Riverside Park Speedway was built in 1948 at Riverside Park, now the site of Six Flags New England. American Legion Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Christian County Fairgrounds dirtkartoval, Christian County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Clark County Speedway dirtmotocrosstrack, Decatur Macon County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Edwards County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Lincoln Trail Motosports dirtmotocrosstracks, Macoupin County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Schuyler County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Montgomery County Fairgrounds motorsportstrack, Northern Kentucky Fairgrounds demolitionderbytrack, Northern Kentucky Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Powell Co Lions Club Park dirtpulltrack, Deseret Peak Complex dirtoutdoormotocross, Rocky Mountain Raceways dirtoutdoormotocross, Russell Co Fairgrounds dirtdemolitionderbyoval, Va-Ky District Fair dirtoutdoormotocross, Virginia Motorsports MuseumandHallofFame. by KyleBrinkmannRacing in KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI, What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! He is eighth on the track's all-time win list. Truex Jr. Ends 54-Race Winless Streak At Dover, WoO LMS Notes: $50,000 To Win In Wisconsin, More Than 60 Hours Of Indy Coverage On NBC Platforms, Perez Leads Red Bull One-Two In Azerbaijan. Racing-reference.info is part of the NASCAR Digital Media Network. As Berggren recalled, Riverside had an inspired business plan: Getting inside the park was free, you only paid admission for individual rides or to enter the speedway. The theory was that an entertainer doesnt pay to walk on stage, he explained. The first top-5 finish for the Tic-Tac Pontiac Grand Prix team pushed Moore, the 1995 Busch Grand National North Series champion, up 14 spots to 13th in the championship point battle, a mere 88 points out of the top spot.For the 2nd consecutive week Moore was unable to crack the top-10 in qualifying, this evening he was 16th fastest among the 30-car field. He declined, citing his growing family, and the seat was offered to an up-and-comer from Missouri named Rusty Wallace. I wouldnt be surprised if you see us renting your facility in the future. Ruggiero had four separate stints driving Fiores No. Created with Sketch. Home page [www.triadtechnologies.com] And just that quickly, the track was gone, along with a significant chunk of New Englands stock car history. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. After a rowdy drivers' strike, it became clear that UNITED could no longer hold its own at Riverside Park, and that organization cleared the path for another popular organization to take charge of the track. It could trace its roots to just after the Civil War, when Gallup's Grove opened as a picnic area in Agawam, nearly across the Connecticut River from the industrial city of Springfield, Mass. EAST WINDSOR, Conn. - The legacy of Riverside Park Speedway lives on. Riverside Park Speedway was a 1/4-mile oval paved race track, located at the present site of Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts, one mile north of the MassachusettsConnecticut state line. Another exciting development in 1997 was the acquisition of the park by Oklahoma-based Premier Parks, Inc., parent company of Six Flags, the world's largest regional theme park company. SRW Winternationals Weekend now a Qualifying race for ALL Classes! You have set the bar pretty high, and the fun factor is off the charts!! Reigning AFT Singles champion Kody Kopp is trying to hit a grand slam this season. The company changed its own name to Six Flags, Inc., and rebranded the park Six Flags: New England for the opening of the 2000 season. This scenario was played out Saturday evening at Riverside Park Speedway, where Kelly Moore put on a superb display of racing enroute to a 2nd place finish. The tiny, flat confines forced drivers to bump and bang their way to the front, which often triggered fisticuffs in the pit area, jammed between the backstretch and the river. Check out these great suggestions. Agawam, MA Racing on a tight track for 150 laps with 25 veteran competitors can sometimes be an unmistakable comparison to a championship boxing match, toe-to-toe for 15 rounds. All rights reserved (About Us). North Riverside Park Mall, Broadview Village Square Shopping Center, Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, St. Joseph High School, Oakbrook Center and Yorktown Center. The spectacles lasted until the late 1970s, with Krebs leading all multiple winners with six triumphs. Riverside Park Speedway memories abound at . I was never on a banked track, racing with that caliber of drivers before. Riverside Park Speedway Demolition Derby & Figure 8 Racing Agawam Mass Dodge, who still announces races and owns race cars, opted to take his leave, saying now that my reign at Riverside Park was such an important part of my life that I believed it was mine. Park owner Edward J. Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down that year and in its place rose a 1/5 mile nearly flat paved oval track. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Riverside Park Speedway - The Third Turn The fans streamed, literally, straight from the rides to the bleachers. Internal Link . Ruggiero told a story that some knew, but others didnt, about a decision that might have changed the face of NASCAR history. We had sponsorship for every race. Riverside Park - YankeeRacer.com - hosted events on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, making it possible for some of Riverside Park's early stars to race in the area almost every night of the week. It could trace its roots to just after the Civil War, when Gallups Grove opened as a picnic area in Agawam, nearly across the Connecticut River from the industrial city of Springfield, Mass. Before I had my license, my dad would drive me to the races and the big deal on my birthday was when I would have my friends over to the house for my moms spaghetti and meatballs, and then wed go to Riverside Park and cheer for our favorites, Berggren said. Western Mass. racing fans remember Riverside Park Speedway - WWLP The track closed in 1999 to make. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, TRACK INFO UPDATE? I think I just ran the car too hard and Im very fortunate that I didnt end up in the qualifying race. Moore and his team checked everything on the car after qualifying to ensure that nothing was wrong with the chassis setup. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. Stock Car Racing Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Riverside Park in Agawam was a gathering spot for fun as far back as the late 19th century when it was known as Riverside Grove (and Gallup's Grove before that). NASCAR replaced the Tattersalls in 1973, following what future promoter Ben Dodge described as a drivers strike. All rights reserved (About Us). Six of the eight people inducted Sunday into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame's class of 2012 had some sort of ties. Fiore shared stories of how his team would often struggle to get back home after races they had won, since most payouts were made by check and no banks were open late at night. Park owner Edward J. Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down that year and in its place rose a 1/5 mile nearly flat paved oval track. Ruggiero, who drove for 19 different car owners in a career that began in the late 1960s, noted the special bond the two will have as driver and owner and as Hall of Famers. Rights Managed (RM) original photography 1983 David Allio. Gary J. Michnovetz, 65, died suddenly on Tuesday. Glossary Tweet. What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! We were there last Wednesday, with 25 teenagers, and they all had a wonderful time. While the Daytona 500 took place in Florida Sunday, racing fans in western Massachusetts remembered when racing took place on a much shorter track in Agawam at the Riverside Park Speedway. In a joint announcement, track owner Dennis Fleury and series president Jack Bateman, the principals responsible for the inaugural event, advise the 1st annual Ricky Miller Memorial 100, presented by New England Outdoor Furnaces, will be held on Sunday afternoon Sept.28th as part of the Twin State Speedway Fall Challenge, a two day event. The 1998 Riverside Park Modified Champion was Jimmy Broderick, Driving the Pruchnik Motorsports #42 Modified owned By Denis Pruchnik. Just a heads up, there is a Riverside Park Speedway sponsored car show at Agawam Rotary Club on October 26th, if you're a New Englander like myself. Invaders that raced at "The Park" seeking NASCAR National Modified Championship points included Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Geoff Bodine, Jim Spencer, John Blewitt Jr and "Captain Sizzle" Mark Malcuit from Ohio, some would go on to become champions in several of NASCAR's top series. Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut and Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire are just some of the local options within driving distance. Riverside Park Speedway memories abound at . . by ScottKo in Profile Tips For Users, Interest in Grassroots Racing Grows 40% in 2014 With Great Opportunities Ahead in 2015 The facility was incredible, the staff was engaging, and our entire group had a blast! |. It needed help to survive. Sprintcarstats. The track closed at the end of the 1999 season. Evonsion, Bob Polverari, Reggie Ruggiero and others. For all the victories the two had together at tracks from Riverside to Florida they were also, in a sense, New England racings version of Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner. 711. open to all that raced at riverside park speedway no matter what car-truck demo-enduro-figure 8 & 4 cylinder-strickly-late model-modified ya drove! While Riverside Park Speedway is gone, local racing fans do have plenty of options to see live racing. The first top-5 finish for the Tic-Tac Pontiac Grand Prix team pushed Moore, the 1995 Busch Grand National North Series champion, up 14 spots to 13th in the championship point battle, a mere 88 points out of the top spot. We paid qualifying heat money. racing fans remember Riverside Park Speedway WWLP-22News 58.1K subscribers 12 2.4K views 4 years ago While the Daytona 500 took place in Florida Sunday, racing fans in western. Galex Fox, left, and Dave Darland, right. The winner of the first NASCAR-sanctioned event was Bob Polverari. WE MAKE IT EASY TO PLAN Six of the eight people inducted Sunday into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fames class of 2012 had some sort of ties to the old track in Agawam, which closed in 1999. . West Virginia Motor Speedway. RIVERSIDE PARK STADIUM STOCK CAR RACING Agawam MA Admission Ticket 1.25 +.25 tax Pre-Owned $25.00 or Best Offer Free 4 day shipping Sponsored Enjoying The Day At Riverside Park, Agawam, Massachusetts, Posted VTG. Jocko Maggiacomo - Wikipedia Galons excited monologue kept fans filling Riverside Parks 7,200 bleacher seats, creating a cast of white hats and villains that variously included Bill Greco, Dick Dixon and Danny Gallulo. . Courchesne, Shawn (June 17, 1999) "Final Lap for Riverside Speedway", Last edited on 30 December 2022, at 17:44, Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, Arkansas), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Riverside_Park_Speedway&oldid=1130538742, This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 17:44. Indoor Kart Racing | K1 Speed 1948 - RIVERSIDE PARK SPEEDWAY To capitalize on the nations new found attraction to Auto Racing following the 2nd World War, Riverside Amusement Park owner Richard J Caroll demolished a dance hall in 1948. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. FEEL FREE TO LET US KNOW! Sun, 01/30/2022 . You knew Rene Charland was the bad guy and Buddy Krebs was a good guy. (Republican file photo) Staff-Shot 20 / 28 Republican file photo Vintage photos:. BRINKMANN RECORDS BEST BMARA FINISH OF SEASON The arrival of NASCAR established Riverside as one of NASCARs big three modified speedways in New England, along with Stafford and Thompson in Connecticut. ", "We had what I would call one of the most successful team events at K1 Speed Austin just last night. Road to Daytona: Meet Riverside Park Racing Legend Bob Polverari In its place he built a 1/5th mile oval speedway track featuring grand stand seating. He later was a crew member with Bill Pelley and Reggie Ruggerio before moving on to 44 racing with Jerry Marquis and Mari Fiore and was part of their National Modified Championship of 2000. It was like going from a Volkswagen to a Cadillac; Riverside Park was like Daytona to me. Riverside Park Speedway Formerly Known As: Riverside Park Stadium.250 mi./0.402 km. Spawned by the popularity of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Teddy Bear Pools Truck division proved to be an instant success in 1998. riverside park speedway - masslive.com Riverside Park. Agawam, MA Gary J. Michnovetz, 65, died suddenly on Tuesday. I had my own groove, right on the bottom. He simply says the owners decided to go in a different direction, which ultimately proved to be selling out. But it's been 15 years since Riverside Park Speedway disappeared from the Southern New England Racing landscape. Agawam, MA Racing on a tight track for 150 laps with 25 veteran competitors can sometimes be an unmistakable comparison to a championship boxing match, toe-to-toe for 15 rounds. 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