After Beech Ridge Motor Speedway announced their closure at the conclusion of the 2021 season, Beetle bug drivers Brandon Lizotte, Dustin Salley and Butch Keene decided to make the move to Wiscasset Speedway in 2022. The three drivers, who are also teammates for Curt Dumais Racing, collectively won all of the regular seasons last year at Beech Ridge. Lizotte also captured the championship in the division.

The three drivers joined the ranks of drivers like Zach Audet on Saturday, who is a multi-time champion at Wiscasset Speedway. Other returning drivers included Jeff Farrington, David Cook, Caleb Willette and more.

Zach Audet, the reigning Outlaw Mini champion, took off with the early lead over Dustin Salley in the first 10 lap qualifying heat. Brandon Lizotte was also on the move early, all over Adam Audet for third on lap 5. The drivers remained door to door through the finish, where Adam Audet edged out Brandon Lizotte at the line to round out the podium. Zach Audet took home the heat victory, followed by Dustin Salley and Adam Audet.

Tyler Field came to a stop on the track before the start of the second qualifying heat, resulting in a slight delay on the track. Once the field got rolling, Jeff Farrington pulled away with the lead. James Grover was hard charging in the opening laps of the heat, pulling to Farrington’s outside as he challenged for the top spot.

After an extended caution on lap 3 for fluid on the track, David Cook powered to the lead over Jeff Farrington. Farrington was back to challenge on the final lap, merely clinching the heat victory as James Grover rounded out the top 3.

Caleb Willette and Shane Webber went head-to-head for the early lead in the third and final heat. Webber pulled away with the early advantage and the two leaders already had a 1/2 straightaway lead over their competitors by lap 2.

Caleb Willette took a shot at the lead in the closing laps, diving to Shane Webber’s outside with just two laps to go. The two drivers went 3-wide with a lap car on the final lap and both nearly lost control in the final turn. Shane Webber held onto it as Caleb Willette and Adreonna Dodge rounded out the podium.

Once the field was set, 19 Thunder 4 Mini drivers took to the track for their 25-lap feature race. Zach Audet took off with the early lead as his competitors went 3-wide for the runner-up spot behind him. Dustin Salley capitalized on the opportunity, pulling away with the spot as Caleb Willette and David Cook tangled in turn 1.

Caleb Willette was trailing closely behind Dustin Salley on lap 9, hungry for the runner-up spot. Zach Audet continued to lead the charge at the front of the pack and began approaching lap traffic at the halfway mark.

Drivers were 3-wide for second once again on lap 18, all while battling heavy lap traffic. Dustin Salley and Caleb Willette made hard contact while involved in the heated battle, causing Salley to cut down a tire. This ultimately led to both drivers retiring to the pits as Shane Webber took over the spot.

Brandon Lizotte began knocking on David Cook’s outside door in the closing laps, challenging for third with just 2 laps to go. Cook managed to hold him off as Adam Audet pulled up to challenge for the final spot on the podium.

Adam Audet used lap traffic to his advantage on the final lap, pulling slightly ahead of Brandon Lizotte. Lizotte was back to challenge in the final turn and the two drivers were beating and banging until the bitter end, where Adam Audet secured the spot to round out the podium behind his father Zach and his fellow competitor, Shane Webber. Michael Golding rounded out the top five.

Zach Audet decided to forgo his traditional winner’s interview in Victory Lane, quickly running over to his 15-year-old son Adam so they could celebrate their achievements together as a family.

It should come to no surprise that the Audet family is sure to be a force to be reckoned with in the Thunder 4 Mini division in 2022. Week one was surely exciting for the division, and it’ll be fun seeing how it all plays out as the season rolls on.

You can catch the next Thunder 4 Mini race on Saturday, May 7th.

The fun continues at Wiscasset Speedway next Saturday, April 30th where the track will be hosting their Group 2 season opener, featuring the Late Model, Modified, Outlaw Mini, Strictly Street and Roadrunner divisions. Grandstand gate opens at 1:00 pm and the green flag flies at 2:00 pm. As always, grandstand admission is just $5 for adults and free for kids 6 & under.

Please continue to support your local short tracks!

See you next time!

Please consider donating to Chasing the Checkered as the website and Chasing the Checkered community are not monetized! All money donated will go directly back into the website and will cover monthly website expenses, promotional materials, traveling/gas costs and more. Thank you for your support!

The post Audet Family Make it a Family Affair in Victory Lane at Wiscasset Speedway appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

The Market 27 Super Streets saw the biggest influx of new drivers with 6 Beech Ridge regulars in the field. 4-time Sport Series champion, Chris Smith, was among that lineup which also included Chasing the Checkered driver Charlie Sanborn, Mike St. Pierre, Bubba Pelton, Alex Smith and Colby Meserve. The addition of these drivers made for a healthy 22 car field which also included Wiscasset veterans, like Josh St. Clair, Michael Harrison and Matt Beers.

Over the off-season, some Wiscasset regulars experienced some change as well. Nicole Benincasa made the decision to move up from the 4-Cylinder Pro division into the Super Streets and she debuted her new #41 machine on Saturday. James Osmond also decided to step out of the seat in 2022, allowing his son, Strictly Street competitor Brett Osmond, to jump behind the wheel in the #05.

The Super Streets were the spotlight division of the day, kicking off the competition with three 10 lap qualifying heat races. PJ Merrill got an early jump over Bubba Pelton in the first heat. Pelton was all over his back bumper in the early laps, but the battle cooled off by the mid-point of the heat as Merrill held strong and continued to lead the pack. He sailed into the heat victory with Bubba Pelton and Chris Smith rounding out the top 3.

Shawn Austin and Josh St. Clair, who was piloting Mike Hodgkins’ #23x, went head-to-head for the early lead in the second qualifying heat, with St. Clair pulling away with the advantage on lap 2. Matt Beers was also on the move early, using the outside line to his advantage as he challenged Shawn Austin for the runner-up spot. Beers held strong, pulling away with the spot on lap 5.

Ryan Robinson’s struggles began on lap 5 of the qualifying heat as he took a spin in turn 1, drawing out the first caution of the day. Once the field got rolling, St. Clair pulled away once again, leaving Matt Beers and Shawn Austin dueling it out for second once again. Beers capitalized on the high side once more, securing the position with 2 laps to go. Josh St. Clair ultimately picked up the heat victory, followed by Matt Beers and Shawn Austin.

Tiger Colby took off with the early lead in the third and final qualifying heat as Charlie Sanborn quickly maneuvered his way into the runner-up spot behind him. Brandon Bailey was all over Sanborn for the spot at the mid-point of the heat. The two drivers nearly got into each other on the backstretch on lap 6 but managed to save it as Sanborn held onto the spot. Tiger Colby held off Charlie Sanborn to the finish line, scoring the heat victory. Brandon Bailey rounded out the top 3.

