Adam Norton Races from Back to Front in Beech Ridge Thriller
Scarborough, ME — The RF Logic / Bot-L-Gas Pro Four Modifieds of New England successfully completed their second race of the season this Saturday as part of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway’s Pro All-Stars Series opener event. The special 35 lap main event was preceded by two qualifying heat events, where #25 of Tyler Anderson and #01 of Adam Norton took the checkers.
Stan Mertz of Whitinsville, Ma and Phil Lausier of Hudson, NH lead the field to the initial green of the feature. Lausier stayed in the high grove to make the pass on the green while fourth place starter, Anderson, followed in line. Rob Richardi, Jr. quickly jumped in line and also made the pass.
By lap two the action began to heat up further back in the pack as #4 of Cory Cleary got tangled up in the high grove and ended up in the wall. When the caution was clear and the pack took the green it was Lausier leading Anderson, Richardi, Jr., Mertz, and George Sherman. On the restart it was #10 of Brian Vincent who was on the move. He and Sherman teamed up to pass Mertz and set their sights for the front of the field.
Meanwhile, Anderson took a look to the outside of Lausier for the lead, made the pass, and put a few car lengths distance between the two, while #99 of Billy Joerres pulled off the track for a quick pit stop. On lap six Vincent was able to get by Richardi, Jr. on the inside, and Norton followed through. All the while, #00 of Dave Richardi and #11a of Dan Meservey battled for the eight position further back in the pack.
The caution flag flew again on lap 13 when Lausier went spinning after contact with Norton. At the restart it was Anderson, Norton, Richardi, Jr., Sherman, and Kurt Vigeant in the top five. After some heated racing for third by Vincent and Richardi, Jr., momentum was lost when Anderson was spun and Norton was sent to the rear for the assist on lap 19. Richardi, Jr. and Vincent where given the front line and were followed by Sherman, Vigeant, and D. Richardi.
On the green it was Richardi, Jr., who got the lead, but the field was slowed up again for a spinning #34 of Mark Giordano on the front stretch. When they restarted once more, it was Vincent who was quickest off the line and took the lead but just three laps in, Mertz slowed and entered the infield pits as Sherman began to blow smoke from his car. D. Richardi looked high to avoid but met with the wall and ended his night, causing the final caution of the event.
With nine laps to go the field took the final green, lead by Vincent and Richardi, Jr. as Norton was fighting hard for the inside line. He made the pass by #10 and #12 on lap 30 and by lap 32 all the cars were in single file formation until the completion of the event, where Norton picked up his first win of the season.
Official Finish:
01- Adam Norton
10- Brian Vincent
12- Rob Richardi, Jr.
11a- Dan Meservey
7- Kurt Vigeant
07- Phil Lausier
25- Tyler Anderson
86- Mark Charette
34- Mark Giordano
13- George Sherman
99- Billy Joerres
00- Dave Richardi
10x-
16- Stan Mertz
11x-
4- Cory Cleary
Sources: Pro Four Modifieds of New England PR