Story By: RYAN LAWLISS / MONADNOCK SPEEDWAY – WINCHESTER, NH – Monadnock Speedway opened their season on a beautiful spring day and a packed house. Though the temperatures dropped after the sun went down the action on the track never cooled off. The fans were treated to all of the NASCAR All-American Series divisions along with the return of the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
During practice 2 drivers from the International Supermodified Association took some laps in advance of the May 19th race on the High Banks of Monadnock Speedway. I managed to chat with both drivers between practice sessions. Tim Jedrzejek took some laps in his #97 Supermodified. Jedrzejek traveled from Cleveland, OH to take his laps today. When asked what he thinks of the track he stated that “it’s (Monadnock Speedway) a tricky place. Both ends of the track are unique.” Jedrzejek also stated that he hopes to see a packed house. Dan Bowes from Epping, NH in the #25 was the other Supermodified present. Bowes said that he is still trying to figure out the track but that for the size of the track its fast.
The first feature of the season would be the 15 lap Young Gun feature. Nathan Wenzel brought the field to the green in his #03. Sammy Silva in the 28 and Matt Lambert in the 18L would follow closely. Wenzel would lead until lap 14 when he would slow on the front stretch. Wenzel was able to get off the track and avoid bringing out the yellow. Silva would inherit the lead and would go on to win his first race of his career. Lambert finished 2nd and Cooper Roberge in the 96 finished 3rd. Silva was excited about his first race in his new car.
Mini Stocks took to the track next for their 25 lap feature. The 31 of Tommy Silva sat on the pole with Desmond Skillings in the 90 on the outside. Skillings would jump out to the early lead but Mike Stebbins in the 66 would take the lead on lap 5. Skillings would run in 2nd until lap 14 when Matt Kimball in the 50x would get around him. Stebbins would pull away from the field until a caution on lap 19. On the restart Stebbins would be joined on the front row by the Kimball. On Lap 23 the caution would fly once more. The restart would be single file. Stebbins would lead Kimball and Skillings to the green. Stebbins would hold on for the win. Kimball would finish 2nd and Skillings crossed the line in 3rd. Stebbins stated that he will be back racing until at least the middle of August.
The 25 lap Super Stock feature rolled onto the track next. Solomon Brow in the 33 and Tyler Leary in the 11x started on the front row and what a show they would put on for the fans. Brow and Leary would race side by side until the caution flew on lap 4. Brow and Leary restarted on the front row again. They caution would fly again on Lap 8. On the restart Brow and Leary would race side by side trading the lead back and forth until Brow and Leary made contact on lap 23 which brought out a caution. Geoff Rollins in the 02 would assume the lead before the restart followed by Dennis Stange in the 44 took over 2nd and Cole Littlewood took over 3rd. On the restart Rollins took the lead. Cole Littlewood worked his way around Stange. Rollins would hold on for the win. Littlewood held on to finish 2nd and Stange finished 3rd. Rollins was happy to get the first win out of the way, but was unable to talk much as he had to go prepare for the Sportsman Modified race later in the evening. At press time, the top three results are unofficial.
The Lightning Stocks took to the track for their feature next. Jonathon Fultz in the 32j and the 69 of Chris Roberge led the field to the green. Jonathon Fultz would lead until lap 13 when Matt Gauffin in the 68 would take the lead coming off turn 4. Gauffin would lead the rest of the way as he captured the victory. Jonathon Fultz finished 2nd followed by Christopher Fultz in the 35 finishing 3rd. In victory lane Gauffin joked that since he was coming to watch the modified’s he might as well bring his car and have some fun.
Sportsman Modifieds rolled out next for their 35 lap feature. Joel Monahan in the 03 and Joe Kendall in the 62 brought the field of 17 Sportsman Modifieds to take the green. Monahan would take the lead at the drop of the green but it wouldn’t be long before Kendall would make his move for the top spot. Caution would fly on lap 16. On the restart Kendall would resume the lead. Geoff Rollins in the 02 would move into the 2nd spot. Then on lap 17 Rollins would get past Kendall and take over the lead. Rollins would lead the rest of the way to capture his first sportsman modified win of the season. Kendall would finish 2nd and Keith Carzello in the 8 finished 3rd. Rollins was excited in victory lane. He noted that he had 2 heat wins (today) and with this feature win that gave him 2 feature wins on the evening.
