MURPHY OUTRUNS JOHNSON FOR TRUCKS WIN
Rob Murphy’s form remained good as he worked his way from a sixth place start to the front for another win. The current champ moved into third on lap six, behind rookie contender Dan Johnson, who was dueling for the lead with Murphy’s teammate Chase Belcher. That contest went Johnson’s way on lap eight, leaving Murphy to contend for second. They ran first-second-third for nine more laps before Murphy took over second. A dogfight for the front ensued but 2 laps later, Johnson grudgingly gave way, giving Murphy the lead with six laps remaining. Johnson and Belcher continued, notching second and third, respectively, while John Paiva and points leader Mike Cavallaro rounded out the top five.
Eric LeBrun jumped off the pole ahead of Johnson and Belcher leapt in underneath, setting Johnson back to third. Cavallaro held third, but Murphy edged past on lap two as Belcher got under LeBrun to steal the front. By lap four, Belcher had a 12-car lead and Johnson was past LeBrun into second. Murphy then went under to edge him out of third as he struggled with the freight train going backwards on the outside. Next to take advantage was Cavallaro. LeBrun’s unhappy slide only ended after Mike Duarte and John Paiva had stormed by rendering him sixth.
Lap five saw Darryl Dutch and Russ Borges get together, ending up nose-to-nose in turn four, bringing caution. Belcher and Johnson took the front with Murphy low behind them. Belcher ran hard out of the box and Johnson dropped into second ahead of Murphy. Cavallaro was fourth. Paiva passed Ed Perry for seventh behind Duarte.
Johnson looked under Belcher in turn three and pressed forward. At the stripe, Belcher’s lead was down to a nose and they were wheel to wheel down the backstretch. Johnson continued to press and owned the lead out of turn four. Belcher dropped, got onto the berm and slowed, allowing Murphy to catch him. By lap 10, the close group of Johnson, Belcher, Murphy, Cavallaro, Duarte and Paiva were winding around the third-mile single file.
Paiva and LeBrun debated sixth for three laps before Paiva took the position and went after Duarte. Paiva secured fifth with a pass on lap fourteen. At the front, Johnson had a five-car lead on Belcher and Murphy who were running nose-to-tail. Murphy looked under Belcher on lap 16 and was quickly into second. Cavallaro, running second, got under Belcher and they battled over third. Cavallaro succeeded and Paiva followed up, running underneath Belcher into fourth, before Perry spun in turn four.
Johnson came off the pole, but appeared to miss the shift on the front straight. Murphy was quick to grab the opportunity and take the lead. Belcher came from the low side of the second row as Paiva fastened onto his bumper and the duo slid under points leader Cavallaro dropping him to fifth with Lebrun on his tail.
Johnson pursued Murphy doggedly but was loose out of the fourth turn on lap 21, allowing Murphy to gain a five car lead. With the field stretched out, it was a single file run to the finish, with Murphy coming under the with a comfortable lead.
LeBrun was sixth, followed by Darryl Church, David Lougee, Duarte, Lenny Guy, Shawn DeMello and Dutch.
MITCHELL BATTLES TO STREETS TRIPLE CROWN WIN
Mike Mitchell returned to the Street Stocks for a dynamic win, piloting a hot ride with a heavy foot and good control. Mitchell earned an eleventh place start with a .082-second heat win over Steven Potter then charged through the field to take the lead and hold off both Paul and Tyler Lallier in the closing laps. Paul finished second and Tyler third, with Kid Chaos, Corey Fanning fourth. Fifth went to last week’s winner, Scott Bruneau.
Jeremy Walker faced off with Tony Oliviera on his shoulder. But Anthony Kohler was sideways in turn two and the accordion effect collected the field. Vinny Pangelinan came away with his fender pushed against a smoking tire and he ran to the pits for emergency repairs while Tim Watson continued with his right front fender stripped back against his nose.
The Lap 1 restart saw Oliviera and Walker again at the front; this time with Oliviera on the pole. He was able to nose away from Walker, but Steve “Cyclone” Potter dived in between them for a three-wide at the front. Fanning then dueled Walker briefly, but Walker dropped and pulled under Oliviera. Walker faded as Potter was nosing under Fanning but was denied. Dan Solomon and Thomas Adams followed as Rey Lovelace bored under Walker as Paul Lallier kept pace. Back in the pack, John Hanafin, Ed Flanagan, Jr., and Kevin Bowe were three-wide over position.
