With just 3 weeks remaining in the 2021 season, the Thunder competition was surely heating up at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway this past Saturday.
The Thunder festivities kicked off with a 25-lap Beetle Bugs feature. Drivers were 3-wide for the early lead in the feature, with Adam Warnock taking over the top spot. Darryl Quinlan took an early spin on lap 1 in turn 1, but the field remained green as he fired back up under his own power.
Butch Keene and Brandon Lizotte spearheaded a battle for the runner-up spot on lap 2. Lizotte won the battle, quickly moving onto Adam Warnock for the top spot. Lizotte succeeded as Butch Keene followed his lead.
Dustin Salley was coming through the field in the opening laps of the race, overtaking Derek McKeen for fourth on lap 7. McKeen fell off of the pace the following lap, ultimately retiring to the pits.
Dustin Salley continued his pursuit on lap 9, riding Adam Warnock’s coattails for third before taking over the position the following lap.
Butch Keene was all over Brandon Lizotte’s back bumper on lap 17, hungry for the lead. Dustin Salley was trailing closely behind, ready to strike at any given moment.
While the battle for the lead was heating up, Corey Roussel and Ed Johnson took on their own battle for a spot in the top 5. The two drivers battled it out for a handful of laps before Johnson took over the spot on lap 21.
Dustin Salley made his way to Butch Keene’s door on lap 21, challenging him for the runner-up spot. Salley briefly took over the spot, but got bent out of shape in the final turn, falling to third as Brandon Lizotte crossed the finish line.
The win was Lizotte’s fifth of the 2021 season and also extended his points lead in the division with just two races to go. Butch Keene, Dustin Salley, Adam Warnock and Ed Johnson rounded out the top five.
The Mad Bomber JV division followed up the Beetle Bugs with another 25-lap feature race. Ryan Stuart powered away with the early lead as Nate Barth quickly made his way into the runner-up spot.
Alex Wilson was all over Nate Barth for second on lap 4, eventually taking over the spot the following lap. Fred Bird tangled with the #128 machine on lap 7 in turn 3, resulting in an early-race caution.
Alex Wilson took over the lead on the restart. Nate Barth made his way to Ryan Stuart’s inside on lap 9, challenging for the runner-up spot. Barth followed through the following lap as Alex Smith followed in succession. After a strong outing all day, Nate Barth got bent out of shape on lap 14, falling to the back of the pack.
Daniel Wescott, Brandon Williams and Josh Hodgdon got caught up on lap 20 while battling for position, but the field remained green as all 3 drivers managed to straighten it out and keep rolling. Hodgdon and Wescott later made contact on the front stretch on lap 22, resulting in Wescott taking a spin. The incident led to a late-race caution.
Alex Wilson pulled away on the restart and never looked back, collecting his second feature victory in the division. Alex Smith, Brandon Williams, Josh Hodgdon and Tyler Lerman rounded out the top five.
Following the completion of the NASCAR Nite heat races, the Mighty Truck drivers took to the track for their 25-lap feature. Keith Petrin quickly pulled away from his competitors, taking off with the early lead.
Nate Zinck and Derrick Drown made hard contact on lap 4, resulting in a scary moment as Drown’s truck flipped in turn 4. The truck miraculously landed on all 4 wheels and Drown was met by a standing ovation from the crowd as he drove away under his own power. His crew worked tirelessly under the caution to get him back onto the track before the drop of the green flag.
Keith Petrin took off with the lead once again on the restart. Dave Lamson and Trace Ayers went head to head for fourth on lap 10 and battled it out for a couple of laps until Ayers pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 12.
Jeff Gillette, Jr. promptly passed Lamson and made his way to Ayers’ outside on lap 15, challenging for fourth. The two drivers went door to door for 3 laps until Gillette, Jr. pulled away with sole possession of the spot.
Matt Merrill was all over Keith Petrin in the closing laps, hungry for the top spot. Derrick Drown was also on the comeback, advancing two positions and breaking the top 5 on the final lap of the race.
Keith Petrin held off Matt Merrill, scoring his fourth feature victory of the 2021 season. Jeff Gillette, Sr., Jeff Gillette, Jr. and Derrick Drown (True MVP of the race!) rounded out the top five.
The Mad Bomber Varsity division was next on the agenda with another 25-lap feature. Dean Hanscom took off with the early lead as Paul Lund promptly made his way into the runner-up spot. Michael Ramsey, returning to competition, advanced to third over Brandon Johnson on lap 2.
Paul Lund made his way to Dean Hanscom’s outside on lap 4, challenging for the top spot. Hanscom pulled away as Mike Ramsey made his way to the inside of Paul Lund on lap 8, challenging for the runner-up spot. Ramsey took over the following lap and quickly moved onto Dean Hanscom, igniting a battle for the lead on lap 11.
Ray Letellier, returning to competition, retired the #57 machine to the pits on lap 14.
After battling it out for a handful of laps, Mike Ramsey took over the top spot on lap 15. Richard Bourgeois-Lang flipped a switch in the closing laps, advancing into the runner-up spot over Dean Hanscom before taking away the top spot from Mike Ramsey on lap 19.
After an uncharacteristic bad day, Brandon Johnson began to rebound in the closing laps, advancing to fourth over Paul Lund with just two laps to go.
Richard Bourgeois-Lang held strong in the closing laps, taking home his first career victory at Beech Ridge after competing at the track for many years and building his #92 machine from the ground up. He was understandably emotional in Victory Lane, thanking his family and friends for sticking with him through the highs and lows throughout his racing career.
Mike Ramsey, Dean Hanscom, Brandon Johnson and Paul Lund rounded out the top five.
The Legends division rounded out the Thunder program with a final 25-lap feature race. Jack Walker took off with the early lead, pulling away from his competitors. Trevor Krouse was also on the move early, challenging Nate Alexander for third on lap 4. Krouse took over the following lap, then quickly made his way into the runner-up spot over Wade Gelinas.
Darren Gallant was all over Gelinas on lap 8, hungry for fourth. Trevor Krouse was still clawing his way to the front, challenging Jack Walker for the top spot on lap 11 before taking over the following lap.
After battling it out for position for a handful of laps, Darren Gallant and Wade Gelinas made contact on lap 13, resulting in Gelinas taking a spin in turn 2. The incident led to a mid-race caution.
Connor Holderbach and Cody Rice made contact on the front stretch following the restart, resulting in Rice piling into the turn 1 wall and Holderbach taking a spin. Brian Darling and Noah Alexander also got caught up in the carnage. The incident resulted in another caution.
Ryan Rice showed his displeasure toward Connor Holderbach under the caution, making contact with his competitor in turn 3. Rice then exited his car in frustration, resulting in former competitor, Colby Meserve, springing into action to get the abandoned car off of the race track.
Once the dust settled, Trevor Krouse took off with the lead on the restart and never looked back, picking up the feature victory. Jack Walker, Nate Alexander, Aliyah Neale and Danny Wear rounded out the top five.
As the 2021 season begins to wind down, the tensions and competitive racing action continue to build at Beech Ridge.
How will it all play out in the final weeks of the season? Stay tuned to find out!
The Super Saturday competition rolls on this coming Saturday, September 4th. The night’s festivities will include the final Autograph Night of the season as well as a Labor Day fireworks display. It all kicks off at 4:00 pm.
Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!
Cover photo credit: Jamie Williams – Finish Line Photography
