NESS Tunes up for the Ollie Silva Classic
Naples, Maine — 7/17/2026 — The biggest stars in the Northeast Super Late Model world are busy preparing for another huge with the Pro All Stars Series (PASS). On July 24 at 6:45 p.m., PASS will stage the Friday Night Throwdown at New Hampshire’s Lee USA Speedway. Simultaneously, the fearless drivers of the New England Supermodified Series (NESS) will compete in a 50-lap tilt as a tuneup to the 19th annual Ollie Silva Classic set for August 21.
With a total purse approaching $40,000 and a winner’s share of $7,000, D.J. Shaw looks to extend his PASS North and National point leads while Gabe Brown hopes to thwart those efforts and close the gap on the nine-time champion. Each will have to battle for 200 laps in a race where everyone has two spare right-side tires at their disposal, adding a strategy element that could shake up the final results.
Looking at the rest of the field, young gun Alexandre Tardif, who led over half the race at White Mountain Motorsports Park, looks to get back on track. Another youngster, Cole Robie, looks to back up his third-place finish at Lee USA on opening day.
Perennial points contenders Joey Doiron, Trevor Sanborn, Garrett Hall, and Jimmy Renfrew Jr. also hope to narrow the gap on Shaw as the series enters its eighth PASS North series race and fifth PASS National event of the season. Add in most recent winner Derek Griffith, Sylas Ripley, Eddie MacDonald, and former PASS champion Ryan Kuhn, and the stage is set for a true Friday Night Throwdown.
Meanwhile, the high-powered winged warriors of the New England Supermodified Series will be on tap preparing for one of the season’s biggest races, The Ollie Silva Classic on Friday, August 21. The 572-cubic-inch big block motors, wide slicks, and huge wings perched atop lightweight chassis are a perfect fit for the 3/8-mile oval in Lee, New Hampshire, with speeds approaching 120 miles per hour.
Jeffrey Battle sits atop the season standings with hometown favorite P.J. Stergios residing in spot two just a couple of markers ahead of Dan Bowes and Ben Seitz. Matt Swanson and Mike Mayberry also look to shake off mechanical gremlins that have plagued their cars in the last two races.
The Kennebec Equipment Rental PASS Mods complete the trifecta of PASS-sanctioned touring series, having seen six different winners in six races in 2026. Current point leader Spencer Morse looks to become the first driver to two victories while number two-points man Billy Penfold aims to score his first. Cody Macomber, Reed Reno, Jacoby Maines, Tyler Connolly, Zach Bowie, most recent winner Chanler Harrison, Ricky Thompson Jr., and Mike Penfold round out the top 10.
Also in action as a part of the Friday Night Throwdown will be the local Ridge Runners and the MLM Diagnostic Services Crown Vics, setting up a fantastic Friday night at New Hampshire’s Center of Speed. Kyle Dumas currently leads the Ridge Runner standings by a single marker over Josh Hodgton while Josh “Guido” Valliere has rode a popular win last time out to a commanding position atop the Crown Vic standings.
The Friday Night Throwdown goes to post at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, July 24. Visit www.proallstarsseries.com or www.leeusaspeedway.com for the full schedule of events, pricing, updated entry lists, and other information. Live streaming will be available via the North East Short Track Network at www.nestn.tv or on the NESTN app.
For more information on Lee USA Speedway, please visit www.leespeedway.com.
For more information on the Pro All Stars Series, visit www.proallstarsseries.com.
To take advantage of marketing opportunities with the Pro All Stars Series or Lee USA Speedway, or to purchase lap sponsorships for the 2026 Nitro Trailers 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.
Don't forget to "Like" the Pro All Stars Series, OPS, NESS, and the PASS MODS Touring Series on Facebook:
facebook.com/ProAllStarsSeries
https://www.facebook.com/NESupers
https://www.facebook.com/passmods
https://www.facebook.com/leeusaspeedway
Photos by Norm Marx and Alan Ward
