2017 Rule Changes 

 
  The off season is the time when all of the Mr. Rooter ProTruck series rules are re-evaluated, and changes are implemented for the upcoming year.  All rules are designed with  two goals. The rules must keep costs down while improving competition.

    10 inch spoilers that run fender to fender are required for all trucks in 2017.  Air flow over the cab of ProTrucks renders small spoilers ineffective. Fans like the big blades on the back of the  race trucks. In the past our C Chassis trucks had smaller spoilers.  Some crew chief's that could run the large spoiler also opted for smaller version.  For the upcoming season, all teams will have the big blades on the rear tailgate.


     Steel quick change rear ends are now allowed. ProTrucks historically have utilized a production car rear end. Initial costs comparisons between quick change rears and production based rear ends are very comparable. The quick change gets the edge in durability, and lower cost gear ratio changes.  They are easier to work with too. This rule change is optional.   There is a disadvantage to the quick change. It looses 5-10 horsepower compared to the production based rears. The expectation is that despite the horsepower loss, teams will ultimately transition to quick changes over time.

    Debate over nerf bars has been an area of discussion over the last few seasons. Nerf Bars are metal tubing placed at axel height between the front and rear wheels placed to protect the bodies. Often they do more harm than good. The Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series ultimately would like nerf bars phased out. For 2017, any bar that is placed outside, or not  covered by the body will be assessed a 10 lb penalty. Expect the weight penalty to increase every season until the bars are completely phased out.

       The engine rules are unchanged. Rear wheel horsepower is the key. It is highly suggested that team using open type motors have their trucks chassis dyno tested before racing, for exceeding the horsepower rule in post race dyno testing could prove costly.

      The Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series has a focus on minimizing rule changes. Rule changes often translate to added expense for team owners.  There are only a few tweaks to the rule books 2017.  Hopefully this cost controlling attitude will result in more owners opting to move to ProTruck racing.  The Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series is the most cost effective touring series in the North East. 

All Photos on this website courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com
   

 

 


      The 2016 Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series awards banquet was held at the Stafford Speedway Saturday evening.  It was the perfect place to celebrate. The walls of the Stafford Speedway's function Hall are filled with history. The food was delicious. Austin Sullivan performed live playing a variety of music. The atmosphere created set the stage for an entertaining evening.

        Cassandra Coates kicked the evening off with a live FaceBook broadcast  representing a new sponsor, Little Miss Lippy, and lip stick that does not smudge. At every race, in every set of stands, at every track, there is always a young girl watching out for that female driver to root for. The Mr. Rooter Truck Series has three, Amanda Lee Anderson, Erin Dumicich and of course, Cassandra.  During the broadcast it was revealed that Cassandra will be touring with the Mr. Rooter Truck Series, starting with Thompson Speedways Ice Breaker, and certainly fans can get all of the Lip Stick you need. Head over to Cassandra's truck. Be sure to follow Cassandra on the Mr. Rooter Truck Series in 2017!
     
      Awards followed dinner.   The night served multiple functions. Everyone was there to honor Andy Lindeman.  Lindeman's name is synonymous with  circle track truck racing in New England.  His 2016 Championship was his 7th, and there is no doubt, the obvious comparisons to the driver he idolized made this Championship special. Andy served notice that he is after an eighth Championship in 2017 in the Stringer Racing 3.  Andy embraces and celebrates his roll as Champion like no other. Special plaques were given out to his crew and  Series competition director Marshall Hurley. It was a story book year, and a story book finish. Congratulations to our first Playoff Champion , Andy  Lindeman.

    The series also took time to recognize all of those that work to put on these super competitive events, whereas many volunteer, or work for a small stipend in the interest of the show.  Roger Hunt is just one of those guys that is always there for the series, and was given a plague recognizing his efforts both on race weekends and throughout  the year.

    Trevor Dyer, known for his Orange Crush #70 Silverado took down two awards.  He was voted most popular driver. Trevor is always helping teams with parts, and always has time for everyone. He also took down "The Iron Man " award.   The award goes to the driver that not only makes all the races and completes most, if not all of the laps, but does the mechanical side too, and completes the season much by his own individual physical efforts. It takes a tough determined racer to get this award. Trevor is your Mr. Rooter Truck Series Iron Man for 2016.

    Josh Stringer was the 2016 Mr. Rooter Truck Series Most Improved Driver. Last year's Rookie of the Year competed at the Waterford SpeedBowl's weekly racing series, and raced his backup truck in all of last season's Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series events. In only his second series racing trucks, Josh has turned into a threat to win every race.  He was a unanimous choice and certainly is one to watch in 2017.

    Gerard Giordano Jr. had a banner year. The young star from Long Island New York won a race, and easily won the 2016 Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series Rookie of the Year award.  He won the finale at Bemer's Super Bowl and finished 5th in points when all was said and done. Giordano is planning on another run at the Championship in 2017. 
 
    Bert Ouellette had a banner year in the #151 Ford of Cindy Burdick Motorsports. He had 4 wins in 9 starts, and led 53 laps.  When Bert gets to victory lane, it is a total celebration.  Bert earned 4th place in the series Championship standings.  He is another young star the series featured in 2016. Ouellette will be moving on to the SK Modified division in 2017. Ouellette's supporters are looking for funding so he can pull double duty and race some Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series events next season. 

   Veteran Dan Turbush was a surprise competitor last season. He won the Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series event at Riverhead Speedway, and grabbed a win at Hudson International Speedway. Dan had to jump from ride to ride.  The win at Riverhead was in the #38.  His win at Hudson was in the #81.  He competed in the #11, and #88.  The fact is if you strap Dan Turbush into a race truck, it is headed to the front.  He was a threat to win the overall Championship right up until the final circuit. Dan Turbush was awarded 3rd place in the 2016 Championship. He is not expected to return to the series in 2017, but did not rule out competing with the right team.

    Dangerous Dave Koenig  was another of the Long Islanders that did their best to take the Championship.  He had the highest pure points total for the season.  His efforts came up one position  short as he finished directly behind Andy Lindeman's #3 in the playoff event at Bemer's Super Bowl that decided the champion. Both drivers raced their way from the back.  Andy simply  got to the front first.  Koenig's style this season was to start back in the field and finish up front.  The season stats bear this out.  Koenig won the Mr. Consistency award with a series leading average finishing position of 3.44.   He was took  down the Hard Charger award averaging an average net gain, from starting position to finishing position of 3.56 which also led the series. He had a win, and earned second place in the 2016 Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series Championship.

    The evening ended with a preview of 2017 and an outline of some new programs  that all kick off at Thompson's Ice Breaker.  It was a evening to remember. Congratulations to all the drivers that competed in 2016. Check back often for the 2017 Season Preview will be posted soon. Our next Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series event will be at the Racer's Expo in Marlboro Mass on February 3rd and 4th.  Visit out booth and put your name in to win Miss Lippy Lip Stick .   See you there.



All Photos on this website courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com

 

 
 



 

       
    The Mr. Rooter Truck Series teams are well into their off season, but there is still a bit more celebrating to do. 2016 marked the first time a New England touring series decided their Champion using a chase style format.  4 teams qualified by season wins. One prevailed.  On January 28th, at the Stafford Motor Speedway Banquet Hall, teams will celebrate Andy Lindeman's 7th Mr. Rooter Truck Series Championship.  He earned it in grand style at Bemer's Super Bowl.  There were other outstanding season long performances to celebrate too.  Drivers like Dave Koenig, Dan Turbush, Bert Ouellette, Gerard Giordano Jr., Josh Stringer and Trevor Dyer brought excitement to the tracks throughout New England.  35 drivers competed in nine events at six different tracks.  The result was exciting competitive racing at a fraction of the costs of other touring series. That is what Mr. Rooter Truck Series racing is all about. That is what we are going to celebrate  at our awards banquet.  Please join us if you can as we show some appreciation towards those teams that made it happen, and announce details on our 2017 season.
To  purchase tickets for the  Mr. Rooter ProTruck Series banquet, please click here.

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   The Mr. Rooter Truck Series saved it's best for last as the series ran the final event of 2016 at Bemer's Big Show. It was a special event for the series dedicated the race to fallen New York State Police Officer Tim Pratt. Officer Pratt was helping with directions in front of the New York State Police barracks in Wilton.  He stepped off the cab of the truck  and was struck by a motorist. He was a US Air Force veteran and served 29 years with the New York State Police. The Mr. Rooter Truck Series teams all had Officer Pratt in their thoughts and prayers.

       22 trucks were on hand. 20 started a feature.  The four Chase Teams were set to battle it out. Those trucks had special markings for fans to follow, and were placed deep into the field. The remainder of the field was lined up by qualifying times turned in practice sessions. On the pole, in the #2 Chevrolet was 2016 Waterford Speedbowl Truck Champion Duane Noll with a time of 16.791. The 29 of Josh Stringer started outside row one.  Tyler Chapman's 81 started 3rd.  The 21 of Todd Taylor lined up outside row 2.  Bert Ouellette was the Chase qualifier starting closest to the front. He rolled off 12th. Dan Turbush lined up 13th. Dave Koenig and Andy Lindeman would follow in 14th and 15th respectively.

    The driver with the most wins at Waterford, Allen Coates moved from his 5th place starting spot into the early lead. The #90 Red Rocket looked untouchable. An early caution reeled Coates in. On the restart the 81 of Tyler Chapman and the leader got crossed  up ending any hope Coates had of winning. The wreck had a huge impact on the Chase contenders as fans saw smoke billowing from the 151. The Cindy Burdick Motorsports Ford had contact with the wall in the melee, and blasted apart the transmission ending their Championship run, and putting a close on a truly fantastic season.

    As the fireworks were happening out front, Dan Turbush was carving his way to the front. He had moved from 13th to 4th by lap 10.  After the restart he took over up front.  His other Chase competitors , Koenig and Lindeman had not made their way into the top 5 yet. It was looking like the Championship trophy was heading  back to Long Island with the 88 for a second straight year.
   Lindeman was not done yet. He found some speed in the outside groove. The black 3 was flying. By lap 12 Lindeman was 5th and by lap 17 he was contesting for the lead.  He passed Turbush on the outside and opened up a sizeable lead.  Without a yellow, it looked doubtful anyone would mount a challenge, but as often happens in short track racing, the yellow flew on lap 30 setting up a pressure packed finish to the race and the Chase.

     Lindeman had lane choice on the restart and opted for the inside.  Turbush lined up on the outside . Giordano and Taylor made up row 2. Koenig was lurking behind them.  The 3 and 88 clanged as they moved down the back stretch. Turbush jockeyed for position turning left.  Lindeman held his line.  Turbush got a great start. Entering turn one the two leaders swere fighting for the same real estate. Giordano headed inside both for the flat.  Lindeman and Turbush made contact. The 15jr. was already on the  move. He blasted by low and never looked back.  The  88 completely turned sideways but never actually spun. A lesser driver would have gone all of the way around. Had that happened both Lindeman and Turbush would have been placed to the rear and Koenig would have been the Champion.  On this day, luck was on Andy Lindeman's side. He followed the 15jr. to the checkers and his 7th Championship.  Mr. consistency, Koenig, would have to settle for 3rd. Turbush worked his way back to 4th and Tyler Chapman rounded out the top 5. 

      The win for Gerard Giordano Jr. and his crew has been long over due.  The Long Island rookie has turned heads all  year. Bert Ouellette had commented after Monadnock that his focus was on keeping Gerard out of victory lane for he was going to be a threat at Waterford, and might steal the Championship away if he could get in to the Chase.  Bert was right. This kid can drive.   It is hard to believe Gerard is a rookie and awesome to see him get that first win. Expect great things out of Gerard Giordano Jr.

