by Jay | Aug 20, 2009 | NASCAR
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Donny Lia overcame a late-race miscue to capture the inaugural UNOH Perfect Storm 150 at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday night.
Lia led 40 of the final 43 laps en route to his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win of the season. He jumped a restart on lap 138 and briefly lost the lead to Ted Christopher when race officials ordered him to give his advantage back. However, Lia drove back by Christopher three laps later to take the lead for good.
Lia, who won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June, beat Christopher to the line by 3.126 seconds in the first event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified and Whelen Southern Modified Tours at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile.”
Ryan Preece finished third while George Brunnhoelzl III was the top finishing NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour driver in the combination race. Woody Pitkat rounded out the top five.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour proved once again to be strong in the combination race format, which sees both Tours compete for one purse, but receive points based on their finish against other drivers on their tour. Including Lia and Christopher, eight of the top 10 cars across the line were from the Whelen Modified Tour.
Brunnhoelzl will be credited with first-place points and a win for the Whelen Southern Modified Tour standings.
The rest of the top 10 consisted of Todd Szegedy, Rowan Pennink, Ed Flemke Jr., Burt Myers and Erick Rudolph.
It appeared to be Christopher’s race to win the majority of the race. Fastest in the first two practice sessions, the defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion led the first 107 circuits.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman finished 28th and 37th, respectively. Newman was caught in an accident on the second lap of the race and Kahne retired on Lap 100 with engine failure.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will next race Saturday, Aug, 29 at Chemung (N.Y.) Speedrome. The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified will also return to the track Saturday, Aug. 29 at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C.
by Jay | Aug 20, 2009 | NASCAR
BRISTOL, Tenn.—Kyle Busch ended Ron Hornaday Jr.’s five-race winning streak, capturing Wednesday night’s O’Reilly 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Busch took the lead on Lap 124 after a lengthy side-by-side battle with Jason White and was a comfortable 2.721 seconds ahead of runner-up Matt Crafton by the time the checkered flag appeared.
“It’s a fun place to race,” Busch said after collecting his third truck win of the season. “I knew we would come here with a fast truck; we’ve been fast every time we’ve come here. … It’s good to be back, finally.”
Hornaday, polesitter Ryan Newman and Brian Scott rounded out the top five.
“Anytime Kyle and I get together, we know we can win races,” crew chief Richie Wauters said. “We thought about (pitting a second time), but the tires are so hard here, they’re not falling off. … We decided to stay out, and it was the right call.”
Wauters replaced Doug George atop the pit box heading into this week’s race.
Busch led twice for 82 laps en route to his 12th career win in the series. White led one time for 86.
Hornaday, running in the top 10, restarted in 17th after pitting during the night’s first caution. He worked his way back into the top 10 and was safely inside the top five at the finish. After winning five consecutive races, Hornaday said he was “just glad (the streak) is over so you guys will stop asking me about it.”
“Bristol is the toughest one. (I) just left a lot out there,” Hornaday said. “Top five is what we needed for points. It’s been pretty cool.”
Hornaday remains atop the standings and leads Crafton by 211 points. Mike Skinner, who had to pit late under green, finished 20th and remained third in the standings.
by Jay | Aug 20, 2009 | Maine, Speedway 95
SHELBY KIMBALL TAKES SERIES TROPHY
Danielle DeLuck of Hampden won her second feature of the season Wednesday night at Speedway 95 after leading from the start in the third race of the Ladies three race series, and holding off Winterport’s Rhonda Lyford in a green, white checker dash to the finish. Although Lyford finished second on the track, her car failed post-race inspection and she was disqualified from the event. Becky Elston of Carmel was awarded the second place finish, followed by Cornville’s Shelby Kimball in third. Kimball’s third place finish wasn’t an easy one, as she had to start at the rear of the field twice due to pit stops during caution periods. Nicole Smith of Clifton caused three cautions, which kept the field bunched up on the restarts. The third place finish gave Kimball the overall win in the three race series points chase. Pole sitter Kayla Allen of Bucksport finished fourth with Amy Houde of Howland in fifth. Kayla Allen won the qualifier, which sat her on the pole for the feature.
