Ryan Preece continued his mastery of bullrings. The 24-year-old Berlin, Connecticut, driver picked up his 12th career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory Saturday night in the Mr. Rooter 161 at New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
Monthly Archives: May 2015
Helliwell at the right place at the right time in the rain shortened ACT go at Speedway 51
Two-time American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Champion Wayne Helliwell Jr. was in the right place at the right time on Saturday night, taking his second win of the season in the rain-shortened Generation Next 151 at Speedway 51 in Groveton, NH.
Keith Rocco wins the Sk Modified main event at Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with the Ltd. Late Model Xtra Mart Xtra D 25 program on Friday, May 29th on what was also Military Appreciation Night. Xtra Mart Convenience Stores put up a $500 bonus that was split evenly among the top-5 finishers in the extra distance Ltd. Late Model feature event. Al Saunders was the big winner, taking his second feature win of the 2015 season in the 25-lap Ltd. Late Model feature. Keith Rocco picked up his second win of the 2015 season in the SK Modified® feature, Tom Fearn picked up his first win of the season in the Late Model feature, Matt Swanson was a first time career winner in the SK Light feature, Trace Beyer got his second win of the season in the DARE Stock feature, and Cory DiMatteo won his second Legend Cars feature of the season.
It was another busy night at the Monadnock Speedway
After weather postponed action at Monadnock Speedway last week, the engines were fired up once again this past Saturday for some high intensity action around the quarter-mile oval on Memorial Day Weekend.
With everyone eager to get back out on the racetrack, there was full card of excitement as they rolled out eight feature series including the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, NE Vintage Outlaws, and Granite State Pro Stock Series 100 lap feature.
After some action packed heat races got the crowd warmed up, the features rolled out with the Vintage Outlaws leading the way. It took him until five laps remained to make the winning pass, but Paul Laplante was able to cross the line in first place to pick up his fifth straight victory at Monadnock Speedway. “We love the sport of racing,” Laplante said, “We want to give back to the fans.”
Monadnock’s Youth division, the Young Guns composed of 12-15 year old drivers ran a 15 lap feature event following the Vintage Outlaws. It was Justin Littlewood in the #37 who jumped out head of the field of five cars, and came across the line in first place ahead of second place finisher Dan Starkweather and Bow Smith who came across third. “I’m very happy with it, first time in forever,” Smith said after the race.
Dan Starkweather wants badly to get back into victory lane after triumphing over the field on week one. “It feels good to be in second place,” Starkweather said, “But I’d rather be in first.”
After coming across second two weeks ago but was awarded first place after the checkered flag flew due to the first place car failing to meet race standards, Justin Littlewood picked up his second win of the season.
“Car ran good all day,” Littlewood said. The winner credited adjusting the tire pressure with helping get his car to go faster saying “We messed with the tire pressure a little bit and made it go faster.”
The always respectful young man displayed poise and grace at the mic in victory lane, making sure to thank those people we all celebrated this holiday weekend as he signed off saying, “I’d like to thank all the Military that served this country.”
Next out on the track the Lightning Stocks ran their 20 lap feature event. Early on it looked like CJ Johnson might repeat his appearance on the podium, as he led Hillary Renaud in the opening stages, but he encountered some problems with smoke billowing out of the right front as he pulled out of the racing line into the infield where he ultimately was credited with a 9th place finish.
At the front it was a three-pack of Tims as Tim O’Shea out ran Tim Paquette and Tim Leblanc. O’Shea nabbed the lead from Paquette with about 8 laps to go. Paquette gave him all he could handle but when the checkered flag was in the air, O’Shea came across first.
“It seemed to get better as the race went on,” O’Shea said, “I don’t know what happened to CJ but we held in there.”
Following Lightning Stocks, Mini Stocks came out with Ethan Marsh in the 8x starting in the pole position for the feature. When the green flag flew, Cameron Sontag and Julia Raymond drove to the front and put some car lengths between the first two spots and the rest of the field. Back in the pack it was some tight racing action. About midway through the feature a single car spin by Solomon Brow brought out the yellow, and when things got going again Raymond and Sontag were leading the field.
Nick Anderson in the #55 got spun around bringing out the caution for the third time during the feature. On the restart, the #76 Kevin McKnight cut a tire and was run into by Marsh in the 8x littering the track with debris and bringing caution to the speedway for the fifth time in the race.As they got going once again Julia Raymond jumped back ahead and didn’t look back as she came across the finish line first ahead of Sontag and Joel Monahan in the #03 car. Mike McGoldrick in the #1 spun out at the start/finish line after the leader took the white flag so the race ended under yellow with McGoldrick showing in 9th after the race. “It feels awesome, the car is awesome, we finally got all our ducks in a row,” Raymond said after the win.
