Hudson NH –Hudson Speedway opened its doors for its 64th consecutive season of auto racing this past Sunday May 22nd with Billy Clement Jr., Justin Beecher, and Johnny Reefer all finding their way to victory lane.
Bob Riopelle had the pole position and took the lead at the drop the green flag of the Rookie Stock feature and held the top spot for the first few laps. Clement Jr. made his way up from the third starting spot to challenge Riopelle for the lead and took to the outside groove and made the pass for the lead a lap later. Clement held the top spot from that point until the finish in the caution free event. Riopelle held off several challenges and came home second. John Morin Jr. also had a podium finish coming in third place. Dan Murphy Jr. had a bumpy fourth place finish and Corrie Merritt finished fifth. After Merritt it was Jerry ‘No Brakes’ Lepage, Scotty Duval, Bill Fiske, Jim Junior, Keith ‘Slika’ Ennis, C.J. McLaughlin, Mike McHugh and Ryan Joyce.
A few Roadrunners had a tough time getting started at the drop of the green flag for their feature and the result was heat winner Jason Carroll getting front end damage to his racer that ended the day for his car. Since no laps were completed Carroll was able to get into his backup car and got back on the track but was three quarters of a lap back when they restarted.
Jen Lord had the pole and took full advantage of that by jumping out to the early lead but Johnny Reefer was on the move from his eighth starting spot and caught Lord by the quarter mark of the race. Reefer spent a few laps trying high and low to pass Lord and finally slipped by underneath coming off turn four. Reefer had it on cruise control from that point and picked up the win. Nick Fisette also got by Lord and finished second. Lord finished third. Jen Lords dad Tommy Lord finished fourth and Tim Paquette was fifth.
Rounding out the Roadrunners were Kevin Dunkee, Matt Lombardi, Scott Dunklee and Robert Rund. Carroll managed a tenth place run, Jef James was eleventh and Davi Cruz came in twelfth.
Jarrod Soucy held the lead for much of the Thunder Light feature but Justin Beecher was gaining ground as the laps wound down. Beecher caught Soucy with two to go just as the caution flag flew for Chad Wendells stopped car in turn four. A single file restart followed with Beecher getting a great run off turn four and passing Soucy at the start/finish line. Soucy had to watch from second place as Beecher picked up the first Thunder Light checker of 2011. Carlos Esquival was third followed by Meegan Lord and Wendell.
The Grand Enduro was won by Frank Byran followed by Barry Schonborg, Seth Petalas, Duane Stoner, Dave Lavine, Jeff Berry and Jeff Gilman.
The Four Cyl. Enduro was won by Eddie Gilman followed by Leon Keniston, Paul Wainwright and Jessie Honigs.
Dan Gill won the Flagpole Race and the Spectator Race. Chuck Clark won the Spectator Drags.
Memorial Day weekend is a doubleheader with racing on both Sunday May 29th and Monday May 30th. On Sunday it’s the return of the ‘Outlaws’ and Monday features the New England V6 Modifieds and Enduros. Both days have the Rookies, Roadrunners, Thunder Lights, Spectator Race, and Flagpole Race. Gates open at 11am and the first race is at 1pm. For more info please visit www.hudsonspeedway.info.