Kerry Malone pulled a bonsai move to grab the lead in the Sunoco Modified and went on to win the feature. at Thompson Speedway. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)

By Lou Modestino

Kerry Malone used two three-wide moves to take the lead on the third lap of the Sunoco Modified feature and lead the remainder of the 30-lap Sunoco Modified feature at the Thompson Speedway.

Troy Talman took the early lead, but had Malone to deal with as he shot up to the front to challenge heading into turn three. Talman held the lead as they came to the line. On lap three, Talman’s night took a dramatic turn when he and Keith Rocco made contact in turn two and took him out of the lead and out of contention.

Malone used the outside groove for the restart with Tyler Chadwick getting relegated back to the sixth spot after starting on the front row inside groove. Todd Ceravolo, Ryan Preece, and McDermott rounded out the top-four. Malone pulled out to a five car length lead as the remaining top-five, which included Rocco, ran nose-to-tail.

As the laps wound down, Malone and Ceravolo pulled away from Preece, who had slipped back by ten car lengths. Meanwhile, Rocco got by McDermott for the fourth spot at lap 26 and began to close in on Preece.

Malone approached lapped traffic as he took the white flag, but it didn’t slow him down at all as he cruised to checkered flag ahead of Ceravolo.

Malone had this to say after the Sunoco Modified feature.  “When I saw the opening early in the race I decide to go for it. I knew it was risky.I got lucky and it worked,”  That move saw a three fight for the lead.

Corey Hutchings picked up the win in the Limited Sportsman 30-lap feature after taking the lead from Chris Douton on lap seven.

Scott Young took the early lead as Tommy Shea, Jr. and Douton battled it out for the second spot. Douton cleared the position and set his sights on the lead, which he claimed on lap three. Caution tightened the field back up with Douton and Young on the front row for the green flag.

Douton resumed the race lead with Corey Hutchings on his bumper. Coming around turn four on lap four, Hutchings challenged on the bottom groove as the duo went side-by-side through turns one and two. The battle continued through the entire lap with Douton holding on to the top spot by inches. On the following circuit, Hutchings got a run and cleared Douton on the backstretch of lap seven for the lead.

Caution flew at lap eight for a spun car in turn four, but the pause didn’t hinder Hutchings, who shot right back out front when racing resumed. Hutchings pulled ahead to a commanding lead with Douton trying to reel him in. Caution, however, closed up that distance for Douton at lap 18.

At the drop of the green, Douton went high and wide in turn four slipping back in the field before pulling off the track. Hutchings, meanwhile, pulled out front by five car lengths over the rest of the field. Shawn Monahan took over second with Scott Sundeen quickly closing in third.

Hutchings had no pressure as he continued to pull further and further away from the field before taking the checkered flag firmly in control.

Larry Gelinas ended a ten-year dry spell for car owner Jeff Hartwell when he took the victory in the Late Model 30-lap feature Thursday night. Gelinas took the lead on a lap six restart and never looked back.

Nick Ladyga and Gelinas brought the field to green with a tight door-to-door battle ensuing. Ladyga held a small advantage at the line to lead the first lap, but he had no time to get comfortable as Chris Curtis got up alongside him at lap four to challenge for the lead. The duo were side-by-side when Gelinas looked underneath entering turn four, but backed out of it coming out of the turn. On the next circuit, Ladyga made contact with Curtis, who spun in turn four before caution came out. Ladyga was sent to the rear and Gelinas took the lead for the restart.

Gelinas drove to the front on the restart with John Lowinski-Loh in second. Rick Gentes, however, was coming fast in third. A side-by-side duel for fourth was won by Jeff Smith over Jim Banfield. Gelinas pulled away from the rest of the field by a comfortable ten car lengths as Gentes started his challenges on Lowinski-Loh. Gentes tried the bottom groove, but Lowinski-Loh pulled away in the corner. Lap-after-lap, Gentes challenged for the position, but Lowinski-Loh continued to hold him off. On lap 20, Gentes got up alongside Lowinski-Loh as they traveled through turns three and four dead even. Coming out of turn one, Gentes took the spot as Lowinski-Loh shifted his focus to Smith, who also got by for the third spot.

Up front, Gelinas soared to the checkered flag unchallenged and took the checkered flag with a half-a-straightaway lead over the rest of the field.

