Newburgh, NY June 20, 2011 – 2009 aDP Rivet Rookie of the Year driver Peter Portante goes back to back to be the first two time winer of the 2011 ALNRS Season. Portante of Plainville, CT took his number 24 Intercity Lines/ERA Replica Automobiles sponsored chevy to victory lane on June 3 at the Lee USA Speedway to claim is first ever win in the ALNRS and backed that up with another win at Monadnock Speedway in the Victor Johnson Memorial Race this past weekend at the famed 1/4 mile high banked Monadnock Speedway.
Portante had suffered a case of the sophmore jinx in 2010 after claiming the 2009 aDP Rivet Rooking of the year and also suffered some of the hardest crashes ever witnessed in an Allison Legacy Race Car during last season. But what a difference a year makes. Portante came out of the box strong for the 2011 season leading laps and claiming victory in the last two races.
Saturdays event was a tribute to the late Victor Johnson who’s was both a car owner and driver in the ALNRS. The night would start with a shortened qualifier do to a crash in turn four involving Nathan Johnson who was racing in memory of his late father. It would be his first start in the 2011 season.
On a lap five restart Nathan stumbled on the restart but recovered quickly as he battle two time champ James Logan of Dighton, MA as they headed down the back stretch. With a light sprinkle which began under the caution Nathan spun going into turn four and was hit by TJ Jeski of Dracut, MA who was unable to avoid the 5.
With the rain starting to come down a little harder and the cleanup needed in turn four Series Director Michael Vasquez opted for a yellow/Checker in the interest of safety.
As Nathan’s #5 Johnson Brothers Roofing Ford was towed in to the pits it was ment with almost 20 crew members and racers from through out the pit area to assure the number 5 would be ready for the Memorial laps in memory of his father and the feature event.
After a slight delay for quick shower the ALNRS feature event was ready to roll out for their 25 lap event. The sole caution would come out on lap 5 when the #19 of Nicoal Perreault of Northfield, NH would lose the handling on her Eurasian Autoworks, LTD sponsored Chevy as she came of turn 4.
On the restart Portante would check out and never look back as he took a commanding lead over Logan and and the 36 of Fichburgh, MA driver Troy McNeil. Logan and McNeil would battle for second with Logan getting the edge at the checkers. Rounding out the top five would be the 9 of Emily Packard in her Northstar Fireworks sponsored chevy followed by Melissa Fifield of Wakefield, NH.
As the top three drivers lined the front stretch they were joined by Nathan Johnson who just missed out on a top five as he finished in sixth place. Peter who claimed his second ever victory trophy in the ALNRS, dedicated the win to Nathans father and showed the meaning of true sportsmanshsip and class as he handed his trophy over to Nathan in a touching tribute to his late father.
With a 29 point lead over Packard, Portante looks to keep the momentum rolling as the series heads to Twin Speedway next Sunday for a 50 lap event.