Drivers Pull Off Photo Finishes Thursday Night At Beech Ridge

Story By: AMY HARROP / RPW – SCARBOROUGH, ME – After the second rainout of the ‘17 season last Thursday, drivers and fans returned to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Thursday for another exciting night of Thursday Night Thunder. With just four weeks left in the racing season, the points battles are heating up in all 8 divisions, with every driver giving it all they’ve got for a chance to be in the top 5 in points at the conclusion of the season.

The Legends division took to the track first for their 25-lap feature. Annette Humphrey led the field to green, followed by Roger Edgecomb, Ed Getty, Ryan Doucette and Parker Varney. Edgecomb pulled away with the early lead, leading the first lap. Later, Kevin Girard, Annette Humphrey and Parker Varney all went around in turn 3, drawing out the day’s first caution. After the restart, the #28 of Kevin Oliver was charging, finding his way up to the fourth spot by lap 4. By lap 8, he was knocking on Edgecomb’s door, hungry for the top spot. The #29 of Trevor Sanborn was also making moves, charging up to the runner-up spot on lap 10. After taking the lead and battling with Trevor Sanborn for the top spot, Kevin Oliver got bent out of shape and was sent into the sand pile on lap 10 in turn 1, drawing out another caution. Kevin Girard, who was involved in the first caution, recuperated from the incident and showed strength, restarting the race from the fifth spot. Sanborn got a great jump on the restart, flying into the lead in turn 1. Girard was still charging, making his way to the inside of the #78 car, clearing them on lap 12 in turn 1. By lap 15, Girard was all over Sanborn’s bumper, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Sanborn managed to hold off Girard, winning the race by inches after battling lap traffic on the final lap coming into the final turn. Following Sanborn and Girard were the #78, Ryan Doucette and Chris Burgess.

The Mad Bomber JV division were up next, led by the #2 of Jamie Savoie and the #92 of Richard Bourgeois- Lang. They were followed by Seth Leeman, Justin Gailloux and Bob Wilson. The leaders were 3-wide for the lead coming into turn 1, with Seth Leeman winning the battle for the top spot. Wade Kennedy was charging, capturing the lead soon after in turn 3 on lap 2. By lap 8, Wade Kennedy had pulled away with a major lead, leading by ½ of a straightaway. The #18 of Devon McConologue was fighting his way to the top, capturing the runner-up spot by lap 10. Jimmy Dean, who dominated the early part of the season, was making his way up through the field, finding his way into the sixth spot by lap 13. A competition caution was brought out on lap 16 to bring the field back together. Wade Kennedy pulled away with the lead, but Danny Wear was making moves behind him, clearing McConologue for the runner-up spot on lap 17 in turn 3. Nobody was able to catch up to Kennedy and he went on to win the feature. He was followed by Danny Wear, Devon McConologue, Scott Eck and Garrett Lamb.

The Junior Varsity Mighty Trucks division took to the track next, with all drivers battling it out to see if anyone can top the #33 of Nick Calvert, who has had an outstanding Thursday Night Thunder season so far. Tanner McDougal started on the pole, followed by John Curtis, Will Potter, Robert Ferguson and Jared Kimball. Tanner McDougal immediately pulled away from the field, allowing the remainder of the field to battle it out and play catch-up. Calvert, who was looking for 4 wins on the season, found his way up to the runner-up spot on lap 2. By lap 11, he was at McDougal’s rear, challenging for the lead. He got loose on lap 12 in turn 2, losing valuable track space. But, the competition caution came out on lap 12, bringing the field back together. Calvert got a great restart, trying to make a move to the outside of McDougal in the #22. He was unable to complete the pass as McDougal maintained his lead. Nick Calvert and Jared Kimball went around on lap 13 in turn 1, drawing out another caution. Kimball showed clear frustration, angrily driving away from the scene of the wreck. After the restart, Kimball was involved with another wreck as he, Josh Kittrell and John Curts all went around on lap 13 in turn 1, drawing out yet another caution. After pushing his way up to the front, Calvert lost all of his track position, seeing that the field (for restarts) is set by where you were on the last completed green flag lap. The #20 of Danny Wear was pulling double duty, lining up for the restart in the runner-up position behind McDougal. He was at Mcdougal’s rear on the final lap, but the #22 of McDougal was able to hold off the field, earning his first win of the 2017 season. Following the #22 were Danny Wear, Robert Ferguson, Nick Calvert and Will Potter.

The JV Beetle Bug division came into Thursday night with a tight battle for the top spot in points between Chris Case, Brandon Lizotte and Alex Parechanian. Alex Dargi and Derek McKeen started on the front row, followed by Jim Emmons, Darryl Quinlan, Brandon Lizotte and Chris Case. McKeen pulled away with the early lead, but Nicholson Racing’s Darryl Quinlan was fighting to the front, clearing Alex Dargi for the runner-up spot on lap 3 in turn 1. Although he was fighting, Brandon Lizotte was too strong, clearing Quinland for the spot on lap 5 in turn 1. Chris Case was showing strength, powering through the field to end up in P3 by lap 6. A competition caution was brought out on lap 10, drawing the field back together. Derek McKeen pulled away with the lead at the restart, but, Lizotte was charging. Brandon Lizotte eventually cleared McKeen for the top spot on lap 11 in turn 1. Meanwhile, Chris Case battled his way up to the runner-up spot. By lap 15, Chris Case was all over Brandon Lizotte’s bumper. But, Lizotte was able to hold him off, resulting in his first victory of the season. He was followed by Chris Case, Alex Parechanian, Derek McKeen and Darryl Quinlan. Lizotte celebrated with family and friends after his victory, dedicating his win to his good friend, Kasey Rogers. Recruit Kasey Rogers is a member of the USMC that left for duty last week. Lizotte had Kasey’s sticker on his car with him this week, driving hard for the win.

