Beech Ridge Motor Speedway continued on with week 3 of their 7-week open competition race season this past Saturday, welcoming competitors from both Thursday and Saturday night divisions. Week 3 also marked the track’s first race of the 2020 season with limited fan attendance in the grand stands, allowing for drivers’ young children and families to cheer them on from a distance.
After the “Thursday Night Thunder” competition concluded, the Sport Series drivers took to the stage for their heat races.
Devin Curit struggled for the better half of the day and came to a slow on the initial start of the first Sport Series heat, retiring to the pits early. Todd Libby and returning competitor, Matt Dow, battled it out for the lead in the early laps of the heat.
Chasing the Checkered driver, Charlie Sanborn, was on the move early, advancing to fourth over Mike St. Pierre on lap 3. Todd Libby pulled away with the lead on lap 4, but Bubba Pelton was now on his heels. Charlie Sanborn began challenging Matt Dow for third on lap 6, eventually taking over the spot on lap 8 as Bubba Pelton also took over the top spot over Todd Libby. Pelton took home the heat victory, followed by Todd Libby and Charlie Sanborn.
Jason Curtis took off with the early lead in the second Sport Series heat. The two Harrison’s, Mike and Kenny, both went spinning on lap 2 in turn 1, leading to an early caution.
Jason Curtis and Chris Smith went head-to-head on the restart, with Chris Smith finally clearing Jason Curtis with just two laps remaining in the heat. Joe Pastore was also on the hunt in a brand new car with a new number #51, overtaking the runner-up spot from Curtis in the closing laps. Chris Smith secured the heat victory, followed by Joe Pastore and Jason Curtis.
Lewis Anderson held onto the early lead over Joe Morse in the first Wildcats heat. The two drivers remained close throughout the first half of the heat, going head-to-head at the halfway mark. Anderson got loose on lap 10, going for a spin in turn 1. The incident resulted in a late-race caution.
Travis Lovejoy powered to the lead over Joe Morse on the restart and the two drivers continued to battle it out throughout the closing laps, with both drivers spinning coming to the checkered. Travis Lovejoy managed to capture the heat victory, followed by Garrett Lamb and Dan McKeage, Jr.
Dan Bernier took off with the early lead in the second Wildcats heat. Dave Cameron was on the move early, going from the rear of the field to battling for the runner-up spot on lap 4. He captured the runner-up spot from Chaz Briggs on lap 5 and powered into the lead on the same lap over Dan Bernier. Shawn Gilpatrick came to a slow on lap 9, retiring to the pits with just 3 laps remaining in the heat. Dave Cameron took home the heat victory with Chaz Briggs and Brian Caswell rounding out the top 3.
Garrett Hall held the early edge over Trevor Sanborn in the first Pro Series heat, but Sanborn quickly made his way to Garrett’s door, challenging for the top spot. Nick Cusack faced troubles throughout the day and came to a slow on lap 8, retiring to the pits. Garrett Hall pulled away slightly with two laps to go and never looked back, capturing the heat victory. Trevor Sanborn and Gary Smith rounded out the top 3.
Dave Oliver powered into the early lead in the second Pro Series heat over Dave Darling. Dave Darling, Ryan Green, Joey Doiron and others made the trek to Beech Ridge this weekend in preparation for next week’s Granite State Pro Stock Series event at the track.
Rusty Poland, fresh off his career-best finish, was all over Dave Darling for the runner-up spot on lap 2. He held the advantage on lap 3, but the two drivers continued to go back and forth. Ryan Green came to a slow on lap 8, retiring to the pits early. Dave Oliver took home the heat victory, followed by Dave Darling and Rusty Poland.
After the heat races, the Sport Series took to the stage for their 50-lap feature event. Chris Smith powered into the early lead over Bubba Pelton in the #1 machine. Danny Wear was also on the move early, advancing to fifth over Charlie Sanborn on lap 6 and powering into fourth over Todd Libby on lap 9. Charlie Sanborn followed, challenging Todd Libby for fifth on lap 11, securing the spot just two laps later.
Joe Pastore was all over Bubba Pelton for the runner-up spot on lap 21, advancing into the spot the following lap. Pastore then set his sights on Chris Smith on lap 32, later making his way to Smith’s door on lap 34. The two drivers began battling it out, with Pastore making contact with Smith on lap 35. Pastore got bent out of shape on lap 36 in turn 2, but then collected himself and finally took control of the lead. After running at the front of the pack all day, Chris Smith had a right rear tire go down on lap 38 and he retired to the pits for the night.
