With New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs weekend just 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 took part in the eighth annual Media Racing Challenge, and it was Kyle Belcher of The Loose is Fast Podcast out of Providence, R.I. who took home the win. It was his second Media Racing Challenge win overall.

“Race weekend here is our favorite, I mean, we grew up at this racetrack, and it’s the reason we got into the sport,” said Belcher. “The Media Challenge, we look forward to every year. It’s great to win it again, obviously, and it’s a lot of fun to be up here, but just a good time to have and good to promote the sport and the track that we call home.”

The Media Racing Challenge winner was determined by the top speed achieved on the 1.058-mile track. Belcher was the fastest media member around “The Magic Mile” reaching a top speed of 157.36 mph while Claire Overton from WWLP-TV/22 News out of Springfield, Mass. (152.77 mph), “Scumbag Steve” Helveston (152.67 mph) and Dan Walker (152.53 mph) also from The Loose is Fast Podcast and Andy Austin from WWSF 104.3 FM and 1220 AM/Seacoast Oldies out of Sanford, Maine (148.55 mph) rounded out the top-five.

This year’s event not only featured the most female drivers to ever compete in the annual Media Racing Challenge, but Overton’s second-place finish marked the highest finishing position of any female to ever participate in the event.

Belcher was honored with a traditional NHMS victory lane celebration, complete with a trophy, $100 gift card to Makris Lobster and Steak House, $100 gift card to Mohegan Sun and, of course, a live lobster, provided by Makris Lobster and Steak House. Though a bit smaller than the 20-pound Loudon the Lobster, who will be presented to the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Playoffs race at NHMS on Sept. 21, the 10-pound crustacean was proudly hoisted up into the air by Belcher.

When asked what he’s going to do with his prize lobster, Belcher quickly replied, “That 10-pound lobster’s gonna have to find a pot to be cooked in, so we’ll figure that out, but that’s a good problem to have. We can’t complain.”

Not only did the participants get a taste of what it’s like being a NASCAR driver, they also sampled three uniquely New England food items that were crafted by the chefs of NHMS’s catering partner Levy Restaurants:

  • Cheeseburger Whoopie Pie – Two soft vanilla cakes sandwiching coconut lettuce and creamy whoopie pie filling and covered by a generous coating of chocolate jimmies
  • Apple Smoked Loaded Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese – Creamy macaroni and cheese topped with apple smoked pulled pork
  • The Last Lap Crash – Two soft chocolate cakes sandwiching creamy peanut butter and marshmallow fluff filling

Garnering 50% of the votes, the Cheeseburger Whoopie Pie won as the favorite of the three and will be available for race fans to purchase at an NHMS concession stand Sept. 19-21.

Top Speeds:

  • Kyle Belcher (The Loose is Fast Podcast | Providence, R.I.) – 157.36 mph
  • Claire Overton (WWLP-TV/22 News | Springfield, Mass.) – 152.77 mph
  • “Scumbag Steve” Helveston (The Loose is Fast Podcast | Providence, R.I.) – 152.67 mph
  • Dan Walker (The Loose is Fast Podcast | Providence, R.I.) – 152.53 mph
  • Andy Austin (WWSF 104.3 FM and 1220 AM/Seacoast Oldies | Sanford, Maine) – 148.55 mph
  • Mike Wankum (WCVB-TV/ABC 5 | Needham, Mass.) – 146.52 mph
  • Matt Holderman (WFFF-TV/FOX 44 and WVNY-TV/ABC 22 | Colchester, Vt.) – 144.89 mph
  • Breana Pitts (WBZ-TV/CBS News Boston | Boston, Mass.) – 144.49 mph
  • Kevin Wiles Jr. (WCVB-TV/ABC 5 | Needham, Mass.) – 142.59 mph
  • Morgan Prue (95.7 WZID-FM and Rewind 94.1/WZID-HD2 | Manchester, N.H.) – 142.29 mph
  • Rylie Johnson (104.9 The Hawk/WLKZ-FM | Belmont, N.H.) – 140.66 mph
  • Leanna Scachetti (WCVB-TV/ABC 5 | Needham, Mass.) – 138.28 mph
  • Joshua Mann (95.7 WZID-FM | Manchester, N.H.) – 138.24 mph
  • Scott Whitley (Wicked Bites on NESN | Watertown, Mass.) – 138.24 mph
  • Alex Rapp (Concord Monitor | Concord, N.H.) – 136.45 mph

Christian Lacoss from 96.5 Live Free Country/WMLL-FM out of Manchester, N.H. took part in a ride-along experience.

New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs weekend is Sept. 19-21 at NHMS. On-track action kicks off Friday with practice and qualifying sessions for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) plus SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels at The Flat Track. The action continues on Doubleheader Saturday with the Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race, the Team EJP 175 NCTS playoff race and NCS practice and qualifying. The on-track action culminates Sunday with the NCS taking on “The Magic Mile” to kick off the Round of 12. Don’t miss all of the exciting off-track action including “The Magic Mile” Happy Hour Show, Trackside Live, The Groove fan hangout, concerts from Draw the Line and Being Petty: The Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Experience, Family Movie Night featuring “Captain America: Brave New World,” driver appearances, a variety of live performances, fireworks and much more.

For a full NASCAR weekend schedule, visit NHMS.com/Events/NASCAR-Cup-Series/Schedule/.

Tickets:
For tickets and camping for New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs weekend, featuring the NCS and Team EJP 175 NCTS playoff races, Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race and SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels, fans should visit NHMS.com or call 833-4LOUDON. Tickets for kids 12 and under are just $10 on Sunday, free on Doubleheader Saturday and start at $10 on Friday.

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