After participating in out of car driver introductions, the field got rolling for their 40-lap spotlight feature. Darick Barker took a spin on the initial lap of the feature, resulting in an early caution. Josh St. Clair continued to pace the field on the restart, pulling away in the top spot.

Charlie Sanborn tried to make the outside groove work in the opening laps of the feature, but ultimately dropped back to eighth in doing so. Alex Smith and David Greenleaf tangled on lap 6, drawing out another caution. The field briefly got rolling before Zach Bowie, Alex Smith and Ryan Robinson got together on lap 8, halting the racing action once more.

Josh St. Clair held strong on the restart, but trouble was brewing behind the leader as Ryan Robinson and Charlie Sanborn made hard contact on lap 11 as they were battling for position, resulting in Sanborn dropping to the rear of the field. Robinson’s struggles continued as he took another spin in turn 4, leading to another caution. Sanborn headed to the pits under yellow, ultimately falling multiple laps down as the team had to complete mechanical repairs before the #1 machine returned to the track.

After a brief caution on lap 15, Josh St. Clair pulled away from his competitors once again. Matt Beers was fighting loose conditions, falling back to fifth on the restart. PJ Merrill posed a threat to Tiger Colby on lap 18, challenging for the runner-up spot. The two drivers battled it out for a couple of laps before Merrill pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 20.

Tiger Colby, also fighting a loose racecar, subsequently fell back to fifth on lap 26. Matt Beers found his stride in the closing laps of the feature, diving to Brandon Bailey’s outside on lap 30 as he challenged for third. Beers and Bailey maintained neck and neck for a handful of laps until Matt Beers fully secured the position on lap 35.

PJ Merrill was slowly reeling in Josh St. Clair in the closing laps, finally making it to his door with just four laps to go. A spin by Mike Wallace stopped his momentum as it drew out a late race caution. Brett Osmond was also involved, cutting down a left front tire.

Josh St. Clair pedaled down on the restart, pulling away for a final time as Matt Beers powered into the runner-up spot behind him. St. Clair maintained his advantage through the finish, picking up his first feature victory of the 2022 race season. Matt Beers, PJ Merrill, Tiger Colby and Dominic Curit rounded out the top five.

Josh St. Clair, who became the first driver in track history to win 3 championships in 3 separate divisions in the same season last year, surely continued his winning ways on Saturday in the Super Streets. Other drivers like Matt Beers and PJ Merrill showed a lot of strength and promise in their early season debut, building more excitement for a highly competitive season in the division.

You can catch the next Super Streets race on Saturday, May 7th, but don’t forget about next Saturday’s Group 2 season opener featuring the Modifieds, Late Models, Strictly Streets, Outlaw Minis and the Roadrunners! Pit gate opens at 9 am and grandstands at 1 pm. Green flag flies at 2 pm and grandstand admission is STILL just $5 and FREE for kids 6 and under.

Come join the fun and as always, support your local short tracks! See you next time!

Please consider donating to Chasing the Checkered as the website and Chasing the Checkered community are not monetized! All money donated will go directly back into the website and will cover monthly website expenses, promotional materials, traveling/gas costs and more. Thank you for your support!

The post Josh St. Clair Kicks off 2022 Season with Super Streets Win at Wiscasset appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

The race, which was originally slated to happen 2 weeks ago, was originally postponed due to rain. Ward & Sons Construction stepped up to become the title sponsor for the special two race event and a special “helmet” trophy was designed by Greg Emerson at Night Owl Creations.

Both tracks worked together to sell out all 100 laps by accumulating lap sponsors for the event. Many people also chipped in by adding special contingency prizes as well. With a total of $2,500 going to the race winner, the event was definitely the most sought out race for the division at the two tracks in 2021.

Coming into the second event, Nate Leavitt, the first race winner, held the lead in the championship series. But, Richard Pelton, Frank Wear, Joe Pastore and Matt Beers were all in close contention as well.

26 drivers showed up to compete in the series on Saturday. The race lineup would be determined by 3 heat races and a unique invert, which will be explained a little later on.

Darren Ripley took off with the early lead over Bubba Pelton in the first qualifying heat. Trouble was brewing early as Matt Beers and Adam Chadbourne tangled on lap 1 in turn 2, resulting in an early caution.

Mark Lucas got the one up on his competitors and powered into the lead on the restart. He never looked back, picking up the first heat victory. Darren Ripley and Bubba Pelton rounded out the top 3.

Shawn Austin jumped to the early lead in the second qualifying heat. David Greenleaf and PJ Merrill tangled on lap 2 in turn 3, making heavy contact with each other. The incident led to an immediate red flag. Both drivers were okay, but both machines were left heavily battered.

Shawn Austin pulled ahead once again on the restart. While battling it out for position at the rear of the pack, Josh St. Clair and Clyde Hennessey made contact on lap 6 in turn 3, resulting in Hennessey going for a spin. The incident led to another caution and both drivers were forced to restart at the tail end of the field.

Shawn Austin held the slight advantage on the restart. Devin Curit was on the move behind him, overtaking Josh Bailey for the runner-up spot before quickly taking over the lead. Bailey later took a spin on lap 8 in turn 1, but the field remained green.

Devin Curit scored the heat victory as Mike St. Pierre and Poncho Darveau rounded out the top 3.

Dominic Curit pulled ahead with the early lead in the third and final qualifying heat. Joe Pastore, a series championship contender, made a surprise move as he pulled to the pits on lap 4.

Glen Reynolds also fell off-pace on lap 7, ultimately heading down to the pits.

Dominic Curit held strong through the finish, capturing the heat victory. Frank Wear and Robbie Harrison rounded out the top 3.

All drivers were introduced on the front stretch before the start of the 100 lap feature. The pole sitter, Mark Lucas, was asked to randomly select a number (1-6) out of a hat. This would decide the number of rows that would be inverted for the feature.

Lucas drew the number 4, meaning that Bubba Pelton would start in the top spot for the feature. He took off with the early lead, but trouble was on the horizon for a fellow competitor as Devin Curit’s #44 machine broke a rear end on lap 4. This resulted in an early race caution.

Pelton pulled ahead once again on the restart. Clyde Hennessey and Joe Pastore tangled on lap 5 in turn 1, resulting in Pastore going for a spin. This led to another caution and a surprise as Nate Leavitt headed to the pits under yellow.

Bubba Pelton held the advantage over Mike St. Pierre on the restart, but St. Pierre took a spin a handful of laps later in turn 1. He made contact with Matt Beers following the spin, leading to another yellow.

Mark Lucas went head to head with Bubba Pelton on the restart. Pelton won the battle, but Josh St. Clair was on the move as well, pulling to Lucas’ inside door to challenge for position. St. Clair completed the pass on lap 15 as Dominic Curit followed in succession.

