Opening Day at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl
Opening Day, Spring Fling, or just Mother’s Day at the races; whatever
you choose to call it, the first day of business at Big Daddy’s
Speedbowl, the Burning Bush Homecenter night, was an interesting one.
The venue has been around since 1961 and was previously known as
Rattlesnake Motordrome, the Legion Speedway, The Pines, the Nor-Way
Pines, and the Legion Bowl. Since last October Mike “Big Daddy” Rivers
has been in charge and the 2010 season opened with a much different
facility than the 2009 closed with.
This year marks one of cooperation with two other local racetracks;
The Canaan Dirt Speedway in Canaan, NH and Bear Ridge Speedway in
Bradford, VT. The track have coordinated their rules and their
schedules, running Friday (Canaan), Saturday (Bear Ridge), and Sunday
(Big Daddy’s) evenings. Now cars can run all three tracks, on three
consecutive nights.
Ryan Avery, driver of the #01 Modified, is a veteran of all three
tracks. He drew the first spot for the night’s racing and never
relinquished it, leading the feature event of the Mid State Trucking
Modified class from flag to flag. Lee Cadwell (81X) held off Randy
Howe (82) and they finished second and third. The night’s frustration
award would have to go to Blake Sheppard, who started second and
battled toe-to-toe with Avery for the first half of the race. Then he
spun out, charged through the pack as far as third, and was dumped yet
again, ending his evening.
We also had the resurrection of the Late Model division, sponsored by
Mike’s Automotive. It was a small field, but with hopes of growing in
the near future. Jamie “Cletis” Bezanson (131/2) won the feature,
followed by “Dangerous” Dan Collins (4) and Brad Shanks (8).
Ray Johnson (79) won a wild and exciting Cutting Edge Grafix and
Keyser Trucking Super Street main event. Second went to Mike McClay
(82) and Mike Greene III (29) captured third.
There are two four-cylinder divisions this season, the OE Parts Direct
Mini-Stocks allowing more modification than the Camaro Heaven Bandits.
Josh Sunn (11) took the checkered flag in the Mini-Stock feature,
followed by Brandon Lemere (2) and Tony Shaw (20). In the Bandits
main, it was the 33 car of Tim Sheppard leading Alicia Smith (88) and
Jamie Nutting (99) across the line.
The cold an blustery weather kept some fans home, but the car count
was good, track operation was efficient, and a bright feature is in
store for the new management of the venerable old Rumney track.
Burning Bush Homecenter of Warren, NH was the title sponsor for
Opening Day.
This coming week’s races are sponsored by Eastman Trophy of Groton
Vt..and will feature all 5 regular divisions in competition. Big
Daddy’s weekly divisions are the Camaro Heaven Bandits, OE Parts
Direct Mini-Stocks, the Cutting Edge Grafix and Keyser Trucking Super
Streets, Mike’s Automotive Late Models, and Mid State Trucking
Modifieds.
Big Daddy’s is offering sponsorship packages. Give promoter Mike
Rivers a call at 603-470-5531 or 603-286-9900 to explore the
partnership possibilities.
Big Baddy’s Speedbowl is a family orientated racing facility.
Grandstand admission is still only $10 for an adult and a family
package of $25. Pit admission is $25 a week, $20 with a pit
membership. The gates open at 12 noon, the driver’s meeting starts at
3:30, and the first race goes off at 4:00pm. The track is located on
the Rumney/Wentworth town line on NH Rte. 25. Check the track website,
www.BigDaddysSpeedbowl.com, for complete race results, coming events,
and race photos..