Sportsman Modifieds took the track following the Mini Stocks as the sun and temperature at Monadnock Speedway went down for their 30 lap feature. Kim Rivet took the whole shot from the pole position on lap one, but before the completion of lap one, JT Cloutier had a tire go down in turn 2 bringing caution to the track.
Back under green, Rivet lost the lead to Trevor Bleau and second to Brett Gonyaw. The youngster Bleau led Gonyaw for just over a lap before the #87 shot to the front of the field.
On lap 8 caution came out on the track as the #3 of Jeff Murry had contact with the #11 of Scott Nordman. Gonyaw got a good jump on Bleau on the restart and opened up a seven car length lead over Bleau. Tyler Jarvenpaa and Kim Rivet were battling it out for fourth place back in the pack when Bleau spun after contact with Dana Smith.
Halfway through the race Gonyaw led the field ahead of Jarvenpaa, Rivet and MacMichael were racing for third as last week’s runner up got by the pole sitter with 10 to go.
Jarvenpaa went to work trying to reel in Gonyaw, but as he did so, MacMichael made up the ground he was chasing and overtook Jarvenpaa for second.
With less than 10 laps remaining, MacMicheal just ran out of time, with Gonyaw’s machine producing too much power to be chased down. Gonyaw came across the line first as he claimed his first victory at Monadnock Speedway of 2015 with Kim Rivet spinning on the last lap. MacMichael edged Jarvenpaa to finish second for the second consecutive week. Rivet had a good run but finished 12th.
The winner two weeks ago, Bill Kimball, came across the line fourth and Keith Carzello rounded out the top five.“It was a good race,” Gonyaw said after the win.
“We started up front and we kept it there,” the winner said, “It’s better than going backwards like we did last week.”
“We have a bunch of guys working together for this,” Gonyaw went on, “They’re there week in and week out through the bad weeks and the good weeks and it’s finally happening so thanks to them.” The 100 lap Granite State Pro Stock Series feature was on deck as Cory Robert led the field to the green, but it was Barry Gray who grabbed the lead on lap one. Robert’s day was done early as a lap 4 incident with Adam Norton brought the yellow out for the first time.Three restart attempts later, and the field finally got into a green flag run with Gray leading the field. Caution flew again on lap 25 as Nick Boivin lost his engine.
Once things got going again Gray held the lead as Larry Gelinas and Matt Frahm looked to get by him. The Monadnock veteran was not to be had on this night though as he held off Gelinas and Frahm to grab is his fourth win in the GSPSS Memorial Day 100 at Monadnock Speedway.Larry Gelinas gave Gray all he could handle looking inside for the pass several times but coming up just short at the line he had to settle for second place with Frahm in third “My hats off to my guys, they work really hard,” Gray said after the race.“This is a home track for us, all the guys ran us good and clean tonight.”
With two races remaining on the card for the evening things were just heating up as Super Stocks came out to run their feature. Tyler Lescord led the field to green. The race stayed green and Lescord led Tyler Leary and Dennis Stange for a clean, green 25 laps to checkered. “I think we made the right choices,” Lescord said after the race when discussing some adjustments he made that led him to his first win of the season.
The final race of the night was the Thunder Stocks as they ran their second feature of 2015. Waiting around all night didn’t do the drivers patience any good, as the racers went 3 and 4 wide at the drop of the green flag and Paul Barnard’s #24 car met the wall on the backstretch bringing out the caution for the first time.
Back under green, the drivers behaved themselves on the second try, and the #20 Dave Greenslit showed why his car is considered one of the strongest in the field, powering his way to the lead. Week 1 winner Craig Chafee in the #28 did his best to get back to the front but didn’t manage to finish in the top 10 in week 2. Ken Thompson in the #39 spun early on but came back to finish third. Series Champion Marshal Usher was strong all day long and fought his way through the field. By the end he was challenging Greenslit for the lead, but couldn’t find the horsepower to make the pass.
Greenslit came across first ahead of Usher and Thompson.“It was a little bit slippery out there,” Greenslit said following the win. “I got a little nervous seeing Marshall in my mirror back there.”With the win Greenslit now has a 3rd and a 1st this season.
