again Wednesday night, and five of the eight feature winners in the
opening round of the Acceleration Series benefited from that same
brand of luck.
Without season points to rely upon for handicapping purposes, starting
positions were determined by blind draw. Competitors fortunate enough
to pluck a front-row pill from the bag wound up winning five of the
main events.
Rick Spaulding and Bob Ferguson captured Chimney Tech Outlaw victories
from the pole. Cathy Manchester pulled off the same wire-to-wire
victory after securing the No. 1 starting slot in the Allen's Coffee
Flavored Brandy Ladies feature.
Matt Dufault (Macdonald Motors Runnin' Rebel) and Marvin Hamilton
(Call of the Wild RV Center Sport Truck) used the outside of the front
row to set up their season-opening wins.
That's not to say it couldn't be done from deep in the field. Guy
Childs charged from 12th to claim the third and final Outlaw
encounter. Childs' nephew, Josh, raced from seventh and wiped out
Martin Krauter's large advantage to rule a Runnin' Rebel sprint. And
reigning Renegade champion Jamie Heath rallied from sixth for his 14th
victory in the division's brief history.
As was the case last Saturday evening, drivers generously helped to
dry the track and fans waited out a 40-minute delay at the start
following an afternoon of intermittent rain.
Ferguson's victory punctuated the finest race of the night. He never
led by more than a car length, and a torrid, three-wide battle between
Keith Landry, Steve Moon and Jim Archer raged behind him for the final
five circuits.
It was Landry at the line by a fender over Moon, with Dan Brown
recovering from an early-race spin to edge Archer for fourth. Archer's
daring ventures to the outer edge of the asphalt were the highlight of
a wild event.
"It's nice to start out front and lead the whole race," said Ferguson,
who seemed oblivious to the intense battle in his mirror. "That was
fun."
Spaulding is a threat to win even when he starts 10th or 20th, so
leading the field to the green in an ultimately caution-free dash was
no sweat. Bill Coolidge kept pace for more than half the event, only
to fail the post-race inspection.
"I don't have a lot of sponsors on this car, but Scott Jordan and I
spend a lot of time working on it," said Spaulding. "That's why it's
so fast."
Jerry Goss denied a determined challenge by David Childs for second,
claiming his third straight trophy. This was the fourth start of the
season for many Outlaw and Ladies drivers who are participating in the
Agren Appliance Saturday Showdown.
Tina Titus, the lone lady driver in the division this year, moved up
to fourth after the tech turnover. Dennis Morang was fifth.
Guy Childs picked up where he left off with his red-hot second half of
the 2007 season, methodically picking his way through traffic to claim
his 31st career victory.
Tyler Belanger led the first 15 laps before mechanical ills intervened
with five laps to go. That handed the lead to Jim Drake, who
out-gunned Childs on a restart that same lap.
Childs persistently applied the pressure until Drake scooted up the
racetrack slightly at the end of lap 18. The veteran filled the space
and sailed on to the victory.
"My family and friends have been such a help to me," Childs said. "We
worked a lot on the front-end alignment of this car, and it really
paid off."
Drake, John Patria, Thom Bell and Tim Hatch completed the top five.
Dufault appeared content to run second to Gregg Norton in the first of
twin 20-lap Runnin' Rebel sprints.
Norton, the driver with more wins than anyone else in Acceleration
history, ran afoul of a slower car on lap 15. Dufault dropped the
hammer and held a two-car length edge to the checkers.
"I was just trying to keep pace with him. I don't think I was going to
get by him," Dufault admitted. "He got screwed up with a lapped car. I
still feel good about my chances with this car, though. I'm happy to
be back racing."
Scott Farrington, Mike Ward and Craig Farrington rounded out the top five.
Krauter played the rabbit in round two, but Childs was the greyhound
who reeled him in. The high school student took over second on lap 7
and needed only six more times around the 3/8-mile oval to wipe out a
full straightaway gap.
"He had a good lead. I didn't think I was going to catch him," said
Childs, the 2007 division rookie of the year.
Krauter matched his OPS career-best in second. Troy Jordan drove from
deep in the field to nail down third, as did fourth-place Jamie
Leavitt and fifth-place Kyle Hewins.
Manchester made it look easy, even with the intervention of a
late-race caution in the Ladies' scrap.
Past champion Lisa Vining was the runner-up throughout, but couldn't
close the gap after the stoppage due to debris.
"The conditions weren't great," Manchester said of what was still a
'green' race track in the second race of the night. "But you could
pick a spot and go. Herbie and Jay have this car running great."
