STAR OPENS UP SEASON  WITH DOUBLE HEADER

Friday May 25^th Lee USA Speedway honored our nation’s veterans by presenting its 5^th annual veterans night.  The American legion entered the track in formation to the start finish line.  The parade marshal escorted the chaplain and singers were the National Anthem was sung and then followed by a 21 gun salute. It was a day to honor our veterans and we at Star were proud to be part of this special day.

 Let me just jump ahead of how Star’s night finished.  The two feature winners of the Star group that evening were also veterans and both were from New York.  It was a night for the Veterans and a Victory for the New York members.   How cool was that!

Star rolled into Lee USA Speedway with 22 cars hauling from all over the east coast.  Cars hauled in from as far as Pennsylvania to the board line of Maine.  In the pit area Star members were gathering together to congratulate member Bobby Turner for getting into the Maine Hall of Fame for class 2012.  The Stearns family presented him with a cake…mummm of a sheep?  Don’t ask --- its a joke with the Star guys.  But the cake did say “Congratulations BaBaBa-Bobby Turner”.  Just like the old days these guys still rack on each other just like they use to do back in the old days.   Up on the midway on display was the famous little blue coupe #5 of Star past member David Scott.  After Star lost one of their most important members last year we thought we never see this car out and about.  Thanks goes out to the Scott family.

Star started their day with two ten lap heat races.  First the Sportsmen hit the track where Richard Eastman from Ma in the Ollie Silva #0 Pinto shot out to dominate the field.  Charlie Wilcox from Ct in his #111 coupe tried to gain on Eastman but was unable to catch him.  Eastman “Was a Man on a Mission”.  Alan Zemla from Me in his #43 coupe was battling for third place with Richard Tervo from Ma in his #74 coupe.  When the checker flag came down it was on Eastman in the #0 to take the first win for the tour for the 2012 season.

Then it was time for the Modifieds to hit the track for their ten lap heat race.  Jamie Ferland from NH in his #194 Pinto and Paul LaPlante from RI in his #02 coupe lead the field lap after lap until the pack opened up with Darryl Dutch from RI in his #6 Pinto making his way to second place.  It was a three way battle between LaPlante, Dutch and Ferland.  With only three laps to go Vito Colaneri from Me in his #55 wagon took over third spot.  When the checkered came down it was on LaPlante to take the second victory for the tour that night.

In the pit area you could see Star members helping each other out to get all cars up and running for the feature.  One thing I can say for this group they stick together and help each other.  Now it was time for the first of two features for the Star Tour.  The Sportsmen hit the track first for their 15-lap feature.   When the green came down it was Charlie Wilcox from Ct in his #111 coupe to shoot out to take the lead for the pack.  The pack shifted on each lap until Bob Harless from NY in his #8 sedan and Richard Tervo from Ma in his #74 coupe gained on Wilcox.   Harless took Wilcox on the outside groove to take the lead and the third victory for the tour that evening.  Wilcox pulled in a second with Tervo topping off the field with a third.  The Modifieds were lined up and ready to go.  Bob Pringle from NH in the #7 Pinto and Darryl Dutch from RI in his #6 Pinto showed the fans just how it was done back when Modifieds could run lap after lap side by side inches apart.  Pringle and Dutch lead the field for ten laps until the field opened up and Stan Woyt from NY in his #26 coupe made his move to pass on the outside to take over the lead from the pack.  The pack changed on the last 3 laps as Vito Colaneri from Me in his #55 and Darryl Dutch in the #6 battled for second spot.  On the last lap with the checkered flag coming down on Stan Woyt in the #26, Colaneri in the #55 took second only by a foot leaving Dutch to top off the pack with a third place.

Star would like to thank Lee USA for a great night of racing and a great way to start off the 2012 season!