General Racing News (JANUARY 10' ARCHIVES)

GENERAL RACING NEWS 2010

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JANUARY 28, 2010 - PORTLAND, ME ..... SALUTE TO HALL OF FAMER HOMER DREW HIGHLIGHTS RACIN' PREVIEW 2010 AT PORTLAND EXPO FEBRUARY 19-20 ..... Legendary Maine racer Homer Drew will be the focus of an extensive Maine Vintage Race Car Association display at Northern New England’s biggest and best wintertime stock car racing showcase, Racin’ Preview 2010, set for Friday and Saturday, February 19-20 at the Portland Exposition Building on Park Street (U.S. Route 1).

Drew, a Raymond native who passed away shortly after his two Hall of Fame inductions, is considered to be Maine’s greatest stock car racer ever by most observers fortunate enough to witness his incredible talent behind the wheel of an oval track machine – no matter what kind of car, or what racing surface was under it. Drew was one of twelve inaugural inductees into the Maine Racing Hall of Fame. He had previously been inducted into the prestigious New England Auto Racers (NEAR) Hall of Fame.

At least four restored racecars instrumental in the long legacy left behind by Drew will be on display at the Portland oval track showcase. The legendary P-38 cutdown Drew campaigned for fellow Maine Racing Hall of Famer Bob Bushley of Windham – the car legend says he steered to victory lane on the dirt at Beech Ridge Speedway in Scarborough with vice grips guiding him after the steering wheel broke – will be among the cars displayed, as will one of the most revered cars in the history of Maine racing on asphalt tracks, the J-2 Camaro then-owned by another Maine Hall of Famer, Jerry Seavey of Windham, which Drew dominated the 1973 Getty Open series at Bob Bahre’s Oxford Plains Speedway against unmatched fields of talented racers in that era, or perhaps any since. Portland firefighter and Maine vintage race car guru Steve Pellerin of Gorham quarterbacked efforts to restore the Drew bookend racecars.

The salute to legendary Maine racing Hall of Famer Homer Drew joins displays from most of the premiere racetracks and touring series competing throughout New England at the region’s only off-season show dedicated to oval track racing. The vast majority of racetracks and touring series operating throughout Maine and New Hampshire will be represented at the annual celebration, with hundreds of door prizes including dozens of free race event tickets to be handed out to lucky show ticketholders.

The extensive historical display by the MVRCA will be joined by dozens of current racecars in competition throughout Northern New England, including NASCVAR Whelen All-American Series tracks like Scarborough’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and New Hampshire ’s Lee USA Speedway along with many independent tracks from throughout the tri-state area.

Doors at the Portland Expo open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19, with several autograph opportunities and other activities ongoing through 10:00 p.m. Saturday show hours are 9:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A limited amount of commercial display space remains available.

For further information please call (603) 447-4251 or email racinpaper@racinpaper.com.

Current associate sponsors of Racin' Preview 2010 include Racin' Paper, Pave Tek of Kennebunk, Redneck Raceway of Acton, Saco Pathfinders, R & D Racing and Fabrication of Limerick, and Wayne Elston's Speed Shop of Carmel.

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JANUARY 7, 2010 ..... TICKET PURCHASE DEADLINE FOR NEAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTION APPROACHING QUICKLY ..... Literally hundreds of victories and dozens of championships are represented in the New England Auto Racer’s Hall of Fame “Class of 2010.” The 13th annual celebration takes place on Sunday Jan 31 at the LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT.

The deadline to purchase tickets for this traditionally sold-out event is January 16. Please visit the NEAR website at www.near1.com for information on reserving your tickets.

Drivers Geoff Bodine, Mike Murphy, George Savory and Pete Fiandaca, car owners Billy Simons, Bob Garbarino and Vic Miller, contributor Frank Ferrara will be inducted. NEAR Veterans Committee inductees are the late race official Archie Blackadar, open-cockpit star, the late Chuck Arnold, and pioneering car-builder Marty Harty.

Longtime New England racing photographers Howie & Mary Hodge will accept the prestigious Jack Ratta Memorial Media Award.

As in past-years, the list of presenters reads like a veritable “Who’s-Who” of well-known New England Racing personalities from both past and present.

The New England Antique Racers club is a non-profit organization that supports the history of New England auto racing. NEAR has been in existence since 1981 and has inducted over 100 individuals into its New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame since 1998.

Be sure to visit www.near1.com for more information.

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JANUARY 7, 2010 ..... CCA ANDERSON SET FOR TQ-MIDGET INAUGURAL RUN ..... Survive to the end.

That’s the key to being successful in the upcoming prestigious two-day TQ-Midget indoor race at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City , N.J. , on January 29-30.

For female race car driver Becca Anderson, winning a wildly entertaining and thrilling indoor race when the highly-powered TQ-Midgets take the concrete floor at Boardwalk

Hall, is a daunting task that first starts with getting to the checkered flag.

“It is definitely something that you have to survive first before you think about winning,” Anderson said. “It’s more about survival.”

Anderson , 30, of Houston , Del. , is the latest entry in the TQ-Midget class, which numbers in excess of 80 cars, for the two-day event, which culminates with the prestigious 8th annual Gambler’s Classic on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Anderson, who has extensive experience in Sprint Car competition, will pilot a car owned and designed by indoor racing ace Lou Cicconi Jr. of Aston , Pa.

Expectations could be high as Anderson will be driving one of the most-coveted indoor rides for Cicconi, a one-time Gambler’s Classic winner.

According to Cicconi, he will field rides for himself, Anthony Sesely, Chris Stockham and Anderson. In addition, Cicconi’s advice is sought by other racing teams.

“Lou prepares some of the best cars for indoor racing,” Anderson said. “I definitely want to make the main event. I would be disappointed if I didn’t qualify for the feature especially with the top caliber cars he brings to Atlantic City .”

This will mark Anderson ’s first career competitive start on the indoor course at Boardwalk Hall. She did practice in the TQ-Midget class a few years ago.

“I think it was maybe the second year they had the race there,” Anderson said. “I had an opportunity to hot lap a car.

“It is something totally different than what you’re used to driving. It’s a tight track and there is a lot happening. You have to watch out for the cars in front of you and you are getting nudged by the cars behind you.”

Anderson finished fifth on the Bar’s Leaks United Racing Company tour last season. She scored nine top-10 finishes.

Anderson, a nine-time career URC winner, first started racing at the age of 11. She has experience in many different motorsports divisions at tracks across the United States

In 2004, she was one of six women to take part in the Indy Pro Series test with Nunn Racing in 2004. She also has taken part in Lyn St James Women in the Winners Circle as well as her Driver Development Program.

In 2006, Anderson teamed with car owner Mike Woodring on the national-touring World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

NASCAR Modified Tour driver Ted Christopher is the defending champion of the Gambler’s Classic. Christopher is pre-entered for this year’s race, as well.

The high-powered, TQ-Midget cars will headline the two-day card. Some 100 drivers are expected to contend for the Gambler's Classic title.

The Slingshots, which will competed in the Herr’s Snack Bowl 25, and Champ Karts, which provide just as much entertainment as the TQ Midgets, will be on the card each night as well.

Defending champions are Paul Lotier Jr. of Lebanon , Pa. (Slingshots) and Ryan Kendall of East Greenbush , N.Y. (Champ Karts). Both drivers are pre-entered in their respective classes.

Fans can purchase tickets by calling Ticketmaster at (800)-736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Information on the event is available at aarn.com or by calling (609)-888-3618.

Fans can also purchase tickets at the Boardwalk Hall Ticket Office. Tickets will be $2 more at the door on the day of the race.

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