by Jay | May 31, 2009 | New
Harris on a Roll to Start 2009 Season!!!
Fredericton, NB, May 31, 2009 – After an impressive start to the 2009 season last week everyone was geared and ready for the Max 1 Advanced Synthetic Best of the Best Pro Stock 100 under the lights at Speedway 660. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans that forced the rescheduling of Saturdays events to Sunday. The good news is, it was a gorgeous day for racing.
Today’s event featured regular points racing the in the Coast Tire Street Stock and the Martin’s Home Heating division as well as the Max 1 Advanced Synthetic Best of the Best Pro Stock 100 presented by COASTAL Blending & Packaging.
In the Coast Tire Street Stock division Roger Slocum was the big winner of the afternoon picking up a win in his heat, dash and feature for the Robin’s Inn Hat Trick Award. Slocum started the 20 lap feature on the pole and dominated the race. Also ending up with a podium finish were Mike Francis and Robert Raynes. The feature went very smoothly only having one caution for a car leaking fluid on the track.
In the Martins Home Heating Sportsman Division Glynn Nott of Burton claimed his first victory of the year in a rough and tumble 30 lap feature. Competition was fierce as the teams are already focusing on trying to gain every position possible in search of the 2009 Championship. Richard Atkinson finished 2nd and Dan McNeil finished third with one of his best career finishes.
There were 20 cars in the field for the Max 1 Advanced Synthetic Best of the Best Pro Stock 100. Also in attendance at the speedway nine months after his accident in a qualifying heat for the Peterbilt 250, was Hal O’Neal. Hal dropped the green flag for the Max 1 Advanced Synthetic Best of the Best Pro Stock 100. Starting on the pole was New Denmark’s Glenn Rasmussen in the # 81 big black dodge. Rasmussen led the first part of the race until he was challenged for the lead by Travis Benjamin. Benjamin led for many laps until he was overtaken by Fredericton Junction’s Matt Harris with an outside pass for the lead. Kevin Moore charged up to challenge Harris for the lead. Moore would get a great run on the outside and briefly took over the lead but a caution reverted the field to the last completed lap. Harris would lead the remainder of the race to make it 2 for 2 to open the 2009 season. With his win in the Max 1 Advanced Synthetic Best of the Best Pro Stock 100 Harris has also secured a provisional spot in the Peterbilt 250 Labour Day weekend event. Rounding out the Pro Stock podium were Greg Fahey in 2nd and Kevin Moore finishing 3rd.
Tune into Speedway 660 next weekend for the DQ Kids day, plus District School Challenge. There will be regular racing in the Coast Tire Street Stock, Martin’s Home Heating and Irving Lubricants Pro Stock divisions, as well as the AOW. For DQ Kids Day young race fans under the age of 15 will be admitted to the speedway for free. Also any parent with a child that has a voucher given out at school will get in for five dollars. DQ will be on hand to give out some yummy treats. There will be face painting and bouncy castles from GoGo Gymnastics there for the young fans. Also fans will see the traditional candy scramble on the track at intermission.
Make sure you don’t miss another action packed weekend of racing at Speedway 660, it is sure to be WicKID! Racing starts at 7 p.m. on June 6, 2009
by Jay | May 31, 2009 | New
Epping, NH – Joe Lemay grabbed his second win of the year in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series All-Star Modifieds last Saturday night, outrunning a strong field to pick up the checkers.
Local favorite Brandee Tree ran out to the early lead in the 40-lap main event, with Lemay moving up to challenge by the ten-lap mark. Tree was still out front when Bill Boudreau spun to bring caution on the field on lap 14, but her time out front was short-lived.
Lemay made his way past to the lead the field to the halfway sign, and he went the distance to post the win, with Vinnie Annarummo, Mike Murphy, J.R. Baril, Sumner Scott, Eric Hudson, Boudreau, Bobby MacArthur, Kurt Vigilant, and Tree the rest of the top ten.