       As for the Chase, it was Andy Lindeman securing his 7th Mr. Rooter Truck Series title. The race was incredibly special for Andy.  He knew Officer Pratt and had dedicated his efforts to the remembrance of his friend.  He had captured his 7th Championship. It was not a cake walk. It was earned.  He lost a motor at Stafford and had to sweat out even making  the Chase. The 3 had a new rear end, and transmission to go with the power plant. With all that said, it took an amazing drive to get that top spot. It was a night  to remember. It is a Championship to be celebrated by all.

     Dave Koenig grabbed the second Chase spot. Koenig's 97 scored the most points during the year. Dave has a style that quietly puts him in the front of the field race after race.  Long Island's Dangerous Dave missed by 1 position in this year's Championship, and in his selfless style, congratulated Lindeman on his 7th with a smile.

     Dan Turbush had a great year too. He made his way to competition director Marshall Hurley post race, shook hands and said " Thanks, I had a great time."  Turbush had put on a show. He won the series National event. He was a threat weekly. The Mr. Rooter Truck Series is certainly proud that Dan Turbush decided to come out of retirement and place 3rd in the Mr. Rooter Truck Series Championship .

    Finally there was Bert Ouellette and the 151 team. Their year was a dream year. They won the most races.  Harold Burdick would say, " We got caught up in someone else's mess. It just wasn't meant to be."  With that said, the team was the number one seed, the truck to beat and simply had lady luck run away for the playoff.  Bert Ouellette has turned into quite a driver over the  past two seasons. Great things are on the horizon.

    Next up for the Mr. Rooter Truck Series is the series awards banquet where the teams will honor those drivers that accomplished so much. It is scheduled at the Fair Grounds Banquet Hall located on the grounds of the Stafford Speedway.
Tickets will be available soon. For complete race results click the link to the left.  All photos on this site are from www.passingbird.com. Be sure to visit that site for action photos of our entire seasons including this event at the Waterford Speedbowl.

 
 
 

First Ever Chase for a Championship
Saturday at Bemer's Big Show

 
      The Mr. Rooter Truck Series will head to the Waterford Speedbowl next Saturday for Bemer's Big Show.  The colossal event that features 15 divisions of racing. There has never been a time when 3 divisions of short track trucks raced on one day. For the Mr. Rooter Trucks, the event caps off the first year with a new owner, and decides the Champion for 2016. There were lots of changes in the off season.

      So how far has the series come?  Jimmy Rennick runs a weekly truck series at Riverhead Raceway in Long Island.  His first experience with the MRTS was in July when he competed in the Riverhead Nationals. Last week, Rennick took a trip off the Island and competed in the Fall Final at Stafford Speedway. "The feeling we had running the couple of races has been positive." says Rennick.  "I feel the Mr. Rooter Truck Series should be presented by the tracks it runs as a premier series."

      When asked about Rennick's comments, competition director Marshall Hurley was not surprised. "The 7 team is a premier team. They bring extra. We are in competition in the entertainment market that the public has lots of options. JCR Motorsports puts on a show. "
     
     Unlike any other division in New England short track racing, the Mr. Rooter Pro Trucks utilize the Chase format. "Again it is all about the show. We are going to have 4 trucks racing through the field to decide their playoff Champion.  Trust me on this;  Fans will have something entertaining to watch .  

     So what are the Chase competitors thinking as they enter such a pressure packed weekend?  Bert Ouellette, Dan Turbush, Dave Koenig and Andy Lindeman were asked to give the thumbs up or down on a few questions surrounding this years Chase. Here is what they had to say:

Question:  The Mr. Rooter Truck Series is the first series in New England to venture into some type of a Chase format.  Thumbs up or Thumbs down?
 
"I am going to say it's thumbs up to me. It changes your style of racing a little, makes the wins that much more important!!.

 
"By watching as an outsider of the Cup series, and seeing the Chase format you do not get the real emotions and feelings on how its run. Now that I am part of it, I think it is interesting because it all comes down to the last race.  We achieved and earned our spot to be one of four drivers. Now we have to capitalize and make it through traffic in order to be crowned the Champion."
 
  "I like the old points system. Consistency should win. "


 
"I like it.  It makes the last race more exciting."

 

Question: Which track was your favorite "Thumbs up" track during the 2016 Mr. Rooter Truck Series Season?
 
"This is a tough one for me 'cause I love Stafford with it being around the corner from home and Monadnock which has so much character to  it that it's just fun to drive on."
 
"Favorite track is obviously Riverhead because I have so many laps and it is my home track, but I have to say Hudson as well because that's a fast 1/4 track similar to Riverhead and I had a lot of fun racing there."
 
  " Hudson, Fast & fun; Fans are awesome!"


 
" Stafford. I like the speed.  Hasn't been very kind to me; Come  close a couple of times, would really like to win there.

 

Question: Which track was your favorite "Thumbs up" race whether you won it or not during the      
                 2016 Mr. Rooter Truck Series Season?
"The Stafford Spring Sizzler for sure.  To make those 3 wide moves , to come back and win that close to home with so many friends and family in the stands!

 
"Favorite race would be the Stafford Fall Final. Led 3/4 of the race, at the fast 1/2 mile track  only to be passed with 3 to go. I would like to do it again so I didn't make the mistakes that cost me the win. What a fast track!
 
  "Hudson .....led a bunch of laps at a track where Earnhardt raced !  "


 
"Stafford "

 

Question: Which driver that did not make the Chase should have got the "Thumbs up" and been in and why?
 
"Gerard (15jr.) He has been a tough competitor all year wrong and he has run all the races, but he got bumped out cause Dan Turbush did the races he had to, and won 2 of them and is having a Kyle Bush kind of year!"
 


 		 "I think Gerard Giordano should be in. He has been real fast all year long at every track but just could not capitalize on his first ever win and he is way overdue for one.  I know once he gets his first win under his belt he will be tough to beat."
 
  " 15 jr.   So close all season, always fast enough to win."


 
"Josh Stringer (29) has improved as a driver in a very short time and works hard to do."

 

Question:  If you do not win the Chase , who is going to?  Who gets the thumbs up.
 
"Too tough  to call.  Andy (3) has a fresh engine at Waterford, a track he knows well, and has won at plenty. Dan (81) has won 2 out of the 5 races he has been in this year, and is in last years championship truck, and then you have Dave (97) who has been so consistent all year. "
 

 		 " If I cannot win the Chase, I believe Dave Koenig (97) will win. He has been steady all year long, and knows how to finish strong."

 
  "If my math is correct it would be Bert (151) "


 
"I think Dave (97) might be the guy."

 

Question: What would winning the 2016 Mr. Rooter Truck Series Championship mean to you?
 
"It would be the Biggest moment in my racing career, not to mention Cindy Burdick Motorsports to this point. It would be my first Championship in a stock car, something I have been dreaming about  my whole life "
 


 		 " Winning the Chase would be a dream come true. I have won races, and Championships at Riverhead, but to win on a touring series with all these awesome tracks, would be a dream come true. I would be able to finally retire on top and support both my sons 100% in their racing careers"
 
  "Definitely a great feeling to be able to win a Championship in a touring division, to add to  a Championship at my home track"


 
"It would mean a lot to me as it would be number 7, tying the late great Dale Earnhardt Sr. who is my favorite driver of all time. "

     Bemer's Big Show has all the makings of a real "barn burner".  Three divisions of trucks racing on the same day at the same track is unprecedented. If you like trucks, then you need to be at the New-London, Waterford Speedbowl Saturday. For ticket information please call 860-442-RACE.
 

NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final Victory
Keeps the Shirley Lindeman Memorial Trophy
at Cindy Burdick Motorsports

 
             The Mr. Rooter Truck Series could not have been prouder to be included in the  2016 NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final at Stafford Motor Speedway .  This year's event was also The Shirley Lindeman Memorial event which Mr. Rooter Trucks Series Teams universally feel is the most prestigious race to win.

          18 trucks pulled into the Stafford pit area.  A true fan favorite, Jimmy Rennick made a special appearance leaving Long Island with what some would argue is the best hauler in the pit area, and his famed  #7 Silverado, Gemma.  The graphics are awesome, the lighting is spectacular,  and Jimmy is one of those competitors that any series is proud to have. There was a contest to give away a team T-Shirt. It is no wonder that Jimmy Rennick is so popular.

        Practice rounds quickly established a few favorites. The 99 of Allen Coates had pure speed. His Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Repair Dodge hit 99 mph on the radar gun entering turn one. Bert Ouellette topped the speed charts in practice 1.  Dan Turbush's 88 was fastest in the final practice.

        Qualifying races set the line-up. Dan Turbush started on the pole and won the first heat with Bert Ouellette's 151 on his rear bumper all the way to the  checkers.  In the second qualifying race, Andy Lindeman led the field to the green. The 3 performed flawlessly in practice, but did not go as expected on the start. Josh Stringer dove to the inside and was on the apron spinning  by  the time the  teams hit turn one.  The 18x of Cashman and the 199 of Finkbein both suffered damage as many competitors slipped and banged through oil down on the track surface.  The 18x was able to make repairs in time for the feature event . Unfortunately the #199 of Eric Finkbein's day was cut short.  The trucks never completed a corner. The original line-up was reverted to for the restart. Once restarted, the 90 of Corey Coates was able to hold of the 2 of Duane Noll  to win the second qualifier.

      The focus of the day was the "Chase".  Bemer's Super Bowl will host the final race of the Mr. Rooter Truck Series Season October 22 at the New London Waterford Speedbowl.  Four "Chase" drivers will start at the back of the field at that event. What ever way those four drivers finish is how they will finish in the season point standings. The driver that finishes furthest ahead is the 2016 Champion. The Fall Final was the last chance to qualify.  Two spots were up for grabs entering the day.  Dave Koenig only needed to start the event to lock down his spot.  The final spot was Lindeman's for the moment.  If Trevor Dyer, Josh Stringer, or Gerard Giordano Jr. pulled off the win they would bump Lindeman out. 

        A surprise guest was Mother nature. She made here presence known.  Rain fell as the Mr. Rooter Truck Series rolled on to the speedway. The trucks were unable to start the feature, and directed to pit row. It was doubtful that this race was going to get in.  The Stafford Motor Speedway Staff did a remarkable job with track drying and saved the day. They  knew there was going to be a break in the precipitation. Sure enough, after a 20  minute delay, the motors fired and the Shirley Lindeman Memorial was underway.

    
 Starting tail end in the feature was the 3 of Andy Lindeman.  Motor issues had relegated the six time MRTS Champion to a start and park. 

     Dan Turbush, in the MRTS 88 Silverado that his son Roger had piloted to a championship last year led the field to green. Corey Coates, in the #90 Silverado was to his outside.  Bert Ouellette's #151 gridded behind Turbush. Duane Noll's Wild Deuce lined up outside of Ouellette. 

   Early Laps saw the 88 charge out front.  Ouellette closed  in and by 10  laps in  Turbush was in a defensive mode.  The 151 was faster in the corner and Turbush simply had more horsepower down the straights.  The battle for 3rd and 4th was also a 2 car duel as Coates and Noll were paired off a tight bumper to bumper battle.

  

Watch the entire Shirley Lindeman Memorial Race by clicking above
 

      On lap 21 the leaders closed on the 77 of Shayne Young. Turbush moved up to get by and got loose exiting turn 2. This opened the door for Ouellette.  It looked as if the 151 was going to grab the point but the 77 could not hang on as the two leaders went by. The 77 spun and the caution was out.