Darren Durrell returned from his tough loss last week to lead the caution free Little Enduro feature from pole to checkers. Although it took three tries to get the race started, once it got going it didn’t stop again until it was over. Durrell easily threaded through traffic enroute to his victory, but had to watch Milo’s Mike Witham, who chased him for the entire race. Andrew Crosby of Hermon ended up finishing second following Witham’s disqualification in post race inspection. Witham was found to have “gutted” his hood, which is an infraction of the rules. Chris Carroll of Greenbush then took home the third place trophy, his first top three for the season. Fourth went to Newport’s Mark Lane, and Paul Higgins of Newburgh finished in fifth. Higgins won one of the qualifiers and Orrington’s Donnie Blanchard won the other. With just one week to go, Higgins leads Blanchard in the point chase in the division by about 30 points.
Roger Smith Jr. picked up where he left off last week and led the Big Enduro feature from green to checkers to post his second win in a row. Ricky Palmer of Winterport, who had won three in a row earlier in the season, finished second, blaming himself for being lazy and not touching his car all week. In his first appearance of the season, Alvin McNevin of Holden brought his Ford LTD home in third. McNevini explained he had been sidelined this season with a leg injury, but was ready to go now, and proved it with his top three effort. Shawn McNevin of Hudson finished fourth with Robert Caruso of Kenduskeag finishing fifth in his first attempt in the Big Enduros.
In the last appearance of the season for the Stars of Tomorrow, Cole Robinson of Clinton made it three in a row by passing early leader Brett McCullouogh of Kenduskeag on the fourth lap of the 10 lap feature for the 11-14 year olds. Hermon’s Ryan Modery finished in second, and McCullough finished third following a last lap altercation with Cornville’s Matt Kimball. Kimball went into turn one on the last lap and made a charge up the inside of turn one, forcing Modery into McCullough and spinning both cars out. Modery and McCullough recovered, and Kimball was relegated to a last place finish for rough driving. Robinson also won the qualifier earlier in the evening.
Jim Carr of Clifton made it 10 in a row in the pick up truck division as he took the lead from Winterport’s Mike Lynch on the 8th lap of the 20 lap caution free event by running the inside groove as he does so successfully each week. Dana Harlow of Bucksport again finished in second after passing Lynch late in the race. Lynch held on to finish third, driving a truck owned by Harlow. Hermon’s Brett Crosby took fourth followed by his son, Andrew, also of Hermon, who posted a fifth place finish for the night. Carr made it a sweep by also winning the 10 lap heat race for the division.
by Jay | Aug 20, 2009 | Maine, Oxford Plains Speedway
OXFORD, Maine – Two point leaders were disqualified in the post-race inspection and another finished outside the top 10 in a season-changing Wednesday night of Acceleration Series racing at Oxford Plains Speedway.
David Childs (Chimney Tech Outlaw) and Kevin Oliver (Call of the Wild RV Center Sport Truck) failed the tech check after their 20-lap features. That turn of events denied Oliver his sixth straight victory in the pickup division.
Ryan Robbins was a runaway winner ahead of Childs and the rest of the Chimney Tech Outlaw ‘A’ field, posting his first victory as a rookie in the class.
Guy Childs and Jim Davis Jr. also prevailed in Outlaw action. Ryan Farrar ascended to his fourth win of the season and reclaimed the Sport Truck point lead after the Oliver infraction.
John Childs and Jim Hart each posted their second victory of the season in Macdonald Motors Runnin’ Rebel. Vanna Brackett prevailed for the third time in Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy Ladies, with Bill Grover leading the Goulet Home Inspections Renegades for the third straight time and fifth overall.
