Wentworth, NH – First time winners at Big Daddy’s – It was a great
night on Saturday, October 2nd at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl as the track
crowned it’s champions for the 2010 season. Plus, a couple of crowd
favorites got their first-ever feature wins.
Mike McClay (82) of Holderness started his career with a worn-out
Modified, moved to the Super Streets, and earlier this season moved
up to the Mike’s Automotive Late Model division. Mike steadily
improved over the course of the season and in the final points race
everything came together. He got out to an early lead and held off
points leader Brad Shanks (8) of Rumney to garner his first-ever
feature win. Brad didn’t seem to mind, because his second place
finish gave him the Late Model season championship. Brad turned out
to be the only 2010 Champion to finish in this evening’s top three.
“Dangerous” Dan Collins (4) of Canaan snagged the third-place trophy.
Fan favorite Tony Shaw (20) stepped up to win his first-ever feature
in the O.E. Parts Direct Mini-Stock division. Andy Johnson (88) and
Sam Sawyer (96) were second and third. Missing at the checkered flag
was Mini Stock division champion Matt Morrill (9) who retired after
losing a left rear wheel. After the finish, Matt fired up his
crippled car and took a victory lap on three wheels to celebrate his
Mini Stock title. He commented in victory lane that his car handled
pretty well short one wheel. “Maybe I could have won on three wheels”,
he said.
Possibly the best race of the night was the Edge Graphix and Keyser
Trucking Super Street division feature. Rumney’s Mark Brown (47) took
the early lead on a very fast race track. Canaan’s Ryan Christian
(10) worked his way masterfully from the back of the field to second,
but was unable to get by Matt. Robbie Williams (7) of Plainfield
rounded out the top three. Campton’s Derek O’Hearn (14) was
noticeably absent from victory lane, but did well enough to win his
first track championship. This made Derek a member of a very rare
club; a second generation track champion. His father, Stuart O’Hearn,
won the Modified division title at the track in 1977.
The tightest title chase of 2010 season was in the Mid State Trucking
Modified division. Pittsfield’s Chad Turck (56) led David “Mad
Trucker” Heath (15) of Warren by a handful of points with David being
the track’s defending Modified champion. Neither driver made it into
the top three in the main event, but Chad finished ahead of David,
solidifying his claim to the title. Trevor Rocke (63) of Canan won
the race, followed by Kevin Chaffee (8) of Orange, Vt and Todd
Petschke (09) of Windor, Vt.
The final points race of the 2010 season was for the Camaro Heaven
Bandit division. Luckily Warren’s Marcus Jenness (19) had already
locked up the Bandits championship, because his battle-weary #19 gave
out half-way through the race. “Flyin'” Ryan Avery of Thornton
brought his old 4-cylinder car (01x) and grabbed the race’s
first-place trophy, followed by teammate Bill McKee (01) of Campton.
Third went to JP Campton’s Vaillancourt (14x).
Next week Big Daddy’s hosts a non-points Modified Open, a 40 lap Late
Model race, and a visit from the 600/900/1200cc Northeast Mini
Sprints. This will be one of the best shows of the year. Check the
track website, www.BigDaddysSpeedbowl.com for more info about coming
events and for race photos. You can also call the track at
603-786-2866 on race day for up to the minute information.