    On the  restart it was the 151 pulling slightly ahead only to be motored by on the straight. It was clear that Bert Ouellette was much stronger through the turns.  Entering turn 3 Ouellette set his Ford down on the flat, and pulled along side of the 88. The two trucks rubbed.  Turbush slid up and Bert Ouellette had the lead, with a very fast truck.   Once out front by himself his last two laps were within a tenth of a second of the fastest laps turned all day. Turbush was not done yet though.  He powered down the straight and moved from 3rd to second.  There was not enough time to mount a challenge for the lead.  He would have to settle for second this time.

    It was Ouellette's 4th win of the season, and the $1000.00 winners check pushes his earnings up over $4400.00 for the season. More importantly it was his second consecutive Shirley Lindeman Memorial win. 

   The Chase field is now set. 4 drivers will fight to be the Mr. Rooter Truck Series Championship October 22nd at the Speed Bowl.  Bert Ouellette will be in the 151.  Dan Turbush will be back with 88.  Dave Koenig's 97 will be ready and six time Champion Andy Lindeman will be looking for his 7th.   The stage is set for The Mr. Rooter Truck Series Race at Bemer's Super Bowl  to be our most exciting event in the history of truck racing in New England.  For ticket information please call 860-442-RACE.

2016 MRTS Standings Click here.          Stafford Fall Final Race Results Click Here.

 
 
 

44th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final
will host
The Shirley Lindeman Memorial

 

     The Mr. Rooter Truck Series is returning to where the season kicked off , at Stafford Speedway  Oct 8th, due to some good old fashion interference by mother nature. The weather forced schedule changes, and one of those changes just made the Napa Auto Parts Fall Classic even better.  The Shirley Lindeman Memorial Race will be held this Saturday.  The race honors Shirley Lindeman.  Expect many of the NETS competitors  to carry remembrances as teams honor a friend, mother and fan of all NETS competitors. For the New England Racing Series the Shirley Lindeman Memorial race is the highlight of the year.

  The Mr. Rooter Trucks moved to a "Chase" format to decide the 2016 Champion.  It is only fitting that the battle for the final spot is centered around  the #3 of Andy Lindeman.  Bert Ouellette and Dan Turbush locked their Chase berths with multiple wins. Dave Koenig's #97 needs only to start the feature and he is locked in. Lindeman's quest for a 7th depends on his ability to hold on to that final spot, and some credible threats are lurking in the wings.

       It would be no surprise if Trevor Dyer's Orange Crush #70 grabbed a win. The iron man of the series has completed every lap run, and sits 7 points ahead of Lindeman in the standings.  It is simple. Pull off the win and Orange Crush is in.

    The Stringer racing team is even more interesting. Andy and Josh for the most part race as teammates. Andy out-dueled Josh for his Speedbowl Truck win at Waterford.  Josh returned the favor by winning the last event there. You will see the 29 and 3 haulers parked side by side.  Josh is another driver with the same mission. Win and the 29 is in the chase.

   The final threat to Lindeman's championship drive is the 15jr of Gerard Giordano.  The consequences of the Lee cancellation was immediately realized by the senior Giordano.  "That gives me one chance for the chase", commented crew chief  Gerard Giordano Sr.   His young driver may be a rookie, but has driven like a seasoned veteran.  Gerard Jr. has 6 top 5 finishes and is 2nd in points. His Spring Sizzler effort yielded a 3rd place finish behind the 42 of Dumicich and the 151 of Ouellette.  Dumicich will not race Saturday. There is no doubt that Giordano's 15jr will be pulling out all the stops to get that elusive first MRTS victory and that final Chase berth.      

   Race fans heading to Stafford should keep an eye out for the hauler of JCR Motorsports.  Jimmy Rennick is headed to the Napa Know How Fall Final.  His hauler is unique for it features open sides for fans to see the #7.  Fans that snap a picture of the hauler Saturday, post them on Facebook and tag Marshall Hurley will be entered in a contest.  The best shot will earn you a Jimmy Rennick Team race shirt.


      More information on the 44th Annual NAPA Fall Final Weekend is available on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com or by contacting the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783.

All Photos courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com

 

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Stafford Fall Final is Final Chance to Qualify for Chase!

         The 2016 Mr. Rooter Truck Series season is winding down. Fall means playoffs to New England's fastest race trucks.  This year's champ will be decided by a Chase format when the final checkered flag falls. For some the chances are dwindling to get in to the playoff.  For others there is added pressure to hold on.

    The schedule has thrown an unexpected playoff  curve.  The Waterford Speedbowl is scrambling to provide a make-up date.  Rain interrupted the series second visit to the Speedbowl. Teams were lined up at the gate with one of the biggest fields of the season.  Three options remained. It is unlikely, but always a possibility that the race will be cancelled.   The race could be added to one of the remaining race programs or added to "Bemer's Superbowl" .  If  it is cancelled  then the only opportunity left  to make the chase will be at Stafford on October 1 and the series Championship will be decided at Lee .   Reschedule it before Stafford, and teams  have an additional shot to get in. Reschedule it during Bemer's Superbowl, and the Championship will be decided at Waterford.
    The favorite to win the Championship is Bert Ouellette and the Cindy Burdick Motorsports, Pasay Industrial team. The 151 is locked into his playoff berth with 3 victories, and was the most recent winner at each of the remaining tracks. The team's return to victory lane last event at Monadnock served notice that they are ready for a championship run.

    Dangerous racing  out of Long Island has been the surprise team of the year. They have placed two of their 3 entries in Chase contention. If Waterford reschedules , there are possibilities that could knock Dan Turbush and the 81ny team, or Dave Koenig and his 97 team out. Strange things happen in racing so we'll wait until after the next race to declare Turbush and Koenig as locked in.

   The true battle to watch is for the final berth. With his win at Hudson, 6 time Mr. Rooter Truck Series Champion Andy Lindeman placed himself in a provisional berth. The 3 team obviously locks in with another.
     
  So who can knock Lindeman out?  The 15 jr. of Gerard Giordano Jr. is the number 1 threat.  The team has scored six top fives out of seven events. The lone event he did not score up front, he led 49 of the 55 laps.  A win by Gerard would bounce Lindeman.
     
 The 29 of  Josh Stringer is another threat. Stringer racing announced early that their main focus was the Waterford Speedbowl's weekly events. They competed this season with the "back-up" truck. Amazingly, Josh has scored four top fives out of seven events.  Points are the tie breaker, so a win would displace Lindeman from his berth.
     
The final threat is Trevor Dyer. Trevor's Orange Crush number 70 is known as the iron man of the series. He earned the reputation by completing all the laps.  He is ahead of  Lindeman in points, so a win would mean the final playoff berth.

The Mr. Rooter Truck Series is the first touring series in New England to venture into using the Chase format.  "Fans love the Chase Format,  for it emphasizes winning; The tracks like it.  The drama of the championship peaks during that last events" claimed competition director Marshall Hurley just before the the Spring Sizzler.  "We want that pressure packed last event this format brings." 
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   For Lindeman, Giordano, Stringer and Dyer, the pressure dial is turned up to high.  As they head to Stafford Speedway to be part of the 44th Annual NAPA Fall Final Weekend they realize the time to secure that final Chase berth is now.

      More information on the 44th Annual NAPA Fall Final Weekend is available on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com or by contacting the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783.

All Photos courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com
 

Ouellette Scores 3rd Win at Monadnock

 
   Round 7 of the The Mr. Rooter Truck Series  was held Saturday night at Monadnock Speedway.  The Noll 35 featured 12 teams on the tight banked oval that so many competitors view as their favorite track to run.

      Before any on track activities were underway, attention in the pit area was directed toward the number 87 of Jim Thompson. The team showed up with a brand new immaculately prepared truck. The  87 Silverado is a welcome addition to the Mr. Rooter Truck Series. 

    Things move quickly at Monadnock Speedway so it was not long after gates opened that practice rounds were underway.  Dwayne Noll  in his unmistakable 2 made it clear early that he was a threat to win after he posted a 14.875 in the second session. Bert Oullette's 151 looked glued as it powered through the high banks. Andy Lindeman also looked strong. Qualifying Heats followed practice. 

      In  the  first qualifier, Andy Lindeman's 3 charged to the lead from the start and never looked back. The 15jr of Gerard Giordano Jr. followed along in second. Trevor Dyer's number 70 Orange Crush  rounded out the top 3.

       Heat 2 had  the points leader Dave Koenig's 97 pacing the field. Bert Ouellette  in the 151 was on the outside. Ouellette had the lead by the completion of lap 1 and was never challenged. Crowd favorite Duane Noll, in the 2, worked his way into second. Josh Stringer's famed 29 Black Widow rounded out the top 3.
     
      Lots of questions were set to be answered when the Mr. Rooter Truck Series lined up for the  35 Lap feature  Could Andy Lindeman make it two in a row and hold on to his chase spot? Was Duane Noll going to grab a win in his first appearance of the year. Could Gerard Giordano Jr. pull of the win and bounce Lindeman back out of his chase spot? Could Bert Ouellette return back to victory lane? 

      The field was under yellow about as fast as they started when Caleb Cashman's 18x lost it's bumper cover. The Monadnock safety crew cleared the crack and we were back to green flag action. Lindeman and Ouellette battled side by side,  the 151 nosed ahead on lap 6.  Giordano Jr. settled in behind Lindeman with Duane Noll and Josh Stringer in tow. 

   The early battle to watch was between Giordano Jr. in 3rd and Noll in 4th.  Lap after lap Noll would place the nose of his truck under the New Yorker only only to have the 15jr. pull away .   The battle was interrupted on lap 16 when the 199 of Eric Finkbein Jr. stopped on the track with a flat left front tire.

   Ouellette and Lindeman led the field to the lap 18 restart.  The two ran door to door through turns 1 and 2.  The 151 had the 3 cleared by turn 4.  Giordano Jr. ceased the opportunity to move inside Lindeman next. It was the 15jr. inside and the 3 outside lap after lap.  The low groove was faster, and Lindeman could not hold off the 19 year old rookie from Long Island.  Giordano Jr. moved on. Next in the freight train was the 2 of Noll. Noll ran side by side and made his way by.  Lindeman finally moved down from the outside behind Noll.  By lap 25 the top 4 had finally settled down into single file.   

The second half of the race featured 3 major battles. Ouellette and Giordano had one battle going.    Noll and Lindeman had paired off into their own fight.   Behind them was a 3 truck skirmish as Stringer, Koenig and Dyer fought. 

              With 5 to go, Giordano had positioned the 15jr. within striking distance. With 2 to go it was time to make a move.  Giordano did his best to force an error.  The 15jr. and 151 made contact between turns 3 and 4. Bert was not rattled.  Giordano lost momentum and the 151 cruised off to the checkers.   Noll followed along in 3rd.  Andy Lindeman held on for 4th position while Josh Stringer rounded out the top 5.

     The win was the third Mr. Rooter Truck Series win for the  Pasay Industrial LLC 151 Team.  Winners often head to the  chassis dyno at RAD Auto Machine in Ludlow Mass.  We are happy to announce the 151 passed post race tech  at both the track and on the chassis dyno.

     The 151 team will have plenty of time to celebrate for the Mr. Rooter Truck Series has a break in the schedule as teams prepare for one more shot at a chase berth at Stafford Speedway.  We'll have more on the points battle later so visit the site often. All photos on this site are from www.passingbird.com. Be sure to visit the site or action photos of our entire seasons including this event at Monadnock Speedway.

