National level racing invades Maine and New Hampshire

Episode 404

July 10, 2022

New England Awash in motorsports activity

Maine and New Hampshire will be the focal point of three types of racing this next week when land speed racers converge on Loring July 13-16, New Hampshire Motors Speedway hosts four major races in Loudon and the New England Forest Rally headquarters at Sunday River Resort in Bethel. One of those weekends where one has to make a choice of venue and live with it. I chose Loring since it is only minutes away.

Loring Timing Association Maine Event

Only one land speed event is planned for 2022 at the site of the former Loring Air Force base in Limestone. The races will feature Canadian competitors for the first time in three years. Gilles Chaisson will be shooting for 275 mph on his new bike. Pam and Gary Beineke from Massachusetts will be returning with their 71 Superbird funny car and seeking the elusive 300 mph mark.

Pam and Gary Beineke 71 Superbird funny car returns to Loring in search of the elusive 300 mph mark. (LTA photo)

Ron Keselowski will be returning to the Loring event without his brother Bob who passed away December 21, 2021 from cancer. Ron’s brother was once fractions of a second from holding the fastest car speed every at Loring.

The current record holder, Jason White, Northwood, New Hampshire will be back at Loring his Dad, Fran. They will not be racing Fran’s VW Beetle, simply hanging out. Jason was an integral part of Dan Parker’s recent Guinness World Record set at Spaceport USA March 31, 2002 211 mph. The catch you ask? Parker is blind and drove while White sat in the passenger seat ready to assist should that need arise.

Jason White fourth from left with the crew of the Dan Parker Guinness World Record holding team at Spaceport USA. (Dan Parker photo)

Racing at Loring will be 9-5 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and Saturday 9 to 2 pm.

New England Forest Rally this week

Last week’s episode featured the 2022 NEFR headquartered at Sunday River Resort, Bethel, Maine. One team from central Maine will be defending their 2021 Open AWD Regional title, Rez-Racing from Indian Island. Brothers Nate and Robert Sockalexis will be racing their 1995 Subaru Impreza. The car left the factory as a front wheel drive and has since been converted to all-wheel drive.

Robert (left) and Nate Sockalexis celebrate their regional win at 2021 NEFR at Sunday River. Robert is the driver and Nate is his co-driver. Robert was a co-driver in 4 NEFR and has been the driver in 7. Nate has been the co-driver for three years after serving over a decade as a medical services volunteer for the race.(John Cassidy photo)

Bangor’s Last Ditch Racing team consisting of John Cassidy driving and his son John Cassidy co-driving will be a threat in Open AWD Regional class. Robert Sockalexis mentioned that he got his start in rally racing working on the service crew for Cassidy.

Sockalexis said, ” I attended EMCC Auto Tech program in 2005 with the sole purpose of giving myself a leg up in Motorsport. Never once worked as a tech in the industry. I pride myself in being able to tackle most jobs in my little garage, aside from mounting tires, alignments, and other specialized equipment jobs.”

“Our race car is powered by 2.0L turbo Subaru with 6 speed STI transmission, roughly 240 horsepower at the wheels. I bought the race prepared engine block from Last Ditch Racing, and built the engine from there and I also built basically everything but the roll-caged chassis myself here in my garage.”

Short video clip of the Rez-Racing Subaru on Portland Performance dyno in Lisbon. Ryan Rice is the owner of the shop. Last Ditch Racing will be bringing their Subaru to Rice’s shop to tune it for the race this week.

https://www.facebook.com/sockalexis/videos/2176965689139537

Photo of rear of the Rez-Racing Subaru showing a couple of their 2022 sponsors. Sockalexis mentioned, ” One of our sponsors is local, Jigger & Jones America Gin from Devils Half Acre Distillery in Hermon. Maine’s only all veteran-owned and operated distillery. The Barrel Rollers was my pet project to have as a sponsor. It is online sim racing community devoted to promoting a positive online gaming culture around racing simulator games across all platforms.” (Rez-Racing photo)

“We are both from Penobscot Indian nation,” noted Robert. We are the only indigenous rally team in the United States. I currently live here on Indian Island and Nate is in Bangor.” Note the country-of-origin flags. (Rez-Racing photo)

I am including the official 2022 NEFR Spectator Guide from American Rally Association again this week as a comprehensive look at the rally.

https://newenglandforestrally.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-NEFR-Spec-Guide-Final-Small.pdf

NASCAR Premier Series in New Hampshire for weekend

Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway features the Dirt Duels on the flat track followed by a doubleheader Saturday with Xfinity Crayon 200 at 2:30 followed by the America 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at 6 pm. NASCAR Cup drivers will compete in the Ambetter 301 Sunday afternoon at 3 pm.

Hudson, New Hampshire’s Derek Griffith will be competing in the Xfinity race driving the Sam Hunt Racing Toyota. This will be Griffith’s third Xfinity Series start this season. “I know the Xfinity Series car is going to race a ton differently than a Late Model, but I love Loudon,” Griffith said. “Hopefully that and my experience there falls into my favor. I just want to have a good showing. I have to do my job the best I possibly can. I’ve got a couple of starts in the car with this team, so now I know how things work. I know what I need to bring to the table.”

Griffith you may recall was the winner of the PASS Aroostook Savings & Loan Firecracker 200 at Spud Speedway in July of 2018.

Derek Griffith wins the July 2018 Firecracker 200 at Spud Speedway. (Lindsay Ellison photo)

Stacy in the Guano Box 

Stacy Robey in the Guano Box dragster at Winterport Dragway July 9, 2022. Turns faster ET than Jesse Michaud in same car. On her way to a drag racing career??? (Jesse Michaud photo)

Definitely gets the car-of-the-week award, Stacy Robey in the homebuilt vintage dragster at Winterport Dragway. In her debut at the wheel of the car at Gassah Days Robey commented, “I made a total of 4 passes today. Jesse did the first one since it was the first time out. Out of my 4 passes my best was an 8.64 at 76mph. I was 3 miles-per-hour and three-tenths second faster than Jesse on every pass. It was my first Gassah Guys race.”

“It’s a homemade dragster built by Jesse with a 250 6-cylinder Chevy with a Powerglide transmission. It’s an automatic and has a Ford 9-inch rear end. It runs on 9-inch slicks.”

“I ran in the 8.60 class. Jesse thought it was going to run on the 10’s and was going to be happy if it went into the 9’s. He was pretty happy that I was able to run it in the 8.60 class.”

Jesse Michaud video of Stacy in preliminary race showing the Guano Box in action with Stacey Robey at the wheel.

https://www.facebook.com/779274782/videos/3060778074253044

Enjoy your week at the races. If you are at, Loring say hello, please.

Let’s go racing

Tom Hale

Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)