(Press Release from Tri-Track Open Modified Series)
The Northeast Race Cars Tri Track Open Modified Series (TTOMS) is ready to get rolling with the 2016 season on the track, and it will happen this Saturday night, June 11, at Monadnock Speedway.
The 100 lap feature event, paying $5,000 to the winner, will be in honor of the late, great Ron Bouchard.
The 67-year-old who was lost in Dec. of 2015, is a former winner at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as well as a standout in the modified ranks across New England for many decades.
Saturday, just before the qualifying begins, a special presentation will take place in Bouchard’s honor on the frontstretch.
All drivers that will attempt to qualify for the Tri-Track 100 will be asked to come trackside in their firesuits to honor the veteran.
The 1/4 mile high-banked oval in Winchester, New Hampshire held a feature race for the Tri-Track Series in June of 2015. It was won by defending champion Matt Hirschman, who leads the list of drivers expected to challenge for the checkers this weekend.
As of Wednesday morning, more than 35 drivers have pre-ordered tires for Saturday’s race.
Other drivers expected to challenge Saturday include former Tri-Track winner Tommy Barrett, who will make his first modified start of the 2016 season. Former series winners Chris Pasteryak, Richard Savary, Ron Silk and former champion Jon McKennedy are also on the updated list.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Justin Bonsignore will unload behind the wheel of the No. 21 for Art Barry and defending Valenti Modified Racing Series champion Woody Pitkat is expected in the Stebbins Racing No. 52.
“Monadnock Speedway is a great race track to see the modifieds in action,” series co-promoter James Schaefer said. “With near 40 cars expected to pack the pit area, it should be an exciting night of action filled racing.”
The tentative event schedule calls for the pit gates to open for teams at 10 a.m. The thunder of the modifieds hits the track at 2 p.m. for the first of two practice sessions — it will last 30 minutes.
The second session will run from 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Qualifying action on Saturday begins at 5 p.m. with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions of Monadnock, followed by the 12 lap heats for the Tri-Track Series.
Admission to the paddock area is $40.00 and admission for adults to the front gate is $25.00. For additional information on the raceday procedures and schedule, teams and fans can visit www.monadnockspeedway.com, or see the full event schedule by clicking here.
This will be the first of five races for the 2016 season. Next up, Seekonk Speedway holds the annual “Open Wheel Wednesday” on June 29, paying $10,000 to the winner. Star Speedway will host the series on July 30 & New London-Waterford Speedbowl will hold two races (Aug. 25 & Oct. 23);
For information on the Tri Track Series, visit us on the web at www.tritrackopenmodifiedseries.com or contact Dick Williams or James Schaefer.
QUICK FACTS: Ron Bouchard Tribute 100 at Monadnock Speedway
TRACK FACTS:
- 1 1/4 mile, high-banked oval in Winchester, N.H.
- 2 Runs weekly as part of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
RACE FACTS:
- 100 lap feature event
- Blind draw for heat race lineups
- 12 lap heat races (how many heats will be decided on Saturday)
EVENT SCHEDULE:
- Pit gates open for modified teams at 10 a.m.
- TTOMS practice from 2-2:45 & 3:45-4:15
- TTOMS heat races approx 6 p.m.
- Ron Bouchard Tribute 100 approx 9 p.m.
Every Modified fan in NE should be there to honor Ron Bouchard. Come on Tour snob’s one race won’t kill you. Should be a hellava show.
would have been nice if they scheduled it for sunday so as not to go up against sat night local tracks like Riverhead and Waterford
But Monadnock is also normally a Saturday night track as well, and I believe they have mudbogging events on Sundays.
To show how things have changed, In Aug 1981Bouchard won one of the crown jewels of the year, theTalladega 500 on Sunday and the very NEXT Friday he was right back at Monadnock in the modified, running the regular weekly show. (Monadnock ran Fridays at that time.) He was a near-weekly competitor there at the time, and I believe Westboro.