Devin Joins Hallstrom Motorsports Driver Development Program

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Hallstrom Motorsports Driver Development program includes from left, partner and Speedway 51 track owner Joey Laquerre, Hallstrom Motorsports owners, Louis and Lisa Hallstrom, and development drivers Devin O’Connell and Evan Hallstrom.

 

Victory Lane Radio Interview Replay (starts at 27:37)

(Press Release from Hallstrom Motorsports)

7/23/15 — Northfield, VT —- Hallstrom Motorsports, an established family owned late model racing team known for success at Thunder Road and the American Canadian Tour, is excited to announce the rollout of their new Driver Development Program.  They will be working with young up-and-coming racers to help them successfully transition through the different levels of short track racing. The program will be mainly focused on working with promising racing talent out of the New England states and the Northeastern US.

The program will be focused on both on-track coaching as well as off-track elements with safety, mechanical, chassis, marketing, sponsorship, communication and leadership skills. Hallstrom will be providing their own late model race cars as well as other entry level cars as the program progresses.

“The Driver Development Program has been a vision of Hallstrom Motorsports since we began our team several years ago.” Says team owner Louis Hallstrom. “We recognized there was an entire generation missing among the existing racers around our area, and most young racers were going south for opportunities. We realized the key to keeping our sport alive and growing in New England is the youth. Our program has built to the point where we have the equipment as well as a very talented crew, so we feel it’s time to use our leadership and racing experience grow a new generation of racers right here at home.”

Hallstrom Motorsports Driver Development has already signed 17 year old Devin O’Connell of Madison, CT, as the first driver in the late model portion of the program. O’Connell is well known for his 2014 Allison Legacy Series Championship and is currently a front runner in the US Legend Semi Pro Series, fresh off a win last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  In 2014 he also had an impressive transition into Legend cars.  He won 12 of 35 starts, 28 top 5s, winning two feature races at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Summer Shootout.

Testing with O’Connell with the Hallstrom #1 late model will begin this fall and the team plans on select races in the ACT (American Canadian Tour)  tour and some PASS (Pro All Stars Series) events with O’Connell once he gets comfortable in the car in 2016, and possibly yet this season.

O’Connell is looking forward to working with the Hallstrom’s stating: “Racing for Hallstrom Motorsports and the ACT Tour is a huge opportunity for the team to grow as well as Evan and myself to further our racing. I’m super pumped to get this rolling and to get behind the wheel of a Late Model!”  He said from a call while racing his legends car in Charlotte NC last evening.

O’Connell and the Hallstroms connected through Marketing At Full Speed, a renowned motorsports marketing and driver career coaching program led by auto racing veteran Annamarie Malfitana-Strawhand.  Marketing At Full Speed will serve as a coaching partner to the Hallstrom program and all their drivers.

In addition, a partnership with Speedway 51 in Groveton, NH will serve as the primary facility for the Hallstrom Development Program. The team currently fields a car in the Daredevil division at Speedway 51 for 13 year old Evan Hallstrom who will be following O’Connell up through the ranks of the development program into late models.  O’Connell will serve as a mentor for the younger drivers in the program.

Leading up the marketing and management of the program is team co- owner Lisa Hallstrom. “Louie and I are very excited about working with the drivers coming through the program.  There is a lot of young racing talent in New England with no place to try out a late model or even get to the right people to learn what they need to have to succeed in racing.   We are looking forward to being the go-to team for driver advancement, and bring new talent in.  The timing is perfect for us as our youngest son, Evan Hallstrom, has begun his racing career this summer.” Hallstrom stated,  “Speedway 51 has been wonderful and they are super excited to work with us and help develop the racing youth.  Together  it is our goal to create a long and successful legacy for Hallstrom Motorsports and our drivers and partners.” She continued.

The Hallstrom Motorsports Development Program is also offering high profile marketing and promotional as well research and development opportunities for companies who would like to expand their reach in New England.  The marketing mission for the team is to also assist companies in developing their brands and growing with a youth market.

Interested New England drivers can request an on track coaching session through the online form on the Hallstrom Motorsports website and also read about the pre-requisites of applying to the development program.

If you would like more information about the Hallstrom Motorsports Driver Development Program go to www.hallstrom-motorsports.com

For more information about Marketing At Full Speed go to www.marketingatfullspeed.com

More info on Speedway 51 go to: http://www.speedway51int.com/

More info of Devin O’Connell please visit: http://www.devinoconnellracing.com/

For more photos or interview requests please contact Lisa Hallstrom: contact@hallstrom-motorsports.com.

 

O’Connell Wins Granite State Legends NASCAR Sprint Cup Invitational at NHMS

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(Loudon, NH) Devin O’Connell won the Granite State Legend Cars, NASCAR Sprint Cup Invitational on Sunday, July 19th.  Devin qualified third and started on the inside of row 2 for the event.  He quickly took over the lead in the opening laps and never looked back during the caution free race.

