Scarborough, ME – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway opened its second night of NASCAR racing Saturday night. In the Pro Series feature event, Dan McKeage of Gorham would take home the 50 lap feature win. Two early cautions helped McKeage move into the top ten running position from his 13th starting spot in the 23-car field. By the halfway point of the race, McKeage moved up into the top five with a pace fast enough to position himself for a run at leader Kelly Moore.
At the drop of the green, Mike Maietta Jr from South Portland, would lead the 23-car field, but would only make half a lap before the caution would fly. The field would try again, however would result in another caution that would involve current points leader Mike Rowe, last years champion Brad Babb and Bobby Timmons III. Heavy damage to Babb and Timmons would leave them unable to return to action. Rowe would pit with what seemed great damage to the passenger side, but his crew would be able to repair it just in the time for the following restart.
Maietta, would lead the first seven laps, until veteran Kelly Moore would overtake him and lead his first laps of the 2013 season on lap eight. A caution on lap 14, would prove very helpful for Bill Rodgers who started 15th and maneuvered his way safely up into 5th place when the yellow flag flew. On the restart, Maietta would fall back on the inside, giving up positions to hard chargers Alan Tardiff, Bill Rogers and Dan McKeage. Moore, who had taken command of the lead, looked like a certainty for the win. Lyman’s, Alan Tardiff, made a six lap run against him, taking the lead on lap 30, but retiring to the pit with apparent motor failure on lap 34, handing the lead back to Moore. That set the stage for a run off between Moore and two former division champions – Dan McKeage (2009) and Bill Rodgers (2011).
With the final laps approaching, the two former champions took command of the race from Moore and waged their own side-by-side battle for the final three laps. Entering the first turn of the final lap Rodgers car twitched momentarily, giving McKeage a split-second advantage to lead by a single car length to the victory. Giving him his first win since September, 2011. Bill Rodgers would be 2nd, Kelly Moore would finish 3rd, Steve Carrier 4th and Justin Drake would finish out the top five.
Beech Ridge opens up its popular entry-level Thursday Thunder series this Thursday, June 13th at 7 p.m. The series hosts eight different race divisions and an economy ticket price – just $4; kids 12 and under are admitted free. The tracks second-tier NASCAR Sports Series will compete in a 100-lap main event as part of a full NASCAR Nite weekly event this Saturday, June 15th. Qualifying will begin at 6:30; the main events begin at 7:30.
Top 5 Feature Finishes:
Pro Series
1. Dan McKeage, Gorham
2. Billy Rodgers, Old Orchard Beach
3. Kelly Moore, Scarborough
4. Steve Carrier, Saco
5. Justin Drake, Vassalboro
Sport Series
1. Garrett Hall, Scarborough
2. Reggie Leeman, Windham
3. Brandon Ingalls, Windham
4. Rob Herrick Jr, Old Orchard Beach
5. Dalton Gagnon, Lyman
Wildcat
1. Lewis Anderson, Hollis
2. Ed Connolly, Scarborough
3. Jon Brill, Bridgton
4. Dan Wink, So. Berwick
5. David Vaughn, Naples
Road Runners
1. Brandon Barker, Windham
2. David Turner, Buxton
3. Dave Cameron, Alfred
4. Shawn Brackett, Scarborough
5. Clayton Loubier III, Gorham