Four-Race Challenge Features Over $24,000 in Bonus Money for NESS Drivers
May 21, 2026 — Naples, Maine — The New England Supermodified Series (NESS) will have even more on the line when it travels to Epping, New Hampshire’s Star Speedway this Sunday, May 24. The event is round one of the recently announced Dr. Mom Says “School is Cool” Challenge, with over $24,000 in bonus money posted across four events at Star Speedway and Lee USA Speedway.
The Challenge was put together by Dr. Marsha Gadzera, better known as “Dr. Mom”, a longtime supporter of the #97 Lane Racing Supermodified currently driven by Matt Swanson. With extra money at each event plus a point fund and track record bonus, there are plenty of incentives for the region’s big block Supermodified teams. A similar program has also been announced for the 350 Supermodifieds which compete on the New Hampshire seacoast.
The four events in the Dr. Mom Says “School is Cool” Challenge consist of NESS’s three visits to Star Speedway plus the Ollie Silva Midsummer Classic at Lee USA Speedway. Star events on May 24, and June 14, along with the Ollie Silva Classic on August 21, $4,000 in bonus money per event is up for grabs.
To determine who receives the cash, a 12-sided die will be thrown by a neutral party in Victory Lane. If the die lands on an “odd” number, Dr. Mom will divide the $4,000 evenly among the odd-numbered finishers (1, 3, 5, etc.). If the die lands on an “even” number, the pot will go to the even-numbered finishers (2, 4, 6, etc.).
Dr. Mom will pay the bonus money directly to teams after receiving the official finish. If weather or another factor prevents the die from being thrown, Dr. Gadzera will use the final number of the next Powerball drawing (odd or even) to determine the payout.
For the 61st Star Classic on September 12, the pot will double to $8,000. Points will be kept across the four Challenge events, using a team’s three best finishes. Another $4,000 is set to be awarded to the top point finishers.
Finally, Dr. Mom has posted a “Tony the Tuna” Track Record Bonus, named in honor of her late husband. If a driver sets an official track record during any of the four events, they will receive a $1,000 payday.
Dr. Gadzera explained that there were two reasons behind putting the program together. One is to encourage more Supermodified teams from areas west of New England to travel East with higher payouts. The other is to spur overall interest in the Supermodified division and promote its long-term success.
“I have a grandson who’s 11, and he loves the Supers,” Dr. Mom said. “He draws pictures of the 350s, of the big-blocks, and he’s so passionate about them. I’d like to see the division be there and be healthy when he’s 21, so he and others who love Supermodifieds can see them race.”
Together, Marsha and Tony Gadzera, both natives of Massachusetts, were a fixture of Northeast Supermodified racing for decades. Tony Gadzera got his motorsports start as an engine tuner for a drag racing team during his teen years, traversing the country and picking up the nickname “Tony the Tuna.”
Marsha was and remains a huge racing fan, and they were married for 57 years. The pair were away from racing for an extended period as Tony served in Vietnam and later rose to co-owning a Your Market in Danvers, and Dr. Mom taught for North Shore Community College and New Hampshire College (SNHU) But Dr. Mom remained a racing fan, and in the late ‘80s, she connected with the legendary #97 Lane Racing team owned by Howie Lane.
Marsha also soon got Tony involved with Supermodified racing. Marsha has now sponsored the Lane Racing team for over 35 years, and Tony spent decades tuning the team’s engine while assisting other Supermodified teams. These connections grew to the Dr. Mom Says “School is Cool!’ Challenge sponsorship. Tony Gadzera passed away on August 31, 2025, but his spirit remains strong in the local Supermodified community.
The Dr. Mom Says “School is Cool” Challenge is part of a Star Speedway tripleheader on Sunday, May 24, at 4:00 p.m. Along with 75 laps for the New England Supermodified Series, the Memorial Day Weekend showdown features the Coastal 150 for the PASS North Super Late Models and 50-lap shootout for the Kennebec Equipment Rental PASS Modifieds.
General admission is $25 for adults, $10 for juniors ages 6 to 12, and free for ages five and under. The event will be streamed on demand on the North East Short Track Network (NESTN).
For more information on the Pro All Stars Series, visit www.proallstarsseries.com.
For more information on Oxford Plains Speedway, visit www.oxfordplains.com.
Fore more information on the North East Short Track Network, visit www.nestn.tv.
To take advantage of marketing opportunities at the Pro All Stars Series or Oxford Plains Speedway, or to buy a lap in the Oxford 250, please call 207-577-1836 or inquire at OPSmarketing50@gmail.com.
For technical information concerning all PASS divisions, please contact passracing@roadrunner.com or call Jason Ricker at 704-881-4429.
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Photo by Norm Marx
