(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)
For the first time since 1998, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is returning to New Hampshire’s Lee USA Speedway this Saturday night.
The 0.375-mile paved oval welcomes the Tour back for the Inaugural Granite State Derby presented by USA Insulation, the first of four Tour races this season to be promoted by JDV Productions and an event that will pay out almost $90,000 in posted awards.
The Inaugural Granite State Derby, the first race of the new Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup bonus program, will also feature a Kentucky Derby theme in its pre-race ceremonies.
This marks the sixth time the Tour has visited Lee USA Speedway dating back to 1993. That first race was won one of the Tour’s greatest stars, Reggie Ruggiero, who led 94 of 102 laps on his way to victory. Other Tour winners at Lee USA Speedway include Jamie Tomaino (1994), Tim Connolly (1995), Rick Fuller (1996) and Ed Flemke Jr. (1998).
A stacked entry list featuring an even mix of Modified Tour regulars and local Riverhead heroes are set to descend onto the historic quarter-mile bullring on Saturday evening with the goal of building momentum heading into the summer.
Inaugural Granite State Derby presented by USA Insulation at Lee USA Speedway
What to watch for:
For the first time since his victory to open the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season in February at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, Matt Hirschman is back with the Tour this Saturday night at Lee USA Speedway.
Hirschman, one of the top Modified stars of the Northeast, will be in search of his sixth career Tour victory. While no active Tour competitor has competed in one of the previous Tour events at Lee, Hirschman is among a select handful who has raced there and even has a victory at the track.
His competition includes Doug Coby, who returns to the seat of Tommy Baldwin Jr.’s No. 7 after winning last Saturday’s race at New York’s Riverhead Raceway. Justin Bonsignore will try to get back on track after another rough outing due to a mechanical issue, while Eric Goodale looks to pad his Tour points lead.
Anthony Nocella will attempt his season debut after a part failure forced him to sit out the second race of the season at Richmond Raceway. J.B. Fortin also returns to action after opting to skip Riverhead following the birth of his daughter, Joelle.
Other Tour regulars scheduled to be in action include Ron Silk, Kyle Bonsignore, Dave Sapienza, Austin Beers, Jon McKennedy and Craig Lutz. Spencer Davis makes his third attempt of the season, while Jake Johnson is back in the Boehler Racing Enterprises No. 3 for his second start of the year.
The complete entry list for the inaugural Granite State Derby presented by USA Insulation can be found here.
RACE FACTS
| Race | Inaugural Granite State Derby presented by USA Insulation |
| Date | Saturday, May 21, 2022 |
| Track | Lee USA Speedway |
| Layout | 0.375-mile paved oval |
| Location | Lee, New Hampshire |
| Start time | 7 p.m. ET |
| Laps | 175 |
| Posted awards | $89,950 |
| TV channel | USA (Delayed: Friday, May 28, 11 a.m. ET) |
| Live stream | FloRacing (Live) |
Schedule: Garage opens at 11 a.m. ET … Final practice from 1:40-2:40 p.m. ET … Single-car qualifying (two laps) at 5:30 p.m. ET … Race at 7 p.m. ET
Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the inaugural Granite State Derby presented by USA Insulation is limited to 28 starters including Provisional Positions. Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying. Vehicle must qualify on race setup.
Tire allotment: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is 12 tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is six (6) tires, any position.