But Bruneau and Manny Dias were loose in turn four, collecting Watson and Kohler. Watson ended his evening. Pangelinan was one of many who pitted for repairs but got a lap down on a late re-entry to the field. Hanafin went to the pits late and was unable to return.
Fanning and Potter lined up with Oliveira and Soloman behind them. Lovelace and Lallier were sharing row three with Adams and Tyler Lallier backing them up. Fanning was away and Oliviera was under Potter for second. Cautions at laps 7 and 8 again halted action and the lap eight saw Oliveira hard against the back wall out of turn two.
Fanning was in the lead once more on the restart while Potter and Lovelace were door-to-door. Lovelace moved to Fanning’s bumper before Oliveira dropped fluid just before swerving into the wall just out of turn two. The field was halted on the front stretch so that Oliveira could be double-hooked from the track.
Fanning grabbed the lead. Paul Lallier and Potter battled for second. Lallier eased back and Potter went to Fanning’s bumper. But Fanning pulled out to a three car lead while Lovelace worked under Potter. But Potter’s tire went down, spinning him in turn one.
Six more cautions spotted the action from lap 13 to lap 23. Mitchell was in the lead by lap 16 and the Lalliers worked their ways to second and third. Fanning was fourth with Lovelace and Dias in pursuit. On the lap 23 restart, Mitchell pulled away from Paul on his outside, but Tyler (starting third) was on his bumper. Lovelace was looking unsuccessfully to drop under. Paul dropped into second and went to Mitchell’s bumper while Tyler was five cars back. Behind him, Lovelace and Fanning dueled for fourth.
Lap 30 saw Kohler black flagged for loose body metal, just before Flanagan spun to bring caution. Mitchell and Paul faced off with Tyler and Lovelace behind them. Mitchell rocketed away between the box and the stripe and had the lead to himself in turn three. Tyler went under Paul, but the elder Lallier was able to drop in and hold him off. They ran hard to the checkers with Mitchell claiming the victory by .363 seconds.
Rounding out the top ten were Lovelace, Craig Pianka, Chris Rioux, and Kohler.
HUTCH TAKES FIRST WIN ON SEASON IN LATE MODELS
David Hutchins, Jr. stormed past polesitter Nick Uhrig into a lead he would not relinquish late in lap two. For thirty laps, he was challenged by Uhrig, Austin Blais, and for the final twenty-three by last week’s feature winner: Dylan Estrella. But Hutch was on his toes and had a hot set of wheels as the race ran green after a lap six caution. The leaders remained consistently in position as the speed of pursuit made passing difficult. At the finish, Estrella claimed second, followed by Austin Blais, Bobby Pelland III and Jeramee Lillie.
Hutch was leading by the length of his front fender when Jariah Roderick and points leader Charlie Rose got together for a spin in turn two, sending Nick Johnson to the pits and ending his night. Hutchins and Uhrig faced off again and Dave, Jr. was in the lead by turn one. Blais then got under Uhrig and Uhrig had to suffer the freight train back on the outside. By lap four, Hutchins was being chased by Blais, Estrella, Lillie and Uhrig.
Caution waved again on lap six as Bob O’Connell dived in too deep and got sideways exiting turn one. Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. ducked under to avoid and got into the dirt while collecting a little front end damage. He pitted for brief repairs and returned.
Hutch had Blais on his shoulder and nosed out at the stripe grabbing the front in turn two as Estrella accelerated into second and Blais clung to third. Behind them, Lillie and Vinny Arrenegado fenced over fourth. By lap eleven, Hutchins and Estrella were running nose-to-tail with Blais in pursuit and Lillie coming on. Pelland had picked his way through the clogged field and now was now fifth, ahead of Arrenegado and Rose.
The field at the front tightened up into a close line of four cars, while Pelland began closing the distance. He was on their heels by lap 17. Hutch and Estrella pulled away, battling it out, while Blais, Lillie and Pelland ran bumper-to-bumper behind them. Lap 22 saw Pelland look underneath Lillie but was refused as Arrenegado closed up once again. Rose and DeGasparre followed. BAT
By lap 27, Estrella was attacking with everything, looking under and looking outside. But Hutchins found a little more speed and pulled away for a one-length lead. At the same time, Pelland succeeded at driving under Lillie and into fourth. Not to be denied, Lillie fastened tightly onto Pelland’s bumper. Blais was beginning to close up on Estrella while Pelland was about five cars further back.
