NASCAR Nite competitors returned to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Saturday night for another full night of competitive racing. In addition to all 3 weekly divisions, the Valenti Modified Racing Series joined the show this past weekend for a 75-lap feature race at the end of the night.
The night kicked off with the Pro Series heats. Bill Rodgers took off with the early lead in the first heat. Donnie Colpritt, Jr. was also on the move early, advancing into the runner-up spot over Dan McKeage on lap 5. Gary Smith was flying through the field, advancing to third on lap 6 after starting at the tail of the field. He began challenging Colpritt for the runner-up spot on lap 8 and advanced into the position, later making his way under Bill Rodgers to challenge for the lead on lap 10. Rodgers held him off, scoring the heat victory. Donnie Colpritt, Jr. rounded out the top 3.
Dave Farrington, Jr. powered into the early lead in the second Pro Series heat. Trevor Sanborn was right on his heels, making his way around Farrington for the top spot on lap 1. Young gun, Ivan Kaffel, was on the move, advancing to fifth on lap 3 after starting the heat from the rear of the field. Sanborn took home the heat victory, followed by Farrington and Dave Oliver.
Mark Grantham pulled away with the early lead in the first Wildcats heat. Mike Roe lost a tire on lap 5, causing the driver to spin out in turn 2. The incident led to the first caution of the evening.
Kaleb Bean and Mark Grantham went head-to-head for the lead on the restart, but Nate Leavitt was right on their tail. He bypassed Bean and made his way to Mark Grantham’s inside on lap 8, challenging Grantham for the top spot and taking over the following lap. Wade Kennedy was also on the move in the closing laps of the heat, advancing to third on lap 10. Nate Leavitt captured the heat victory and Mark Grantham and Wade Kennedy rounded out the top 3.
Ed Connolly took off with the early lead in the second Wildcats heat. Dave Cameron was climbing through the field, making his way to third on lap 2 after starting at the rear of the field. He was all over Cole Watson for the runner-up spot on lap 2, advancing into the spot that lap. He was on Ed Connolly’s back bumper by lap 6, ready to strike. Ed Connolly held him off, taking home the heat victory. Returning competitor, Phil Chapman, rounded out the top 3.
Devin Curit powered into the early lead in the first Sport Series heat. Todd Libby faced troubles early, going around on the backstretch on lap 2 as the field remained green. Chasing the Checkered driver, Charlie Sanborn, made his way from last to fourth by lap 4. Bubba Pelton got loose and fell out of the groove on the backstretch on lap 9, surrendering his position in the top 3. Curit maintained his lead and pulled off the heat win. Matt Dow and Charlie Sanborn rounded out the top 3.
Ryan Phillips held onto the early advantage in the second and final Sport Series heat. Terry Merrill was on the move early, advancing into the runner-up spot over Frank Wear on lap 4. He made his way to Ryan Phillips’ outside on lap 6, challenging him for the top spot. Clyde Hennessey was also climbing through the field, advancing to third on lap 7. After battling it out for a couple of laps, Terry Merrill finally cleared Ryan Phillips for the top spot on lap 8. Merrill took home the heat victory, followed by Clyde Hennessey and Ryan Phillips.
Ronnie Williams completely dominated the first Modified heat, sealing the victory. Derek Robbie and CJ Bolton completed the top 3. Tony Ricci sped off with the early lead in the second Modified heat. Josh Cantara took a spin on lap 8 in turn 3, leading to a caution. Ricci held control of the lead, scoring the heat victory. Cameron Sontag and Anthony Nocella rounded out the top 3.
After the fields were set, it was time for the 40-lap Pro Series feature. Gary Smith powered away with the early lead as Nick Cusack quickly pulled into the runner-up spot over Bill Rodgers. Travis Buzzell was also on the move, climbing up to fourth on lap 3. Gary Smith was jetting away, increasing his lead to 2+ seconds by lap 10.
Trevor Sanborn was gradually climbing through the field, advancing to third on lap 13. By lap 16, he was all over Nick Cusack for the runner-up spot. He finally completed the pass over Cusack on lap 21 and began digging into Gary Smith’s 4+ second lead. Nick Cusack was back on lap 28, all over Trevor Sanborn’s back bumper with Dave Farrington, Jr. on his heels. Gary Smith was able to pull away as the second-fourth place drivers battled it out, capturing his first career weekly feature victory at Beech Ridge. Trevor Sanborn, Nick Cusack, Dave Farrington, Jr. and Bill Rodgers rounded out the top five.
With his heat win and top five finish, Trevor Sanborn powered into a 5-point lead over Dave Oliver and Dave Farrington, Jr., who are currently tied for second place in the standings. Only 20 points separate the top five drivers in the division and with only a handful of weeks remaining in the season, it’ll be interesting seeing how the point battle heats up.
Nate Leavitt took off with the early lead in the 30-lap Wildcats feature. Joe Morse was on the move early, advancing into the runner-up position over Mark Grantham on lap 3. Wade Kennedy was also coming through the field, breaking the top 3 on lap 5. Mike Roe took a spin on lap 6, landing in the turn 1 sand pile. The incident led to the first caution of the feature.
