Archived articles


TEAM GANGSTA RACING 173 South Stark Highway Weare, NH 03281 Contact: Ryan Lawliss, Team Manager (603) 762-0405 monadnockthunder@yahoo.com The Team Gangsta Racing Team: Owners: Ken White Sr. (Dad), Elaine White (Mom), and Marilyn White (Wife) Driver: Kenny White Jr. Team Manager: Ryan Lawliss Crew: Will Lambert, Allen Degrof, and Larry Flanders Kenny White Jr. Born: August 10, 1982 in Concord, NH. Hometown: Weare, NH Kenny won 2 World Karting Association (WKA) National Championships in 1993 and 1994. He finished 4th in Points in his first season on the Pro Tour for Trucks in 1997. In 1998 he raced in a few Northeast Pro Stock Association races and also in a few Pro Tour for Trucks races as well. In 1999 Kenny became the youngest driver to qualify for a Busch North Series race. It was a tough rookie season but towards the end of the season Kenny started to master the demands to a NASCAR touring season. This would be Kenny’s last full season of racing for a while. In 2000 Kenny raced a few of NASCAR Busch Series races but due to funding had to call it quits. After about a six and a half year absence from racing, last June (2007) Kenny White Jr. and Team Gangsta Racing started racing a modified at All- Star Speedway in Epping, NH. He ended the season 6th in Points though he missed the first month and a half of the season. Towards the end of the season Kenny White Jr. took part in two of the True Value Modified Racing Series events at Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA and at Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH. For the 2008 racing season Team Gangsta Racing and driver Kenny White Jr. will be participating in the fast growing series on the east coast, the True Value Modified Racing Series. Team Gangsta Racing will also be racing in about 10 events at All- Star Speedway, Epping, NH including the All-Star Showdown. The #77 modified will be on display at the Speedway Expo in Springfield, MA from Feb. 29th - March 2nd (Kenny will be doing autographs at some point on Saturday March 1st), Kenny will also be at the Mall Of NH in Manchester, NH from March 13th - 16th, and the Rochester Mall from Rochester, NH from March 27th - 30th.






	Speed51 article by: Mike Twist 2/29/2008 www.speed51.com ACT Late Model Tour Jean Paul Cyr has won the last five ACT Late Model championships. He's won seven in his career, so who are our panel of experts to vote against him winning another one in 2008? Cyr was the only driver in all ten series to be voted as first or second by each of our panelists. Other drivers who received number one votes were young gun Joey Pole, Scott Payea and Patrick Laperle. Actually, Laperle could be a wildcard in this whole process. The 2007 ACT Serie Quebec champion is not expected to run the entire ACT Late Model schedule, but if he does watch out. As one of our voters wrote of his picks: "This, of course, is all assuming Patrick Laperle does NOT run for the title. If he does, slide my choices down one and put him at the top of the list. Another wild card is the rumor that Phil Scott and Brad Leighton might team up to take a run at the team title in ACT. While neither driver be the champion in that case, they sure could make their share of headlines and "a sure spoiler for a lot of teams." according to one of our experts. Power Rankings: 1. Jean Paul Cyr - 1.60 Rating 2. Joey Pole - 3.60 Rating 3. Brent Dragon - 3.80 Rating 4. Scott Payea - 4.00 Rating 5. Patrick Laperle - 4.20 Rating 6. Roger Brown - 4.60 Rating 7. Eric Chase - 5.70 Rating 8. Randy Potter - 5.80 Rating 9. Donald Theetge - 5.85 Rating 10. Ryan Vanasse - 5.95 Rating Selected Comments From The Voters: "As tempting as it is to pick against Jean-Paul Cyr, I have a hard time making that choice. He may not have won a race last year, and he may not have been totally happy with his car, but he was still consistent enough to be considered dominant." "How can you go against Jean Paul Cyr? Ok so he didn’t win a race in 200, but with the closeness of the American Canadian Tour just making the race is half the battle. Cyr’s major competition will be himself in 2008." "Eric Chase showed the short track world what he could do at Florida Speedweeks. He could have a breakout year in ACT as well." "Randy Potter is the best racer out there that you've never heard of. It wouldn't surprise me one bit for him to be in the thick of the ACT title fight." "Scott Payea has shown a lot of promise for the coming years, and he can do what it takes to beat Cyr. Were it not for being taken out at St-Eustache and getting shuffled around at Oxford a couple times, I think he’d have taken the title away." "Québec’s Donald Theetge now has a full year running on the American tracks, so he’ll be much better." "Roger Brown could follow up his Banknorth 250 win with a ACT title." "Joey Pole was my Numero Uno. He might still be a teenager, but he's ready to win big."