Racing will resume next weekend as another full evening of racing comes your way next Saturday night, May 30, 2015 at 6pm. It will be Military appreciation night and will feature 30 lap Sportsman Modified, 25 lap Super Stock, 25 lap Mini Stock, 25 lap Thunder Stock, 25 lap Lightning Stocks,15 lap Young Gun and MR Rooter NE Truck Series!
Young Gun Results: Justin Littlewood, Dan Starkweather, Bow Smith, Chris Sontag, Colton Smith
Lighting Stock Results: Tim O’Shea, Tim Paquette, Tim Leblanc, Kris Kristolaitis, Hillary Renaud, Pat Houle, Steve Fucile, Jim Drew, CJ Johnson, Eric Silvernale
Mini Stock Results: Julia Raymond, Cameron Sontag, Joel Monahan, Nick Anderson, Solomon Brow, Justin Faford, Eric Pomasko, Alicia Fohlin-Parker, Mike McGoldrick, Kevin McKnight, Ethan Marsh, Rick Lambert, Matt Gauffin, DJ Lazelle
Sportsman Modified Results: Brett Gonyaw, Scott MacMichael, Tyler Jarvenpaa, Bill Kimball, Keith Carzello, Eric Leclair, Trevor Bleau, Dana Smith, Glen Griswold, Scott Nordman, Casey Ouellette, Kim Rivet, Jason Barden, JT Cloutier, Dennis Charette, Jeff Murray
Super Stock Results: Tyler Lescord, Tyler Leary,Dennis, Stange, Dave Striebel, Joel Monahan, Ken Springer, Cole Littlewood, Kyle Casagrande, Nancy Muni
Thunder Stock Results: Dave Greenslit, Marshall usher, Ken Thompson, James Nowakowski, Richard Vincent, Paul Barnard, Gus Coehlo, Chris Lawrence, Ben Williams, Michelle Leh, Craig Chaffee, Rod Davis, Joe Ethier.
Source: Monadnock Speedway PR
Gordon wins the 100 lap Renegade race at Devil’s Bowl
There wasn’t a full moon over Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday night, but the action was as crazy as if there had been. When all was said and done on Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Night, fans witnessed four close finishes, while a disqualification changed the final results of the main event.
Robert Gordon will go into the record books as the winner of the first-ever 100-lap race for the Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade division at Devil’s Bowl. Though he crossed the finish line in second place, the defending track champion from Milton, VT was the driver to watch through the duration of the race. Gordon led 41 laps in the first half of the event and sat in second place behind Richie Turner during a scheduled refueling break at lap 51. Gordon had a right-front tire go flat during the break and was forced to make a pit stop, then marched from the back of the 17-car field at the restart to reclaim the runner-up spot.
Turner dominated the second half of the race and withstood three restarts in the final 28 laps to cross the line first, but was later disqualified in post-race inspection due to unapproved pushrods and valve spring retainers in his engine. Gordon inherited the victory and the $1,000 winner’s purse along with it.
Ryan Boutin of Fairfax, VT made the most of a rare Devil’s Bowl appearance with a solid drive from 10th starting spot to officially take the runner-up position. Jason McClatchie of Plattsburgh, NY moved up third, followed by Zach Rabtoy of Fairfax, VT and Scott FitzGerald of West Rutland, VT. Rookie Matt Monaghan finished sixth, followed by Jon Boutin, rookie Shawn Franklin, Jim McKiernan and Jared Blake.
Joey Roberts of Fletcher, VT won a rowdy and competitive 35-lap feature for the Bond Auto Parts Modified division. The action started at the initial green flag when the front row starters got crossed up, creating a logjam behind them that left rookies Timex Morgan and Bob Kilburn in a heap. A second wreck just before the halfway mark knocked Nick Heywood and Jamie LaFountain out of the event and the subsequent restart opened the door for Roberts to make his move.
Roberts jumped into the lead at lap 17 and fought off Brandon, VT’s Vince Quenneville Jr. for several laps before squaring off with Jason Durgan. One final caution flag set up a green-white-checker finish; Roberts and Durgan bounced off of each other at the restart, then Durgan and Leon Gonyo came together causing a major shuffle in the running order. At the hectic finish, it was Roberts with his first win of the season, followed by Quenneville. Bucko Branham of Plattsburgh, NY finished third ahead of Gonyo and Greg Atkins, while Cody Sargen, Ron Proctor, Jason Furman, Durgan, and Codie Aubin rounded out the top 10.
