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. (more…)
Brian Whitney of Burnham became the first two-time feature race winner of the season in the top-tier Late Model division Saturday at Unity Raceway.
Whitney led the 35-lap event from wire-to-wire, holding off challenges from reigning track champion Jeff Burgess of Fairfield on a late-race restart to seal the victory. Burgess earned runner-up honors, and remains atop the championship standings.
Palmyra’s Ajay Picard finished an eventful day that included a wet, off-track excursion into the backstretch “moat” during the main event, and a heat race crash, with a third-place finish. Burnham’s Frank Moulton rebounded from several pit stops to claim a fourth-place finish in front of Unity’s Mark Dodge. Whitney also won the heat race. (more…)
Nate Weston of Norridgewock survived an early duel with Shane Tatro of Holden as they battled for the lead through 5 restarts early in the Gardner Construction Enterprises 50 lap feature event for the Maine State Lottery Sportsman Division. Weston went on to hold the lead through 4 more cautions to win his first feature race of the young season. Tatro brought out the 6th caution on lap 31 when his motor blew up on the front stretch while slowly fading from the leaders as the motor went bad. D.J. Moody of Prospect came from the rear of the field following the last caution of the race on lap 42 to place second, with Mike Overlock of Franklin finishing third after having caused caution number 2 when a tire went flat, forcing him to pit for repairs. Kris Matchett of Skowhegan ended up fourth after being the only car other than Weston to make all 50 laps without pitting. Steve Moulton finished fifth after running with the leaders early, but having mechanical problems slow his car in the late stages of the event. Only five of the 11 starters were on the lead lap when the race ended. Tatro had won the evening’s qualifier, placing him on the pole for the start. Weston started outside pole by finishing second in the preliminary event. (more…)
Pierson takes Coupes; Reynolds and King have memorable night
Jason Gray led a parade of stock car winners through victory lane at Bear Ridge Speedway on Wells River Chevrolet Night on Saturday. Gray was joined in the winner’s circle by Gene Pierson, Jordan Fornwalt, Rob Gioia, Don Reynolds, and Julie Stender.
Gray, of East Thetford, VT, dominated the 35-lap Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature for his fourth career win. He took the lead from former track champion Gary Siemons on lap 12 and cruised to the win. Dan Eastman of Thetford Center, VT flew up the outside lane from his ninth starting position to finish second, with Orford, NH driver Siemons third at the finish. Bryan King finished fourth. Josh Sunn crossed the finish line fifth but was disqualified in post-race inspection when his car failed to meet minimum weight; Jeff Elliott inherited the position.
Pierson ran to his first win of the year in the 30-lap Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe race. The East Corinth, VT driver held on despite constant pressure from sophomore driver Jason Colbeth of Newbury, VT. Colbeth matched his best career finish with Jason Horniak third. Tim Hodge and Mike McGinley completed the unofficial top five. (more…)
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. 
Heat races for the Pro All Stars Series North Super Late Models at Star Speedway