				"Joey Pole has become a top notch driver for the ACT Tour and we are excited to welcome Joey and his team to become Ben Rowe's teammate. We are finshing up a brand new RMR Chassis and 3V Performance powered Super Late model for Joey to compete in 5 or 6 select PASS North races to include, Wicasset, White Mountain Motorsports Park and Beech Ridge." -Richard Moody "I am so excited to be able to learn from Ben Rowe, I mean he's the best racer in New England and down south for that matter. This is a great opportunity for me to learn from the best and I really appreciate the work that has been done to bring this collaboration together. I am very excited about getting some RMR 1-2 Finishes, that would be great!" -Joey Pole

Richard Moody Racing (RMR) and Pole
Motorsports announce a partnership that brings
New Hampshire racing sensation Joey "Pole"
Polwarczyk Jr. to RMR for select PASS North
races in 2008! RMR and the Joey Pole race
team confirmed that Joey Pole will be wheeling
a RMR Prepared Super Late Model in 5 or 6
races.

These are the Pre-season Thunder Road Street Stock Driver rankings
as compiled by www.VLFRacing.com.

These predictions are simply that; predictions. The overall rankings
were compiled using the 2007 Statistics along with any known
equipment/team improvements going into 2008. They are meant to be
a fun way to look at some potential "Contenders and Pretenders"
Only the top 5 drivers will be done at this time. Drivers who have
moved up into the Street Stock division this year from Warriors will
be graded on a slightly flatter curve. I hope you enjoy this and as
always these are just opinions and feedback on
www.victorylaneforum.com is always welcomed. I should also
mention that these rankings are assuming the driver is running a full
schedule

Look for Drivers 6-15 Coming soon!

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

Name of Driver

#01- Mike Martin

#11- Dave Allen

#61- Jason
Corliss

#34-Tim Campbell

#18- Jayme Lee

Grade

A

A

B+

B+

B+/B

Comments

Mike always comes prepared to race. Mike's
equipment is good, his knowledge is even
better. The new rules for Escorts will slow Mike
down for the first week or Two however he will
be very consistent and may win multiple races.
Mike will continue his top 5 prowess as he had
7 in 2007

Dave Allen is a veteran who can get it done. His
equipment is top-notch, Dave is a fierce
competitor who always has his car ready to go.
He was in the hunt until the very end last year
and it will be close this year but this time he will
have the Championship trophy in sight. Dave
had 6 Top 5's in 2007 and won the Mid-Season
Track Championship in 2007

Jason is a youngster who really surprised a lot
of people last season by finishing in the top 5 in
points. Jason missed the Championship by
125 points. This year he returns in a Ford
Mustang and looks to gain a few spots in the
standings. Jason finished with 11 Top 10's in
2007.

Tim Campbell is "Mr. Consistency" he is always
near the front week after week. Tim posted 11
Top 10's and won the August 9th Feature. This
year he will flirt with multiple wins and many Top
5's

Okay, I may get some opinions on this one,
however Jayme knows to drive an Escort around
Thunder Road and this ranking is assuming he
runs a full schedule, which he has not done in
recent years. Jayme is extremely smooth and
calm under pressure. Don't look for many wins
but look for between 7-9 Top 10's

RACING IS IN THEIR BLOOD
A Family and their passion to go fast!

A VLFRacing.com exclusive by: Tom Suitor

The oldest of the Davis racers is 28- year-old
Chandler. Chan is a Keene State College graduate
and has taken on plenty of challenges within the
racing world. As a youngster Chan was a competitive
WKA go-kart racer, Rock Maple snowcrosser, and a
VMA motocross rider. As a snowcross racer traveling
on the Rock Maple Tour, he went semi-pro and was
able to hold his own.

In 2006 Chan strapped himself into a stock car as a rookie racing in the
WMMP Super Street class. At the end of the season Chan brought home
2 feature wins, 3 top 5 finishes, and 3 top 10 finishes. In 2007 his
progress continued and the results showed it as he grabbed himself 4
top 3 finishes (one of which was a feature win), 5 top 5 finishes, 3 top
10 finishes, and he also took home 5th in the points chase.

Chan will be taking the green flag every Saturday night in the 2008
season in hopes of coming even closer to his ultimate dream: the
covenant Track Champion title.

Division in 2003 at WMMP. In his rookie debut year Brock raced only 6
races finishing 11th in the points. During the 2004 race season Brock
and team #47 turned left a full season to finish a successful 6th. 2005
proved to be Brock’s season. With a newly built Super Street, Brock
stuck to the outside groove all the way to be crowned the 2005 Super
Street Track Champion.

