by Jay | Aug 4, 2009 | Beech Ridge, New England
Scarborough, ME – August 2, 2009 – The Pro Four Modifieds of New England (PFMNE) completed their eighth race as part of the Four Cylinder Nationals, sponsored by Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment, at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Sunday. It was the #1m of “Stormin’ Norman” Wrenn that thundered his way from last to victory lane for the seventh time this year.
The series gridded a 15-car field for the 39-lap feature—in honor of the PFMNE’s 39th anniversary. In what was to be his first appearance of the season, the #00 of Dave Richardi was unable to complete his heat or return for the feature when his machine encountered mechanical difficulties. The same held true for the #83 of Franky Perry and the #68 of Eric Trask as well.
Taking the green flag was the #11a of Dan Meservey and the #13 of George Sherman in the front row. The #29 of Matt Sagar, who started in fifth, worked his way passed the #07x of Robin Berghman and the #12 of Rob Richardi, Jr. on the inside. On lap two, Sherman took the lead away from Meservey. Meanwhile, at the back of the pack, the #10 of Brian Vincent and Wrenn’s #1m worked their way through the traffic, passing under the #07 of Phil Lausier in the process. One lap later, Sagar drove his machine around Meservey and Sherman to become the new race leader. The #4 of Cory Cleary started in 10th and made his way through the field, passing Berghman on lap 4, with Wrenn close behind. Five laps into the event, Richardi Jr. saw an opportunity and took it—passing Sherman on the frontstretch for the bridesmaid position. Wrenn moved into third after racing side-by-side with Sherman.
A caution came out on lap twelve, when Cleary, Meservey, and Lausier spun in turns three and four. On the restart, Sagar exploded into the lead with Wrenn following in the low groove from his third place restarting position. Within two laps, Vincent passed Berghman for seventh, and Bedard began closing in on the #07x also. It was on this same lap that Richardi Jr. slowed on the fronstretch, bringing his Richardi Automotive machine to the pits after it began billowing smoke.
The caution came out for the second time on lap twenty-one when Sagar spun. On the restart, Wrenn and Vincent held the first and third positions, but when the green flag unfurled, they roared passed Cleary, who had restarted in second. On the backstretch, Sagar—who had to start at the end of the lead lap cars—powered under Berghman for a spot in the top five. But that glory was short-lived when he was forced pit-side with mechanical failure. With fourteen laps to go, Bedard and Crawford kept up their battle in the middle of the pack, but Bedard continued to hold the advantage.
Wrenn, Vincent, and Cleary made up a close top three going into the final ten laps of the feature event. When the two-to-go signal was shown, Cleary made his move under Vincent for second. When the white flag unfurled, Crawford made his move around Bedard. In turns three and four, however, Cleary spun before he reached the checkered flag; he was able to get it going again and cross the line. Wrenn took home the win, followed closely by Vincent and Cleary to round out the top three. Berghman; Lausier; Crawford; Bedard; D’Amico; Mertz; Meservey; Sagar; Richardi, Jr.; Sherman; and Eric McGovern rounded out the top ten. Crawford was the first Limited driver to cross the finish line, and Bedard and Mertz rounded out the top three.
The PFMNE have a week off, but will return to racing on Saturday, August 15, at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH.
by Jay | Aug 2, 2009 | Beech Ridge
Scarborough,Maine- Mike Rowe extended his NASCAR Whelan All American Series point lead with another victory on Saturday night in the Pro Series division at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Justin Cusack dominated the Sport Series division as did Matt Gain in the Wildcat main event. Shawn Brackett joined them in victory lane as winner of the Road Runner feature race.
The 40 lap Pro Series race saw Jay Sands jump into the lead with T.J. Brackett and Bub Bilodeau close behind. Bilodeau took to the outside groove at lap 5 and moved to second place, his charge was just beginning. Bilodeau moved to the lead on lap 6 and pulled away from the field by a full straightaway length. Mike Rowe sliced his way to second place at lap 14 but Bilodeau was barely visible as he was way in front.
Rowe went with full throttle lap after lap until he arrived on Bilodeau’s rear bumper just 6 laps after getting to second place. Rowe went to the outside on Bilodeau on lap 25 and took the lead but the caution flag would wave on lap 27 setting up a Rowe-Bilodeau match up. Bilodeau actually got the jump on the green flag and again Rowe had to work his way back around Bilodeau which he was able to do on lap 32 leading to the finish. Bilodeau was second followed by Mike Maietta Jr, T.J. Brackett and Aaron Ricker.
Frank Wear led the opening laps of the Sport Series main event rather easily until a caution flag spoiled his run at lap 13. Wear went to work trying to hold off Justin Cusack on the restart but Cusack was able to power his way into the lead and promptly checked out on the field for his third win of the season. Craig Smith finished second with Scott Dorr third. Wear and Sally Gherardi filled the fourth and fifth positions at the finish.