Pastore held off the competition in the closing his laps, going 3-for-3 in the first three Sport Series races in the 2020 season. Bubba Pelton, Danny Wear, Charlie Sanborn and Kenny Harrison rounded out the top five.
Travis Lovejoy powered into the early lead over Dave Cameron in the 50-lap Wildcats feature. Dan Bernier took a spin on the initial lap in turn 4, resulting in an early-race caution.
Dave Cameron took over the lead on the restart as Dan McKeage, Jr. began to climb up the leader board, advancing to fourth over Garrett Lamb on lap 5. He continued his pursuits on lap 9, challenging Chaz Briggs for third and advancing into the spot the following lap. Travis Lovejoy was back at Dave Cameron’s door on lap 12, challenging him for the lead as Dan McKeage, Jr. waited in the wings. Lovejoy took over the lead once again on lap 14 as McKeage made his way to Dave Cameron’s inside, challenging for the runner-up spot.
Joe Morse went off-track on lap 18, sailing into the dirt in turn 3 as the field remained green. Dan McKeage, Jr. finally advanced into the runner-up spot over Dave Cameron on lap 22, but there was trouble brewing behind the leaders. Mark Grantham and Lewis Anderson made contact on lap 31 in turn 2, resulting in Lewis Anderson going for a spin. The incident led to another caution.
Travis Lovejoy held the advantage over Dan McKeage, Jr. on the restart. Dave Cameron began challenging McKeage for the runner-up spot on lap 32, advancing into the spot just two laps later. Chaz Briggs and Brian Caswell also went head-to-head for fourth in the closing laps, with Briggs holding the advantage over Caswell. Travis Lovejoy held off Dave Cameron, capturing another heat victory. Dan McKeage, Jr. (career-best finish!), Chaz Briggs and Brian Caswell rounded out the top five.
Garrett Hall took off with the early lead in the 75-lap Pro Series feature, but Trevor Sanborn was on his heels, pulling to his inside on lap 4. Barry Poulin took a hard spin on lap 5 in turn 3. The field remained green and he stayed on the track billowing smoke, but he later came to a stop on lap 7 in turn 3, resulting in an extended caution.
Trevor Sanborn took over the lead on the restart. Corey Bubar and Rusty Poland split Dave Darling in a bold 3-way move for fifth and sixth on lap 12. Gary Smith began battling it out with Garrett Hall for the runner-up spot on lap 15 with Dave Oliver on their heels. Gary Smith and Garrett Hall made contact on lap 25 in turn 3. Smith momentarily got bent out of shape, losing a handful of spots.
Corey Bubar began looking to Dave Oliver’s outside for third on lap 31 as Oliver was also on Garrett Hall’s heels for the runner-up spot. Wyatt Alexander came to a slow on lap 36, retiring to the pits after a solid run.
Dave Oliver was still peeking to the inside of Garrett Hall for the runner-up spot as Corey Bubar and Rusty Poland battled it out for third behind him on lap 40. Oliver finally took over the spot on lap 43 as Rusty Poland followed in succession, setting his sights on the runner-up spot.
Dave Oliver was on Trevor Sanborn’s heels on lap 55, hungry for the lead. He made his way to Sanborn’s door on lap 60, but Rusty Poland was still riding their coat tails. Rusty seized the moment, diving to Oliver’s inside on lap 65, finally capturing the advantage over Oliver a handful of laps later. Poland continued his pursuit in the closing laps, pulling to Trevor Sanborn’s inside with just 3 laps to go.
The two drivers remained door-to-door until the conclusion of the race, with Sanborn besting out Poland by a nose at the finish line in another photo finish. Dave Oliver, Corey Bubar and Gary Smith rounded out the top five.
The open competition format continues to bring excitement to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway week-in and week-out. Every week this season, we see drivers like Dan McKeage, Jr. and Rusty Poland making significant strides in their racing careers, which is an honor to witness week after week.
The excitement continues next Saturday, August 15th, at 3:00 pm. The day will consist of a full open-competition program plus the Granite State Pro Stock Series main event.
Get out there and support your local short track.
We hope to see you next week!
