After two consecutive rain out’s delayed the beginning of the 2019 Thursday Thunder race season, the window of opportunity finally opened up to get some racing in on Thursday. Changes for 2019 would include the addition of the Street Devils as a full-time Thursday Thunder division and the combination of both the Beetle Bugs Varsity and JV divisions to race as one. With heavy fog rolling in, the track worked hard to get the night rolling and successfully give every division their opportunity to shine.
The Beetle Bugs division kicked off the night with their 25-lap feature. Dave Stone, Jr. took off with the early lead, pulling away from his competitors. Darryl Quinlan began to descend through the field on lap 2, falling back to seventh as Michael Ramsey, Chris Case and Ed Johnson all made their way around him.
Both Ben Krauter and Chris Case were on the move early in the race, with Krauter advancing to second and Chris Case advancing to third on lap 3. Case continued to quickly maneuver through the field, later advancing to third place on lap 4.
Ben Krauter was all over Dave Stone, Jr. for the lead on lap 5 and made his way to Stone’s inside on lap 8, challenging for the lead. He took over the lead that lap, distancing himself from the competition. Chris Case made his way to Stone’s outside on lap 11, later taking over the runner-up spot on lap 13. Debris in turns 3&4 brought out the caution on lap 13 and moved Chris Case back to third on the restart, as starting positions are based off of the last completed green flag lap.
Leaders Ben Krauter and Dave Stone, Jr. got together on the restart in turn 1 and Rob Taylor also took a spin. But, the field remained green as Chris Case powered into the lead. Neither Krauter or Stone fared well after the incident, with Krauter heading to the pits on lap 15 and Stone doing the same on lap 16. Chris Case was able to fend off Ed Johnson, scoring his tenth career feature win after winning his first career Beetle Bug JV championship last season. Ray Phillips, Jamie Heath and Derek McKeen rounded out the top five.
Chris Case shared a special moment with Derek McKeen’s father, Tom, after winning his feature race. Tom is battling aggressive cancer, but has still made it his goal to see his son race every Thursday Thunder this season. Tom came over to congratulate Chris on his win and it was a cherished moment for all involved. You can support Tom McKeen and family by attending and/or donating to his fundraiser, which will be happening on Friday, July 12th at the Ramada Plaza in Portland, Maine.
The next division on the lineup was the Mad Bomber JV division with their 25-lap feature. Cam Jones took off with the early lead, but Garrett Lamb was all over him by lap 2. Derrick Burnham faced troubles in the early laps, heading into the pits on lap 5. Tom Lovejoy, Jr. took a spin on lap 6 in turn 2, but the field remained green. Joey Israelson blew up on lap 7 in turn 3, leaving Bob Darrell Wilson spinning in his wake. The incident led to the first caution of the feature.
Dan Collins was on the move before the caution, breaking the top 5. He continued his pursuit to the front following the caution, advancing to fourth place. Rookie, Jeff Martel, was also on the move, breaking the top 5 on lap 8. Drivers were 3-wide for fourth on lap 12,with Scott Eck pulling away with the spot. Richard Bourgeois-Lang made hard contact with the backstretch wall on lap 12, leading to an extended caution. 8 laps were added to the lap count under yellow due to the extended cleanup.
After a strong showing all day, Jeff Martel faced troubles on the restart and took the dreaded right-hand turn down into the pit area as Cam Jones and Garrett Lamb continued to battle it out for the top spot. David Bouchard took a spin on the front stretch on lap 23, but the field remained green. Cam Jones and Garrett Lamb battled it out until the very end, with Lamb beating Jones by a hair and capturing his first win of the 2019 season. Scott Eck, Dan Collins and Justin Gailloux rounded out the top 5.
The Legends were up next on the agenda, with Alan Smith pulling away with the early lead. Tylar Braunschweig was right there, stealing away the lead on lap 4. Colby Meserve was also on the move early, advancing into the runner-up spot on lap 7. Austin Teras was quickly maneuvering his way to the front, clearing Meserve for the runner-up spot on lap 15. Parker Varney took a spin on lap 16 in turn 2, but the field remained green.
Teras was all over Braunschweig for the lead on lap 18, later clearing him for the spot on lap 20. Alan Smith and Nick Calvert tangled on lap 22 in turn 1, leading to a late-race caution.