Dominic Curit made his way to Josh St. Clair’s inside on lap 16, igniting a battle for the runner-up spot. Curit won the battle, immediately setting his eyes on Bubba Pelton for the top spot. The two drivers battled it out for a couple of laps before Curit pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 21. Mark Lucas began to find his groove again, advancing to the runner-up spot over Bubba Pelton on lap 22.

Robbie Harrison was also coming through the field, overtaking Pelton for fourth on lap 27. He made his way to the inside of Josh St. Clair just three laps later, taking over third.

Frank Wear took a spin on lap 32 in turn 2, resulting in another caution. After a strong showing prior to the caution, Josh St. Clair made a trip down pit road under the yellow. Joe Pastore’s woes continued as his tire flew off on the restart, with ultimately resulted in another yellow. It was a close call, but no fans or staff were injured by the airborne tire.

The incident was followed by a slew of cautions that involved some heavy hitters like Clyde Hennessey, Mike Wallace, Michael Harrison, Shawn Austin, Josh Bailey and others.

Once the field calmed down, Dominic Curit pulled ahead with the advantage as Bubba Pelton and Jason Oakes battled it out for the runner-up spot behind him. Pelton held onto the position, leaving Oakes under fire by a hard-charging Josh St. Clair.

Adam Chadbourne took a spin on lap 52 in turn 4, bringing the field together once again.

Dominic Curit got the jump on the restart as Jason Oakes powered into the runner-up spot over Bubba Pelton. This didn’t last long, as Josh St. Clair was quick to steal the spot away.

Chasing the Checkered driver, James Osmond, was on the move in the second half of the race. Osmond broke the top five on lap 58. He continued his pursuit to the front a handful of laps later, challenging Jason Oakes for fourth. He succeeded on lap 65, then setting his sights on a spot on the podium.

Adam Chadbourne took another spin on the backstretch on lap 65, resulting in another caution.

Dominic Curit held strong on the restart as James Osmond quickly powered into the runner-up spot.

After a strong showing all day, Jason Oakes began to descend through the field on lap 72, falling victim to Frank Wear for fifth. His troubles continued as he took a spin on the backstretch on lap 91. Oakes was able to get rolling as the field remained green.

The leaders began to approach heavy lap traffic with just two laps to go. Dominic Curit was able to hold off James Osmond to the finish line, picking up the big win. Josh St. Clair, Bubba Pelton and Frank Wear rounded out the top five.

Dominic Curit celebrated the momentous win in Victory Lane with many members of his excited family and crew.

Bubba Pelton was crowned the challenge champion following the conclusion of the race and was awarded with the customized helmet trophy and a special Challenge Series banner.

Following the conclusion of post-race technical inspection, it was announced that race winner, Dominic Curit, was penalized 3 spots due to an unapproved carburetor base plate. Due to this, James Osmond was deemed the official race winner at the conclusion of tech.

Big congrats go to both race winners and all contingency prize winners!

Both Wiscasset Speedway and Beech Ridge Motor Speedway track staff and drivers did a GREAT job putting together the challenge series. Although Beech Ridge’s fate is still undetermined as of right now, I really hope to see more tracks working together (and executing it flawlessly) as these two tracks did in the future. Both tracks truly deserve a round of applause.

We are all one racing family and working together instead of against each other will help this sport survive and thrive for years to come.

You can support Beech Ridge’s Track N’ Treat event on Saturday, October 30th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Wiscasset Speedway will also be hosting their own Trunk or Treat Halloween event on Sunday, October 31st from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Bring the kids and the family. Both are sure to be a great time!

Continue chasing the checkered & support your local short tracks. This is more imperative than it ever has been before.

Cover photo credit: Jamie Williams – Finish Line Photography

The post Curit Wins Race; Osmond Crowned Official Winner of Super Street 100 at Wiscasset appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

30 drivers showed up to compete in the 100 lap main event, which is nearly triple the turnout of a typical Saturday night race in the division.

The competition kicked off with three 12 lap heat races. Former BRMS track champion, Curt Gerry, pulled ahead with the early lead in the first qualifying heat.

Rusty Poland, in a borrowed #90 machine from Derek Kneeland, was also on the move early. He was all over Barry Poulin’s back bumper on lap 5, hungry for a spot on the podium. Poland pulled to his door the following lap, quickly taking over the position.

Curt Gerry continued to hold off his competitors in the closing laps, scoring the heat victory. Joey Doiron and Rusty Poland rounded out the top 3.

Nick Reno and Ryan Littlefield tangled on the initial lap of the second qualifying heat, resulting in an early race caution.

Joe Pastore pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart. Matt Dow, trying his hand in Nick Cusack’s Super Late Model, nearly lost control on the backstretch on lap 1. Dow managed to hold onto it, but ultimately fell to the back of the pack.

Travis Buzzell made his way to Jamie Wright’s outside door on lap 5, challenging for the runner-up spot. Buzzell took over the position two laps later as Glen Luce followed in succession.

Glen Luce came to life in the closing laps, igniting a battle for the runner-up spot with Travis Buzzell on lap 8. Luce took over the following lap and began tracking down his son-in-law, Joe Pastore, for the top spot.

Pastore was able to fend off Luce to the finish, picking up the heat victory. Travis Buzzell rounded out the top 3.

The initial start of the third and final qualifying heat was called off by race control. Once the field got rolling, Evan Beaulieu took off with the lead while Brandon Barker filed in behind him.

Wyatt Alexander was maneuvering through the field early, advancing to third over Josh Childs on lap 2.

Brandon Barker was all over Evan Beaulieu’s back bumper at the mid-point of the race, hungry for the top spot. Wyatt Alexander pulled up to them on lap 10, joining the battle with just two laps to go.

Barker pulled ahead with sole possession of the lead on lap 10, leaving Wyatt Alexander and Evan Beaulieu battling it out for the runner-up spot. The competition was so heated in the closing laps that Brandon Barker came to a spin at the finish line.

Following the wild finish, Beaulieu was deemed the heat race winner as Wyatt Alexander and Brandon Barker rounded out the top 3.

The final event was special, as all Pro Series competitors were able to participate in out of car introductions on the front stretch prior to the start of the race.

Curt Gerry hopped out to the early lead in the 100 lap feature. Drivers were three wide for the runner-up spot early, with Joe Pastore ultimately holding onto the spot.

After facing some heavy tire rub in the opening laps of the race, Evan Beaulieu dropped to fifth on lap 5. His friend and competitor, Wyatt Alexander, was on the move early, overtaking Joey Doiron for the runner-up spot on lap 8.

Max Rowe took a spin on lap 11 in turn 2, resulting in an early race caution.

Drivers were 3-wide for the top spot on the restart, with Joey Doiron taking over as Curt Gerry descended back to third behind Wyatt Alexander. Gerry wasn’t giving up without a fight, pulling to Alexander’s door on lap 15 and reigniting the battle for the position. After battling it out for over a dozen laps, Alexander pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 29.

Jamie Wright went around on lap 30 in turn 1, leading to another caution. Following the drop of the green flag, Dave Oliver and others went for spins in turn 3. This led to another quick yellow.