The 30-lap Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model feature saw two exciting battles for the lead, first between polesitter Walt Hammond Jr. and Robert Bryant Jr., then later between Josh Masterson and Todd Stone. Masterson, of Bristol, VT, threaded the needle between Hammond and Bryant on a late restart, then held off a charge from Stone in the final two laps for the victory. Bryant crossed the line in third place but was later disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. Hammond inherited the position with rookie Richard Lowrey III and former track champion Chris Bergeron in tow.
Chuck Bradford of Addison, VT scored his first win of the year in the Portland Glass Mini Stock feature. The defending Devil’s Bowl champion had a rear view mirror full of opening night winner Dale O’Neil during the 15-lap race, but held on despite O’Neil’s repeated challenges. Pete Blaney survived a heavily-smoking engine for third place with Kris Clark and Chris LaVair next in line. Bradford announced in victory lane that both he and LaVair would donate their night’s winnings to the CHERUBS children’s charity.
The My Family Tradition (MFT) Sauce & Rub Co. Enduro Series had a barnburner of a 50-lap race, which came down to a rare final-lap pass for the win. Brett Wood of Georgia, VT led the first 49-and-a-half laps only to have Rutland, VT driver Cory Gray sneak by him in the final corner as the crowd erupted in cheers. Gray’s win was his first Enduro score in five years; Wood took second with Eric Messier third. Jeff Murray and Kirk Brunelle completed the top five finishers as the final two drivers on the lead lap.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action with a two-day, two-track weekend on June 6-7. The American-Canadian Tour Late Models make their annual stop on Saturday, June 6 with their first-ever race at Devil’s Bowl under the lights at the People’s United Bank 100 at 6:00 p.m. Modifieds, Renegades, and Mini Stocks are also on the card.
On Sunday, June 7, the Berlin Optical Expressions Dirt Track Series opens on the 3/10-mile infield dirt track at 4:00 p.m., with a full slate of Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, Mini Stocks, and the track debut for the Lucas Oil POWRi Outlaw Midget Series.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Night
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade Feature (100 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (3) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT
2. (10) Ryan Boutin, Fairfax, VT
3. (7) Jason McClatchie, Plattsburgh, NY
4. (1) Zach Rabtoy, Fairfax, VT
5. (2) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
6. (6) # Matt Monaghan, Colchester, VT
7. (9) Jon Boutin, St. Albans, VT
8. (5) # Shawn Franklin, Waitsfield, VT
9. (12) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, NY
10. (14) Jared Blake, North Hero, VT
11. (8) Keith O’Neil, Mooers, NY
12. (15) Keith Pelkey, Clintonville, NY
13. (4) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, VT
14. (11) Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, NY
15. (16) Josh Payea, Georgia, VT
16. (17) # Tony Salerno, Mineville, NY
Disqualified: (13) Richie Turner, Fairfax, VT (engine)
Heat Winners: Scott FitzGerald; Robert Gordon
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Ryan Boutin
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature (35 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown-Laps Completed
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (7) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, VT
2. (6) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
3. (10) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY
4. (9) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
5. (11) Greg Atkins, Clintonville, NY
6. (5) Cody Sargen, Greenfield Center, NY
7. (12) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
8. (13) Jason Furman, Ballston Spa, NY
9. (4) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY
10. (2) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
11. (14) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
12. (1) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
13. (3) Jamie LaFountain, Plattsburgh, NY
14. (19) Jason Bruno, Morrisonville, NY
15. (17) # Allan Hammond, Canaan, NH
16. (15) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, VT
17. (8) Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, NY
18. (16) # Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, VT
19. (18) # Timex Morgan, Plattsburgh, NY
Heat Winners: Dave Snow; Jason Durgan
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Bucko Branham
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Bob Kilburn
Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (3) Josh Masterson, Bristol, VT
2. (7) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
3. (1) Walt Hammond, Jr., Canaan, NH
4. (6) Richard Lowrey, III, Charlotte, VT
5. (4) Chris Bergeron, Claremont, NH
6. (5) Steve Miller, Vergennes, VT
7. (10) Robert Hagar, Windsor, VT
8. (9) Chad White, Fort Ann, NY
9. (11) Mark Norris, Benson, VT
10. (12) Jesse Carris, Rutland, VT
11. (8) Walter J. Hammond, Orange, NH
Disqualified: (2) Robert Bryant, Jr., Brooklyn, CT (unsportsmanlike conduct)
Heat Winners: Walt Hammond, Jr.; Robert Bryant, Jr.
Semi-Feature Winner: Robert Bryant, Jr.