Dottie Patria continued her strong start to the season in third,
followed by Deanna Bisbee and Christina Spaulding.
Hamilton's margin of victory over Jake Burns was the closest of the
night after a convincing drive that turned sour. In fact, Burns
believed he was the winner before scoring confirmed that Hamilton held
on by a fender.
The 2002 champion's lead was a full straightaway before a severe skip
developed in his pick-up down the stretch.
"The last three laps, she was just going away," said Hamilton. "I'm
most concerned about the truck right now. I'm hoping we can make it
through the season."
Defending champ Burns had his winning streak snapped at two after
sweeping both previous Agren Showdown starts. Opie Allard was third,
with Ryan Farrar rallying from a near off-course excursion to finish
fourth. Rookie Ross Spurling followed.
Heath is one of only two veterans in the new-look Renegade field. It
took him only four laps to overtake early leaders Gerard Cote and
Jason Hannigan and reassert himself.
Somehow, it left him thinking this season won't be as easy.
"Jason is obviously going to be some competition," Heath said. "And I
thought Zach Bowie would have us all beat. I don't know what happened
to him."
Bowie gave up third spot when a plume of smoke slowed his car to a
crawl with two laps remaining. Hannigan, Craig Bartlett, Mark Turner
and Cote wound up second through fifth when the deck was shuffled.
Round two of the 10th Anniversary season of the Acceleration Series is
set for next Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. OPS action continues this
Saturday, June 7 with Talking Phone Book Night. Five divisions get the
green flag for qualifying at 6:30 p.m.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #1 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #36 Rick Spaulding, Lewiston, 20
2. (9) #99 Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls, 20
3. (13) #5 David Childs, Oxford, 20
4. (7) #48 Tina Titus, Lisbon, 20
5. (5) #112 Dennis Morang, South Paris, 20
6. (10) #97 Shannon Judd, Jay, 20
7. (8) #06 Rick Vining, Bridgton, 19
8. (14) #68 Bubba Collins, Lewiston, 19
9. (12) #04 Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls, 19
10. (6) #08 Carey Robertson, Leeds, 19
11. (2) #82 Josh Paradis, Sumner, 19
12. (4) #51 Randy Robitaille, Norway, 19
13. (15) #77x Walter Connell III, South Paris, 18
14. (11) #8x Corey Williams, Sumner, 3
DQ (3) #72 Bill Coolidge, Bryant Pond
DNS #55 Justin Vining, Peru
Lap leaders: Spaulding 1-20
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 42 seconds
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #2 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #63 Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester, 20
2. (5) #90 Keith Landry, Oxford, 20
3. (12) #19 Steve Moon, Gray, 20
4. (9) #83 Dan Brown, Peru, 20
5. (2) #6 Jim Archer, Chesterville, 20
6. (14) #24 Kevin Lawrence, South Paris, 20
7. (13) #10 Scott Ellis, Lewiston, 20
8. (7) #43 Rod Englehaupt, Oxford, 20
9. (10) #54 Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn, 20
10. (4) #75 Gordon Bell, Auburn, 20
11. (3) #39 Ron Abbott Jr., Sabattus, 20
12. (8) #12 Nik Coates, Lisbon, 19
13. (15) #8 Patrick McKinnon, West Paris, 18
14. (11) #30 Scott Veinott, Sabattus, 8
15. (6) #28 Don Veinott, Sabattus, 6
Lap leaders: Ferguson 1-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 8)
Time of race: 10 minutes, 12 seconds
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #3 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (12) #00 Guy Childs Sr., Turner, 20
2. (3) #169 Jim Drake Jr., Hebron, 20
3. (4) #34 John Patria, Turner, 20
4. (7) #18 Thom Bell, Minot, 20
5. (6) #58 Tim Hatch, Gorham, 20
6. (9) #53 Steve Brill, Bridgton, 20
7. (2) #69 Jay Wilkins, Gray, 20
8. (13) #137 David Brown, Gray, 20
9. (5) #139 Jerry Freve, Buckfield, 20
10. (11) #38 Addison Bowie, Auburn, 19
11. (1) #33 Tyler Belanger, Sumner, 15
12. (14) #71 Fred Clavet, Buckfield, 15
