NASCAR STAR AND INDY 500 VETERAN SET FOR COFFEE CUP
PROVIDENCE, RI - November 25, 2009 . . . Many of the leading race drivers in the Northeast will compete alongside nationally-known competitors when the high-powered, three-quarter-size Midget Cars return to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on December 4 and 5.
They will race in two complete programs for the "Coffee Cup" on a concrete oval on the arena floor. Cars will be reaching speeds of close to 70 mph, the spectators have thrilling views from seats overlooking the track.
NASCAR Sprint Cup star David Reutimann and Indy 500 driver Davey Hamilton will race at Providence for the first time.
Reutimann will be making a special appearance sponsored by Dunkin Donuts, on Friday, December 4 only. Reutimann, 39, will drive a No. 00 with the car having the logos of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Fans are encouraged to “Give Back This Holiday Season” by bringing a non-perishable food item to the races that can be donated to that cause.
Hamilton, a nine-time Indianapolis 500 starter, will be driving a car fielded by the versatile Lou Cicconi Jr. Overall, Hamilton started 50 Indy Car events and was twice a runnerup in series points. He has also been a leading driver in the high-powered Supermodifieds, and in full-size Midgets, at tracks around the country. Now, he will race a TQ for the first time at Providence.
Many-time race and championship winning TQ-Midget standouts in competition will include Cicconi Jr., Mike Tidaback and Joey Payne. All three drivers have won major indoor races in Atlantic City, NJ in recent years.
They will be joined by leading Modified division drivers in the Northeast.
They include last March’s Providence winners, Ted Christopher of Plainville, Ct. and Mike Iles of Medford, N.J.; dirt track specialist Billy Pauch of Frenchtown, N.J., and pavement ace Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I.
Pauch, a winner of over 650 features in his career, did not race in Providence in March due to a schedule conflict. But, he drove to victory indoors in January at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Of interest, Pauch’s son, Billy Jr., already a successful driver in Modified and full-Midget competition, will race alongside his dad at Providence.
For Stefanik, Rhode Island is home to the nine time NASCAR champion. A specialist in the Modified and Late Model-style cars, he made his debut in a TQ at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center race last March.
Other invaders entered include dirt Modified standouts Stewart and James Friesen from Ontario, Canada; and N.J.’s Anthony Sesely, the winner of two major Northeast pavement Modified races this autumn. The 2009 ARDC Midget champion, Frank Polimeda; and Massachusetts resident Bobby Santos III, who recently won the prestigious Copper World USAC Midget feature at Phoenix Int’l Raceway, are considered pre-race favorites.
A special guest at the event will be retired New England race driving champion Dave Humphrey. Beginning his career in the stock cars at nearby Seekonk Speedway, he went on to become a six-time champion in the Northeast Midget Association (NEMA) and a 72 time feature winner with that organization. Mr. Humphrey will give the command to “start engines” and his looking forward to meeting the drivers of today and his legion of fans.
The TQs will be complimented by Champ Kart racing on the same oval.
The Champ Karts, 5 HP-powered cars that offer sizzling, close competition in their own right, will be raced by drivers representing eight states. Possibly coming the longest distance to race is Florida’s Josh Hodges.
Early favorites to be in victory lane for the karts include Chris Daley, Justin Bonsignore and John Hillman.
Daley is “going for the circuit sweep,” having not only won both features for the Karts last March in Providence but also in Atlantic City last January. Hillman will be looking to avenge his loss at Providence, where he battled Daley for top honors only to crash while in lapped traffic. Long Island’s Bonsignore is a fast-rising driver in pavement Modifieds, with a successful background in the karts.
The format will be similar to the one used in March. The Three-Quarter Midgets and Senior Champ Karts will headline the two-day program. Qualifying and feature events for both classes are scheduled each night.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office.
Ticketmaster can be reached online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Information on the event will be available at aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.
