It has been two weeks since we last ran, and it feels like the longest two weeks ever! Rainouts have taken a toll on the 2017 schedule as we have already endured 3 this season and at the beginning of the week, well, it looked like this would be a 4th. But we all hoped it wouldn’t happen. In Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne said, “Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.” Things worked out pretty well for Andy and while we won’t be sitting on the sands of Zihuatanejo, we will be in a better spot – at the race track – hopefully!

Last time out we saw 3 new feature winners as Craig Smith (23/52) made a late pass to pick up the win in the R.E. Hinkley Super Streets while Joe Tetreault led from wire to wire in the Pepsi Limited Sportsman to grab the checkers. 2016 champion Kodi Sabins controlled the T-Bird Mini Mart Wildcat feature event to visit KIXX Victory Lane, his 2nd top 3 in 2 starts. In the Casella Modifieds, Dana Smith held off Dwight Jarvis to gain his 2nd win of the season and by doing so, continuing to lead the division’s point standings.

All four divisions are in action this week as school’s out for summer. No pencils or books are required in the classroom of Claremont Speedway. Lessons are taught on the track!

Newport Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series
Race 5’s Winners: Craig Smith (Supers), Dana Smith (Modifieds) Joe Tetreault (Limiteds), and Kodi Sabins (Wildcats)
Time: Post time is 7 PM
Weather: Party cloudy and 81 degrees. 8 % chance of precipitation
Event Hashtag: #NCWRS
Prep: Pit gates open at 3 PM with hot laps beginning at 4 PM
Running Order (tentative): Modifieds, Wildcats, Supers, and Limiteds
Pit Admission: $ 35
Grandstand Admission: $ 10 for ages 6 and over
Beer Garden opens at 6 PM
 
Storylines for the Week
 

• Pick Me Up a Sixer – Craig Smith (23/52) became the 5th different winner in the R.E. Hinkley Super Street division this season on their last time out. Each and every race, there could be a new feature winner. Will there be a 6th this week? Some have come close – Ricky Bly, Dylan Bodreau, Ben Poland, and Bryan Town to name a few.
• “Temper”ature – It is supposed to be warm tomorrow night. Will that have any effect on the drivers as some may still be a little “warm” with incidents that took place in race 5.
• Wild Side – There will likely be some new entries this week in the 4-cylinder Wildcats as we approach their special extra distance event.
• Extra! Extra! Read All About It – The extra week off because of the rainout helped a number of race teams who suffered mechanical issues or damage. All are expected back this week.

 
 
Next week the stars and cars of yesteryear will be back for their annual visit at the speedway. The Senior Tour Auto Racers with the R.E. Hinkley Super Streets, Pepsi Limited Sportsman, and T-Bird Mini Mart Wildcats will all race before a gigantic fireworks display.

For the third time in eight chances this season, Claremont Speedway has been forced to cancel its racing card due to the weather forecast. With over a 50 % chance of rain and temperatures only in the lower 60’s, speedway officials made the difficult decision early this afternoon. With the debut of the new Street Stock Showdown Series originally scheduled to take place tomorrow night and the fact many race teams were traveling from southern New England, officials felt it was in the best interest of all involved. Claremont Speedway officials are working with Bob Guptill, series promoter, on a new date with hopes to announce it in the very near future. The R.E. Hinkley Super Streets and T-Bird Mini Mart Wildcats were also scheduled to run their sixth race of the season.

Our summer schedule is just beginning to heat up as next week all four divisions of the Newport Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series take to the track. Fireworks and stars and cars of yesterday highlight our June 30th racing card. The Senior Tour Auto Racers make their annual visit to the speedway with the Supers, Limiteds, and Wildcats all racing before a huge fireworks display closes out the night.

In the month of July, we welcome back the Valenti Modified Racing Series for some open-wheeled awesomeness. After a week off, the T-Bird Mini Mart Wildcats will run their extra distance event of the season. The Cody Lafont Memorial Twin 25’s are set to take place on July 21. An increased purse has been created by the Lafont family and generous sponsors with a $ 500 take home prize to win the overall event. Each segment winner will pocket an additional $ 75 and drivers who take the green will receive $ 100. Currently 21 drivers are eligible to compete as there is a prerequisite of having competed in one Wildcat event prior to the Lafont Twin 25’s.

For more information about the upcoming schedule, visit the website or like us on Facebook.

Get ready to boogie down while we spin tunes from the disco era as the full moon rises over the Twin States’ Theatre of Thunder. Let's hope the only thunder we hear tomorrow is on the track.

Speaking of thunder, the Mods are back. The Mods are back. The Mods are back and they’re looking for trouble. The Casella Modifieds last ran on May 12 when the world felt normal again as Dwight Jarvis led all 30 laps en route to collect the feature win. Dana Smith continued the strong start to his season by placing 2nd after a Race 1 win. Both will be racing tomorrow night. Can either make it two wins in three races?

The R.E. Hinkley Super Streets struggled a bit to kick off the Dean Smith 52-Lap Memorial Race as it was plagued with caution flags early. In some cases, it felt like flagman Mark Shute was refereeing a Sunday morning adult flag football game which he does in the fall. After the dust settled and the sheet metal was shed, Jack McClay was the fourth different winner in as many races in the division. The Craig Smiths closed out the podium as the rookie wound up 2nd and son to the race’s namesake came home 3rd. It was great to see the level of support and acknowledgement of this division’s race teams to Dean’s memory as he will be greatly missed.