Two-time winner Nick Gravel suffered mechanical problems late in the Super Street feature, leaving Gary Beauregard to run uncontested for the win. Jason Ferreira scored his best finish of the season in the second spot, with Steve Wilmot filling out the podium in third.
Bill Beardwood looked to be well on the way to his second Strictly Stock feature win of the year, but he got tangled up with the lapped car of Chuck Roberto with four laps remaining, and he spun out of contention just a mile short of victory.
Chris Augevich had battled hard to get past Mike Williams for the second spot just before Beardwood’s demise, and when he fell to the wayside, Augevich took advantage of the situation and moved up to score his first career win in the Strictly Stocks.
Williams went home with second place honors, with Mark Parenteau, Randy Carmichael, and Keith “Slika” Ennis finishing up the top five.
Matt Mage returned to action and collected his first checkered flag of the year in the Fast-4 feature event, outrunning Dennis Ciniero, Loren Smith, Jr., Joey Fernandez, Tyler Mailhot, Dana Sullivan, Corey Sullivan, Jim Deveau, and Will Mailhot.
by Jay | May 31, 2009 | New
Moffitt Scores Record Setting Win At South Boston Speedway
South Boston, VA (May 31, 2009): Brett Moffitt isn’t wasting any time in declaring his talent behind the wheel of a NASCAR Camping World Series East racecar. Saturday night, the quiet-mannered driver spoke volumes when he took the lead for the third and final time from Ryan Truex at South Boston Speedway to become the series youngest winner in history. At 16 years, nine months, and 23 days old, Moffitt beat out Joey Logano’s record, which was set a month shy of his 17th birthday when he won the 2007 season opener.
“This is just awesome,” said Moffitt after the race. “I don’t even know how to describe it. We’ve been strong all season, but to get a win under our belts is just great. The car was perfect, and all the guys at Andy Santerre Motorsports are awesome. We couldn’t have had a more perfect night.”
Moffitt started the race on the outside pole after missing fast time by 2/1000th’s of a second. Moffitt wheeled the No. 44 Brettmoffitt.com/Red Line Oil Chevrolet to a time of 16.178 seconds (89.010 mph), but lost the pole position to Ryan Truex, who’s best time was 16.176 seconds.
At the drop of the green flag, Moffitt took the initial lead but succumbed to Truex on the second circuit. The two were side-by-side in the battle for the lead, but Moffitt opted for tire management and settled into the second position.
Moffitt reclaimed the lead on a lap 46 restart using the outside groove, and led for the next 14 laps before a restart allowed Truex to use the outside groove to his advantage.
“The outside was definitely better on the restarts because you could carry your momentum, but you definitely had to get to the bottom so that you could save your tires there,” Moffitt said.
A caution tightened the field up for a restart at lap 103, and after an intense side-by-side battle, Moffitt took the lead for the third and final time.
“You just never know with this place so I was kind of up in the air as to what to change in the car, but I just got it as good and balanced as I could. He did the rest. I can’t say enough about him: he’s a heck of a talent. I knew he would be good,” said car owner Andy Santerre.
Moffitt is currently second in the NASCAR Camping World Series East point standings – 26 points out of the lead. The next stop on the schedule is Watkins Glen International road course on Saturday, June 6th.
by Jay | May 31, 2009 | New
Rolfe, Tripp, Karkos end early-season droughts with Fan Appreciation Night wins
OXFORD, Maine – Early-season struggles ended with a vengeance Saturday night as Ricky Rolfe, Skip Tripp and Justin Karkos captured Championship Series feature wins at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Rolfe passed Tim Brackett, Jeff White and Scott Luce in the outside lane over the final 20 circuits to capture the 40-lap Oxford Networks Late Model main event on 99.9 The Wolf Fan Appreciation Night.
