by Jay | Jul 19, 2009 | Maine, Oxford Plains Speedway
Unofficial finish of Sunday’s 36th annual TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine, with starting position in parentheses, car number, driver name and hometown.
1. (3) 17 Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass.
2. (10) 91 Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Que.
3. (6) 26vt John Donahue, Graniteville, Vt.
4. (7) 37vt Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
5. (29) 94 Shawn Martin, Turner, Maine
6. (1) 55vt Brent Dragon, Milton, Vt.
7. (32) 10nh Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine
8. (4) 6vt Cris Michaud, E. Montpelier, Vt.
9. (8) 55nh Brad Leighton, Center Conway, N.H.
10. (2) 85 Travis Stearns, Auburn, Maine
11. (5) 03 Travis Adams, Canton, Maine
12. (11) 25 Shawn Knight, South Paris, Maine
13. (15) 15vt Joey Laquerre, E. Montpelier, Vt.
14. (21) 71 Scott Dragon, Milton, Vt.
15. (12) 97 Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, N.H.
16. (9) 88 Nick Sweet, Barre, Vt.
17. (37) 48qc Karl Allard, St. Felicien, Que.
18. (31) 7me Glen Luce, Turner, Maine
19. (24) 51 Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, Maine
20. (39) 7vt Eric Williams, Hyde Park, Vt.
21. (42) 66 Steve Wallace, Charlotte, N.C.
22. (30) 02 Randy Potter, Groveton, N.H.
23. (41) 72 Scott Robbins, Dixfield, Maine
24. (38) 57 Doug Coombs, Livermore Falls, Maine
25. (40) 15me Ben Ashline, Pittston, Maine
26. (26) 26me Corey Morgan, Lewiston, Maine
27. (34) 16 Joey Becker, Jeffersonville, Vt.
28. (36) 63 Donnie Wentworth, Otisfield, Maine
29. (33) 10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds, Maine
30. (23) 41 Pete Potvin III, Graniteville, Vt.
31. (13) 50 Jeff White, Winthrop, Maine
32. (19) 48me Kenny Harrison, Pownal, Maine
33. (43) 51mo Kenny Wallace, St. Louis, Mo.
34. (35) 18 Carey Martin, Denmark, Maine
35. (28) 36 Brad Hammond, Turner, Maine
36. (27) 17on Pete Shepherd, Brampton, Ont.
37. (16) 80 Donald Theetge, Charlesbourg, Que.
38. (22) 6me Tommy Ricker, Poland, Maine
39. (25) 37me Larry Gelinas, Scarborough, Maine
40. (17) 1c Billy Childs Jr., Leeds, Maine
41. (20) 1 Al Hammond, Paris, Maine
42. (18) 78 Quinny Welch, Lancaster, N.H.
43. (14) 60 Tim Brackett, Buckfield, Maine
Time of race: 2 hours, 10 minutes. Margin of victory: 0.969 seconds. Winners avg. speed: 56.074 mph. Cautions: 10 for 76 laps. Heat winners: Dragon, Stearns, MacDonald, Michaud, Adams, Donahue. Consi winners: Gelinas, Morgan, Shepherd. Last-chance winners: Allard, Coombs, Williams.
by Jay | Jul 19, 2009 | Speedway 95
In a special 75 Lap Little Enduro feature scheduled on a Saturday night, and sponsored by Cap’s Tavern of Brewer and Judy’s Restaurant on State St. in Bangor, Darren Durrell of Newburgh came back from a Wednesday night disqualification that took a win away from him to take the win in a race that went the full 75 laps, from green to checkers, without a stop. Durrell wrestled the lead from Donny Blanchard of Orrington on the 11th lap and held Blanchard at bay for the remainder of the race. Blanchard finished in second with Kyle Gallant of Veazie, who had posted a win in the Sport-Four Division earlier in the evening, finishing in third. Newburgh’s Ken Getchell finished the race in fourth, the first car a lap down to the leaders, and Frankfort’s Chris Burbelo was fifth. Durrell and Blanchard each won a qualifying heat, and started the race on the front row. The Little Enduro feature replaced the usual Late Model Feature as the Late Model drivers requested the night off to attend Oxford 250 week-end at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Strictly Street action saw a new winner in victory lane as Orrington’s Nick Huff, in his first ever appearance at Speedway 95 as a driver, came from a 6th place starting position and passed from veteran driver Doug Day of Kenduskeag on lap 9 to take the lead, and later, his first checkered flag. Points leader Bradley Norris of Ellsworth, who got tangled up in a chain reaction collision at the start when Travis Poulin’s Monte Carlo failed to gain speed when the green flag flew, chased Huff for the second half of the race, but was unable to catch the youngster and settled for a runner up finish. Doug Day finished in third, followed by Jim Carr Jr. of Clifton in his first Strictly Street appearance of the year in fourth and Shawn Hamel of Bangor in fifth. Huff is the son for former Speedway 95 and Unity Raceway Pro Stock driver Kris Huff, and grandson of Hermon’s Doug Sinclair, a Super Street driver at the speedway. Bradley Norris was the qualifying race winner.
