The 2018 Thursday Night Thunder season has finally arrived at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. The beginning of the season got off to an interesting start, with opening week being split into two weeks of competition after weather forced the postponement of more than half of the events after week one.
The Beetle Bug Varsity division was able to get their 15-lap feature race in on week one. Returning driver Ben Krauter and Beech Ridge veteran Gerard Cote started on the front row for the first main event.
Ben Krauter powered into the early lead as Jeff Walker quickly became a top threat. Walker made his way around Gerard Cote for the runner-up spot on lap 6, then setting his eyes on the #82 of Krauter. A competition caution was brought one just one lap later to bring the field back together.
There was contact on the restart between Krauter and Walker, who were battling head-to-head for the top spot. After briefly settling down for half a lap, Walker jumped back to the outside of Krauter on lap 8, hungry for the top spot.
Ben Krauter was able to hold off the competition, winning the first feature race of the season. Jeff Walker, Ed Johnson, Gerard Cote and Joshua Knoll followed, rounding out the top five.
The Mad Bomber Varsity division was up next, with Jason Gammon powering off with the early lead. Todd Libby followed suit, quickly filing into the runner-up spot. Naughty Racing’s Jason Kennedy was on the move early, making his way around Betty Nelson for the fifth spot on lap 4. By the halfway mark at lap 13, the 3 leaders had a wide-open lead over the rest of the pack.
By lap 16, Chris Burgess was all over Todd Libby for the runner-up spot. As the leaders were held up by lap traffic on lap 20, Chris Burgess powered his way into the runner-up spot, but Todd Libby quickly stole it back from him.
Jason Gammon was able to hold off the competition, rolling into the victory. Todd Libby, Chris Burgess, Jason Kennedy and Brandon Johnson followed, rounding out the top five.
Both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Truck divisions were combined into one 15-lap race due to the car count. There was a 4-wide battle for the top spot on the initial lap, with Kris Knox coming out on top. Keith Petrin was on fire early, powering into the runner-up spot on lap 2. Knox got sideways on the front stretch on lap 5, allowing Petrin to pull up to his door.
By lap 7, the two drivers were beatin’ and bangin’ for the top spot. Knox got sideways in turn 2, losing his lead as he fell back to third place. As the rain started to slowly come down, Kris Knox took a spin in turn 4 on lap 11 as Brad Weismann followed suit. The race was called shortly thereafter due to inclement weather and Keith Petrin took home the victory. Jared Kimball, Kris Knox, Mark Grantham and Brad Weismann rounded out the top five.
The Ladies division returned to the track this past Thursday, starting the beginning of the double features. Nicole Bell took off with the early lead, but Laura McKeage was on the charge early. McKeage made her way around Taylor Graffam on lap 2, capturing the runner-up spot. By lap 3, she was challenging Bell for the lead from the outside line. McKeage captured the lead just two laps later and began pulling away from the rest of the field.
Betty Nelson broke the top five on lap 6 after starting in the rear of the field. Taylor Graffam faced mechanical problems on lap 8, bringing the #47 machine down to the pits. On lap 12, there was a competition caution, bringing the field back together once again.
Betty Nelson was on a roll on the restart, making her way into the runner-up spot on lap 16. Her night came to an abrupt halt that lap as she came to a slow in turn 2. This led to a late-race caution.
Jenna Webster made her way into third on the restart after starting at the rear of the field, but Laura McKeage was able to hold everyone off with the victory. Nicole Bell, Jenna Webster, Holly Gain and Sara Libby followed, rounding out the top five.
The Street Devils division was up next, with newcomer Ashley Nicholson turning heads as she powered into the early lead. The #51 of Paul Goodrich was on the move early, moving into the runner-up spot on lap 3. By lap 8, Goodrich and Darryl Quinlan were beginning to reel Ashley in. But, she was able to hold off the competition, sailing into her first-ever Street Devils victory.
Charlie Buxton took the early lead in the 25-lap Legends feature, but trouble was brewing behind him. Nick Calvert, Noah Korner and Danny Wear faced troubles in turn 4 on lap 2, making contact and bringing out the first caution of the feature.
Austin Teras was bringing the heat early, making his way to the inside of Buxton for the lead on lap 5. Teras was able to capture the lead from Buxton the following lap. The #67 of Zach Godbout took a spin on the front stretch on lap 7, bringing out another caution.
By lap 8, the #31 of Noah Korner had made his way from last to first and was fighting for more. Kevin Girard was also on the move, breaking the top 5 on lap 10. By lap 14, Charlie Buxton had caught back up to Austin Teras and was all over him for the top spot. After battling for position, Buxton got turned around on lap 16 in turn 4.
By lap 18, there was a 3-car breakaway at the front of the field. Austin Teras was able to hold onto the lead, sailing into the victory. Noah Korner, Matt Bourgoine, Kevin Girard and Chris Burgess followed, rounding out the top five.
Darryl Quinlan took off with the early lead in the 20-lap Beetle Bug JV feature. Kara Krauter, Chris Case, Alex Parechanian and Robert Taylor took it 4-wide coming into turn 1, resulting in Chris Case sliding into the tires in turn 1. The field remained green as Case hustled to try to catch up with the tail-end of the pack.
The #14 of Brandon Lizotte was making moves early, climbing into the top 3 on lap 3. Derek McKeen was also bringing the heat, making his way to the inside of Darryl Quinlan for the lead on lap 4 and capturing it the following lap.
Last year’s champion Alex Parechanian started to come to life mid-race, breaking into the top 5 on lap 6. He later made his way around Brandon Lizotte for third on lap 8 and to the inside of Darryl Quinlan for the runner-up spot on lap 11. The two battled it out for position, resulting in a caution due to Parechanian taking a spin in turn 4.
This caution allowed Chris Case to catch back up to the tail of the field and fight his way back into the top 5, which he achieved on lap 18. Darryl Quinlan and Alex Parechanian made contact on lap 18 in turn 4, resulting in both drivers losing ground on the track. After going win-less last season, Derek McKeen took home the feature victory. Max Dolliver, Mark Brulotte, Robert Taylor and Chris Case followed, rounding out the top 5.
The Mad Bomber Junior Varsity division was the last division in the first round of features, with young gun Garrett Lamb jumping into the early lead. Scott Eck was on the move early, powering into the runner-up spot in the beginning laps. Tom Lovejoy, Jr. also had a strong showing early, making his way into the top 5 on lap 4. He continued his pursuit to the front on lap 6, jumping into the fourth spot.
By lap 15, Garrett Lamb had pulled out to a 1/2 straightaway lead at the front of the pack. The competition caution was brought out just two laps later, bringing the field back together.
Tom Lovejoy, Jr. captured the third spot on lap 18 and later cleared Scott Eck for the runner-up spot on lap 23. Cam Jones and Mike Sanford made hard contact on the final lap on the backstretch, but the field remained green. Garrett Lamb was able to hold off the competition, resulting in his first-ever feature victory. Tom Lovejoy, Jr., Scott Eck and Kaleb Bean followed.
The first round of features was just the beginning of a very exciting double feature night at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Stay tuned for part 2 from the Ridge!