Matt Gain had been knocking on the door to victory lane several times this season only to be denied for various reasons. On Saturday night Gain kicked open the door and claimed his first career Wildcat checkered flag. Gain took the lead on lap 2 from Paul Lund and never looked back winning by a very comfortable margin over Andy Ayers in second place. Alby Ovitt posted another strong run with third place and Mike Ramsey was fourth. Darin Kilton took the fifth place money.
Shawn Brackett made a 3 wide pass for the lead on lap 7 and then held off Ray Letellier for the Road Runner feature win. Finishing third was Taylor Lampron with her best finish this season and Matt Dow was fourth. Don Dinsmore took home a solid fifth place trophy.
by Jay | Jul 26, 2009 | ACT, Beech Ridge
Scarborough, ME – Five-time American Canadian Tour Champion Brian Hoar of Williston, VT notched career win number 24 in the Beech Ridge 150 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Hoar started in the ninth position and moved into the lead on lap 37 by passing local favorite Aarron Ricker. Hoar then appeared to have the race in hand as he was chased through lap traffic by Randy Potter during an 80 lap green flag run.
After a couple of late cautions Eric Williams moved up into second place and challenged Hoar for the win right down to the end. Williams would come home second followed by Cris Michaud while Potter held on for fourth and Maine native Ricky Rolfe finished fifth. Coming home sixth was Jay Laquerre followed by Brent Dragon, John Donahue, Scott Payea, and Nick Brown rounding out the top ten.
Hoar becomes the 13th driver to qualify for the ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 19th. He joins Brad Leighton, Williams, Scott Payea, Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Patrick Laperle, Dave Pembroke, Jean-François Déry, Donald Theetge, Sean Kennedy, Brent Dragon, John Donahue and Oxford 250 winner Eddie MacDonald.
The Beech Ridge 150 took just over one hour and fifteen minutes to complete and was slowed by only seven cautions. One caution was for a malfunction with the track lighting, which left the front stretch completely dark on lap 28. Everyone made it through the black out safely.
This Friday, July 31st the American Canadian Tour will be back in action at Twin State Speedway in Claremont, NH. Twin State is one of the five ACT sanctioned events during a four day period this week. It all begins this Thursday, July 30th when special guest Richard Petty visits Thunder Road International Speedbowl for a regular weekly event. Friday sees the ACT Tour at Twin State, while Saturday, August 1st has the Série ACT Castrol at Autodrome Montmagny and the Tiger Sportsmen Tri-State Series travels to Canaan Fair Speedway for their second event of the 2009 season. The busy weekend is then capped off with the 25th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro on Sunday, August 2nd.
Unofficial Beech Ridge 150 Results
Pos Car # Driver
1 37 Brian Hoar
2 7vt Eric Williams
3 6 Cris Michaud
4 02nh Randy Potter
5 51me Ricky Rolfe
6 50 Jay Laquerre
7 55vt Brent Dragon
8 26vt John Donahue
9 89 Scott Payea
10 12 Nick Brown
11 97nh Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
12 88 Nicholas Sweet
13 22 Aarron Ricker
14 10nh Mike Rowe
15 55nh Brad Leighton
16 0 #Miles Chipman
17 60nh Bobby Babb
18 7me Glen Luce
19 40vt Eric Chase
20 73me #Joey Doiron
21 00 Bryan Kruczek
22 9vt Chip Grenier
23 15vt Joey Laquerre
24 28vt Dwayne Lanphear
25 27 Jason Larrabee
26 41 Pete Potvin, III
27 26me Corey Morgan
28 38vt Tyler Cahoon
29 87 Larry Gelinas
30 85 Travis Stearns
31 71 Bobby Dragon
32 77nh Mark Hayward
33 18 Jamie Fisher
34 25 Shawn Knight
by Jay | Jul 26, 2009 | Beech Ridge
With the American-Canadian Tour back in town for the first time in 16 years, Dave Oliver also took the time to renew acquaintances with the winners circle in front of a large crowd of fans. The 40 lap Pro Series feature was led in the early going by Keith McKinnon who was about to drive the best race of his short career. McKinnon stayed in front until lap 14 when Oliver took over following a restart. With Oliver cruising away from the field McKinnon was locked in a battle for second place with Aaron Ricker, Bub Bilodeau and Mike Rowe. Oliver would take the win and McKinnon posted a career best second place with Rowe getting third at the stripe by inches. Ricker and Mike Maietta Jr were fourth and fifth.
