June 24th, 2018

Rich Hayes PR

Lee, NH – Former multi-time champion Tommy Tombarello, Jr. of Haverhill, MA returned to his winning ways in the Rodfather Supermodifieds at Lee USA Speedway on Friday night, capturing his first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature event victory of the 2018 season in convincing style. Tombarello jumped out to the lead as soon as flagman Steve Gran unfurled the green to let them loose, and he set a blistering pace to run flag-to-flag for the win.  Tommy’s best lap during the run was clocked at 13.924, one of the fastest circuits put down thus far in the early season. Defending two-time champ Dave “Hollywood” Helliwell of Pelham worked his way up from seventh and broke out of the pack just after halfway, but Tombarello was already long gone.  He took the checkers with a 2-plus second margin of victory, with Helliwell, Mike Netishen of Auburn, Rochester’s Mike Spurling, and rookie contender Jeffrey Battle of Westford, MA closing out the top five.
 
2017 R & R Wholesale “The Tool Store and More” Late Model Sportsman champion Frankie Eldredge of Stratham made a statement with a winning run in the 35-lap main event.  Eldredge chased down 2016 champ Jimmy Russell just before the crossed flags, then moved past and led the balance of the race to roll into victory lane once again. Russell bounced back from a rough outing in the double features a week earlier and took home runner-up honors, with freshman Zach Nicholson scoring his first career podium finish in the third spot.  Nicholson’s strong run capped off an impressive night that also saw him take the checkers in his qualifying heat as well. Two-time 2018 winner Bryan Kruczek of Newmarket and “Billistic” Bill Helliwell of Salem rounded out the top five.
 
Second-generation racer Zach Washburn grabbed the early lead in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Ironman feature event, but the race was quickly brought under caution when veterans Randy Washburn and Brian Thompson got turned around on lap two. Brandon Mailhot powered past Washburn in the outside groove to take over the top spot after the restart, and Mailhot was still leading on lap 14 when caution flew once again for former champion Troy Washburn of Rochester, who suffered mechanical failure and rolled to a stop on the frontstretch. When racing resumed, Jamie Holland of Somersworth charged past Mailhot to grab the lead, and he held off defending champ Christin DeStefano of Tewksbury, MA to collect his first win of the 2018 campaign.  DeStefano’s husband Brian finished in the third spot, with Jeremy Decourcy and Seabrook’s Adam Knowles closing out the top five.
 
It had taken Newbury racer Rob Carleton three years to score his first win in the MLM Diagnostics Pure Stocks, but only another week to nail down career win number two, as he made it back-to-back wins with another strong run.  2017 champ Tyler Mailhot was next across the stripe, followed by opening night winner Jacob Michaud, Jaden Curtis, and Steve Carleton.
 
A special 75-lap 4-cylinder Enduro was the final event to take to the speedway for the night, and after some incredibly close racing throughout, Shaun Waites, Jr. held off all challengers to post the win. 
 
ALL RESULTS ARE UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CONFIRMED BY THE SPEEDWAY OFFICE ON MONDAY MORNING.
 
Next up at Lee USA is another exciting night of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action featuring the R & R Wholesale “The Tool Store and More” Late Model Sportsman, Rodfather Supermodifieds, Race Parts NH Street Stocks, O’Reilly Auto Parts Ironman, and MLM Diagnostics Pure Stocks.  In addition, there will be a special holiday fireworks display.