By Lou Modestino
The newly proposed Mini-Cup division that was scheduled to run weekly in the Budweiser Oxford Championship Series on Friday nights will be moved to the Go-Kart Series that is scheduled to start in June of 2014.
“The division just can’t get off the ground stated Oxford Plains Speedway, General Manager, Dick Therrien. We had quite a bit of interest during our organizational meetings, but the interest apparently were just tire kickers, and unfortunately you can’t race with just a couple of cars. We want to thank Barry Morris and Parker Varney for supporting us, and hopefully some others will join in when the Go-Kart season kicks off.”
Oxford Plains Speedway officials are looking at expanding the numbers of races for the new four cylinder Bandit division which will now debut on Friday, May 30th. A revised schedule will be released in the very near future.
As the sun beat down on a little dirt track in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the crowds came to witness the 2014 season opener at Legion Speedway. While the heat made for a dry-slick race track, that didn’t stop the drivers from shaking out all the excitement and energy accumulated over the off season.
The Sprint Cars of New England made their first appearance of the season at Legion Speedway. The day started off with a mishap with a push truck that left rookie Christine Boesch’s #23 sprint car in needof serious repair. Her crew managed to repair the damages and salvage the day for the 23 team.
Returning champion, driver Chris Conroy in the 78 Mini Stock managed to take home wins in both the heat and the feature. In the heat, he was followed closely by James Davis in the 87 and Aaron Bunker in the 55. Drivers John Knight #12k, Dave Durkee #67 and Andy Johnson took first, second and third respectively in heat #2. Knight battled his way up to a second place finish in the Mini Stock feature while Davis earned the third place spot.
The newly formed Pure Stock division provided plenty of excitement right from the start. Driver Dan Collins in the #4 earned the top spot in the qualifier, followed closely by Rob Thurston in the #17 and Ronnie Bryson in the #5x. In the Pure Stock feature, Ryan Ovitt starts his season off with a well earned win in the #77, with Collins and Thurston close behind.
Not to be outdone, the Super Street division had fans on their feet while they cheered on their favorites. The caution flag flew on several occasions in both heats due to spin-outs as the drivers pushed their cars to the ragged edge. In the end, Sam Comeau in the #30, Wade Prentice in the #4 and Nick O’Haire in the #09 “Flintstone Flyer” earned the top three spots in the first qualifier, while Derek O’Hearn took his #55 to the front in heat #2. He was followed by Mark Brown #47 and Charlie Pickeron in the #8. The Super Street feature marked a return to the winner’s circle for O’Hearn in his bright yellow #55. Brown earned the second spot with Comeau receiving the bronze.
The Sportsman Modified division had an incident free season opener with a handful of new faces in the field. Driver Troy Comeau was at the top of heat #1 with Chad Turk’s #56 and Gary Siemens #5 taking second and third, respectively. In Heat #2, a disqualification of the 82 car left veteran driver Ryan Avery in his #01 at the top of the pack. Jack Cook’s #1NH and Sid Laquire’s #88x earned spots 2 and 3. The feature marked a return to the winner’s circle for Comeau’s #89 with Turk and Siemen’s battling hard for the second and third spots.
Mike’s Automotive in Tilton, NH, this year’s Sportsman Modified division sponsor, offered a HARD CHARGER award to the driver to advanced the most places in the feature. This award was earned by Jason Sanville, who raced his way from the rear up seven spots to ninth overall. Congratulations Jason!
The season opener was capped off perfectly with the SCoNE feature. Drivers searched high and low forsome bite and Chris Donnelly in the #17 found it up top. He fended off advances from Dan Douville in the 7x who took home a second place finish, followed closely by Clay Dow in the 58. The SCoNE series returns to Legion Speedway on June 8th.
Legion Speedway is located on the Wentworth/Rumney town line. Gates open at 12pm every sunday, hot laps at 2pm and the first green flag at 3pm. (from short track racing)
For the second consecutive weekend, rain has forced Oxford Plains Speedway to postpone their Friday night, Budweiser Oxford Championship Racing Series.