After the race Devin reported, “We were about 2 1/2 to 3 tenths off.  With the short amount of time we had between practice and the feature, we made an adjustment and hoped it squared the rear end.  That was obviously the trick to do it.  We got out for the feature and the car was absolutely perfect.”

Earlier in the week, Devin competed in round 7 of the Bojangles Summer Shootout Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Devin qualified fourth and battled his way to 2nd bt lap 10. The next 15 laps would see the lead change 5 times between Devin and Stevie Johns with Devin falling short at he checker flag settling for 2nd place.

Later in the week, Devin raced at Stafford Motor Speedway in the weekly Friday night series. Devin, the current Legends point leader at Stafford, started at the back of the field due to a problem during qualifying. During the feature race, he worked his way through the field to 2nd place. Unable to complete the pass for the lead, Devin settled for a second place overall finish and the Semi-pro divisional win.

NHMS Recap Video

Racing Hotspot Full Race Coverage

Legends Nation Recap

Round 3 Summer Shootout Win and 3 for 3 on the Oval Track

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Round 3 Bojangles Summer Shootout Video Highlight Link

Recap for June 15-21, 2015

Round 3 of the Bojangles Summer Shootout appears to be the magic number for me.  I won the round 3 Semi-pro feature race again this year on June 16th in similar fashion to my win in the same round in 2014. I qualified 3rd for the feature race and quickly worked up to the lead. In a caution filled race, I managed to hold the field off for my first Summer Shootout win of 2015!

Friday, I returned to the Manafort Mini Mile at Stafford Motor Speedway. I had to start 12th in the feature due to a penalty from last weeks controversial move for the win. I quickly worked my way to the front and with about 7 to go, the leaders got together and I took over the lead! I didn’t look back after that as I took my 4th win at Stafford Motor Speedway!

Stafford Motor Speedway Race Recap

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Saturday morning was the first of two road course races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. I had to break in new tires and a new motor so I was only able to qualify 6th. I was in the top five for the whole race but my car was not handling the best. During a red flag situation, an official found a loose piece of lead on my car and we had to fix it once the red flag lifted. After that was done, I rushed back to the track and charged from 16th to 5th in only three laps! Not too bad of a comeback!

Saturday evening’s oval race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, is one to remember. I managed to qualify on the pole for my second time at the track. There’s always been one driver though who had dominated throughout the years on both the road course and the oval. Everyone knew this was my best chance to finally beat that driver! After a 25-lap dual through lap traffic, I managed to bring home my first win on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway oval!

NHMS Sign Works Oval Series Video Recap Link

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Sunday’s road course race at NHMS had to be run in the rain, which is definitely not my strong point. I started third in the race and held that spot all race. On the last lap, though, fourth place caught me and we duked it out until the end but he ended up getting the upper hand and I took it home fourth.

A Win, a Runner Up, and a Dramatic Fourth!

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Photo, Christopher Roy, RPM-Racing Photography & Media

This week, we started out at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Unlike last week where I lost a motor, I qualified forth and was running some of the fastest lap times I have run there this season. By the end of lap one, I was up to 2nd and three laps later I was in the lead. By around lap 15 though, I was caught by 2nd place and we had a great battle but I came up just short of my first win at the Speedbowl.

Friday, I raced at Stafford Motor Speedway after coming off a 2nd place run last week. I had a very fast car for the feature. Due to the handicap system, I started the race in 7th. The entire feature was a four car battle for the lead and on a green white checker restart, the top three cars all got together and I took the lead. I ended up getting my second Stafford win of the season!

Click here to view Stafford Motor Speedway’s weekly recap.

Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was one of the most eventful races I have ever been in. I started the race in third and moved into second quickly and started to pressure the leader. Toward the end of the race however, the cautions started to fly and the outside lane was not in my favor. I was in a four car battle for second for the final 7 laps. On the last lap coming out of turn four, things got crazy. One car overdrove the corner and spun down into another car. That car then shot up and t-boned me and sent me about 4 feet airborne across the line in fourth. On the bright side I did finish the race and it made for a pretty epic video!

Click here to view photo sequence of the wreck courtesy of Christopher Roy. 

Rough Start Ends on Good Note with 3 Semi-pro Class Wins

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An ambitious attempt of 4 races in 3 days was on the schedule for Devin O’Connell Racing this past weekend.  Already at a disadvantage with the road course car still not complete after a crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on May 16th, the bad news continued to pile up.  The weekend would start off with a blown motor at New London Waterford Speedbowl on Thursday, May 28th.  During practice, Devin set the fast lap time just before coming off the track reporting that the car was slowing down.  After careful examination of the car, it was discovered that the motor was seizing up and Devin would not be able to make the feature race.

On Friday, after an all night motor change and conversion of the car to a road course setup, Devin took to the Thompson Motorsports Park road course for a full day of practice and qualifying for Saturday’s “Open Wheel Weekend.”  Devin would qualify on the pole for the first of two Saturday races, only to find that the ride heights on his car were found to be too low in post qualifying tech.  Devin would have to start at the back of the field for Saturday’s first of two races.

