Speedway Digest Staff - Results from #80

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Texas: Keselowski earned his fourth-straight top-10 Sunday at Texas, finishing seventh. Buescher earned the fourth-most points of any driver in the field, but was stuck in the middle of the pack in late-race chaos to finish 14^th.

Points Standings (17: 3^rd, 6: 7^th): Buescher sits third in the playoff standings, 22 points to the good, while Keselowski is seventh, +8 to the cut line.

RFK PR

The Race of Champions Modified Series concluded it’s season this past Sunday at Lancaster (N.Y.) Motorplex as the grand finale of the 35^th Annual US Open. The race was delayed by weather, a seemingly constant theme of the 2023 season.

Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., who started 11^th, used strategy and a strong racecar to reach victory lane Sunday evening.

“We had a good car,” beamed Hirschman from victory lane. “It was a challenging race, it wasn’t easy. The competition on this Series is incredible. Patrick (Emerling) was coming. The different tire strategies played into it today and so did the weather. We are just proud to be in victory lane. Thank you to my team and my family for helping to get me here.”

Emerling started 10^th and finished 2^nd.

Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y., who started 3^rd led much of the race after a daring three-wide pass for the lead early in the going finished 3^rd with a broken right front shock absorber.

Jake Lutz of Hamburg, N.Y., and Tony Hanbury of Owego, N.Y., rounded out the top-five.

Zane Zeiner of Bath, Pa., started 12^th and finished 6^th, but claimed the 2023 Race of Champions Modified Series championship.

“We had an incredible year,” stated Zeiner following the race. “Things just seemed to go our way. It was a fantastic season for us. I have to thank everyone who helped get us here. It was an incredible run.”

Lutz, Hirschman and Jankowiak won the three qualifying races with Lutz posting the fastest time in green-white-checker qualifying.

Full results from the 35^th Annual US Open can be found here; www.rocmodifiedseries.com/schedules/event/459909

The final race of the 2023 season for the Race of Champions Family of Series will be at Wyoming County International Speedway on Saturday, October 14 as the conclusion of the “Fall Shootout” including the Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series; Race of Champions Super Stock Series; Race of Champions FOAR SCORE Four Cylinder Dash Series and the Race of Champions Rocket Performance 602 Sportsman Modified Series.

Race of Champions management also announced the dates for the 2024 Race of Champions weekend, which will be Friday, September 13; Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15, 2024.

The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Lucas Oil Products, MAVTV, MAVTV Plus, Airport Collision, Rocket Performance, Waddell Communications, Image X Design, Sherwood Racing Wheels, DirtTrackDigest.com and Speed Sport. The 72^nd and 73^rd annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2023 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.

ROC Mods PR

Ford Performance PR

The 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will come to a close on October 14-15 at Circuit Zolder in Belgium. With double points on the line, the battle for the NWES championship ring will culminate in the EuroNASCAR Finals. With the two worst results dropped from their season score after the races at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, Gianmarco Ercoli on the #54 Camaro leads the standings by just four points from Vittorio Ghirelli in the #72 Team Bleekemolen Toyota Camry. With two complicated weekends at Most and Oschersleben for the CAAL Racing driver, Ercoli’s lead substantially shrunk, but the Rome native is determined to defend his small advantage and take home the beautiful Tijey championship trophy. 

While Ercoli needs to regain his momentum, Ghirelli has been on a roll since the NASCAR GP Italy with two wins at Vallelunga and Most. Ercoli has three wins to his credit, but tough races in the Czech Republic and Germany have made the championship battle a real nail-biter that will culminate in the EuroNASCAR Finals at Circuit Zolder in the woods of Limburg. For the sixth time, the Belgian venue will host the decisive rounds on its challenging track with tricky corners and several elevation changes. Ercoli won both races at Zolder in 2022 in the EuroNASCAR PRO series, while Ghirelli still had to win for the first time Belgium. 

The two Italian top drivers are the favorites for the title, but with a maximum of 168 points still to be awarded, there are plenty of drivers who could join the top-2 at the top of the standings. Valencia race winner Lucas Lasserre is third, just 21 points behind Ercoli, while two-time NWES champion Anthony Kumpen has to overcome a 23-point deficit to win his third title. 37 points behind Ercoli sits Liam Hezemans in fifth, but the Dutchman will be focusing more on winning the Junior Trophy against Vladimiros Tziortzis and Ulysse Delsaux. Tziortzis has just ten points less on his account than Hezemans while Marc Goossens follows in seventh, two points behind the Cypriot. Delsaux is eighth in the standings, 52 points down to Ercoli. 