Mary Price led the field to the green in the Ladies League feature, followed by Kaia Gammon, Sara Libby, Shelby Brannon, Betty Nelson, Kaitlynn Leavitt and Holly Gain. Mary Price pulled away with the early lead, setting the pace. Holly Gain went around in turn 3 on lap 2, but she was able to drive away and the caution wasn’t brought out. Betty Nelson had powered her way up to the runner-up spot by lap 4, searching for more. But, trouble was brewing behind her. Kaia Gammon got into Kaitlynn Leavitt on lap 6 in turn 1. No caution flag was thrown, but Kaitlynn Leavitt lost ground, falling to the rear of the pack. Shelby Brannon took a wild ride on lap 13, driving through the speedbumps in lap 1. She was able to save her car, avoiding the caution. Kaitlynn Leavitt was charging back through the field, finding her way back into the fourth spot on lap 18. Nobody was any match for Mary Price, and she was able to pull off the victory. Following Mary were Betty Nelson, Sara Libby, Kaitlynn Leavitt and Shelby Brannon. This race shook up the points standings, making it a two-way tie for the top spot between Kaitlynn Leavitt and Betty Nelson. Mary Price won this race for her mother, who recently passed away. This was also her first win on the season in the Ladies League. She faced a scary moment in the infield after the race when her car lit up in flames under the hood. Thankfully, track services were able to put the fire out and get her on her way.

Andre Gailloux and Kirk Bean Jr. started on the front row for the Mad Bombers Varsity feature, followed by Stephen Taylor, Betty Nelson and Mark Pearson. Kirk Bean broke away into the early lead, but there was trouble behind him. Jason Gammon, Stephen Taylor and Dale Alley got into it in turn 2 on the first lap, causing both Gammon and Taylor to spin. The caution was brought out, with Kirk Bean pulling away from the field once again on the restart. Kaitlynn Leavitt and Betty Nelson, who were both playing double duty, showed strength as they ran in P2 and P3 on lap 3. Kaitlynn Leavitt got caught up coming out of turn 2 on lap 4, leaving the field scrambling behind her. The #42 of Johnny Wolfe went around in turn 3 on lap 6, drawing out the caution. The #2 of Tom Lovejoy had made his way up to the runner-up spot by the restart on lap 6. He cleared Kirk Bean for the lead on lap 12 in turn 3, briefly pulling away from the pack. By lap 18, Todd Libby was at his bumper, challenging him for the top spot. By lap 21, the leaders had approached lap traffic, setting the pace. On the final lap, Jason Kennedy went around in turn 2, causing the race to end under a yellow-caution. Lovejoy won the feature, followed by Todd Libby, Jason Gammon, Chris Burgess and Ed McConologue.

The #69 of Lamson and the #39 of Weismann led the field to green in the Mighty Trucks feature, followed by Brian Darling, Mark Grantham and Matt Curts. Keith Petrin, who became a father earlier this week, took it 3-wide for P3 coming off of the green. Meanwhile, the #5 of Brian Darling pulled away with the lead. Lamson and Weismann made contact on lap 2 in turn 1, drawing out the caution. Darling pulled away at the restart, staying side-by-side with the #00 of Keith Petrin throughout lap 10. Petrin eventually cleared Darling for the lead on lap 11 in turn 1. But, Jeff Gillette was driving through the field swiftly, finding his way to Petrin’s back bumper on lap 15. The two drivers were side-by-side at the start/finish line on turn 19, preparing everyone for a wild finish. Gillette pulled off the win over Petrin by inches, making for a photo finish. They were followed by Brian Darling, Mark Grantham and Matt Curtis.

The Beetle Bug Varsity division were the last to take the stage, led by the #14 of Randy Pimpare. He was followed by Gerard Cote, Todd Hubbard and Craig Pyy. The #14 of Randy Pimpare shot into the early lead, but the #05 of Gerard Cote was charging. Cote had captured the lead by lap 12, pulling away from the pack. By lap 7, Craig Pyy was at Cote’s door, eventually capturing the lead later in the lap. Gerard Cote and Todd Hubbard got into it on lap 7 in turn 1, but no caution flag was waved. By lap 12, Pyy’s back window was full of Todd Hubbard. Pyy was able to hold him off and get the win. He was followed by Gerard Cote, Todd Hubbard and Randy Pimpare.

Thursday night was a night full of intense and entertaining racing. Drivers like Brandon Lizotte and Mary Price got their first wins on the season, which means a lot more when there are so few weeks remaining on the season.

Join us next Thursday, July 28th, for more Thursday Night Thunder action from Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Kids 12 & under are always free on Thursday night!

Our deepest condolences also go out to Mary Price and her family during this difficult time.