“It was just too bad that the rains came in like they did as there were thirty-one Pro Late Models in the pit area stated General Manager, Dick Therrien. It was $5 Buck Friday, presented by 99.9 The Wolf, and the Maine Motorcycle Safety program, and it looked like we were going to have a great crowd as even in the rain the cars were pouring into the parking lot. We have come up with a great plan for the fans to use their tickets.”
The decision has made to have a double header weekend which will include American Legion Night on Friday, May 24, and then $5 Buck Friday will now become $5 Buck Monday on May 26th. Post time on Monday, May 26th will be at 1:30pm. All general admission grandstand tickets that were purchased on Friday, May 16th may be used for either Friday, May 23rd, or Monday, May 26th. All pit bracelets will be honored on Friday, May 23rd.
Rhode Island’s Ray Parent battled through an intense final six laps to claim his first career American Canadian Tour point counting event victory in the Airborne 100 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY on Saturday, May 17. Parent edged Quebec’s Jonathan Bouvrette by half a car length at the checkered flag and New Hampshire’s Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. took third. It was the ACT Late Model Tour’s 250thevent since its inception in 1992.
Parent started on the pole of the 100 lap event after earning a plus three on his way to his heat race win. He led through the first caution of the event on lap six, but relinquished the lead to Bobby Therrien following the ensuing restart. Several laps later Parent returned to the point and built a giant lead over an 88 lap green flag run. It looked like Parent would ride to an easy win before the second caution flag flew on lap 94.
That set up the battle between Parent and Bouvrette. After another quick caution on lap 94, the race got back under way with Bouvrette in the outside lane and Parent on the low side. The duo stayed door-to-door swapping the lead four times at the line and multiple times around the track over the final six laps. Every time it appeared Bouvrette was getting the edge on the outside, Parent would come clawing back. Bouvrette led lap 99 and the pair stayed even until turn four coming to the finish. They swapped paint as they drag raced to the line and Parent came away with the win by .041 seconds.
Parent, Bouvrette and Polewarczyk were followed to the line by Quebec’s Stephane Descoste and Vermont’s Bobby Therrien in the top five. Rookie Brandon Atkins, Travis Stearns, Jeff White, Rowland Robinson, Jr., and Jimmy Hebert completed the top ten.
Parent claimed the $1,000 Bond Auto ACT Invitational qualifier bonus with his win and will head to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 20. Parent is a previous winner of the prestigious event back in 2012.
The 100 lap race was completed in 43 minutes and 23 seconds with just three cautions. A total of 31 cars took the green flag in the feature. Overall 32 cars were in attendance but Lance Allen had motor issues in practice that ended his day.
The American Canadian Tour has several weeks off before heading to Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH for their fourth event of the season on Saturday, June 7.
The sister tour to the ACT Late Models, the Série ACT begins its 2014 next Saturday, May 24 at Autodrome St-Eustache in St-Eustache, QC.
Next Sunday, May 25, Thunder Road International Speedbowl opens its doors for their second event of the season with the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic. The event will be the first Thunder Road Late Model event of the season and the first Vermont State Late Model Championship event. The day will also feature the Devil’s Bowl and Airborne Modifieds for a 50 lap event.
