On Tap: Rolling Into The Midsummer With Special Events Galore

A pair of local tracks showcase special events this weekend.

Thompson International Speedway kicks off the weekend with a card that includes a 75-lap feature for the Valenti Modified Racing Series.

The division had originally been scheduled to run the first of three events this year at Thompson on May 19, but was rained out.

Stafford Motor Speedway runs its regular Five Star program Friday evening and the Waterford Speedbowl comes back Saturday evening with its annual Nostalgia Night.

Where: Thompson International Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event and Valenti Modified Racing Series
When: Thursday
Schedule: 75-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series, 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 40-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Sportsman and 15-lap Mini Stock. Grandstands open: 2 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6 p.m.
More: The sixth week of Thursday night racing at Thompson in 2013. … The Valenti Modified Racing Series makes the first of two visits to the track this season. The series has originally been scheduled to run three events at Thompson this year, but an event was rained out on May 19. … Former Thompson Speedway SK Modified division regular Rowan Pennink won the last Valenti Modified Racing Series event on Saturday at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Me. Pennink sits two points behind leader Tommy Barrett Jr. in the standings after seven of 17 events this year. Pennink and Barrett are the only multi-time winners in the series this year. Each has two victories. Other winners this year include Steve Masse, Lou Mechalides and Dwight Jarvis. … Over 10 Valenti Modified Racing Series events all-time, Pennink has three victories and is the only multi-time winner at the track. … In the track’s last event on July 18, Matt Gallo won for the first time in his career at Thompson in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified division. … Keith Rocco leads the SK Modified division point standings. Ryan Preece, Woody Pitkat and Kerry Malone are in a three-way tie for second, six points behind Rocco. Todd Ceravolo is fifth in the standings, 12 points behind the leader. … Rocco has won four of seven SK Modified events at Thompson this year. Gallo, Preece and Malone are the other winners at the track this year in the division.

Where: Stafford Motor Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Friday
Schedule: 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Late Model and 15-lap DARE Stock. Grandstands open: 5:15 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6:15 p.m. Features begin: Approximately 7:15 p.m.
More: The 10th week of Friday night racing at Stafford in 2013. … Ted Christopher won the Coors Light SK Modified 80 last week at Stafford. It marked the 100th career SK Modified division victory for Christopher, who has 121 victories overall at the track and is the winningest driver in the history of the facility. It was the second SK Modified win of the season for Christopher … Ryan Preece, who has won five of 10 SK Modified events at the track this year, leads the division standings. Woody Pitkat of Stafford, still looking for his first victory of 2013, is second in the standings, two points behind Preece. Reigning Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby is third in the standings, 10 points behind Preece. … Other SK Modified division winners this season include Danny Cates, Rowan Pennink and Keith Rocco. … Late Model division standings leader Adam Gray goes looking for his 10th consecutive podium finish Friday. Gray picked up his third victory of the season last week. Gray leads Tom Fearn by 14 points in the Late Model standings. Gray’s only finish outside the top three in 10 events this year was an 18th place in the first race of the year.

Where: Waterford Speedbowl
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event and Nostalgia Night
When: Saturday
Schedule: 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 25-lap Street Stock, 25-lap Mini Stock, 37-lap NEMA Midget and 37-lap NEMA Lites. Grandstands open: 3 p.m.; Qualifying: 5:15 p.m.; Features: 7 p.m.
More: The 14th event of the season at the shoreline oval features the track’s annual Nostalgia Night and the return the return of the Northeastern Midget Association for a pair of Shane Hammond Memorial events. The event will also include vintage racing from NEAR, STAR and Vintage Midget Racers along with classic racecars on display on the midway. … Todd Ceravolo won for the first time this season in the track’s SK Modified division feature last week. Ceravolo sits second in the SK Modified division standings at the track, 22 points behind division leader Keith Rocco, his son-in-law. Reigning division champion Tyler Chadwick, who has three victories this year, is third in the standings, 50 points behind Rocco. Rocco has won five of 13 SK Modified events this year at Waterford. Other winners this year include Kyle James, Jeff Rocco, Joey Gada and Rob Janovic Jr. … Keith Rocco also leads the Late Model division standings at Waterford. Reigning division champion Dillon Moltz of Waterford is second, 23 points behind.