Annual Turkey Day Classic a Snowy Success
Claremont, NH- Despite the recent snow fall and colder temperatures the 4th annual Turkey Day Classic took to the Thrasher Road speed plant to wrap up the season! As 154 race teams packed the pit area for an action-filled day of racing from 9 different divisions.
RE Hinkley Super Streets kicked off the evening with their 50 lap $1000 to win race with 15 cars in attendance. Andrew Morin in car #30, a regular at Lee Speedway and Hudson Speedway, jumped out to the early lead but it didn’t take long for him to see a familiar face driving past him car #2 driven by another Lee and Hudson regular, Charlie Baldwin. Despite some cautions for various mechanical failures across various cars Baldwin maintained the top spot, capturing the $1000 payday. Corey Fanning in the 11F, a regular at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl, started in the 6th spot and by lap 26 took control of the 2nd spot holding off all challenges to finish 2nd. Jeff Alley in car #24 from Jonesport, Maine and a regular on the R&R Open Street Stocks drove from his 7th starting spot and used a lap pass finished 3rd.
The New England Dwarf Car Series presented by Bumpy’s Auto Service and Construction Site Machinery came to town for a non-points open race in which Bumpy’s Auto Service picked up the drivers pit pass costs. 2024 Series Champion Tom Harwood in his orange #29 wasted no time jumping out into the lead come feature time. The race would go caution free and would see Harwood take the win. Ryan Carman in the 08 gave chase trying everything he could to get around Harwood but would settle for 2nd. Ronnie Carman in the 07 car used the outside over the last few laps to take the 3rd spot at the line over the 08x of Caden Roberts.
Mini Stocks rolled out onto the track next for their 25-lap feature. 2024 Division Champion Kyle Templeton in his familiar #671 took the lead and looked to be the class of the field before surrendering the lead to Julia Kendall in car #62 on lap 19 after she had been lurking and looking for a way from the drop of the green flag. Templeton would retire 2 laps later. Julia Kendal would hold on to take the win. Cameron Sontag in the #13 ran a great race and was able to finish 2nd. Rounding out the podium was Joey Kendal in car #131.
RaceDayTV Ridge Runners and the PRO V-8 Sportsman cars were tasked with running together with each running under their own rules. Nick Prenaveau in car 29H led the first 5 laps before Brian Caswell in the 63 wrestled the top spot away. Heath DeButts in car #76 ran 2nd for most of the race but his day came to an end on lap 21 due to a flat tire. Adam Lovejoy in the 29 assumed the 2nd spot with Cody Boucher in the 9NH taking over 3rd. At the checkered flag it was Caswell taking the win followed by Lovejoy in 2nd and Boucher in 3rd.
LaValley Building Supply Pure Stocks rolled out next. They would see Gage Dillingham in the 41D take the early lead. Kyle Kenny in the 57 took over the top spot on lap 17. Kenny would go on to take the win putting an exclamation point on an amazing rookie season! Dillingham’s day ended on lap 18 and the 11NH of David Smith capitalized on this to take over the 2nd spot, where he would finish. Eric Laurendeau in the 20x started 2nd but fell back as far as 7th early in the race before bidding his time and staying out of trouble in order to finish 3rd.
The Avery Insurance Six Shooters saw plenty of new faces in attendance but would see familiar faces on the podium. Bradey Lamotte started on the pole and would lead the first 22 laps of the 25-lap feature before the one they call the “Space Cowboy”, Steve Miller Sr drove his number 68 machine around Lamotte for the lead. Miller Sr would hold on for the Chexkers with Lamotte in 2nd spot. The man with the best seat in the house for the battle for the lead settled for third and that was Steve Miller Jr. in the #79. Sreve Miller Sr’s win was short lived as he failed post-race inspection.
Next, on the schedule fans were treated to one of the two divisions making their debut at Claremont Motorsports Park, the Crown Vic’s. Fans were treated to great racing throughout the entire field with Chris Knight driving the #9 leading the entire race to be the first ever winner in the division at the track. John Materess in the #16 rode in the 3rd spot for the first half of the race before taking over 2nd on lap 15 and boy did, he did everything he could to get to Knight but just didn’t have enough time. Materess would have to settle for 2nd. Jacob Michaud in car #82 finished 3rd after taking over the spot on lap 16.
The Hudson Hippos, also making their debut were the 2nd to last division to run. Fans were not disappointed as they put on action very similar to that of fan favorite enduro but in racing fashion! Adam Perkins in van #87 took the win with 2nd place going to Steve Miller and 3rd place going to van #92 JJ Goodbout.
The 4- and 6-cylinder endure started 54 cars for 75 Laps, at the end of the event the top 5 was as follows, 1st Jamie Heath, 2nd Richie Johnson, 3rd Jon Demanche Jr., 4th Justin Harris and 5th JD Stockwell.
We would like to thank all the drivers, crews, fans, and staff for an amazing day of racing, and we hope you all can join us again during the 2025 season!
Sources: Mike Parks/Claremont Motorsports Park PR
Miss Emm Photo
Top three Super Streets
1st Center Charlie Baldwin
2nd Left Corey Fanning
3rd Right Jeff Alley