Drivers and teams returned to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Thursday night for the fifth week of Thursday Night Thunder.
As always, the Beetle Bug Varsity division was the first division on the agenda for the night.
Ben Krauter took off with the early lead in the 15-lap feature as Jeff Walker powered into the runner-up spot. Walker challenged Krauter for the lead on the outside on lap 6, later taking over the top spot on lap 11.
Jon Talbot was on the move late in the feature, climbing into the fourth spot on lap 12.
Jeff Walker held off Ben Krauter for the win, making it his fourth consecutive victory. Ed Johnson, Jon Talbot and Brandon Varney rounded out the top five.
Ed McConologue took off with the early lead in the 25-lap Mad Bomber Varsity feature.
Todd Libby and Chad Reynolds both took spins on lap 8 in turn 3, but the field remained green.
Johnny Wolfe was on the move, going from third to first in one lap on lap 8.
Jason Gammon powered into the runner-up spot on lap 10, setting his eyes on Jonny Wolfe at the front of the field. He challenged to Wolfe’s inside on lap 13, making his way into the lead the following lap. By lap 15, there was a 2-car breakaway at the front of the field.
The #9 of Mike Dearden got hard into Ed McConologue on lap 17 in turn 2, leading to a late-race caution.
Johnny Wolfe got a great jump on the restart, but Jason Gammon was back into the lead by lap 15.
Tom Lovejoy, Sr. was on the move in the closing laps of the race, powering into the top 5 on lap 20 after falling to the back of the pack earlier in the feature.
Jason Kennedy and Brian Picard both went around on lap 22 in turn 3, leading to a late-race caution.
Jason Gammon lost momentum on the restart, powering Johnny Wolfe into the lead. Wolfe took home the win, making it his first feature victory of the season.
Lyman McKeage, Jason Libby, Jason Gammon and Tom Lovejoy, Sr. rounded out the top five.
Defending race winner, Kris Knox, was notably absent in the 15-lap Mighty Trucks feature.
Will Potter took off with the early lead, but Keith Petrin fought through the field early, breaking into the lead on lap 3.
Defending Mighty Trucks champion, Jeff Gillette, was on the move, powering into the runner-up spot on lap 5 after starting in the rear of the field.
Jared Kimball made his way to Jeff Gillette’s inside on lap 9, challenging him for the spot. Gillette got sideways on the front stretch on lap 10, allowing Kimball to take over the spot.
Keith Petrin took home the victory, collecting his fourth top finish of the season. Jared Kimball, Jeff Gillette, Will Potter and Mark Grantham rounded out the top five.
Taylor Graffam took off with the early lead in the Ladies League feature.
Courtney Cameron took a spin on lap 2, clipping Desiree LaChance in turn 4. The incident led to the first caution of the feature.
As Graffam pulled away with the lead once more, Betty Nelson powered into the top 5 on lap 6. Nelson was behind the wheel of a borrowed #27 car after experiencing mechanical issues with her typical #8 machine.
Lap 7 brought more trouble for Courtney Cameron and Desiree LaChance, who both went around in turn 4. There was no caution this time around, as both cars were able to get rolling once again.
Laura McKeage was all over Jenna Webster for the runner-up spot on lap 15, eventually stealing the spot away the following lap.
Holly Gain and Courtney Cameron collided on lap 16 in turn 1, leading to a late-race caution.
Taylor Graffam was able to pull off her competitors, capturing her first career feature victory, just weeks after taking home her first podium finish.
Laura McKeage, Betty Nelson, Jenna Webster and Sara Libby rounded out the top five.
Danny Wear took off with the early lead in the 25-lap Legends feature.
A caution was brought out for debris in turn 1 on lap 3, bringing the field back together.
Tylar Braunschweig took over the lead on the restart as Kevin Girard, Jr. powered into the runner-up spot.
Charlie Buxton took a hard spin on lap 10, sliding into the tires in turn 1. This led to yet another caution.
The #38 of Matt Bourgoine gave Braunschweig a hard push on lap 11 in turn 1, sending Braunschweig for a spin and leading to another caution.
Austin Teras and Charlie Buxton made hard contact on the backstretch on lap 12, collecting Nick Calvert and Tylar Braunschweig. The incident led to another mid-race caution.
Bourgoine pulled away with the lead on the restart as Chris Burgess fought his way into the runner-up spot.
Bourgoine had pulled away with a healthy lead on lap 20. He held onto the lead for the remainder of the feature, capturing the victory.
Kevin Girard, Jr., Chris Burgess, Parker Varney and Ryan Doucette rounded out the top five.
As Kara Krauter took off with the early lead in the 20-lap Beetle Bug Junior Varsity feature, Robert Taylor took a spin in turn 4. Taylor was able to regain speed as the field remained green.
Derek McKeen got hard into Tom Lovejoy, Jr., who was making his Beetle Bug JV debut, on lap 4 in turn 2. The move resulted in Lovejoy retiring the #79 machine for the remainder of the feature.
Chris Case was on a mission, powering from third to first in one lap on lap 8.
Kara Krauter and Alex Parechanian made contact on lap 13 in turn 1. Both drivers were able to correct their cars, resulting in the field staying green.
Kara Krauter came to a slow on lap 14, leading to a late-race caution.
Chris Case got a great push from Brandon Lizotte on the restart, allowing him to pull away with the lead over Alex Parechanian in the #45 Dream Machine.
Chris Case ran away with the victory, capturing his first feature win of the 2018 season after having an uncharacteristically slow start to the season.
Alex Parechanian, Brandon Lizotte, Jim Emmons and Darryl Quinlan rounded out the top five.
The 25-lap Mad Bomber Junior Varsity feature was the final feature of the night.
Dylan Shores pulled away with the top spot on the initial lap, but Dan Collins managed to snatch it away from him on lap 2, taking off with the top spot.
Robert Pierce and Tom Lovejoy, Jr. made hard contact on the backstretch on lap 2, resulting in Lovejoy taking a hard hit into the wall in turn 2. Thankfully, Lovejoy was able to walk away from the incident.
As Dan Collins pulled away with the lead once more, Dylan Shores was pushed to the outside line on the restart, falling to the back of the pack.
Scott Eck was on the move mid-race, making his way around Bob Darrell Wilson for third on lap 12.
The #5 of Richard Maynard took a spin on lap 14 in turn 1, leading to a caution.
The #25 of Kyle Gailloux took it 3-wide for the lead on the restart, pulling away with the top spot.
Scott Eck powered into the runner-up spot on lap 17 as Cam Jones and Garrett Lamb filed in behind him.
Gailloux was checked out by lap 20, which led to his eventual victory, his first feature win of the 2018 season.
Cam Jones, Garrett Lamb, Scott Eck and Mike Sanford rounded out the top five.
Thursday Night Thunder continues on this Thursday, July 26th. Adult admission is only $7 and children 12 and under are FREE!
Get out there and support your local short track!
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