The Super Street race was a fender rubbing and bumper banging affair which led to another first time winner in the division. Ed Drake of Vasselboro took advantage of a restart on lap 21 to pass points leader Kris Watson of Hermon and lead the final four laps to the win. Watson and Hermon’s Doug Sinclair had been locked in a fierce battle for the top spot until Sinclair went into turn three a little too high and a little too hard, and ended up against the turn three tire wall. Sinclair had been leading and was attempting to overlap a slower car when his misfortune struck. On the restart it was Watson on the outside by choice, and Drake on the inside, with Drake powering by Watson to take the lead when the green flag flew. Watson finished second with Holden’s Steve Moulton recovering from an early race skirmish with Franklin’s Mike Overlock to finish third. Artie Mcguire of Bucksport finished fourth in his first appearance of the season, and Danforth’s Nick Kinney finished in fifth.
Kyle Gallant of Veazie returned to victory lane in the Sport-Four division following a couple of poor finishes due to mechanical issues with his car, and did it in fine fashion, racing points leader David Green side by side over the last 6 laps of the race. The lap 14 caution, which set up the race to the finish, was caused when Hermon’s Ralph Allen and LaGrange driver Rick Grant came together in turn four, causing Grant to spin and stall. Prior to the restart, Grant decided to show his displeasure with Allen and ran into him on the pace lap. Grant was black flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Allen continued in the race to finish fourth, behind Green, who finished second, and third place finisher Brent Fletcher of Milford. The fifth spot went to Ellsworth’s Bradley Norris, who did double duty, racing in two divisions during the evening’s activity.
Saturday night racing continues at Speedway 95 on July 25, when Budweiser, King of Beers sponsors the show that includes a 50 lap Dysart’s Late Model feature, the Super Streets, Strictly Streets, Allenfarm Fence Co Sport-Fours and the Wicked Good Vintage Racing League.
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.
by Jay | Jul 18, 2009 | Maine, Unity
Unity, ME – Josh St.Clair scored his second feature event win of the
season in the Late Model division, topping the rain-shortened racing
card at Unity Raceway on Friday night. Other winners before the wet
stuff halted the racing action included Kyle Gallant, Travis Dodge and
Dick McPhail.
St.Clair, a third-generation competitor and grandson of multi-time
track kingpin Dave “Boss Hogg” St.Clair, methodically worked his way
from the back of the starting grid, past polesitter and early race
leader Frank Moulton of Burnham, then cruised to the checkered flag
with ease once in front.
Moulton, the Late Model division’s point leader, helped his
championship quest with a runner-up finish, while RJ Austin of
Smithfield, making his first appearance of the season on the Unity
track, crossed the line in third position. Big John Phippen of Bar
Harbor mounted an impressive, late-race charge to claim fourth
position at the finish, with Anson’s Mark Dodge, also making his first
start of the season, just edging out Glenn Curtis of Hudson for the
final top-five finishing position. Moulton won the heat race.
Kyle Gallant of Veazie won the 35-lap main event for the Monsta Mini
class. The victory earned Gallant a guaranteed starting position in
the Four-Cylinder Nationals Mini Stock race on Sunday, August 2 at
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.
Gallant started from the pole position and led every lap in the
special Monsta Mini main event. Reigning division champion Mike Wilson
of Chelsea chased Gallant for the first half of the race, but yielded
that spot to Oakland’s Reggie Bickford, who finished in the runner-up
position. Wilson finished third, with Tasha Dyer of Arrowsic fourth
across the line and Tim Collins of Farmingdale finishing in fifth
place. Gallant was the heat race victor.
