By Lou Modestino
On Sunday, July 20, 2014, the 41st edition of the Oxford 250 will be run, and in conjunction with the premiere Super Late Model 250 lap main event, The PASS Mods will be racing a 75 lapper which will pay $1,000, and carry a brand new sponsors name with it. PASS and Oxford Plains Speedway would like to welcome Mayhan Antiques and More as a new marketing partner.
“This will be a big test for the PASS Modifieds and to see a new sponsor come on board for this event is very exciting news, stated General Manager, Dick Therrien. This will be the biggest payday of the season for the PASS Mods, and with this support from Mayhan Antiques and More, it is sure to be an exciting event for the fans and the drivers alike. John Mayhan is an avid supporter of the PASS Modifieds and we appreciate him coming forward to sponsor this race. John is also donating a new, solid oak, Adirondack Chair to the winner, plus there will be gift certificates and t-shirts to the top three PASS Mod finishers”
The PASS Mod 75 lapper is part of the Oxford 250 weekend which starts on Friday night, July 18th with the PASS Sportsman and PASS Mods headlining the card on Sun Journal night. Saturday, July 19th offers up a great night of racing as Dunkin Donuts presents the NEMA Midgets, and NEMA Lites, plus the all new Dave’s Small Engine Repair PASS Northeast Late Model Series 125. Sunday, July 20thwill feature Super Late Models racing 250 green flag laps in a PASS National point’s event. Sunday will also feature the Mayhan Antiques and More PASS Mod 75.
Mayhan Antiques and More is located at 24 Johnson Hill Road in Poland, Maine. Mayhan Antiques and More is a small family owned business that specializes in furniture, new to antiques. John, wife Jen, and daughter Nicole take great pride in their hobby styled business, and because of their low overhead, most items in their home-based store cost less than $200. The Mayhan’s have been a proud sponsor of PASS Mod drivers, Andy Shaw and Evan Armington. John Mayhan has been an avid supporter of racing here in Maine as he helped run the charity auction at the Northeast Motorsports Expo for many years, as well as hosting a local radio show on WOXO with Bob Morris at the old Bull Ring Steak House.
The Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models head back to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maineon Saturday night, July 5th for the Southern Maine Motors, Firecracker 150. Defending race winner, Cassius Clark will try to get back on track after struggling in the early going on the PASS North Series in 2014. Last year Clark held off a late race challenge from Mike Rowe, Travis Benjamin, Joey Doiron and Corey Bubar.
The PASS Super Late Models visited Beech Ridge earlier this season and Mike Rowe picked up the win after a race long battle with Scott Mulkern, Austin Theriault, Travis Benjamin and DJ Shaw. Rowe grabbed the lead on a lap 101 restart, and held off eventual runner-up, Travis Benjamin over the final 49 laps.
A large field of Super Late Models is expected for this event. PASS Modifieds and support divisions will join the PASS Super Late Models on the card. Post time at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is 7pm.
Opening night of Go-Kart racing at Oxford Plains Speedway saw a good field of Jar Racing Photography Go-Karts provide some great family entertainment. Each division ran a pair of features, and the overall winners were decided by low score of the finishes from both features. Overall winners included Maddy Herrick, Austin Teras, Riley Corbridge and Chris Dresser.
The Junior Box Stock class opened the night and Maddy Herrick won both segments. Logan Spencer and Colby Brackett finished second and third in segment one, while Dillon Drew and Logan Spencer finished second and third in segment number 2. Herrick won the overall title for the night with Spencer finishing second and Dillon Drew was third.
Riley Corbridge picked up both segment wins in the Junior Sportsman division as he defeated Everett Allen and Shelby Carey in round one, and Carey and Allen in round number two. Corbridge collected the overall award over Carey and Allen.
The Sportsman class saw Austin Teras pick up both victories as he defeated Kayla King and Ethan Brown. Teras almost lost the second feature as he spun out with two laps to go. He recovered and passed King for the win on the final lap. Brown placed a solid third. Teras picked up the overall trophy and was followed by King and Brown.
The Senior Sportsman put on a great show for the fans as this highly competitive class saw every driver lead at least a lap in the main events. Feature one saw Stephan Beattie edge out Chris Dresser and Brandon Varney. Dresser came back in the nightcap to defeat Beattie and Jordan Childs. The overall top three were Dresser, Beattie and Childs.
***All ties are broken by who finishers better in the second segment.
Go-Kart racing returns to OPS on Sunday, July 13 at 1:30pm.