In 2006 the decision of the car owners was to move Brock up to the
Late Model division at the Park. Brock and the team finished the season
with 3 top 10 and 2 top 5 finishes and placed 12th in the points. Team
#47 used 2007 as an experimental season. Brock played around with a
few races

that deviated from the regular season events at the park including just
missing qualifying for the highly competitive TD Banknorth by only a
couple of positions. Brock ran in the combined WMMP/ACT event in June
and raced to a 12th place finish in the August 18th ACT 100 lap event.
At regular season races at the Park Brock took home 3 top 3 finishes
and 8 top 10 finishes.

In 2008 Brock will return to WMMP on a semi-regular basis and plans on
running some ACT races. Brock has stated that his goal for the season
is to be a threat at each race. His previous track record has proven that
this may be an accomplishable goal!

12 top 10 finishes and finished out the year 7th in points. For the 2008
season Jourdan will be rolling a new Trans Am Super Street out of the
stables. There is sure to be some entertainment between the brothers
as well as the rest of the pack driving on their rear.

her brothers for website updates. She is an integral part of the race
team.
The Davis Family and their new Five Pine Racing Stables race shop are
located in Whitefield, NH. You can read and see more about them at
their website www.5PRS.com

The youngest son in this trio of racers is 22-year-
old Jourdan. Jourdan is a college graduate with an
associate’s degree in automotive technology. His
brothers depend on his handy work at the shop
and in the pits. He tried his hand at the wheel in
the Super Street Division at the park in 2007.
Jourdan grabbed himself his first feature win in
July. In his rookie debut Jourdan finished the
season with

And then came little sister. Kayleigh was never
bitten by the "racing bug" but she did inherit that
impassioned Davis competitive spirit. She is a
sophomore at Springfield College where she
competes in ECAC Division III women's
gymnastics. In 2008 Kayleigh competed as an
individual at the National Collegiate Gymnastics
Association Division III Nationals. Being an
accomplished gymnast doesn't detract Kayleigh
from her love of family and racing. Throughout
the summer you'll see her in the pits taking tire
temperatures and nagging

Brockton is the 26-year-old veteran at the Five Pine
Racing Stables. Brock is a college graduate with an
associate’s degree in applied science. Before taking up
stock car racing he honed his skills as a WKA go-kart
racer, Rock Maple snowcrosser, and motocross rider.
He first strapped into a race car in the Super Street

From 1973 to 1979 Norris Davis and his son, Fred,
traveled the Northeast racing snow machines in the
modified ranks of the USSA Eastern racing tour.
Norris knew about horsepower and Fred knew
about how to “go fast.” It was no surprise that
when Fred and Maggie started a family, racing would
be in their future. Maggie may have taught her first
Son Chandler to walk, but Fred taught him how to
run.

	*ACT Tour's recipe for success* *A VLFRacing exclusive article by Eric LaFleche* So, there sure is something to be said about being able to keep up with the ever changing world of Short Track Auto Racing. Few racing series in the United States are able to sustain themselves for the "long haul" and usually end up becoming just memories for so many. Then there is the American Canadian Tour or ACT as it referred to by most everyone. ACT is the quintessential model for how to operate a successful racing series. What sets the ACT apart from other touring series? Well there are many reasons such as the tight rules on affordable parts. ACT allows you to run 1 style of Shock, why you ask? This limits the amount of money you could and ultimately would spend to get the competitive edge. Then there is the Spec Engine rule, this rule allows you to race with a cost controlled "Spec" engine, everyone who races with a Spec engine is allowing ACT Officials and Management a way to better monitor the amount of money being spent by teams. This engine rule saves the touring racer in the end because of the controlled initial cost is much lower then if the racer had to build their motors. Keeping a level playing field is what attracts so many racers to the ACT Touring Series it's not just a bunch of races but as long time Racer and now fan Andy Boright explains "The ACT is a racing philosophy, race hard but clean and at the end of day may the best man (or woman) win." This is so true in many aspects of the way the American-Canadian Tour is operated, go to an ACT Sanctioned event and you will see a fast moving; action packed show, which is choreographed by ACT President Tom Curley. Many different opinions were sought after for this piece including ACT Drivers and there was definitely one overwhelming sentiment, everyone I talked to said the competition is second to none, whether it be at the local track or a stand alone ACT event it is always overflowing with talented drivers who on any given day bring home the victory. Let's look at the 2008 ACT opening event, it will be hosted at LEE USA Speedway in New Hampshire. This event will draw the ACT's usual drivers along with a host of LEE USA's Late Model drivers and that is another reason for the ACT's success; the ability to allow many drivers from local tracks the opportunity to compete in an ACT event. Joey Becker who drives the #16 Richard Green ACT Late Model on select Tour races adds: "A big plus to the ACT way of thinking is that because of the highly enforced rules, it allows up to 200 cars within a 300 mile radius the ability to run an ACT race and this in turn helps tremendously with the car counts." The amount of cars attending any race is very important to not just the race but the race fan. It makes for a better overall race experience to watch 25-30 cars jockeying for position on a tight 1/4 mile track on a warm summers night, then it does for 12 cars to play "follow the leader" I have witnessed racing on both ends of the spectrum of late, watching 11 Late Models on a track is not very exciting to be quite honest. Bring an ACT event to that track and then your talking about 40-50 cars vying for 25-30 spots, now your talking! As this sport continually changes and the talent level keeps on getting younger and better, drivers from lower divisions will be moving into the ACT. One such driver is the #50 Nick Sweet; Sweet the 2007 NAPA Sportsman Champion looks to hone his skills at the next level. Take it from young gun #97 Joey Poelwarczyk "I feel it's a privilege to run on the ACT Tour. We have the best fans, they sit out in the cold or wait in the rain just to watch us. The whole tour is top-notch and very professional" I feel after talking to many people and gathering information to write this piece I gained knowledge on not just how good the ACT is operating but how important the drivers feel about the fans and they way they are treated on the Tour. More than 1 Driver expressed how fair the organization was. One driver adds: "Everyone gets treated the same, whether your a first time driver or a multi-year Champion" So, in closing I would like to add that the ACT is regarded as the "model" series, when so many tracks are closing due to low car and fan counts, which can be attributed to having "soft" rules and only having a couple of teams that can afford to spend outrageous money, which in turn gives you the same 3 cars winning every race. People do not like that, they like variety and underdogs and feel good stories. The ACT can create that with set (enforced) rule packages and cost controlling measures in place. This allows the fan to root for there "hometown" driver at an event, as they know there aren't 5 teams spending double or triple what the other drivers are spending and winning every race. Ask yourself this question? "When was the last time you saw exciting, close car to car racing action with 7,500 of your closest friends?" You have 12 chances to do just that this year at an ACT event.

