6/25/2023
Lee USA Speedway
STAR Tour Visits While Griffith, Cameron, Knowles, and Martin Visit Victory Lane!
Lee, NH
A beautiful and warm summer Friday night after a rainy week brought numerous cars and fans out to New Hampshire’s Center of Speed. While the team has been busy making improvements for the fans and drivers to enjoy this writer especially enjoyed the new grilled cheese that has been added to the concessions this season; the action on the tracks was just as enjoyable. This week’s Lee USA Speedway Division winners report: Rodfather Pro Stocks Derek Griffith (12G), Black Flag Podcast Ridge Runners David Cameron (2), O’Reilly Auto Parts Six Shooters Adam Knowles (22), and MLM Diagnostic Services Colton Martin (4).
The Senior Tour Auto Racers known as STAR Tour made an appearance at the Center of Speed to bring what they call the "STARS AND CARS OF YESTERYEAR" on display. They competed in two divisions, the Sportsman Division and the Modified Division. They use cars built prior to 1979 and work to preserve the history of racing.
#1 Joe Goth in a 1965 Chevy Nova won the STAR Sportsman division heat.
#2X Charlie Lima in a 1937 Chevy Coupe won the STAR Sportsman division feature.
#43 Alan Zemla in a 1937 Chevy Coupe won the STAR Modified division heat.
#61QC Jocelyn Laliberte in a 1972 Ford Pinto won the STAR Modified division feature.
MLM Diagnostic Services Pure Stocks took to the track next with 12 cars to run 20 laps. Adam Bousquet (07) and Ben Bushey (07VT) won the heat races and as such would start on the front row for the feature. Drop of the green would Bousquet jumped out to the lead but the caution would fly as Bushey would slow on the start and would make contact with the 21 of Mackenzie Belisle and the wall ending his day. Bousquet would be joined by Justin Faford (104) on the front row for the restart. Bousquet would take right off where he left off before the caution flew. On lap 5 Colton Hull (24) made the pass for the 2nd spot as Bousquet continued to increase his lead. With ten laps to go Hull pulled up to the back bumper of Bousquet. Lap 14 Martin took over the 3rd spot as Hull and Bousquet battled out for the lead. On lap 17 caution comes out as Hull and Bousquet made contact causing the Bousquet to spin in turn 1 ending his day and sending Hull to the Pits to repair damage giving the lead to Martin. As such Faford moved to 2nd and 3rd for the 54 of Jeffrey Turcotte. Martin and Faford brought the field to the green and Martin would rocket out to the lead. Martin would hold on for the win followed by Faford and Carlos Grenier used a pass on the restart to move into the 3rd spot.
The O’Reilly Auto Part Six Shooters took 10 cars to the track for 20 laps. Knowles won the lone heat race. Christin Destefano (67) joined Knowles on the front row for the feature. Knowles took advantage of the front row start to cruise to victory lane. Destefano followed closely behind Knowles the entire time hoping for a mistake by Knowles but was forced to settle for the 2nd spot. Early on it was Steve Miller Sr. (68) running in 3rd but on lap 12 Michael Yeaton made the pass for the 3rd spot. The excitement happened when Yeaton and a few cars made contact sending Yeaton sideways but he was up for the challenge to save the car and hold onto the 3rd spot and another podium finish.
Black Flag Podcast Ridge Runners would be running 25 laps. Cameron won the heat race followed closely by Zachary Fraser (37Z). Cameron and Fraser brought the field to the green flag. Cameron took off where he left off in the heat race jumping to the lead with Fraser and Brian Caswell (63) in tow. Lap 3 Caswell made the pass of Fraser for the 2nd spot; two laps later Carl Gagnon (99N) got around Fraser as well. Cameron held on for the win followed by Caswell in 2nd and Gagnon in 3rd.
Rodfather Pro Stocks time trialed for their 75 lap feature event. Griffith set the fast time with a best lap time of 14.590. Wayne Helliwell Jr. set the 2nd fastest lap of 14.770. Griffith and Helliwell Jr. brought the 16 car field to the green. Griffith took the lead early but after a lap 30 restart Helliwell Jr. made his presence known lap after lap as the two raced side by side only a sheet of paper apart changing the lead back and forth but on lap 40 Griffith took the top spot back and never looked back as he sailed into victory lane. Helliwell Jr. had to settle for the 2nd spot. Brandon Barker (32) used a lap 50 pass to get the 3rd spot and he would hold onto that spot to wrap up the podium. Teams used the night as a test as they prepare for the big July 14th race in which NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch will be racing in.
Lee USA Speedway is back in action next Sunday July 2, 2023 with pits opening at 10am and grandstands at 11:30am. Practice starts at noon with racing starting at 2pm. A large card of action featuring Rodfather Pro Stocks, Original Wheelman Late Models, Black Flagged Podcast Ridge Runners, MLM Diagnostic Services Pure Stocks, EVOLVE Pro Trucks, NEMA, and NEMA Lites.
**Results not official until Monday at Noon
Article Credit: Ryan Lawliss
Submitted By: Mark Beaudry
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