Hudson NH – J.R. Baril returned to Hudson Speedway this past Sunday afternoon after fourteen years away and won the twenty eight car Outlaw Sportsman feature race.
Shawn Waites led the Outlaw field to the green and led most of the first half of the race while fighting off a tough Peter Fiandaca. Fiandaca and Waites battled side by side for many laps until a caution flew and Fiandaca restarted first. Waites and Lee Weldy made contact on the ensuing restart sending Waites spinning and championship points leader Mitch Wendell to the pits for repairs after hitting the back of Weldys car trying to avoid the spin. After Waites spin, Baril restarted second next to Fiandaca and contact with Fiandaca sent Fiandaca spinning off the backstretch. Sandy Lee had moved into second but wasn’t able to mount a challenge as Baril cruised under the checkers.
Mitch Wendell won the Outlaw Sportsman championship but it wasn’t easy as he had damage from the Waites spin, pitted, restarting last with ten laps to go and needed to make up nine positions to win. Wendell made a furious charge through the field and with his last pass of the race moved back into first place in points. It was Wendells second championship at Hudson, he was the 1995 Bud Light Champion.
Second through tenth were Lee, Bobby Allen, Tim Casey, John Lavoie, Geoff Rollins, Wendell, Eddie Brehio Jr., Weldy and Fiandaca.
Shane Reinhold led the Classic Lites to their green flag and held the top spot for half the race until Jimmy Ryder Jr. finally chased him down and took over. Ryder Jr’s lead only lasted a few laps until Eric Bacon took his usual top spot. Bacon took it home from there with Ryder Jr. second. Reinhold held on for his first podium finish in third, Danny Shields ran a fine race coming in fourth and Dennis O’Brien rounded out the top five.
Dylan Bilodeau extended his points lead in the Thunder Lights by winning the feature. Derek Griffith finished second getting within a few car lengths of Bilodeau but not able to mount a serious challenge. Bobby Stirk lll spun early and recovered to finish third. Jen Lord finished fourth and Dan Fortin fifth.
Louie Maher won his thirteenth Roadrunner feature of the year. Jef James was second for the thirteenth time and Eric Miller was third. Patrick D’Alba was fourth and Peter Raby fifth.
John Cianciulli won his third Rookie feature of the year. Second through tenth were Dean Wendell, John Morin, Heath Toutellotte, Andy Nichols, Dan Murphy, Larry Fortin, Scott Duval, Jerry Lepage and John Desilets.
Doug Simes won the Flagpole Race. Ron Lord Jr. won the Spectator Race and Gary Boutreau won the Spectator Drags.
Next Sunday, October 18th is Pumpkinfest ’09 at Hudson Speedway with championships for the Classic Lites, V-6 Modifieds, Rookie Stocks, Roadrunners, Thunder Lights plus Enduros, Spectator Race, Spectator Drags and Flagpole Race. The kids bike races start at 1130am. Gates open at 11am and the first race at 1pm. For more info please visit www.hudsonspeedway.info.