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     McElearney Last Minute Entry
Brings Back Memories at Hudson
 
     The Mr. Rooter Truck Series made its final appearance of 2016 Sunday at Hudson Speedway. The Interstate HVAC Controls 55 proved to be the most entertaining show of the season.

    Hudson Speedway is Earnhardt Country. Dale Earnhardt Senior raced here in 1985. He started last, and finished first .  He won he hearts of all the fans when the superstar proclaimed,  "I came here to race, not just drive around. You are a great group of race fans."  That was 30 years ago. The car he ran on the tight quarter mile oval was out of Long Island, that car owner had his son Brian there that day.  Brian McElearney returned Sunday only this time it was his turn to race.

 Brian needed a set-up. Sure enough the McElearney's still have those notes. When the 99x took to the track Sunday, those same chassis settings were applied.


  Racing action started timely at 5:03 with two Interstate HVAC qualifying races. Andy Lindeman, in the 3 motored  to the win. Brian McElearney's 98x grabbed second. Dave Koenig rounded out the top 3. In qualifying race 2, Dan Turbush make his way to victory lane. Alan Coates grabbed second in the 90  Chevrolet.  Gerard Giordano followed closely behind in 3rd.

  It was  not long until the Mr. Rooter Pro-trucks were lined up for the Intestate HVAC Controls feature event. Starting on the pole was the Earnhardt themed 3 of Lindeman. Outside was the 81 NY. Tensions rose as the pair paced down the back stretch. Turbush turned left slamming his truck against the 3.   A few seconds later he took a second shot in an effort to move the 6 time champ down to the inside.  Lindeman slammed Turbush right back.  He was not giving any  ground.   The two fought for the same real estate all the way into turn 3 and into 4: Green flag!  Turbush fell off the pace as Lindeman sped away. The contact had caused a flat.   Luckily early caution allowed the  81jr. team opportunity to change the flat tire, and get back out there.

     McElearney took over for Turbush and hounded the leader Lindeman through the early stages. The 99x would look low, then high, and tuck in behind ,  pressuring lap after lap.  This went on for 31 laps but eventually Brian found a hole, and was able to power by Lindeman's Silverado. Once out front, the 99x was just too strong.  McElearney would have to fend off  Lindeman a few more times during late race restarts, but the 99x was clearly the dominant truck on this evening.  For those that had been there, the McElearney truck winning reminded us of that dominant car they prepared for Earnhardt 30 years ago. For others it was a great performance from some Long Islanders that made a special effort to put on a good show.

    The race was filled with story lines. The Coates family worked all week night and day to get 3 entries out there for the fans. Alan, Corey and Cassandra all had entered.  Dave Koenig continued his banner year and finished right behind Lindeman. Josh Stringer ran up front all day.  Kyle Nosal put the Cindy Burdick Motorsports 15 in the top 5.  Trevor Dyer, Eric Finkbein, Shayne Young and Dale Owen all scored top tens.

    The fans, and the track owners were thrilled with the show that the  98x team  put on. They loaded there truck, which normally runs at Riverhead Raceway  to come out and have some fun. The result of the long drive, was a trophy and a trip down memory lane .  The team did not have time to make some critical changes that are required for this type of racing. Due to the oversight, in the record books this win will technically go to Andy Lindeman , however a big thanks goes out to the McElearney family whose efforts and showmanship brought back those days in the 80's.

   The Mr. Rooter Truck Teams head to Monadnock Speedway for the Noll 35, a special event that is sure to be entertaining. Hope to see you at there. 

All Photos of this article courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com
   
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Back Half of "Hudson Double" up Next

 
     August 21st is the date for round 6 of the Mr. Rooter Truck Series as they run the second half of back to back appearances at New England's second oldest race track.  There are no fancy press boxes at the quarter mile oval, and there are no  box seats.  Bring a chair, sit in the hill, or in the stands. There is not a place where the entire track is out of plain view.  Kids under 10 are free, and general admission is always affordable.

   When you speak with the drivers, they will tell you this banked quarter mile oval ranks high on the fun meter too.  Points leader #97  Koenig was quick to comment on the facility after his 2nd place finish last race.  " Now I have another favorite track. This is definitely a fun place. If it was 100 laps, I would have got back past him"
 
     "Him" is Dan Turbush, who had a special place in his heart for his win at Hudson. Each of the Turbush family has a win at Hudson.  Chris Turbush won first.  Reigning Mr. Rooter Truck Series champ Roger Turbush won last year's event. Dan is father to Roger and Chris.  The elder Turbush's win made it so each has a victory.  The good news for the competition is we are out of Turbushes so who is going to step up?

    The favorite for the second Interstate HVAC Controls 55 is Andy Lindeman.  He looked like he would cruise to victory in the lone July 31st, only to have a mount failure snake bite the 3 again.  The only reason the 3 has not tasted victory this season is gremlins. Get rid of the gremlins and the champ is tough to stop.

    Bert Ouellette is also a serious threat. His primary truck was leading at Claremont when the transmission overheated and failed. Bert had a great run in the back-up.  He'll be back n his favorite ride, and plans on parking it Sunday night in victory lane.

    Rookie's are always considered underdogs until they grab that first win.  If you like to root for an underdog, look no further than Gerard Giordano Jr. in the 15jr. He has led 62 laps this season which is over a quarter of all laps run in 2016. Veterans know that the drivers that  hang around the front eventually get that win. He is due.

  The most entertaining battle this season has to be the slugfest between  Josh Stringer and Trevor Dyer. Stringer is last years MRTS Rookie of the Year .  He gives no quarter in his famed #29 Black Widow as he battles Dyer,  the iron man of the series in his familiar #70 Orange Crush.  With the chase format, each round ramps up the pressure to win, but there is also something to be said about two guys that work for every point. They are separated by only 4 points heading into Hudson.

    Those are the premier race truck drivers in the North East this season. They are all contenders for the 2016 MRTS title. They all have a shot. With that said fans have one more thing to look forward to. The MRTS front runners have additional competition this week. There is a host of pre entries that plan on joining the contenders in the quest for the $1000 winner's prize.   Alan, Corey, and Cassandra Coates  are entered.   Kyle Nosal is expected to be in the Cindy Burdick Motorsports 15.  The #77 Dodge of Shayne Young will be there. Caleb Cashman, and Dale Owen have also filed entries .
 
    Gates open at 3:00.  Hot laps are at 4pm.   The first qualifying races get underway at 5pm. Hope you  see you there for what is expected to be another great Mr. Rooter Truck Series battle.

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     This Sunday the  Mr. Rooter Truck Series competitors made their way to the second oldest race track in New England, the famed Hudson Speedway, for the Interstate HVAC Controls 55. The race is the first of two consecutive events at the banked 1/4 mile oval.

         Three practice sessions preceded qualifying.  Andy Lindeman is always a crowd favorite in the 3.  He cruised to victory in the first qualifying race.  Last week's winner, Dave Koenig and teammate Dan Turbush made it a 1-2 finish in qualifying race number two.

       The major story after qualifying centered around  Josh Stringer. A shock failure was severe enough to cause chassis damage to his number 29 Mr. Rooter Truck Series Silverado.  The series teams are famous for helping each other.  Andy Lindeman was right there with his welder. The team fabricated and welded the components needed.  Some how the 29 was on the grid on time for driver introductions.

      Lindeman started on the pole, but faced an immediate challenge for Dave Koenig. The Dangerous Racing 97 worked the low groove while the 3 worked high. Koenig was able to clear Lindeman on lap 9. Teammate Dan Koenig followed by . The trio paced the field in that order for 38 circuits until the yellow flew for the 199 of Eric Finkbein. 

     Had the race gone green, it was doubtful anyone was going to get by Koenig. Restarts create opportunity. Despite being teammates, Dan Turbush could sense opportunity, and when the track went green the two did battle.  After running side by side for three laps, in the middle of turns 3 and 4, Turbush slammed down into the door of Koenig, forcing the 97 down into the infield. Turbush was able to get out of turn 4 better than Koenig after the heavy contact and had the point to himself on lap 43.

    Koenig was not done yet. He was noticeably faster and chased down Turbush. There was not enough laps left to get by. It was still a Dangerous Racing 1-2 finish. Dan Turbush's win virtually locks him in the chase as he joins Bert Ouellette as Mr. Rooter Truck Series 2 time winners. This win competes a sweep of sorts. Chris Turbush won at Hudson two years ago.  Roger Turbush was able to win last season. Dan Turbush's win completes the cycle.

    There were other notable performances in the event. Gerard Giordano, in the 15jr. was able to sneak by Andy Lindeman with 5 to go.  Giordano only trails points leader Koenig by a mere 9 points despite pure frustration last week at Claremont.

    Lindeman's performance was solid as usual.  The 6 time champ lost some handling late. It is just  matter of time for the 3 to return to victory lane.

    Bert Ouellette, in  his back up truck, was able to pull off a top 5 . His primary ride will be ready for the next race. Rumors are that e other Cindy Burdick Motorsports driver Kyle Nosal will return to action in the back up,

     The Stringer Racing 29 finished.  The effort was impressive.  They welded the truck together at the track and walked away with 6th.  It is that type of performance that makes Stringer Racing so popular.

    Trevor Lee Dyer had another rock solid performance too.  The 70 completed all the laps and kept his number 70 in contention for the 2016 Championship.

    Like all series, the Mr. Rooter Truck Series inspects vehicles post race.  The winner's truck was found to have lead ballast that was attached in an amount and manner that did not comply with the 2016 rules.  15 lbs were not placed in the right location.  It was doubtful that this violation had a major factor in the outcome of the race. Never the less the team was fined $1000 which was then placed in the point fund. Dan Turbush also lost 100 points in  the standings. The team was allowed to keep the win. Crew chief Chris Turbush pointed out that the truck had recent repairs and this may have contributed to the violation.  He has assured the series that the truck will comply in the  future.

     The series will be back at Hudson Speedway for another 55 lap event on August 21st.  With the Chase format, teams are hungrier than ever.  Join us is you can for round 6 of the  2016 Mr. Rooter Truck Series Championship Season.
 
 


Battle of Wills at Hudson Speedway Sunday

 
Photos for this article supplied by passingbird.com
 
     When the Mr. Rooter Truck Series rolled into Hudson Speedway last season, Roger Turbush won, Frank Dumicich Jr. was the runner up, ad Frank Sr. rounded out the top 3.  Bert Ouellette finished 4th. Tyler Chapman rounded out the top 5.  Four of those top five trucks are doubtful for this year's event, so who should the fans be watching in the Interstate HVAC Controls 55?
   
      An easy pick might be Bert Ouellette.  He is still the hottest driver on the tour. The 151 has two chase wins, and was clearly the fastest truck at Claremont last week. Unfortunately the Cindy Burdick Motorsports Ford lost a transmission late in a race. The parts failure stole away what looked to be a sure victory and  forced the team to the back-up truck for Sunday's event.  Ouellette has faced long odds before .
  
The 15jr of Gerard Giordano also has to be considered a top threat to win. He has been fast all year. He led 49 of the 55 laps. A skirmish with Ouellette ended his day at Claremont. The rookie has been solid all season. It would not be a surprise to see Giordano in victory lane Sunday.
  
    Andy Lindeman was the crowd favorite at Claremont.  A parts failure kept the 3 out of victory lane at Stafford. Last week, he was trapped behind the 151 of Ouellette when the transmission failed. Had Bert picked the outside lane for the restart, Andy surely would have won. The 6 time champ is poised to win. Sunday's race just might be when Andy Lindeman qualifies for the 2016 Chase.
  
