Monadnock Speedwayis a paved one-quarter-mile (0.40 km) ovalrace trackinWinchester,New Hampshire.Located south ofKeene,the track is nestled betweenNew Hampshire Route 10and theAshuelot River.

Monadnock Speedway
Panoramic view, April 2017
Location840 Keene Rd
Winchester,New Hampshire03470
Coordinates42°49′52″N72°21′44″W/ 42.83111°N 72.36222°W/42.83111; -72.36222
OwnerNorman Wrenn Jr.
OperatorMichelle Cloutier
Opened1971 (53 years ago)
Major events
Websitewww.monadnockspeedway
Oval
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.25 miles (0.40 km)
Turns4
BankingTurns 1-2: 18°
Turns 3-4: 16°

The track hosts various races for regional touring series, including theValenti Modified Racing Series,the Granite State Pro Stock Tour, theNortheastern Midget Association(NEMA) and NEMA Lites, andISMASupermodifieds.[1]

History

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The track has been in operation since 1971,[2][3]when admission was $2.50 for adults and $0.50 for children.[4]The track was built on the site of a formergravel pitby the first owner, Bill Brown, who later sold it to Bill Davis.[2]

DriverOllie Silvawas 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 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).[5][6]

In January 1984, the venue was purchased by former driver Larry Cirillo and his business partner, Fred Pafumi.[7]They owned and operated the track for over 30 years. In late 2018, Cirillo and Pafumi reached an agreement to sell the track toNashua-based businessman Norman Wrenn Jr. after working out applications for various permits and licenses.[8]Wrenn also purchasedLee USA Speedwaythe same year.[8]

Improvements to the property, including replacement of all bleachers, were announced with the purchase by Wrenn.[8]Longtime employee Michelle Cloutier was kept on as operations manager, and former racer Jeff Zuidema was brought on as a special advisor.[8]Zuidema was previously employed as director of competition forThompson Speedway,before stepping down in 2014.[9]

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 atLee 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.[10][11]

Races

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References

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  1. ^"Events".Monadnock Speedway.Monadnock Speedway.Retrieved23 May2019.
  2. ^abAinsworth, Chip (July 13, 2018)."Monadnock Speedway gears for new ownership".gazettenet.RetrievedMarch 2,2022.
  3. ^"Monadnock Speedway".thethirdturn.RetrievedMarch 2,2022.
  4. ^"Monadnock Speedway (advert)".Rutland Daily Herald.Rutland, Vermont.October 28, 1971. p. 10.RetrievedFebruary 28,2022– via newspapers.
  5. ^"Caron Win Another, Ollie Silva Improved".Brattleboro Reformer.Brattleboro, Vermont.August 14, 1978. p. 9.RetrievedMarch 1,2022– via newspapers.
  6. ^McDonough, Will(September 6, 1979)."Once near death, he's racing back".The Boston Globe.p. 58.RetrievedFebruary 27,2022– via newspapers.
  7. ^Hasty, Roy (May 17, 1985)."Ex-Driver Off to Bumpy Start Chasing Dream".Hartford Courant.Hartford, Connecticut.p. E2.RetrievedFebruary 28,2022– via newspapers.
  8. ^abcdCloutier, Michelle (18 December 2018)."Monadnock Speedway Has A New Owner For 2019 Season".Race Pro Weekly.Retrieved23 May2019.
  9. ^Courchesne, Shawn (11 January 2014)."Jeff Zuidema Leaves Racing Management Position At Thompson Speedway".RaceDayCT.E-Media Sports.Retrieved23 May2019.
  10. ^ab"JDV Productions announces Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup bonus program"(Press release). NASCAR. JDV Productions. 2022-03-17.Retrieved2022-04-02.
  11. ^Souza, Kyle (25 March 2022)."JDV Productions taking NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events to next level in 2022".Yahoo Sports.Yahoo.Retrieved3 April2022.
  12. ^abcdefghij"Monadnock Speedway".racing-reference.info.RetrievedFebruary 28,2022.
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