Despite a quick shower that interrupted the action during qualifying, Lee USA Speedway put another Friday night program in the record books, with Auburn racer John Burke putting on a clinic to post the win in the Rodfather-sponsored NASCAR Whelen All American Series Supermodified feature.

When flagman Steve Gran unfurled the green for the 30-lap main event, Burke immediately broke out to the lead, and with just a single caution period to slow the race on lap two, it was less than nine minutes later when Gran dropped the checkers over Burke’s first-ever Lee USA Speedway win.

Defending champion and opening night winner Dave Helliwell of Salem came on strong late in the race to checker second aboard the multi-time championship winning Witkum Brothers Racing machine, with another former champ, Tommy Tombarello, Jr. rounding out the podium in the third spot.

Fourth went to Leslie Keyser of Northfield, followed by Rochester’s Mike Spurling, Mike Keddy of Raymond, Moe Lattime of Kingston in the Dick Osborne entry, Jamie Timmons of North Andover, MA, P.J. Murphy of Groveland, MA, and Jim Barker of Meredith.

Second-generation racer George Helliwell of Salem made it clear that he was going to be the man to beat in the R & R “The Tool Store and More” Late Model Sportsman feature, moving up quickly from third on the starting grid to assume the lead in the early going and still holding the point with the laps winding down.

Former champ Jay Sands of Hampton moved in late in the race, challenging Helliwell hard for the top spot. Coming off turn four with the checkers in the air, the pair made contact, with Helliwell spinning and Sands going on to lead the field across the stripe.

After further review, Sands was stripped of the win for his involvement in the last-lap tangle, with defending champion Jimmy Russell of Exeter inheriting the win as a result. Everyone moved up a couple of spots as a result of the incident, with opening night winner Kris Miller of Bedford and Bryan Kruczek of Newmarket credited with second and third when the smoke cleared.

Stratham’s Frankie Eldredge collected fourth place honors, with former champ Nick Maniatis of Hooksett, Patrick Stewart of North Andover, MA, Hudson’s Erick Sands, Jason Ryan of Salem, Trevor Randlett of Holderness, and race-long leader Helliwell, who crossed the finish line backwards, closing out the top ten.

The David’s Race Cars and Components Hobby Stock main was hard fought from start to finish, but nobody fought harder than veteran Boe Green of Berwick, ME, who held off all challengers and led them across the stripe to post his first win of the young 2017 campaign.

The Tri City Line-X Ironman competitors ran double features on Friday, with Travis Hollins of Milford and James Witkum of Methuen, MA posting the wins. After a first-lap wreck eliminated former champ Troy Washburn, Robert Panek, and Brandon Washburn. Hollins virtually ran away and hid to win the first main by nearly a straightaway.

Hollins’ first win of the season came at the expense of runner-up Witkum, Adam Knowles of Seabrook, Christin DeStefano of Tewksbury, MA, and Jamie Holland of Somersworth. Finishing behind Witkum in the nightcap were Knowles, Holland, Hollins, and Rich Dubois of Manchester.

Defending champion Tyler Mailhot of Epping returned to his winning ways in the MLM Diagnostics Pure Stock feature event, collecting his first checkered flag of the season. Epping’s Anthony Nadeau, Thomas Harwood, Rob Carleton, and opening night winner John Boomhower of Epping finished up the top five.

Joe Freeman and Brian Hughes took down the checkers in the Wicked Good Vintage feature events.

The next event on the calendar at Lee USA is slated for Friday night, June 9, with the Northeast Classic Lites and Senior Tour Auto Racers joining the five weekly NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions on the schedule.

For more information on this or any upcoming event, call the race hotline at 978-462-4252, log on to www.leeusaspeedway.com, or find us on Facebook.


Judy Macdonald