Raabe dominates American Racer North Feature, Branham returns to Victory Lane

7/29/2024

Airborne Park Speedway

Raabe dominates American Racer North Feature, Branham returns to Victory Lane

PLATTSBURGH, NY. -- Chris Raabe won Thursday’s 60-lap American Racer North Series Feature at Airborne Park Speedway over David Hebert and Mike Mahaney, leading all but one lap and collecting $3,250USD ($4,500CAD) for his efforts. Bucko Branham won the Sportsman Feature with Tylor Terry, Kris Clark and Jamie Whitney, Jr. all reaching victory lane.

Adam Pierson and Raabe had the front row for the modified feature. Raabe won his heat race and Pierson finished 4th in his, making the redraw. Raabe led the first lap while Pierson slid back to 4th spot as Hebert and Felix Roy got on the move early. A trio of caution flags fell in the first half of the race. One for Jeffrey Lapalme, who had smoke and the occasional flame underneath his car. Another for Brianna Ladouceur with a rear suspension issue and another for George Foley, who stopped on the frontstretch. Ladouceur returned, Foley was not able to.

Roy took the lead from Raabe on lap 15 right before one of the cautions flew. He chose the inside for the restart, and it appeared he may be set to lead the way as the bottom had been dominant, but Raabe worked the middle to perfection on the restart and led lap 16. From there he did not look back, lapping up to 9th position and winning by nearly a half-track. Hebert moved around Roy late as the pair battled for 2nd, eventually allowing Mahaney to get around Roy as well to cap off the podium. Roy was 4th with Tim Fuller 5th. Gage Morin finished 6th with Carey Terrance 7th, William Racine 8th and Adam Pierson and Steve Bernier completing the top-10.

In the J&S Steel Sportsman, Bucko Branham passed Tanner Forbes late to pick up his first win of the year. Forbes shared the front row with Caleb Durgan and led from the early going. Branham started 10th and began making his way forward early, using a lap 15 caution and restart to catch Forbes and pass him a few laps later. In the final two laps, Joey Scarborough took over 2nd position and was reeling Branham in but ran out of time as Branham returned to the winners’ circle. Scarborough was 2nd and Michael Wright was 3rd. Evan Roberts surged to 4th from 9th. Donovan Lussier completed the top-five. Forbes was scored 9th at the finish, being docked five positions for contact with another car after the checkered flag.

Tylor Terry won the 9th State Cannabis Renegade Feature, his fourth win of the season. Tyler Irwin and Mark Caron led the field to green for their 20-lap feature. Irwin was the early leader, looking as good as he has all year, leading the first three laps with Richie Turner entering the mix on the outside. Turner took the lead from Irwin for the next three laps, but Terry was on the move down low and led from lap seven until the checkered flag. Nat Guay was 2nd with Turner 3rd, scoring his second podium in a row. Shawn Duquette survived mechanical issues early in the night to finish 4th. Josh Terry was 5th. Tylor Terry also collected the $50 Precision Heating and Air Conditioning Hard Charger bonus, going from 9th to win, passing eight cars.

Kris Clark won the Moore Recycling Mini Stock Feature despite starting 20h. Clar drove around the outside of Speedy Bresette on lap 11 and pulled away for his second win in a row. Bresette was 2nd with Senecal 3rd. Caleb Tourville was 4th with Josh LaPorte, Jr. completing the top-five.

Clark wasn’t the only mini stocker to go back-to-back on Thursday, either. Jamie Whitney., Jr. won the B-Feature for the second week in a row, despite being turned on the opening lap. Whitney took the lead in a three-way battle between himself, Kyle Botala and Brett Manor, with Whitney coming out on top. Botala was 2nd and Manor was 3rd. Tyler Bell and Haiden Bordeau completed the top-five.

Airborne Park Speedway is back with more Thursday Night Thunder, powered by New England Ford Dealers, on Thursday, August 1 for Riley Ford Night. There will be a $500-to-win Moore Recycling Mini Stock Feature, along with a full card of the regular divisions, including the Be Cool Heating and Air Conditioning 358 Modifieds. There will be a driver autograph session during intermission. Racing starts at 7PM. General admission is $15, kids 12 and under and free! Pit passes are $28 for members and $38 for non-members.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

JULY 25, 2024 - UniFirst Night

American Racer North 358 Modified Feature

Pos. (start) driver, hometown