Monadnock Speedway
{{short description|Race track in the U.S. state of New Hampshire}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
|name = Monadnock Speedway
|nicknames =
|location = 840 Keene Rd
Winchester, New Hampshire 03470
|coordinates = {{coord|42|49|52|N|72|21|44|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|logo = Monadnock_Speedway_logo.png
|logo_caption =
|image =
|image_size =
|image_caption =
|capacity =
|FIA_grade =
|owner = Norman Wrenn Jr. (2018–present)
|operator = Michelle Cloutier
|broke_ground =
|opened = 1971
|closed =
|construction_cost=
|architect =
|former_names =
|events = Current:
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (1986–1990, 2010–2016, 2020, 2022–present)
Former:
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (1988–1995)
NASCAR North Tour (1979, 1982)
|miles_first = true
|layout1 = Oval (1971–present)
|surface = Asphalt
|length_km = 0.435
|length_mi = 0.270
|turns = 4
|banking = Turns: 15°
|record_time =
|record_driver =
|record_car =
|record_year =
|record_class =
|website = {{URL|www.monadnockspeedway.com}}
}}
Monadnock Speedway is a paved {{convert|1/4|mi|km|abbr=on}} oval race track in Winchester, New Hampshire. Located south of Keene, the track is nestled between New Hampshire Route 10 and the Ashuelot River. Monadnock's nickname is "Mad Dog" and has been used over the years in various promotions.
The track hosts various races for regional touring series, including the Valenti Modified Racing Series, the Granite State Pro Stock Tour, the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) and NEMA Lites, and ISMA Supermodifieds.{{cite web |title=Events |url=https://www.monadnockspeedway.com/events |website=Monadnock Speedway |publisher=Monadnock Speedway |access-date=23 May 2019}}
History
File:Monadnock Speedway panoramic.jpg
The track has been in operation since 1971,{{cite web |url=https://thethirdturn.com/wiki/Monadnock_Speedway |title=Monadnock Speedway |website=thethirdturn.com |accessdate=March 2, 2022}} when admission was $2.50 for adults and $0.50 for children.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96645388/monadnock-speedway-advert/ |title=Monadnock Speedway (advert) |newspaper=Rutland Daily Herald |location=Rutland, Vermont |page=10 |date=October 28, 1971 |accessdate=February 28, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}} The track was built on the site of a former gravel pit by the first owner, Bill Brown, who later sold it to Bill Davis.{{cite news |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Monadnock-18797682 |title=Monadnock Speedway gears for new ownership |first=Chip |last=Ainsworth |website=gazettenet.com |url-access=limited |date=July 13, 2018 |accessdate=March 2, 2022}}
Driver Ollie Silva was seriously injured and almost killed in a crash at the speedway on July 28, 1978, when his car left the track and crashed into a tree at nearly {{convert|100|mph|kph}}.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96689997/caron-win-another-ollie-silva-improved/ |title=Caron Win Another, Ollie Silva Improved |newspaper=Brattleboro Reformer |location=Brattleboro, Vermont |page=9 |date=August 14, 1978 |accessdate=March 1, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96593011/once-near-death-hes-racing-back/ |title=Once near death, he's racing back |first=Will |last=McDonough |authorlink=Will McDonough |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=58 |date=September 6, 1979 |accessdate=February 27, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}
In January 1984, the venue was purchased by former driver Larry Cirillo and his business partner, Fred Pafumi.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96669599/ex-driver-off-to-bumpy-start-chasing-dre/ |title=Ex-Driver Off to Bumpy Start Chasing Dream |first=Roy |last=Hasty |newspaper=Hartford Courant |location=Hartford, Connecticut |page=E2 |date=May 17, 1985 |accessdate=February 28, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}} They owned and operated the track for over 30 years. In late 2018, Cirillo and Pafumi reached an agreement to sell the track to Nashua-based businessman Norman Wrenn Jr. after working out applications for various permits and licenses. Wrenn also purchased Lee USA Speedway the same year.{{cite news |last1=Cloutier |first1=Michelle |title=Monadnock Speedway Has A New Owner For 2019 Season |url=http://asphalt.raceproweekly.com/2018/12/18/monadnock-speedway-has-a-new-owner-for-2019-season/ |work=Race Pro Weekly |access-date=23 May 2019 |date=18 December 2018}}
Improvements to the property, including replacement of all bleachers, were announced with the purchase by Wrenn. Longtime employee Michelle Cloutier was kept on as operations manager, and former racer Jeff Zuidema was brought on as a special advisor. Zuidema was previously employed as director of competition for Thompson Speedway, before stepping down in 2014.{{cite news |last1=Courchesne |first1=Shawn |title=Jeff Zuidema Leaves Racing Management Position At Thompson Speedway |url=https://racedayct.com/2014/01/jeff-zuidema-leaves-racing-management-position-at-thompson-speedway/ |access-date=23 May 2019 |work=RaceDayCT |publisher=E-Media Sports |date=11 January 2014}}
In 2022, the Whelen Modified Series event at the speedway became part of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup. This promotional program promises cash awards to drivers who participate in the three races in the state at Lee USA Speedway, Monadnock Speedway, and Claremont Speedway. $5,000 is promised to the points leader, with smaller prizes for most laps led, highest average finish, and other criteria. The additional purse money totals $15,500, and is offered by regional motorsports broadcaster and promoter JDV Productions.{{cite press release |author= |title=JDV Productions announces Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup bonus program |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/03/17/jdv-productions-announces-whelen-granite-state-short-track-cup-bonus-program/ |location= |publisher=NASCAR |agency=JDV Productions |date=2022-03-17 |access-date=2022-04-02}}{{cite news |last1=Souza |first1=Kyle |title=JDV Productions taking NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events to next level in 2022 |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/jdv-productions-taking-nascar-whelen-100434707.html |access-date=3 April 2022 |work=Yahoo Sports |publisher=Yahoo |date=25 March 2022}}
Races
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{{col-break}}
=Current=
- Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA)
- Iron Mike Memorial
- Super Modified Atlantic Charter Series (SMAC)
- Granite State Pro Stock Tour
- JBH 100
- NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
- Whitcomb 100 (1986)
- Whitcomb 150 (1987–1990)
- Monadnock 200 (2010–2011)
- Whitcomb 200 (2012–2013)
- O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 (2014–2015)
- Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Repair 200 (2016)
- Advanced Gas Distributors Inc. 200 (2020)
- Duel at the Dog 200 (2022)
{{col-break}}
=Former=
- International Supermodified Association (ISMA)
- Valenti Modified Racing Series
- Firecracker 100
- NASCAR North Tour
- Monadock 100 (1979)
- Winchester 50 (1982)
- NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
- Busch 150 (1988–1995){{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/343/ |title=Monadnock Speedway |website=racing-reference.info |accessdate=February 28, 2022}}
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Monadnock Speedway}}
- {{official website|www.monadnockspeedway.com}}
- [http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/Monadnock_Speedway Monadnock Speedway race results] at Racing-Reference
{{NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour racetracks}}
{{Valenti Modified Racing Series racetracks}}
{{NASCAR K&N Pro Series racetracks}}
Category:Motorsport venues in New Hampshire
Category:Buildings and structures in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Category:Tourist attractions in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Category:Sports venues completed in 1971