“Former Park Champ Eyes True Value Mod Tour Season” 

Race fans remember the first time they attended their first stock car race. It might have been with family as a youngster, with friends from high school, or perhaps during those dating days, the memories linger for a lifetime. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the recollection of that first speedway experience are never forgotten. That is the case for True Value Modified racer Dave Berube of Bristol, Ct. He remembers his first visit to the former Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Ma. He went to the races with a stock car in tow and his first time experience paved the way to a racing career that 16 years later finds the Bristol driver preparing his ground pounding modified for the season opener at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, N.H., on Saturday April 15. “My first time ever at Riverside was in a strictly stock,” said the 57 year old Berube. He added, “We didn’t win but we were named rookie of the year that season.” Not a bad start for someone breaking into racing at a track that would eventually find Berube becoming a household name in its top division. “We went pro stock in 1991 and 92, modified and pro stock in 93 and 94, and have been in modified’s ever since,” he said. Berube continued to impress claiming the modified rookie of the year honors in 1993. In 1996 he captured the tracks modified championship adding his name to the long honor roll list of drivers that have been successful at the famous speedway.

Berube and his crew are excited and looking forward to returning to the TVMRS with their original #04 car painted white for the new season. Berube said “The years, at the Park were fun and successful, and were run with car #04.”  "This car, and this crew, Rod Seller, Levi Bechard, Deo Bernard and Kris Seller, won the last two NASCAR sanctioned races at Riverside Park Speedway in 1999 and we're hoping to bring some of that to Mad dog opening day."  The New England Municipal Equipment sponsored team focused on the Monadnock events the last two years but Berube says “We are looking at running the events leading up to the Waterford show including Seekonk, Lee, Canaan and Monadnock.”  The # 04 modified will be powered by a Bob Bruneau built engine.

When 20 year old Bryan Shumway climbs aboard his new modified ride this season on the True Value Modified Racing Series tour , he’ll be joining fellow driver Russ Hersey and following in the footsteps of veteran drivers Rob Goodenough and Les Hinckley, driving an outlaw pro stock and an open wheel modified on the same Monadnock Speedway billing.  Car owner Bruce Shumway said “We bought a tour car from Dan Avery and were looking at the Stafford Lite thing and we realized that we have a full blown modified so we decided on the TVMRS.”  Shumway added, “We spoke to some people, spoke to Greg Felton, and made the decision.” The Shumway team plans to enter the five Monadnock shows and are considering the Lee, Thompson, and Seekonk events.  They plan to continue racing their outlaw pro stock in 06 and have a plan in place for a full time assault on the TVMRS in 2007. Bryan has secured rookie of the year titles in each division he has competed in at Monadnock.