Scott Dragon of Colchester returned to Thunder Road victory lane during the American Racer event on Thursday, June 26. Dragon piloted his Richard Green ride to an uncontested win as the 50 lap Late Model event went wire-to-wire caution free. It was Dragon’s second career Thunder Road Late Model win with his last coming in May of 2003.
Dragon rocketed to the point from the outside pole and was followed by Jason Allen. The duo built a large lead over the remainder of the field as Ricky Roberts and rookie Josh Demers battled side-by-side for several laps. Roberts finally got the advantage late in the event and broke away for third. Joey Laquerre and Emily Packard followed to complete the top five. Demers slipped to sixth followed by Nick Sweet, Cody Blake, Derrick O’Donnell and John Donahue rounding out the top ten.
Burlington’s Darrell Morin became the second repeat winner of the 2014 season at Thunder Road. He got the advantage after a fierce battle with Eric Johnson for the lead. Morin gained the advantage just before halfway of the 35 lap event. Tucker Williams followed him by Johnson and began the chase for Morin. Williams got to Morin’s back bumper with two to go but ran out of time to contest for the win. Brendan Moodie used the high lane to take third followed by point leader Jason Woodard and Joe Steffen completing the top five. Johnson faded to sixth followed by George May, Cameron Ouellette, Jeff Bousquet, and Christopher Pelkey rounding out the top ten in the caution free event.
Jamie Davis of Wolcott became the first repeat winner at Thunder Road in 2014 when he claimed his second Allen Lumber Street Stock win of the season. He came from the 11th starting position and with the help of several early cautions, took over the lead before halfway. He held off a hard charging Garry Bashaw as they fought through lapped traffic late in the 25 lap event. Davis and Bashaw were followed across the line by Donnie Yates, Bunker Hodgdon and Jaden Perry. Kyle Streeter, Troy Kingsbury, Will Hennequin, Marcel Gravel and Alan Maynard completed the top ten.
The LaForest brothers of Barre made it 1-2 at the front of the Rough Rider finish. Kevin took first while Chris settled for second after the tie breaker in the two segment, lowest combined score event. Paul Dudley completed the podium.
Thunder Road International Speedbowl will be back in action next Thursday, July 3 for Northfield Savings Bank Night. The event will feature all four divisions of racing followed by the annual holiday fireworks show. There will also be Kid’s Race Car Rides from 4:00 pm until 4:40 pm. Racing will begin at 6:30 pm.
American Racer Night
Thunder Road – Barre, VT
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Late Model Unofficial Results
Pos. Driver (Car #) Hometown
1. Scott Dragon (16vt) Colchester, VT
2. #Jason Allen (29vt) Barre, VT
3. Ricky Roberts (3vt) E. Barre, VT
4. Joey Laquerre (15vt) East Montpelier, VT
5. Emily Packard (9me) E. Montpelier, VT
6. #Josh Demers (10vt) Montpelier, VT
7. Nick Sweet (88vt) Barre, VT
8. Cody Blake (99vt) Barre, VT
9. Derrick O’Donnell (60vt) N. Haverhill, NH
10. John Donahue (26vt) Graniteville, VT
11. Lance Allen (17vt) Barre, VT
12. Brooks Clark (68vt) Fayston, VT
13. Phil Scott (14vt) Middlesex, VT
14. Eric Chase (40vt) Milton, VT
15. #Eric Badore (4vt) Milton, VT
16. Jason Corliss (66vt) Barre, VT
17. Dave Pembroke (44vt) Middlesex, VT
18. Trampas Demers (85vt) S. Burlington, VT
19. Brett Gervais (11nh) Island Pond, VT
20. Kyle Pembroke (27vt) Montpelier, VT
21. Shawn Fleury (1vt) Middlesex, VT
22. Boomer Morris (13vt) Barre, VT
Local racing legend Eddie MacDonald from Rowley, Mass. will drive the #32 Go FAS Racing Ford Fusion owned by fellow New Englanders Archie St. Hilaire from Old Orchard Beach, Maine and long-time NASCAR crew chief Frank Stoddard from No. Haverhill, N.H. Completing the all-NE team is Michael Alden, President and CEO of Blue Vase Marketing based in Beverly, Mass, as the primary sponsor aboard the Go FAS Racing entry in the Camping World Sales 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 13.