As the white flag flew, Hutch pulled another length of insurance to lead the straight line under the checkers for a trip to Victory lane. Sixth went to Arrenegado, followed by DeGasspare, Rose, Roderick, Uhrig, Mark Hudson and John Mahoney.
BELSITO TOPS SCULLY WITH LATE PASS IN HUNDRED-LAPPER
Angelo Belsito worked to save his tires after Tom Scully, Jr. took the lead from him on lap 66 of the Pro Stock hundred-lap feature. The tactic paid off as Scully looked loose and Belsito was able to take advantage as he widened out on lap 90. Belsito went underneath and to the front with ten to go. Scully emptied his bag of tricks on the leader over the closing circuits but Belsito held Scully off for his third win on the season.
Mike Brightman, who had lead early on, saw Dave Darling get by into third with 15 laps remaining. Brightman held off Ryan Vanasse for fourth, while Vanasse claimed fifth.
Early on, it was Vanasse coming off the outside pole into the lead while Brightman was under polesitter Nick Lascuola. Kevin Casper joined in as Belsito grabbed fifth from Jake Vanada. Vanasse went out to a three car lead as Lascuola faded to fifth. Scully was seventh and debating position with Darling. Ten laps in Vanasse was running 2 cars up on Brightman, while Belsito had moved to third, followed by Lascuola and Kevin.
But by lap 14, Brightman had closed up and was looking to Vanasse’s low side while Belsito was closing up. Two circuits later, Brightman looked underneath and the leaders went wheel-to-wheel. Mighty Mike seized the advantage and took the lead on lap 17. Vanasse pursued stubbornly, all over Brightman’s bumper while Belsito was three cars back. Three cars back, Lascuola had Kevin looking high and low, who was likewise troubled by Darling . . . and Kenny Spencer was snugged up on Darling. Casper took fourth, putting Lascuola on the outside freight train that goes only backwards. Belsito had snugged up on Vanasse for three cars going nose-to-tail. Lap 26 saw the leaders lap their first opponent, Alex Mielnicki.
As Brightman worked out to a five-car lead, Belsito concentrated on Vanasse getting underneath on lap 30. He went through into second as Casper closed to Vanasse’s bumper. The three-car gap closed quickly and Belsito was poised on Brightman’s rear on lap 36. Brightman protected his inside, so the callenge was taken to the high side. Belsito edged up as Brightman dueled. But as the laps unwound, the movement continued and finally Belsito had nosed out on lap 41. One more circuit and he owned the lead. Behind them Vanasse still had Casper on his bumper and behind them, Scully and Darling battled side by side. Scully was loose in turn four and took a tour across the infield but was able to continue.
Midpoint on the race saw Belsito leading Brightman, Vanass, Kevin Casper, Darling and Kevin Folan . But it also saw Mike Mitchell and Lascuola together and both cars careened down the front stretch wall.
On the restart Belsito escaped Brightman. Vanasse edged under Brightman but the latter pulled ahead. A resurgent Scully then went under Vanasse to third. But lap 62 saw another pause as Fred Astle spun, and Spencer, Hussey, Mielnicki and Ryan Lineham were all around in turn two. Rick Martin had heavy front end damage and had to be helped to the pits, ending his night.
Scully took three laps to work past Belsito before Bobby Pelland III spin in turn four. Scully retook the lead on the restart and Belsito dropped in front of Brightman. After Vanasse dropped behind Darling, the latter took on Mighty Mike. He went to the outside and began to pull forward. Scully could not shake Belsito but Brightman held off Darling, who settled in.
Belsito came alive, working high and low on Scully. Darling was doing likewise to Brightman. He looked outside and took three laps to edge into third. Belsito looked under and Scully slammed the door. Again, and Scully pulled away. There was brief contact, but both came away unharmed.
With ten to go, Scully began to show some looseness in the turns and Belsito went to work on it. He got underneath, then went to the front in turn three. Scully executed a drop under but Belsito closed the door. He began to build a lead on Scully: 2 cars on lap 92, six cars on lap 93 and eight lengths with four to go. It was a twelve car lead under the white flag.
Completing the top ten were: Houlihan, Astle, Kevin Casper, Kyle Casper and Vanada.
Spencer and Hussey made it 12 cars still running of the 20 which started, 100 laps back.