01 Melissa Fifield, Kenneth Fifield Jake Marosz FURY Race Cars Pine Knoll Auto Sales
2 J.R. Bertuccio Jr. Joseph Bertuccio Michael Bologna Troyer Gershow Recycling
3 Jake Johnson Jan Boehler Greg Fournier Troyer Propane Plus – Lin’s Propane Trucks
6 Sam Rameau Sam Rameau Russ Hersey Jr. LFR Dennison Lubricants, Powells Stone & Gravel
07 Patrick Emerling Jennifer Emerling Jan Leaty Troyer Captain Pips Marina & Hideaway
7 Doug Coby Tommy Baldwin Tommy Baldwin Troyer John Blewett Inc
16 Ron Silk Tyler Haydt Philip Moran FURY Race Cars Blue Mountain Machine and Future Homes
18 Ken Heagy Robert Pollifrone Greg Gorman FURY Race Cars Buoy One Seafood Market and Restaurant
22 Kyle Bonsignore Kyle Bonsignore Cam McDermott FURY Race Cars Chalew Performance/MTT/Munns Auto
26 Gary McDonald Sean McDonald Chad McDonald Troyer TBA
29 Spencer Davis Spencer Davis Alex Query III FURY Race Cars Ionx Supreme Lubricants
34 J.B. Fortin Nicole Fortin Kenneth Lechner FURY Race Cars Red Camel Racing, Johns Fuel Oil, Johns Tree Removal
36 David Sapienza Judy Thilberg Tommy Grasso Chevrolet Sapienza Enterprises
51 Justin Bonsignore Kenneth Massa Ryan Stone FURY Race Cars Phoenix Communications, Inc.
54 Tommy Catalano David Catalano David Catalano FURY Race Cars FX Caprara
58 Eric Goodale Edgar Goodale Jason Shepphard FURY Race Cars GAF Roofing
60 Matt Hirschman Roy Hall Matt Hirschman Troyer PeeDee Motorsports
64 Austin Beers Mike Murphy Ron Yuhas Jr. LFR Dell Electric, Lumiere Electrical, Andrew James Interiors, AP Marquadt & Sons
78 Walter Sutcliffe Jr. Steven Sutcliffe Kevin Anderson Troyer Last Minute Racing
79 Jon McKennedy Tim Lepine Dale Hedquist LFR Middlesex Interiors
82 Craig Lutz Danny Watts Jr. TBA LFR Horton Ave Materials, Riverhead Building Supply
92 Anthony Nocella Anthony Nocella Chris Burdell Chevrolet Nocella Paving, K+D Associates, Airgas
147 Jacob Perry Jack Bateman TBA TBA Jacks Competition Engines
198 Steven Dickey Jr. Cory Plummer Cory Plummer SPAFCO Race Chassis USA Insulation
Revised Forum Pick 6 round 3
First Place………0 points
Second Place….2 points
Third Place……..3 points
Fourth through the final finisher assigned points equal to their finishing position.
“Mulligan”-Worst finish (aka highest score) dropped from scoring leaving your 5 best counting toward your final score.
Any car that doesn’t show, has an equipment failure or otherwise doesn’t make the feature to be assigned a score equal to the number of feature starters plus one and can be dropped via the mulligan.
Lowest point total wins.
Tie breaker- All six picks scored.
Who’s brave enough to lead us off? No doubt this venue with the emergence of the Coby/7ny combo and Hirschman’s participation makes this a challenging one to call.
Definitely excited for the kickoff to the Granite State Short Track Cup but a little bummed that it was unable to attract some of the top mod drivers NH has to offer.
Really the only notable addition is Steven Dickey with the operation Cory Plummers got going on. There’s Jack Bateman fielding a car with a CT guy. Then you have Rameau from MA but cut his teeth at Claremont and Monadnock.
Would have loved to seen guys like Todd Patnode, Russ Hersey, Kirk Alexander, Matt or Bill Kimball, Brian Robie, Ben Byrne, etc… Even a guy like Les Hinckley while from CT, is a Monadnock Track champion. These guys would have really given a rooting interest for the fans in the granite state.
Hoping either Claremont or especially Monadnock might be able to pull another one or two in. I’m sure the added expense has got to be massive for these teams though and can understand if it doesn’t happen
24 cars does NOT account for a “stacked” field
My picks. 60-7-51-16-92-82
I am also pumped for this one, Lee presents some different challenges these guys are used to. I wish there were a few more names on this list but Stafford the night before might have a factor on that. Sounds like Emerling will be in Texas which is also a bummer. Nocella knows this track well but I have a feeling McKennedy takes home the W.
Lee USA, NWMT 5/21/2022
KenL….60-7ny-51-16-92-82
Doug…51-79-60-7ny-16-6
Fast Eddie’s picks, McKennedy, Nocella, Hirschman, Silk, Coby, Johnson.
LEE USA SPEEDWAY PICK’EM …. PICK YOUR BEST 6 …. HAVE FUN = BE HAPPY..
1. BIG MONEY 60
2. McKennedy 79
3. J. Bonn. 51
4. Coby 7NY
5. Silk 16
6. Goodale 58
IT”S not as easy PICKING first most the time… everyone can “see” your picks … BUT it’s OK … Were all having FUN… Lots of Strategy with 175 LAPS…. 6 – Tires to change it will be very INTERESTING with the OLD abrasive surface … Track has great site lines and easy too “SEE” so it should be GREAT RACING at LEE USA…. McKennedy should qualify well as HE has the most laps at LEE than anyone in the FIELD….LOT’S of
SUPER MODIFIED and MRS SERIES WINS…..