 Trevor Dyer and Joshua Stringer have battled all season long. Going into this weekend's event Stringer holds the 4th position over Dyer by a mere 3 points. Dyer is the iron man of the series.  He has completed all of the laps, and  is always within striking distance.  Stringer, the 2015 Mr. Rooter Truck Series Rookie of the Year , is actually in contention for Championships at both the New London Waterford Speedbowl Trucks, and the Mr. Rooter Truck Series.
  

 Dave Koenig is the most recent winner. The 97 took advantage of being in the right place at the right time. He ran up front all night, and avoided the troubles between Ouellette and Giordano at Claremont.  He was in the outside lane when the 151's  transmission failed and capitalized for his first win of the season.  Expect Koenig to take his best shot at back to back trips to victory lane for Dangerous Racing.

    Dangerous racing also fields the 8 and the 11. The 81 will be driven by Dan Turbush, who already has a chase berth. Last week's driver, Chris Turbush is not expected to drive Sunday. He will compete at Riverhead Saturday night in a 100 lap event, and serve as a crew on Sunday.  So who moves to the 11?

     Dale Owen will race his first Mr. Rooter Truck Series event for  Dangerous racing.  Dale's father Andy was first to put team owner Dave Koenig on the race track in 1992 at the end of his Army career. He entered Dave in an enduro. Andy is described as was one of the funniest guys anyone will ever meet. He was known to love life.  His favorite driver was Dale Earnhardt.  Andy suffered and was lost to an aneurysm approximately 3 years ago. Dave Koenig won the final race at Riverhead 3 years ago in the number 29 instead of his 97 as a tribute.  The entire Dangerous Racing team is very proud to have Dale Owen in the 11 this week at Hudson.

     
The stage is set for a great day of racing.  Will Bert Ouellette  score a win in the 151 back-up?  Will Gerard Giordano, Joshua Stringer, or Trevor Dyer score their first win?  Will Dave Koenig go back to back in the win column?  Will Andy Lindeman win while on his drive for 7 championships?  It is a battle of wills at Hudson.  Gates open at 3:00 for round 5 of the Mr. Rooter Truck Series Interstate HVAC Controls 55.

   
    
    

 
 

 

 Some places are just fun to race. Claremont Speedway is one of those tracks. Despite a very hot day, and a very long drive for the Long Island Teams, it is a venue that many drivers can't wait to get back to. The Mr. Rooter Truck Series made it's way to the Granite State Saturday night, and as the title implies, there were plenty of fireworks for all. 

      The track is new to the Mr. Rooter Truck Series and crew chiefs were scrambling to find the fast set-up.  They knew if they figured it out, their driver just might cruise to the win.

    The IEE Interstate HVAC Controls heat races kicked off the racing action. The heats determine the starting order. Drivers line-up by random draw. Dave Koenig's number 97 was on the pole for heat 1 while points front runners  29 Josh Stringer and 151  Bert Ouellette drew positions towards the back. Koenig won the heat.  Josh Stringer was able to move to second. Bert Ouellette made his way to 3rd. 

     Heat race 2 lined up with Koenig's teammate Chris Turbush on the pole. Andy Lindeman's number 3 had the outside of the front row. Points leader Gerard Giordano, in the 15jr. started 3rd. When the green flag for heat 2 flew, the inside row had a nice start and moved by Lindeman. Giordano then set his sites on the 81ny and with a last lap pass earned his spot on the outside of row 1 for the feature.

     The Fireworks 55 feature was soon underway. Koenig and Giordano were in row 1.  Joshua Stringer's 29 had row 2. Outside of Josh was Chris Turbush.  Bert Ouellette and Andy Lindeman held row 3 (pictured to left).  Pre-race many predicted the winner would come from this row. They were not far off.

      Giordano powered by Koenig at the drop of the green and soon opened up a comfortable lead. Stringer settled into 3rd. It was basically single file racing until the caution flew on lap  19 when the 18x of Caleb Cashman had rear gear issues.

     The restart had the 151 of Bert Ouellette, who looked to be handling great, lined up on the outside of the 15jr. This match up turned out to be a classic motor against handling duel. The leader clearly had the horsepower down the straights, and the 151 was glued in the corners. The rookie, Giordano carefully positioned his Chevrolet with every corner for one slip, and Bert was waiting to pounce. This was the show throughout the mid section of the event. Giordano, Ouellette, Koenig and Lindeman all were in striking distance.

     As the laps counted down, Ouellette continued to turn the heat up. It was clear that the handling on the 15jr. was slipping away. 55 laps can move in quickly. With just 8 to go, entering  turn 3, the 15 Jr. slid up the banking. Bert pointed his nose under and the two were side by side.  Giordano was not about to give up. He throttled the 15jr exiting  turn 2.  Giordano careened between the wall and Bert's Ford. There was side to side hard contact. The damaged Chevrolet came to a stop in turn 3. The caution flag was out. The 15jr's run was over just 5 laps short of what certainly would have been a thrilling win for the 19 year old out of  Long Island.  Meanwhile Bert Ouellette was having his own problems. The Cindy Burdick Motorsports 151 was on fire. Luckily the flame blew out on its own. The stage was set for some race ending fireworks.

    The final restart had Bert's 151 up front. Koenig was on the outside of the front row. Six time series champ Andy Lindeman had his truck inside row 2. Turbush lined up 4th.  Josh Stringer rounded out the top 5.   Green flag!  The 151 had a nice restart. Behind the leader Koenig tried to turn into line. Lindeman was having none of it. They slammed doors, shoved and pushed while Stringer made his move low by Turbush.  Unlike earlier restarts, the 151 was reeled back into the pack. Then the gremlins struck. The 151 was smoking and slowed. Lindeman was jammed in behind Ouellette. This allowed Koenig to power by on the outside with Turbush in tow. Lindeman and Stringer were simply stuck in line. When they cleared Bert's 151, the race was over. 

    Dave Koenig, in the Dangerous Racing 97, took down the win, and with it a $1000.00 check, the points lead and a chase berth.  This was a hard fought win.  Dave gave plenty of the credit to his crew and sponsors but with the heat, and the door slamming in the closing laps, much of the credit has to be aimed at the guy behind the wheel. Dave asked post  race, " Can we have the Championship race here?"  Claremont just turned into one of his favorite tracks.

      Clearly the opportunist of the event was Chris Turbush.  He took down the second spot. This was a surprise for the 81ny was not considered a threat all day. Chris took advantage of the late race yellow to position Dangerous Racing 1-2 .

     Andy Lindeman finished 3rd, but wanted more.  The veteran drove a masterful race, saving his equipment and was in position to claim his chase berth when Ouellette's transmission broke, which ultimately set a pic, and let the 97 and 81 motor by.  Expect the 6 time champ back in victory lane soon.
 

     A mark of a champion is making a truck finish better than expected.  The Stringer crew worked all night just to get to the event. They raced Thursday night, then replaced the transmission on the 29, and battled overheating problems throughout the day.  Josh battled the heat, mechanical issues and fatigue and finished 4th.  It was a notable effort.

      Directly behind Stringer was the iron man, Trevor Dyer, who once again quietly finished all the laps. He and Stringer have been swapping position in the points week to week.  This is one of those battles within the battle that is expected to go on all year.

    One final notable was Eric Finkbein. The 199 crew reworked their truck, and had results to show. They finished their first event of 2016, and Eric improved to 7th in points.

      Claremont Speedway topped the race off with an unbelievable fireworks display. The fans truly were entertained all night. The Mr.  Rooter Truck Series moves to Hudson Speedway for its 3rd 55 lap event in a row Sunday night. Gates open at the "Original Family Fun Track" at 3:00.  Teams better be ready to roll for hot laps are at 4pm and the first qualifying races get underway at 5pm. Hope you  see you there for what is expected to be another great Mr. Rooter Truck Series battle.


55-lap Mr. Rooter Truck Series Claremont Results:
1. Dave Koenig;  2. Chris Turbush.; 3. Andy Lindeman; 4. Joshua Stringer;
5. Trevor Dyer; 6. Eric Finkbein;  7. Bert Ouellette; 8. Gerald Giordano Jr.
9. Dan Turbush;  10. Caleb Cashman

 

 
 

Veteran Dan Turbush Wins Riverhead Nationals

    "Dynamite" Dan Turbush, who started racing at Riverhead Raceway in 1967, showed he still has what it takes to win Saturday night. Dan took the lead on lap 15 from Gerry Giordano Jr. and never looked back claiming the $2000.00 to win 55 lap "Riverhead Nationals" main event. This was Dan Turbush’s 80th win. In victory lane Dan was quick to credit his spotter for clearing him at just the right time to make the pass for the lead, and his son for putting an awesome set up in the truck.  “It was the thrill of a lifetime!” Turbush exclaimed, “This is my second big time  race win. I won the Turkey Derby in 2009, and this sits right up with it.”  

    There was action throughout the event. Fireworks started early in  qualifying. Teams were to report to the scales after the two 10 lap qualifying races.  Both the 88 of Roger Turbush, and the 81 of Chris Turbush failed to report to the post heat race inspection area due to a miscommunication. The result was being placed to the rear of both the heat race results, and the starting grid.

    The 55 lap  feature event  had good close racing all night long,   Several trucks were in the hunt for the victory. Local hot shoe Jimmy Rennick Jr. in his famed number 7 ran in the runner up position for most of the evening, but faded slightly in the waning laps and ended up fourth.

    Pole sitter Gerard Giordano had a door to door battle with Bert Ouellette over the first 15 laps.  The "rookie"  was strong throughout the 55 lapper and ended up fifth.

     Dave Koenig's 97 raced smart and smooth and professional. When the checkers flew he had quietly grabbed 3rd
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   Three trucks were the big story late.   The Turbush brothers skillfully carved their way from the back and joined the list of contenders while points leader Bert Ouellette's 151 followed. With 11 to go, chaos ensued. Both Turbush brothers ran side by side after Chris Turbush's 81 got loose in turn 4. Ouellette, positioned directly behind,  saw opportunity to pass two at once and dove his Ford onto the flat,  making it a 3 wide charge down the back stretch for 5th.  Three wide was too much. Roger Turbush's 88 got loose and caught the right rear of the 151 sending Bert across the track, and into the  path of the 81. The 81 of Chris Turbush pushed the151 of Bert Ouellette into the turn 3 wall.  Ouellette's night was over. For all intensive purposes Chris Turbush was finished too however Roger Turbush would continue on to a 2nd place finish, right behind his father.

      Many fans had their eyes on  the 50 of Florida's  Danny Anderson. Danny ran 2nd or 3rd for most of the event only to be relegated to 8th when contact between his truck and the 42 of Frank Dumicich resulted in a flat left rear.

It was no surprise that  both Frank Jr. and Sr. had shots at the win late too.  Frank Dumicich Sr's bid  to win ended when contact from the 15 jr. caused his number 5 to spin late in the event.

    This was the Mr. Rooter Truck Series' first trip to Long Island. Competition director Marshall Hurley was quick to point out that much of the credit for this event had to be directed to Kyle Ellwood and Scott Tapley.  A special thanks goes to pitstoppitbull.com for providing an awesome recap video for those race fans that could not be there.  Next up for the Mr. Rooter Truck Series teams is the Claremont Speedway in Claremont, NH on Friday night July 22nd .  Full results and point standings can be found by clicking the links in the left column. 