Portland Glass Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (3) Chuck Bradford, Addison, VT
2. (10) Dale O’Neil, Mooers, NY
3. (8) Pete Blaney, Jay, NY
4. (7) Kris Clark, Keeseville, NY
5. (6) C.J. LaVair, Saranac Lake, NY
6. (2) Harold LaVair, Jr., Gabriels, NY
7. (4) Kyle Sorensen, Ballston Spa, NY
8. (1) Tyler Irwin, Peru, NY
9. (9) # Bradley Bertrand, Ferrisburgh, VT
10. (5) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
Heat Winners: Dale O’Neil; Chuck Bradford
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Dale O’Neil
MFT Sauce & Rub Co. Enduro Series Feature (50 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown
1. (17) Cory Gray, Rutland, VT – 50 laps
2. (802) Brett Wood, Georgia, VT – 50 laps
3. (02) Eric Messier, Hinesburg, VT – 50 laps
4. (35) Jeff Murray, Georgia, VT – 50 laps
5. (00) Kirk Brunelle, Ferrisburgh, VT – 50 laps
6. (20) Zach Wood, Georgia, VT – 49 laps
7. (87) John Gero, Wells, VT – 49 laps
8. (49) Chris LaForest, Barre, VT – 49 laps
9. (33) Andrew Lopes, Colchester, VT – 49 laps
10. (76) Shawn Moquin, Milton, VT – 49 laps
11. (30) Tom Kudlacik, Milton, VT – 48 laps
12. (14) Chris Mattos, Milton, VT – 48 laps
13. (38) Casey O’Connell, Burlington, VT – 47 laps
14. (98) Dominic Guerrina – 46 laps
15. (23) Dylan Gilmond, Rutland, VT – 31 laps
16. (23X) Marc Denton, Milton, VT – 19 laps
17. (069) Jason Vezina, North Hero, VT – 15 laps
18. (28) Todd Muguira, Cavendish, VT – 3 laps
19. (215) Andrea Noble, Rutland, VT – 2 laps
No Score – (4) Lance Bussino
Source: Justin St. Louis/Devil’s Bowl PR
Derrick O’Donnell dominated the Memorial Day Classic at Thunder Road
Two-time defending Thunder Road “King of the Road” Derrick O’Donnell began his quest for a threepeat in dominating fashion with a win in the Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic 100 on Sunday, May 24.
Ted Christopher looking for a win in Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at New London-Waterford Speedbowl
No NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers have more laps at New London-Waterford Speedbowl than Ted Christopher and Keith Rocco. They’ll rely on that experience in this Saturday’s Mr. Rooter 161 with an eye on attaining a long-awaited trip to Victory Lane.
Southie gets a Verizon Indy Car race on Labor Day weekend 2016
By Lou Modestino
There’s been a lot of excitement all over New England about the May 22 announcement of the Grand Prix of Boston which will bring the IRL Indy Cars to The Hub on Labor Day weekend 2016 to run on an improvised road course on Boston’s waterfront, much like this weekend’s Indy Car event held at another improvised street course in Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. Since the Indy Racing League merged with the Championship Auto Racing Tour, the Indy Cars raced on ovals. Now there are now only six oval races on the IRL schedule this year. Continue reading
Joey Doiron takes historic AIM PASS North Super Late Model 150 at Thunder Road
Joey Doiron of Berwick, Maine held off a hard-charging Jeremy Davis to score an historic 150-lap AIM PASS North Super Late Model victory at the famed ¼-mile Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont on Sunday afternoon (May 24). For Doiron it was a homecoming of sorts, as he made his first appearance at the track in some six years, moving on to the Super Late Model ranks after winning the ACT Late Model Rookie of the Year award in his only full season of Late Model; competition. While Doiron started the 150-lap headline event at Thunder Road’s annual Mekklesen RV Memorial Day Classic he had plenty of competition, as he chased fellow former ACT stars Glen Luce and Wayne Helliwell, Jr. through most of the first one-third of the event.
Ryan Lineman take the Seekonk Pro Stock main event
In the Seekonk Pro Stocks, Ryan Lineham found himself outside Kevin Folan on a lap 14 restart. He had Jake Vanada and Mike Brightman held the two top postions. Vanada grabbed the front and Brightman looked like he would stay outside, but then found space to drop in, inches from Folan’s nose. In a move reminiscent of his Street Stock days, Lineham bottomed the accelarator, stayed on the outside, and flew forward going by Brightman and then Vanada, He secured his leadership on lap 16’s over on the backstretch. He’d built such a head of steam that he could not settle into the low groove and continued to wind around the track on the high side putting distance between himself and his pursuers.