The top-15 are separated by less than 100 points, so a single victory could change the order at any time. Tobias Dauenhauer recently wrote history as the first ever German winner of a EuroNASCAR PRO race, and the Bremotion driver did it on home soil at Oschersleben. Martin Doubek is three points behind Dauenhauer and completes the top-10 in the overall standings. Sebastiaan Bleekemolen follows in eleventh place ahead of Thomas Krasonis, Paul Jouffreau, Fabrizio Armetta - the leader of the Challenger Trophy - and Giorgio Maggi. The latter is only 93 points behind Ercoli. 

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series returns to the Circuit Zolder in Belgium on October 14th and 15th. Qualifying and racing at the EuroNASCAR Finals will be broadcast live on EuroNASCAR's YouTube channel, Motorsport.tv and various television services around the world. The battle for the championship is on, and at the end of two double-header races, only one driver can be crowned the 2023 NWES Champion.

NWES PR

One of the most storied events in asphalt open wheel racing continues its great tradition this Friday and Saturday night at Madera Speedway with the 50th running of the Harvest Classic. Speedtour Super Modifieds will thunder around the fastest one-third mile in the west with a full field of the fastest short track cars in the world in action. Friday action will include the championship round for the local Madera Late Models.
 
Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 7pm each night. All tickets are general admission and available at the gates. Friday tickets are $20 for adults, seniors are $15, youth ages 6-12 are $10, and kids five and under are free. Saturday’s prestigious national Super Modified shootout is priced at $30 for adults, seniors are $25, youth ages 6-12 are $20, and kids five and under are free. Grandstands open at 4pm Friday and 6pm Saturday. Races will also be available live on www.YouTube.com/ShortTrackTV and available in tape-delay on MAVTV.
 
The Harvest Classic has been the site for many historic and exciting moments throughout its 49 years of competition, including the first win for Toni Breidinger in USAC Ford Focus Midgets on the way to her record-breaking career in the division. Audra Sasselli is also a former USAC Sprint Car feature winner at the Harvest Classic. Jesse Love won the BCRA Midget portion in 2018 to become the youngest winner in series history and carried that victory to the series championship. Davey Hamilton, Jr. won the 2014 Harvest Classic combined Sprint Car and Super Modified feature for one his earliest big victories as well.
 
Who will write their names in the history books in 2023? They will have to conquer the healthiest field of Super Modifieds at Madera Speedway in decades. Indianapolis 500 veteran Davey Hamilton, his National Sprint Car Hall of Fame father Kenny Hamilton, Colton Nelson, and Bryan Warf lead the Idaho Gem State contingent into Madera. Drivers from Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Washington are also entered.
 
Mark Sargent, son of the legendary Hall of Famer Marshall Sargent, Mike and Justin Funkhouser, Tim Skogland, and Bobby Dalton are among the California drivers aiming for Harvest Classic glory as well. The Speedtour Super Modifieds tribute to Donnie Large, Sr. will be a 40-lap race on Saturday night.
 
Also on Saturday night is the $2,500-to-win Dick Whalen Tribute for the NCMA Sprint Cars in a 30-lap feature. A 50-50 Raffle for Valley Children’s Hospital will be included in the festivities. Fans will be paired with a driver and will get to visit victory lane if their driver wins.
 
Legends of Kearney Bowl in honor of Kenny Takeuchi, BCRA Vintage Midgets, and Focus Midgets are also scheduled.
 
Friday action concludes the 2023 Madera local championships with Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Late Models, and MSTs competing. Fans will also get to witness Super Modified practices and the first Focus feature of the weekend.
 
For more information about the Madera Speedway including how to advertise with a race team on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or call the race office at 209-356-1968.
 
The 2023 season would not be possible without the support of Lunkerdaddy Fishing Lures, 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
 
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights in primetime. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.

Madera Speedway PR

Nashville Superspeedway will host the annual C10 Nationals Sept. 29-30, bringing together Chevrolet C10 trucks and fans from around the world. The annual event provides a platform for truck owners to showcase their trucks’ craftsmanship and modifications.

“We are pleased to host the C10 Nationals event, and we look forward to welcoming participants and enthusiasts to our facility for a weekend of automotive passion and camaraderie,” Nashville Superspeedway general manager Matt Greci said.

The C10 Nationals will feature a variety of activities, including a classic truck show, drag racing, autocross competitions and a vendor area showcasing related products and accessories.