All Photos of this article courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com
 

Video by www.pitstoppitbull.com
 

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Chase for Mr. Rooter Title Returns to the Speedbowl

  
    The 2016  Mr. Rooter Truck Series Championship Season is well underway. The series schedule is only 11 races, so each event can be the deciding factor in making the chase or not. The 151 team has pocketed $2000 and led over a third of the laps early on. The 2 victories all but lock the team into one of  the 4 chase spots.  The season could not have started any better for the Cindy Burdick Motorsports team, but there are still other championship contenders to be concerned with.
   

    Enter the reigning Mr. Rooter Truck Series champ.  Long Island's Roger Turbush will be making his return on June 11th at the Waterford Speedbowl. The 88 team is keenly aware of the rules to make the chase. They  need a win or two, and they must run the required extra distance shows. Anyone thinking Roger was not going to defend his title might think again. The plan was in place months ago. Expect a strong  season debut from the 88 at the Speedbowl June 11th.
  
        Another exciting contender to watch early on is Gerard Giordano Jr.  He has an Interstate HVAC Controls heat win at Stafford, a pair of runner up feature race finishes in the first two events, and sits firmly in second place in the Mr. Rooter Truck Series point standings. This is a family operation with dad turning wrenches on the 15jr, and mom on the radios. Before this season,, Gerard had never really run at Waterford or Stafford but took quickly to both race tracks and with the help of his family, has proven he has what it takes to be a tour driver. No doubt about it, Gerard Giordano Jr. is a contender.

      Another new driver to the Mr. Rooter Trucks Series is a guy that just loves truck racing. Dave Koenig fields the Silvio Landscaping 97.  In the opener at Stafford Speedway Dave was involved in a mid race skirmish that ended with a trip to the turn 3 guardrail. It is doubtful if most drivers would be able to continue. Dave was able to power the badly damaged Silverado to a 5th place finish. The team burnt some midnight oil and, when the series pulled into Waterford, the 97 was there looking brand new.  It was fast too. Dave scored a Interstate HVAC Controls heat win, and a 4th place finish at the Speedbowl and now sits 3rd in points.
   
   Last year's Mr. Rooter Truck Series Rookie of the Year, Josh Stringer also looks solid this season. At Stafford the Stringer 29 grabbed a 4th place finish, and had it not been for a late race tangle with the 21 of Todd Taylor at Waterford, Josh would have easily started the season with a pair of top fives. Even with the late race mishap, Stinger's efforts currently have him 4th in points.
 
 If the final chase standings were locked in today, Ouellette, Giordano, Koenig and Stringer would have a one race shootout for the championship. Of course there is one more position that matters. Remove the "chasers" and whomever has the top spot in points also has the final paying position in post season awards. Shayne Young, in the 77 holds down that coveted spot now. The LaVigne's Lucky Racing 77,  has scored a 9th and a 6th place finish. The Seawell Seafood Inc. Dodge is one of few true Dodge power plants and has already provided Mopar fans something to cheer about.
     
 The New London-Waterford Speedbowl hosts the next race for the Mr. Rooter Truck Series. The teams will be gunning for the $1000 dollar winner's check, a guaranteed starting spot in the Riverhead Nationals July 9th, and most importantly a Chase berth. Come see the drivers of  the Mr. Rooter Truck Series "have at it" June 11th.    For more information on this event please visit the speedway's web site at www.speedbowlct.com

All Photos of this article courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com

 
 
 
 

Bert Ouellette Two For Two With Blastoff Win !!

   So far so good for Ellington, CT driver Bert Ouellette as he captured his second straight Mr. Rooter Truck Series main event Sunday at the New London Waterford Speedbowl.

      Day one of the annual Bud Blastoff was a weather nightmare with the trucks only getting in practice rounds and qualifying heat races which were won by “Dangerous” Dave Koening and Tyler Chapman. Sunday the weather turned nice and the trucks were able to get the big 25 lap main event in the record books.

      Koening and Chapman started on the pole and raced side by side for the lead until Chapman took control , meanwhile Ouellette was working his magic making his way to the front After a restart that put his truck and Chapman’s truck together the two waged war with Ouellette getting the lead for good on lap 15. Freeport, LI, NY driver Gerry Giordano Jr. continued to show New Englanders his talents with another podium run getting around Chapman for second with Tyler holding on for a hard fought third place finish. 14 trucks took the green flag with Koening and Kyle Nosal rounding out the top five.
 
Race number three for the 2016 Mr. Rooter Truck Series is back at the Speedbowl on Saturday night June 11th along with a full NWAAS show. 

Staff writer: John Gates


Photos courtesy of Passing Bird Photography.
Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com

25-lap Mr. Rooter Truck Series: 1. Bert Ouellette; 2. Gerald Giordano Jr.; 3. Tyler Chapman; 4. Dave Koening; 5. Kyle Nosal;
                                                    For complete results go to the schedule and click on "race results"

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Stringer Has Strong Showing At Stafford !!


Pictured above: The Mr. Rooter Sponsored   29  is expected to debut new colors at the SpeedBowl's  Blast-Off  May 7th.


      Dayville, CT driver Josh Stringer had one of his strongest runs to date last Saturday in the Mr. Rooter Truck Series race at the Stafford Motor Speedway. He is looking forward to continued success at the New London Waterford Speedbowl with the running of the “Bud Blastoff” set for Saturday night May 7th. Stringer had a hard fought fourth place finish after racing with the leaders all day long. The SC Ballard Trucking/Magna Transmission/Mr. Rooter racing team is excited about the 2016 season and looking for some good solid finishes from this popular young driver and the defending rookie of the year.

      Gerry Giordano Jr. had a strong run as well taking home a fine third place finish and hopes to run a full season with the series coming over from Freeport, LI,NY in the HJA Logistics/Prime Meats Chevrolet.
     
      Ledyard, CT veteran driver Allen Coates in the Dunleavy’s Truck & Trailer Repair Dodge Ram was tough until a late mechanical issue took him out.     

      Frank Dumicich, Sr. had the Long Island based Tonino’s Pizza Ford F-150 up front most of the race including a great battle with Frank Jr. in the Teddy Bear Graphics Chevy . Frank Sr. faded at the end but did pick up a heat race win while Frank Jr. finished second in the main event.
 
        Two time Riverhead champion “Dangerous” Dave Koening in his Nelsons Auto Salvage number 97 came from the back of the pack with heavy front end damage to take home fifth in the main event.
 
      Up state NY driver and six time series champion Andy Lindeman in the Dawson’s Towing Chevrolet led the most laps and looked like a sure winner but lost ground on a late race restart to feature winner Bert Oullette. Andy finished seventh with some handling issues in the number 3.      

   Other drivers who looked strong were Trevor Lee Dyer in the 4T’s Handyman/Magna Steel Chevrolet with a nice eighth place run and both Shayne Young and Casandra Coates finished in the top ten.

     Tyler Chapman plans on returning to the series at the Speedbowl along with Todd Tayler, Gary Modugno and others making their first starts for 2016. Brenden Shea, Kyle Nosal , Eric Finkbien Jr., and Caleb Cashman are all returning from Stafford to make a start and challenge the Cindy Burdick Motorsports Ford of Bert Oullette. With all the track improvements and always a great place to race the $ 1000.00 to win Mr. Rooter Truck Series event should be a good one with feature events getting under way at 5:30 PM at the Speedbowl.

Staff writer: John Gates
     Stafford Winner Bert Ouellette's #151 at
     tech on the RAD Chassis Dyno after his
     impressive win.
 
 
 

Oullette Takes Home Wild Spring Sizzler Win!!
 

   

   Ellington, CT driver Bert Ouellette drove a smart race coming from the back of the pack to take the lead on late restart from Andy Lindeman to capture the Mr. Rooter truck series 2016 season opener at the Stafford Motor Speedway.
       It was” Sizzler Saturday” at Stafford and what a show the truck series put on with several lead changes and three wide racing that had the fans on the edge of their seats.
     New York drivers Frank Dumicich Jr. and Gerry Giordano Jr. rounded out the top three in the 25 lap main event. Oulette took home a cool $ 1,000.00 for his win and a chase spot for the 2016 point championship. Next up is the Bud Blastoff at the New London Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night May 7th.   Check back later for more updates:

Results :   1st: 151 Bert Ouellette  2nd: 42 Frank Dumicich Jr.   3rd: 15jr. Gerard Giordano   4th: 29 Josua Stringer    5th: 97 Dave Koenig
                     6th: 5 Frank Dunicich Sr.   7th: 3 Andy Lindeman   8th: 70 Trevor Lee Dyer   9th: 77 Shane Young   10th: 78 Cassandra Coates
                    11th: 99 Allen Coates   12th: 15  Kyle Nosal    13th: #199 Eric Finkbein   14th #93 Brendan Shea    15th: 318x  Caleb Cashman
 
                    Heat 1: 1st: #5 Frank Dumicich        Heat 2: 15jr. Gerard Giordano

             

 
 

2016 Mr. Rooter Rookie Battle Starts to Sizzle at Stafford
 
       The Mr. Rooter rookie class of 2016 is turning up the heat early, starting with the NAPA Spring Sizzler at Stafford. 
          
         Caleb Cashman of  Richmond NH started racing in the Monadnock Thunderstock Division in 2014. Caleb finished 7th in points for the year.  The 14 year old driver earned Rookie of the Year honors. Caleb continued on in the Thunderstock division, but had an eye on the Mr. Rooter Series.   Caleb, like many racers, comes from a racing  family, and with their help, he now has a NE ProTruck. The new ride will have the family 18x proudly displayed on the door.  The entire team is working feverishly to get the new ride ready for the Sizzler.
   
            Another of those family teams prepping for the Sizzler is the #199 of Eric Finkbein Jr.   Eric is already known at the Waterford Speedbowl for putting his #99 X-Car into victory lane.  When a touring series was considered, the Mr. Rooter Truck Series was a nice fit.  Eric Sr. owns the truck and brother Kevin will serve as the crew chief and spotter.

         Kyle Nosal is yet another rookie that has the potential to turn heads in the Mr. Rooter Series. At this time, plans are to run a few series events. Win a few and you never know where the effort can go. If you follow the series, you probably know that the Cindy Burdick Motorsports Team finished up the year on a roll. Kyle raced go-karts at Pomfret Speedway. That effort ended up with a Championship. Kyle was a former dare stock feature winner at Stafford Speedway, and has a few stints in a late model. Team spokesman Harold Burdick commented, "We are excited to have Kyle in  our back  up truck for a few races this season and there is no better place for him to run than Stafford Speedway."  Kyle's 15 will be a truck to watch at the Sizzler.

       Finally there is Gary Modugno. Gary has raced and won in a variety of  vehicles including Legends cars, Sport Series cars, Late Models and Super Late models, at a variety of tracks including Oxford Plains, Unity, Lee, Star and Beech Ridge. Modugno's most notable win was a $5000 special event using just this type of chassis.  This will be Gary's first attempt at a touring series championship. The 48 teams sponsors are a perfect fit for truck racing. Headlining the list of sponsors is North Shore Firearms.   " The same guys that target shoot and hunt, follow these trucks."  

      Caleb, Eric, Kyle, and Gary are just a a few more factors adding to the excitement of the 2016 season opener at the 45th Annual Spring Sizzler presented by NAPA Auto Parts.
 
 

Plenty On the Line  at the  NAPA Spring Sizzler

  When teams roll in to the Stafford Speedway April 22nd for race one of the Mr. Rooter Truck Series, they will have more on the line than ever in the history of the New England Truck Series. Foremost is the prestige of having a win at the 45th annual Spring Sizzler presented by NAPA Auto Parts. This field of drivers would line up and race for that trophy alone. For this race there is much more.
  
