Newburgh, NY May 19, 2008 – The Allison Legacy North Race Series hit the track this pass Saturday night at the fastest quarter mile track in the east, Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH. This was the series first of five visits to the speedway this season. After being off for the last four weeks the series drivers were eager to get back behind the wheel.
Dighton, MA driver James Logan went back to back with his second win in as many races. James started on the outside pole after winning the second heat race. On the pole was sophomore driver Shane D'Agostino of Taunton, MA in the #79 After Hours Auto Body, Aggregate Industries, Silver City Spindle Chevy.
The twenty five lap feature saw only two cautions. The first coming on the drop of the green flag when Randolph, VT driver Dylan Smith in his Brookside Customs, Able Mountain Camp Ground #34 Chevy missed a shift and was tapped from behind putting him into the front stretch wall thus ending his day early.
On the restart Logan jumped out to the lead with D'Agostino all over the rear bumper of the #44 G. Lopes Construction Ford Thunderbird. D'Agostino also had his rear view mirror filled with the #8 KMV Racing & V-Twin Performance Ford Thunderbird driven by veteran driver Tony Membrino who came out of retirement to fill the seat for Series Director Michael A. Vasquez, Sr. who was injured in a non racing incident last week.
The top five for the first eight laps would be Logan, D'Agostino, Membrino followed by Cody Gneiting and David Schneider. On lap nine Membrino would find his way around D'Agostino but was only able to hold the spot for three laps when he spun coming off turn four.
Lap 13 would see the second and final caution of the day when rookie driver Kyle Poodiack lost the handling on his #3 Webber Foundations, HRE Racing Parts Chevy and had his first meeting with Monadnocks front stretch wall. Kyle was uninjured and after a short clean up the racing resumed.
On the restart we saw some of the best door to door bumper to bumper racing with all the drivers showcasing their skills as they raced side by side all over the high banked oval. Also on the restart Young Gun Tommy Barrett and Gneiting would team up to pass D'Agostino and find their way to the front right behind Logan. Barrett and Gneiting would both lose their spots on lap seventeen as they both had trouble in turn four. Both drivers would work their way back to the front.
At the finish line it would be Logan, D'Agostino and Northport, NY rookie Driver David Schneider in the #19 Islandwide Auto and Truck Collision Chevy. Rounding out the top five would be Shannon Smith in the #6 Ellsworth Auto Supply Viking Lumber Chevy followed by the #89 of Gneiting, who crossed the finish line backwards after being struck in the driver's door by Barrett while coming out of turn four heading for the checkers.
The ALNRS will return to Monadnock Speedway in two weeks on May 31 so come out see the Stars of Tomorrow showcase their skills.
Complete Results
1. James Logan
2. Shane D'Agostino
3. David Schneider
4. Shannon Smith
5. Cody Gneiting
6. Mellissa Fifield
7. Tony Membrino -1
8. Stephanie Berardi -1
9. William Schneider -1
10. Tommy Barrett – 1 (Penalty 1 lap)
11. Kyle Poodiack (DNF-Accident)
12. Dylan Smith (DNF-Accident)