RGeeProductions
05-07-2013, 12:56 AM
Lee USA Speedway swung open the gates for the first Friday night under the lights of the 2013 season, with 2012 Small Block Supermodified Rookie of the Year Ryan Gath making a statement by taking down the checkered flag in the Benson Lumber and Hardware-sponsored feature event.
Defending Lee USA NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion Tommy Tombarello was first out of the gate to grab the early lead in the 30-lap main, setting the pace for the first half of the race in the Witkum Brothers Racing entry, a new ride he had secured just days before the season opener.
Coming off his first career Small Block Super win in the season-ending Oktoberfest event last season, Gath followed in Tombarello’s tire tracks right from the drop of flagman Steve Grant’s green, and when the duo came into lapped traffic on lap 17, he dropped to the low side heading into turn three and came away with the lead.
From that point on, the sophomore driver was in control, moving out to a several car length lead and holding it for the balance of the event to put in first bid for the 2013 championship with an impressive win, his first regular-season checkered flag at “New Hampshire‘s Center of Speed“.
Tombarello was next across the stripe to collect runner-up honors in the 2011 championship machine, with veteran Sparky MacIver coming on strong late in the race to collect third place honors in the Bob Chabot-owned, R&R Public Wholesalers-sponsored ride.
Former champion Grant Aither picked up right where he left off when the Prime Warehouse and Storage Late Model Sportsmen took part in the April ACT NH Governor’s Cup race, driving the Ricky Porter-owned James R St. Jean Auctioneers sponsored #7oz to victory lane for the second time in two outings this year.
2011 champ Ryan Green jumped out to the lead at the drop of the green, but Aither was up quickly from the third starting spot to take over the lead on lap eight. Green held on to the second position for the next several laps, but shortly after the crossed flags, contact with J.R. Baril sent him spinning in turn two.
Green was done for the night, and Baril had to restart at the rear of the field when racing resumed. Aither continued to set the pace on the restart, with Niko Maniatis and Alby Ovitt taking up the chase for the remainder of the race.
Aither was running like he was on rails, and stayed in control the rest of the way, flashing under the checkered flag to post the win, with LMS rookie Maniatis picking up an impressive runner-up finish, and Ovitt coming home with a strong third place run.
David’s Race cars and Components Hobby Stock action saw veteran Jim Piaseczny outrunning second-year racer Kyle Sawyer to take the lead shortly after the green flag waved to start the feature event, and he led every lap after that on the way to victory lane.
Last year’s second place finisher in the season standings, Patrick Tanguay, who also won last year’s regular-season opener, was right on Piaseczny’s back bumper by the time they reached the crossed flags, but he couldn’t find a way past and had to settle for runner-up this time out.
Ron Washburn overcame the fuel system problems that had plagued him during practice and qualifying to close out the podium with a strong third place finish.
Fan favorite Travis Hollins was the driver to beat in the American Used Auto Parts feature event, and the 17 year old led flag to flag on the way to his first career win in the entry-level division. Wayne Purington took runner-up honors, with 2012 Rookie of the Year Tyler Mitchell scoring a strong third place finish.
Robert Watson
Defending Lee USA NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion Tommy Tombarello was first out of the gate to grab the early lead in the 30-lap main, setting the pace for the first half of the race in the Witkum Brothers Racing entry, a new ride he had secured just days before the season opener.
Coming off his first career Small Block Super win in the season-ending Oktoberfest event last season, Gath followed in Tombarello’s tire tracks right from the drop of flagman Steve Grant’s green, and when the duo came into lapped traffic on lap 17, he dropped to the low side heading into turn three and came away with the lead.
From that point on, the sophomore driver was in control, moving out to a several car length lead and holding it for the balance of the event to put in first bid for the 2013 championship with an impressive win, his first regular-season checkered flag at “New Hampshire‘s Center of Speed“.
Tombarello was next across the stripe to collect runner-up honors in the 2011 championship machine, with veteran Sparky MacIver coming on strong late in the race to collect third place honors in the Bob Chabot-owned, R&R Public Wholesalers-sponsored ride.
Former champion Grant Aither picked up right where he left off when the Prime Warehouse and Storage Late Model Sportsmen took part in the April ACT NH Governor’s Cup race, driving the Ricky Porter-owned James R St. Jean Auctioneers sponsored #7oz to victory lane for the second time in two outings this year.
2011 champ Ryan Green jumped out to the lead at the drop of the green, but Aither was up quickly from the third starting spot to take over the lead on lap eight. Green held on to the second position for the next several laps, but shortly after the crossed flags, contact with J.R. Baril sent him spinning in turn two.
Green was done for the night, and Baril had to restart at the rear of the field when racing resumed. Aither continued to set the pace on the restart, with Niko Maniatis and Alby Ovitt taking up the chase for the remainder of the race.
Aither was running like he was on rails, and stayed in control the rest of the way, flashing under the checkered flag to post the win, with LMS rookie Maniatis picking up an impressive runner-up finish, and Ovitt coming home with a strong third place run.
David’s Race cars and Components Hobby Stock action saw veteran Jim Piaseczny outrunning second-year racer Kyle Sawyer to take the lead shortly after the green flag waved to start the feature event, and he led every lap after that on the way to victory lane.
Last year’s second place finisher in the season standings, Patrick Tanguay, who also won last year’s regular-season opener, was right on Piaseczny’s back bumper by the time they reached the crossed flags, but he couldn’t find a way past and had to settle for runner-up this time out.
Ron Washburn overcame the fuel system problems that had plagued him during practice and qualifying to close out the podium with a strong third place finish.
Fan favorite Travis Hollins was the driver to beat in the American Used Auto Parts feature event, and the 17 year old led flag to flag on the way to his first career win in the entry-level division. Wayne Purington took runner-up honors, with 2012 Rookie of the Year Tyler Mitchell scoring a strong third place finish.
Robert Watson