by Jay | May 24, 2009 | New
Opening day at Wiscasset Raceway presented by Lester Morse Auto Sales was a great one. The sun was shining at the 2 p.m. start time, the fans packed the stands and the drivers packed the pit area. The U.S. Army reserves where there with their massive rock climbing wall. Operation Recognition was at the “Center of Speed” where they put on a parade around the track with the Patriot Guard motorcycle riders, Maine Bag Pipes and armed service men and woman. After the parade a ceremony took place in the infield to honor folks who have served for out country. After Late Model division drivers took to the stands to collect money for the good cause that is Operation recognition with Army boots and the National Anthem had been preformed we were ready for our feature events.
The first cars to hit the track for feature event action were the Wicked Good Vintage Racers. Unlike the rest of the cars racing at Wiscasset Raceway on opening day these cars were all from the 1970’s and earlier and didn’t they put on a show. Timmy Reynolds ended up holding off Johnny Rice to pick up the feature victory with Mike Milete crossing the line in 3rd, Keith Waterhouse 4th and Norris Willette 5th.
The Aable Auto Parts Mini Stock division had some good racing up front for 20 laps of their feature event as Thomas True of Wiscasset and Ryan Ripley of Waldoboro battled it out with Kevin Douglass several car length back as he made his move back into the Mini Stock ranks after a year successful year in the Super Street division. The two youngster up front made it interesting with True beating a fellow teenager Ripley to the checkered flag with Douglass 3rd, Pete McCollett 4th and Mike Dulany rounding out the top 5.
The U.S. Cellular Mini Trucks had some every exciting side by side racing. University of Maine Engineering student Kevin Oliver battled it over all 15 laps with Harpswell’s Opie Allard with Oliver just edging Allard out for the win. Another great battle was going on behind them between Josh Harjula and Ryan Hayes. Hayes would get the advantage in that one earning his first trophy of his career. Harjula would cross the stripe 4th with Michael Anderson 5th after getting into a wreck early on in the feature.
Wiscasset’s newest division the Soule’s Auto Supply Thunderstocks took to the track for the vary first time. In this class were everybody must run a 6 cylinder fuel injected engine there was an excellent battle for the lead over the first half of the race between Bill Grover and Donnie Stuart. Grover would eventually get the advantage and the win as something look to be going amiss on the Stuart’s car but he would hang in there for 2nd.
It was an exciting battle for the lead throughout the 20 lap New England Transmissions Strictly Street feature between Ian Bresnehan of Bath and Mike Moody of Woolwich. Bresnehan had the advantage through most of the race in his sharp looking Cadillac but with just a few laps to go Moody got to the inside of Bresnehan and ended up with Win. Bresnehan came home in 2nd with Matt Stuart joining the pair in victory lane after his tremendous battle with Jamie Henderson.
The Verizon Wireless Super Street division was a good one to watch. Bernie Dinsmore jumped out to the early lead but mechanical problems forced him to the pits. There was a lot of good racing going up front between Shawn Austin, Jeremy Glasier, Brian Fortin and Allen Moeller Jr. After a couple of good battles between the four that’s the way they finished with Shawn Austin picking up the feature victory and Jeremy Glasier holding off a hard charging Brian Fortin for second. Fortin would finish 3rd with Moeller Jr. 4th and Ryan St. Clair 5th.
The 35 lap Clarks Car Crushing Pro Stock feature had Jeff Burgess holding a commanding lead early on in the event before mechanical issues forced him to retire early. After one good pass for the lead Scott Moore was out in front and that’s where he stayed for the rest of the race and picked up the win. Charlie Colby would end up 2nd with Scott King 3rd. 4th would belong to Ryan Dean and 5th would go to Joe Creamer.
