Lee, NH – Ricky Bly of Sunapee has been hauling to “New Hampshire’s Center of Speed” whenever his schedule allowed for the past decade-plus, trying to win a race at Lee USA Speedway to add to the already-impressive resume he built racing at other speedways throughout the state.
His persistence finally paid off on Friday night, when he put in a dominating performance to break the career-long dry spell and collect his first career Lee USA win in the 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Rodfather Late Model Sportsman main event.
Two-time 2019 feature winner Bobby Baillargeon of Kingston checkered second in the Steve Paquette-owned, Seacoast Truck and Auto sponsored machine, with points leader “Billistic” Bill Helliwell of Pelham, former champion Jimmy Russell of Exeter, and reigning champ Frankie Eldredge of Stratham filling out the top five.
Kris Miller of Bedford and Jesse Bousquet of Pittsfield were victorious earlier in the night during the two LMS qualifying heats, but the pair found trouble on the first lap of the main and suffered heavy damage to both of their cars after contact with each other and the outside wall.
It was all Renfrew Motorsports in the Race Parts NH Street Stocks, but in a surprising turn of events, it wasn’t Alby Ovitt sitting in victory lane at night’s end. Ovitt’s Renfrew Motorsports car owner and teammate, Jimmy Renfrew, Sr. of Candia made a rare start and drove from seventh on the starting grid to run off with the 30-lap victory.
Renfrew’s son Jimmy, Jr. claimed runner-up honors, with Somersworth driver Ovitt relegated to third in the final rundown, giving the team a sweep of the podium. Rookie Cam Huntress of Rochester came home fourth after leading several laps early in the event, with A.J. Panessiti rounding out the top five.
Adam Knowles of Seabrook unofficially took over the points lead in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Six Shooters, after nailing down his fifth feature win of the season in the 25-lap feature event. For the second straight week, Brandon Mailhot of Epping challenged Knowles in the late going, this time settling for runner-up at the checkers.
Paul Childs of Derry claimed third place honors, with Jesse Tellier of Pelham and Gary Grenier of Lebanon, ME rounding out the top five.
Defending champion Rob Carleton of Newbury, MA scored his first win of the season in the MLM Diagnostic Services Pure Stock main event, chasing down and passing Justin Faford of Westminster, MA to get the job done.
Faford came home in the second spot, with two-time winner Donnie McCaffrey of Hudson, Shawn Lessard of Farmington, and Jon Provost of Hudson finishing up the top five.
Jessica Michaud of Lebanon, ME claimed the inaugural Shirley’s Flowers and Sweets Powder Puff main event win, outrunning Jaden Curtis of Buxton, ME to put her Midnight Motorsports entry into victory lane.Next up at Lee USA on Friday, August 2 is another full program of NASCAR Whelen All American Series racing action.
Source: Rich Hayes/Lee Photos and PR
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