Beaulieu Outlasts Field in National Qualifier
Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway – September 15, 2012
Scarborough, ME — The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour was back at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway this past weekend for the final time of the 2012 season. It was one of the biggest weekends in short track racing, the PASS 400 weekend, featuring many of the top divisions in New England. The Legends drivers were up for a big prize, not only racing in front of the huge crowd, but the race was a 50 lap National Qualifier, and whoever won their division would get a provisional into the A-Main at the Legends Nationals at Atlanta Motor Speedway later this year. With tight point's racing and just three races remaining , the race was set to be a thriller for the crowd.
The first heat race rolled onto the track with point's leader Matt Bourgoine on the pole with the 4 of Peter Craig on the outside. At the start, Bourgoine was able to get away from the field and lead while it was a tight battle behind him for second. The 12 car of Charlie Buxton worked his way through and took the runner up spot with Alan Smith in the 33 right behind. That's how it finished as the heat ran clean and green with Bourgoine taking the win with Buxton and Smith rounding out the podium.
Heat race number two rolled out and ironically enough the pole sitter was the driver chasing Bourgoine in the points, Evan Beaulieu in car 56. On his outside was Beech Ridge regular Tylar Braunschweig in the 70 car. At the start, Beaulieu was able to pull away with the lead while once again the field was getting sorted out for the second spot. It was another clean and green heat race, with Beaulieu taking the win over the 2 of Ryan Hammar and the 399 of Bob Weymouth.
Unknown ObjectNext up was the 50 lap feature. While the Tour is used to running 25 lap features, this race doubled that distance and being able to make it through 50 laps around Beech Ridge is no easy task in the hard to handle Legends Cars. On the start, it was pole sitter Bourgoine who jumped out to the lead over Beaulieu who started second. It didn't take long for a lead change however, as Beaulieu made his move early and took the lead on lap three, taking his team mate Buxton with him to second spot as Bourgoine was caught on the outside. Just a couple laps into the feature the 84 of Matt Grant went for a spin after contact with the 81 of Dan Winter, but the drivers were able to continue on without a caution flag being thrown. The race ran clean with Beaulieu up front and Bourgoine fighting his way to second with Hammar in third until with seven laps to go, the right front fender on Beaulieu's car ripped off, forcing a caution for the debris.
The field was realigned, and just like the year before, it was Beaulieu in the first spot with Bourgoine to his outside ready to settle this race between them. As the green flag came out, the two drivers drew even into turn one, but Beaulieu was able to pull away once again, and hang on to take the win! Bourgoine crossed the line in second with Hammar in third. Buxton and Smith rounded out the top five.
Beaulieu is not going down without a fight, as he took his third win in the last four races, but Bourgoine is doing what he has to do as well and is right there behind him in all the races and able to keep the points lead. This battle will come down to the final race in three weeks at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. After all was said done, five $100 checks were given away to teams as part of the Amsoil "Green to Checkered" program, which says if the race runs incident free there will be a random draw for money. Amsoil the series sponsor was able to send the checks home to very deserving teams at the end of the night. The next race for the Tour will be Saturday, September 22nd at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, as part of the Nascar weekend. The race is slated to start at 5:45 PM, right after the ACT Late Model Invitational race. Be sure to come to NHMS for a thrilling day of short track racing on the big stage and root on your favorite Legends driver that night! Adult tickets start at $35 with youth tickets (12-16) just $5 and kids 11 and under get in for free. For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.
NELCAR
BRMS NQ FEATURE FINISH 9-15-12
FINISH CAR # NAME
1 56 EVAN BEAULIEU
2 38 MATHEW BOURGOINE
3 2 RYAN HAMMAR
4 12B CHARLIE BUXTON
5 33 ALAN SMITH
6 399 BOB WEYMOUTH
7 17 TERRY KIRK
8 81 DAN WINTER
9 88 STEVE FOX
10 51 JOHN PETERS®
11 84 MATT GRANT®
12 8 MATT CHAGNOT
13 87 ANTHONY PAGLIARULO
14 4 PETER CRAIG
15 19 KEVIN GIRARD JR®
16 10 ED GETTY
17 49 PETE CANNELL
18 O9 GARRETT HAYES®
19 70 TYLAR BRAUNSCHWEIG
20 25 LARRY POIRIER
Sources: Evan Beaulieu/NELCAR PR