Archie St. Hilaire is no stranger to New England racing as a long time participant in the old Busch North Series, currently the K&N Pro Series East, before moving on to the Nationwide Series while Stoddard cut his teeth watching and learning from one of the greats in New England, Stub Fadden from his hometown. The #32 on the Go FAS Racing Ford is in honor of Fadden and his car’s number for nearly four decades. The duo joined forces this year to compete in the Sprint Cup Series and instantly chose Eddie Mac to drive for them at the “Magic Mile.”
“I was talking with Mike (Alden) some time ago and he expressed interest in sponsoring a New England driver for the NHMS race and asked me if I knew of anyone, “ chuckled St Hilaire. “I immediately said “I sure do” and gave him Eddie’s name. Eddie is a great driver with a lot of successful experience at this track with six wins. I love Eddie, his family, and his entire race team. They are a great bunch of people and I couldn’t be happier for Eddie and our team. It will be a lot of fun and with Eddie’s experience we hope to have a strong run.”
“This is my dream come true,” said an elated MacDonald from his race shop in Newburyport, Mass. “I can’t thank Archie, Frank, and Mike enough for giving me this opportunity to race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It has always been a goal to drive a Cup car and to do it at my home track with family, friends, and supporters from all over New England is something very special to me. I have been lucky enough to win a number of races here so hopefully my experience will provide me the opportunity to run well for Archie and the team. I have driven for Archie a couple of times in the Nationwide Series and I appreciate all he has done for me. Archie is truly one of the nice guys in racing and has always been supportive of me and is always trying to help me out. Archie, Frank, and Mike are providing a great experience to compete on the big stage and I just hope I can learn quick enough to be competitive. I love racing at Loudon and this is the icing on the cake.”
“This is the third race Blue Vase Marketing will be our primary sponsor, “said St. Hilaire. “They were on the hood at Phoenix and Las Vegas and helped us out at Daytona. Mike (Alden) is a great guy and didn’t know anything about racing but has become an enormous fan and supporter. Go FAS Racing is pleased to have him aboard. His company represents many products and Androzene (an herbal male enhancement) will be on the hood and Arthri D3 (an all natural joint health supplement) another of the products his company represents will display on the quarter panels. Mike loves this and has made plans to bring a lot of product sponsors to the track and make a great day of it. We are all happy to have Eddie MacDonald drive our car and look forward to having a good, fun day.”
While Eddie Mac has raced and won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the K&N Pro Series East and other divisions, he is still in awe of competing at NASCAR’ highest level saying, “It hasn’t completely sunk in yet because we are so busy getting the K&N car ready for the Friday race at NHMS but I’m sure I’ll be speechless when it finally happens and I am in the seat of the #32. I hope all our New England fans come out to support us and enjoy the experience. This is my dream, my goal so I know I am going to love every minute. See you at the track!”
Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy Night brought out the best in racers this past Friday night, as race fans were treated to some of the best racing of the season. Winners included Scott Farrington, Ryan Hewins, Troy Jordan, Matthew Bourgoine and Jamie Heath.
Thirty-one Budweiser Pro Late Models rolled off the grid for the 50 lap main event. Jeff Burgess and Kurt Hewins led the field to green with Hewins getting the early jump. Burgess challenged early until the first caution waved on lap 8 for a wreck in turn two that ended last week’s winner, Justin Drakes bid for two wins in a row. When the race went back to green, Burgess got the jump and separated himself from the field. Three cautions kept the field closed up and this allowed Scott Farrington to challenge for the lead with Shawn Martin on his heels. Farrington’s chance came on lap 47 as he drove by Burgess for the lead, and cruised to his first career victory. Burgess held on for second ahead of Shawn Martin, Billy Childs Jr. and TJ Brackett. Completing the top ten were Kyle Treadwell, Vanna Brackett, Adam Polvinen, Kevin Douglass and Jeremy Davis. Heat checkers flew for Burgess, Childs Jr., Tommy Ricker and Kyle Desouza.
Ryan Hewins was the class of the field in the Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy Street Stocks as he took over the lead on lap 4 and never looked back to pick up his second win of the season. Spencer Morse was closing quickly at the end, but ran out of time and settled for second place ahead of Zach Emerson, Josh Childs and Curtis Rolando. Corey Morgan and Richard Spaulding won their respective qualifiers.
Point leader Troy Jordan raced to the front early in the race and secured his second victory of 2014 in the Ripley & Fletcher Ford Outlaw Sportsman. Michael Haynes raced home second ahead of Joshua Toothaker, Bryce Mains and Steve Moon. Jordan and Mains won qualifying rounds.
