Results from Friday, June 24, 2016
Lee, NH – The Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models rolled into Lee USA Speedway 26 strong on Friday night, running along with the five regular NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season weekly divisions for another full night of racing action on the quick 3/8ths mile oval.
Joe Squeglia, Jr. of nearby Derry, who spent much of his early career turning laps at “New Hampshire’s Center of Speed” in Hobby Stocks, Street Stocks, and Pro Stocks dating back to the early 1990‘s, was the big winner when the checkers flew to end the fast-paced 150-lap main event.
Squeglia grabbed the early lead on the long-distance run, but Newmarket’s Bryan Kruczek got past to lead the middle portion of the race in the A Family Cab-sponsored entry. Not to be outdone, Squeglia worked his way back past to lead the final laps, posting his first career touring series victory aboard the Piquette and Howard Electric/Automart/Cairns Equipment ride.
Travis Benjamin of Morrill, Me was up in the late laps from a 15th place start on the grid to collect runner-up honors, with Mike Hopkins of Hermon, ME rounding out the podium with a strong third place finish after starting the race in the twelfth spot.
Another driver who spent the early days of his career at Lee, local favorite Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. of Hudson checkered fourth, with Kruczek settling for fifth after leading 36 laps in the mid stages of the race. Sixth went to Derek Ramstrom of West Boylston, MA, followed by Jeremy Davis of Tamworth, D.J. Shaw of Center Conway, Joey Doiron of Berwick, ME, and Richie Dearborn of Hollis, ME.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action saw Rochester’s Mike Spurling making his first 2016 trip to victory lane in the 30-lap EKeys4cars Supermodified feature event, becoming the fourth different winner in five weeks of open-wheeled action.
Spurling jumped out to the early lead with Kyle Sawyer of Raymond in pursuit for the first several laps as the field sorted out behind. Second-generation racer “Hollywood” Dave Helliwell of Pelham eventually joined the lead battle late in the race to make it a three-way fight for the top spot, but Spurling prevailed and took down his first win of the 2016 campaign.
Helliwell bested Sawyer with the checkers in sight to back up his win from a week earlier with a strong runner-up effort, with Sawyer, two-time 2016 winner Lance Barthelemy of Fremont, Mike Murphy of Groveland, MA, Raymond’s Mike Keddy, veteran Jim Lowrey, Jr. of Tilton, Kingston’s Moe Lattime, Jim Barker of Meredith, and Leslie Keyser of Northfield rounding out the top ten.
Rookie Kris Miller of Bedford jumped out to the early lead in the R&R Public Wholesalers Late Model Sportsman feature, moving out to set the pace as the field approached the halfway mark. Former two-time champ Grant Aither of Exeter moved in to challenge at that point, and he dropped to the low side and came away with the top spot headed to the crossed flags.
It was all but over from there, as Aither led the balance of the 30-lap run to collect his second checkered flag of the 2016 campaign. Nate Leavitt of Buxton, ME was up in the late laps to take second place honors, followed by Exeter’s Jimmy Russell, George Helliwell of Pelham, Miller, Trevor Randlett of Holderness, Ray Dinsmore of Waterboro, ME, Steve Paquette of Seabrook, Craig Smith, and Jesse Bousquet of Pittsfield.
The David’s Race Cars and Components Hobby Stock main went green with hard-luck Jay Avery of Berwick, ME on the point, and he went on to lead the first nine laps before yielding the top spot to veteran driver Eric Hoffman of Newmarket approaching the halfway mark.
Hoffman held serve for the next several laps, but he eventually fell to the outside charge of former LMS champ Boe Green of Berwick, ME, who moved to the lead with three laps remaining and held on until the checkers waved to post his first win of the 2016 season.
Manchester’s Bill Clement, Sr. was next across the stripe to grab second, with Hoffman holding on for a season-best third place result. Fourth went to two-time champ Patrick Tanguay of Lebanon, ME, followed by Epping’s Dylan Bilodeau, Avery, Kevin Aberle of Wilmington, MA, Jim Piaseczny of Epsom, with Jake Michaud and Chris “Rooftop” Harding of Lebanon, ME closing out the top ten.
The Tri-City Line-X Ironman feature event was action-packed from start to finish, with rookie Jamie Holland of Somersworth setting the pace for the first 20 laps of the extra-distance main. Holland ran the race of his life until a late-race challenge from the two-time winner, hometown racer Ryan Pitkin knocked him back to second with five laps to go.
Pitkin led the final few laps to post his third win of the 2016 season, with Holland posting a career-best runner-up. Defending champ Troy Washburn was third, followed by 2014 champion Travis Hollins, Seabrook’s Adam Knowles, Anthony Nadeau of Epping, Luke Grammont of Nottingham, Zach Washburn of Rochester, Kaycie Kustra of Lee, and Joe LaPorte of Londonderry.
There were no surprises when Epping’s Tyler Mailhot scored his fourth win of the year in the MLM Diagnostics Pure Stocks, taking the checkers over John Boomhower of Epping and Danielle Evans of Berwick, ME.
Our next event at Lee USA Speedway will be Friday, July 1st, we will be celebrating the 4TH of July with Giant Fireworks Display! EKeys4 Cars Presents the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series E Keys4 Cars Super Modifieds, R&R Wholesale Late Model Sportsman, David’s Race Cars & Components Hobby Stocks, Tri-City Line X Ironman Divisions & MLM Diagnostic Services Pure Stocks. Racing begin
Sources: Lee USA Speedway PR