Airborne 100 Unofficial Results
American Canadian Tour
Airborne Speedway – Plattsburgh, NY
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Pos. (Start) Driver, Hometown, Laps Completed
1. (1) Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI, 100 Laps
2. (5) Jonathan Bouvrette, Blainville, QC, 100 Laps
3. (12) Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, NH, 100 Laps
4. (3) Stephane Descoste, Oka, QC, 100 Laps
5. (2) Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, VT, 100 Laps
6. (4) #Brandon Atkins, AuSable Forks, NY, 100 Laps
7. (7) Travis Stearns, Auburn, ME, 100 Laps
8. (16) Jeff White, Winthrop, ME, 100 Laps
9. (8) Rowland Robinson Jr., Steuben, ME, 100 Laps
10. (15) Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, VT, 100 Laps
11. (10) Emily Packard, E. Montpelier, VT, 100 Laps
12. (20) Sylvain Lacombe, Terrebone, QC, 100 Laps
13. (6) Todd Davis, Claremont, NH, 100 Laps
14. (11) Brian Hoar, Williston, VT, 100 Laps
15. (9) Kyle Welch, Newport, NH, 100 Laps
16. (21) Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT, 100 Laps
17. (17) Luke Hinkley, Claremont, NH, 100 Laps
18. (13) Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME, 100 Laps
19. (14) Ben Ashline, Pittston, ME, 100 Laps
20. (26) Nick Lagoy, Plattsburgh, NY, 99 Laps
21. (24) Claude Leclerc, Lanoraie, QC, 99 Laps
22. (18) #Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA, 99 Laps
23. (19) Jason Corliss, Barre, VT, 99 Laps
24. (29) #John Falconi, Oakham, MA, 98 Laps
25. (28) Jean-Pierre Ouimet, Terrebone, QC, 98 Laps
26. (31) James Linardy, Somerville, MA, 98 Laps
27. (30) #Matt Anderson, Franklin, NH, 92 Laps
28. (27) #A.J. Panessiti, Barnstead, NH, 92 Laps
29. (22) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY, 71 Laps
30. (23) Aaron Fellows, Croyden, NH, 46 Laps
31. (25) #Mike Ziter, Williamstown, VT, 23 Laps
Lap Leaders: Ray Parent, 1-7; Bobby Therrien, 8-15; Parent, 16-95; Jonathan Bouvrette, 96-97; Parent, 98; Bouvrette, 99; Parent, 100.
Time of Race: 43:23
Margin of Victory: .041 seconds
Cautions: 3 (laps 6, 94, 94)
Heat Winners: Brandon Atkins, Jimmy Hebert, Jeff White, Ray Parent
Consi Winners: Travis Stearns, Stephane Descoste
Once again a PASS Super Late Model race had to be postponed due to weather this past Saturday at Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee Junction, Quebec, but the PASS North Tour danced around Sunday between sprinkles and put on a tremendous show with a solid crowd, and a full field of PASS Super Late Models for the Frameco 150.
It was an all Canadian front row as Patrick Laperle and Donald Theetge brought the field to green. The caution waved early, as on lap four, Ben Rowe’s bad luck continued as he cut down a tire putting him several laps off the pace. After a couple of minor spins, the field settled in as the Laperle / Theetge battle continued until lap 50 when Johnny Clark, Mike Rowe and DJ Shaw drove around the outside of the leaders.
The field stayed green until lap 80 when Theetge and Laperle got together in turn two. Clark continued to lead the event until lap 126 as lapped traffic became a major part of the finish. This is when a slowing car of Jaques Poulin was collected by Clark sending him spinning in front of the field. Glen Luce’s fine day ended in the skirmish as he had been hanging around the top five all afternoon.
DJ Shaw inherited the lead and survived a couple of late race restarts to capture his second PASS Super Late Model win in a row, and third on the season. Johnny Clark, Mike Rowe, Joey Doiron and Kevin Roberge completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Martin Latulippe, Patrick Laperle, Michael Lavoie, Eric St. Gelais and Donald Theetge. Qualifying checkers flew for Laperle, Theetge, and Travis Benjamin.
The next stop for the PASS North Series will be this coming Saturday, May 24th at White Mountain Motorsports Park for the Littleton Chevrolet / Buick 150. Post time is 5pm. WMMP is located on Route 3 in North Woodstock, New Hampshire.
The picturesque White Mountain Motorsports Park located on Route 3 in North Woodstock, New Hampshire will be the next stop for the Pro All Stars Series, as the top PASS Super Late Model teams in the northeast invade the ¼ mile speed plant on Saturday, May 24th at 5 p.m. for the Littleton Chevrolet / Buick PASS 150.
WMMP has always been regarded as one of the favorite tracks by most PASS North teams as it is extremely wide, very fast and always allows for plenty of passing. In 2013 weather plagued the event in June forcing postponement of the event to later in the season where it was also rained out. The decision was made to run twin 150’s on August 31st making Labor Day weekend an unbelievable event. Joey Doiron stepped up his program in the first 150, and claimed a hard fought win over Karl Allard, Ben Rowe, David Oliver and DJ Shaw. Doiron came right back in the nightcap and did the unthinkable by sweeping the pair of 150’s on the night. DJ Shaw, Cassius Clark, David Oliver and Derek Ranstrom completed the top five. These events were pivotal in the battle of the PASS North championship, as Doiron ended up second on the season to Cassius Clark, while Shaw placed third.