The Steel’s Real Rod’s and Custom’s Late Model division 30 lap feature was full of action as Duane Love jumped out to the early lead but a distributor problem put the kibosh to chances to win on opening day. Rookie R.J. Austin then took the lead and swapped it off a few times with some other drivers. 7 time track champion Maurice Young and the man who’s going for his 3rd straight Late Model championship Chris Throne ran up front most of the afternoon but in the end it was T.J. Watson out of Cundys Harbor picking up the feature victory. Young and Thorne would finish 2nd and 3rd with Adam Chadbourne 4th and Ajay Picard 5th. The Late model division was also the division in which the this weeks Army Stron driver of the week races in. The winner of that was Tyler Robbins.
Next week at Wiscasset Raceway it is fan appreciation day with a driver autograph session on the track and it is also the first round of the Linnehan’s Credit Now Late Model Triple Crown Series. The start time is at 5 p.m. “Be There!!!”
by Jay | May 22, 2009 | New
Clean sweep for Kyle Mooney, first win
for Avery Spear in 2009 kart opener
OXFORD, Maine – A double victory and feature wins by three different drivers making their first regular-season start in a new division highlighted Friday night’s seventh season opener in the JARRacing Photography Go Kart Series at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Kyle Mooney, tackling both Box Stock and Purple Plate divisions after a sensational freshman season in the former ranks last summer, held off Brandon Varney to capture both of his 20-lap main events.
Avery Spear celebrated his first win in three seasons of trying with a wire-to-wire triumph in the Gold Plate finale.
Reigning Gold Plate champion David Blackwell led every lap of both his heat race and main event in the Unrestricted class.
Other winners were multi-time division champions Mike Ricker (Star Champ) and Troy Davis (Blue Plate).
Mooney led the entire Box Stock sprint ahead of Varney and Ethan Brown.
His Purple Plate debut offered a more difficult challenge, with Varney leading laps 2 to 13 before Mooney took control. Heat winner Zachary Rich made it a three-car battle at the finish before settling for the show trophy.
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Spear was the only Gold Plate kart on the lead lap, but that’s deceiving. Spencer Thompson applied pressure throughout until spinning in the final corner while racing to the white flag. Rookie Cody Wilson captured third.
Blackwell had his hands full with Dan Pelletier Jr. for the entire, caution-free Unrestricted main. Impressive rookie Brandon Douglas joined the fray, charging from seventh to third and catching the leaders with five laps to go.
It was Blackwell by two car lengths at the finish, with Pelletier hanging on for second. Kayla Ashline warded off Kyle Metivier in a superb scrap for fourth.
Davis, who owns the second most wins in OPS kart history, overtook rookie Wade Blanchette on lap 8 of the Blue Plate battle. Davis reportedly will be ready to join the Gold Plate group as early as next week.
Blanchette bested two-time Purple Plate champion Evan Armington and Varney in a three-car tangle for second.
Ricker ruled all but one lap of the Star Champ scramble, getting around qualifying round winner and early leader Erwin Carey.
Carey’s spin enabled two-time defending division champ Stephen Beattie to claim second.
The JARRacing karts are back in action next Friday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m.
OPS holiday weekend action continues Saturday with Oxford Federal Credit Union Night, featuring five divisions of racing and a huge fireworks display. Qualifying races commence at 6:30 p.m.
UNRESTRICTED (20 laps): 1. David Blackwell, Brunswick; 2. Dan Pelletier Jr., East Poland; 3. Brandon Douglas, West Paris; 4. Kayla Ashline, Pittston; 5. Kyle Metivier, Lisbon; 6. Leo Jolin III, Rumford; 7. Nate Knowles, Dixfield; 8. Josh Brown, South Paris.
Heat winner: Blackwell.
Lap leaders: Blackwell 1-20.
STAR CHAMP (20 laps): 1. Mike Ricker, Sebago; 2. Stephen Beattie, Conway, N.H.; 3. Erwin Carey, Mexico.
Heat winner: Carey.
Lap leaders: Carey 1, Ricker 2-20.
GOLD PLATE (20 laps): 1. Avery Spear, Oxford; 2. Spencer Thompson, Oxford; 3. Cody Wilson, West Paris.