Dick McPhail of Clinton took top honors in the Wicked Good Vintage
Racing Association’s 15-lap feature event. McPhail, 70, led early but
yielded the spot for several laps to Ricky Burgess, Jr. But Burgess,
beset by mechanical demons throughout the night, couldn’t keep his
coupe-bodied Modified up to speed and watched McPhail go past and
drive to victory lane shortly after he got to the front. Bob Hills
finished in the runner-up position, with the top five filled out by
Norris Wilette, Mike Willette and Tim Reynolds.
Travis Dodge copped the checkered flag in the 20-lap Enduro division
race, outrunning Winterport’s Henry Boudreau to the finish line.
Darrin Dyer of Canaan ended up in third position, followed by George
Overlock of Hermon and Robert Padddack of Clinton.
Before the rain heat race wins were posted by Kris Watson of Hermon,
Jimmy Dennis of Benton, Andy Turbovsky of Winslow, Shadow Folsom of
Skowhegan, Mike Mason of Skowhegan, Mika Wilson of Chelsea and Lucas
Porter of Norridgewock. Nick Lizotte of Sidney thrilled the crowd with
a rollover in his heat race. Following a quick pit stop Lizotte
returned to competition and passed several cars to claim a
fourth-place finish.
Rained-out feature races will be made up first on this Friday night’s
card for Super Street, Wildcat, Late Model Pro Four, Flyin’ 4, Ladies
and Teen Thunder divisions beginning a bit earlier than usual at 6:00
p.m. Those make-up feature races will be followed by a full card of
NWA On Fire Professional Wrestling and regularly-scheduled feature
races for all weekly racing divisions. It’s also Christmas In July
night at the Raceway. Kids can meet Santa, and all who donate a toy
for charity will be entered in a drawing for a door prize.
by Jay | Jul 17, 2009 | Maine, Oxford Plains Speedway
OXFORD, Maine – Kevin Oliver and Cathy Manchester each repeated their victories from two nights earlier in Friday’s Acceleration Series card at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Then came a repeat of something that’s become all too familiar in recent years: Rain on TD Banknorth 250 Weekend Presented by New England Dodge Dealers. Showers intervened and wiped away the final six features of the night.
Strictly and Mini Stock drivers will run double features Saturday night in conjunction with the Maine-Ly Action Sports 100 for the true Value Modified Racing Series. Racing will begin at the scheduled time of 6:30 p.m.
Three Chimney Tech Outlaw features will be contested Wednesday, July 29, with the Macdonald Motors Runnin’ Rebel ‘A’ feature now to be run Wednesday, August 5.
Jeff Hebert collected his first victory since 2007 in the Runnin’ Rebel ‘B’ main. Jason Hannigan scored his second Goulet Home Inspections Renegade checkered flag of the season.
Manchester sped from 12th to first in only six laps, taking the lead away from rookie Missy Morgan before cruising to a career-best fourth win of the season. Manchester has won four of the five weekly events in the Acceleration Series.
Vanna Brackett and Dottie Patria, the last two Ladies champions, waged a terrific battle for second. Brackett prevailed by less than a car length at the line. Morgan edged Christina Spaulding for fourth.
Oliver started last in the 11-truck field, but he needed only five circuits to overtake early leaders Corey Williams and Jerry Steven en route to his second straight win and third overall.
Point leader Ryan Farrar rallied to second, with Opie Allard, Schmidt and rookie Stevens in only his second OPS start.
Hebert landed the Rebel ‘B’ lead from Brian Nason on lap 2 and breezed in his caution-free event.
Mark Childs Jr. and Bill Sprague posted their best finishes of the season in second and third, followed by Bill Dunphy. Jim Hart made his 2009 debut a successful one, overtaking John Mason in the final turn to swipe fifth.
Hannigan, the defending division champion, led all 10 laps of the Renegade encounter to snag his second win and first since opening night.
Bill Grover lurked at Hannigan’s back bumper throughout but couldn’t quite make the pass. Point leader Gerard Cote collected third, backed by Bob Morey.
Mike St. Germain and Tommy Tompkins won the 10-lap Strictly heats. Butch Keene and Greg Watkins captured Mini preliminaries.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Jeff Hebert, Auburn; 2. Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls; 3. Bill Sprague, Minot; 4. Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester; 5. Jim Hart, Buckfield; 6. John Mason, Bethel; 7. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 8. John Childs, Leeds; 9. Roger Bourgoin, Sabattus; 10. Brian Nason, Lewiston; 11. Martin Krauter, Raymond; 12. Carl Conant, Lewiston; 13. Charlie Hall, Oxford; 14. Don Smith, Oxford; 15. Josh Childs, Oxford; 16. Bert Allen, Auburn; 17. Craig Bartlett, Denmark; 18. Gene White, Lisbon.
