Friday, July 4, 2008

Bub Bilodeau fires off holiday weekend with Miller Lite 50 win at Beech Ridge.

By Dan Walker

Beech Ridge Motor Speedway PR

Scarborough, Maine-Bub Bilodeau got the holiday weekend off to a
sizzling start on Wednesday night by capturing the Miller Lite 50 for
the NASCAR Whelan All American Series Pro Series division. Rookie
driver Chris Smith was the early leader pulling away from the field in
the opening 8 laps before a caution flag slowed his progress.

Smith would retain his lead to lap 19 when former champion David
Oliver took over the lead followed quickly by reigning champion
Bilodeau. A caution flag on lap 23 set the stage for Oliver and
Bilodeau to race side by side for the lead for the next 4 laps before
Bilodeau muscled his way to the front.

Green flag racing to the finish found Bilodeau fending off several
bids by Oliver to unseat him as the 2 drivers crossed the finish line
in the top 2 positions. Bobby Babb cleared traffic very late in the
race but rallied to finish third with Bill Rodgers and Brockie Gerry
fourth and fifth.

Reggie Leeman won a spirited Sport Series feature race on Wednesday
night that featured a little controversy. Bradley Babb was the early
leader Jeff Charland moved ahead on lap 2. Dave Lampron was next to
lead the race taking his car to the front on the 17th circuit with
Leeman moving to second place.

This would set the stage for a very exciting finish as Lampron and
Leeman raced side by side for the next 14 laps often time with tire
smoke billowing from the rubbing. Finally on lap 31 something had to
give as the 2 leaders again got tangled up with each other this time
with Charland taking a hard hit into the back wall and Leeman coming
out with the lead. The final 4 laps following the caution flag were
uneventful as Leeman took the win over Sally Gherardi in second and
Jason Larrabee third. Travis Buzzell and Bradley Babb rounded out the
top 5.

Lyman McKeage scored an easy Wildcat feature win on the mid week
special show. Lewis Anderson led to lap 16 when McKeage put a
dazzling move on to take the lead. Once in front there was no
challenges for McKeage but the race for second place between Brian
Caswell and Paul Lund was heated. Caswell finished second and Lund
third with Randy Snow and Gary Babineau fourth and fifth.

Mark Hill was the Road Runner feature winner on Wednesday night . Kari
Thibodeau led the first lap then faded back a bit as Mark Hill went to
the front and scored the eventual win. Shawn Brackett was second with
Casey Corkum avoiding a last lap crash that took out several cars
finishing third. Dave Cameron and Ed Connolly were fourth and fifth.

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