Robbins used the outside lane to charge from fourth to first and set sail in the Outlaw finale. Terrific racing from second to ninth ensued a full straightaway behind the winner.
When the father-son team of Josh (second) and David Childs (fourth) was removed from the running order, it was Steve Moon snagging second ahead of last week’s winner Chris Coolidge and new series point leader Chris Burgess. Zach Bowie shuffled ahead to fifth.
Guy Childs charged from sixth to first on the opening lap of the ‘B’ feature and cruised to his second straight victory and third of the month.
Again it was a four-car scrap for second providing the entertainment value, with reigning division champion Ron Abbott Jr. getting the better of John Patria in the outside lane on the final lap. Josh Paradis edged Michael Haynes for fourth.
Davis flashed to his fifth win of this comeback season, rallying from 11th to first in the first eight laps of the ‘C’ main. Missing both halves of a double-feature night two weeks ago due to mechanical failure sidetracked Davis in the point standings and put him in the low-point group.
Allen’s Ladies champion Dottie Patria led the first seven laps and posted a career-best Outlaw finish of second in only her second start of the season. Carey Robertson was third, followed by Todd Hall and Phil Knowlton.
John Childs and Brady Romano started on the front row and ran away from the field in a caution-free Rebel ‘A’ feature.
Romano lurked within a car length but couldn’t make the pass in the late stages. Zach Audet was unchallenged for third, with red-hot rookie Ryan Hewins holding Dustin Salley at bay for fourth.
Usual suspects Troy Jordan (12th), Kyle Hewins (14th) and Matt Dufault (18th after a flat tire) all struggled in the four-cylinder showcase.
Hart charged to the lead on lap 2 and stayed at the front of an evenly matched, four-car gaggle at the head of the ‘B’ main. Derek Cook applied pressure throughout but was relegated to second.
Jeff Hebert and Mark Childs Jr. swapped third on five occasions before Hebert held the spot at the checkers. Brian Nason wound up fifth.
Farrar overcame a race-long battle with Opie Allard, Corey Williams and John Lizotte and put himself in position to in inherit the Truck victory, his first since June 27.
Lizotte landed second with another strong run from the rear of the field. Jeff Schmidt surged to third after the Oliver dismissal, with Allard fourth and Williams fifth.
Brackett went two months between victories after setting the all-time Ladies Acceleration Series wins record in June. Her recent rough luck turned around when she overtook Christina Spaulding on lap 4 and left the field in her tire tracks.
A green-white-checkered finish gave Patria a late opportunity to bid for the win, but Brackett held her line and prevailed by a car length.
Spaulding held onto third, while division point leader Cathy Manchester overcame a spin and a fuel leak to swipe fourth and protect a two-point advantage over Brackett. Rookie Tori Burgess was fifth.
Grover spotted defending Renegade champ Jason Hannigan the lead at the outset before driving underneath Hannigan on lap 2. Grover maintained a two-car length lead until the conclusion.
Bob Morey took third and moved into a virtual tie for the point lead with Gerard Cote, who was fifth. Spencer Morse, a 16-year-old second-generation racer, fashioned fourth in his first OPS start.