Nate Leavitt pulled away with the lead once again on the restart as another competitor, Cole Watson, broke the top five. Wade Kennedy was all over Joe Morse on lap 15, challenging him for the runner-up spot. Ed Connolly powered by both Morse and Kennedy on lap 19, advancing into the runner-up spot. The top 3 remained neck & neck for a handful of laps, with Ed Connolly and Joe Morse swapping the runner-up spot back and forth. Morse finally got the advantage on lap 23, pulling away from Connolly.
Kaleb Bean took a spin on lap 23 in turn 1, leading to another caution. There was chaos on the restart as Dave Cameron and Ed Connolly tangled. Cameron nearly flipped in turn 1, making hard contact with the sand pile and Ed Connolly suffered from extensive body damage, but both drivers were able to drive away under their own power.
Nate Leavitt pulled away with the lead on the restart and never looked back, scoring yet another feature victory. The win was special to Nate Leavitt, as this was the first time that his newborn child made an appearance in Victory Lane. Joe Morse, Wade Kennedy, Ed Connolly and Cole Watson rounded out the top five.
Dave Cameron still holds a 4 point lead over his competitor, Cole Watson. The points race in the Wildcats isn’t as tight as the other divisions, as the closest competitor (Ed Connolly) sits 36 points behind Cole Watson in third. It looks like these long-standing rivals will be leading a two-driver battle for the championship in the weeks to come.
The 35-lap Sport Series feature began with chaos as Bubba Pelton made hard contact with Mike St. Pierre, an incident which left St. Pierre making hard contact with the turn 2 wall. The incident led to an early-race caution and thankfully, St. Pierre was able to walk away from the carnage.
Matt Dow took off with the lead on the restart as Devin Curit and Charlie Sanborn battled hard for position a few spots back. The two drivers made slight contact and Charlie temporary got out of shape, allowing Curit to pull away with the spot. Bubba Pelton was all over Charlie Sanborn on lap 8, hungry for third. Clyde Hennessey came to a stop on lap 16 in turn 2 after facing mechanical troubles, bringing out the caution. This was a heartbreaker for the #8 team, as they are battling it out for the top spot in the point standings.
Matt Dow pulled away with the lead once the field went green as Joey Pastore powered into fourth. By lad 20, he had advanced up to third. Charlie Sanborn and Terry Merrill ignited a hard, side-by-side battle for fifth with just five laps to go and battled it out until the very last lap. Nobody was any match for Matt Dow as he pulled off his third feature victory of the 2019 season. Bubba Pelton, Joey Pastore, Devin Curit and Charlie Sanborn (beat Terry to the line) followed, rounding out the top five.
With his third place finish, Joey Pastore extended his points lead to 14 points over Terry Merrill as Clyde Hennessey dropped to third in the point standings. But, only 21 points sit in between the three leaders, meaning that the Sport Series championship battle isn’t over just yet. It’ll be interesting seeing how things play out between now and the conclusion of the 2019 season.
After the weekly program was over, the Valenti Modified Racing Series drivers took to the track for their 75-lap feature, with Ronnie Williams taking off with the early lead. Jeff Gallup was on the move early, advancing to third over Cameron Sontag on lap 6. He continued his pursuit to the front, overtaking Tony Ricci for the runner-up spot on lap 7. By lap 8, he was all over Ronnie Williams for the top spot, taking over the lead that lap. Andy Shaw was also coming through the field, breaking the top four on lap 15. Dream Ride Racing driver, Jake Dore, took a spin on lap 25 in turn 2, collecting Donnie Lashua. The incident led to the first caution of the feature.
Jeff Gallup took off with the lead once again on the restart as Tony Ricci and Andy Shaw filed in behind him. George Sherman took a spin on lap 32 in turn 2, leading to another caution.
As Jeff Gallup held onto his steady lead on the restart, Andy Shaw lost ground on the outside line, losing a handful of positions. Anthony Nocella was on the move in the second half of the feature, breaking the top 4 on lap 40. After falling back earlier in the race, Andy Shaw was back up to fourth place on lap 53. It was not a good day for the #05 Dream Ride Racing team, as Jake went one lap down to the leaders on lap 58.
As Tony Ricci continued to extend his lead in the closing laps of the feature, Anthony Nocella, Ronnie Williams and Andy Shaw battled it out tooth & nail for the runner-up spot with just five laps to go. Nocella held onto the sot as Andy Shaw and Ronnie Williams filed in behind him. Tony Ricci took home the feature victory. Anthony Nocella, Andy Shaw, Ronnie Williams and Cameron Sontag rounded out the top five.
All divisions brought the excitement to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Saturday and it’ll be thrilling to see how the rest of the 2019 season plays out!
You can catch the next installment of NASCAR Nite this coming Saturday, August 10th. Racing begins at 7:00 pm! Adult admission is only $12 and as always, children 12 and under get free admission!
The next Valenti Modified Racing Series event will take place on Saturday, August 17th at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH.
Get out there and support your local short track. See you there!
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