Joey Doiron pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart, leaving Wyatt Alexander and Curt Gerry battling it out for the runner-up spot. Alexander was able to fend him off once again and quickly began tracking down Joey Doiron for the top spot.

The leaders began to approach heavy lap traffic on lap 48, but trouble was brewing right in front of the leaders as Josh Childs took a spin on lap 49. This resulted in a mid-race caution.

Joey Doiron held the advantage on the restart, but Jeremy Davis took a spin in turn 2, leading to another caution.

Doiron held his line on the restart as Curt Gerry made his way back under Wyatt Alexander, challenging for the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Brandon Barker and Corey Bubar spearheaded a head to head battle for fourth behind them.

Justin Larsen took a spin in turn 2 shortly after the restart, which brought the leaders back together once again.

Joey Doiron and Wyatt Alexander broke free on the restart, leaving Brandon Barker and Curt Gerry battling it out for position behind them. Gerry won the battle and dove to Alexander’s inside door, challenging for the runner-up spot yet again.

The leaders began approaching lap traffic again on lap 72. The competition slowed down once more on lap 76 as Dalton Gagnon spun in turn 4, making hard contact with the wall.

Joey Doiron maintained his advantage on the restart, pulling away from Wyatt Alexander. Corey Bubar also began to come to life in the closing laps of the race, overtaking third from Curt Gerry on lap 83.

Wyatt Alexander reeled in Joey Doiron by lap 84, making his way to Doiron’s outside door to challenge for the top spot. The battle surprisingly didn’t last long as Alexander took off with the advantage the following lap.

Ivan Kaffel took a spin on lap 85 in turn 2, resulting in a late race caution. After strong showings all day from both drivers, Evan Beaulieu and Glen Luce both took spins on the restart. This led to another quick caution.

Wyatt Alexander pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart and never looked back, capturing the feature victory. The win was special for Wyatt and the WAR team for many reasons.

First of all, Wyatt Alexander ran a special #51 paint scheme on Sunday, honoring the Walker family, namely Dan Walker and Jeff Walker. Dan has worked at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway for nearly his entire life. He has selflessly devoted his time to the track in a handful of different positions and most recently as the pit steward. He also raced at the track for years, with #51 being the number of his first racecar. Jeff followed in his father’s footsteps, racing (and winning) in the Beetle Bugs division on Thursday nights. Jeff’s son and Dan’s grandson, Ethan, has recently dipped his feet into the racing pool by competing weekly at Bartlett Bridge Raceway in a go-kart.

Gail Peters was also in attendance on Sunday, cheering on Wyatt and his team. Gail is the loving wife of the late Greg Peters, who was a mentor and a friend to many, including Wyatt Alexander. John Peters, Greg’s son, is also Wyatt’s best friend. It was bittersweet watching Gail and Wyatt share a hug on the front stretch of the track following his momentous victory.

Joey Doiron, Corey Bubar, Curt Gerry and Brandon Barker rounded out the top five.

Following the conclusion of the night’s events, “Happy Half Hour” lasted a bit longer than usual, giving both fans and drivers the opportunity to soak everything in.

Some fans (like myself) took this time to walk the track and share hugs and memories with members of the racing family. Others took this time to take home small pieces of the track, like loose rubber and cracked pieces of the track surface. Some fans sat by themselves in the stands, practicing self-reflection and reminiscing about their favorite memories at the track.

Some drivers elected to burn out upon leaving the track, leaving their mark in a big and bold way.

Everyone soaked in the moment in their own way. Although it was sad for all of us at the end of the day, it was undoubtedly a beautiful experience.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on how we can save the track, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook. We are all in this together.

Continue chasing the checkered and support our local short tracks. This is more important now than it ever has been before.

#weareBRMS and I love you all.

Until next time…

Cover photo credit: Jamie Williams – Finish Line Photography

The post Wyatt Alexander Captures Emotional Victory at BRMS appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

21 competitors joined the Sport Series field on Sunday, making for an impressive turnout for the mid-level division.

The Sport Series racing action kicked off with two 12 lap qualifying heats. Frank Wear, Colby Meserve and Todd Libby tangled on the backstretch on the initial lap of the heat, resulting in an early caution. Libby took the brunt of the damage and was thankfully able to walk away from the carnage, but his #80 machine was heavily damaged from the impact.

Dominic Curit pulled ahead with a slight advantage on the restart. But, trouble was brewing behind the leaders once again as Ryan Robinson took a spin in turn 3. The incident led to another caution.

Dominic Curit powered away with the lead on the restart. Joe Pastore was also quickly navigating through the field, going from last to fifth in just 4 laps.

Kenny Harrison came to life mid-race, challenging Dylan Thyng for the runner-up spot. Joe Pastore was still clawing his way to the front, advancing to fourth over Matt Beers on lap 10.

Dominic Curit continued to hold off his competitors in the closing laps of the race, scoring the heat victory as Dylan Thyng beat Kenny Harrison to the line for the runner-up spot.

Nick Calvert powered to the early lead over Justin Cusack, running a #61 tribute car, in the second and final Sport Series heat. Unfortunately for Calvert, his reign didn’t take long as Bubba Pelton overtook the lead on lap 2.

Robbie Harrison fell out of the racing groove on lap 3, eventually coming to a slow in turn 1. This resulted in an early race caution.

Bubba Pelton pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart. Further on back in the field, Ben Tinker was on the move, advancing to third over PJ Merrill on lap 5. Tinker continued his pursuit in the coming laps, challenging Nick Calvert for the runner-up spot. Tinker succeeded on lap 7, capturing sole possession of the spot.

Bubba Pelton was long gone at the front of the pack, ultimately picking up the heat victory. Ben Tinker and Nick Calvert rounded out the top 3.

Paying homage to the old racing days at Beech Ridge, all Sport Series drivers stopped on the front stretch for out of car driver introduction’s before the start of their 50 lap feature race.

Dominic Curit and Bubba Pelton battled it out for the early lead in the feature. This lasted just briefly, as Pelton quickly got the leg up on Curit and began to pull away from his competitors.

Ben Tinker made his way to Dylan Thyng’s inside door on lap 6, challenging for third. Tinker took over the following lap as Kenny Harrison followed in succession.

Joe Pastore was also on the move early, overtaking Kenny Harrison for fourth on lap 14. In the coming laps, Pastore quickly began to mow down the competition, picking off Ben Tinker and Dominic Curit to land himself in the runner-up spot.

Colby Meserve’s struggles continued on lap 24 as he came to a slow in turn 2 before making the dreaded righthand turn into the pits. Carnage followed as Curt Gleason and Steve Benincasa made heavy contact on lap 26. The field remained green, but Benincasa was forced to the pits following the impact.

Gleason took a spin on lap 32 and backed his #4 machine into the turn 2 wall, resulting in a late race caution.

