Unity, ME ? Unity Raceway closed the 2006 racing season in New England
Sunday. Despite the cold temperatures racers showed up in full force.
The White & Bradstreet Mini Stocks and the Sun Auto & Salvage Mini
Trucks combined for 50 laps of excitement. Winter Harbor?s Justin
Trombley took advantage of his front row starting spot and never
looked back leading all 50 laps. Lance Chapman of Fairfield had
difficulty in lapped traffic while running second and became the meat
in the sandwich of two back markers. The incident ended Chapman?s day.
Unity Raceway track champion, Carl McAlpine of Burnham started the
race almost all the way to the tail of the thirty one car field but
was able to get into the top five in the caution filled first half of
the race. After getting into the Top five McAlpine had to pit for a
flat tire and try to come back up through the field. McAlpine would
have to settle for third.
Model Pro Four race until fewer than 10 laps to go. Drake had motored
to a ¾ of a track lead on the field and had put the fifth place car
down a lap when a lapped car spun in turn two right in the path of the
leader. The wreck took out both cars. Benton?s Jim Dennis inherited
the lead on the restart and never looked back on route to his first
win of the year. He was followed across the line by 2006 Champion
Steve Rackliff, who was able to do a belated championship celebration
donut on the front stretch, and Dick McPhail of Fairfield.
?Cowboy? Dan Trask won the Budweiser Wildcat finale. Mike Short
followed him across the line second and Mike St. Germain finished third.
Unity Raceway Sunoco Super Street Champion, Nate Weston of Madison
took the hard way to victory lane in the 100 lap finale. Weston spun
early and lost his clutch sending him to the tail of the field. Early
on it was the Ricky Burgess and Mike Landry show as the two swapped
the lead a few times. Burgess spun out of second spot in turn one and
then it was Robert Green and Landry for the lead. Green?s car was very
strong and looked like he would win the event until he spun out of the
lead with just a few laps to go. Then it was Weston?s turn at Landry
as he had worked his way back to the front. The Champion would not be
denied and took the win with no breaks or clutch. Landry finished
second. Burgess was able to make his way back to the front even though
he also had clutch problems. Burgess wound up third.
It was the St. Clair show in the Limiteds. Dave ?Boss Hogg? St. Clair
and Puncin St. Clair. Dave took the early lead but Puncin was able to
take it away on a restart. Puncin looked like the car to beat until he
had a flat tire and had to pit. While Dave St. Clair was cruising away
with the lead Puncin St. Clair was racing his way back to the front.
Puncin got to third when the final caution flew. Then it looked like
ha may still have a shot at the win. While battling for second Puncin
got into the marbles in turn two and did a 360 and kept going. He did
lose two spots on the save but was able to recover for third. The win
went to Dave St. Clair and Nick Reno finished second.
Oakland?s Jeff Burgess was only challenged once during the Long John
100. Brian Whitney was able to get beside him but unable to complete
the pass. The two ran nose to tail for the entire event. It was the
first win of the year for Burgess and Whitney?s best finish in a Pro
Stock.
Next up for Unity Raceway is the Awards Banquet Saturday night. For
more info log on to UnityRaceway.net.