Lee, NH – Mother Nature was the big winner on Oktoberfest weekend at Lee USA Speedway, picking up her first win of the 2016 racing season due to heavy rains that resulted in a complete washout of Sunday‘s scheduled feature events.
“New Hampshire’s Center of Speed” had gone rain-free for the entire 2016 season, starting with annual American Canadian Tour (ACT) season opener back in April, and continuing through the entire 16-week Friday night regular season from late May through early September.
Unfortunately, the perfect season was not to be, and last Sunday’s feature event action fell victim to wet weather and was postponed to Sunday, October 23. A dozen feature events remain to be run to close out the 2016 season at the fast 3/8th’s mile speed plant.
Eddie MacDonald’s return to his family owned Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H. track for Oktoberfest presented by EXIT Realty, produced a second place finish in the Pro Stock/Super late Model 50 lap feature and first in the Late Model heat on Saturday, October, 8. Another 50 lap PS/SLM race and a 40 lap Late Model feature were slated for Sunday but heavy rains forced a re-scheduling for Sunday, October 23, beginning at noon.
A late week decision was made by Team MacDonald to run the Dave Lemieux owned Chevy Pro Stock along with the famous “#17 “Flame” Late Model GTO that won three Bond Invitational races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and two Oxford 250’s with many other victories in the record books.
With little work the EXIT Realty/Hancock Electric Late Model was ready to go performing well in Friday’s practice and finishing first in the heat on Saturday. The EXIT Realty Pro Stock proved to be more difficult to get into shape after sitting idle for most of the racing season. Eddie Mac drove the car to victory in the first ever Super Late Model race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last season. The first glitch came after the first practice Friday when the transmission bound up followed by a rear end problem that required changing Saturday morning. Repairs were made in time for the heat race only to get run over on the start causing a flat time and torn up fender. Quick repairs were made as Eddie Mac returned to the track to complete five heat laps.
Over the course of the first nine Granite State Pro Stock Series races in 2016, drivers have been chasing more than $26,000 in contingency awards.
Now, with just one race remaining, some of the season long bonus award winners will be decided at the season finale at New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, October 22.
Without the help of multiple businesses, the series would just not be able to provide all of the extra incentives. Drivers have been chasing extra cash and awards for just about everywhere in the finishing order during each event.
Eddie MacDonald posted a 12th place finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Dover 125 in the series final race of the season. For 125 laps Eddie Mac drove the Grimm Construction/Multiple Sclerosis Chevy from his 24th starting position and into the fifth spot for the final two lap shootout after a late race caution only to be wrecked one lap short of the checkered flag.
Two early morning practices and qualifying were scrubbed as rain plagued the Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware for much of the week. K&N officials replaced qualifying with one forty minute practice session for the 27 car field. Eddie Mac did post the 15th fastest time but was forced to start 24th due to points standing for the four previous races he ran in the series.
When the green flag waved at 5 pm and the threat of more rain looming, the #71 Chevy struggled to advance over the first 32 laps and was in danger of being lapped when the first caution flag waved, the first of seven for twenty-six laps, but certainly the most important. Crew chief Rollie LaChance made the call to make a three turn wedge adjustment amounting to approximately 3/16ths of an inch during the pit stop and that made all the difference.
Nick Sweet of Barre drinks from the Milk Bowl after winning the 54th edition of the race for the second straight year, and the third time overall, at Thunder Road. (Alan Ward photo)
Barre, VT – Nick Sweet of Barre successfully defended his title in the Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl at Thunder Road, using a pair of wins in the three 50-lap segments to claim a two-point victory in the combined standings over Jason Corliss of Barre. It was the third Thunder Road Late Model Sportsmen Milk Bowl victory of Sweet’s career.
Corliss needed to finish within three positions of Sweet in the final race to earn the victory. He had a chance to move into fourth place, and claim the Milk Bowl crown, in the final laps of the third race, but couldn’t find his way through traffic and ended up in seventh place in the segment, and second place overall.
Trampas Demers of South Burlington finished in third place, and was followed in the top 10 by Cody Blake of Barre, Kyle Pembroke of Montpelier, 2016 King of the Road Scott Dragon of Milton, Jimmy Hebert of Williamstown, Scott Payea of Milton, Shawn Fleury of Middlesex, and Alex Labbe of St-Albert, Quebec.
Lee, NH – Mother Nature was the big winner on Oktoberfest weekend at Lee USA Speedway, picking up her first win of the 2016 racing season due to heavy rains that resulted in a complete washout of Sunday‘s scheduled feature events.
Over the course of the first nine Granite State Pro Stock Series races in 2016, drivers have been chasing more than $26,000 in contingency awards.
By: Dick Casey