New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Gift of Lights Opens Thanksgiving Night

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The 10th annual Gift of Lights presented by Eastern Propane & Oil is open nightly Nov. 26, 2020 through Jan. 3, 2021 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with 3.5 million lights.

LOUDON, N.H. – The family holiday tradition of driving through 2.5 miles of dazzling Christmas light displays at New Hampshire Motor Speedway continues this year with the Gift of Lights presented by Eastern Propane & Oil. The 10th annual event is open every night from Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 26 – Sunday, Jan. 3.

This year, the 2.5-mile drive-thru light show is even brighter with 3.5 million lights, a new 150-foot RGB Tunnel of Lights and new scenes including the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks, Mother Goose, Jack Be Nimble, Deer Beach Vacation and a package wrapping machine. Over 650 hours go in to setting up more than 520 displays and 80 different scenes each year, which also includes the popular 12 Days of Christmas scene and the fan-favorite 130-foot long infield entrance and exit Tunnels of Lights made up of over 25,000 lights.

“Pack the kids up, bring some hot cocoa, turn up the Christmas music and escape to the winter wonderland that’s been created right here in Loudon, New Hampshire,” said David McGrath, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “This event has always been a special way for families to spend time together, but this year, it’s the perfect way to keep your family safe without sacrificing an annual holiday tradition, and it helps those in need as well.”

Helping the community is a major part of what makes Gift of Lights so special. A portion of all admissions proceeds benefit the New Hampshire Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCCNH), which raises money for children in need throughout New England.  As the official charity of the speedway, SCCNH has raised $220,476 from the Gift of Lights since 2011 and has distributed over $1.8 million supporting more than 808,000 children throughout New England since its inception in 2009.

Other local organizations that benefit from Gift of Lights are the Loudon Food Pantry and Loudon Firefighters Association, however, COVID-19 restrictions will prevent in-person donations this year. Monetary donations can be made to either organization following the instructions in the Help the Community section of the Gift of Lights page on the NHMS website.

Santa Claus may quarantine at the North Pole this year, preventing him from being on-site at Gift of Lights, but theme nights allow visitors to get in to the holiday spirit. Attendees can save $10 per car at the gate with Christmas car decorations (Nov. 30), wearing cozy pajamas (Dec. 1), bringing the family pet (Dec. 7) and styling in crazy Christmas sweaters (Dec. 8).

Tickets and Hours of Operation:

Admission is available for purchase online at NHMS.com/Events/Gift-of-Lights/ or in-person at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for $25 per car. Show hours are 4:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, depending on the weather.

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Stafford Motor Speedway

Duane Provost Wins NAPA Auto Parts Late Model Rookie of the Year Honors at Stafford Speedway

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(Stafford Springs, CT)—After racing for 10 years in Stafford Speedway’s Limited Late Model division where he accumulated 2 track championships and 18 feature wins, Duane Provost made the step up to the Late Model division for the 2020 season.  Provost drove his #88 Facchini Law Firm Chevrolet to 2 top-5 and 3 top-10 finishes this season in 12 starts to claim NAPA Auto Parts Rookie of the Year honors.

“It feels really good to be rookie of the year,” said Provost.  “My first goal this season was to win rookie of the year and my second goal was to finish in the top-10 in the points.  I wasn’t able to make the top-10 but it does feel pretty good to check off the rookie of the year box.  I have to thank my sponsors Michael Facchini of Facchini Law Firm and Team Link in Ludlow, thanks to my brother Derek for helping me out, Brian Routhier, Tyler Wood, R.J. Surdell, the RRC Crew, R.A.D. Auto Machine, and Buzzy.”

Provost’s rookie season got off to a slow start with a best finish of 12th over his first 4 races.  But the 5th race of the season marked the high point of the season for Provost as he scored his first podium finish with a 3rd place effort after holding the lead for the first half of the race.  Provost spent the rest of his 2020 season tinkering with his #88 car to try to replicate his podium performance but the best he could manage for the remainder of the season was a 5th place drive on August 28.