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Kevin Oliver, Gray; 2. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 3. Opie Allard, Harpswell; 4. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 5. Jerry Stevens, Searsport; 6. Corey Williams, Sumner; 7. Laurette Theriault, South Casco; 8. Jeremy Wagner, Bryant Pond; 9. Ryan Varney, South Paris; 10. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 11. John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls.
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 2. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 3. Dottie Patria, Turner; 4. Missy Morgan, Lewiston; 5. Christina Spaulding, Lewiston; 6. Deanna Robertson, South Paris; 7. Lisa Brooks, Auburn; 8. Sue Veinott, Sabattus; 9. Shannon Wheeler, Auburn; 10. Kristen Brown, Gray; 11. Missy Blash, Oxford; 12. Tori Burgess, Sabattus; 13. Tricia Thomas, Farmington; 14. Annie Chartier, Mexico; 15. Kimberly Sessions, Auburn.
GOULET HOME INSPECTIONS RENEGADE (10 laps): 1. Jason Hannigan, Greene; 2. Bill Grover, Topsham; 3. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 4. Bob Morey, Lisbon.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘A’ (20 laps): Postponed to Wednesday, August 5.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW A, B and C (20 laps each): Postponed to Wednesday, July 29.
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI and STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps each): Postponed to Saturday, July 18.
by Jay | Jul 16, 2009 | Maine, Speedway 95
Paul Higgins on Newburgh was declared the winner of the 29 car Wacky Wednesday Little Enduro feature race at Speedway 95 on July 15 when apparent winner Darrin Durrell, also of Newburgh, was disqualified following a post race inspection of his car. Higgins had chased Durrell for the final 10 laps of the race, but was unable to make the pass to take the win on the track. Old Town’s Jason Trundy then finished second after leading the event from a lap 6 restart until Durrell retook the lead on lap 12, following a red flag caused by Adam Russell’s rollover on the backstretch. Mike Ogden of Bucksport drove a hard race and finished third, followed by Mike Witham of Milo in fourth. Andrew Crosby of Hermon was fifth. The Little Enduro drivers also competed in a Double O race at the end of the night, with Mike Witham of Milo taking the win, followed by Steve Moulton of Holden, Robert Mushero of Scarborough, Danny Snyder of Charleston and Ricky Adams of Corinth. Qualifiers for the main feature were won by Darren Durrell of Newburgh and Chris Carrol of Greenbush.
Four cars showed up this week for the “Stars of Tomorrow”, a division for 11-14 year olds. 12 year old Matthew Kimball of Cornville took the win, with last week’s winner Ryan Modery of Hermon in second. Brett McCullough of Kenduskeag finished in third, driving the final five laps on a flat tire. DC Alexander of Carmel raced the qualifier, but was unable to make the feature due to an oil leak on his car. Matthew Kimball won the qualifier.
Nicole Smith of Clifton won for the first time in three years in the Ladies Division when she overtook early leader Shelby Kimball of Cornville on a lap 15 restart, caused when Danielle DeLuck detonated a motor going into turn one and covered the track with oil. Kimball had led the first 15 laps and appeared to have the car to beat, but the speedy dry from the oil spill caused her trouble, allowing Smith to take the lead and the win. Kimball finished in second, with Kayla Allen of Bucksport finishing third in a car borrowed from Michael Shaw of Troy. Becky Elston of Carmel finished in fourth with points leader Rhonda Lyford of Winterport limping home fifth with a flat right front tire on the final lap. Rhonda Lyford had won the qualifier for the Ladies earlier in the program.
Jim Carr Jr. of Clifton made it five in a row in the pick up trucks when he held off Bucksport’s Dana Harlow for the win. Harlow and Hermon’s Andrew Crosby led the early laps until Carr moved his truck past both of them to take the lead on lap 6. From that point on it was Carr all the way, with Harlow staying in front of Crosby to take the second place trophy. Crosby finished in third after posting a 5th place finish in the Little Enduros earlier in the evening. Mike Lynch of Winterport tried his luck in the 60 truck, and wound up finishing in fourth with Brett Crosby of Hermon recovering from a trip into an infield tire pile to finish fifth. Carr also won the heat race for the division.