Joe Pastore and Bubba Pelton ignited a deadlocked battle for the lead once the field went green, but trouble was on the horizon as Jim Colpritt and Curt Gleason tangled on lap 33. This led to another caution.

Bubba Pelton got a jump on Joe Pastore on the restart and attempted to pull away from his competitor. But, Pastore wasn’t giving up without a fight.

Justin Cusack cut a right front tire down on lap 47, resulting in the driver coming to a stop in turn 4 the following lap. This set the stage for a final two lap shootout.

It was a drag race to the finish between Bubba Pelton and Joe Pastore, with both drivers crossing the finish line completely sideways. This made for the second wild finish of the night with another slim margin of victory.

What was the margin this time around, you may ask? .065 seconds.

After some disputing and sleuthing was done by race control, Bubba Pelton was deemed the official race winner. Ben Tinker, Bobby Nadeau and Chris Smith rounded out the top five.

All competitors truly laid it all out on the track on Sunday, putting on the best sendoff show for the fans. You truly couldn’t have asked for a better finish in the Sport Series.

Please continue to support our Sport Series drivers by visiting Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday, October 9th for the Ward & Sons Construction Super 100. This is the second installment in the Sport Series/Super Street challenge series. The racing action kicks off at 2:00 pm and admission is just $5 for kids of ALL ages.

Continue chasing the checkered & support our local short tracks. This is more important now than ever before.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on how we can potentially save our short track, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook.

#weareBRMS and will get through this together.

Cover photo credit goes to my amazing friend Jamie Williams at Finish Line Photography.

The post Bubba Pelton Scores Big in Sport Series Finale at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

With the future of the track currently in limbo, dozens of competitors flooded the pit area to take part in the sendoff event. 20 drivers showed up to compete in the Wildcats division. Following track tradition, they kicked off the NASCAR Nite program.

The competition kicked off with 2 qualifying heat races. Rob Herrick took off with the early lead in the first heat. Trouble was brewing behind the leaders as Mark Grantham and Ryan Robbins collided in turn 2 early, resulting in a caution.

Rob Herrick powered away with the advantage on the restart. Skip Stanley made way to his inside door on lap 4, challenging for the top spot. While the leaders battled it out for position, Kaleb Bean advanced to third over Scott Eck.

After battling it out for a handful of laps, Skip Stanley finally pulled away with sole possession of the lead on the final lap of the feature. Stanley ultimately scored the heat victory while Rob Herrick and Kaleb Bean rounded out the top 3.

Billy Childs, Jr. held the early advantage over Lewis Anderson in the second and final qualifying heat. Dan McKeage, Sr., paying homage to his father in the #38c machine, powered to third over Wade Kennedy on lap 2.

Chaz Briggs made his way to Wade Kennedy’s inside door on lap 3, challenging for fourth. Briggs took over the following lap, quickly moving on to Dan McKeage, Sr. for third. The two drivers went door to door until lap 9, where Briggs pulled ahead with the advantage.

Billy Childs, Jr. was long gone at the front of the pack, picking up the heat victory. Lewis Anderson and Chaz Briggs rounded out the top 3.

Sunday was special, as drivers in every single division participated in out of car introductions, which had become defunct at the track in recent years.

Billy Childs, Jr. continued to show strength in the 50 lap feature race, pulling to the early lead over Skip Stanley. Chaz Briggs was on the move early, challenging his friend and mentor, Lewis Anderson, for position on lap 3.

Skip Stanley had reeled in Billy Childs, Jr. by lap 12, as he was all over his back bumper for the top spot.

After duking it out for a handful of laps, Lewis Anderson managed to pull away from Chaz Briggs on lap 17. This left Briggs and McKeage, Sr. battling it out for position. The two drivers put on a clean battle until McKeage, Sr. pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 23.

After a solid showing all day, Chaz Briggs fell out of the groove on lap 24, resulting in the driver taking a spin in turn 4. The incident led to a mid-race caution.

Billy Childs, Jr. pulled ahead with the advantage once again on the restart. Jason Curtis began to make his pursuit to the front in the second half of the race, challenging Dan McKeage, Sr. for third on lap 31. McKeage pulled away briefly, but Curtis was back to challenge on lap 37.

Rob Herrick and Lewis Anderson tangled on lap 39 in turn 2, collecting Shawn Gilpatrick. The incident resulted in a late race caution.

Skip Stanley found momentum on the restart, giving Billy Childs, Jr. a run for his money. While battling hard for position, Stanley nearly went around on lap 41 coming through turn 4. This gave Billy Childs, Jr. the opportunity to fully reclaim the lead.

Following his struggles just a handful of laps earlier, Rob Herrick began to find his groove again on lap 44. He powered to third over Jason Curtis, quickly overtook Skip Stanley for the runner-up spot and wrangled the lead away from Billy Childs, Jr. in just two laps.

While battling for position with Jason Curtis, Billy Childs, Jr. took a spin on lap 47. The incident resulted in a caution with just 3 laps to go. Childs expressed his displeasure under yellow, spinning Curtis before retiring to the pits.

Rob Herrick elected to restart on the outside, which was certainly a dicey move. The initial restart was called off, but Herrick found himself deadlocked for the lead with Skip Stanley once the field went green.

Lewis Anderson took a spin on lap 48 in turn 3, resulting in another caution.

Fans were out of their seats in both the grandstands and the pits as the drivers crossed the finish line 3-wide for the lead. After some debating from race control, Rob Herrick was deemed the race leader. Margin of victory? .014 seconds.

The victory was bittersweet for Herrick, who hadn’t visited Victory Lane at Beech Ridge in over 27 YEARS. Herrick has one of the best looking cars in the pit area every season, but is a one man band in the pit area. Fans went wild for the driver in Victory Lane, celebrating his momentous victory with him and his family.

Skip Stanley, Dan McKeage, Sr., Jason Curtis and Wade Kennedy rounded out the top five.

The Wildcats certainly put on one Hell of a show on Sunday, sending Beech Ridge off with a bang and giving us a race that will FOREVER be embedded in our minds.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on how we can save our track, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook. All constructive ideas are certainly welcome AND appreciated.

You can support some of our Wildcat stars this Saturday, October 2nd at Wiscasset Speedway. The track will be hosting the Amsoil Dominator Strictly Shootout, which is ALWAYS a fun event. The racing action kicks off at 2:00 and admission is just $5 for fans of ALL ages.

Continue chasing the checkered and support our local short tracks. This is more imperative now than it ever has been before.

#weareBRMS and I love and appreciate all of you.

Cover photo credit goes to my wonderful friend Jamie Williams at Finish Line Photography.

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The post Rob Herrick Scores First Victory in Over 27 Years at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

15 competitors showed up to compete in the Truck division on Thursday night and the starting lineup for the feature was decided by two qualifying heat races, which set the event apart from the standard Thunder procedure at the track.

