MacMichael dominates Sportsman Modified Event
By Gary Dutton
WINCHESTER, NH – Dave Striebel put a string of first-half-season near misses behind him Saturday, July 26, at Monadnock Speedway, storming to victory in the Super Stock feature. Striebel was one of three drivers earning his first victory lap of the summer Saturday at the high-banked quarter-mile.
Scott MacMichael scored his second victory of the season, topping the action-packed Sportsman Modified main event; while both Lightning Stock pilot CJ Johnson and Young Gun Matt Kimball were – like Striebel – first-time 2014 winners.
With the speedway’s Whelen All-American Series racers doing extra-distance battle in the second of two 2014 Triple Crown Series events, Mini Stock hot shoe Chris McTaggart earned his third victory in as many weeks; and Thunder Stock strongman Marshall Usher scored his third win of the season.
Dave Berghman dominated the Pro-4 feature to win his second race of the year at Monadnock in the visiting four-cylinder Modified division. Ed Gilman topped the Classic Lites feature race.
Steve Fifield – from row two – led the first eight laps of the Sportsman Modified feature. Rookie Trevor Bleau was glued to Fifield’s bumper until lap six, when Bleau’s strong bid ended abruptly in a front chute spin.
Scott MacMichael took second from JT Cloutier on lap eight, powered past Fifield to take the lead a lap later, and immediately began pulling away from the pack.
Todd Patnode moved up to second on lap 21 but MacMichael had a 20-length lead on the five-time winner and was showing no signs of letting up. Patnode got the break he needed on lap 24, when the caution waved for a sinlge car spin of Rzewnicki, bringing Patnode alongside MacMichael on the restart.
MacMichael, though, was undaunted, holding Patnode in his shadow the rest of the way to score his second win of the summer. With Patnode helping his divisional points lead with the runner-up finish, Keith Carzello, Adam Norton and Bill Kimball rounded out the top five.
Tyler Lescord led the first four laps of the Super Stock main, with Dave Striebel then taking control on the back chute and running out the final 25 laps from the best seat in the house to score his first win of the season.
Geoff Rollins powered into second on lap six, with Tom Carey – firing from the back after an opening-lap spin – charging quickly through the field. Carey reeled Rollins in on lap 16, and the two would go door-to-door and wheel-to-wheel in the battle for second until the checkers waved.
With Striebel earning the victory lap, Carey was second, Rollins third, Lescord fourth, and Alyssa Rivera fifth. Carey was penalized to the third spot for rough riding.
DJ Lazelle suffered the heartbreak of the night in the Mini Stock feature. Leading the first 27 laps of the fast-paced event – with veteran strongman Chris McTaggart all over him – Lazelle saw his bid for a career-first win fall by the wayside when his engine went sour with two laps to go.
McTaggart took full advantage of the break afforded him by Lazelle’s misfortune, darting off to his third win in as many weeks. Rookie Cameron Sontag was strong in second; points leader Mike Stebbins came home third; with Lazelle and Eric Pomasko rounding out the top five.
Pat Houle led lap one of the Lightning Stock main, with CJ Johnson then blasting past him and immediately checking out on the rest of the field. Johnson would take the checkers a half-lap ahead of runner-up Chris Davis. Houle, Tim O’Shea, and Hillary Renaud completed the top five.
Coming up just shy of posting his first win of the season a week earlier, Young Gun Matt Kimball didn’t let this one get away.
The second-generation racer held the point from green to checkers, leading Dylan Morse and Mike McGoldrick Jr. across the stripe. Michelle Leh was fourth on the night, and Chris Buffone came home fifth.
Jason Barden set the pace for the first nine laps of the Thunder Stock feature, with Marshall Usher then taking charge, and Dave Greenslit following close behind.
Usher would hold Greenslit in his shadow the final 16 laps to score his third win of the summer. Barden completed his strong night’s work in third, Henry Martin was fourth, and Tyler Janovsky took the checkers in fifth.
Dave Berghman romped to victory in the Pro-4 Modified main. Dan Meservey Jr. made a lap-corner pass to swipe second from Derek Robbie. Tom Royer guided the first Pro-4 Lite racer under the checkers.
Ed Gilman won the Classic Lites feature. CJ McLaughlin was second, and Paul Colson third.
This Saturday, August 2, Monadnock Speedway will host a six-division card of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing. The STAR Antique Racers and NE Champ Karts will also be in action on the high banks. Post time is 6 pm.