photo by Rich Hayes
Lee, NH – Lee USA Speedway kicked off the 2017 racing season on Sunday afternoon with the traditional season-opening American Canadian Tour (ACT) New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150. A strong field of entries was on hand for the day’s racing action, but none was stronger than Connecticut racer “Thrillin’ Dillon” Moltz, who took down the win in dominating fashion.
2013 Governor‘s Cup winner Jimmy Hebert of Williamstown VT led the early laps of the main, but Quebec driver Jonathan Bouvrette slipped past just after the ten lap mark to take over the point. At the 50 lap mark, Moltz was past Hebert to move into second, and just six laps later, he made his way past Bouvrette to the lead.
Running caution-free for the first 98 circuits, Moltz opened up a commanding lead over the field before the yellow flag flew for a spin by Miles Chipman, the 2010 Governor‘s Cup winner. With the help of the seven lapped cars that lined up between Moltz and his nearest challenger for the restart, he once again pulled away from the field when racing resumed.
Although he had to contend with heavy lapped traffic in the late stages of the race, Moltz was in command and comfortably out front until the checkers waved to signal his first career Governor‘s Cup win. Alex Labbe came on strong late in the race to checker second, with Bouvrette rounding out the podium in the third spot.
Full field unofficial results (finishing position, car no., driver):
- 5CT Dillon Moltz 2. 48QC Alex Labbe 3. 41QC Jonathan Bouvrette 4. 37VT Scott Payea 5. 66VT Jason Corliss 6. 80QC Donald Theetge 7. 34ME Spencer Morse 8. 17MA Eddie MacDonald 9. 30NH Rich Dubeau 10. 5VT Bobby Therrien 11. 28ME Rowland Robinson Jr. 12. 19QC Dany Trepanier 13. 58VT Jimmy Hebert 14. 9NH Kyle Welch 15. 0NH Miles Chipman 16. 11NY Josh Masterson 17. 78NH Quinny Welch 18. 49NH Matt Anderson 19. 93CT Ray Christian III 20. 11QC Claude Leclerc 21. 54VT Mike Ziter 22. 23NH Glenn Martel 23. 1NH Corey Masson 24. 9QC Mathieu Kingsbury 25. 22RI Mark Jenison 26. 21NH Oren Remick 27. 77MA James Linardy 28. 82MA Mark Hudson 29. 16VT Scott Dragon
The Northeast Mini Stock Tour opened up its 2017 campaign as part of the Governor‘s Cup program as well, with veteran campaigner Matt Sonnhalter and his VW getting it done in time trials, turning the quickest lap of the 30 entries that went under the clock.
At feature time, a redraw shuffled up the field a bit, and it was Glen Thomas, Jr. jumping out to the lead from the outside pole when the green flag flew. With a line of cars in his tire tracks, Thomas set the pace through the event’s first caution, when contact sent Justin Trombley for a spin, and Nick Maniatis to the rear.
Maniatis headed to the pits shortly after the restart, while Trombley went to work and began digging his way back through the field for an eventual top three finish. Thomas led the field under the crossed flags, when caution was out once again, this time for an incident that sent Sonnhalter into the turn one wall after contact cut down his right rear tire.
Another re-shuffle of the running order resulted, but no matter who stepped up to challenge, Thomas was up to the task. He stayed in the top spot the rest of the way, holding off a late-race challenge from Jarrod Soucy to score the season-opening win.
The Northeast Classic Lites also kicked of their 2017 season with a 20-lap feature event that saw Robbie Bryant dominate to take down the win with a several car length margin of victory. 2016 champ Duane Skofield and 2015 champ Eric Skofield joined Bryant on the post-race podium.
Next up at Lee USA Speedway is another special Sunday afternoon program on April 30th, featuring the Granite State Pro Stock Series in a prestigious event, which affords the winner a guaranteed starting position in the July 12 U.S. Pro Stock/Super Late Model National Championship Race at the famed Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, MA. The wildly-popular Pro-4 Modifieds and another visit by the Northeast Classic Lites will round out the program. If you would need any further information please call the office at 978-462-4252.