   Also on the line is a cool $1000 dollar paycheck waiting for the winner.  That driver will have to earn it though. Early entries have many veteran drivers return to the series. Duane Noll will be there and look out, the Dodges are back.  The #99  Dunleavy's Road Service Dodge of Alan Coates heads up the Mopar revolution.

    There are a few Rookie of The Year contenders looking to make a mark too. Gary Modugno, a Beech Ridge regular has filed an entry.  Eric Finkbein Jr, a second generation driver that knows his way around the Connecticut ovals will be there. New Hampshire's Caleb Cashman is expected to make his first start at the famed oval.

   The new Championship format is on many of the competitors minds.  The Series Championship is a "Chase" format this season. Wins are key. The 151 of Bert Ouellette closed the 2015 season as the hottest driver on the series. The Burdick team is  hungry for their first New England Truck Series Championship, and a win would be a huge step forward.

    Finally there  is the River National event in July to consider. The Riverhead Nationals pays a record purse. The race has a guaranteed starting spot up for grabs.  Both Waterford Speedbowl events will also carry a guaranteed berth.  Win The Mr. Rooter Series opener and you are guaranteed in.

Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $38.50 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating will be priced at $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. NAPA Spring Sizzler tickets can be ordered online .

For more information on the 45th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler, or to order tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at 
                                                                                             www.staffordspeedway.com.

All Photos courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com
 

Stringer First to File Entry in Stafford Spring Sizzler
 
              Stafford Speedway's announcement that they will be hosting a Mr. Rooter Truck Series race as part of the 45th annual Spring Sizzler  has created quite a buzz amongst race fans and teams.  When Vincent Beedle organized the event, his concern was that all truck competitors feel welcome. With that said it is no secret that one truck is a bit of a favorite.

       The 2015 Rookie of the Year, Josh Stringer proudly carries the Mr. Rooter name on the side of his #29.  When Josh Stringer filed his official entry to the Sizzler Tuesday at 5pm he became the 1st official entry to the Sizzler, and the first truck to officially enter in an event of the newly reorganized Mr. Rooter Truck Series.

       Stringer's visit to Stafford last season was only his second truck race after moving up from the go-kart ranks. The day ended with disappointment after only 4 laps when the distributor failed. His luck would soon change. By the end of the season, Josh was a contender. On his way to Rookie of the Year honors Josh tallied 5 top fives. When the series rolled into Thompson Speedway last fall, Stringer had hit full stride. The truck ran up front, and finished 4th. If the race was a bit longer the consensus is the 29 had a great shot at the win. 
 
      Vinny Beedle's Mr. Rooter company leads a list of supporters that includes Pasay Industrial, Drock Trucking, Magnus Transmissions, Zips Diner, Double Green Circle, SC Ballard Scott Gebo Construction, and Danielson Surplus.  with the help of another  mentor, 6 time Series Champion Andy Lindeman, the team has been hard at work prepping for one more first, Josh's first win, hopefully at the 45th Annual Spring Sizzler presented by NAPA.
             
           
              

   

Chase Format to Decide 2016 Championship

 


 

     The New England Truck Series 2016 Championship will be decided with an entirely new format. The format insures that the host track of the last  2016 event will see 4 trucks battle it out for the title.

      "Fans love the Chase Format,  for it emphasizes winning; The tracks like it.  The drama of the championship peaks during that last event" said competition director Marshall Hurley.  "We want that pressure packed last event this format brings."

      The New England Truck Series format is similar to NASCAR's. The 3 drivers with the best winning  records, and the driver highest in points that has not won, will all be "even" entering the last event.  Whatever way they finish in the finale is their final standings in the points. Finish first out of the four and you are the Champion, simple as that.

     So how do drivers get in that elite group of 4? They must compete in all 4 extra distance 55 lap events in 2016 to be eligible for the Hoosier Ties East points fund.  Then they must win a race or be the top points driver that did not win.  For those in by winning, the combination of race wins first, and  then points second, determines the order. Although it is highly unlikely, if there are not 3 winners, then driver's points decide the remaining slots.

     The points system has been revamped too. First place points is awarded 75 points   Each position back pays 2 points less. Bonus points are also available.  There is a bonus point for a win, to lead a lap and to lead the most laps. Heats pay 5 points for a win, 4 for second and 3 for third., 2 for forth and 1 for fifth.

     The series will divide the Championship funds amongst the top 5.  The top 4 chasers, and the driver with the most points that is not in the chase after the last race will be splitting up the Hoosier Tire points fund. The Chase Format is another factor pointing to 2016 as a banner year for the New England Truck Series.

All Photos courtesy of Passing Bird Photography.
Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com

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2016  NE ProTruck Rules / NAPA Spring Sizzler

 
       The New England Truck Series is proud to announce that the trucks they run will now be known as NE ProTrucks. The name signifies cooperation with other ProTruck divisions Nationwide. The ultimate goal is to have National events where drivers from all over the country can race and know their trucks will be eligible to compete. The rules package allows the first national event to be held in July this year. The Riverhead Nationals already has entries from Florida and Texas. The name also allows easier internet navigation. Type into your browser  neprotruck.com , neprotruck .net, neprotruck.info or neprotruck.org and you will end up right here.

     The 2016 rules are posted. They can be found by using the navigation button to the right. These rules are designed to use with your iPhone and computer. Pages open up separately from the menu.

     All inclusive is a theme in 2016. We reached out to as many sources for input as possible. The rules were constructed after an off season of consulting with teams, tracks and other series. Former trucks under NETS rules, Riverhead Super Pro Trucks, Thompson Speedway Trucks, Waterford Trucks , Florida Pro Trucks, Central Texas ProTrucks and even trucks that are converted from existing Street Stocks can all run here. Fans will see a few of those extended cab conversions at Claremont Speedway.

     "We tried to have an open exchange with everyone possible. They were not always formal rules conversations but the opinions of Chris Turbush, Frank Dumicich Jr, Mike Murray, Bert Ouellette, Andy Lindeman Ed Puleo and Pete Cayer all impacted the final version." said NETS competition director and general manager Marshall Hurley.  "Even Danny Anderson from the Florida ProTruck Series, and Jeff O'Neill from Texas had input. "

     Mr. Vincent Beedle was another key factor. Marshall and Vinny stayed in contact throughout the off season. Vinny liked the rules, loved the format but offered a plan. His opinion was simple. Introduce the ProTruck rules using a step by step approach. Include everyone. Ease everyone in and evaluate the results.  His advice, "Just don't move to fast. I want everyone racing together and a great show for the fans."

   The two came up with the format for the NETS race as part of the Stafford Spring Sizzler. For the opening event, the rules will be a bit more simplified. All though all of the rules will be in place, for this event, strict enforcement will be on a limited set of parameters. This method gets all of the teams to the track were technical recommendations can be made without penalty.
Expected parameters can be found by clicking here.

      “I’m excited about being involved with Stafford and the opportunity that the Arute family is giving me to bring the trucks back to race there,” said Vinny Beedle, owner of Mr. Rooter. “We’re going to give $1,000 to the winner and we should attract a lot of trucks for the race. We’ll have a second race later in the season that we’ll announce the date for at a later time.” Said Beedle. “We’re welcoming all trucks for these two races and we’re working on a set of rules for these two races that we’ll be announcing shortly.”

  "I am thrilled to see Vinny, and the Mr. Rooter name back with the series.  To be part of the 45th annual Spring Sizzler is truly an honor." said NETS GM Marshall Hurley.
 
     Mr. Rooter is a full service plumbing and drain cleaning company that services the entire state of Connecticut and fans can find their local Mr. Rooter by visiting www.mrrooter.com and entering their zip code in the search box or by calling their toll free number 1-800-705-2998.

The 45th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler gets underway Friday, April 22 with a practice session for Stafford’s weekly divisions and the Mr. Rooter Trucks. The practice session will be open to the public at no charge. Action continues on Saturday, April 23 with Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and consolation races for Stafford’s weekly divisions, the U.S. Legend Cars, and the Mr. Rooter Trucks. Saturday will wrap up with feature events for the SK Light, Limited Late Model, DARE Stock, Legend Cars, and Mr. Rooter Trucks. Spring Sizzler action continues on Sunday, April 24 with the NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party from 11am-12noon followed by Stafford’s SK Modifieds® in a special 45-lap feature and Late Models joining the Whelen Modified Tour in feature action.

2016-MR-ROOTER-TRUCKS-1Tickets for the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring” are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $38.50 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating will be priced at $42.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. NAPA Spring Sizzler tickets can be ordered online by CLICKING HERE.

For more information on the 45th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler, or to order tickets, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.


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 Banquet Left Overs
    
       With the Championship Awards Banquet over it is officially time to move on to 2016.  There were many details revealed at the banquet. If you could not attend, this article is for you.

   The ownership of the series has changed hands. Lorraine Pard has been able to provide great truck racing in New England for the last 14 years. Like all businesses, racing has changed.  There are so many more demands.  This past November Marshall Hurley became the primary share holder and general manager. Marshall is  a long time racer. His involvement in the sport started with racing legend Ollie Silva in the 70's. Marshall has been a car owner, driver, crew chief, spotter, and builder. Marshall has a proven track record of drawing sponsorship. Lorraine will continue on with the series in various roles. Her influence in securing the 2016 schedule has been invaluable.

   Marshall has two business partners when it comes to racing ventures. Paul Fluckiger owns Silverstone Motorcars. His company collects, stores and sells exotic and classic cars. Paul can be found on the road courses from time to  time.  Marshall's other partner in racing ventures is RJ Valentine.  RJ sometimes joins Paul and Marshall on the road courses. RJ is engrained in the sport. He is a former winner of the 24 hours of Daytona.  An example of an RJ Valentine guided project would be F1 Boston. We are very happy to have RJ's interest and support.

    One of the draws of the truck series is the fan support. The fans love the trucks. Why are there not more?  Research suggests that engine and transmission combinations, and restrictions on the chassis have been holding the series back. Times have changed.
      Racers want to run motors other then the 305 Chevrolet or the 302 Ford.  The 2016 engine rules specify hp at the rear wheels. This insures race vehicles have the same horse power even if they are drastically different.  Existing engines are not outlawed. New combinations will be joining,
 
     Under the pick-up skin is a chassis. The "metric" chassis has been utilized for years. They are getting scarce.  Body rules now allow the extended cab. Chassis rules allow  replacement frames. When all is said and done, any Street stock team can simply drop the body on, and run their motor. If you own a street stock, you can convert and run for as much as $2000 to win and even compete in some extended events.

New body options like the extended cab make the switch from street stock to a race truck easy

     The Series name is the same, but the trucks themselves are now known as New England Pro-Trucks.  The web site can now be accessed by typing neprotruck.com.  The web address netruckseries.com will also get you here.

    The schedule has some twists for 2016. At this time, Thompson Speedway is on the schedule. as an expected venue.  Those events have not been finalized at this time.

      There are plenty of events that are finalized though. The Waterford Speedbowl is back on the schedule. Mr. Bemer's track has been a proven friend to the series. We are scheduled to visit twice there in 2016. Monadnock  hosts the trucks twice this season. This is the most popular track in a recent poll with drivers asking where they liked to race most. We are so pleased to be returning. The trucks will make the journey to another favorite. Lee USA, for Oktoberfest. The Shirley Lindeman Memorial Race is an annual event and for many , the most meaningful to compete in. 