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NASCAR STAR REUTIMANN TO RACE IN INDOOR EVENT
Fans Asked To Support Holiday Food Bank
PROVIDENCE, RI-November 16, 2009 . . . NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Reutimann will be making a special appearance on Friday, December 4, to compete in the “Coffee Cup” Indoor Auto Races being held at the Dunkin Donuts Center located in Providence, RI.
Reutimann, 39, will be racing in the headline three quarter size midget car division for car owner Lou Cicconi of Aston, Pa. Reutimann’s appearance is being sponsored by Dunkin Donuts. The car will carry Reutimann's signature No. 00 and the logos of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
Reutimann will not only compete against 48 other top drivers, but will sign autographs as well for fans before the races get underway at 7 p.m. Because Reutimann is racing on behalf of the Food Bank, fans are encouraged to “Give Back This Holiday Season” by bringing a non-perishable food item to the races that can be donated to that cause.
Reutimann, a second-generation driver from Zephyrhills, Fla., is currently 16th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series point standings with one race remaining. Earlier this year he won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup series event for car owner Michael Waltrip when he received the checkered first at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.
Reutimann will find the competition very tough at Providence. His teammate Lou Cicconi is rated one of the very best in Indoor Auto racing. Also entered is nine-time NASCAR champion Mike Stefanik from Conventry, R.I., and 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher. Christopher won a main event in Providence last March.
Friday’s show will consist of time trials, qualifying races and a 30-lap main event. While Reutimann will not return on Saturday night, the same program will be run, with a 40-lap main event scheduled.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is a non-profit organization located in Providence. The Food Bank solicits stores and distributes food products donated by supermarkets, wholesalers, food processors, local farmers and community food drives. In the past year, the Food Bank distributed 9.5 million pounds of food while feeding more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders each month through a network of more than 300 certified member agency programs across the state. This rise in need reflects a 28% increase over last year. For more information about the Food Bank, please visit www.rifoodbank.org.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office. Ticketmaster can be reached online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Information on the event will be available at aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.
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Tire Doctor and Dr. Lowe Provide Bonus Money For Coffee Cup Racer
PROVIDENCE, RI October 29, 2009 – Drivers competing in the upcoming Coffee Cup at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on December 4-5 will have an extra incentive.
The Tire Doctor of Blackstone, Mass., and Dr. Lowe of New Brunswick, N.J., are providing contingency awards to the two-day program that will give some added excitement among the large field of competitors.
The Tire Doctor is providing teams with an added bonus for winning heat races in the TQ Midgets and Sr. Champ Karts each night. The TQ Midget heat race winners will receive $150 and the winner of each Champ Kart heat race $50.
The Tire Doctor is a commercial truck and off-road equipment tire dealer, which sells, services and installs everything from pick-up trucks to large earth-moving equipment.
The business is located at 8 Federal Street, Blackstone, Mass. It can be contacted at 401-636-2411 or 508-876-9049. Those who want addition information can find Tire Doctor on the web at: www.tiredoctorllc.com.
In addition, the Tire Doctor is sponsoring rides in the two-seat TQ Midget for lucky clients on each night.
This will give those fans a perspective of what it is like for the drivers who bravely race around the concrete oval in speeds that reach 70 mph.
Dr. Lowe, who has been instrumental in providing contingency sponsorship for the Gambler’s Classic which is held every January at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Boardwalk Hall, is posting a $200 bonus to the driver who sets fast time in the Three-Quarter Midget class, along with a $100 Hard Charger bonus for the Friday night program and a $200 to the Hard Charger on Saturday night.
The Hard Charger bonus is based on the driver who passes the most cars from their original starting position in the respective main events.
Ironically, indoor TQ Midget driving great Lou Cicconi would have won some major bonus money in March when the inaugural Coffee Cup was held at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Cicconi had fast time with a lap of 8.6325 seconds on the Friday night program and he later won the heat race, meaning he would have collected $350 in addition to his feature-purse winnings.