Immediately after qualifying, Devin and his crew of one, packed up to head Stafford Motor Speedway for the Legends Friday night race program.  Arriving late, Devin missed the 2 practice sessions and qualifying and would have to start the feature race from the back of the pack.  With some help from Matt Maring of 860 Motorsports, the car was converted back to an oval race setup in plenty of time to make the feature race.

The 20 lap Stafford Legends feature began with a yellow flag immediately after the green flag with a pileup of cars before the start/finish line.  Devin would use this and a second caution to move from 13th to 7th before the 2nd lap was complete.  By lap 3, he was up to 3rd place and by lap 13 he would move into 2nd.  Devin would finish the night in 2nd overall with a Semi-pro class win.

Once again, the car was converted back to a road course setup and the team headed back toward Thompson, CT.  On Saturday morning, Devin would start 7th of the 11 cars in the first race of the day.  The green flag dropped at 9:00 am and Devin was able to move quickly up to 4th place and eventually into 3rd place.  Devin would finish in 3rd overall with another first in the Semi-pro class.

Qualifying for the second feature race of the day would find Devin in the 3rd starting position, only .03 behind the 2nd place qualifier.  This would set the tone for an epic 12-lap battle between the top 4 race contenders.  The 12-lap feature would find each of the top 4 drivers take the lead at some point of the race.  During the entire 12 laps, the cars ran so closely at times, it is amazing that they did not make contact with each other.  Speeds in the draft of the main straight stretch were clocked earlier in the day at 118 mph.  Devin stated at the end of the race, “it was one of the most epic race battles I have ever had.”

Devin would finish the race 2nd overall less than a car length behind the winner as he attempted to slingshot out of the draft on the front stretch before crossing the start finish line.

An in car video of the race can be seen by clicking the following link: Thompson Legend Car race video.

Despite the rough start to the weekend, Devin would come out with one oval Semi-pro class win and two road course Semi-pro class wins.

Devin O’Connell Racing Raises $1040 for Autism Charity

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Devin O’Connell Racing raised $1040.00 to benefit the Autism Services & Resources Connecticut.  The fundraiser began on April 2nd…..World Autism Awareness Day, ran through the month on April (National Autism Awareness Month) and ended on May 11th, with a drawing for the grand prize.  In addition, Devin was on hand with his #43 US Legend race car for the ASRC Walk for Autism on May 3rd at the Choate Rosemary Hall Athletic Field in Wallingford, CT.  Devin had the opportunity to speak with many people participating in the walk, and enjoyed helping youngsters climb into the drivers seat of his 1934 Chevy.

The fundraiser grand prize included a 3 night stay at the Chatham Highlander Motel and included dinner for 2 at The Chatham Squire Restaurant, a $50 gift card to the Del Mar Bar & Bistro and a $25 gift card to the Red Nun Bar and Grill.

” I would like to thank everyone who donated to the fundraiser.  It means a lot to me that we were able to do as well as we did and I plan to do more in the future!”

Devin will be racing at Stafford Motor Speedway, New London Waterford Speedbowl, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Riverhead Raceway, as well as, the Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Devin Earns Three Top 3’s in 2015 New Enland Season Openers

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Devin kicked off the 2015 New England racing season by splitting his time between New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) and Stafford Motor Speedway.  Devin was able to practice at NHMS on Thursday followed by practice at Stafford on Friday.

The NHMS MOAT Mountain Road Course Series on Saturday began with an 8:00 am qualifying session. Devin qualified 4th of the 18 car field.  At the drop of the green flag for the feature race, Devin settled into 4th and worked up to 3rd where he remained  for the balance of the race.

Following the NHMS race, Devin piloted the team truck and car hauler toward Stafford while his crew (Dad) finished up in post race tech at NHMS. Devin and crew managed to arrive at Stafford with plenty of time to make the qualifying heat races.

Devin started 4th in the first of two Legend heat races and finished 3rd, placing him on the outside of row 3 for the start of the feature (6th in the 18 car field). Early in the race, Devin was hit and spun on the front stretch. As a result of the caution, Devin was sent to the rear of the field.

The caution ridden race saw Devin try to work back up to the front, but he was blocked by wrecks on 3 occasions and sent to the rear each time. On a lap 14 caution, Devin was still mired back in traffic. However, his efforts over the next 2 laps, with the assistance of even more cautions, enabled him to move into 3rd place by lap 16. The race was called on lap 16 as a result of the tremendous number of cautions.

Sunday was the second race of the NHMS MOAT Mountain Road Race Series double header. Devin qualified 3rd in the 20 car field for the feature. He settled into 3rd for the first 8 laps and by lap 9, he was contending for 2nd. He managed to take over the 2nd spot a couple of times but could not hold the position over veteran driver Justin O’Brien Laps 9 through 12 were exciting to watch as Devin continued to dual for the 2nd spot, but crossed the finish line in 3rd.

In car camera Youtube video link of Sunday’s race.