(Press release from The Bullring Bash)
The Bullring Bash Quarter Mile Challenge, presented by RaceChoice.com is less than two months away from its inaugural event at N. Woodstock, NH’s White Mountain Motorsports Park (WMMP). The Battle of the Banks on Sunday, June 16 for the Bullring Bash Modifieds and Midstate Site Development Legends is part of a new era for the track and for both classes of auto racing at the ¼-mile speedway.
WMMP enters 2019 under new ownership for the first time in its history. Cris Michaud and Pat Malone, who also own Barre, VT’s Thunder Road Speedbowl and the American-Canadian Tour (ACT), purchased the track over the winter. Previous owners Donnie and Teri Avery elected to sell WMMP so they and son David could concentrate on the growing demands of the family’s business Avery Sweeping.
The sale was announced less than two months after the track completed its 25th-anniversary season. The Bullring Bash Quarter Mile Challenge, presented by RaceChoice.com was announced barely more than a month later, making it the first big addition by the new ownership.
“The Bullring Bash fits right in with our short-term and long-term goals for WMMP,” Michaud said. “It’s been a long time since the Modifieds have visited the track, and the Legends are just getting started out here. We thought this was the perfect opportunity to add two big events that teams and fans will love.”
“We’ve worked with Josh Vanada at Thompson Speedway the last several years since ACT became part of the World Series, and we love his vision for these events,” Michaud add. “We believe it’s important to bring in the biggest, best-run series and sanctioning bodies in the region. Early signs are the Bullring Bash will be just that.”
The opener will add to an already colorful history at WMMP. The track opened its doors in May 1993, making it the newest asphalt track in New Hampshire that remains in operation. Founder Donnie Avery, like many others before him, decided the best way to fuel his passion for racing was to build a track. The speedway sits in the foothills of the scenic Kancamagus Highway and is just an hour north of Concord, making it an ideal location for Saturday night racing.
Since day one, WMMP has made a concerted effort to bring in the racing series and names that fans want to see. The track opened the same year New Hampshire Motor Speedway held its first NASCAR Winston Cup race, and former series Rookie of the Year Dick Trickle made a visit the night beforehand. WMMP also hosted Busch North Series events its first two seasons which were won by Northeast racing legends Bobby Dragon and Tom Rosati. Other series the track has regularly hosted include the ACT Late Model Tour, Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models, Granite State Pro Stock Series, and the short-lived Pro Truck Tour.
However, the Modifieds have had a stop-and-go history at WMMP. In fact, the Battle at the Banks will be the first time in nearly 14 years that Tour-type Modifieds grace the oval. The only previous visits were when the Valenti Modified Racing Series held two events each in 2004 and 2005. These were also the first two years of the series’ existence.
Kirk Alexander dominated that short era, winning three out of the four events en route to back-to-back series championships. Former NASCAR Weekly Series National Champion Peter Daniels won the second event in 2004. This ended up being the last of his three series wins.
Two other Modified series have raced at WMMP. The Pro-4 Modifieds made a single visit in August 2002 with George Savary taking the win. In April 2004, the PASS Modifieds first came to town. This series has had the most staying power of the three. A total of eight PASS Modified races have been held at WMMP with a ninth scheduled for September 21. Previous winners include Ben Rowe, Dale Shaw, Wayne Allard, Jason Taylor, and Bill Dixon, the last of whom has entered the Bullring Bash Modifieds.
The history of Legend Cars at the track is even briefer. In fact, records indicate the NELCAR AMSOIL Legends Tour event last September 16 was the first major Legend Car event in the track’s history. Noah Korner won that day and will return to the track this year as part of the Midstate Site Development Legends. NELCAR also returns on Saturday, July 6.
In 2019, the Tour-type Modifieds resume their story at WMMP while the Legend Cars continue the early chapters of theirs. The Bullring Bash Quarter Mile Challenge, presented by RaceChoice.com has two events at the track with the Battle at the Banks on Sunday, June 16 and Thunder in the Mountains on Saturday, August 10. Both events feature a unique format and large purses, with nearly $38,000 in posted awards just for the Battle at the Banks. Many other big events are planned for Michaud and Malone’s first season at the helm, making WMMP a place to enjoy a great night of racing all summer.
The Bullring Bash Quarter Mile Challenge, presented by RaceChoice.com will have additional announcements regarding registered teams, sponsors, officials, partnerships, and much more in the coming weeks. To keep up with the Bullring Bash, teams and fans can visit http://www.bullringbash.com. Fans can also stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BullringBashQMC. For more on White Mountain Motorsports Park, visit www.whitemountainmotorsports.com or follow them on Facebook at @whitemtnmotorsports.
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