13. (10) #3 Tom Averill, Peru, 12
14. (8) #100 Curt Chapman, Lewiston, 6
Lap leaders: Belanger 1-15, Drake 16-18, G. Childs 19-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 15)
Time of race: 12 minutes, 12 seconds
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #1 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (2) #96 Matt Dufault, Turner, 20
2. (1) #119 Gregg Norton, Lewiston, 20
3. (13) #521 Scott Farrington, Oxford, 20
4. (8) #16 Mike Ward, Harrison, 20
5. (7) #333 Craig Farrington, Hebron, 20
6. (11) #12 Calvin Rose Jr., Turner, 20
7. (10) #63 Cole Flagg, Livermore, 20
8. (15) #27 Archie Watt Jr., Auburn, 20
9. (14) #41M Logan Melcher, Jay, 20
10. (12) #83 Brady Romano, Livermore Falls, 20
11. (16) #4 Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester, 20
12. (4) #46 Jason Berry, Turner, 20
13. (17) #91 Bill Grover, Topsham, 19
14. (9) #15 David Cook, Wilton, 18
15. (18) #45 Ken Whittemore, Greene, 18
16. (6) #3x David Childs, Oxford, 16
17. (5) #14 Gene White, Lisbon, 16
18. (3) #23 Mike Anderson, Lewiston, 12
Lap leaders: Norton 1-14, Dufault 15-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 43 seconds
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #2 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (7) #3 Josh Childs, Oxford, 20
2. (2) #82 Martin Krauter, Raymond, 20
3. (10) #6 Troy Jordan, Turner, 20
4. (9) #93 Jamie Leavitt, Minot, 20
5. (14) #54 Kyle Hewins, Leeds, 20
6. (13) #84 Doug Degroat, Oxford, 20
7. (5) #41 James Wood, New Gloucester, 20
8. (4) #106 Nathan Guptill, North Turner, 20
9. (11) #7 Charlie Webster, Auburn, 20
10. (8) #88 Derek Cook, Livermore Falls, 20
11. (12) #76 Randy Nutter, Auburn, 20
12. (6) #555 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 19
13. (16) #49 Dustin Couture, Auburn, 19
14. (15) #89 Brent Parlin, Livermore Falls, 18
15. (17) #71 Cody Smith, Oxford, 17
16. (1) #65 Craig Wade, Peru, 14
17. (18) #29 Brandon Palmer, Bridgton, 11
18. (3) #69 John Childs, Leeds, 5
Lap leaders: M. Krauter 1-13, Josh Childs 14-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 26 seconds
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (2) #7 Marvin Hamilton, New Gloucester, 20
2. (11) #74 Jake Burns, Gray, 20
3. (10) #68 Opie Allard, Harpswell, 20
4. (9) #69 Ryan Farrar, Oxford, 20
5. (7) #17 Ross Spurling, New Gloucester, 20
6. (8) #40 Tom Libby, Gorham, 19
7. (5) #34 Joe Farrar, Oxford, 19
8. (3) #22 Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls, 19
9. (1) #30 Ryan Varney, Oxford, 17
10. (4) #39 Corey Williams, Sumner, 13
11. (6) #32 Brian Farrar, Sumner, 10
12. (12) #1 John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls, 5
Lap leaders: Hamilton 1-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 56 seconds
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #69 Cathy Manchester, Gray, 20
2. (3) #139 Lisa Vining, Turner, 20
3. (5) #34 Dottie Patria, Turner, 20
4. (4) #51 Deanna Bisbee, South Paris, 20
5. (2) #36 Christina Spaulding, Lewiston, 20
6. (8) #92 Debbie Marston, Hartford, 20
7. (13) #23 Vanna Brackett, Buckfield, 20
8. (10) #30 Lisa Brooks, Auburn, 19
9. (9) #29 Shannon Wheeler, Auburn, 19
10. (6) #2 Kimberly Sessions, Auburn, 19
11. (12) #137 Kristen Brown, Gray, 19
12. (7) #28 Sue Veinott, Sabattus, 17
13. (11) #44 Annie Chartier, Mexico, 16
Lap leaders: Manchester 1-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 13)
Time of race: 10 minutes, 44 seconds
RENEGADE (15 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (6) #91 Jamie Heath, Waterford, 15
2. (3) #94 Jason Hannigan, Greene, 15
3. (5) #2 Craig Bartlett, Waterford, 15
4. (7) #19 Mark Turner, Norway, 15
5. (1) #05 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 15
6. (2) #46 Nate Dubuc, Auburn, 15
7. (4) #88 Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls, 13
Lap leaders: Cote 1, Hannigan 2-3, Heath 4-15.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 5 minutes, 2 seconds
No comments:
Post a Comment