ProNyne Motorsports Museum

10/21/2026

Greg Sacks won the 1982 Thompson 300, a premier 300-lap National Modified championship event held at the 5/8-mile Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Race Overview & Highlights

• Winner: Greg Sacks took the victory in the prestigious 300-lap feature.

• Event Status: Known also as the Winston 300, the race was a marquee NASCAR Modified championship event.

• Competitive Field: The grid featured top asphalt modified titans of the era, including:
• Richie Evans
• Geoff Bodine
• Ron Bouchard
• Bentley Warren

Edited from orig to highlight reel with sound by the ProNyne Motorsports Museum and now part of the archives.

10/15/2026

Reggie Ruggiero keeping an eye on Mike Stefanik as he takes a peek to the inside just inches apart!

Howie Hodge photo (TheChromeHorn,com)

10/14/2026

Sent to us by a member who did not claim to be the person who originally filmed.

It was mixed up quite a bit so I took it and edited the footage as best as I could.

I am pretty certain it is from 1975. Clearly is from Martinsville Speedway. Probably one of the Cardinal races or Dogwood races. Either way, some great footage of some modified racing from Martinsville Speedway in ths mid 1970s!

Edited by ProNyne Motorsports Museum (footage originated unknown)

10/14/2026

Some clips were sent to us by a member who did not claim to be the one whom filmed this.

It is from I believe the early 1970s although it might be from the Thompson 500 that was held at Thompson Speedway on October 26th 1969. This only shows 3 pace laps and you can see the #15 Woodchopper Special Coupe on the front row with what I believe to be the #3 Ole Blue Coupe beside it. Now as many of you know if it is 1969 then Carl Bugs Steven's would be driving Ole Blue #3 of which he then moved to drive the #15 in 1970 effectively swapping rides with Fred DeSarro. But I am not 100% on the year this is from. Maybe someone can clarify. Either way, its some great footage!!

Edited by ProNyne Motorsports Museum (filmed by unknown)

10/14/2026

Brian Ross won the July 20, 1988 NASCAR Winston Modified Tour Budweiser 150 at Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Massachusetts.

Race Details

• Date: July 20, 1988

• Track: Riverside Park Speedway (0.250-mile paved oval in Agawam, MA — now razed)

• Series: NASCAR Winston Modified Tour (now the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) — Race #12 of 24 that season

• Distance: 150 laps

• Winner: Brian Ross

Significance

• Brian Ross's victory at Riverside Park was notable because winning a tour race at Riverside without regular weekly racing experience at the tight 0.250-mile bullring was notoriously difficult for outside drivers.

From the pronyne motorsports museum archives

10/14/2026

FRED DeSARRO BENEFIT RACE
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5TH 1978

****PHOTO OF CARL BUGS STEVENS PRESENTING AWARDS TO BOTH BRIAN AND GARY DESARRO

The Fred DeSarro Charity Modified Race took place on Sunday, November 5, 1978, at Thompson Speedway in Thompson, Connecticut.

Event Overview & Background

• Original Purpose: The event was originally planned as a benefit race to help legendary modified stock car driver Fred DeSarro, who suffered severe injuries during a practice crash at the track on October 8, 1978.

• Transition to Memorial: DeSarro passed away from his injuries on November 1, 1978 (just four days before the event), turning the gathering into a combined memorial and family benefit race.

• Governor's Proclamation: Rhode Island Governor John Joseph Garrahy proclaimed the day as Fred DeSarro Day in Rhode Island.

Race & Attendance Highlights

• Record Attendance: The event drew the largest crowd in Thompson Speedway's history, completely filling the track's newly erected grandstands for the first time.

• Massive Field: It featured 156 entries across three racing divisions, drawing top national talent who competed with no purse and donated their services alongside track officials.

• Tribute to the Pole: The pole position was left completely open to honor the many pole positions DeSarro earned during his career.

• Feature Winner & Honor: Geoff Bodine won the feature race. In a final tribute to DeSarro, the field did not complete the full advertised distance, pulling into the pits one lap short.

From the ProNyne Motorsports Museum archives

10/11/2026

1994 Ward Burton qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the #31 Hardees car. Car was screaming! Ran a 185.755 mph average speed.
Earlier this year the pole average was 182.852 mph smh.

2014 was a year that didn't see speeds even close to what they were running in 1r previously and never have since and likely never will. 2014 Kurt Busch qualifying average was 198.771 mph!!

Charlotte is a super fast track considering its a 1.5 mile and the corners are not sweeping like Texas or Atlanta, and it has 24 degrees of banking. I don't know, I was down there for the Bank of America 500 in 2014 and to see them averaging close to 200mph laps was unbelievable.

10/11/2026

Coming to an end of the 2026 racing season. Only 5 races left in the Cup Series season and then its 12 weeks until 2027 Daytona 500!

With that being said, this will be the last time I share out our fundraiser until next season. For the new members of our community, we are a historic auto racing museum in Pawtucket Rhode Island called the PRONYNE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM. We are a nonprofit organization 501C3. We keep the doors open the lights on and racing history continuing to repeat itself solely on the support from visitors and supporters who donate and help us continue to keep the legacies of so many drivers alive!

WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE! WE UNDERSTAND MONEY IS TIGHT FOR EVERYONE RIGHT NOW. WE APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

The ProNyne Motorsports Museum is New Englands first museum dedicated to auto racing history. … Ric Mariscal needs your support for PRONYNE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM

10/10/2026

Geoff Bodine won the 4th Annual Thompson 300 modified race on September 17, 1978, at Thompson International Speedway in Connecticut, driving the No. 1 "Big Red Machine" Pinto.

Race Overview & Results

• Winner: Geoff Bodine led all 300 laps from start to finish without a single lead change.

• Field: A massive 50-car starting grid qualified out of over 100 entries.

• Non-Qualifiers Winner: Forrest Huff won the non-qualifiers race.

Remixed and edited by ProNyne Motorsports Museum within there archives (orig. a Don Bartlett video)