Next
Saturday night, June 16 the Exeter Decorating SBM
125 will bring a group of talented drivers from all
walks of pavement Modified racing, and with a
winners share that could exceed $9,000 the driver
entries are coming in from all four Modified touring
series and the best Star Speedway regulars as well.
With the most recent entries coming in this week
from Southern Modified Tour drivers Andy Seuss and
2008 WSMT Champion Brian Loftin, RoC multi-time
Champion Matt Hirschman and VMRS two-time Champion
Jon McKennedy, the field of 24 Modifieds might just
be the best of all-time at the racy quarter-mile
track.
The newest entries join USAC and NASCAR Champion
Bobby Santos, who returns to where his career began,
but in his first-ever Modified race at Star. Ryan
Preece, Mike Stefanik, Star Champion Josh Cantara,
Dwight Jarvis, Les Hinckley, and Modified Tour
points leader Doug Coby to name a few, will be vying
for close to $40,000 in prize money. A full list of
early entries will be released on June 11, with a
few more big name entries expected.
Appropriately serving as Grand Marshall for this
special Modified Open event is racing retired
Modified car owner Mario Fiore, who was a fixture at
open competition Modified events with his 'Team 44'
when they raced from Maine to Florida. The most
recent New England Racing Hall of Fame inductee
admits that races such as these were among his
favorites.
"The open shows were a regular staple for us because
they usually paid pretty good, and we had no problem
going to different race tracks and competing with
the regulars," Fiore stated. "I always liked the
social aspect of meeting different people and the
fans after those races. I enjoyed those open shows.
"That's how we got Reggie (Ruggiero) to drive our
race car. We used to go to the Plainville (Conn.)
Stadium open shows at the end of the year. He kept
beating us, so we hired him to drive our race car. I
haven't been to Star since the early '90's. I have
heard a lot of good things, so I'm looking forward
to it."
The unique payoff format, bringing bonus money
throughout the field, is going to be a story within
the 125-lap, green flag only race. Leading lap 79
pays $610 to the leader and another $180 to a top
ten driver. The halfway bonus payoff will be more
than $1,000 split between four of the top ten
drivers on that 63rd lap. Lap 40 pays $150, and the
fan donation lap 55 is expected to be worth more
than $200 to the race leader.
The festivities officially begin on Saturday June 16
at 4:50 PM, with a concert featuring a mix of
Country, Rock and Blues performed by Ryan Brooks
Kelly and Jilly Martin. The first green flag flies
at 5:30 PM for the weekly Star divisions, with
qualifying heat races for the Exeter Decorating SBM
125 beginning just after 6:00 PM.
Last year the VMRS drivers took home the top two
finishing positions, with Chris Pasteryak running
the fastest lap of the race at 12.684 seconds, but
the competition level for this second annual event
is going to be even higher, with many of the best
from the WMT set to compete. The allowance of a pit
stop to change one tire during the race will likely
add to the race drama.
Tickets for this special event are priced at just
$25 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, with
kids 10 and under admitted free of charge with a
paid adult. For more information on this one of a
kind event, or to sponsor one of the ten remaining
laps, log onto
www.star-speedway.com, email:
StarPress2012@aol.com or check out the Star
Speedway
official facebook page. |