003, SYLVANIA has seen nine different drivers win its race, one claiming the SYLVANIA 300 as their first-career victory – Clint Bowyer in ’07. The SYLVANIA 300 also served as one of the races in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship since the NASCAR playoff’s inception in 2004. Read Full Article →

TV TIMES for Feb 2 to 4

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by Lou Modestino

The 2013 racing season is off and arunnin’, yet we’ll have to wait until the Super Bowl is over before we see any NASCAR action. When Bill France, Sr., erected Daytona International Speedway in 1958 for stockcars, he also had built an infield road course. His intention was to host world class road races for drivers and cars from all industrialized nations, hence the 24 Hours of Daytona now known as the Rolex 24 which was just held. The late Bill France, Jr., continued along the same course.

Senior was a man of vision. Over the years, this particular road race has developed into a 24 hour endurance event, and, true to his vision, famous drivers from all over the globe have participated in this annual race. Now with the American LeMans Series merging with Grand Am in 2014, the 24 Hour grind should be really something next year. Thanks to the efforts of Jim France, Bill, Jr’s., brother, this race continues to make further strides on the world racing front. Read Full Article →

ECS Snocross News: Lake George, NY Event Recap

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ECS Snocross

Lemieux sweeps Pro finals in Lake George for East Coast Snocross series,
Presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction
Wallenstein and Pilotte prevail in Pro Lite

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2013) – Second-generation snocross racer Lincoln Lemieux stole the spotlight once again Sunday, completing a sweep of the Pro finals as East Coast Snocross (ECS) wrapped up Round 3 in the famed resort town of Lake George, New York.

Lemieux, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, piloted his Ski-doo to victory in Saturday’s 14-lap contest, finishing just a half-second ahead of runner-up Corin Todd (Bailey/Hulten Polaris). Vermont veteran Chris Ackerman (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) came up big with his first podium run of the season in third. Read Full Article →

NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS SCHEDULE FOR 1/28-2/3/13

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by LOU MODESTINO

1/31-2/3/13
RI Convention Center(Providence, RI)-New England International Auto Show, 10 a.m.
Each Day.

Saturday, 2/2/13
Common Man Inn(Claremont, NH)-2013 New England Hillclimbers Annual Meeting Followed
By 2012 Awards Banquet, 1 p.m.
Holiday Inn-Killington(Rutland, VT)-Devil’s Bowl Speedway 2012 Awards Banquet of Champ-
ions, 6 p.m. Read Full Article →

ECS Snocross News: Louiseville, QC, Event Preview

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ECS Snocross

Round 2 of Triple Crown at Louiseville next stop for East Coast Snocross series

Presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction

CHESHIRE, Conn. (Jan. 26, 2013) – Just one week after their debut appearance in the popular resort town of Lake George, NY, teams from East Coast Snocross (ECS) will gear up for a trip north of the border.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 2-3, the bustling village of Louiseville, Quebec, will roar to life with the sounds of snocross in Round 2 of the 2013 Triple Crown Series. Teams from Quebec-based SCM will host their U.S. counterparts in the International Snocross, presented by Loutec and the City of Louiseville.

Spectator gates open at 9 a.m. each day. Admission is $20 per day for adults; children age 12 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult. The track is located on Avenue Deveault and is easy to access. Respected Quebec businessman Jerome Gerber is our gracious host and event promoter. Read Full Article →

SYLVANIA 300 Renewed Through 2017

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NHMS and OSRAM SYLVANIA announced a five-year renewal of the SYLVANIA 300 naming rights, which will run through 2017 and mark 15 years of race sponsorship from SYLVANIA.

For more info on the SYLVANIA 300 at NHMS, please visit – http://www.nhms.com/events/sylvania_300/

TV TIMES for Jan 26 to 28

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ROLEX 24 at DAYTONA kicks off the 2013 auto racing season

The 51st Rolex 24 at Daytona takes place this coming weekend, once again pitting top drivers and teams against one of the toughest challenges in endurance motor sport. The 24-hour race at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. EST this Saturday, January 26. When the green flag drops, 59 cars are expected to cross the start line. This event officially starts the Daytona Speedweeks.