Brad Weismann took off with the early lead in the first qualifying heat, pulling away from his competitors. Father-son duo, Jeff Gillette, Sr. and Jr., ignited a battle mid-pack on lap 5, with Jr. holding onto the position.

Brad Weismann held off his competitors through the finish, picking up the first heat victory as John Curtis and Matt Curtis rounded out the top 3.

Matt Merrill held the early advantage over Trace Ayers in the second and final qualifying heat. Will Potter and Nate Zinck went door to door early, battling it out for third. Both drivers went around on lap 3, with Zinck taking the brunt of the damage as he barreled into the turn 2 sand pile. The incident resulted in an early race caution.

Matt Merrill held tight to his lead on the restart. Nick Calvert, returning to his roots in a truck, advanced to third over Noah Merath on lap 6. He continued his pursuit in the closing laps, quickly overtaking Trace Ayers for the runner-up spot as Noah Merath followed in succession.

Matt Merrill was able to fend off Nick Calvert to the finish, scoring the heat victory. Noah Merath rounded out the top 3.

John Curtis took off with the early lead in the 25 lap feature race. Trouble was brewing early as Trace Ayers and Nick Calvert collided on the initial lap in turn 2, resulting in an early race caution.

John Curtis pulled ahead on the restart as Jeff Gillette, Sr. and Matt Merrill battled it out for the runner-up spot. The drivers duked it out for a couple of laps until Gillette, Sr. pulled ahead on lap 5. His joy didn’t last long as his son, Jeff Gillette, Jr. quickly stole this thunder, taking over the position.

Gillette, Sr. faced mechanical troubles on lap 8, spinning twice on the front stretch. The incident resulted in another caution.

Jeff Gillette, Jr. powered to the lead on the restart, quickly pulling away from his competitors. Drivers were 3-wide for the runner-up spot on lap 16, with Matt Curtis powering ahead with the advantage.

Alex Moore took a spin on lap 16 in turn 1, which led to a caution. Matt Curtis took over the lead on the restart, but trouble was lingering once again as Dave Lamson took a spin on lap 18. This drew out another quick caution.

Matt Curtis and Jeff Gillette, Jr. went nose to nose on the restart. The drivers battled it out until Gillette, Jr. pulled ahead with the slight advantage with just two laps to go. He continued to hold off Matt Curtis in the closing laps, picking up the feature victory. Matt Merrill rounded out the podium.

The 350 Outlaws joined the program on Thursday, rallying up 22 drivers for their feature event. The 350 competition also kicked off with two qualifying heat races.

Cam Childs took off with the early lead in the first qualifying heat. Brady Childs was also on the move early, powering into the runner-up spot over Jason Gammon on lap 3 as Drew Morse followed in succession.

Cam held off Brady to the finish, capturing the heat victory. Drew Morse rounded out the top 3.

Nate Barth, attempting a 2-peat, pulled away with the early lead in the second and final qualifying heat. Trevor Sanborn was bad fast once again, picking off Barth for the top spot on lap 3.

Jon Emerson, a Wiscasset regular, advanced to third over Nate Barth on lap 4. He made his way to Trevor Sanborn’s outside door just two laps later, challenging for the top spot. The two drivers battled it out until Emerson pulled ahead with sole possession of the spot with just one lap to go.

Emerson was able to fend off Sanborn to the finish, picking up the heat victory. Nate Barth rounded out the top 3.

Cam Childs took off with the early lead over Jon Emerson in the 25 lap main event. Corey Morgan took a spin on lap 9 in turn 2, bringing out the first caution of the feature.

Cam Childs pulled ahead with the slight advantage on the restart. While battling for position, Nate Barth and Josh Toothaker collided on lap 16 in turn 3, resulting in both drivers taking a spin and drawing out another yellow.

Rick Spaulding took a hard right directly into the turn 4 wall on the restart, resulting in an immediate red flag. Spaulding climbed out of the car under his own power, but quickly dropped to his hands and knees next to his car after exiting his vehicle.

It was truly a scary moment on the track, but Spaulding was quickly attended to by the track safety crew and was thankfully able to walk away from the wreckage under his own power.

Jon Emerson powered to the lead on the restart, leaving Cam Childs and Brady Childs battling it out for position once again. The two relatives duked it out for a few laps until Brady pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 18.

Jon Emerson held strong through the finish, scoring the feature victory. Brady Childs and Cam Childs rounded out the top 3.

The 6 Shooters concluded the Mid-Week Series portion of the program with a final 25 lap feature race. 9 competitors showed up to compete in the division on Thursday and the starting lineup was determined by a final qualifying heat race.

Matt Morneau took off with the early lead over a Beech Ridge racing veteran, Gerard Cote, in the qualifier. Rookie, Ethan Guptill, was on the move in the closing laps, attempting to track Morneau down for the top spot with just two laps to go.

Morneau was able to hold Guptill off, securing the heat victory. Michael Phillips rounded out the top 3.

Matt Morneau held strong in the 25 lap feature, pulling away with the early lead once again. Gerard Cote went off into the turn 3 dirt early, resulting in a caution.

After a strong performance all day, Ethan Guptill fell out of the groove while battling for position on lap 9, coming to a slow before making the dreaded righthand turn into the pits. Two of his fellow competitors pulled off-track just 4 laps later, leaving just 4 drivers left on the track.

Michael Phillips was in hot pursuit of the leader in the closing laps of the race, pulling up to Morneau’s outside door to challenge with just 3 laps to go. Morneau was able to hold his groove, picking up the feature victory. Michael Phillips, William Barker and Matt Hiscock rounded out the top 4.

Thursday was certainly a bittersweet day at the track, knowing that the event could potentially be the track’s final Mid-Week Series Showdown in history. But, the competitors still managed to keep it classy AND put on a great show, considering the tough circumstances.

Thank you so much to the Beech Ridge track staff for keeping a smile on their faces, maintaining perseverance through the hurt and putting on an A+ show for all to enjoy. You truly are an incredible team.

If you have ideas on how to save our track, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook and share your thoughts.

Until then, PLEASE support what could be the final NASCAR Nite event in track history this Sunday, September 26th. It is shaping up to be a HUGE event. The racing action kicks off at 2:00 pm.

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. It’s more important than ever before.

#weareBRMS and we will get through this together.

Cover photo credit: Jamie Williams – Finish Line Photography

The post Jeff Gillette, Jr., Jon Emerson & Matt Morneau Capture Mid-Week Victories at BRMS appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

The Mid-Week Series Showdown is a yearly season closer event at the track that features a handful of mid-week series divisions from different tracks, welcoming drivers from Wiscasset Speedway, Oxford Plains Speedway and other New England tracks to compete against Beech Ridge regulars.

The Mad Bomber turnout was so big on Thursday that track officials decided to split the division into two different 25 lap feature races.