Heat winner: Thompson.
Lap leaders: Spear 1-20.
BLUE PLATE (20 laps): 1. Troy Davis, Windham; 2. Wade Blanchette, Buxton; 3. Evan Armington, Lovell; 4. Brandon Varney, Lewiston; 5. Jacob Hendsbee, Whitefield; 6. Chris Staples Jr., Brunswick; 7. Gabe Seavey, Conway, N.H.
Heat winner: Davis.
Lap leaders: Blanchette 1-7, Davis 8-20.
PURPLE PLATE (20 laps): 1. Kyle Mooney, New Gloucester; 2. Brandon Varney, Lewiston; 3. Zachary Rich, Casco; 4. Owen Poisson, Brunswick; 5. Nick McNelly, Oxford; 6. Garrett Tinker, Gray.
Heat winner: Rich.
Lap leaders: Poisson 1-2, Varney 3-13, Mooney 14-20.
BOX STOCK (20 laps): 1. Kyle Mooney, New Gloucester; 2 . Brandon Varney, Lewiston; 3. Ethan Brown, South Paris; 4. Chase Staples, Durham; 5. Ethan Matot, Casco.
Heat winner: Mooney.
Lap leaders: Mooney 1-20.
by Jay | May 21, 2009 | New
Exciting Win for Rocco in Sunoco Mod Thriller at Thompson
Opening Night Honors to Wrenn, Gentes, Sundeen, Sullivan & Taylor
Thompson, CT (May 21, 2009): The first Thursday Night Thunder at Thompson International Speedway started the season off with a bang. Keith Rocco of Wallingford, CT, earned victory in a thrilling Sunoco Modified main event to start off the season. Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH, a winner during the Icebreaker in April, continued his winning ways in the Super Late Models while Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI edged out fan favorite Jeff Zuidema to earn the Late Model checkers. Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA, in Limited Sportsman; Brian Sullivan of S. Windsor, CT in the TIS Modifieds; and Tim Taylor of Wauregan, CT in the Mini Stocks also visited victory lane on the opening Thursday night.
The Sunoco Modified division lived up to its reputation on Thursday night as Keith Rocco of Wallingford, CT, scored the feature win in a dramatic finish for the Speedway’s premier division. It was the second win for Rocco at Thompson after his victory back in April on Icebreaker Saturday.
Kerry Malone got the edge on pole sitter Christopher before the caution flew for a pile-up exiting turn two. Danny Cates was sent spinning from the fifth position and several drivers took evasive action. Only the #36 of Tim Sullivan headed down pit road for service. He was able to rejoin the field.
On the restart it was all Malone, who motored out to a five-car length advantage over Jimmy Blewett. It was action-packed for the third spot as Josh Sylvester had his hands full with Christopher and Woody Pitkat. Keith Rocco, who was involved in the lap three caution, had worked his way back inside the top-ten by lap eight.
With 10-laps down, Blewett and company had caught Malone. Blewett made a power move exiting turn two to take over the lead. Sylvester and Christopher followed through.
Christopher made quick work of Sylvester to move into second. A single-lap later the caution flew for a spin by Dana Young. Under the caution, Malone gave up the fourth spot to head to pit road for adjustments. An incident that involved Harry Rheaume, Tim Sullivan, Dave LaCroix and Andy Gasper brought out the caution again on lap 16. The cars of Rheaume and Sullivan sustained heavy damage.
Back under green, Christopher was all but pushing leader Blewett while Sylvester, Pitkat and Rocco where locked in a heavy battle for third. Sparks flew when Christopher made a bid for the lead. Contact between the lead duo ended with Christopher stopped on the front stretch with a flat tire; necessitating the caution. Todd Ceravolo pitted from the fifth position under the caution.
Pitkat looked like he was shot out of a cannon on the restart giving Blewett a run for the lead. Sylvester stood his ground. Pitkat slipped back to third behind Sylvester. Rocco was now fourth followed by Marvin, who had worked his way back into contention after being involved in the first caution.