Doug Wolf won his first career race in the 35 lap Sport Series main event. Wolf led from the green flag until he was passed by Reggie Leeman on lap 26. The caution flag waved on lap 27 and Wolf powered his way back to the lead at lap 30. The final 5 laps saw Wolf hold off Don Morse for the win with Leeman third. Andy Field and Russ Morse rounded out the top 5 finishers.
Alby Ovitt won his second Wildcat race of the season in only his third start. Steve Benincasa led for the majority of the race until lap 22 when Ovitt got to his inside. Benincasa and Ovitt raced side by side for the final 8 laps with Ovitt getting the win over Benincasa. Lyman McKeage made a late race charge to finish third with Andy Ayers and Mike Ramsey next.
Matt Dow made easy work of the Road Runner field in their 20 lap feature race. Dow took the lead on lap 6 and pulled away to an easy win. Shawn Brackett was a distant second and Ray Letellier third. Don Dinsmore and Taylor Lampron were fourth and fifth.
by Jay | Jul 24, 2009 | ACT, Beech Ridge, New England
Waterbury, VT – Eddie MacDonald from Rowley, MA has entered the American Canadian Tour (ACT) championship at the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway (BRMS) this Saturday night. The winner of the TD Bank 250 at the Oxford Plains Speedway last Sunday will take his Rollie Lachance-led team to BRMS to compete in the ACT point-counting event.
Red MacDonald, the owner of Lee USA Speedway and father of one of New England’s brightest stock car stars said, “Eddie wanted to work on his NASCAR Camping World East car this weekend to get ready for a race at Adirondack Speedway in a couple of weeks. I told him it was just a one-day race at Beech Ridge and we needed to go race this Saturday. I told him I would put the ACT Late Model back together after the tear down last Sunday night if he was willing to head up the road about an hour this Saturday.”
MacDonald headlined a stellar field of cars last Sunday at the 36th annual summer classic at Oxford Plains where he captured over $35,000.00 in prize money, and put his name in the storied history books of winners of the prestigious “Oxford 250”. “We really have fun racing with these Late Models and when we see the mix of veteran drivers like Brad Leighton, Mike Rowe, Brian Hoar, Brent Dragon along with the new stars like Joey Polewarczyk, Nick Sweet and Scott Payea, we know we are going to have to battle all day. It is a lot of fun,” said MacDonald.
Post time for the Beech Ridge ACT 150 is 6:00 pm this Saturday, July 25, 2009.
by Jay | Jul 19, 2009 | Beech Ridge
Scarborough,Maine- With approximately 200 career victories to his credit, Mike Rowe used his experience to foil the youth movement on Saturday night at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Rowe won the Pro Series 40 lap main event as the NASCAR Whelan All American Series was in action at the Maine oval.
Keith McKinnon led the field to green and jumped out front at the start. Bub Bilodeau moved to second place on lap 5 and quickly set out to take the lead position. Bilodeau took the lead on lap 9 with rookie Bradley Babb moving to second. Aaron Ricker and Mike Rowe moved to third and fourth at this point in the race also becoming factors.
The caution flag waved on lap 15 and a very interesting running order was in place for the restart. Veteran and multi time track champion Bilodeau was leading with rookie Babb second and young Ricker third followed by Rowe. On the restart, Bilodeau went to the front but Babb was hanging to his outside.
Babb would pass Bilodeau on the outside for the lead on lap 28 and Rowe moved from fourth to second 2 laps later. Babb and Rowe were just beginning a battle for the lead on lap 33 when the caution flag flew again. On the restart Babb and Rowe went side by side for 2 laps before Rowe was able to go in front and secure the win. Babb finished second with Bilodeau third, David Oliver and Jay Sands fourth and fifth.
Justin Cusack won the 35 lap Sport Series feature race which was his second win in the last 3 starts for the rookie driver. Cusack bolted from the pole position with former champion Don Morse running second. The only caution flag of the race waved on lap 9 but was not enough to slow Cusack as he maintained his lead to the finish. Morse finished second with Doug Wolf third. Craig Smith and Nate Leavitt were fourth and fifth.
Brian Caswell shook off the demons that have plagued his season and won the 30 lap Wildcat race. Matt Gain led the first lap and then Caswell put the power down and took over command of the race on lap 2. The caution free race worked to Caswells advantage despite the efforts of Gain late in the race to take the win. Gain settled for second with Bill Morris third. Matt Hodgdon and Lyman McKeage were fourth and fifth.
Shawn Brackett continued his hot streak with another Road Runner feature race win. Kari Thibodeau led the first 2 laps until Clayton Loubier took his turn at the front. Brackett blasted into the lead on lap 13 and cruised home for the win. Ray Letellier was second with David Turner third. Matt Dow and Taylor Lampron were fourth and fifth.
