Manchester, Maine – Four days after celebrating his 14th birthday, Reid Lanpher found himself celebrating again. This time it was in Victory Lane at NHMS after winning the NELCAR event on the road course. Lanpher qualified 6th in the 24 car field and was running 4th with 4 to go when a caution allowed the field to bunch up. After pushing defending series champion Evan Beaulieu to the lead. Lanpher was able to draft and slingshot by Beaulieu on the front stretch. They made slight contact as neither wanted to lift first as they shot into turn one. Lanpher made the move stick and lead back to the stripe only to have another yellow flag shown and line up for another restart.
Beaulieu was put back to the point and as the flag man indicated one to go, Lanpher could be seen tapping on his roof and gesturing NHMS Legend king Shaun Buffington to give him a push on the re-start. It was not needed as Lanpher again lifted late entering turn one and made it stick once again. This time is was for good despite a very hard charge by Beaulieu that got him to Lanphers bumper as the checkers waived. Lanpher is racing under the guidance of 4-time NELCAR champion Bob Weymouth who raced home to a 7th place finish.
Lanpher is the only NELCAR racer to finish in the top 5 at every event he has entered this year with a first, second, fourth and fifth so far. The 14 year old is not yet old enough to compete at Beach Ridge and lost the points lead when the series raced there two weeks ago.
With the win, Lanpher becomes the youngest feature winner in the 16 year history of NELCAR as well as the youngest winner ever at NHMS.
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