The Pepsi Limited Sportsman and T-Bird Mini Mart Wildcats both had repeat winners as Kenny Thompson picked up his 2nd win of the season (3rd career) and 4-cylinder cruiser Greg “Smoke” Millette continues to set the division on fire with his 3rd feature win this season.

Newport Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series
Race 4’s Winners: Jack McClay (Supers), Kenny Thompson (Limiteds), and Greg Millette (Wildcats). Dwight Jarvis (Modifieds) won 5/12.
Time: Post time is 7 PM
Weather: Party cloudy and 70 degrees
Event Hashtag: #NCWRS
Prep: Pit gates open at 3 PM with hot laps beginning at 4 PM
Running Order (tentative): Supers, Limiteds, Wildcats, and Modifieds
Pit Admission: $ 35
Grandstand Admission: $ 10 for ages 6 and over
 
Story Lines for the Week

• Fun with Flags – No, Sheldon Cooper will not be the flagman this week nor will Amy Farrah Fowler (although she will be much better looking) but Mark Shute’s work obligations have changed since filling in for injured Cliff Potwin so he will unfortunately be handing over the colors to another official this week.
• Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – “Smoke” Millette is setting a white-hot pace thus far in the Wildcat division. As the temperatures warm (if they ever do) and the humidity takes hold, will the other drivers in the division be able to put out the fire he has created?
• 5-Star Resort – Will the R.E. Hinkley Super Streets see a 5th different winner in as many races? Last year, 7 different winners took the checkers around the track.
• The Checkered Review will be posted tomorrow morning.

 
Next week the Street Stock Showdown Series lights the candle on their first-ever event in preparation for the New England Short Track Showdown on July 1. Our Pepsi Limited Sportsman are able to run so it will be interesting to see if a track regular defends their playground or if an invader takes home the win.

We are finally back after what seemed like an eternity. With last week’s race card rained out for our second postponement of the season, we move onto Race 4 with the Granite State Pro Stock Series’ only visit to the Twin States’ Theatre of Thunder for 100 laps of high speed action. In their first race last year at Claremont on June 17, Jeremy Davis was the winner by .024 seconds on a last-lap pass. 23 cars are currently entered for the event including some names familiar to Claremont Speedway – Bryon Baker, Guy Caron, Luke Hinkley, Scott MacMichael, and Jimmy Zullo. The series has run two events at Lee USA Speedway and Riverhead so far this season.

The Dean Smith 52-Lap Memorial Race for the R.E. Hinkley Super Streets will also be run tomorrow night. Under the organization of Dean’s son, Craig, an increased purse for the field as well as lap incentives have been added. A full field is expected to compete in this event. The winner takes home a minimum of $ 1,000. The Supers have had 3 different winners in as many races this season.

The Pepsi Limited Sportman division is expected to see some new entries this week. Three different feature winners have carried the checkers as well. The T-Bird Mini Mart Wildcats saw Greg Millette win his 2nd race of the season in what is sure to be a healthy field of 4-cylinders.

Claremont 100 – Granite State Pro Stock Series
Last Year’s Winner: Jeremy Davis
Race 3’s Newport Chevrolet WRS Winners: Russ Davis (Supers), Kenny Thompson (Limiteds), and Greg Millette (Wildcats)
Time: Post time is 7 PM for the night’s racing card
Weather: Party cloudy and 60 degrees
Event Hashtag: #DeanSmith52, #GSPSS, #NCWRS
Prep: Pit gates open at 3 PM with hot laps beginning at 4 PM
Practice Schedule (tentative): 3 Claremont divisions will rotate for 2 rounds of practice (4 PM-5 PM)
Granite State Pro Stocks will have a 45 minute practice session from approx. (5 PM-5:45 PM)
Claremont divisions will have another round followed by a brief tire scuff session for GSPSS.
Driver's Meeting at 6:30 PM
Running Order (tentative):
T-Bird Mini Mart Wildcats
Pepsi Limited Sportsman
Granite State Pro Stock Series - Claremont 100
R.E. Hinkley Super Streets  - Dean Smith 52-Lap Memorial Race
Pit Admission: $ 35
Grandstand Admission: $ 10 for ages 6 and over
 
Storylines for the Week

• Going Pro – The Granite State Pro Stock Series visits only one time this season. New London’s Scott MacMichael, a rookie of the year contender, currently sits 2nd in points. MacMichael finished 3rd in points last year in the Modified division. Mike Mitchell is the current point leader.
• High School Musical – The top 2 in points in the Pepsi Limited Sportsman are both high school juniors. Tyler Janovsky (Twin Valley) is the current leader with Kenny Thompson (Fall Mt.) right behind.  
• Smoke Show – Greg Millette has led 50 of the 75 feature laps in the T-Bird Mini Mart Wildcat division but with his win last time out, he will start last this week. His average finish thus far on the season is 1.33.
• Radical, man – Two radicals were in KIXX Victory Lane last time out as Russ Davis won the feature event. His last feature win came on June 19, 2015. The other namesake was Ricky Bly who visited for the podium for the third time this year and is your current point leader after a strong start to the season.
• The Checkered Review will be posted tomorrow morning.

 
Next week it’s Disco Night. Drag out the leisure suit, throw on the gold chains, and get down with your bad self as we spin tunes from the disco era. All four Newport Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series’ divisions are in action.