A solid field of PASS North teams are expected to enter this event. Joining the PASS North Super Late Models will be WMMP’s own Late Models, Tigers, Strictly Stocks, Strictly Stock Mini’s and Kids Trucks. Post time is 5pm.
Keith Carzello never stopped charging forward Saturday, May 17, at Monadnock Speedway, surviving two early-race spins and then soaring through the field to make a last-lap pass and win his second Sportsman Modified feature in as many weeks.
Super Stock hot shoe Tom Carey III also made it two in a row, outgunning John Lavoie en route to the checkers. In the Mini Stocks, it was Mike Stebbins winning his second event of the season; earning the checkers this time in his backup car.
Young Gun Daniel Wesson scored his first career victory Saturday, Bryan Town earned his first victory lap of the season in the Thunder Stocks, and David Berghman topped the Pro 4 Modified feature. Joby Tucker and Scott Poirier were the victors in New England Antique Racers events.
Eric Leclair and Joey Kendall led the Sportsman Modifieds to the green, battling for first as lap one was completed, when half the field behind them scattered wildly along the front stretch after team cars of Keith Carzello and Steve Fifield made contact. The Steve Fifield and JT Cloutier rides sustained the heaviest damage in the melee that sent five cars to their trailers.
Back under green, Leclair would lead lap two before giving way to Kendall, who would then pace the field until an abrupt meeting with the turn-two wall on lap eight. Tyler Jarvenpaa, glued to Kendall’s bumper before the crash, then took charge, leading for 20-plus laps until Carzello worked his last-lap magic.
Bill Kimball, holding the deuce spot most of the way, saw his hope of a strong finish dashed on lap 26 when contact was made between him and Todd Patnode in turn four to bring out the last caution of the event. Kimball’s misfortune was just what Carzello needed, rocketing into second on the restart and then scoring the win with his last-lap heroics four laps later.
With Jarvenpaa finishing at Carzello’s bumper for second, Scott MacMichael completed his strong night’s work in third. Brian Chapin and Leclair rounded out the top five.
Nancy Muni-Ruot held the point in the Super Stock main event for 16 laps, then giving way to Tom Carey III. A lap later, John Lavoie would claim second and the chase was on.
Carey and Lavoie would pull away from the field and, on this night,
Carey had all his bases covered, scoring his second win in as many weeks, two carlengths ahead of Lavoie. Muni-Ruot was strong in third, with Bill Johnston and Tyler Leary rounding out the top five.
Dana Shepard led the early laps of the Mini Stock feature, with Mike Stebbins, Eric Pomasko, and Julia Raymond battling for position close behind. Stebbins, who had inched ahead twice before only to have the caution come out, took the lead on lap eight, with he and Raymond then racing side-by-side the next four trips around the high banks.
Stebbins, on this night, would not be denied, taking the checkers two lengths ahead of the charging Raymond. Joe Rogers was solid all night to come home third, Pomasko was strong in fourth, and Shepard claimed fifth.
Cole Littlewood was running away with the Young Guns feature when misfortune came knocking. Running 20 lengths ahead of his closest competitor on lap seven, contact with a slower car would end Littlewood’s run at the point.
Daniel Wesson and Hailey Guy then battled for the lead, with Guy’s strong run going up in smoke a lap later. Dylan Morse would suffer a fate similar to Littlewood’s while running second on lap 13, quickly pulling his ride back under him to only lose two spots.
Wesson, although strongly challenged, would not be denied his first career victory, taking the checkers ahead of Mike McGoldrick, Matt Kimball, Morse, and Littlewood.
Bryan Town took the lead from early race leader Jason Barden on lap eight of the Thunder Stock feature and never looked back. Dave Greenslit moved up to second on lap 14 but could not overtake Town, who made his first Monadnock run of the year a successful one.
With Greenslit solid in second, Henry Martin was next under the checkers, his third podium finish in as many events. Barden came home fourth, and Scott Vien claimed fifth.