Perennially a top driver in the headline division, Rolfe was snakebitten in his first two outings of the year. He led the New England Dodge Dealers ACT 150 on May 17 before being beset by carburetor troubles on a restart. In last week’s Champ Series opener, Rolfe ran in the top three before a late-race tangle with Brackett.
He took the lead from Luce for keeps on lap 29.
Four-time division champion Travis Adams made a similar ascent in the outside lane in the final five laps to claim second. Luce, a former champion bidding for his first OPS win since 1999, nailed down third in front of White and Brackett.
Tripp, the 2008 Allen’s Coffee Brandy Strictly Stock champion, captured his first checkered flag in more than a calendar year. Tripp chased down surprising Mike St. Germain and made his winning move one lap after the halfway point of the 30-lapper.
Two multi-car tangles shuffled the running order in the closing laps. Point leader Zach Emerson missed the carnage to snag second, while Kenny Harrison rallied from his involvement in one of the incidents to run third. Matt Williams and Jeff Merrill followed.
Karkos could be a three-time winner by now in Allen’s Mini Stock. Instead, a post-race disqualification on opening day and a cut tire while leading last Saturday dropped him deep in the early point standings.
Nobody could stay in Karkos’ vapor trail after he latched onto the lead at lap 7. Six drivers battled for runner-up honors throughout, with Larry Melcher landing the spot ahead of Jimmy Childs, rookie and point leader Calvin Rose Jr. and Darrell Moore.
Acceleration Series Agren Appliance Saturday Showdown activity produced two first-time career winners in sophomore drivers Ross Spurling (Call of the Wild Sport Truck) and Dustin Salley (Macdonald Motors Runnin’ Rebel ‘B’).
Spurling held off Ryan Farrar’s last-lap challenge for the pick-up score. Kevin Oliver was third.
Scott Farrington and Jason Berry applied the pressure in the Rebel ‘B’ go-round, but Salley prevailed by a car length.
Kyle Hewins became the first two-time winner at the speedway this spring, making it two consecutive victories in Runnin’ Rebel ‘A’ competition.
OPS launches its 11th season of the Acceleration Series on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL (40 laps): 1. Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township; 2. Travis Adams, Canton; 3. Scott Luce, Strong; 4. Jeff White, Winthrop; 5. Tim Brackett, Oxford; 6. Corey Morgan, Lewiston; 7. Don Wentworth, Otisfield; 8. Shawn Knight, South Paris; 9. Doug Coombs, Livermore; 10. Tommy Ricker, Poland; 11. Scott Robbins, Dixfield; 12. Travis Stearns, Auburn; 13. Shawn Martin, Turner; 14. Matt Sanborn, West Baldwin; 15. Gary Chiasson, Peru; 16. Gerald Parlin, South Paris; 17. Ben Ashline, Pittston; 18. Jason Larrabee, Raymond; 19. Randy Sanborn, West Baldwin; 20. Kenny Harrison, Pownal.
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (20 laps): 1. Skip Tripp, Poland; 2. Zach Emerson, Sabattus; 3. Kenny Harrison, Pownal; 4. Matt Williams, Brownfield; 5. Jeff Merrill, Turner; 6. Mike Short, Auburn; 7. Keith Stuart, Naples; 8. Mac Hannan Jr., Union; 9. B.J. Chapman, Bridgton; 10. Mike St. Germain, Auburn; 11. Kurt Hewins, Leeds; 12. Ben Krauter, Raymond; 13. Jon Brill, Bridgton; 14. Larry Emerson, Durham; 15. Rick Spaulding, Lisbon; 16. Kim Tripp, Oxford; 17. Derek Farrington, Freeport; 18. Richard Kimball, Standish.