“C10 Nationals has been around for six years, and this is the third year it has been in Nashville,” C10 Nationals president Chris Baker said. “The event features more General Motors trucks than any event in the country, and we’re proud to welcome nearly 2,000 trucks to Nashville Superspeedway while recognizing over 70 award winners with custom trophies. A record number of trucks have pre-registered for the event, up nearly 25% from 2022.”

C10 Nationals is an annual event dedicated to celebrating the Chevrolet C10 truck and its enduring popularity among fans and collectors. Its focus remains firmly on providing a platform for showcasing these iconic vehicles and fostering a sense of community among C10 truck enthusiasts.

Since its inception, the event has grown in scale and significance; it now attracts C10 truck owners and admirers from all corners of the United States and from around the world. Trucks from 37 states and Canada will be in attendance, with attendees coming from as far as Australia and the United Kingdom.

C10 Nationals has evolved into a comprehensive gathering that includes activities such as a classic truck show, drag racing, autocross competitions and an expansive vendor area. The event is an essential fixture on the calendar for C10 truck owners and fans, offering an opportunity to connect, share and appreciate the craftsmanship, modifications and enduring appeal of the Chevrolet C10 in American automotive culture.

Event registration and tickets are available at the Nashville Superspeedway gate starting Thursday. The event schedule and details are available at C10Nationals.com. The event will take place rain or shine.

NSS PR

FRM PR

Current ASA STARS National Tour points leader Ty Majeski has filed his entry for the 52nd Running of the Winchester 400 Presented by Vore’s Welding and Steel on October 13-15.

The Wisconsin driver has established himself as one of Super Late Model racing’s top drivers for the past decade, but the high-banked half-mile presents a completely different challenge to Majeski as he will be making his first-ever appearance at Winchester.

Majeski has three wins on the season at Madison, Milwaukee and WIR and holds a 63-point edge over Cole Butcher in the standings. He is coming off his worst finish of the season at Toledo after engine issues ended his race prematurely.

Even outside the ASA STARS National Tour, his results in the Super Late Model have been nothing short of spectacular. In just ten total Super Late Model starts in 2023, his 13th at Toledo has been his only finish outside the top-ten and one of just two outside the top-five.

Majeski also finds himself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, attempting to get into the final four. He could very well find himself going into the weekend of November 3-5 racing for a NASCAR Truck Series title at Phoenix Raceway and an ASA STARS National Tour championship at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

More entries for the Winchester 400 will be released as it gets closer to race weekend.

The ASA STARS National Tour heads to Winchester Speedway on Sunday, October 15 for the Winchester 400 Presented by Vore’s Welding and Steel. The race will also serve as the season finale for the ASA/CRA Super Series. Tickets can be purchased by calling the track office at (765)584-9701 during office hours.

The ASA STARS National Tour opened the ten race, six-state schedule at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL on March 11. Jesse Love is the most recent winner, claiming the victory in Glass City 200 on September 16.

For the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule, plus Super Late Model rules and other information, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: STARS National Series | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).

ASA STARS PR

Thomas Nepveu concluded the NASCAR Pinty's season on a high note at Delaware Speedway on Sunday, finishing 7th place and claiming Rookie of the Year.

It was a season full of learning for the young Oka native driver, who switched from single-seaters to stock cars last May. However, at the end of the 11 events he took part in, he acquired a wealth of experience, impressing many in the NASCAR Pinty's paddocks.

Thanks to five Top 10 finishes throughout the season, the driver of the #24 Evirum | Home Hardware Nepveu Nepveu car secured the title of Josten's Rookie of the Year. Thomas may have been unlucky in a few events, but his consistency enabled him to make fast progress.

At the last event at Delaware Speedway, Nepveu claimed a Top 10 finish in practice, setting the 9th fastest time. In qualifying, he set the 13th quickest lap time.

Right from the start of the race, he quickly made his intentions known by pulling away from the pack. The end of the race was particularly intense, with all eyes on Nepveu. The young rookie was in 4th place, battling it out with the best drivers in the series.

"It was a great way to end the season at Delaware Speedway," Thomas explains. "We had a good time in the Top 5 until the last five laps of the race! In the end, I'm happy to finish in the Top 10. "

Indeed, only with five laps to go, the young driver had to bow out, eventually finishing in 7th position.

"We had some great battles with Kevin Lacroix, Alex Guénette and Andrew Ranger," he continues. "Everyone pushed hard but with respect, so it was a great race."

He concludes, "I'd like to thank Jacombs Racing team for all their hard work and dedication throughout the season. Thanks to Evirum, Home Hardware, Parro Info, Richelieu and Cromwell for their support this year.

Thomas Nepveu PR