Lee USA Speedway 7-16-21 Race Report
Lee, NH – The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Rodfather Late Model Sportsmen contested round #3 of the NHSTRA Race for the Ring at Lee USA Speedway on Friday night, and Bryan Kruczek dominated the competition, winning both ends of the twin 40-lap doubleheader.
Kruczek started out the night by laying down the quick lap in time trials, which set him up perfectly for win number one. The Newmarket driver immediately jumped out from his pole position start to take the lead, and from there he was literally off to the races.
He ran basically uncontested over the 40-lap distance, and when the checkers waved, he rolled the Bobby Webber Racing machine into victory lane for the fifth time this season.
Ricky Bly was best of the rest in the runner-up slot, with Bobby Frappier, Bobby Melvin, Jr., Frankie Eldredge, Cam Huntress, Jay Maki, Steve Paquette, Mark Hudson, and Charlie Colby the remainder of the top ten.
Win number six for Kruczek wasn’t far behind, as he once again got it done in the nightcap. Rookie contender Huntress had set the pace for the first ten laps, but a caution found Kruczek lined up alongside on the restart, and he was a man on a mission.
Kruczek ran the outside to the lead, and he never looked back. He was once again the class of the field, and led the balance of the 40-lapper to claim the victory. Frappier improved a spot from the first race to claim second place honors, with Huntress rounding out the podium in third.
Fourth spot went to Bly, with Colby, Paquette, Hudson, Jesse Bousquet, Melvin, and Eldredge getting sixth through tenth.
In the R&R Race Parts Street Stocks, it was rookie Milton Duran getting the job done, holding off a late-race challenge from multi-time feature winner Jimmy Renfrew, Jr. to pick up career win number one. The pair took the white flag side by side, but Duran held on the claim the checkers.
Renfrew moved into sole possession of the points lead with his second place finish, with newcomer Ryan Phillips in for third in his first start of the 2021m season. Travis Hollins and Oscar LeClair rounded out the top five.
After apparent winner Jeremy Decourcy failed post-race tech, crowd favorite Christin DeStefano was awarded the victory in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Six Shooters, which was quite an achievement after a mid-race incident that looked like it might have ended her night.
In the aftermath, former champ Adam Knowles headed to the pits, done for the night, while Christin ducked in for some quick repairs during the caution, and she made it back out for the restart. DeStefano came back strong to drive through the field to second, but as a result of the DQ, her night ended with the winner’s trophy.
Rookies Mike Yeaton and Chris Jones were moved up to second and third in the finishing order, with veterans Tom Harton and Travis Hollins closing out the top five.
Points leader Noah McGrath grabbed his second feature win of the year in the MLM Diagnostics Pure Stocks, after battling past his brother Zach for the top spot at mid-race. The siblings led the field across the stripe for a one-two finish, with Justin Faford, Dustan Moreau, and Derek McKeen finishing up the top five.
The NEMA Lites were back in town for their second appearance of 2021m, with a strong 16-car field on hand for their special 50-lap main event. Veteran Paul Scally set the pace in the early going, but he was eventually caught and passed by the high-flying Jake Trainor, who went on to score the win aboard the Seymour “Spirit of Boston” machine. Scally and Joey Bailey rounded out the podium.
Sources: Rich Hayes/