The entry list for the TQ Midget class is nearly filled.
Indianapolis 500 veteran Davey Hamilton will drive a secondary Cicconi-owned car, while Cicconi will attempt to win his first-ever race in Rhode Island.
Other notable entries include NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion driver Ted Christoper, who won his second of two TQ Midget events of 2009 in Providence in March; Medford, N.J.’s Mike Iles, who won the inaugural race held in March; NASCAR great Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I.; and Canadian race car driver Stewart Friesen.
The format will be similar to the one used in March. The Three-Quarter Midgets and Senior Champ Karts will headline the two-day program. Feature events for both classes are scheduled each night.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office.
Ticketmaster can be reached online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Information on the event will be available at aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.
A special hotel rate of $79 per night is available at the Hilton, which is located within walking distance from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Racers and fans can find more information on a link at www.aarn.com or by calling 1-800-445-8667. In order to get the special rate, you must ask for the “Indoor Auto Race” rate.
The room rate block is available until it’s sold-out with a November 17 deadline.
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Indianapolis 500 Veteran Enters Indoor Coffee Cup Event
PROVIDENCE, RI October 23, 2009 . . . Davey Hamilton has turned many laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Now, he’ll try to be the best at the upcoming Coffee Cup at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on December 4-5.
Hamilton, a nine-time Indianapolis 500 starter, is the latest entry for the upcoming two-day indoor three-quarter size Midget Car race, which drew rave reviews from competitors and fans when the same cars competed at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in March.
“I have always told people that the smaller the track, the busier and more challenging it is for the driver,” Hamilton said. “I know the speeds are not faster at tracks like Indianapolis, Texas and the other bigger-sized race tracks that I’ve raced Indy Cars, but it is more of a challenge on the smaller tracks.
“It’s more physically exhausting. You never have a time to relax like you get on a bigger-outdoor track. When you are on a short track and especially when you’re racing on one indoors, you’re on the gas, hitting the brake, turning right, turning left and worrying about the cars in front and/or in back of you.”
In other words, indoor racing is a must-see event for all. The action will take place on a concrete oval on the Dunkin’ Donuts Center floor and the cars will reach speeds close to 70 mph. The spectators will have a view of the entire racing surface, from seats overlooking the track.
Hamilton, who started 50 Indy Car events and finished second in series points twice, will drive a car built and owned by indoor race event dominator Lou Cicconi Jr..
“Lou has been a long-time friend of the family,” Hamilton said. “His family has been involved in the sport for a long time, just like mine.
“In September, I was driving a Supermodified in a race at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway. One of the support classes was the TQ Midgets. I got watching them, and they were incredibly fast.
Hamilton spoke with Cicconi about the feisty cars and before he knew it, Cicconi offered him a ride in one of his cars.
“I asked him where they race and Lou was telling me about some of the facilities,” Hamilton said. “Then, he said, ‘there is a race in Providence in December. Why don’t you come and race one of my cars?’”
The Coffee Cup will mark the first time for Hamilton in a three-quarter sized Midget Car.
“I’ve driven some bigger-sized cars indoors like four to five times with the USAC (United States Auto Club) Series,” Hamilton said. “I’ve never driven something that can be this quick on an arena floor.
“I’ll depend on Lou a lot on this one. I’m going to ask a lot of questions and follow his lead. I did the same in September at Oswego with the Supermodified and the guy - Otto Sitterly - who gave me the car, won the main event. I was in good hands at that race and I know Lou is one of the best indoor racers in the sport.”
The format will be similar to the one used in March. The Three-Quarter Midgets and Senior Champ Karts will headline the two-day program. Feature events for both classes are scheduled each night.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office.
Ticketmaster can be reached online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Information on the event will be available at aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.
A special hotel rate of $79 per night is available at the Hilton, which is located within walking distance from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Racers and fans can find more information on a link at www.aarn.com or by calling 1-800-445-8667. In order to get the special rate, you must ask for the “Indoor Auto Race” rate.
