One of Western Massachusetts’ promising young race drivers is taking a big step in his career and spreading the word for a worthy cause
at the same time. Brandon Warren of Chicopee is making the move from Mini Stocks at Monadnock Speedway to competing in the regional All-Star Race Trucks Series. His father, John Warren, sold Brandon’s Mini Stock and his own Stafford Speedway Late Model to make a foray into the truck realm. The Warrens will have more than racing on their minds and on their truck this season. John’s 12-year-old nephew, Kurtis Leduc, suffers from lymphoma and is a spokesperson for next month’s charity walk at Six Flags New England to benefit Baystate Medical Center. To help promote the event, as well as the fight against cancer in general, the rear bumper of the Warren Racing No.55 truck will be adorned with “Team Kurtis: Imagine a world of cancer-free kids.” “This kind of hit home,” John Warren said. “The whole family’s behind (Kurtis). He’s had a full year of chemo.” John Warren also purchased 400 t-shirts, that he is selling for $10 apiece, to benefit Baystate’s Pediatric Oncology Clinic. He has already sold close to 300, and tracks on the ASRT circuit are allowing him to set up a table to sell them at the races. “The word is out,” John Warren said. “It seems to be going well, and we haven’t even started racing yet.” The series’ 2009 season begins Friday at Twin State Speedway in Claremont, N.H., and continues Saturday at Monadnock, in Winchester, N.H. The All-Star Race Truck Series also appealed to the Warrens because of Brandon’s schedule. He recently completed boot camp for the Air Force Reserve and still has to commit one weekend a month to the service. The trucks race about twice a month, which made the decision easy. John Warren tested the truck at Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl, which has a weekly truck division. There, he talked with Scott E. Gregory, who has used the All-Star Race Trucks as a vehicle for his own “Racing Against Cancer” charity. “He was pretty excited,” Warren said. “He said he’d help me out, whatever I need to do.” DILLON SCORES 100: Dillon Moltz is a few weeks away from graduating from Waterford (Conn.) High School, but he certainly is not afraid to mix it up with the veterans at Stafford Motor Speedway. Moltz, 17, held off the Late Model division’s two winningest drivers – Ryan Posocco and Monson’s Jim Peterson – last Friday to win the third Late Model 100 of his promising young career. Moltz first picked off Posocco and then targeted Peterson, whom he passed for the lead with 12 laps left. The youngster then ran his fastest laps of the night to pull away for the checkers. In other action, the Limited Late Model division saw Chicopee’s Andrew Durand hold off Monson’s Bill Davis for the win for the second straight race. Another Monsonite, Dave Salzarulo, was the runner-up in the SK Modifieds behind veteran Jeff Malave of Manchester, Conn. WIPEOUTS: Saturday’s races at Monadnock and Westfield’s Whip City Speedway were both rained out. In addition to Brandon Warren’s All-Star Race Trucks debut, this week’s Monadnock card also features a visit from the Pro-4 Modifieds. The Whip’s schedule is headlined by a pair of Quad-4 Midget features, as well as the 4-Cylinder Street Stocks. EYES ON IOWA: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Kasey Kahne will follow in the tracks of Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch on Sunday by traveling from Saturday’s All-Star Race in Concord, N.C., to the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Why Iowa Kahne will be competing in the NASCAR Camping World East and West Series combined event, just like Harvick in 2007 and Busch last year. Harvick and Busch both came to Iowa fresh off All-Star Race victories, so perhaps this is a sign of things to come for Kahne. That said, I’m going to follow this trend and pick Kahne to win the All-Star Race.
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