photo from NEMST
Under constant cloud cover and light drizzle the NEMST along with its primary sponsors Texas Roadhouse and Twisted Tea kicked off its 7th season at Lee USA Speedway. Twenty-Two tour style mini stocks anchored the infield of Lee, New Hampshire’s fast 3/8 mile speedway. In morning practice it was evident that there were numerous cars running in some very tight brackets and would make an excellent race.
Just after 1:00 P.M. the first of two Environmental Engines heat races rolled out with Toby Wells taking control in heat 1 and Joe Baxter surviving a late race battle with Nick Anderson to secure their first wins of the season. Wells drew a 5 row invert for the feature setting him up for a 9th place starting position in the 22 car feature.
Following the heats for other divisions the NEMST Feature rolled onto the speedway behind the F-150 Pace Truck. Cris King and Austin Erickson led the field in tight formation to the first feature lap of the 2015 season. King would break out to the early lead as the rookie Erickson pulled into the pits with clutch problems only 4 laps into the event. Wells began his charge to the front with Nick Maniatis in a brand new car right on his bumper. The trio of leaders slowed down at lap 13 after Mike Metcalf spun in turn 1 landing against the outside retaining wall.
King rocketed away from Wells exiting turn 4 on the restart with Wells catching up on the outside entering turn 1. Wells would battle alongside King for 2 laps before taking the lead off turn 2. On lap 1 the caution flew once again for the 55 car of Nick Anderson spinning in turn 2. The green came out once again on lap 16 with Wells, King, and Maniatis breaking away from the field once again. In a fierce battle for 5th the cars of Baxter, Rheaume, J. King, Viens, and Anderson continued to swap positions battling in a double file formation.
The final caution came shortly after halfway for an accident between Bruce Knowles and John Larsen as Knowles failed to yield for the fast upcoming leaders. The incident shot Larsen into the turn 1 retaining wall very hard before the car coming to rest just before turn 2. Larsen climbed from his car shaken and returned to the infield. The field went green once again as Wells edged out Maniatis leading into turn 1. King followed in 3rd with Pistol Pete Zakarite running 4th.
Maniatis would close in every few laps but with a brand new car finished just days prior to the opening event was unable to make a charge to unseat Wells from the top position. Wells crossed the Sunoco Race Fuels finish line with Maniatis, King, Zakarite, and Anderson recovering from his early spin. Jake Rheaume would finish 6th and earn the Thirty Racewear Hard Charger 2 point bonus for improving his start position the most (16).
The North East Mini Stock Tour makes it return to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway after a 4 year hiatus on Saturday May 2nd alongside the PASS SLM Series. The 50 lap main event will be the kick off for a trio of Maine races for the 2015 season. For more information please Like Us on Facebook or visit www.northeastministocktour.com .
Environmental Engines Heat Winners: Toby Wells, Joe Baxter
Twisted Tea Pole Starter: Cris King
Thirty Racewear Hard Charger: Jake Rheaume
Sunoco Race Fuels Winners Circle Challenge: Toby Wells
Texas Roadhouse Hard Luck Award: John Larsen
RH2way Top Rookie: Devin Miranda