On lap 23, Rocco muscled his way passed both Pitkat and Sylvester and into the second spot. The young gun had five laps to chase down Blewett. It didn’t even take one as Rocco caught Blewett. In turn three, Rocco made a dive bomb move under Blewett. The car drifted up allowing Blewett to maintain his lead. The cat-and-mouse continued over the final two laps.
On the white flag lap, Rocco ran Blewett up toward the wall in turn one. Coming to the checkers, Rocco drifted high pushing Blewett toward the wall once again in turn three. Sylvester saw a glimmer of light in the middle while Pitkat looked low. All four cars had a shot at the victory. Slight contact with Sylvester slowed Rocco but not enough to derail the run to the victory. Blewett barely edged out Pitkat for second. Sylvester settled for fourth. Marvin completed the top-five.
Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH, followed up his Icebreaker victory with a win in the Super Late Models on opening Thursday night. It was a tough night for the frontrunners in the feature event. Defending champ, Fred Astle, Jr., who made hard contact with the outside wall in turn two from the third position, was the first victim to bring out the caution.
On the restart, Jeff Connors was able to get the jump over early leader Steve Desmarias. Desmarias had slipped back to the fourth position before being involved in an incident in turn two to bring out the event’s second caution.
Les Rose, Jr. capitalized on the restart jumping to the head of the pack. Derek Ramstrom exited turn two a little hot spinning into the infield to relinquish the second position. Wrenn got a great restart but bobbled in turn two giving Rose the edge once again. Fully regrouped, Wrenn was able to retake the lead.
With Wrenn and Rose out front the heaviest action was between Bessette and Marc Curtis. Curtis came out on top of the battle. Jeff Zuidema ran in the fifth position. Ramstrom had hunted down Zuidema.
Early leader Jeff Connors spun with a left rear tire to bring out the caution once again. Back under green, Ramstrom, now free of Zuidema, set his sites on Bessette. In a matter of a couple of laps, Ramstrom had moved all the way back into the third spot. Meanwhile Rose had caught Wrenn. Rose made a last ditch effort exiting turn four on the final lap but had to settle for the second spot. Ramstrom had put on a show to finish third. Curtis and Bessette rounded out the top five.
Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, scored the victory over a hard-charging Jeff Zuidema in the Late Model feature event. In the early going it looked as if Gentes was going to walk away with the victory. After a short battle with early leader Tommy O’Sullivan, Gentes enjoyed a comfortable lead. The “Professor” Jay Stuart had moved into the second position. A heated battle for the top spot was brewing when a shower of sparks trailed the #42 of Stuart. He headed to pit road and ultimately behind the wall.
At the halfway marker, Zuidema had begun to track down Gentes. With each lap the lead got smaller. In the closing laps, Zuidema repeatedly made attempts to take over the top spot. Gentes was up to the task; turning away the advances and into victory lane for his first win of the season. Zuidema settled for the second position over John Materas, O’Sullivan, and Mark Oliveira inside the top five.
Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA, withstood heavy pressure throughout the Limited Sportsman main event to score the victory on Thursday night. The fans were treated to a great battle between Sundeen and Larry Barnett. Sundeen held the point but Barnett was never far behind. In true Limited Sportsman fashion, there were three-wide battles around the speedway and throughout the field.
At the midway portion of the event, with Barnett dogging Sundeen, Icebreaker winner, Joe Arena caught the leaders. For a time it looked like it might be a three-horse race. Barnett settled back into the second position as the race wound down. The veteran and former division champion waited until two laps remaining before showing his hand again. Barnett was locked to the back bumper of Sundeen; getting up alongside the leader in the corners. In the end, Sundeen was able to hold off Barnett to take down the win. Arena settled for third ahead of Joe Campbell and Paul Coutu, Jr.