David Berghman wired the Pro-4 Modified feature. Norm Wrenn III chased him all the way to score the runner-up finish, and Chubs Lausier was third. Tom Royer piloted the first Lite racer under the checkers.
This Saturday, May 24, the Granite State Pro Stock Series makes it first of two stops this season at Monadnock Speedway, competing in a 100-lap main event on the high banks. The Sportsman Modifieds, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, Young Guns, Lightning Stocks, Thunder Stocks, and Vintage Outlaws will also be in action. Post time is 6 p.m.
Sportsman Modifieds: Keith Carzello, Tyler Jarvenpaa, Scott MacMichael, Brian Chapin, Eric LeClair, Todd Patndoe, Bill Kimball, Greg Williams, Adam Norton, Nichole Ouellette, Joe Kendall, Steve Fifield, Kim Rivet, JT Cloutier, Leslie Keyser, Trevor Bleau
Super Stocks: Tom Carey III, John Lavoie, Nancy Muni, Bill Johnston, Tyler Leary, Dave Striebel, Robert Hagar, James Thompson, Ian MacDonald, Tyler Lescord, Alyssa Rivera
Mini Stocks: Mike Stebbins, Julia Raymond, Joe Rogers, Eric Pomasko, Dana Shepard, Beth Adams, Chris McTaggart, Justin Faford, Cameron Sontag, Joel Monahan, DJ Lazelle, Tim Paquette, Joe Collins, Kevin McKnight
Thunder Stocks: Bryan Town, Dave Greenslit, Henry Martin, Jason Barden, Scott Vien, Marshall Usher, Paul Barnard, Craig Chaffee, James Nowakowski, Caleb Cashman, Tyler Janovsky
Young Guns: Daniel Wesson, Mike McGoldrick, Bill Kimball, Dylan Morse, Cole Littelwood, Colton Smith, Michelle Leh, Devin Guy, Justin Littelwood, Jessica Laflam, Alicia Springer, Hayley Guy
The inaugural champion in the Granite State Pro Stock Series, Bobby Cabral, has filed entry to the Monadnock 100, taking place May 24 at the Winchester, NH facility.
Cabral won the first ever championship in the young series’ history in 2012 in dominating
fashion. The Medford, MA driver took home a victory and three top 3 finishes out of 6 races, but more impressively, only finished outside the top 5 once (7th, Canaan). Cabral will be driving the #66c, with backing
out of the LCM racing stables.
Monadnock may be a great spot for Cabral to get back into the racing groove with the series. In two races there, both in 2012, Cabral picked up a pair of third place finishes. Cabral looks to continue that trend on
Saturday.
Two more drivers who have filed early entries are “Thrillin” Dillon Moltz and Brad Babb. The duo put on a great show at the
first event in 2014 for the GSPSS, trading positions multiple times throughout the 50 lap event at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in April. Both with high hopes on the season, the
battle at the season opener could be a preview of the rest of the year. Moltz is quick to agree, stating “(Babb) and
I said that to each other after the (Thompson) race. We talked about how it will be like that
between us throughout the entire season.
We both drive hard, run every lap, and don’t want to give up position.” With Babb and Moltz picking
up the first heat wins of the year, and 4th and 5th place finishes at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park respectively, fans are sure to be treated to the hard, door-to-door battles for the remainder of the season.
Opening race winner and 2013 champion Mike O’Sullivan has filed entry to the Monadnock
Speedway event. O’Sullivan is expected to run a part-time schedule as he and wife Abby welcomed their third son,
Cameron, into the family. O’Sullivan will look to take the checkers in consecutive races to begin the year.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series welcomes Fran “JR” Colson and Dennis Maxfield back to action at Monadnock. The pair of veteran drivers are on the upside of medical issues, but will make their season debuts just days away. Also joining the list of pre-entered drivers are Mike Parks, Barry Gray, Greg Nanigian, Erik Sands, Matt Zenisky, Cory Roberts, Derek Griffith, and Ron Smith.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series will run 100 laps at Monadnock Speedway on Saturday, May 24th. Post time is 6PM, and General Admission is just $20. Monadnock Speedway is located at 840 Keene Road in Winchester, NH.