Matthew Bourgoine captured the NELCAR Legends feature as he bested sixteen other cars for the victory. A late charge by Reid Lanpher netted him a second place finish ahead of Matt Grant, Wyatt Alexander and Bob Weymouth. Alexander and Bourgoine won their heat races.
The Bandito’s class continues to grow and Jamie Heath won the 20 lap main event ahead of Dan Wade, Cam Childs, Derek Cairns and Travis Verrill.
This coming Independence Day week features a huge week’s worth of racing as Budweiser presents the Oxford Acceleration Series on Wednesday night at 7pm. On Thursday night July 3rd, Ripley & Fletcher Ford presents the 4th of July Spectacular featuring a giant fireworks display and Kids Bike Races. Post time is 7pm. The Oxford Championship Series comes right back again on Friday night July 4th as Applebee’s sponsors a full card of racing which includes the Husqvarna 100, a 100 lap main event for the new PASS Northeast Late Model Series sponsored by Dave’s Small Engine Repair. Post time is 7pm. Finally the weekend will wrap up on Sunday night, July 6th at 6 pm, as Motor Mayhem #2 will take place. There will be plenty of free camping all week long at the Speedway, so plan your Independence week vacation camping and racing at Oxford Plains Speedway.
An action-packed night of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series stock car racing at Devil’s Bowl Speedway was capped by an unpredictable finale and two first-time feature winners. Johnny Scarborough and Todd Stone split victories in the top-tier Modifieds as Chuck Bradford and Kyle Watrous each won Mini Stock features, and Robert Gordon and Scott MacMichael repeated in the Renegade and SK Light classes, respectively.
Johnny “The Jet” Scarborough of nearby Bomoseen, VT was a convincing winner in the first of two 25-lap feature races for the Bond Auto Parts Modified division. Scarborough took the lead from rookie Jason Reome on the sixth lap and sailed to the victory in a caution-free race. It was Scarborough’s first win at the track since June 20, 1999 and his first in the NASCAR-sanctioned asphalt era. Veteran Leon Gonyo of Chazy, NY finished second with young gun Jason Durgan of Morrisonville, NY third. Joey Roberts and Vince Quenneville, Jr., completed the top five runners.
In the 25-lap nightcap, defending track champion Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT was the unlikely winner of a volatile, crash-marred race. Stone spun through the infield on lap 4 and took part in a three-car jingle on lap 7. He avoided three more wrecks – including one that involved all but four of the cars on the track on lap 14 – to wrestle the lead from Charlton, NY’s Ron Proctor with eight circuits remaining. Proctor stayed close to the leader, but Stone held on for the win. Proctor’s runner-up finish was his best of the year. Roberts, Scarborough, and Gonyo rounded out the top five once the smoke cleared.
The Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock division raced two highly competitive 15-lap events, each with very different outcomes. Point leader Chuck Bradford of Addison, VT held off number-two man Jake Noble in the opening round, with third-place point driver Mike Whalen, Jr. third. The heavy-hitters were stuck in traffic in the finale, however, allowing underdog racers Kyle Watrous and Matt Monaghan to shine. Watrous, of Bomoseen, VT, snuck ahead of Monaghan for the lead on a restart with three laps remaining, then drove to his first-ever victory. John McCarron took the runner-up spot by inches ahead of Monaghan.
Robert Gordon of Milton, VT took his third Renegade win of the season in a 15-lap race, aiding him in a march up the national point standings ladder; Gordon entered the event ranked 15th in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division III national standings. Crosstown Milton neighbor Ray Benoit finished a career-best second, with 16 year-old Stephen Donahue third.
Scott MacMichael of Newbury, NH won his second SK Light Modified race of the year, topping Norm Forest and Bruce Jaycox in a two-segment race.
More than 30 young race fans took part in the highly entertaining Kids Bicycle Races, drawing large cheers and laughs from the crowd. Three lucky young fans also won bicycles in a free raffle, courtesy of Bond Auto Parts and Casella Waste Systems.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is in action on Friday, July 4 at an early 6:00 p.m. start time, with the biggest and loudest Independence Day celebration in Vermont. Coca-Cola presents the annual “Firecracker” event with a 100-lap Late Model race, round two of the wild-and-wacky Enduro Series, events for the Modified, Renegade, Mini Stock, and SK Light divisions, and a 30-minute fireworks extravaganza. General admission for the special event is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (age 62+), and free for children age 12 and under.