After an Icebreaker win back in April, Brian Sullivan of S. Windsor, CT, made it two straight in TIS Modified competition. Leo Oliveiria took over the top spot from pole sitter Brian Tagg just laps into the race. Things were anything but smooth sailing at the head of the field as the leader Oliveira had his hands full with a charging Sullivan. On lap 12, Sullivan got the run in turn one taking over the lead exiting turn two.
The handle appeared to be going away for Oliveira. Once ousted from the top spot, the early leader slid back to third position with others, including Bart Ramos, bearing down. After a red flag for a non-racing occurrence, Sullivan assumed his place at the head of the pack. Over the final few laps, the top three of ran nose to tail. They sailed under the checkers with Sullivan taking his second win in as many starts. Tagg had a great run to finish second ahead of Ramos. R.J. Marcotte came from deep in the field to finish fourth followed by Tyler Poulin.
Tim Taylor of Wauregan, CT, turned in a dominating performance to score the first Mini Stock victory of the 2009 Thompson Thursday Night Thunder series. Taylor took over the top spot from early leader Trevor Michalski before checking out on the field. The top four positions got strung out ahead of the field while deeper in the pack the action was more intense. Leader Taylor watched his lead evaporate when the second caution of the event flew for an incident involving Tim Higginbottom and Keith Ballou.
The veteran driver was able to rebuild his lead just as quickly once the green flag flew once again. Eric Bourgeois came on strong in the late going motoring to a runner-up finish. Chad Baxter completed the podium. Scott Michalski and Brad Caddick rounded out the top five. The Taylor Family was well represented as the Tim’s son Nathan turned in a solid performance to finish seventh.
Racing resumes next Thursday with the six divisions of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action including a 50-lapper for the Limited Sportsman division. This Sunday, Thompson International Speedway proudly hosts Family Fun Night. For more information on these and all events at Thompson Speedway visit thompsonspeedway.com or by calling the raceway hotline at (860) 923-2280.
Sunoco Modified 30-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 2. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 3. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 4. Josh Sylvester, Lebanon, CT; 5. Bert Marvin, New London, CT; 6. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY; 7. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 8. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 9. Rick Shawn, Bradford, CT; 10. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT.
Super Late Model 30-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 2. Les Rose, Jr., Southbridge, MA; 3. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, MA; 4. Marc Curtis, Worcester, MA; 5. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 6. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 7. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 8. Jay Macedonio, Somerset, MA; 9. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT; 10. Chris Curtis, Rutland, MA.
Late Model 25-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 2. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 3. John Materas, Voluntown, CT; 4. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 5. Mark Oliveira, Blackstone, MA; 6. Wayne Coury, Sr., Milford, CT; 7. Dave Trudeau, Manfield, CT; 8. Jeremy Sadowski, Voluntown, CT; 9. Randy Waterman, Killingly, CT; 10. Tom Fox, Plainfield, CT.
Limited Sportsman 20-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 2. Larry Barnett, Ledyard, CT; 3. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 4. Joe Campbell, Moosup, CT; 5. Paul Coutu, Jr., Thompson, CT; 6. Paul Palen, Pelham, NH; 7. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 8. Kevin Bowe, Pawtucket, RI; 9. Gerald Sevigny, Brooklyn, CT; 10. John Carpenter, Danielson, CT.
TIS Modified 20-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Brian Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 2. Brian Tagg, oxford, MA; 3. Bart Ramos, Putnam, CT; 4. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 5. Tyler Poulin, Millville, MA; 6. Leo Oliviera, Raynham, MA; 7. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 8. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 9. Jeff Barrows, Worcester, MA; 10. Glen Boss, Danielson, CT.
Mini Stock 15-Lap Feature Finish (Top-Ten): 1. Tim Taylor, Wauregan, CT; 2. Eric Bourgeois, E. Haddam, CT; 3. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 4. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 5. Brad Caddick, New London, CT; 6. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill, CT; 7. Nathan Taylor, Wauregan, CT; 8. Trevor Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 9. Jeff Moffat, Warwick, RI; Scott Jassaume, Danielson, CT.
