Story By: SHANNON STEPHENS / NHMS – LOUDON, NH – With New England’s only NASCAR weekend just a few weeks away, New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) teamed up with NASCAR Racing Experience to host media on Friday for a taste of what’s to come.
Media members from New England and beyond took part in the seventh annual Media Racing Challenge, and it was Timmy “Timmy G” Gorham of The Wicked Fast Podcast out of Boston, Mass. who took home the win for a second consecutive year. It was his third Media Racing Challenge win overall.
“Competing in the Media Racing Challenge is fun; it makes me feel great,” said Gorham. “It helps promote the USA TODAY 301, and I love coming up here. Covering it for The Wicked Fast Podcast, it’s just a cool experience. You get so much closer than any other sport anywhere. As a fan, you can’t beat it. Great people, great camping atmosphere and good racing.”
The Media Racing Challenge winner was determined by the top speed achieved on the 1.058-mile track. Gorham was the fastest media member around the track reaching a top speed of 140.08 mph, while Kyle Belcher of The Loose is Fast Podcast (137.12 mph), Neal White of 95.7 WZID-FM (136.69 mph), Kevin Wiles Jr. of WCVB-TV/ABC 5 (136.53 mph) and Dan Walker of The Loose is Fast Podcast (134.96 mph) rounded out the top five.
Gorham was honored with a traditional NHMS victory lane celebration, complete with a trophy, $100 gift card to Makris Lobster and Steak House and, of course, a live lobster, also provided by Makris Lobster and Steak House. Though a bit smaller than 20-pound Loudon the Lobster, who will be presented to the winner of the USA TODAY 301 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race at NHMS on June 23, the eight-pound crustacean was proudly hoisted high up into the air by Gorham.
When asked what he’s going to do with his prize lobster, Gorham quickly replied, “Gonna eat it tonight!”
Not only did the participants get a taste of what it’s like being a race car driver, they also sampled three uniquely New England food items that were crafted by the chefs of NHMS’s catering partner Levy: Chorizo and Egg Poutine with a Verde Crema, a New England Grinder and a Maple Apple Fluffernutter Cream Puff. Garnering 42.11% of the votes, the Maple Apple Fluffernutter Cream Puff won as the favorite of the three and will be available for race fans to purchase at an NHMS concession stand June 21-23.
Top Speeds:
Timmy G (The Wicked Fast Podcast | Boston, Mass.) – 140.08 mph
Kyle Belcher (The Loose is Fast Podcast | Providence, R.I.) – 137.12 mph
Neal White (95.7 WZID-FM | Manchester, N.H.) – 136.69 mph
Kevin Wiles Jr. (WCVB-TV/ABC 5 | Needham, Mass.) – 136.53 mph
Dan Walker (The Loose is Fast Podcast | Providence, R.I.) – 134.96 mph
Haley Bouley (WFFF-TV/FOX 44 and WVNY-TV/ABC 22 | Colchester, Vt.) – 134.76 mph
Rylie Johnson (104.9 The Hawk/WLKZ-FM | Belmont, N.H.) – 133.14 mph
Freddy Nader (No Limits Podcast | Boston, Mass.) – 132.89 mph
Luke Marcheski (WFFF-TV/FOX 44 and WVNY-TV/ABC 22 | Colchester, Vt.) – 129.05 mph
Kevin Cooney (No Limits Podcast | Boston, Mass.) – 128.94 mph
Billy Thomas (Rivalry Family Media | Leominster, Mass.) – 127.80 mph
Justin McIsaac (WGIR-AM 610 | Manchester, N.H.) – 114.11 mph
Sophie Sargent (95.7 WZID-FM and 96.5 Live Free Country/WMLL-FM | Manchester, N.H.) – 102.71 mph
Marga Bessette of 95.7 WZID-FM, Paul Feely of the Union Leader and Tommy Jordan of 96.5 Live Free Country/WMLL-FM, all out of Manchester, N.H., took part in a ride-along experience.
New England’s only NASCAR weekend is June 21-23 at NHMS. On-track action kicks off Friday with practice and qualifying sessions for the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) plus SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels at The Flat Track. The action continues with NCS qualifying, the SciAps 200 NXS race and Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race on Doubleheader Saturday and culminates with the NCS taking on “The Magic Mile” Sunday for the USA TODAY 301. Don’t miss all of the exciting off-track action including Trackside Live with Kenny Wallace and John Roberts, The Groove fan hangout, concerts from Dirty Deeds and Draw the Line, family movie night featuring “Guardians of the Galaxy,” driver appearances, a variety of live performances, fireworks and much more.