The room rate block is available until it’s sold-out with a November 17 deadline.
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Inaugural Providence Winner Mike Iles Files Coffee Cup Entry
PROVIDENCE, RI, September 25, 2009 . . . Mike Iles wouldn’t mind it if he could race indoors 52 weeks a year.
One
of those places he likes to visit is the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in
Providence, R.I., which will host the three-quarter-size Midget Cars on
December 4-5 in search of success at the Coffee Cup event.
“It
is one of the more exciting racing events race fans will ever see,”
said Iles. “As a driver, I can say it’s the most intense race I have
driven. Lap-after-lap, you’re racing less than inch from other cars.”
Iles
should know what it’s like as he won the inaugural indoor race held at
the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in March. The Medford, N.J., driver captured
the opening night of action, while defending and current NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour driver Ted Christopher won the Saturday night race.
Action
takes place on a concrete oval on the arena floor, with the cars
reaching speeds of close to 70 mph. The spectators have breathtaking
views of the racing, from seats overlooking the track.
“Winning
the race at Providence was the biggest of my career,” Iles said. “It’s
kind of funny, because the biggest win of my career came in the
smallest car I’ve ever driven and the smallest track I’ve ever raced on.
“I
told my crew that if we could race indoors year round then that’s would
we would be doing. I just love that kind of racing. It’s wheel-to-wheel
and you don’t get spread out like we do on the bigger-outdoor race
tracks.”
Iles was in contention of sweeping the two-day event in March, but an accident sidelined him in the Saturday night finale’.
“It
would have been quite a feat to win both events,” Iles said. “It was an
honor winning the first-ever race, and it would have been nice to come
home with two trophies.”
Iles race car is designed by Lou
Cicconi Jr., an indoor race event dominator. Cicconi has numerous
victories indoors and outdoors, including one last season over NASCAR
star Tony Stewart.
The format will be similar to the one used
in March. The Three-Quarter Midgets and Senior Champ Karts will
headline the two-day program. Feature events for both classes are
scheduled each night.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office.
Ticketmaster
can be reached online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling
1-800-745-3000. Information on the event will be available at aarn.com
or by calling 609-888-3618.
A special hotel rate of $79 per
night is available at the Hilton, which is located within walking
distance from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Racers and fans can find more
information on a link at www.aarn.com or by calling 1-800-445-8667. In
order to get the special rate, you must ask for the “Indoor Auto Race”
rate.
The room rate block is available until it’s sold-out with a November 17 deadline.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pauch And Stefanik File Early Entries For Providence Race
PROVIDENCE, RI - Sept. 11th, 2009 . . . Two
auto racing legends will compete when the high-powered,
three-quarter-size Midget Cars return to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in
Providence, R.I., on December 4 and 5 in search of success at the
"Coffee Cup" event.
The race is returning to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center based on the success
from the inaugural event held in March. The action takes place on a
concrete oval on the arena floor, with the cars reaching speeds of
close to 70 mph. The spectators have breathtaking views of the racing,
from seats overlooking the track.
Billy Pauch of Frenchtown, N.J., and Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I. are two of the initial drivers to file entries.
Pauch has never driven competitively in Rhode Island. A schedule
conflict kept the winner of over 650 career features from competing in
the March event.
Pauch, 52, will drive the Bryant Ingalls-owned No. 8, which he drove to
victory lane indoors in January at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
While Pauch is considered one of the greatest dirt Modified drivers of
all time, Rhode Island is the home of one of the greatest asphalt
drivers, nine time NASCAR champion Mike Stefanik.
Stefanik, 51, made his indoor TQ-Midget debut in front of his home state fans last March.
While running with the lead pack, Stefanik, who is returning to drive
for Spitfire Chassis designer Colin Martin, had mechanical problems and
had to pull into the pit area. Stefanik was involved in a hard crash in
the Friday night headline event.
