Mid-Season Shootout at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl
The best-kept secret in family entertainment is Big Daddy’s Speedbowl and that’s because we race on Sunday afternoons. Race fans are used to events running late into the night and then driving home. At Big Daddy’s on the Fourth of July, the extra-length, double-points features for the Ryzak Oil And Propane Mid-Season Shootout finished at 8:15! When people in Central New Hampshire and Vermon get used to that, the track will need to expand the seating.
Captain Bruce Morrill’s Company of colonial artillery from Franklin, NH opened the day with a 21 gun salute fired from their replica black powder cannons.
The 30 lap Camaro Heaven Bandits feature event went off first on this Independence Day. Marcus “Animal” Jenness (19) broke in his new race car with a win, followed by Scott Blake (21) and Jamie Nutting (99).
The Mid-State Trucking Modifieds took to the 1/4 mile clay for a 50-lap main. Ed Tobin (78) has run strong all year at Big Daddy’s, but had yet to take a feature win; he was a man on a mission. “Racin” Jason Sanville (96) took the lead away from Ed early, but then lost his engine midway through the race. “Flyin” Ryan Avery (01) also got by Tobin after many laps of trying, but was involved in an incident with a lap car and had to go to the end of the line. Tobin lead the rest of the way to the checkered flag. Trevor Rocke (63) drove a smart race coming home second with Avery managing to get back up to third.
The Mike’s Automotive Late Model division is slowly growing, but the podium saw three familiar faces. Brad Shanks (8) in first, Jamie Bezanson (13 1/2) in second, and “Dangerous” Dan Collins (4) third.
The OE Parts Direct Mini-Stocks got a bit of a shakeup with their extra-long 30-lap feature. Points leader Joshua Sunn (11) looked like an easy winner, but a flat tire sent him to the pits under green late in the race, putting him out of contention for the win. Kevin Harran (57) shot by Sunn as he pitted and took top honors. Harran was followed by Billy Bernard (14) and Tony Shaw (20) posting season-best second and thirds places, respectively.
As with all of the evening’s races, the expanded features proved to be more about endurance than speed. Jack Whynot (27) was dominating the Cutting Edge Graphix/Keyser Trucking Super Streets feature, but finished two laps down due to a green flag pit stop to change a flat tire. Whynot’s unplanned stop made way for a familiar trio to battle for the top three spots. In a hard fought race Ray Johnson (79) was first, Mark Brown (47) second, and Derek O’Hearn (14) was third.
This coming week, July 11th, is The Moses Memorial Race for Big Daddy’s regular weekly divisions. The race is sponsored by the Moses Family. The Mid-State Trucking Modified event will the 5th round of the Twin State Modified Series; the 2nd race at our track. Also appearing at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl this week will be several race cars from the sixties and seventies; on display and making parade laps. Come early to see these race cars from the past and talk to several of the driver that drove when the track was known as The Legion Bowl and Norway Pines.
Big Baddy’s Speedbowl is a family orientated racing facility featuring a D-shaped, 1/4 mile, clay oval. Grandstand admission is only $10 for an adult with a family package of $25. Pit admission is $25. The gates open at 12 noon, the driver’s meeting starts at 3:30, and the first race goes off at 4:00pm. The track is located on the Rumney/Wentworth town line on NH Rte. 25. Check the track website, www.BigDaddysSpeedbowl.com, for complete race results, coming events, and race photos. You can also call the track phone, 603-786-2866, on raceday for more info.
By Irma Heath and Rick Clogston
Photo Credit: Dave Suitor
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Captain Bruce Morrill’s Company of colonial artillery from Franklin, NH opened the day at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl in Wentworth, NH with a 21 gun salute fired from their replica black powder cannons.
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Kevin Harran (57) blast past leader Josh Sunn (11) as he heads for the pits for a tire change in the double-points, Mid Season Mini Stockt Shootout at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl.
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Ray Johnson (79), Derek O’Hearn (14), and Jack Whynot (27) under a blanket in the double-points, Mid Season Super Street Shootout at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl.
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Submitted by Dave Suitor – 7/4/10
Big Daddy’s Speedbowl is located in Wentworth, NH on Rt. 25 at the
Rumney/Wentworth town line.
Website: www.BigDaddysSpeedbowl.com