Great action is always on tap at an ACT event. Pictured above is action
from the 2008 Chittenden Milk Bowl held at Thunder Road in Barre, VT
Photo credit: www.vlcfphotos.com

These are the Pre-season Thunder Road Street Stock Driver rankings as
compiled by www.VLFRacing.com.

These predictions are simply that; predictions. The overall rankings were
compiled using the 2007 Statistics along with any known equipment/team
improvements going into 2008. They are meant to be a fun way to look at
some potential "Contenders and Pretenders" Drivers who have moved
up into the Street Stock division this year from Warriors will be graded on
a slightly flatter curve. I hope you enjoy this and as always these are just
opinions and feedback on www.victorylaneforum.com is always
welcomed. These rankings are assuming the driver is running a full
schedule.

I should also mention that this is a 100% unbiased ranking as compiled by
Eric LaFleche, no driver has or ever will influence VLFRacings rankings of
any Driver in any division at any track.

Rank

6

7

8

Tie-9

10

Name of Driver

#22- Tommy Smith

#38- Greg Adams

#29-Gary Mullen

#2-Dave LaFleche
#47-Bill Hennequin

#83-Archie Hodgdon

Grade

B

B-

B

B

B+

Comments

Tommy "Thunder" Smith posted his 1st Top
10 in overall points. Thunder accomplished
this feat by Winning 2 Features and posting
9 Top 10's along the way. Tommy comes
prepared with good equipment and a
"Checkers or Wreckers" attitude, look for
Smith to be a sleeper and could break into
the Top 5 with some luck.

Greg Adams had a solid year in 2007, he
poste 9 Top 10's and look for the same in
'08. Although not a racer to "Dominate" a
race, he stays his line on the track and races
his equipment as well as anyone.

Gary "The Farmer" Mullen is about as quiet
and consistant as they come. He was very
smooth for most of the year. Gary posted 8
Top 10's in 2007. Don't look for anything
"Flashy" from Mullen but look for him to add a
few more Top 10's and maybe a win in 2008.

Dave LaFleche and Bill Hennequin had very
similar seasons, each posted 6 Top 10's
and 2 Top 5's. This is a tough one to rank
however because of the way each driver
achieved it. LaFleche did very well toward
the middle of the season, Hennequin
missed 3 races and came on strong at the
end of the year. Look for solid performance
from both. It is presumed that Hennequin
will race his familiar Mustang, while
LaFleche will have the same car as in 2007.

Archie "Bunker" Hodgdon is the first Warrior
driver who has moved up to be ranked. His
gaudy Power Shift Warrior stats are truly
mind-blowing and here they are: 2 Wins, 7
Top 3's, 10 Top 5's and 14 Top 10's in 18
races. Never has a Warrior division been
dominated like that. That alone gave him the
nod over our next driver.