08/25/2004

NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series- New England Region News & Notes
* Ricky Wolf, Jr. enjoying stellar season at Lee USA Speedway
* Corey Hutchings leads ShorTrack Division

Daytona Beach, FL -- Ricky Wolf Jr. is having a career season at New Hampshire ’s Lee USA Speedway. Wolf, who competes in the track’s Late Model division, is leading the track point standings and running a close second to none other than two-time NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional champion Ted Christopher in the battle for this year’s New England Region title.

Wolf, of Northwood, N.H., knows that beating Christopher is a long shot, but is enjoying every moment of the 2004 racing season.

“This year has been our best ever, by far,” Wolf said. “Our consistency is starting to pay off for us. The class we run in is a Late Model class that utilizes a spec engine. With everyone basically running on the same motor – for us to be able to establish the consistency that we have says a lot about our team.”

Wolf has indeed been consistent in Lee’s Late Model class. In 13 starts, Wolf has recorded 12 top-five finishes, including three wins.

“It’s pretty rewarding to work on the car all week long in the shop, then go out there and go ‘toe to toe’ with some really stiff competition in this class,” Wolf said. “To run with some of these guys – to beat them or run right on their tail all night long and put on a good, clean show – that’s what it’s all about for us.”

Wolf’s competition at Lee includes 1998 New England Region champion Bobby Gahan, who won his first regional title in Lee’s former Pro Stock class. Scott Bonney, the 2003 track champion, has been close behind Wolf with two wins and eight top-five finishes. Scott Watts is a three-time feature winner this year, but has not been able to log consistent top-five finishes to keep up with Wolf in the standings.

Wolf, a structural designer by trade, says catching Christopher is a big challenge.

“You’re never happy to finish second, but to finish second to a driver like Ted Christopher – we watched from the grandstands when he won the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway and thought ‘well, that’s basically what we’re competing against every week.’ From the local bullring level, you can’t feel too bad about running second to Ted right now.”

Lee USA Speedway hosts a 100-lap special event for Late Models Aug. 28 and wraps up its NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series season Sept. 10.

Hutchings Leads ShorTrack Division … Corey Hutchings, of Salem , Conn. , leads the New England Region standings in NASCAR’s ShorTrack Division after posting seven wins and 14 top-five finishes in the Late Model division at Thompson ( Conn. ) International Speedway. The ShorTrack Division, established in 1998, offers a regional championship competition for drivers in support classes at each NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series track. ShorTrack Division regional champions can win up to $3,500 in post-season prize money.

This Week’s Regional Leaders…

*Complete NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional standings are also available online, at www.nascardodgeweeklyseries.com.

Source:  Jeremy Davidson/NASCAR DWS PR
Posted:  August 25, 2004