Ovitt Scores Outlaw Pro Win, Alexander Repeats in Modified
Winchester, NH: This past Saturday, eight exciting race divisions took to the track at Monadnock Speedway. With the threat of storms moving in late, the program was moved quickly completing all divisions before the skies opened up. Winners included, Modified Kirk Alexander, Outlaw Pro Brandon Ovitt, Super Stock Matt Mead and Mini Stock Rich Fournier. Matthew Gauffin won the 4-cylinder enduro event and Dan Yagmin took the Full Size Enduro event.
Mini Stocks rolled out with Rich Fournier setting the pace. Fournier quickly took the lead as Anthony Kumiega and Derek Bergquist battled for second. Kim Rivet and Beth Adams followed in the top five. Lap ten, Bergquist moved into second as Rivet worked on Kumiega for third. Half way to go, Fournier developed a good lead as teammate Bergquist tried to reel him in. Rivet held of Jackson for third. Lap nineteen, the field saw the only caution come out when Adams running fifth was tapped by Joey Kendall causing her to spin. On the restart, Berquist attempted the outside pass on Fournier but couldn’t pull it off. Rivet had her hands full with Jackson. Fournier and Bergquist ran bumper to bumper as Jackson looked to the inside of Rivet. The top four ran nose to tail until the checkered flag with Fournier capturing his first win of the season followed by Bergquist. Rivet held off Jackson for third. Ron Nomandin came in fifth.
Craig Cashman brought the Super Stocks to the green flag start. Before one lap was complete, the yellow flew as Ken Springer made his way into the pits for mechanical problems. On the restart, Cashman jumped to the lead with Andy Brooks, Ken Thompson and Bill Johnston on his back bumper. On lap three, Thompson goes high in the backstretch leaving the position open for Johnston. Cashman and Andy Brooks ran wheel to wheel for the lead. Ten laps into the feature, the top six ran tight as Brooks and Johnston battle for the lead. Ed Brehio III and Matt Mead fought for third. Half way to go, Mead took the high lane to pass Brehio III for third. The top four ran close as Mead placed the pressure as Brooks continued to lead. Five laps to go, Mead and Brooks ran side by side for the lead as Bedaw moved into fifth. Brooks fought back as Johnston awaited his opportunity ahead of him. Bedaw gained on Brehio III for fourth. At the checkers, Mead scored his second victory followed by Andy Brooks, Johnston and Bob Bedaw.
The Outlaw Pros made their way onto the track with Steve Gauthier on the pole. At the wave of the green, Gauthier took the lead but felt early pressure from Brandon Ovitt. Gray lloked to the inside of Mike Parks for third. Lap ten. Gauthier held onto the lead as Gray mad slight contact with Parks but backed off for third. Next lap, Gray took over third as Russ Hersey followed for fourth. Half way to go, Gauthier held strong as Ovitt ran close in second. Hersey attempted to take away third from Gray but was denied. Lap twenty five, Ovitt took the lead and began to pull away as Gray and Hersey continue the battle for third. Ten laps to go, Hersey goes to the outside to complete the pass on Gray. As laps wind down, Hersey began to run down Gauthier for second. Two laps to go, Gauthier suffers a broken wheel and the caution flew. On the restart, Ovitt had a great start for the two lap shoot out as Hersey attempts to catch him. Gray sat in third followed by Ron Smith and Adam Brooks. On the final lap, it was Ovitt scoring his first win of the season followed by Hersey, Gray Smith and Brooks.
Josh Cantara brought the full field of Modifieds to the start line with Eric Leclair on the outside pole. At the green Cantara took off leaving LeClair in an early battle with Ed Reed for second. Frank L’Etoile and Todd Patnode battled for fourth. Patnode wasting no time moved into second by lap six as Cantara held a good lead, Dave Berube moved into third. On lap eleven, the first caution flew as a pile of cars get caught up in the front stretch. On the restart, Cantara and Patonde ran wheel to wheel for the lead as Rowan Pennink and Dave Berube fought for third. Two laps later, Pennink spins in turn one and two collecting several cars. Lap twenty, berube was scored the leader as he felt Kirk Alexander on his back bumper. Cantara and Patnode battled for third, Pennink worked his way to sixth and put the pressure on Vic Johnson for fifth. Half awy to go, Alexander took over the lead as berube fought back. Pennick chased down Cantara to battle for third. Ten to go, the leaders caught lap traffic and carefully made the pass as Berube tied to make ground on Alexander. At the checkers, it was Alexander in victory lane followed by Berube, Pennink, Patnode and Cantara.
Ryan Rivet was the early leader for the Full Size enduro event. Joe Ethier ran second with Dan Yagmin putting in the heat. Lap ten, Yagmin moved into second and was on his way to catch Rivet. Half way to go, Yagmin was all over Rivet at both worked their way through lap traffic. Jeff Kirley and Randy Rameau battled for third. Ten laps to go, Yagmin took over the lead as Rivet settled for second. Rameau and Kirley continued to challenge each other for third. Barry Schonborg ran fifth. At the end, it was Yagmin taking the win followed by Kirley, Rivet, Rameau and Schonborg.
A large field of 4-cylinder Enduros rolled onto the track as CJ Johnson took the leadearly. Lap ten, a challenge for the lead developed between Johnson and Matthew Gauffin followed by Jason Houle, Adam Houle and Scott Hatt. Lap fifteen, the red flag was displayed as Matthew Somerville took a hard hit on the front stretch. On the restart, gaffing continued to leadas Josh Houle and Adam Houle battled for second. The two made conatct spinning into the infield. CJ Johnson took over second followed by Hatt, Dick Houle and Heath Renaud. Half way to go, Gauufin ledthe way as Renaud moved into second. Dick Houle gained ground on Johnson for third. Ten two go, Renaud and Dick Houle switched back and forth for the second place position working their way through heavy lap traffic. At the checkers, it was Gauffin taking the win followed by Dick Houle, Heath Reanud, Adam Houle and Josh Houle.
This Saturday , Monadnock Speedway will celebrate the Memorial Weekend holiday with the very fast Northeast Midget Association making their first trip to the high banks. The race program will also include Outlaw Pros, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks and Full Size Enduros. Race time is at 6pm. For more information call the speedway’s office at 603-239-4067 or log onto www.monadnockspeedway.com.