Hudson N.H. – Hudson Speedway swung open its gates for its 66th consecutive season on Sunday May 19th
Max Chaput led the Thunder Lights to flagman Steve Gran’s first green flag for feature racing of the year. McKayla Lord quickly moved up from her third row starting spot and never looked back to take the feature win. Kris Schroeder made his way up from his last starting spot to get to Lord’s bumper as the laps wound down but wasn’t able to mount a challenge as Lord joined her dad, uncles, sister and cousin as a Hudson Speedway feature winner. Schroeder finished second followed by Chaput and Jarrod Howard. Lord won the heat.
Kevin Aberle jumped to the lead in the Rookie Stock feature early in the race from his third row starting spot. Aberle built up a lead over second place runner Scotty Duval in the first half of the feature. Duval cut into Aberle’s lead quickly in the second half of the race and was on his bumper for most of the last half of the feature. With Duval on Aberle’s bumper going into turn three on the last lap Aberle slipped up the track a bit and Duval jumped on the chance to get aside of him. The top two traded fenders in the final corners and coming off turn four Duval was driving towards the finish line in the dirt at the bottom of the track and Aberle was regaining control and charging towards the line on the asphalt. In a near dead heat the word came down from the race control tower that Duval crossed the line first. Duval had issues in post race inspections that relegated him to the back of the finishing order handing the winner’s trophy to a grateful Aberle. Chad Wendell was third followed by Jerry Lepage, Jason Ryan and Roger Tanguay Sr. Aberle won the heat.
George “Goggles” Baldwin started deep in the Outlaw Sportsman main and took to the outside groove and was in third by the time a caution flew at lap five. Kevin Kephart and Todd Warren led the field to the ensuring restart. Baldwin made quick work of Kephart and Warren and seemed to set sail and was looking like he would cruise to victory. Warren had other plans as he began to cut into Baldwin’s lead and soon was on his bumper trying to get a run underneath Baldwin. Warren had some good runs off the corners but couldn’t make a pass and had to settle for a fine second place finish. Kephart held on for third followed by Geoff Rollins and Dean Wendell. Baldwin and Kephart won the heats.
The Roadrunner main featured a great three car battle for many laps for the top spot. Billy Osbourne was leading with Dave ‘Hollywood” Heliwell and Jarod Soucy battling for second right behind Osbourne. Both Heliwell and Soucy made runs at Osbourne’s lead but couldn’t get past him. Soucy finished second followed by Heliwell, Jen Lord and Mitch Bombard. Bombard and Osbourne won the heats.
The Grand Enduro was won by Bob Murphy followed by John Futz, Tonisia Mcleod, Mike Netishhen and Keith Lavigne. The 4 Cylinder Enduro was won by Mr. Tommy Lord followed by Jake Joslin, Paul Hunter, Leon “Tow Mater” Keniston and John Futz.
Scotty Duval won the Spectator Drags over Steve Clark.
Ryan Simons won the Spectator race. Bobbi Jayne won the Flagpole Race.
It’s a doubleheader on Memorial Day weekend with races on both Sunday and Monday.Gates open both days at 11am with racing beginning at 1pm. Both days include the Roadrunners, Rookies Stocks, Thunder Lights, Spectator Race, Spectator Drags and Flagpole Race. On Sunday the Outlaw Sportsman are featured and Monday the New England V-6 Modifieds are featured along with kids bike races beginning at 11:30am. For more info please visit www.hudsonspeedway.info.