Thunder Stocks thundered onto the track next. Richard Vincent in the 4 and the 99 of Matt Robinson brought the field to the green. Vincent took the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back. The race was only slowed by 1 caution on lap 20 when the 9 of James Nowakowski had something in the rear end let go. Vincent captured the win. Coming to the checkered flag Robinson and the 45 of Ed Lofland made contact causing them to both spin out. Bruce Clark in the 39 took full advantage of the situation to finish 2nd and Chase Curtis in the 88x finished 3rd. Vincent was pleased with getting a win on opening night after having rough finishes the past few years at the Spring Dash. In a post-race inspection, Curtis was penalized for a rule infraction giving third place to Dan Comeau.
100 lap Valenti Modified Racing Series feature was the last one of the night. Mike Willis Jr. in the 83 and Todd Patnode in the 24 led the 23 car field to the green. Willis Jr. took the early lead. The caution would fly on lap 3. Willis Jr. and Patnode would again bring the field to the green. Willis Jr. took the lead until lap 18 when Patnode find his way around him. Patnode would lead until lap 26 when Woody Pitkat in the 52 made the pass for the lead. Pitkat would hold onto the lead until lap 38 when Patnode would battle back to take the top spot. Patnode would lead until lap 95 when on a restart Anthony Nocello in the 92 was able to use the outside groove to complete the pass. Nocello would hold on to take the win. Patnode crossed the line in 2nd and the 99 of Richard Savary finished 3rd. Nocello credited to being able to save enough tires for the end and on the lap 94 restart he just timed it perfect and it worked out perfectly.
Join us next Saturday night April 28th for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions (SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS, SUPER STOCKS, and MINI STOCKS) along with the LIGHTNING STOCKS AND YOUNG GUNS. Racing starts at 6pm. It is also 2 for $20 night for adults for general admission!
Sportsman Modified Results: Geoff Rolllins, Joe Kendall, Keith Carzello, Matt Kimball, Ben Byrne, Brian Chapin, Kim Rivet, Tyler Jarvenpaa, Brian Robie, Mark Hayward, Joel Monahan, Eric Leclair, Glenn Griswold, Alyssa Rivera, Mike Smith, Jessica O’Leary, Ed Chicoski
Super Stock Results (Unofficial): Geoff Rollins, Cole Littlewood, Dennis Stange, Tyler Leary, Solomon Brow, Mike Heffernan, Justin Littlewood, Jason Kozacka, Ray Ruot, Scott Beck, Marc Curtis
Mini Stock Results: Mike Stebbins, Matt Kimball, Desmond Skillings, Tim Paquette, Bill Chaffee, Ethan Marsh, Matt Boucher, Kevin McKnight, Julia Raymond, Pat Houle, Tim Wenzel, Kevin Pittsinger, David Elliot, Kurt Cormier, Tommy Silva, Louis Maher, Mike Radzuik, Austin Erickson, Robert Matheson, Kevin Plummer, Cory Plummer, Jaret Curtis
Thunder Stock Results: Richard Vincent, Bruce Clark, Dan Comeau, Craig Chaffee, Hillary Renaud, Matt Robinson, Joshua Nutter, Ed Lofland, Doug Mclean, James Nowakowski, Nathaniel Nunez, Jeff Staiti
Lightning Stock Results: Matt Gauffin, Jonathan Fultz, Christopher Fulz, Randall Phillips, Chris Davis, Josh Carey, Daniel Labraney, James Walsh,Chris Roberge, Shane Labraney, John Shedd, Ernie Coates, Kyle Robinson Newell, Leon Keniston
Young Guns: Sammy Silva, Matt Lambert, Cooper Roberge, Taylor Striebel, Chloe Wright, Gage Coates, Elijah Castillo, Nathan Wenzel
