Taylor Martin making some Magic at NHMS

taylor20story by Chris Roy

One of the familiar Legends drivers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) is Taylor Martin. This is Taylor’s third season racing in a Legends Car at NHMS and this young veteran driver is also the first female driver to ever compete in a Legends Car at NHMS. Last weekend, the Legends Cars raced a triple header; one race on the oval and two races on the road course. Taylor came away with her sixth straight top three in the Granite State Legends Series, and two more top ten finishes in the MOAT Mountain Road Course Series. This weekend, Taylor is heading back to NHMS for another triple header: “Yeah! I’m really excited for this weekend’s triple header at NHMS. We’re just doing a few final touches on the cars before we load them up.”

The road course at NHMS has left and right turns long straight aways, paperclip turns, and rolling hills.  The Mini Magic Mile also has a flat front stretch and a banked back stretch, setting up some close side by side racing keeping the driver constantly busy. So which race track at NHMS is Taylor’s favorite?  “To be honest, I’m more of an oval fan. I like racing on the road course because all the shifting keeps you busy but it does take a toll on you physically. And, I have been racing ovals all my life so it’s what I’m best at.”

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Thunder Road Kicks Off Busy August with VP Racing Fuels

troadTiger Sportsmen Special 100-Laps

Barre, VT – The stars of Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT are preparing for a busy August schedule, set to begin this Thursday (Aug. 1) with VP Racing Fuels Night. The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen will battle in a special 100-lap event along with regular events for the Late Models and Allen Lumber Street Stocks.

The hunt for the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen crown has reached an all new intensity heading into Thursday’s VP Racing Fuels 100. The top five are separated by just 36 points following last week’s double points night. Two-time Tiger Champion Shawn Fleury currently leads the way, but Eric Badore, Jason Allen, Jason Woodard and Brendan Moodie all remain within striking distance of their first career title.

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JBH Memorial 100 set for Granite State Pro Stocks at Monadnock this Saturday.

GSM2After a three week layoff, on Saturday, August 3rd, the Granite State Pro Stocks return to the high banks of Monadnock Speedway for the second annual JBH Memorial 100. This is the second of two events scheduled at the Winchester, NH speedplant.

The first JBH Memorial was postponed three times before it was finally run in 2012, before having the name changed to the Vampire 100 in October. Even with the weather finally cooperating, John Hoyt’s presence was felt as the lights went dim just before introductions.

Barry Gray, former Monadnock Speedway Pro Stock Champion picked up the win on that mid autumn evening, holding off Fran Colson and reigning GSPSS Champion Bobby Cabral. It was the first series win for Gray, which remains his only win to date on the series. (more…)

Helliwell Holds off Field, Beats Rain for Devil’s Bowl Threepeat

ACT American Canadian TourStone, Bushey, LaVair grab repeat victories

WEST HAVEN, VT – American-Canadian Tour stock car driver Wayne Helliwell, Jr., captured an historic victory at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, July 28, taking his third consecutive win at the West Haven, VT track in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 150 presented by Cat Country 105.3 FM. Todd Stone, rookie Brad Bushey, and Chris LaVair also picked up NASCAR Whelen All-American Series wins at the event.

Helliwell, of Dover, NH, outlasted a race-long fight with Ray Parent. The pair traded the lead eight times during the 150-lap race, which was halted twice for rain including for 23 minutes with 93 laps complete. After the race resumed, Parent, of Tiverton, RI, was running second with just four laps remaining when his engine sputtered, out of fuel. Helliwell pulled away for the win after the final restart to earn the two-race ACT sweep at Devil’s Bowl in 2013, having won the Spring Green 113 in May; he also won the Spring Green in 2012 to make it three-straight wins at the track.

Travis Stearns, a rookie from Auburn, ME, picked up where Parent left off, earning a career-best runner-up finish. Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., of Hudson, NH finished third, followed by Glen Luce of Turner, ME, and rookie Bobby Therrien of Hinesburg, VT, Ben Lynch of Huntersville, NC, and Jimmy Hebert of Williamstown, VT.
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Wayne Helliwell, Jr. Completes ACT Devil’s Bowl Sweep

ACT American Canadian TourWest Haven, VT – Wayne Helliwell, Jr. of Dover, NH completed his sweep of the American Canadian Tour events at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, July 28. Helliwell backed up his Spring Green win in May with a win in the St. Jude Children’s Hospital 150.

Helliwell had to battle both Tiverton, Rhode Island’s Ray Parent and weather on his way to the win. The Helliwell/Parent duo swapped the lead a total of six times over the first 93 laps. The outside lane seemed like the lane of choice as the second place driver got the advantage on the majority of the restarts.

The event was red flagged with 93 laps complete due to rain. After an over 20 minute rain delay the racing resumed with Parent at the point. Following another caution with 104 laps completed, Helliwell took over the lead for good. Parent settled in to second until he abruptly slowed up on lap 146. He had to pit to fill up with gas and returned for the restart and remained on the lead lap.
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