Yankee All-Star League

The Yankee All-Star League began in 1975 as a 6-event open competition Modified series. It was a joint effort by 6 men representing 3 New England tracks: Don Hoenig & Carl Merrill of Thompson Speedway (CT), Kenny Smith & Russ Conway from Star Speedway (NH) and Harvey Tattersall Jr & his son Harvey III from the Waterford Speedbowl (CT). Each track would host two 50-lap races, all held on Wednesdays with open competition rules and qualifying via heat races. Competitors would receive purse money & points for each race, with a Yankee All Star League Champion crowned and a point fund distributed at season’s end.

Largely because the Wednesday night events didn’t conflict with any tracks in the region, Yankee All-Star events attracted the biggest names in modified racing at the time, not only throughout New England but Long Island, New Jersey and western New York state. The first event was held at the Waterford Speedbowl on July 16, 1975. 61 modified teams signed into the pits that day attempting to qualify. 20 year old Ken Bouchard started on the pole in Bob Ramstrom’s #35 car and led all 50 laps to earn the victory.

After the 1977 season was marred by rainouts and reduced to only 4 races, major changes came in 1978, with Monadnock Speedway (NH), Stafford Speedway (CT), and the Seekonk & Westboro speedways in MA joining the circuit. Each of the 7 tracks would now hold a single 100 lap event. Geoff Bodine won every event as part of his record-breaking 1978 season.

1978 ended up being the last season for the Yankee All-Star League. Every race during the series 4-year existence was won by a NEAR Hall of Famer. Bodine won the most championships (2) and races (11).