RGeeProductions
05-04-2015, 01:13 PM
The decision to delay the start of the race season by two weeks at the Monadnock Speedway turned out to be just the right call, as Saturday afternoon and evening provided the perfect weather for the green flag to drop for the 2015 season with the Bond Auto Parts 100 Spring Dash.
There was a little extra rumble in the thunder over the mountain as all the usual Monadnock divisions ran their season opening races, and were joined by the NE Classic Lites, the Pro Four Modifieds, and the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
The evening kicked off with the Young Guns series, Monadnock’s 12-15 year old division as Dylan Morse brought home the checkered in the 00 car. The 13 year old Morse had some issues in the heats, but the 7th grader knew he had one person specifically to thank after the win, “Turns out we got it fixed thanks to Tim LeBlanc here,” Morse said in victory lane, “You’re a life saver and here we are for my first win!” exclaimed the young man after capturing his first win. Second place went to Dan Starkweather who despite a strong finish was unhappy with how his car handled saying, “It wanted to go all over the place, but it was a pretty nice finish for the first race of the year.” Justin Littlewood won his heat and earned a podium finish first time coming in third and offered his support to his brother Cole competing later in the Super Stock race saying, “Hopefully he does good tonight,”.
The NE Classic Lite ran their feature next and it was dominated start to finish by last season’s rookie of the year Jake Cray. After the race he spoke about being back in the drivers’ seat this season saying, “We’re in a new car this year, I’m just happy. I don’t know what to say. I’m just glad I was just fast enough.” He was being chased by Ed Gilman and John Futz, the second and third place finishers, but was able to hold onto first for the win.
Mini Stocks came out next and put on one of the most exciting races of the night. Eric Pomasko’s #71 was able to hold off the #66 of defending champion Mike Stebbins to bring home the win in week one. Matt Gauffin took third holding off the challenge of Cameron Sontag and Julia Raymond. Pomasko talked in victory lane about the time he and his wife put in during winter to improve the car for this year. “A lot of hard work [went into the car].” Pomasco said, “My wife Karen and I spent countless hours in the garage over the winter. We’re getting a little bit better every year.”
Stebbins had a strong car but couldn’t hold off Pomasco to the final lap. Stebbins was in good spirits afterwards joking, “I think I fell asleep in my old age.”
“He’s got a fast car,” Stebbins said, “I let him in on the bottom there and that was it. Hats off to Eric, good job, there was no catching him once he went by.”
Next on the track were the Thunder Stocks and defending track champion Marshall Usher looked to start the new year off right. However, the fastest car out there Saturday was former Lightning Stock champion Craig Chaffee, as the #28 machine brought home first place.
“This thing is awesome,” Chaffee said in victory lane, “A lot of fun to drive.”
Usher in the #11 had to do all he could to hang onto second with David Greenslit’s #20 breathing down his neck by the end of the race. Greenslit had a strong car but felt he couldn’t get the grip on the track he needed to challenge Chaffee for first, “I felt like there was something on the track,” Greenslit said, “I just couldn’t get any grip out of the corners.”
Paul Barnard in the #24 came in fourth places and the #9 of James Nowakowski finished fifth to round out the top five in the Thunder Stock Division.
After Thunder Stocks, the Pro Four Modifieds took the track for their feature and did not disappoint as Eddie Major brought home the win to start the season off, while Mark Charette took home the win in the Pro Four Lite division.
“We won the last race out here last season,” Major said after the race, “What a way to start this year! We had a heck of a car today, and Robin had a heck of a car, there were a lot of good racers out today.”
Charette had a strong, fast racecar all night and he earned his spot in victory lane.
“It’s a great machine for us,” Charette said, “It feels great to be in the winner’s circle.”
Robin Bergman came across in second place and after the race spoke about possibly hanging up her fire suit and calling it a career saying, “Well, I’ve had a ball, I’m not sure if I’ll be back here in the Pro Fours. Hey it was great, I’m just happy the car stayed in one piece and we had a good finish, it’s great to be here in front of all you guys, it’s been a great time.” Norm Wren III rounded out the top three with a third place finish.