Teras pulled away with the lead on the restart and eventually
pulled away with the win, which was a great follow-up to his championship season in 2018. Tylar Braunschweig, Colby Meserve, Chris Burgess and Ryan Rice rounded out the top 5.
The Street Devils got their first “official” Thursday Thunder race kicked off next, with Rob Flaherty taking off with the early lead. Flaherty, Blake Berry and Paul Goodrich had a 3-car breakaway at the front of the field by lap 4. After making slight contact with Paul Goodrich, Blake Berry got sideways on lap 7 coming through turns 3/4, but he was able to hold onto it. The competition caution was brought out on lap 8, bringing the field back together.
Blake Berry pulled away with the lead on the restart, but Paul Goodrich was right there, pulling to his inside on lap 10. Berry was able to hold him off, taking home the victory. Paul Goodrich, Ashley Nicholson and Trevor Dore followed, rounding out the top four.
Mike Sanford pulled away with the early lead in the 25-lap Mad Bomber Varsity feature. Brian Darling, who has also raced Trucks and Legends, was all over Mike Sanford for the top spot by lap 7. Andre Gailloux took a spin on lap 8 in turn 4, leading to the first caution of the feature.
This incident was followed by another caution on lap 10, where Lyman McKeage took a spin on lap in turn 1. James Wildes slammed into McKeage, leaving McKeage’s #38 machine battered and pinned against the wall. It was a tough hit for both drivers and a heart-breaker for the Naughty Racing crew, as the #38 car was not salvageable following the impact. Luckily, all drivers involved walk away following the impact. The lap count advanced to lap 20 following the incident.
Mike Sanford pulled away with the lead again on the restart. Kris Knox powered his way into the runner-up spot on the restart but took a spin on lap 21 in turn 2, causing chaos as a handful of drivers were caught up in the aftermath. After this incident, the race was called and Mike Sanford was awarded with the win. Brian Darling, Jason Gammon, Brandon Johnson and Tom Lovejoy, Sr. completed the top five.
Defending champion, Keith Petrin, took the early lead in the 25-lap Mighty Trucks feature. Will Potter took a spin on lap 6 in turn 4, leading to an early caution.
Jared Kimball and Jeff Gillette made contact while battling it out for position on lap 9 in turn 2, but the field remained green as both drivers were able to hold onto it and keep rolling. Dave Lamson ans Scott Pingree both took spins on lap 16 in turn 2, leading to another caution.
Jeff Gillette pulled away on the restart, but trouble was brewing behind the leaders. Derrick Drown and Brad Weismann both went around on the backstretch on lap 22, leading to a late-race caution.
Jeff Gillette took off with the lead again on the restart and never looked back, capturing the feature victory. Jared Kimball, Keith Petrin, Will Potter and Brad Weismann followed, rounding out the top five.
The Ladies League rounded out the night with their feature race. Taylor Graffam pulled away with the early lead, with Sara Libby quickly positioning herself in the runner-up spot. A caution was brought out on lap 6 as the emergency vehicle had to pull to the pits.
Sara Libby made contact with Shelby Eck on lap 10 while battling it out for the runner-up spot in turn 1, sending Eck for the spin. The field remained green as Eck was able to get rolling once again. The caution was brought back out on lap 12 so the emergency vehicle could pull back onto the track.
Taylor Graffam pulled away again on the restart, but Holly Gain was right on her heels, hungry for the top spot. The two drivers made contact on the front stretch while battling it out for the lead, but the field remained green as Sara Libby took over the top spot. Libby was able to hold off Betty Nelson for the victory, starting off her 2019 season on a high note. Desiree Lachance, Taylor Graffam and returning competitor, Kaitlynn Leavitt, rounded out the top five.
The Thursday Thunder season opener brought some excitement, as we saw a lot of young and upcoming talent picking up victories, as well as some reigning champions showing the fans and their competitors that they still have what it takes. The season began with a slow and rough start, but now opening day is under everyone’s belts and the competitors are ready for 8 more weeks of exciting racing action!
The Thursday Thunder competitors have an off-week this week due to the holiday, but will return next Thursday, July 11th, for the season’s first Autograph Night. The racing action begins at 7:00 pm and as always, adult admission is only $7 and children 12 and under get in free!
You can also support the NASCAR Nite drivers this upcoming Tuesday, July 2nd, for the track’s annual “American Celebration” and fireworks display. The racing action begins at 7:00 pm and as always, adult admission is only $12 and children 12 and under get in free!
Hope to see you there!
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