The event was special for Matt Hodgdon and his sons, Josh Hodgdon and Tyler Lerman, as this was the first time in history (and potentially the last) that the father-son trio would be able to compete together at their home track. Luckily, all 3 drivers were able to race in the same event as one another.

Thanks to me, Matt Hodgdon drew the pole for the qualifying heat race for feature #1. He took off with the early lead in the heat, but trouble was brewing behind the leaders as Josh Hodgdon and Taylor Graffam tangled in turn 3, resulting in an early race caution.

Trevor Sanborn, a veteran Super Late Model driver trying his hand in the Mad Bomber division, pulled to Matt Hodgdon’s outside on lap 2, challenging for the top spot. Mike DeKoning was also on the move, advancing to third on lap 4.

Trevor Sanborn made a crossover move to Matt Hodgdon’s inside on lap 5, taking over the top spot. In the meantime, Josh Hodgdon had made an impressive comeback following his early race troubles, cutting the field in half by lap 8.

Trevor Sanborn pulled away in the closing laps of the race, picking up the heat victory as Matt Hodgdon and Todd Libby rounded out the top 3.

Sanborn continued his magic in the 25 lap feature event as he pulled to the early lead over Matt Hodgdon. Tyler Lerman was in hot pursuit of the leaders early, challenging Joey Israelson for third before taking over the position on lap 5. He continued his triumph just two laps later as he stole the runner-up spot away from his Dad, Matt Hodgdon.

Justin Gailloux and Ed McConologue made heavy contact on lap 7 as they collided in turn 2, resulting in an early race caution. Joe Poole and Derrick Burnham made contact on the restart, which led to another quick yellow.

Trevor Sanborn pulled away on the restart as Tyler Lerman and Matt Hodgdon reignited their battle for the runner-up spot. Lerman got the one up on his Dad on lap 11 and began tracking down the race leader.

Josh Hodgdon was on the move in the second half of the race, challenging Dean Hanscom for fourth on lap 13. All the while, Tyler Lerman made his way to Trevor Sanborn’s outside door on lap 15, igniting a battle for the top spot. Sanborn managed to pull away briefly, but Lerman was back to challenge on lap 18.

His brother, Josh Hodgdon, gained momentum on lap 21, passing two cars on one lap to land himself in third with just 4 laps to go. On the final lap, Dean Hanscom stole fourth away from Matt Hodgdon as Todd Libby followed in succession.

Trevor Sanborn continued his dominance in the closing laps of the race, securing the feature victory. Tyler Lerman, Josh Hodgdon, Dean Hanscom and Todd Libby rounded out the top 5.

2021 series rookie, Nate Barth, powered into the early lead in the qualifying heat for feature #2. Another rookie, Alex Wilson, overtook Fred Bird for the runner-up spot on lap 7 and quickly stole the lead away from Nate Barth.

Richard Bourgeois-Lang had a hard spin on the final lap in turn 4, but the field remained green as Alex Wilson picked up the heat victory. Nate Barth and Fred Bird rounded out the top 3.

Alex Wilson took off with the early lead in the 25 lap feature event. Alex Smith was also on the move early, advancing to fourth over Rob Caron on lap 3. He was all over Fred Bird on lap 5, challenging for third. Smith made his way to Bird’s inside door the following lap, finally completing the pass on lap 7.

Logan Caron went up in smoke on the backstretch on lap 11, resulting in a mid-race caution. Melee ensued on the restart as race leader Alex Wilson, Alex Smith and others collided, changing the game completely at the halfway mark.

Nate Barth powered into the lead on the restart. Drivers were 3-wide for the runner-up spot on lap 13, with Derrick Drown taking over the position. Alex Wilson was on the rebound in the closing raps of the race, overtaking Derrick Drown for the runner-up spot on lap 17.

After a solid run all day, Fred Bird blew up on the front stretch on lap 18, drawing out a late race caution.

Alex Wilson was in hot pursuit of Nate Barth on the restart, making his way to Barth’s outside door with just 5 laps to go. While battling for the top spot, Wilson was forced to the infield dirt on lap 22, resulting in another late race caution and Wilson losing a handful of spots.

Drivers were 3-wide for position on the restart, with Rob Caron, Alex Smith and Derrick Drown colliding to draw out another yellow.

Nate Barth held strong on the restart and never looked back, collecting his second consecutive victory in the division. Barth exuded excitement in Victory Lane as he hopped on the roof of the car and celebrated on the front stretch with his friends.

Johnny Wolfe, Shawn Brackett, Alex Wilson and Caleb Gooch rounded out the top five.

We witnessed pure excitement and joy in the Mad Bombers division on Thursday night as veteran drivers explored their talents in mid-level divisions, bringing it back to their roots one final time.

You could feel the support in Victory Lane as well as one young driver continued to make his mark in the division. Although we are all unsure of where the future lies, one thing is for sure: many of these drivers have all the support in the world, no matter where racing takes them!

Please support BRMS on Sunday, September 26th, which could be the final NASCAR Nite in track history. It’s shaping up to be a well-attended and action packed event. The racing action kicks off at 2:00 pm.

If you would like to share your ideas on how we can potentially keep Beech Ridge Motor Speedway alive, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook.

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. It’s more important now than ever before.

#weareBRMS and will get through this together.

Cover photo credit: Jamie Williams – Finish Line Photography

The post Trevor Sanborn & Nate Barth Pick Up Mad Bomber Victories at BRMS appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

The Showdown is different than most mid-week programs because it features heat races for all divisions. With Thursday potentially being the last Showdown ever, drivers and teams flooded the Beech Ridge pit area, making for an amazing turnout in both the pits and grandstands. Even Maine racing great, Ricky Craven, was in attendance on Thursday.

The night’s competition kicked off with two 8 lap heat races for the Beetle Bugs. Brad Bellows took off with the early lead over Justin Faford in the first qualifying heat.

Trouble was brewing early as Adam Warnock, Darryl Quinlan and Jeff Libby tangled on the initial lap, resulting in a caution.

Brad Bellows took off once again on the restart and maintained his lead throughout the closing laps of the race, picking up the heat victory. Justin Faford and Jeremy Farrar rounded out the top 3.

Corey Roussel powered to the early lead in the second and final qualifying heat. Derek McKeen was on the move early, advancing into the runner-up spot over Rob Taylor on lap 3. McKeen held the position briefly until Dustin Salley swooped in and stole it away.

Returning competitor, Alex Parechanian, took a spin on lap 5 in turn 1, resulting in a late race caution.

Dustin Salley gave Corey Roussel a run for his money on the restart while Salley’s teammate, Butch Keene, advanced to third over Derek McKeen.

Salley took over the lead on lap 6 after a wild maneuver. He continued to fend off Corey Roussel in the closing laps, securing the heat victory. Butch Keene rounded out the top 3.

22 drivers took to the track for the 25 lap feature race. Brad Bellows initially pulled away with the early lead, but Dustin Salley made a bold crossover move on lap 2, taking over the top spot.

