Peters Grabs First Win in Rain Shortened Opener
SCARBOROUGH, ME — The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour returned to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway last Thursday night for the first of ten events of VIP Thursday Thunder. The mid summers biggest racing session includes two hours of nonstop racing action with seven divisions of racing. For opening week however, the races were threatened by incoming rain storms that could impact the races. With 23 of New England’s best Legends Car drivers on the track, it was a race against the weather in the opening night of Thursday Thunder.
With the race program being just two hours long, the drivers only have a few rounds of practice before they jump right into their feature event. On the pole was the 8 car of three year veteran Matt Chagnot with the 51 of John Peters, who won the championship in another Thursday Thunder division last season, being the youngest driver to do so, on the outside of the front row. At the start, Peters was able to work the outside line around Chagnot to grab the race lead. Peters was able to build a straightaway lead over the rest of the field before the 56 of Evan Beaulieu, a former champion in Thursday Thunder competition, graduating this season to the Pro Series at Beech Ridge, worked his way into the second position with the 2 of Ryan Hammar, who has had a career best season so far, right in tow. Beaulieu was able to close in on the back bumper of Peters before the race went yellow on lap 20 for a spin by the 70 of Tylar Braunschweig.
While the cars ran under the caution flag, the rain started to drop, and the race was called official at the end of 20 laps. John Peters got his first career win in the rain shortened event, with Beaulieu finishing in the runner up spot and newcomer Kevin Girard Jr. getting his first podium finish in third. Former Thursday Thunder Champion Bob Weymouth finished fourth with the defending Thursday Thunder champion Matt Bourgoine rounding out the top five.
With the win, Peters is the early point’s leader in the Thursday Thunder ten race series, just three points ahead of Beaulieu. Those two along with Girard will have to come from the rear of the field next week, as the top three from the week before have to go to the rear at the next event. You won’t want to miss it, for just $4 you can see some of the best racing on a Thursday night in a two hour show. For more news, information and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.
FEATURE FINISH
FINISH CAR # NAME
1 51 JOHN PETERS
2 56 EVAN BEAULIEU
3 19 KEVIN GIRARD JR
4 399 BOB WEYMOUTH
5 38 MATHEW BOURGOINE
6 10 ED GETTY
7 59 REID LANPHER
8 8 MATT CHAGNOT
9 60 ANTHONY PAGLIARULO
10 17 TERRY KIRK
11 4 PETER CRAIG
12 84 MATT GRANT
13 47 CHARLIE BUXTON
14 33 ALAN SMITH
15 66 WALLY SILVA
16 42 STEVE JOHNSON
17 12 ALICIA PERRY
18 70 TYLAR BRAUNSCHWEIG
19 O9 GARRETT HAYES®
20 49 PETE CANNELL
21 46 CHAD HARRINGTON
22 2 RYAN HAMMAR
23 81 DAN WINTER
Sources: Evan Beaulieu/NELCAR PR