Big Bucks for Bly, Big Speedway Win for Rocke at Claremont
CLAREMONT, N.H. – (May 31, 2024) — Ricky Bly won the big bucks, Trevor Rocke found the magic that had eluded him in the first month of the season, and Erin Aiken closed out her marvelous month of May with her eighth win of the young season on Friday night at Claremont Motorsports Park.
Other winners on the storied third-mile speedplant’s eighth event of the 2024 season included Nolan McClay, victorious in the Mini Stocks, young star Gage Dillingham, who won his second Pure Stock main event of the summer, and Space Cowboy Steve Miller St., who powered to victory in the first of two Friday night Six Shooter features.
Travis Sykes and David Thibodeau led the R.E. Hinkley Fuels Super Streets to the green, with Sykes pouncing on the green flag lead and threatening to wire the 30-lapper to earn his first win of the season. Trevor Rocke though, firing from row three, had different plans.
Gunning for his own first victory lap of the summer, Rocke was in the mix all night. Jimmy Zullo held the deuce the first nine go-rounds, with Rocke then moving up and quickly closing Sykes’ huge early-race lead.
Blasting around the top of the track, he took the lead on lap 28 and then held Sykes behind him for the Friday night victory. Matt Sonnhalter, coming from way back in row five was third, just inches ahead of Dave Greenslit.
Sonnhalter’s big run was important, as he picked up 30 points on division leader Brandon Gray, who struggled with mechanical woes that dropped him to 15th on the night.
In the Judd’s Automotive Tour Type Late Model 50-lapper, Ricky Bly led all the way to earn the $1,000 Friday night purse. The Sunapee speedster held a perfect line all 50 laps, as did runner-up Aaron Fellows, who rode in his shadow all the way. Kyle Goodbout edged Brandon Gray for third.
Amy Jaycox took the lead from rookie Carter Conroy on lap two of the LaValley Building Supply Pure Stock feature and led the next 21 laps. Gage Dillingham, from row four, took charge with two to go, and Jaycox’s bid for glory then tanked when there was contact from another car while strong in second with the white flag lap awaiting.
Two-time 2024 winner Andrea St. Amour was second on the night, adding ten markers to her divisional points lead over Keegan Tabor. Rookie Kyle Kenny had another impressive run, coming home third, while Jaycox recovered for sixth, just behind Conroy, whose fifth-place finish was a career-best.
Steve Miller Sr. and Erin Aiken split a pair of Avery Insurance Six Shooter features. Miller led all the way in the 30-lap Krupski Memorial event, held over from an April 28 rain-postponed event. Aiken dropped Steve Miller Jr. to second on lap 17 but could advance no further.
In the nightcap 25-lapper, she took the lead from Miller Sr. on lap 12 and blasted off to her third CMP Six Shooter win of the season and incredible eighth victory in the month of May, racing in two divisions across four Granite State tracks. Miller Jr. got up for second on lap 19 but, again, was no match for Aiken.
Nolan McClay rocketed into the lead at the green in the Mini Stock main and then led all the way to score his first CMP win of the season. Kyle Templeton was a close third in the caution-free 25-lapper, and Dylan Quinn, in his first CMP race ever, earned the third-place hardware.
Jim Allen of Westminster, MA topped the New England Antique Racers Modified 15 lapper aboard a 1967 Mustang ride once raced at Wall Stadium. Henry Stampfl was second, and Gomer Taylor came home third. In the NEAR Sportsman feature, Jeremy Huntoon, piloting one of the three BRS rides in the field, picked up the win ahead of Dave Manning and CV Elms.
Claremont Motorsports Park returns to action next Friday, June 7, with a huge seven-division card of NASCAR Advance Auto Parks Weekly Racing Series action, headlined by the Asetex Tire & Auto Sportsman Modifieds and R.E. Hinkley Fuels Super Streets in a features-only format night of racing. Post time is 7 p.m.
CLAREMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK MAY 31 TOP PERFORMERS
SUPER STREET: Trevor Rocke, Travis Sykes, Matt Sonnhalter, David Greenslit, Dylan Zullo, Joe Tetreault, Chris Lindquist, Robbie Streeter, Jimmy Zullo, David Thibodeau.
TOUR TYPE LATE MODEL: Ricky Bly, Aaron Fellows, Kyle Goodbout, Brandon Gray, Cam Curtis, Ryan Currier, Craig Smith.
PURE STOCK: Gage Dillingham, Andrea St. Amour, Kyle Kenny, Zach Richardson, Carter Conroy, Amy Jaycox, Keegan Tabor, Jake Snide, Chris Conroy, David Smith.
MINI STOCK: Nolan McClay, Kyle Templeton, Dylan Quinn, David Pratt II, DNS: Josh Dunn.
SIX SHOOTER (30-LAP CARRY-OVER): Steve Miller Sr., Erin Aiken, Steve Miller Jr., David Bell, Paul Colburn, Rozwell Mason Jr., Garrett Barry.
SIX SHOOTER 25-LAP REGULAR EVENT: Erin Aiken, Steve Miller Jr., Steve Miller Sr., Paul Colburn, Garrett Barry, David Bell, Rozwell Mason Jr.
Sources: Mike Parks/Claremont Motorsports Park PR
Miss Emm Photos