Grid positions for the race will be determined on Thursday. Official race practice sessions take place in the morning and early afternoon, before qualifying begins at 3::40 p.m. for the Daytona Prototypes (DP) and at 4:10 for the GT and GX classes. A night practice session then gets underway at 6 p.m. just after sunset. The final practice opportunity is on Friday morning.

During the three days of testing at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 earlier this month, several markers were laid down. Defending champion in the DP class, Michael Shank Racing #60, set the fastest lap time of 1:42.918 (an average speed of 124.526 mph) on the first day of testing with one of the team’s 2012 winning drivers, Anthony ‘AJ’ Allmendinger, at the wheel. Then, on the third day, Michael Valiante, driving the team’s second car #6, set the fastest lap for the entire weekend with a time of 1:42.058 (125.576 mph). Read Full Article →

NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH for Jan 26 to 28

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Veteran stock car racing driver Bobby Cabral was officially crowned Granite State Pro Stock Series champion during the series’ inaugural banquet held at The Yard Restaurant in Manchester, NH on Friday, January 18.

Cabral, of Kingston, NH, claimed the series’ first championship with one win and five top-five place finishes, while never finishing lower than seventh during the season. The series championship battle went into the final race of the season, where Cabral’s third place finish netted him the series championship.

Cabral and car owner Dave Frahm were celebrated as the driver’s champion and series’ champion, respectively. Cabral received a championship trophy and a championship jacket from American Racer racing tires. Frahm received the championship earnings.

Bobby Baillargeon of East Kingston, NH was celebrated as the championship runner-up. Barry Gray of Belchertown, MA claimed third place prizes, with Rich Eaton and Fran Colson taking home fourth and fifth place prizes, respectively. Carl Eriksson, Mike Parks, Derek Griffith, Keith Caruso, and Phil Meany also claimed driver’s trophies, as well. Eriksson, Parks, John Griffith and Louie Mechalides, Steve Litwin, Mike Notargiacomo, and Josh King claimed additional car owner prizes. Read Full Article →

GRANITE STATE PRO STOCKS: Cabral Crowned Granite State Pro Stock Series Champion

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8776: Fifteen-year-old Derek Griffith accepts the Granite State Pro Stock Series Rookie of the Year award from Jack’s Competition Engines owner Jack Bateman.
8788: Bobby Baillargeon (right) receives the award for a free Distance Racing chassis from Granite State Pro Stock Series Managing Event Director Josh Vanada.
8805: Granite State Pro Stock Series champion Bobby Cabral (center) accepts his championship trophy from Managing Event Director Josh Vanada (right) and Director of Operations Jenn Ready (left).

Cabral Crowned Granite State Pro Stock Series Champion
Inaugural series champion claims awards at banquet; Frahm car owner champion

MANCHESTER, NH — Veteran stock car racing driver Bobby Cabral was officially crowned Granite State Pro Stock Series champion during the series’ inaugural banquet held at The Yard Restaurant in Manchester, NH on Friday, January 18.
Cabral, of Kingston, NH, claimed the series’ first championship with one win and five top-five place finishes, while never finishing lower than seventh during the season. The series championship battle went into the final race of the season, where Cabral’s third place finish netted him the series championship.
Cabral and car owner Dave Frahm were celebrated as the driver’s champion and series’ champion, respectively. Cabral received a championship trophy and a championship jacket from American Racer racing tires. Frahm received the championship earnings. Read Full Article →

ECS Snocross News: Lake George, NY Event Preview

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ECS Snocross

Scenic Lake George, New York, next stop for East Coast Snocross series,
Presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction

CHESHIRE, Conn. (Jan. 18, 2013) – Within the vast Empire State of New York, one town stands above the rest as a place to relax and take in the view. At the south end of beautiful Lake George is its namesake village, known as a four-season haven among those who love the outdoors.

This popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts is about to witness an invasion, as teams and officials at East Coast Snocross (ECS) get set for Round 3 on the eight-race 2012-2013 schedule on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 26-27, in beautiful Lake George, New York. The track is being built at the intersection of Beach Road and West Brook Road.

Spectator gates open at 10:30 a.m. each day, with amateur qualifying rounds already in progress. Pro racing begins at 12:30 p.m. both days with Pro finals set for 3 p.m. Admission is $12 per day for adults, $5 for children ages 8-12, age 7 and under admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes valid through the weekend will be available for an extra $10. Read Full Article →