Kimball Wins Mini Stock Battle for the Belt at Monadnock Speedway
Winchester, NH – Over 200 laps of feature races kept race fans in their seats at Monadnock Speedway Saturday night. Headlining the program was round two of the NHSTRA “Battle of the Belt” and the Granite State Legends.
The “Battle of the Belt” is a six race series for Mini Stock racers across five southern New Hampshire race tracks. The top point getter will win a WWE-style championship belt along with their prize money. Saturday night a strong field of competitors from central New England took the green for their 50-lap battle. Jon Fultz of Billerica, MA, led the race early. However, within a few laps, Emerson Cayer, Hopkinton, NH, moved to the front of the field. By the half-way point Cayer led Agawam, MA, drivers Kevin Cormier and Tim Wenzel. Five laps later, a hard crash exiting turn two brought out the red flag. A car appeared to be leaking fluid on the track for a number of laps, before cars start spinning. Vernon, VT’s Pat Houle got the worst end of the wrecking, hitting the retaining wall and leaving even more liquid on the track. After a lengthy clean-up the race went back to green with Cayer receiving a strong challenge from Cormier. A lap 43 caution closed the field up and on the restart defending Mini Stock champion, Matt Kimball of Bennington, NH, found enough daylight to slip past Cayer and went on for the win. Cayer held on for second. Wenzel moved past Maher for third. The series will move to Hudson International Speedway on August 4th. In a post-race inspection, Tim Wenzel was disqualified for a rule infraction awarding Louie Maher third place.
The night’s second 50-lap event for the Sportsman Modified division was led to the green by Alstead, NH, rookie Kenny Thompson. Although Thompson had a strong first few laps, he gave way to eventual winner Todd Patnode of Swanzey, NH, on lap three. Patnode’s lead was challenged by (semi)-retired former Champion, Bill Kimball of Bennington, NH. Kimball was substituting for his son, Matt. Kimball took a close second. Brian Chapin of Three Rivers, MA, had his best finish of the year since wrecking badly on opening night.
The Late Model Sportsman division rolled onto the track with everyone sights set on knocking five-time winner Solomon Brow of Vernon, VT, out of the winner’s circle. It didn’t work. Brow took the lead on lap 8 and cruised to his sixth consecutive win in 2019 added to three win ending the 2018 season for 9 straight wins. Hartland, VT’s, Robert Hagar did his best to stay close for second. Cole Littlewood from Orange, MA, took third.
The Street Stocker’s ran a pair of 25-lappers. The first was up held over from last week’s rain troubled event. Turners Falls, MA, driver Greg Williams led the field for the first half the race when a rear wheel separated from his car knocking him out of the race. David Greenslit of Claremont, NH, took over after the race restart and held off a strong challenge from Chase Curtis for his second win of the season. Curtis was second. His twin brother, Jaret Curtis took third. Later in the night, the Street Stocks returned Monadnock’s high banks for their regularly schedule main event. This time Williams was not deterred. Race car repaired, he led green to checkers for his first win since 2006. Chris Buffone from Belchertown, MA, battled with Chase Curtis for second. Curtis completed a good night of racing in third, his second podium finish. In a post-race inspection, Greg Williams was disqualified for a rule infraction awarding the win to Buffone.
The season’s largest field of Young Guns ran 15 uninterrupted laps with Jake Puchalski taking his fourth win ahead of Chris Phelps of New Salem, MA, and Matt Lambert of Ashuelot, NH.
The Granite State Legend Cars made their first visit of the year to Monadnock Speedway for a 25-lap feature. Shaun Buffington continued his dominance of the quarter-mile oval with the win. Buffington survived three cautions and out-duelled Jack Wheeler and Luke LeBrun for the win.
Monadnock Speedway will take their traditional summer break July 20th in deference the major NASCAR race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Racing will resume July 27th with The Iron Mike Memorial for the Northeast Midget Association along with the full compliment of NASCAR Whelen All-American divisions.
Sportsman Modified Results: Todd Patnode, Bill Kimball, Brian Chapin, Joel Monahan, Ben Byrne, Andy Major, Kim Rivet, Tyler Jarvenpaa, Alyssa Rivera, Keith Carzello, Kevin Pittsinger, Kenny Thompson, Eric LeClair, Scott MacMichael, Dennis Charette
Late Model Sportsman Results: Solomon Browm Robert Hagar, Cole Littlewood, Tyler Leary, Marc Curtis, Keith Carzello, Dennis Stange, Andrew Martel, Nancy Muni, Will Kuhn, Scott Beck, Justin Littlewood, Ronald LaPerche, Ryan Currier
Street Stock Results (First Feature): Dave Greenslit, Chase Curtis, Jaret Curtis, Mike Parks, Ed Lofland, Chris Buffone, Brian Norman, Michelle Leh, Nathan Nunez, Hillary Renaud, Josh Carey, Craig Chaffee
Street Stock Results (Second Feature): Chris Buffone, Chase Curtis, Dave Greenslit, Jaret Curtis, Mike Parks, Ed Lofland, Hillary Renaud, Michelle Leh, Brian Norman, Nathan Nunez, Josh Carey, Craig Chaffee
Mini Stock Results: Matt Kimball, Emerson Cayer, Louis Maher, Kevin Cormier, Cory Plummer, Devin Guy, Nathan Wenzel, Gordon Farnum, Shelby Avery, Julia Raymond, Paul Wainwright, Melinda McCarthy, Matt Crteau, Daniel Sweeney, Haydon Grenier, Jon Fultz, Andrew Harmon, Kevin McKnight, Pat Houle, Justin Littlewood, Ricky Fisette
Young Gun Results: Jake Puchalski, Chris Phelps, Matt Lambert, Brandon Lavoie, JD Stockwell, Aaron Thompson, Reagan Buffum
