Berry, Norrie, Reil and Hanson Take Season Openers at Legion Speedway Open Cockpit Super Sunday Series
Rumney, NH — The 2011 season at Legion Speedway got off to a rousing – albeit a several months tardy- start on Sunday with Nick Berry, Doug Norrie, Terry Reil and Lacey Hanson taking down wins in the all open cockpit, all winged, Super Sunday Series.
Berry, of Manchester, NH, who has only raced Sprint Cars sporadically in recent years while concentrating on his Modified exploits, pulled off a wire-to-wire victory, besting a 19 car field of talented 360ci Sprint Car drivers in the Sprint Cars of New England 25 lap marquee event. It was Berry’s first Sprint Car win since 2007.
At the start, Berry faced a surprising challenge from NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour star “Asphalt Andy” Seuss, who is in his rookie year both on dirt and in a Sprint Car.
“To be honest, I thought I’d be able to get by Andy easy at the start, because he doesn’t have much time in a Sprint Car, but he did a really good job, he didn’t give it to me without a fight, that’s for sure,” Berry confided. “I knew I had a good car, so after I got the lead, it was just a matter of being patient and then working my way through lapped traffic. The car hooked up really well so I just had to not over drive it.”
In the late stages, Shawn Lawler battled Tyler Rich for second before securing the spot, but was never able to get within striking range of Berry. Jake Williams drove a smart race to finish fourth and Kevin Chaffee came from15th to finish fifth.
West Suffield, CT’s Doug Norrie highballed from the tail end to win the 25 lap East Coast Mini Sprint Association main for 750/1000/1200cc uprights. He had to withstand a late race challenge from fellow townsman Justin Phillips. Rob Walendy finished third and was the first 750cc across the line, followed by 750cc cohorts Wayne Bush and Nikki Ouellette.
“Phillips almost got me there at the end, he got better and I got worse, but I was still better than him,” Norrie joked, as Phillips stood by laughing. “I think I might have sealed a tire over, because after a while I just didn’t have the bite. The bottom was better, which is I think where he was and after I moved to the bottom he couldn’t catch me.”
The 600cc 20 lapper was co-sanctioned by the North East Mini Sprints and the Granite State Mini Sprints and North East Mini Sprints President Terry Reil of East Barre, VT took the win. Josh Boissoneau lost the lead to Reil on a restart and was attempting to battle back when his fuel pump let go, forcing him to the pits. Rookie Kevin Heath looked comfortable enroute to his second place finish. Racey Lacey Hanson, who lived up to her nickname by competing in three different classes during the afternoon, was third. Rookie Scott Preston finished fourth and rookie Spencer Allen, who was second across the line but penalized for passing before the cone on a restart, was fifth.
“It was an awesome race with good racing all around,” Reil said. “Josh Boissoneau was tough. If he didn’t slip up on that restart, there was no way I was going to get by him.”
After coming from fourth and battling with rookie Stephen Hutchinson, Hanson, of Orwell, VT took top honors in the Granite State 500cc 20 lap feature. Hutchinson finished a solid second followed by Josh Boissoneau and a trio of rookies, Patrick Smith, Dylan Rock and Robyn Boisvert.
“I had a real good time racing with Stephen, we were swapping back and forth for quite a while,” a smiling Hanson said. “He’s a rookie, but he was driving so well that I had to wait until he made a mistake to get by him.”
The next event in the Open Cockpit Super Sunday Series takes place at Legion Speedway on August 7. Hot laps are at 2:00 pm with the first green flag scheduled for 3:00. Adult admission is only $8.00, with Teens 12-16, Seniors 62+ and Active Duty Military with ID are $7.00, Kids 5-11 just two bucks and Kids Under 5 are Free. The parking is always free and Legion Speedway is located at the Rumney/ Wentworth town line on Route 25.
SCoNE Sprint Cars (25 laps) 1. Nick Berry, 2. Shawn Lawler, 3. Tyler Rice, 4. Jake Williams, 5. Kevin Chaffee, 6. Chris Donnelly, 7. Tunk Berry, 8. Lacey Hanson, 9. Bruce Kimball, 10. Dan Douville, 11. Brandon Valley, 12. Matt Robie, 13. Andy Seuss, 14. Shawn Berry, 15. Will Hull, 16. Jim Lowrey, Jr. DNQ: Robby Bodwell, Dylan Campbell, Bob Giuliani.
East Coast Mini Sprints (25 laps) 1. Doug Norrie, 2. Justin Phillips, 3. Robb Walendy, 4. Wayne Bush, 5. Nikki Ouellette. 6. Sammy Kraemer, 7. John Casazza, 8. Jack McKeon, 9. Jack Fogarty, 10. Matt Brown.
600cc Mini Sprints: 1. Terry Reil, 2. Kevin Heath, 3. Lacey Hanson, 4. Scott Preston, 5. Spencer Allen, 6. Josh Boissoneau, 7. Jake Williams, 8. Dylan Menditto, 9. Christine Boesch. DNS: Troy Boissoneau.
500cc Mini Sprints: 1. Lacey Hanson, 2. Stephen Hutchinson, 3. Josh Boissoneau, 4. Dylan Rock, 5. Patrick Smith, 7. Robyn Boisvert
Sources: Mark McKeon/SCONE PR