Eric Bourgeois had a flawless run in the Monster Mini Stock feature after leading every lap of the 15-lap feature. Bourgeois took the checkers with a commanding two second lead over the rest of the field.

Bourgeois took the early lead with Nick Anderson and Joe Baxter rounding out the top three at the conclusion of the first lap. The race went single file as Bourgeois set a torrid pace, but caution tightened them back up again at lap four.

Bourgeois showed no signs of slowing when racing resumed, but a multi-car crash in turn four slowed the pace before the lap was complete. Among the cars involved in the wreck was Anderson, who had been running second to Bourgeois prior to the caution.

Dave Trudeau was the man on the move on the restart as he moved into second behind Bourgeois. Baxter, Seekonk’s Mike Viens and Mike “Butch” Veins rounded out the top-five.

Baxter challenged Trudeau lap-after-lap, but Trudeau wasn’t giving it up. Their battle allowed Bourgeois to pull ahead to a two-second lead and Mike Viens to close in on Baxter’s bumper. Bourgeois never faltered over the remaining laps and soared to the checkered flag. Trudeau held off Baxter for second and third respectively.

Art Chartier has been waiting a long time to visit Victory Lane at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, and Thursday night he finally got that chance. Chartier took the lead on lap 12 of the 15-lap Vintage Outlaws Modified Tour feature and held off Joe Baxter for the win.

Bill Cummins brought the field to green, but couldn’t hold off the advances of Baxter who took the top spot coming out of turn two on lap two. Baxter pulled ahead to a convincing lead before caution slowed his pace at lap four.

Baxter picked up right where he left off on the restart and pulled ahead to a commanding lead on the drop of the green. Chartier closed in, however, before caution flew for the second time at lap seven.

When racing resumed, Baxter proved he had his No. 58 machine hooked up and pulled ahead by five car lengths over Chartier, who closed in on his bumper entering turn three of lap eight. On lap 10, Chartier made a move on the outside groove, but Baxter closed the door. Chartier made another run on Baxter at lap 12 on the front stretch. Baxter tried to hold him off again, but this time Chartier was successful in his bid and took the lead on the backstretch.

VINTAGE OUTLAWS FEATURE FINISH (TOP-FIVE): 1. Art Chartier, Douglas, MA; 2. Joe Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 3. Darryl Dutch, Greenville, RI; 4. Mark Alden, Westboro, MA; 5. Bill Cummins, Clinton, MA.

MINI STOCK FEATURE FINISH (TOP-TEN): 1. Eric Bourgeois, E. Haddam, CT; 2. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield, CT; 3. Joe Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 4. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 5. Mike (Butch) Viens, Putnam, CT; 6. Jeff Moffat, Smithfield, RI; 7. Chris Ivory, Oakdale, CT; 8. Steven Michalski, Brooklyn, CT; 9. Christopher Viens, Putnam, CT; 10. Nick Matera, Warwick, RI.

LATE MODEL FEATURE FINISH (TOP-TEN): 1. Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME; 2. Rick Gentes, Burriville, RI; 3. Jeff Smith, Old Lyme, CT; 4. Jim Banfield, S. Glastonbury, CT; 5. Marc Curtis, Worcester, MA; 6. Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA; 7. Chris Curtis, Rutland, MA; 8. Nick Ladyga, Voluntown, MA; 9. Joe Curioso, Mystic, CT; 10. Chad LaBastie, Uxbridge, MA.

SUNOCO MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (TOP-TEN): 1. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 2. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 3. Keith Rocco, Berlin, CT; 4. Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT; 5. Keith McDermott, Scituate, RI; 6. Matt Gallo, Berlin, CT; 7. John Catania, Agawam, MA; 8. Tyler Chadwick, Ledyard, CT; 9. Ken Barry, Preston, CT; 10. Andrew Charron, E. Greenwich, RI.

LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (TOP-TEN): 1. Corey Hutchings, Salem, CT; 2. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, CT; 3. Scott Sundeen, Sutton, MA; 4. William Wall, Shrewsbury, MA; 5. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 6. Brent Gleason, Griswold, CT; 7. Kevin Bowe, Pawtucket, RI; 8. Scott Young, Willimantic, CT; 9. Steve Kenneway, Lowell, MA; 10. James Bendiak, Hopkinton, MA.