Corey Roussel was on the move early, advancing into the runner-up spot over Brad Bellows on lap 5 as Butch Keene followed in succession. Keene was all over Roussel two laps later, hungry for the runner-up spot. He pulled to Roussel’s outside door on lap 10, challenging for the position.

The two drivers approached lap traffic on lap 16 and went 3-wide with a slower car, resulting in Keene taking control of the spot.

Alex Parechanian came to a stop in turn 2 on lap 23, resulting in a late race caution.

Dustin Salley pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart as Corey Roussel got the upper hand on Butch Keene for the runner-up spot. It was a drag race to the finish for Butch Keene and Jeff Libby, who were left battling it out for third.

Dustin Salley held strong through the finish, capturing his final feature victory of the season. Corey Roussel followed as Jeff Libby beat Butch Keene to the line by a nose. Keene gave it all he had, resulting in him taking a spin following the finish. Derek McKeen rounded out the top five.

Mandy drivers pulled double duty between the Beetle Bugs and the Rebels, which is a weekly mid-week division at Oxford Plains Speedway. Their races mirrored the Beetle Bugs as the competition kicked off with two 8 lap heat races.

Gregg Norton held the early advantage over Darryl Quinlan in the first qualifying heat. Jeff Atherton was also on the move early, advancing to third over Dave Stone, Jr. on lap 3.

Darryl Quinlan made his way to Gregg Norton’s outside door on lap 6, challenging for the top spot with just two laps tp go. Norton managed to fend Quinlan off to the finish, picking up the heat victory. Jeff Atherton rounded out the top 3.

Chris Giguere took off with the early lead over Jeff Davis in the second and final qualifying heat. Oxford regular, Adam O’Neil, was all over Nate Pearson for third on lap 5. He pulled to his door the following lap, taking over the spot.

Chris Giguere held strong through the finish, capturing the heat victory as Jeff Davis and Adam O’Neil rounded out the top 3.

26 drivers took to the track for the 25 lap feature. Gregg Norton took off with the early lead, but trouble was on the horizon for Dave Stone, Jr. and Derek McKeen, who collided in turn 1 on the initial lap of the feature. Both drivers managed to drive away, but both fell to the back of the pack.

Dustan Moreau took a spin in turn 1 in the opening laps of the race, resulting in an early caution.

Gregg Norton held a slight advantage on the restart as David Cook rode his coattails, ready to strike. Further on back, Addie McDaniel was quickly navigating through the field, advancing to fourth over Adam O’Neil on lap 10.

David Cook made way to Gregg Norton’s outside door on lap 15, challenging for the top spot. Cook lost momentum on lap 18, ultimately falling back to third. He found his groove in the closing laps of the race, stealing the runner-up spot away from Darryl Quinlan on lap 21 as Addie McDaniel followed in his footsteps.

Gregg Norton maintained his advantage through the finish, picking up his first career win at Beech Ridge in his first career start at the track. David Cook, Addie McDaniel, Darryl Quinlan and AJ Smith rounded out the top five.

It was an impressive night for the Beetle Bugs and Rebels, who fielded nearly 50 cars for both divisions. It was certainly bittersweet knowing that it could be the last mid-week Showdown at the track, but these 2 divisions certainly did not disappoint.

Please support what could be the last NASCAR Nite program at Beech Ridge, taking place this Sunday, September 26th. The racing kicks off at 2:00 pm and it surely is shaping up to be an amazing event.

If you’d like to support potential change in the outcome of the closure of the track that we all love, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook and share your ideas.

In the meantime, continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. It’s more important than ever before.

#weareBRMS and we will get through this together.

Cover photo credit: Jamie Williams – Finish Line Photography

The post Salley & Norton Score Beetle Bugs/Rebels Victories at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

The Pro Series competition kicked off with one 12 lap qualifying heat. Travis Buzzell powered to the early lead, pulling away from his competitors. Gary Smith also got a big jump early, separating himself and Rusty Poland by 3 positions.

Joe Pastore was hungry for the lead on lap 4, challenging Travis Buzzell for the top spot. The two drivers battled it out for a couple of laps until Pastore pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 6.

Joe Pastore maintained his advantage through the finish, picking up the heat victory while Travis Buzzell and Nick Cusack rounded out the top 3.

Gary Smith finished the heat one position ahead of Rusty Poland, who finished in eighth. This gave Smith a one point advantage over Poland going into the feature.

11 drivers took to the track for the 40 lap feature, which was the final event of the night. Joe Pastore took off with the early lead in the feature as Travis Buzzell powered into the runner-up spot behind him.

Gary Smith broke the top five on lap 4, giving him a two car advantage over Rusty Poland.

Travis Buzzell was all over Joe Pastore for the top spot on lap 10, eventually pulling to his inside the following lap. The two drivers went door to door until lap 13, where Pastore pulled ahead with the advantage.

Corey Bubar began his pursuit to the front mid-race, overtaking Travis Buzzell for the runner-up spot on lap 23. He tracked down Joe Pastore in the coming laps, eventually pulling to Pastore’s inside door on lap 27. While battling for position, the two drivers made contact on lap 28 in turn 4, resulting in Bubar losing ground and Pastore pulling away.

Pastore and Bubar reignited their battle with 5 laps to go and made contact once again on lap 38 in turn 4. It was a true drag race to the finish, with Pastore beating Bubar to the line and ultimately collecting his second victory of the night.

Travis Buzzell, Dave Oliver and Gary Smith rounded out the top five.

With his fifth place finish, Gary Smith captured the 2021 track championship. This was the first career Pro Series championship for Smith, who is 65 years old and travels from Bangor to Scarborough to race each and every week. Following the race, Smith celebrated his big accomplishment with family and friends, which included both his children and grandchildren.

While Smith picked up the track championship, Dave Oliver was crowned the 2021 NASCAR champion at the track and Wyatt Alexander picked up well-deserved “Rookie of the Year” honors in the division.

The season ended with a bang in the Pro Series and the surprises (unfortunately) continued before the championship award ceremony took place as track owner, Andy Cusack, announced that the track is currently under contract by an out of state real estate developer.

Sadness, frustration and sorrow flooded the front stretch, but track announcer, Andy Austin, kept perfect composure as he announced the champions to the sad, but supportive, crowd.

With the future of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway unknown, PLEASE make sure to support the track staff and competitors on Thursday, September 23rd, which could very well be the track’s final night of competition. The racing action kicks off at 7:00 pm. Let’s flood the pit and grandstand area and send BRMS off with a bang!

If you would like to create positive change in our racing community and brainstorm/share ideas on how we can save our track, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook.

Until then, continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. This is more imperative now than ever before.

Please reach out if you need a somebody to talk to. #weareBRMS and we WILL get through this together.

Cover photo credit goes to my wonderful future Mother in Law, Sue Walker.

The post Gary Smith Picks Up First Career Pro Series Championship at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.