Chase Curtis Wins NHSTRA Street Stock Battle for the Belt Round One
Winchester, NH – Monadnock Speedway fans were treated to 220 laps of feature race competition Saturday night, including the much anticipated “Battle of the Belt” 50-lap challenge for the Street Stock division.
The “Battle of the Belt” drew racers representing all five of the New Hampshire Short Track Racing Association race tracks from the seacoast to the Connecticut River – Lee USA Speedway, Hudson International Speedway, Star Speedway, Claremont Motorsport Park and Monadnock. Twenty-five cars qualified for the first of 6 races to be held across the 5 tracks. The drivers will share in a $3000.00 point fund along with winnings for each race. The prize at the end will be an authentic WWE-style belt.
Chris Buffone of Belchertown, MA, led the field to the green and held the lead for the first 18 circuits as some of the state’s top Street Stockers diced for position behind him. On lap 19, Chris Curtis of Rutland, MA, moved to the front of the field and looked to settle in for a ride to the checkers. Unfortunately, the caution flew on lap 33 for a spinning car. As the field slowed under caution, Curtis’s car slowed to a stop in the middle of the front stretch. An apparent transmission failure ended his run. On the restart, Alby Ovitt of Sommersworth, NH, assumed the lead and rode to the checkers to the win and the point lead in the six race “Battle of the Belt” series. Finishing second was current Monadnock point leader, Billy Clement, Jr. of Manchester, NH. Third on the podium was last week’s feature winner, Chase Curtis of Rutland, MA. After a post-race inspection, Alby Ovitt and Billy Clement Jr were disqualified for technical rule infractionsawarding the win to Chase Curtis. Rich Vincent was also disqualified for technical rule infractions after the post-race inspection.
The Sportsman Modified division took to the high-banks for their weekly 50-lap main event. The early lead belonged to the female competitors, Kim Rivet of Antrim, NH, and Alyssa Rivera of Claremont, NH. By lap ten, three-time Modified champion, Todd Patnode of Swanzey, NH, had powered his way to the lead and remained on top of the field for his first win of the season. Opening day winner, Brian Robie, of Sunapee, NH, moved into second and teenager, Matt Kimball of Bennington, NH, claimed the third position.
The winning streak for Solomon Brow in the Late Model Sportsman class appeared to be in jeopardy in the night’s 25-lap main. Brow started 6th for the first time this year. Defending champion, Tyler Leary of Hatfield, MA, assumed the early lead and by the halfway point in the race was ahead of Mark McClay of Charlestown, NH, and Brow. McClay soon after pulled out of the race with mechanical issues moving Brow to second. With four laps to go, Brow made his move, took the lead and won for the fourth time this year, making it 7 consecutive wins going back to the end of the 2018 season. Leary held on for second. Veteran, Dennis Stange of Athol, MA, had another podium finish in third.
Slowed by only two minor cautions, the 25-lap Mini Stock race saw only one lead change. Kevin Cormier of Agawam, MA, took the early lead for Kevin Clayton of Winchendon, MA. From there it was a Saturday night cruise to his first career win at Monadnock. Keene, NH’s Cory Plummer moved into second and Kevin McKnight of Orange, MA, claimed third.
The Young Guns fielded their best line-up of the season. But in the end the win was taken for the sedond time by Chris Phelps of New Salem, MA, followed by Jake Puchalski of Whately, MA, and Matt Lambert of Ashuelot, NH.
The Exit Realty Pro Truck series made their first appearance at Monadnock in three years and didn’t disappoint the fans. Young driver, Jacob Perry of Stonington, CT, dominated the 55-lap race leading from the green. A full red flag stoppage with just three laps to go, tightened the field and provided the only real challenge to Perry from Gerald Giordano of Freeport, NY. However, the checkered flag fell on Perry with Giordano second and Lucas Leone of Stonington, CT, third. The last time Leone raced at Monadnock, he won racing in a GoKart event.
Monadnock Speedway ramps up this coming weekend for two days of racing. Saturday night the NASCAR Whelen All-America divisions will be in regular competition with the addition of the Pro-4 Modifieds and the NEAR Antique racers at 6PM. Then at noon on Sunday, the second in Mudbog Mudslinger series will present “Mud, Muscle and Mayhem” with a muscle car cruise and mudbog competition. Details for both events are at monadnockspeedway.com and on the Monadnock Speedway Facebook page.
Sportsman Modified Results: Todd Patnode, Brian Robie, Matt Kimball, Ben Byrne, Kim Rivet, Joel Monahan, Andy Major, JT Cloutier, Eric LeClair, Brian Chapin, Scott MacMichael, Keith Carzello, Alyssa Rivera, Kenny Thompson, Kevin Pittsinger
Late Model Sportsman Results: Solomon Brow, Tyler Leary, Dennis Stange, Cole Littlewood, Justin Littlewood, Keith Carzello, Marc Curtis, Eric Pomasko, Nancy Muni-Ruot, Scott Beck, Will Kuhn, Ronald LaPerche, Mark McClay
Street Stock Finish: Chase Curtis, Dave Greenslit, Chris Buffone, Jaret Curtis, Max Dulliver, Ed Lofland, Richard Streeter, Travis Hollins, Chuck Dahney, Hillary Renaud, Joe Tetrault, Kenny Scott, Ben Williams, Josh Carey, Greg Williams, Chris Curtis, Bret Culleton, Kenny Dureault, Nathan Nunez, Craig Chaffee, John Vinal, Nick Little
Mini Stocks Finish: Kevin Cormier, Cory Plummer, Kevin McKnight, Tim Wenzel, Louie Maher II, Kevin Clayton, Nathan Wenzel, Haydon Grenier, Jonathan Surprenant, Andrew Farnham, Shelby Avery, Gordon Farnum
Young Gun Finish: Chris Phelps, Jake Puchalski, Matt Lambert, Brandon Lavoie, JD Stockwell
