Chase Dowling dominates EXIT Realty MTS 125, while the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Championships were determined.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series held their last point’s race of the season this past Saturday night. The EXIT Realty Modified Touring Series joined the racing action as well. Before the racing action got under way an announcement was made about the tragic passing of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Teddy “TC” Christopher followed by the flag being lowered to half mast and a moment of silence and a special moment of silence and tribute by Ben Dodge. Victory lane saw repeat winners this weekend as Chris Phelps (Young Guns), Hillary Renaud (Lightning Stocks), Randy Rameau (Thunder Stocks), Matt Kimball (Mini Stocks), Eric Pomasko (Super Stocks) and Todd Patnode (Sportsman Modifieds) captured the checkered flag in their respective division.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Champions will officially be crowned with celebrations on Super Saturday, September 30th, but everything was determined this past Saturday on Championship night. Todd Patnode captured the Sportsman Modified crown and the NH State Championship. Matt Kimball captured the Sportsman Modified Rookie of the Year while finishing 2nd overall in points. Joel Monahan won the Super Stock championship, while Eric Pomasko took Rookie of the Year honors for the division. Alexander Pearl won the Mini Stock championship, with Rookie of the Year honors going to Pat Houle. Thunder Stock championship goes to Jason Kozacka. Hillary Renaud took the Lightning Stock championship in convincing fashion with Rookie of the Year going to Alex Barden.
Young Guns took to the track for the first feature of the night, 15 laps the distance. Chris Phelps in the 21 brought the field to the green followed closely by Bella Minchella in the 99. Phelps and Minchella pulled away from the pack early on but by the halfway point Nate Wenzel in the 03 had caught up. The lone caution flew on lap 13 as Wenzel and Minchella got together on the backstretch. Minchella was able to drive off under her own power but didn’t return. Wenzel pulled up to the rear of the field with only two laps remaining to get back to the front. Phelps brought the field to the green for the restart and held on to the lead to capture his 2nd win of the season. Wenzel wasted no time getting back to the front and was able to cross the line in 2nd place. Newcomer Cooper Roberge in the 96 took full advantage of the caution and found himself taking 3rd place in his first race. In typical Phelps fashion he was a man of few words in victory lane, but wanted to make sure to thank his dad for everything he does.
Mini Stocks darted onto the track next for their 25 lap feature. Kevin Pittsinger in the 50 and Shelby Avery in the 8 made up the front row but it would be Tim Paquette in the 93 that took the lead as the dust settled in turn 1. Paquette jumped out to a commanding lead. Matt Kimball in the 50x started a few rows back and it took him a few laps to get up to the 2nd spot but by lap 6 Kimball was starting to work on reeling in Paquette. By lap 9 Desmond Skillings worked his way out of the pack to take the 3rd spot as he looked to catch the top 2 and compete for the win. At the halfway point Kimball dove under Paquette to take the lead. The race ran caution free as Kimball captured a win on Championship night. Paquette finished 2nd and Skillings was unable to gain anymore ground settling for 3rd. Kimball was clearly having fun in victory lane when he summed up the race by simply saying, “It was a lot of fun.”
Thunder Stocks thundered onto the track next for 25 laps. Jason Kozacka entered the race with only an 8 point lead over 2nd place James Nowakowski. Bruce Clark in the 39 and Jon Goddard in the 25 brought the field to the green. Clark shot out into the lead. Goddard followed closely in the 2nd spot until lap 4 when Craig Chaffee drove his #28 under him in turn 3 to take the spot. Kozacka and Nowakowski followed Chaffee past Goddard. Nowakowski tried everything he could to get around Kozacka without wrecking him and on lap 15 Nowakowski tried a little too hard causing himself to spin out in turn 1. Clark and Chaffee led the field to the green on the restart. Clark managed to hold on to the lead but Chaffee lost a few spots and found himself in the 4th spot. Kozacka took over the 2nd spot followed closely by the 45 of Ed Lofland. Lap 20 the caution flew again as Lofland drove in a little too hard making contact with Kozacka causing him to spin. Lofland would be sent to the rear for his part in bringing out the caution. Clark still holding onto the top spot found himself with the advantage of a single file restart with 5 laps remaining. Randy Rameau in the 45x assumed the 2nd spot. Chaffee took over the 3rd spot. The field thundered into turn 1 on the restart; Clark holding onto the top spot but Rameau lurking closely behind waiting to make his move. Chaffee started to be pressured for the 3rd spot by the 4 of Richard Vincent. With 2 laps to go Rameau decided to make his move jumping to the outside of Clark. They raced side by side but it was Rameau that crossed the line first for his 2nd win of the season. Clark was forced to settle for 2nd. Chaffee and Vincent made contact entering turn 3 coming to the checkered and Goddard seized the opportunity to slip by to take 3rd place. Rameau pulled into victory lane after a clean hard fought win and with a grin from ear to ear stated “(I) love this stuff.”
Super Stocks raced onto the track next, 25 laps the distance. Scott Beck in the 22 and Mike McGoldrick in the 1 sat on the front row. Before the first lap could be completed the caution flew for the 27 of Marc Curtis spinning in turn 3. The 26 of Chris Curtis and the 87 of Robert Surdell were also involved. Surdell’s night was over as he damaged the radiator. Chris Curtis headed pit side as well. The field was reset to the original starting order minus those involved in the caution. Beck and McGoldrick were set to try it again. Beck took the lead and was followed closely by the 37 of Justin Littlewood. However the caution flew after only 1 lap as the 11x of Tyler Leary came to rest atop turns 3 and 4 with a flat tire. On the restart Beck was joined this time by Justin Littlewood but before a lap could be completed another caution flew as McGoldrick spun coming out of turn 4. Numerous cars headed to the pits, one of which was Justin Littlewood and he wouldn’t return. When the dust settled from the caution it was Eric Pomasko in the 71 in the lead. Marc Curtis had rebounded from his earlier spin and found himself in 2nd. Caution flew on lap 6 as Beck lost a tire and spun in turn 2. Due to the number of cautions the decision was made to go to a single file restart. Pomasko led the field to the green and took off like a rocket. On lap 17 the caution flew for the last time as Ray Germain in the 19VT spun. This was a quick caution and the field was lined back up quickly to be sent back to green. Pomasko maintained the top spot as he took his 2nd win of the season. Marc Curtis took 2nd and a lap 22 pass got Leary a 3rd place finish. This was a great win for Pomasko who earlier in the week celebrated his birthday. When asked which win was better he answered “this one, definitely this one.” Twice definitely is just as nice!
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