Oxford’s busy weekend continues Thursday with the championship round of the Agren Appliance Summer Slam triple crown, with 75-lap features for all three Championship Series divisions. Qualifying begins at 6:30 p.m.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘A’ (20 laps): 1. Ryan Robbins, Dixfield; 2. Steve Moon, Gray; 3. Chris Coolidge, Norway; 4. Chris Burgess, Sabattus; 5. Zach Bowie, Lisbon; 6. Dan Brown, Peru; 7. Jim Drake, Hebron; 8. Addison Bowie, Auburn; 9. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 10. Steve Brill, Bridgton; 11. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 12. Shannon Judd, Jay; 13. Jerry Freve, Buckfield. DQ: Josh Childs, Oxford; David Childs, Oxford.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Guy Childs, Turner; 2. Ron Abbott Jr., Sabattus; 3. John Patria, Turner; 4. Josh Paradis, Sumner; 5. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 6. Tyler Belanger, Sumner; 7. David Brown, Poland; 8. Bubba Collins, New Gloucester; 9. Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn; 10. Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester; 11. Kyle Curtis, Oxford; 12. Scott Hethcoat, Danville Junction; 13. Clint Sherwood, Poland; 14. John Spencer Jr., Farmington; 15. Jay Wilkins, Gray.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘C’ (20 laps): 1. Jim Davis Jr., Sabattus; 2. Dottie Patria, Turner; 3. Carey Robertson, Leeds; 4. Todd Hall, Auburn; 5. Phil Knowlton, Poland; 6. Brian Picard, Gorham; 7. Wayne Estes, Sumner; 8. Nic Stanley, Buckfield; 9. Chad Truman, South Paris; 10. Dennis Morang, South Paris; 11. Don Veinott, Sabattus; 12. Matt Weeks, Greene; 13. Gerry Richard, Leeds; 14. Justin Vining, Peru; 15. Scott Veinott, Greene.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘A’ (20 laps): 1. John Childs, Leeds; 2. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 3. Zach Audet, Wilton; 4. Ryan Hewins, Leeds; 5. Dustin Salley, Auburn; 6. Mike Ward, Harrison; 7. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 8. Jamie Leavitt, Minot; 9. Corey Beaulieu, Oxford; 10. Bill Sprague, Minot; 11. Craig Farrington, Minot; 12. Troy Jordan, Turner; 13. Roger Beaulieu, Sabattus; 14. Kyle Hewins, Leeds; 15. Jason Berry, Turner; 16. Scott Farrington, Minot; 17. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 18. Matt Dufault, Turner.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Jim Hart, Turner; 2. Derek Cook, Livermore Falls; 3. Jeff Hebert, Lewiston; 4. Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls; 5. Brian Nason, Lewiston; 6. Bob Danforth, Stoneham; 7. Craig Bartlett, Denmark; 8. Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester; 9. Charlie Hall, Oxford; 10. Michael Carver, Durham; 11. Carl Conant, Lewiston; 12. Bob Lucas, Peru; 13. Cody Smith, Oxford; 14. Todd Sawyer, Pownal; 15. Chad Wills, Mechanic Falls; 16. Gene White, Lisbon; 17. Ellery Phillips Jr., Turner.
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 2. John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls; 3. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 4. Opie Allard, Harpswell; 5. Corey Williams, Sumner; 6. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 7. Ryan Varney, South Paris; 8. Herb Farrar, Sumner; 9. Laurette Theriault, South Casco; 10. Eugene Corson, Sumner; 11. Nathan Merrill, Norway; 12. Jerry Stevens, Searsport. DQ: Kevin Oliver, Gray.
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 2. Dottie Patria, Turner; 3. Christina Spaulding, Lewiston; 4. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 5. Tori Burgess, Sabattus; 6. Missy Blash, Oxford; 7. Missy Morgan, Lewiston; 8. Kristen Brown, Poland; 9. Lisa Brooks, Auburn; 10. Sue Veinott, Sabattus; 11. Shannon Wheeler, Auburn; 12. Annie Chartier, Mexico.
GOULET HOME INSPECTIONS RENEGADE (10 laps): 1. Bill Grover, Topsham; 2. Jason Hannigan, Greene; 3. Bob Morey, Lisbon; 4. Spencer Morse, Waterford; 5. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 6. Jesse Morey, Lisbon.
