(Press release from Bronson Speedway)
The mighty Tour Type Modifieds will kick off the 2020 race season as well a new decade of competition on the high banks of Bronson Speedway Saturday night February 8th as track owner Ann Young presents the 5th annual Kick Off To Speedweek 50 powered by Sunoco. Since the inaugural event in 2016 the Kick Off To Speedweek 50 powered by Sunoco featuring the 600 horsepower Tour Type Modifieds rocketing around the 18 degree banking at the 3/8 of a mile speed plant have become popular with competitors and race fans alike. Saturday Ann Young announced details pertaining to the 2020 event.
Returning marketing partners for the 2020 Kick Off To Speedweek 50 include Sunoco Race Fuel, Hoosier Racing Tire South and Aces Landscaping of Islip, L.I, “I can’t thank our participating sponsors who have been with us since day one enough. Without them we wouldn’t be able to continue to build this race as we have over five years and will continue into the future” Young emphasized. The race will feature 50-laps of green flag racing with caution laps not counting. Heat races of 12 laps in distance will set the field with the top 6 to redraw during on track driver introductions prior to the Kick Off To Speedweek 50 powered by Sunoco making the race fan friendly or as Ann put it “just a fun race”.
Complementing the first place money from the race purse the winning driver will collect a set of Hoosier Racing Tires courtesy of Hoosier Tire South along with 10 gallons of Sunoco Race Fuel. The race winner will also start the annual Richie Evans Memorial 100 at New Smyrna Speedway Friday February 14th from the 5th starting position courtesy of Jane & Robert Hart of NSS. Ann also announced the return of the very special Cathy & Keith Goodale Going The Distance Award worth $1,000 to the driver with the best finish in the Richie Evans Memorial 100 at New Smyrna on 2/14/2020 who also competed in the Kick Off 50 at Bronson. Since it’s introduction 2017 only one driver Matt Hirschman has won the Going The Distance Award award and the $1,000 that goes with it. Dennis Freese from Oval Speed Unlimited in Massapequa, L.I. has posted a $200 Hard Luck Award and the the New Moon Cafe of East Quogue has posted dinner for two for the highest finishing L.I. driver. The Tour Type Modified teams must race on Hoosier Racing Tires and purchase a minimum of 10 gallons of Sunoco Race Fuel which is available at the track during the weekend.
Interest among competitors for the 2020 race is coming from far and wide throughout the Northeast and as far away as Canada. Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa fresh off being honored by the Eastern Motorsports Press Association as the Richie Evans Memorial Asphalt Modified Driver of the Year will “bring it to Bronson” Saturday February 8th with “Big Money” eyeing victory. 2018 Southern Modified Racing Series champion Jeremy Gerstner of Wesley Chapel, Florida will debut with his new team PSR Racing and hopes to debut with solid showing in the Kick Off event. Long Island based Gershow Motorsports will be fielding three entries at Bronson Speedway with “Showtime” Jimmy Blewett of Howell, NJ and JR Bertuccio of Centereach, L.I. driving two of the three machines. While not confirmed it has been widely speculated the third Gershow machine will be driven by Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, NY winner of the 2019 Kick Off To Speedweek 50 powered by Sunoco. Neither the team or Chuck will confirm or deny the speculation. Wall Stadium standout Adam Lacicero of Lavallette, NJ along with Monadnock Speedway racer Brian Robie of Sunapee, NH and Paul Townsend of Guelph, Ontario who have all confirmed with Bronson Speedway officials they plan on being on hand February 8th.
Ann Young also disclosed that she has set aside Friday February 7th as a practice day for the Tour Type Modifieds starting at 2:00 pm with admission to the pits $25. There is a entry fee of $75 for the Kick Off To Speedweek 50 providing it is paid prior to or on Friday February 7th. If paid on race day that fee will be $100. Entry fees can be mailed to Speedway Operations Inc., 9950 NE State Road 24, Archer, Florida, 32618. All teams must fill out a W-9 form and pay a $10 registration fee prior to practicing or racing. Tour Type Modified teams again are urged to secure their practice and race day tires from Hoosier Racing Tire South as Bronson does not stock tires. Later that evening at 7:30 pm the talented Strictly Stocks (15), Pure Stocks (20) and Sportsman (20) classes of Bronson Speedway will be in action. For the 2020 season teams in these and all other classes that will run Bronson Speedway regularly in 2020 can run under their “home track” rules providing they supply a copy of those rules to Bronson Speedway officials. The Bronson teams can also choose between Hoosier or American Racer tires.
Race day practice will again commence at 2:00 pm with racing set to start at 7:30 pm. Rounding out the Saturday night card are the E-Mods (25) and OWM Mods (35) with general admission for adults just $12. Seniors, Teens, Military and Student ID holders will be admitted for $8 while children 6-12 are just $5. 5 and under are free. Bronson Speedway is located at 9950 NE State Road 24, Archer, Florida, 32618. Questions can be texted to 352-486-4998.
2 J.R Bertuccio Franklin TN
2B TBA (Gershow Motorsports)
4 Jeffrey Gallup Feeding Hills MA
5 Kyle Ebersole Mooresville NC
6 Ryan Preece Berlin CT
7 Rich Parker Forked River NJ
14 Brock Brown Shickshinny PA
16 Anthony Sesely Port Monmouth NJ
17 Jeremy Gestner Tampa FL
21 Paul Townsend Guelph ON
21 Jimmy Blewett Howell NJ
21 Jim Gavek Effort PA
22 Eddie McCarthy Brick NJ
23 Joe Degracia Lyndhurst NJ
24 Dean Rypkema Owego NY
26 Bubba Pollard Senoia GA
27 Adam LaCicero, Lavallette NJ
32 Tyler Rypkema Owego NY
36 David Sapienza Riverhead NY
41 Kevin Shea Mystic CT
45 Brett Meservey Brewsyer MA
45 Timmy Catalano Ontario NY
54 Tommy Catalano Ontario NY
56 Amy Catalano Ontario NY
58 Eric Goodale Riverhead NY
59 Teddy Cranmer North Hanover NJ
60 Matt Hirschman North Hampton PA
83 Mike Willis JR Grantham NH
92 Anthony Nocella Woburn MA
07 Patrick Emerling Holland NY
Up to 30 cars for New Smyrna that always bodes well for the opener at Bronson. Preece said he may try for Bronson so we’ll see. What an interesting field.
CARnac the Magnificent has predicted Hirschman will win some serious money during Speedweeks.
$12 admission and we geezers get in for $8. How do they do that? What is this track a front for a meth lab? Just kidding, just kidding. But seriously how do the charge such a low price?