Pick 6:
60
7ny
07
16
51
79
csg picks
60 7 16 79 51 6
Hirschman takes time trials and wins race. Should be interesting first Nascar tour race since 1998. Only 5 Nascar tour races held at Lee.
A brief look at the history of tour races at LEE
1993 Regie Ruggierio won starting 4th in a 27 cars started
1994 Jamie tomaino won starting 23rd in a 31 car field
1995 Tim Connolly won started 4th in a 30 car field
1996 Rick Fuller won starting 2nd in a 27 car field
1998 Ed Flemke Jr won starting 14th in a 23 car field.
Its nice to see the tour return to Lee hopefully this is the first of a multiyear run.. This promoter could use a big win. I belief a few of his shows have been plagued by weather issues. Enjoy the races.
Lee USA, NWMT 5/21/2022
KenL….60-7ny-51-16-92-82
Doug…51-79-60-7ny-16-6
Eddie….79-92-60-16-7ny-3
Jake……60-79-51-7ny-16-58
Lapped..60-7ny-07-16-51-79
csg…..60-7ny-16-79-51-6
A bit of housekeeping.
-you don’t need to identify yourself I can figure out who you are by the comment ID.
-please consider picking the Stafford open. Don’t forget there is a huge season long championship at stake for regular race pickers. Errr, well actually there’s nothing at stake but it’s fun and will make you very happy. Actually don’t know that either but it can’t hurt.
-I don’t see the advantage of picking first or last. If you’re first you’re staking the first claim to various drivers. If you pick last you get the advantage of seeing who others are selecting. Each has it’s own advantages.
-scoring under the new system is working great in my view but takes a little more work. Results should post no later then mid morning of the day following the race.
Before I make my picks is Emerling going or not? There is contradictory info between the list Shawn has attached and the list Doug posted.
The WMT Facebook page has Emerling listed as well.
Thanks.
60
7 NY
51
16
79
82
Reminder that this Sunday Monadnock has a PASS/ACT doubleheader (tripleheader if you include PASS mods). No support divisions. Two 150 lap races for PASS and ACT and a 40 lapper for the PASS mods. $25 great deal.
Nice rundown Doug, thanks
Picks:
Hirschman
Bonsgnore
Nocella
Coby
Rameau
Mckennedy
That sounds like a great show at Monadnock. Thanks for posting Speedbowl I probably would have missed it.
60, 79, 7ny, 92, 16, 51
I copied the list right off the NASCAR web site and pasted it here. Since then the 07 has been removed.
60-7ny-51-07-rameau-silk are my picks for Lee
Lee USA, NWMT 5/21/2022
KenL…..60-7ny-51-16-92-82
Doug….51-79-60-7ny-16-06
Eddie….79-92-60-16-7ny-3
Jake……60-79-51-7ny-16-58
Lapped…60-7ny-07(?)-16-51-79
csg………60-7ny-16-79-51-06
Viva………60-7ny-51-16-79-82
Bobf…….60-51-92-7ny-06-79
Earl……..60-79-7ny-92-16-51
Big………60-7ny-51-07(?)-06-16
Notes:
-If you picked the 07 you might consider substituting since Emerling is a scratch.
-Rameau’s number on the official entry list is his usual 06 so it was updated here if you picked him.
-change anything you like up to the race. Anything with a time stamp before qualifying fair game.
I’ll swap out the 07 for 22
I’m going with
60 Hirschman
79 McKennedy
06 Rameau
16 Silk
51 Bonsignore
58 Goodale
We’ve never been to Lee…
Can somebody tell me if they allow tailgating..
Or is it like seekonk?
Lee USA, NWMT 5/21/2022
KenL…..60-7ny-51-16-92-82
Doug….51-79-60-7ny-16-06
Eddie….79-92-60-16-7ny-3
Jake……60-79-51-7ny-16-58
Lapped…60-7ny-22-16-51-79
csg………60-7ny-16-79-51-06
Viva….…60-7ny-51-16-79-82
Bobf…….60-51-92-7ny-06-79
Earl……..60-79-7ny-92-16-51
Big City..60-7ny-51-07(?)-06-16
getser…..60-79-06-16-51-58
I’ve always been able to tailgate, enjoy the show!