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (20 laps): 1. Justin Karkos, Jay; 2. Larry Melcher, Livermore Falls; 3. Jimmy Childs, Leeds; 4. Calvin Rose Jr., Turner; 5. Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls; 6. Ashley Marshall, Jay; 7. Jeff Beaule, Lewiston; 8. Steve Barker, Jay; 9. Jeff Moon, Gray; 10. Greg Watkins, Bridgton; 11. Shane Kaherl, Jay; 12. Matt Moore, South Paris; 13. Jake Burns, Gray; 14. Nathan Guptill, North Turner; 15. Ken Daigle Jr., Lisbon; 16. Kevin Bishop, South Paris; 17. Nik Coates, Lisbon; 18. Dale Brackett, Oxford.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘A’ (20 laps): 1. Kyle Hewins, Leeds; 2. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 3. Corey Beaulieu, Oxford; 4. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 5. John Childs, Leeds; 6. Matt Dufault, Turner; 7. Ryan Philbrick, Greenwood; 8. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 9. Roger Bourgoin, Mechanic Falls; 10. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 11. Troy Jordan, Turner; 12. Cody Smith, Oxford; 13. Nate Dubuc, Auburn; 14. Ryan Hewins, Leeds; 15. Doug Degroat, Oxford.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Dustin Salley, Auburn; 2. Scott Farrington, Minot; 3. Jason Berry, Turner; 4. Zach Audet, Wilton; 5. Craig Bartlett, Denmark; 6. Randy Desmarais, Auburn; 7. Charlie Hall, Oxford; 8. Ellery Phillips Jr., Turner; 9. Chad Coolidge, Norway; 10. Craig Farrington, Hebron; 11. James Record, Oxford; 12. Gene White, Lisbon.
CALL OF THE WILD SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 2. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 3. Kevin Oliver, Gray; 4. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 5. Doug Stevens, West Sumner; 6. Corey Williams, Sumner; 7. John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls; 8. Kevin Rumery, Hollis.
by Jay | May 31, 2009 | New
Dave Oliver finds his way to victory lane at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.
Scarborough, Maine- Coming off an opening day top 5 finish following a qualifying wreck, Dave Oliver found the speed in his car and was victorious following the 40 lap Pro Series race on Saturday night. Mike Maietta Jr led the field to the green flag and quickly sprinted out front but tell tale signs of smoke started appearing from the #23 immediately.
With Maietta Jr in front nursing a potential problem, Dave Oliver was slicing his way through the top five drivers until he moved to second place on lap 18. Oliver began to close the big gap that Maietta Jr had built up and the smoke from Maietta’s tire rubbing was getting thicker and the car was getting slower.
Oliver moved into position on Maietta Jr at lap 29 and took the lead driving away from the field for the win. Somehow Maietta held on for second place with T.J. Brackett third. Jay Sands and Aaron Ricker were fourth and fifth.
In Sport Series action Bobby Nadeau led all 35 laps unchallenged despite a lap 6 caution flag to secure the Sport Series main event. Nadeau was cruising in front leaving Nate Leavitt a distance behind to finish second. Ben Tinker had a nice third place finish in only his second outing on the Beech Ridge oval, and Corey Bubar was fourth. Rounding out the top 5 finishers was reigning champion Sally Gherardi.
Lyman McKeage won the most exciting feature race of the evening when he took the checkered flag in the Wildcat feature race. Jesse Tolman appeared to be headed for an easy win but he and Mike Ramsey crashed out while racing for the lead on lap 4. Steve Benincasa took over the top spot and held it until McKeage made a bid for it on lap 25.
Benincasa and McKeage made contact with each other nearly spinning out of contention, but McKeage saved his car as Andy Ayers took the lead. McKeage made a last lap charge at leader Ayers heading down the backstretch and exiting turn 4 with the checkered flag waving, McKeage got to the finish line first by just inches over Ayers. Matt Hodgdon was third with Dan Bean and Steve Benincasa rounding out the top finishers.
Shawn Brackett took the lead on lap 7 of the 20 lap Road Runner feature race and never looked back in taking the win. Ray Letellier had a very strong race and finished second with last weeks winner Ed Connolly finishing third. David Turner and Thomas Bennett were fourth and fifth at the finish.
