NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH – By Lou Modestino(for 7/23-7/25/10)
Barre’s own Mike Bailey took full advantage of the Times Argus Mid-Season Championships double points night at Thunder Road on Thursday, July 15. Bailey earned his second career Thunder Road Late Model win after taking the lead on lap 21 after working his way to the front from his fifth starting position. He would lead all but one of the remaining 29 laps. Island Pond’s Reno Gervais edged out Montpelier’s Cris Michaud for second.
Point leader Dave Pembroke of Montpelier took fourth and held onto his point lead while Barre’s Nick Sweet took fifth and will take over the second spot in the Thunder Road Late Model Championship point standings.
Matt White moved his way from the 19th starting position to earn sixth while Rich Lowrey, Cody Blake, John Donahue, and Dave Whitcomb rounded out the top ten. Montpelier’s Phil Scott was second in the point standings going into the mid-season championships but had to settle for 13th.
The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen had a rough couple of laps to start out their feature and were pulled into the pits after just three laps and didn’t complete their race until after the Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Junkyard Warriors completed their main event.
When the action got back under way Milton’s Eric Badore worked his way to the lead and checked out on the remainder of the field. He was chased to the line by David Finck, Shawn Fleury, Tom Therrien and Ricky Roberts rounding out the top five. Tucker Williams, Derrick O’Donnell, Joel Hodgdon, Jason Corliss, and Brendan Moodie completed the top ten. The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen point leader headed into tonight was Tony Rossi who had to settle for fifteenth.
Graniteville’s Lloyd Blakely earned his eleventh career Allen Lumber Street Stock win, which places him in a tie with David Allen for second on the all time wins list. Joe Fecteau came in second, Joe Blais third, Donnie Yates fourth and Greg Adams completed the top five. Point leader Tim Campbell finished a solid ninth.
The top finishing Junkyard Warrior was Ken Christman for the seventh time this season. Fred Schroeder and Josh Erwin completed the podium.
Next Thursday, July 22 is Casella Waste Management night. All four divisions will be back for a regular event with a post time of 6:30 p.m.
How about Ed MacDonald of Rowley, MA winning another Oxford 250! He led the charge to the checkered flag with Brian Hoar of VT, Corey Morgan of ME, Brent Dragon of VT and Brad Leighton of NH getting the leftovers.
MacDonald took 29k plus back to the Bay State for his second 250 win.
Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH., took the lead on lap 85 and went on to win the Modified Racing Series, sponsored by Bob Valenti AutoMall.Com, feature race, Saturday night, July 17, at the Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine. An emotional Seuss dedicated his win to his friend, crewman, and car builder Jay Hull, who passed away last week.
The “Mainely Action Sports Night 100” was the first win of the year for Seuss, his fifth career win with the series, he becomes the fourth different driver to win the Oxford race and the eighth different winner in nine series races in 2010.
Seuss shared the top spot with four other drivers. Pole-sitter Jack Bateman, Canaan, NH., led the first six laps until Jacob Dore, Sanford, ME., took over the lead to the delight of the home state crowd leading through lap 13. Then fellow Maine driver David Pinkham, Buxton, showed the way from lap 14 through 42. Bateman again took command and showed he was a force to be reckoned with leading the event from lap 43 to lap 73. The long time racer had a sizeable lead when the first caution flag was displayed on lap 73.
On the restart, Louie Mechalides, Tygnsboro, MA., was able to power by and into the lead until passed by Seuss 11 laps later. Mechalides, driving the Lowell, MA., based car owned and prepared by Kevin Stuart, finished in a solid second with Todd Annarummo, Swansea, MA., finishing a strong third after an impressive run by the second generation driver. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA., was credited with fourth after a late race charge, with Bateman settling for a well deserved fifth.
Sixth through tenth were, Steve Masse, Bellingham, MA., who started 23rd, Les Hinckley, Windsor, Locks, CT., Geoff Gernhard, Salem, CT., a strong showing from the first year series competitor, Jon McKennedy, E.Chelmsford, MA., and Koszela Speed Rookie of the Year contender, Joey Jarvis, Ascutney, VT.
The race was slowed by three caution periods on laps 73, a lap 73 re-start, and lap 84.
Some 25 teams entered the race. 23 of the 24 cars that started the event finished with 18 cars on the lead lap at the end.. Veteran driver Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, NH., suffered engine problems in practice and did not compete.
The next race for the Modified Racing Series is Saturday night, July 24, at Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, NH.at 5 p.m.
Here’s what’s going on up in the North Country this week into the weekend. On Wednesday there’s Street Drags at New England Dragway in Epping, NH at 5 p.m. and stockcar racing at Speedway 95 in Hermon, ME. Thursday has stock car action at Beech Ridge in Scarborough, ME and Thunder Road in Barre, VT at 7 p.m. Wiscasset Speedway in ME hosts the Lincoln County Fair from Thursday to Sunday. Friday and Saturday NHMS in Loudon, NH offers Vintage Motorcycle Racing starting at 9 a.m.
On Friday there’s dirt stockcar action at the Canaan Fairgrounds in NH, Lee, also in NH, adds the Pro 4 Modifieds to their busy card, Richmond Raceway (ME) offers kart racing and Twin State in Claremont, NH goes with stockcar action, all at 7 p.m. New England Dragway has another Street Night event at 5 p.m.
Saturday will ramp up the action with Bear Ridge in Bradford, VT, Beech Ridge returns with the ACT Tour 100, Canaan paved brings in the Modified Racing Series, Monadnock in Winchester, NH, Riverside in Groveton, NH, 95, Spud in Limestone, ME Unity, ME and White Mountain in N. Woodstock all go with stockcar action at 7 p.m. For the draggers it’s Import Wars at New England Dragway and ET action at Winterport in ME plus Richmond Raceway offers more kart racing, all at 8 a.m.
Sunday has more dirt track stockcar action at Big Daddy’s in Wentworth, NH, Canaan paved, Devil’s Bowl in W. Haven, VT, Wiscasset and Hudson (NH) all offer stockcar racing in the late afternoon. Twin State comes back with kart racing at 9 a.m. New England Dragway hosts the Hot Rod HOF at 8 a.m. while Richmond Raceway comes back with more kart racing at 9 a.m. Macworth Island in Falmouth, ME will hold a Porsche show and there’s a bikini car wash in Sanford, ME , both at 9 a.m.