Hudson NH – Four Drivers made their first visits to victory lane this past Sunday at Hudson International Speedway. Double features in all divisions except the New England V-6 Modifieds increased chances of a podium finish and the trophy that comes along with it.
Erica Page got things rolling with a popular first win in the first Thunder Lights feature. Following Page were Dylan Beecher, Chad Wendell, Phil”P3”Baril lll, Megan Lord, Carlos Esquivel and John Daughenbaugh. Beecher turned in a dominating performance in winning the second Thunder Light feature. Beecher was followed by Wendell, Page, Baril, Esquivel and Daughenbaugh.
Second generation driver Loren Smith Jr. had to work to win the first Roadrunner feature of the night. Smith got the lead early, had to sweat out a ten minute rain delay and was dogged all race with defending champion Louie Maher all over Smiths bumper trying to find a way past. The best Maher could do was get beside Smith but wasn’t able to complete a pass and Maher had to settle for second place. Third through tenth were Patrick D’Alba, Johnny Reefer, Jesse Tellier, Derek Griffith, Erick Miller, Jason Carroll, Mike Walsh and Jen Lord.
Mike Walsh won his first feature in the second Roadrunner main of the night. Walsh had to fight off a determined Jef James on multiple restarts but was able to hold the lead till the checkers flew. Maher got past James to record his second runner up finish of the night. James hung on for third. Fourth through tenth were Carroll, Reefer, Miller, Tellier, Lord, Peter Raby and Griffith.
Both Rookie Stock Mains had first time winners. Billy Clement Jr. was the class of the field in the first feature. Clement Jr. also had to wait out a mid-race rain delay before he was able to celebrate in victory lane. Second through tenth were Dan Murphy Jr., Dean Wendell, Corrie Merritt, John Morin Jr., Chris Augevitch, Jerry Lepage, Larry Fortin, Andy Nichols and Heath Tourtellotte.
Andy Nichols wrapped up the first time winning with his win in the second Rookie Stock main. It wasn’t easy for Nichols either as he had a rear bumper full of Merritt for most of the last half of the race. Murphy Jr. got by Merritt for second place in the closing laps only to lose it after contact with Merritt in the final turn. Third through tenth were Clement Jr., Lepage, Keith Ennis, Wendell, Morin Jr., Bill Heliwell, Jake Michaud and Murphy Jr.
Louie Maher held the early lead in the New England V-6 Modified Main only to lose it by spinning coming off turn two on lap two. Dick Dubois took over the lead from there. Keith Caruso was glued to Dubois bumper the rest of the race waiting to make a move but Dubois made no mistakes and hung on for the win. Caruso crossed the line second followed by Chris Kuebler, Eric Vilandre, Will Wallace and Maher.
Charlie Baldwin won the Spectator Race and Drags. Ricky Woodside won the Flagpole race.
Next Sunday come celebrate the Fourth of July at Hudson Speedway with 100 Lap Enduros, Figure 8 Race, Rookies, Roadrunners, Thunder Lights, Spectator Race, Spectator Drags and Flagpole race. The gates open at 4pm and the first race is at 6pm. For more info please visit www.hudsonspeedway.info.