Jeremy Davis returned to the Granite State Pro Stock Series in fine fashion, picking up the win at the Star 100 at Star Speedway.
A strong field of 31 cars attempted to make the feature for the first of two races at Star Speedway in the 2014 season. After qualifying, 22 cars took the green for the Star 100.
Pole sitter Dillon Moltz had the car to beat early, as the Waterford, CT driver shot out of the gate at every restart, sending his RB Performance/Brackett Mechanical Chevrolet to the point each time. Contact with a car being put a lap down sent Moltz spinning in turn 2. Davis then inherited the lead, and was the cream of the crop from mid-race on. Matt Frahm’s day took a turn in the wrong direction, as he was involved in an incident on lap 40. Davis once again held onto the point, and held Brad Babb off until Babb and
Barry Gray made contact on lap 69, sending both drivers to the rear of the field, and ending George “Mad Dog” Bessette’s night, as heavy front end damage knocked Bessette out for the rest of the evening. Davis then had Dillon Moltz breathing back down his neck, as the youngster fought his way back through the field. The two would engage in battle down to the final laps, when Davis proved to be too strong, and pulled away with the victory.
“I saved our stuff,” Davis commented. “Moltz did a great job fighting his way back up through the field, and it was a tough break for him, but I still had some left in the tank at the end for him.”
For Moltz, the race was less than satisfying, even with the second place finish. “It was pretty disappointing, more so for my crew than myself,” states Moltz. “You can’t hang your head with a second place finish with a full field of cars, but it was just a heartbreaker. We had the car to beat tonight. I knew it was going to come down to me and the 09, and he had a little more than me at the end, which is to be expected.”
Brad Babb followed up his second place finish at Hudson International Speedway with a third at Star Speedway. “I really thought I had a car to win tonight,” Babb said. “Early contact bent something in the front end, but that was just a racing deal; it happens. I was a little upset after getting turned around, but I’m pretty lucky to come away with a podium finish after all that.”
Buxton, ME’s Larry Gelinas would hold on to nab the fourth spot with an ill-sounding race car as the race came to a close. Youngster Derek Griffith once again fought adversity and picked up the fifth spot. Cory Robert, Mike O’Sullivan, Zig Geno, Tommy O’Sullivan, and Mike Parks completed the top 10. Moltz, Davis, and Matt Frahm were victorious in the three heat races, with Robert winning the consi.
Next up for the Granite State Pro Stock Series will be in a few weeks, as the series heads to Lee Speedway for the first time in its existence July 25th.
GATE CITY CLASSIC RESULTS
6/15/14
POS (Start) Driver
1. (2) Jerem
2. (1) Dillo
3. (8) Brad Babb
4. (10) Larry Gelinas B
5. (5) Derek Griffith Hu
6. (19) Cory Robert
7. (11) Mike O’Sullivan
8. (18) Zig Geno
9. (9) Tommy O’Sullivan Wilbraham
10. (14) Mike Parks
11. (21) Babe Branscombe Nottingha
12. (3) Matt Frahm H
13. (13) Mike Mitchell Cu
14. (6) Barry Gray
15. (22) Billy Ryder
16. (16) George Bessette Danbury, CT
17. (4) Russ Hersey S
18. (20) Larry Moloney Wayl
19. (15) Steven Dickey Londo
20. (7) Bobby Cabral Med
21. (17) John-
22. (12) Joey Squeglia De
DNQ 71 Carl Eriksson
DNQ 37 Fran “Jr” Colson
DNQ 53nh Tyler Fiscus
DNQ 21 Josh King
DNQ 0 Dennis Maxfiled
DNQ 95 Ron Smith
DNQ 87 Erik Sands
DNQ 02 Geoff Rollins
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AR Bodies (Hard Luck)
Bond Auto Parts (Last car on lead lap) Mike Mitchell
Crazy Ed’s Powersports (Hard Charger) Cory Robert
Draco Springs Award (Most positions gained) Cory Robert
Five Star Stock Car Bodies (5th place finisher) Derek Griffith
MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #1 Winner) Dillon Moltz
MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #2 Winner) Jeremy Davis
MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #3 Winner) Matt Frahm
Racer’s Depot (Random drawing)
RB Performance (4th place finisher)
RB Performance (7th place finisher)
Sherwood Wheels (10th place finisher)
Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #1 Winner) D
Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #2 Winner) J
Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #3 Winner) M