The Sportsman Modifieds were on the track next for their 30 lap feature following the Pro Fours and Scott McMichael got the win in the year’s first race. Bill Kimball and Keith Carzello finished second and third respectively while Tyler Jarvenpaa and JT Cloutier rounded out the top five.
(continued)
There was a little extra rumble in the thunder over the mountain as all the usual Monadnock divisions ran their season opening races, and were joined by the NE Classic Lites, the Pro Four Modifieds, and the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
The evening kicked off with the Young Guns series, Monadnock’s 12-15 year old division as Dylan Morse brought home the checkered in the 00 car. The 13 year old Morse had some issues in the heats, but the 7th grader knew he had one person specifically to thank after the win, “Turns out we got it fixed thanks to Tim LeBlanc here,” Morse said in victory lane, “You’re a life saver and here we are for my first win!” exclaimed the young man after capturing his first win. Second place went to Dan Starkweather who despite a strong finish was unhappy with how his car handled saying, “It wanted to go all over the place, but it was a pretty nice finish for the first race of the year.” Justin Littlewood won his heat and earned a podium finish first time coming in third and offered his support to his brother Cole competing later in the Super Stock race saying, “Hopefully he does good tonight,”.
The NE Classic Lite ran their feature next and it was dominated start to finish by last season’s rookie of the year Jake Cray. After the race he spoke about being back in the drivers’ seat this season saying, “We’re in a new car this year, I’m just happy. I don’t know what to say. I’m just glad I was just fast enough.” He was being chased by Ed Gilman and John Futz, the second and third place finishers, but was able to hold onto first for the win.
Mini Stocks came out next and put on one of the most exciting races of the night. Eric Pomasko’s #71 was able to hold off the #66 of defending champion Mike Stebbins to bring home the win in week one. Matt Gauffin took third holding off the challenge of Cameron Sontag and Julia Raymond. Pomasko talked in victory lane about the time he and his wife put in during winter to improve the car for this year. “A lot of hard work [went into the car].” Pomasco said, “My wife Karen and I spent countless hours in the garage over the winter. We’re getting a little bit better every year.”
Stebbins had a strong car but couldn’t hold off Pomasco to the final lap. Stebbins was in good spirits afterwards joking, “I think I fell asleep in my old age.”
“He’s got a fast car,” Stebbins said, “I let him in on the bottom there and that was it. Hats off to Eric, good job, there was no catching him once he went by.”
Next on the track were the Thunder Stocks and defending track champion Marshall Usher looked to start the new year off right. However, the fastest car out there Saturday was former Lightning Stock champion Craig Chaffee, as the #28 machine brought home first place.
“This thing is awesome,” Chaffee said in victory lane, “A lot of fun to drive.”
Usher in the #11 had to do all he could to hang onto second with David Greenslit’s #20 breathing down his neck by the end of the race. Greenslit had a strong car but felt he couldn’t get the grip on the track he needed to challenge Chaffee for first, “I felt like there was something on the track,” Greenslit said, “I just couldn’t get any grip out of the corners.”
Paul Barnard in the #24 came in fourth places and the #9 of James Nowakowski finished fifth to round out the top five in the Thunder Stock Division.
After Thunder Stocks, the Pro Four Modifieds took the track for their feature and did not disappoint as Eddie Major brought home the win to start the season off, while Mark Charette took home the win in the Pro Four Lite division.
“We won the last race out here last season,” Major said after the race, “What a way to start this year! We had a heck of a car today, and Robin had a heck of a car, there were a lot of good racers out today.”
Charette had a strong, fast racecar all night and he earned his spot in victory lane.
“It’s a great machine for us,” Charette said, “It feels great to be in the winner’s circle.”
Robin Bergman came across in second place and after the race spoke about possibly hanging up her fire suit and calling it a career saying, “Well, I’ve had a ball, I’m not sure if I’ll be back here in the Pro Fours. Hey it was great, I’m just happy the car stayed in one piece and we had a good finish, it’s great to be here in front of all you guys, it’s been a great time.” Norm Wren III rounded out the top three with a third place finish.
The Sportsman Modifieds were on the track next for their 30 lap feature following the Pro Fours and Scott McMichael got the win in the year’s first race. Bill Kimball and Keith Carzello finished second and third respectively while Tyler Jarvenpaa and JT Cloutier rounded out the top five.
(continued)