        There are 4 extra distance events for 2016. At each of these events , the trucks are the featured division. Hudson International will host two of the 55 lap races. Promoter Bob Webber put a special effort in to bring the trucks back. There is not a bad seat in the house at Hudson. There is no better place to watch one of these extra distance shows.

     Claremont Speedway is  also a host to the new format. Crew chiefs will be challenged as they prepare for both an unfamiliar track and extra distance race. The banking, length and overall design of the track should produce  plenty of side by side action. Fans are expected to pack the place for a few Claremont regulars are expected to join the field.

  Finally there is the first Pro-Truck National Event. The NE Pro Trucks will join the Florida Pro Trucks, and the Riverhead Speedway regulars on Long Island for the Riverhead Nationals. The series has been notified that drivers will be heading north from as far away as Florida and  Texas to get their share of the 6300 dollar purse to be paid out. The winners share is a cool 2 grand. That is a record for race trucks in New England. With record venues, National Events and record purses, 2016 looks to be filled with excitement.

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2015 Season Championship Awards Banquet
 

      The 2015 New England Truck Series awards banquet was held at the Imperial Room, in  Danielson Ct Saturday evening.  Pictured above are the top 6 in points with their  hardware.  To the far left is the 2015 series champion, Roger Turbush. The driver of the #88 also won the Hard Charger award.  Next to Roger is Frank Dumicich Jr.  Frank's #42 team also won the award for the Best Appearing Truck.  The driver of the 151, Bert Ouellette is next. Bert finished 3rd in points and won the Most Improved Driver Award.  Next is the driver of the #29 Stringer Racing Chevrolet, Josh Stringer. Josh finished 4th in point and was the R.A.D. Series Rookie of the Year. Frank Dumicich Sr. only ran a limited schedule but still grabbed the 5th spot in points with his #5 Chevrolet. The senior Dumicich, also was voted the New England Trucks Series Sportsman of the Year.  To the far right is Tyler Chapman. Tyler was another driver that had great results despite running a limited schedule. His year included a win and 6th in the final point standings.

    There were many announcements which will be covered in detail over the next few days right here on the New England Truck Series web site. Listen  to race chatter at 6:00pm Monday bought to  you buy WNRI.com , 1380 on your am dial for exclusive interviews.   For now Congrats to Roger Turbush, and the drivers above for their outstanding 2015 season.
     

All Photos on this website courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com


 

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No True Off Season for NETS
 
    The 2015 season has concluded but, there is no true off season in racing.  The New England Truck Series is growing and with that growth comes change.  Of course the first change is easy. You are here at the web site. The new website is developing daily. As it builds, expect everything from a message board to New England Truck Series Driver and Team product sales as part of the web site.

     Another change is a change of address. The New England Truck Series new main office is located at 2350 North Andover Road, North Andover Ma.  In addition to an office and meeting room, the facility has ample space to inspect and store race vehicles.  The 2016 season will see new inspection equipment, and procedures that are in line with other touring series.

Another "Save the Date the Date" is January 16th, 2016.  It is banquet time. Please join is as The New England Truck Series celebrates Roger Turbush's 2015 Championship .  Tickets for that event will be available soon right here.
    
Finally , we are proud to announce a new alliance with Granite State Dyno and Tune. GSD specializes in calibration of performance vehicles. The facility features two in-ground Dynojet chassis dynos.

 
The Thompson Speedway Club House hosted our rules meeting onThursday November 12th.  Couldn't make the meeting?  Simply email mh@racingnews.org to request the online presentation. Be sure to include which car you truck affiliated with.

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Dumicich Jr. Wins Bemer's Super Bowl
Turbush Gets NETS Title

 

 Frank Dumicich Jr, put on a driving clinic Saturday night at the New London Waterford Speedbowl to capture the season finale for the New England Truck Series and his third victory of the year. Six time feature winner Roger Turbush placed second and took home the points championship for 2015.
     The 25 lap feature race started out rough as Kendall Metcalf wound up in the front stretch wall ending her bid for a victory after only one lap. After that things settled down and the trucks raced hard with Dumicich Jr. taking the lead on the restart and holding off Turbush to capture the “Beamers Super Bowl” trophy. 2015 rookie of the year driver Josh Stringer was tough for the first half of the race running with the leaders but faded with loose handling truck at the finish. Three time 2015 feature winner Bert Oullette came on strong in the closing laps to finish third while Dave Koening raced to a fourth place finish. Stringer and Trevor Lee Dyer rounded out the top finishers. Stay tuned for big off season news with the New England Truck Series. And thank you to all who helped with the series in 2015.

All Photos on this website courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. 
 Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com

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2015 World Series of Speedway Racing
 
        The 2015 Thompson Speedway World Series  proved to be another exciting chapter of this seasons New England Truck Series Season. 14 teams checked in to this year's event on Friday.

       Practice was soon underway and with it came some major stories. The bright red #13 Mr. Rooter sponsored Chevrolet of Ed Puleo established himself as the truck to beat with lightening fast laps. Current series champion Andy Lindeman lost a motor.  Most apparent was the field itself. The times of the top 5 were closer than ever. The field was faster than ever.
   
 Racing is often about the  personalities. The 3 was done for the weekend without the help of  one of the biggest personalities, Mr. Vincent Beedle. When Mr. Beedle isn't tending to his host of customers in the southern Connecticut areas serviced by his Mr. Rooter plumbing service, you'll find him at the Connecticut short tracks helping many a racer, and sponsoring many teams. A call was placed, a crew was sent in action and a motor was soon on the way. Andy Lindeman was going to be able to race.
   
Qualifying races were soon underway.  Ed Puleo charged to his #13 Chevy fresh from a victory in a heat race in the North East Street Stock Tour. Puleo charged to a lead and never looked back for his second victory of the evening. Heat 2 turned out to be more of a battle. The contenders were the #151 of Ouellette and the #42 of Frank Dumicich Jr. put on a side by side battle lap after lap. Points leader Roger Turbush tried to push one, and then the other. He looked low, high and in between but there was no way by. Ouellette help on for the win.

    Saturday night was race night. Most truck were fired up and on the grid.  The 13 of  Puleo sat on pit row, Similar to Friday's event, Puleo was in victory lane again. A crew waited patiently to strap the pilot of the #13 in. Could he pull yet another win? 

    Pace laps followed. Up front it was #13 Puleo and the #151 of Ouellette.  The Dumicich family made up the next three positions. Frank Sr. would start third, followed by Frank Jr, and then Erin. Series points leader Roger Turbush lined up 6th.

    The 4th row was made up of two outstanding rookies. The 29 of Josh Springer and  the 15 of Gerald Giordano looked fast enough to contend all weekend.

    The green flag dropped, but much to everyone's surprise, the 13 dropped.  Oullette's 151 charged out front followed by Frank Dumicich Jr. and Sr. By lap 4 the 13 had returned to form, and looked fast when suddenly it spun. The #95 of Erin Dumicich had to spin to avoid Puleo. Dumicich would continue. Puleo unfortunately was forced to retire.

Ouellette made the restart look easy and soon bolted out to a substantial lead.  Turbush pressured Dumicich Jr. for the runner-up spot on lap 7. It took more than 1 attempt. The 88 was strong. He motored by on lap 8.

 
      Defending series champ Lindeman had moved to 8th by lap 11. On lap 13 a plume of smoke erupted from the back of the 3 as it coasted down the backstretch.  the yellow flag signaled that Lindeman's night was done.

 After a minor spin brought out a yellow, the field lined up for another restart. Cautions breed cautions. With just a few laps left in the event, and a $1000.00 payout on the line, teams were not giving an inch.. Dumicich Sr. and Tyler Chapman wanted the same spot on the track .There was contact between the two. The high banks of Thompson can be tricky. Experienced drivers feel the inside car, give extra room as need and dance side by side lap after lap. The best can feel that inside truck. Inexperienced drivers sometimes may not sense when to give. The two trucks made contact spinning the #5 of Dumicich into the outside wall. It was a scary crash. Some how Frank Sr. emerged. The #81 of Tyler Chapman was retired from the event.

    One restart remained. Ouellette had been flawless all night. Turbush, in the 88 was hungry. The two battled side by side, but  this time Turbush wrestled the lead away. Bert Ouellette is one special driver, and #151 team  is on fire. Ouellette found a way under Turbush and powered past capturing his third win of the season in dramatic fashion. Points leader Roger Turbush was quite happy with his second place finish.  Frank Dumicich in the #42 finished 3rd.  Josh Springer's #29 was in the hunt all night, and placed 4th. Erin Dumicich rounded out the top 5. The World Series of Speedway Racing, at Thompson Speedway always produces great racing, and this years version was certainly no exception.
   

All Photos in this article courtesy of Passing Bird Photography.
Find more info on Facebook or visit www.passingbird.com

 

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Bert Ouellette Scores Emotional Win Oktoberfest

                                                     
Lee USA Speedway kicked off  the 29th Okoberfest Saturday with a full slate of qualifying and racing. It was a true honor for the New England Truck Series drivers to cap off  the first day of racing with The Shirley Lindeman Memorial .  The race honors Shirley Lindeman.  Many of the NETS competitors carried remembrances.  During the pace laps , Any Lindeman, Shirley's son pulled ahead of the field for a few laps while teams took time to reflect on a friend, mother and fan of all NETS competitors. For the New England Racing Series the Shirley Lindeman Memorial race is the highlight of the year.

    The field soon gathered behind pole sitter Bert Ouellette in the #151.  Andy Lindeman piloted the beautifully prepared #3 on the outside pole. The #29 of Josh Stringer lined up inside of the 5 of Frank Dumicich Sr. in row 2.  Fans in the know had their eyes on the 3rrd row. That is where points leader #88 Roger Turbush, and the #42  of Frank Dumicich Jr. lined up. Dumicich Jr., 2nd in points, is in the hunt for the crown.

      By the end of lap 1, the  151 of  Ouelette  had control of the race.  Lindeman followed along with the 5 of Dumicich Sr. close behind. By lap 5, Dumicich Jr. and Turbush had moved up into the 3rd and4th positions,  Lap 7 saw Turbush nose  the 88 under the 42.  The two ran side by side for a bit. The inside groove is faster at Lee and Turbush soon moved on to take sole position of 3rd.
     Up front the #151 appeared loose.  The multi time champ, Lindeman had reeled Ouellette in.  Suddenly, on lap 12 the 70 of Trevor Dyer erupted in a plume of smoke. Teams were under yellow as they entered an oil soaked turn 3. Both leaders spun to avoid the #70. This set up an 8 out shootout to decide the event.
 

To win the Ford of Ouellette would have to hold off multi-time  champion  Lindeman and points leaders Turbush and Dumicich Jr.  Oulette pulled off a great restart and grabbed sole position of first place.  Turbush nosed under Lindeman to wrestle away second. Lindeman, in his first event since May 30th, was able to settle in to 3rd. That is how it played out.
    It was an emotional win for the #151 team.  The Burdick's who own the #151 team take special care to pick out  just the right trophy for this event. This one was a beauty. This one went back home with them. Bert was quick to dedicate the race to their friend, who they still miss daily, Shirley Lindeman.
   The New England Truck Series is off to the Thompson Speedway  #SunocoWorld Series October 16th ,  17th and 18th . This year's event features 15 divisions of racing.  Please join us if you can.     10/11/2015

All Photos in this article courtesy of Passing Bird Photography. Find more info on Facebook

or visit Passing Bird Photography's photos from this event at 
http://www.passingbird.com/NETS-Lee-USA-Speedway-101015/