LEE, N.H. -- In preparation for the upcoming 2012 season, the Lee USA Speedway will conduct its annual pre-season Test & Tune session on Saturday, April 28th. All race cars are welcome. A contingent of vintage race cars and nostalgic vehicles will complement the session.

The 2012 season gets underway in earnest, with the regular season opener on Friday night, May 4th, featuring all four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. Heading up the program are the rejuvenated Benson Lumber and Hardware Small Block Super Modifieds. A large field of cars and drivers are anticipated to challenge defending champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. for the lucrative Lee USA track title.

Helliwell, arguably one of the hottest drivers on any track in New England will be hunting an unprecedented fifth consecutive Lee USA title in the Witkum Brothers #27. He will also be in contention for the NASCAR New Hampshire State Championship and the Whelen National Championship worth a combine $27,000. Last year he prevailed in the Granite State Chase and was runner-up in the ACT point standings. Helliwell dominated the early stages of last week's ACT Governor's Cup 150 at Lee USA until tire trouble sent him to the pits. He rebounded to finish a close second to ACT Champ, Brian Hoar.

On Friday, July 20, Lee USA will host the first ever Money Bags 100 for the winged warriors with a total purse of over $18,000, the richest race ever for the small block supers. Other challengers to Helliwell for the $5,000 winner's share include the ever popular "Super" Dave Sanborn, Tony Caroll, and Sparky MacIver, back from his major victory at the Seekonk Speedway in October. Upstarts Joey Scanlon, Mike Spurling and new comers Ryan Gath and Jason Phillips are among the more than 20 drivers that hope to contend for the $6,000 pot that goes to the Lee USA Champion.

Second generation driver, Michelle Fushpanski heads a strong field of late model sportsmans sponsored by Prime Storage. Last season Fushpanski won her first feature event and finished second in the point standings. She hopes to pick it up a notch in 2012. Her primary contenders for the title include J.R. Baril, Bill Ahern, Timmy Johnson, Jason Welch to name a few. The highlighting event for the late model sportsman is the the Firecracker 100 lap race on Friday, July 6th, featuring mandatory pit stops and $1,000 going to the winner.

Chris Jacobson was the winner of a hard fought Dave's Race Cars and Components Hobby Stock feature last week as part of the Governor's Cup weekend. Patrick Tanguay, Brian Thompson, and Geoff Rollins were among the many combatants. The "unpredictable Hobbies" feature the most extensive roster at Lee USA for 2012 and plenty of bumper busting action can be assured.

The American Used Auto Parts Ironman Division is still in a growing mode in 2012. Former Ironman driver Troy Washburn has already used the experience attained in the division to make the big move up to the Hobby Stocks for 2012. It's a great way to get started.

The schedule at Lee USA includes many exciting special events for 2012. Among them are the Port City 100 for the Valenti Modified Series presented by Laticrete on June 29th. The E KEYS 4 Cars Classic Lites will be added to the show for the first of four events at the speedway.

Tuesday, July 3rd, will feature the E KEYS 4 CARS Monster Truck Show at the speedway. A FMX Motorcycle stunt show, the lronmen Division, and a “Giant Fireworks” display will complement the show. The NEMA Midgets and NEMA Lites will be on added to program on Friday, July 13th. ISMA returns on Friday, August 10th, for the Ollie Silva Memorial Classic, the biggest show of the year at Lee USA.

The Oktoberfest Weekend will conclude the 2012 season at Lee USA Speedway. Fourteen divisions and over 300 cars from all over the northeast will be competing. Season championships for the Valenti Modified Series and the NEMA will be decided. Ticket prices for regular events throughout the 2012 season at Lee USA are value priced at $10. Children from 13 to 16 years old are $6, Kids under 12 are always FREE.