Evan Beaulieu Dominates in Round Seven of VIP Thunder
Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour: VIP Thursday Thunder
Scarborough, ME – With just three races remaining in the VIP Thursday Thunder Series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour, the drivers are starting to get anxious, looking to get gain points and get that all-important win before the season is over. Thus far in the season, it has been a stranglehold between Matt Bourgoine and John Peters; however, a motor failure with Peters last week allowed Bourgoine to widen the gap by 41 points. Sitting in third was the 2011 Champion, Evan Beaulieu, still winless after six races but still in the title fight. With a strong field of 19 Legends Cars, they were ready to do battle for the final three races of VIP Thursday Thunder.
On the front row was the 33 of Alan Smith with the 399 of former VIP Thunder Champion, Bob Weymouth on the outside. At the start, Smith was able to get the better hand as Weymouth slid into the second spot. Coming on the outside was the 70 of Tylar Braunschweig, as he and Smith drove side by side for many of the races opening laps. Stalking in third was Beaulieu, and on lap seven he made room through the middle and grabbed the race lead from Smith. Coming from the rear was the points leader Matt Bourgoine, with Reid Lanpher right with him as they made their way to the front. After pulling away with the lead, Evan Beaulieu was able to grab his first win of the season, and keep himself in the points race with it! Matt Bourgoine fought his way to second, while Braunschweig made a late move on Smith to grab third. Lanpher finished fourth and Smith rounded out the top five.
After seven races, Bourgoine now holds a 46-point lead over new runner up, Beaulieu. John Peters fell to third after taking Alan Smith’s backup car out to start the race while his primary is still out with a motor issue. As proven last season, no matter how big the points lead, it’s never safe. Bourgoine and Beaulieu are two of the fiercest competitors on the track, as they will fight during the final two races for the championship. More is on the line than that, as the top five in points gets recognized at the year-end banquet, and only 63 points separate third from twelfth. Next week the racing start as usual on Thursday night at 7PM at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, with tickets just $4!
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FEATURE FINISH 8-8-13
FINISH CAR # NAME
1 56 EVAN BEAULIEU
2 38 MATHEW BOURGOINE
3 70 TYLAR BRAUNSCHWEIG
4 59 REID LANPHER
5 33 ALAN SMITH
6 399 BOB WEYMOUTH
7 4 PETER CRAIG
8 2 RYAN HAMMAR
9 19 KEVIN GIRARD JR
10 60 ANTHONY PAGLIARULO
11 84 MATT GRANT
12 81 DAN WINTER
13 17 TERRY KIRK
14 10 ED GETTY
15 8 MATT CHAGNOT
16 O9 GARRETT HAYES®
17 49 PETE CANNELL
18 12 ALICIA PERRY
19 51 JOHN PETERS
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway; Scarborough, ME-August 8, 2013
Sources: Evan Beaulieu/Nelcar PR