The format will be similar to the one used in March. The Three-Quarter
Midgets and Senior Champ Karts will headline the two-day program.
Feature events for both classes are scheduled each night.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office.
Ticketmaster can be reached online at www.ticketmaster.com or by
calling 1-800-745-3000. Information on the event will be available at
aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.
A special hotel rate of $79 per night is available at the Hilton, which
is located within walking distance from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Racers and fans can find more information on a link at www.aarn.com or
by calling 1-800-445-8667. In order to get the special rate, you must
ask for the “Indoor Auto Race” rate.
The room rate block is available until it’s sold-out with a November 17 deadline.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coffee Cup Ticket Sale Date Postponed To Sept. 4
PROVIDENCE, RI - AUGUST 31, 2009 . . . Race fans can purchase tickets for the upcoming indoor Three-Quarter Midget event at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on Friday, Sept. 4 at noon.
Originally, tickets were to be on sale on Sept. 1, however there was a delay in ticket production by Ticketmaster.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office.
Ticketmaster can be reached online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Information on the event will be available at aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.
The two-day event is scheduled to take place on December 4 and 5.
Ticket prices for Dec. 4 are: $25 (front row-only); $20 (adults); and $15 (child). Tickets for Dec. 5 are: $30 (front row-only); $25 (adult); and $15 (child).
Based on the success last March of the first professional auto racing event held in the Ocean State in 50 years, the roar of engines will once again be heard Rhode Island indoor arena.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of the event. Defending and current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher won in front of a packed house in March, when he claimed the inaugural event.
Notable early entries for the Three-Quarter Midget race includes Mike Iles of Medford, N.J., who won the Friday night 20-lap feature race in March; multi-time time NASCAR Modified and Busch North champion Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I.; and dirt Modified racing standout Billy Pauch of Frenchtown, N.J.
This will be Pauch’s first entry in an automobile racing event in Rhode Island. Pauch captured an indoor TQ Midget event at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Boardwalk Hall in January, and he’s expected to be a top contender to win at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
“There is a lot of buzz about our return to Providence,” said event organizer Len Sammons. “Fans can expect to see the same close-knit and competitive racing as we had in March.”
Dunkin’ Donuts will be joining Castle Equipment Company to sponsor the event, to be known as the “Coffee Cup”.
The format will be similar to the one used in March. The Three-Quarter Midgets and Senior Champ Karts will headline the two-day program. Feature events for both classes are scheduled each night.
Three-Quarter Midget Auto Racing Returning to Rhode Island
One More Time in 2009
PROVIDENCE, RI ... July 29, 2009 - Three-Quarter Midget auto racing is returning to Rhode Island one more time before 2009 comes to an end.
Based on the success last March of the first auto racing event held in the Ocean State in 50 years, the roar of engines will once again be heard from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. on December 4 and 5.
The return was based on the big crowd that attended the event on March 6-7. The date change is due to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center hosting an NCAA Division I basketball regional tournament in March of 2010. Dunkin’ Donuts will be joining Castle Equipment Company to sponsor the event, to be known as the “Coffee Cup”.
Although details are still being determined, the format will be similar to the one used in March. The TQ-Midgets and Senior Champ Karts will headline the two-day program.
“We are extremely pleased to be returning to Providence,” said event organizer Len Sammons. “Our reception from the drivers, fans and staff at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in March was incredible and we can’t wait to get back there in December.”
Inaugural event winners in March included NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 2008 champion Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn., who captured the Saturday night 30-lap TQ Midget feature race. Dirt circuit Modified driver Mike Iles of Medford, N.J., won Friday night’s 20-lap main. Chris Daley of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., won the Senior Champ Kart feature both nights.
Entry information will be released shortly for TQ Midget and Senior Champ Kart racers. While entries will be limited, the amount will be increased from the inaugural event.
Tickets are expected to go on sale on September 1 at all Tickemaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office.
Information on the event will be available at aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.
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