“I took as many notes that race as I could and I tried to get the car back to where it was that night,” said Provost.  “I got the car close a few times but it didn’t quite work out for me.  I definitely felt like I could get back on the podium this season.  We finished 6th in the 50-lapper and we finished 5th the race before that so I knew I wasn’t that far off.  I was trying to chase that 3rd place finish for the rest of the year but I couldn’t quite get there.  I thought I should have gotten back up there on the podium but overall it wasn’t a bad performance this season.”

Provost faced several challenges this season in making the move from the Limited Late Model division up to the Late Model division, including the increase of laps and getting used to having a spotter. 

“The first couple of races this season was an adjustment going 30 laps instead of 20 but I think by about the 3rd or 4th race I kind of knew what I needed for 30 laps,” said Provost.  “I think the majority of the races we finished higher than where we started so for the most part it was a forward moving year.  Inside the car it was all about getting used to having a spotter.  Once I had a few races together with my buddy Tyler, who was spotting for the first time this season, I think having that extra set of eyes really helped me out.”

Provost’s rookie campaign also served as a season of learning as he went through trials and tribulations in making adjustments to his #88 car in order to be among the fastest cars on the track.

“I took a lot of notes and learned a lot of things that are completely different between the Limited and Late Model cars as far as handling and setup and all the things we can change or adjust,” said Provost.  “I found out quite a few times what not to do to the car.  I remember at the first race I was trying to make wholesale changes to the car and these cars are real sensitive.  When you put anything more than 1 round of wedge into the car during a race it completely changes the car and that first race I went with 2 or 3 rounds and the car completely went away so I learned no more making big changes like that.  We had a lot of fun this season.”

With a season’s worth of experience and notes to work off of for the 2021 season, Provost is looking forward to getting back out on track after a crash on Sept. 25 brought a premature end to his 2020 season.

“The last race I ran my practice times were in the top-5 and I was looking forward to that race but my night ended pretty abruptly,” said Provost.  “I had some miscellaneous things happen during the year like a shock came off one night, so I’ll be working on some things to make the car a little more consistent for next season.”

For more information, visit www.staffordspeedway.com, checkout Stafford Speedway on Facebook or Twitter, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.

Georgetown Speedway, Short Track Super Series

GEORGETOWN GOBBLER MOVED UP TO SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

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GEORGETOWN, DE – The ‘Gobbler’ at Georgetown Speedway will now take place on Saturday, November 21.

Due to upcoming COVID-19 regulations announced today (Nov. 17) by Governor John Carney, the post-season event has been moved forward by seven days and will take place on Saturday, November 21. A picture-perfect weather forecast is in place for this event.

Gates will open at noon, with hot laps at 2 p.m. and racing at 3 p.m., an hour later than originally planned with the mild temperatures in place.

L&J Sheet Metal Modifieds headline the program racing 35 laps for $4,000 to win.

But there is a twist! Any driver who has perfect attendance at any BD Motorsports Media LLC affiliated tracks or series (Georgetown, N.Y.’s Fonda Speedway or the Short Track Super Series North or South Series) will receive a “Grandma’s Gravy” bonus of $2,000, bringing the winner’s share to $6,000!

Chesapeake Paving/J.W. Brown Trucking Crate 602 Sportsman run a 25-lap main with $1,500 going to the winner. Any driver with perfect attendance at Georgetown, Fonda, or the Short Track Super Series Crate 602 Sportsman South Region in ‘20 able to win the feature will take home a “Grandma’s Gravy” bonus of $500 to bring the total to $2,000.

RUSH Late Models will complete their Georgetown Speedway point season in a $1,500-to-win, 25-lap event. Should the winner have perfect attendance at Georgetown in 2020, there will be a “Grandma’s Gravy” bonus of $500, elevating the winner’s share to $2,000.

Completing the program will be 12-lap features for the Little Lincolns (rescheduled from the Sunday, Nov. 1 rain-out), Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.

Adult grandstand admission is $20. Seniors (ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17) pay $16. Kids (ages 9-12) pay $10. Children 8 and under are FREE.

Pit admission is $35. Kids (ages 6-12) pay $10. Children 5 and under pay $2.

For those unable to attend, the ‘Gobbler’ will be broadcast live on Dirt Track Digest TV (www.dirttrackdigest.tv).

Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.

A website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).

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