by Jay | Aug 19, 2009 | Maine, Oxford Plains Speedway
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘A’ (20 laps): 1. Ryan Robbins, Dixfield; 2. Steve Moon, Gray; 3. Chris Coolidge, Norway; 4. Chris Burgess, Sabattus; 5. Zach Bowie, Lisbon; 6. Dan Brown, Peru; 7. Jim Drake, Hebron; 8. Addison Bowie, Auburn; 9. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 10. Steve Brill, Bridgton; 11. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 12. Shannon Judd, Jay; 13. Jerry Freve, Buckfield. DQ: Josh Childs, Oxford; David Childs, Oxford.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Guy Childs, Turner; 2. Ron Abbott Jr., Sabattus; 3. John Patria, Turner; 4. Josh Paradis, Sumner; 5. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 6. Tyler Belanger, Sumner; 7. David Brown, Poland; 8. Bubba Collins, New Gloucester; 9. Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn; 10. Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester; 11. Kyle Curtis, Oxford; 12. Scott Hethcoat, Danville Junction; 13. Clint Sherwood, Poland; 14. John Spencer Jr., Farmington; 15. Jay Wilkins, Gray.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW ‘C’ (20 laps): 1. Jim Davis Jr., Sabattus; 2. Dottie Patria, Turner; 3. Carey Robertson, Leeds; 4. Todd Hall, Auburn; 5. Phil Knowlton, Poland; 6. Brian Picard, Gorham; 7. Wayne Estes, Sumner; 8. Nic Stanley, Buckfield; 9. Chad Truman, South Paris; 10. Dennis Morang, South Paris; 11. Don Veinott, Sabattus; 12. Matt Weeks, Greene; 13. Gerry Richard, Leeds; 14. Justin Vining, Peru; 15. Scott Veinott, Greene.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘A’ (20 laps): 1. John Childs, Leeds; 2. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 3. Zach Audet, Wilton; 4. Ryan Hewins, Leeds; 5. Dustin Salley, Auburn; 6. Mike Ward, Harrison; 7. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 8. Jamie Leavitt, Minot; 9. Corey Beaulieu, Oxford; 10. Bill Sprague, Minot; 11. Craig Farrington, Minot; 12. Troy Jordan, Turner; 13. Roger Beaulieu, Sabattus; 14. Kyle Hewins, Leeds; 15. Jason Berry, Turner; 16. Scott Farrington, Minot; 17. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 18. Matt Dufault, Turner.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Jim Hart, Turner; 2. Derek Cook, Livermore Falls; 3. Jeff Hebert, Lewiston; 4. Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls; 5. Brian Nason, Lewiston; 6. Bob Danforth, Stoneham; 7. Craig Bartlett, Denmark; 8. Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester; 9. Charlie Hall, Oxford; 10. Michael Carver, Durham; 11. Carl Conant, Lewiston; 12. Bob Lucas, Peru; 13. Cody Smith, Oxford; 14. Todd Sawyer, Pownal; 15. Chad Wills, Mechanic Falls; 16. Gene White, Lisbon; 17. Ellery Phillips Jr., Turner.
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 2. John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls; 3. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 4. Opie Allard, Harpswell; 5. Corey Williams, Sumner; 6. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 7. Ryan Varney, South Paris; 8. Herb Farrar, Sumner; 9. Laurette Theriault, South Casco; 10. Eugene Corson, Sumner; 11. Nathan Merrill, Norway; 12. Jerry Stevens, Searsport. DQ: Kevin Oliver, Gray.
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 2. Dottie Patria, Turner; 3. Christina Spaulding, Lewiston; 4. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 5. Tori Burgess, Sabattus; 6. Missy Blash, Oxford; 7. Missy Morgan, Lewiston; 8. Kristen Brown, Poland; 9. Lisa Brooks, Auburn; 10. Sue Veinott, Sabattus; 11. Shannon Wheeler, Auburn; 12. Annie Chartier, Mexico.
GOULET HOME INSPECTIONS RENEGADE (10 laps): 1. Bill Grover, Topsham; 2. Jason Hannigan, Greene; 3. Bob Morey, Lisbon; 4. Spencer Morse, Waterford; 5. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 6. Jesse Morey, Lisbon.
