0
0
By Gary Dutton
CLAREMONT, N.H. – As he’d done four times already this season, Ricky Bly romped to victory Friday at Claremont Motorsports Park. The Sunapee ace scored his fifth 2020 feature win, blasting to victory in the Mike Richardson Sr. Memorial 35-lapper.
And, while Bly was one of four repeat winners Friday, nobody scored a bigger victory than Pure Stock winner Colton Martin. The 13-year-old pilot led the final 21 laps of his night’s feature race to score the first NASCAR Weekly Racing Series victory of his budding career.
Six Shooter hot shoe Steve Miller Sr., like Bly, scored his fifth 2022 victory, as did Street Stock powerhouse Dave Greenslit, although the latter’s Friday night win was unofficial at press time, pending the outcome of post-race technical inspections.
Rookie Dylan Zullo and veteran Jack McClay led the Route 103 Auto/Heads Up Motorsports Late Model Sportsmen to the green in the night’s main event, with an immediate caution signaling a quick exit for hot shoe Jack McClay. McClay’s demise moved Craig Smith alongside Zullo for the ensuing restart, and the Sunshine Town star took full advantage of the opportunity.
Smith jumped all over the opening lead and held the point until Bly stormed past him on a lap-14 restart. Ben Poland, who entered Friday’s 35-lapper on a two-race winning streak, charged up to second on a lap-22 restart but, on this night, had nothing for the sizzling Bly.
Smith, who had earlier dominated his heat race, finished his strong night’s work in third. McClay, Cam Curtis, and Ryan Bell – each usually a top-five factor – all struggled mightily Friday, with only Bell still around at the checkers.
Travis Sykes and Amy Jaycox sat on row one as the 16-car LaValley Building Supply Pure Stock field took the green. Martin, at 13 already a veteran of Claremont’s Sunday Karting Series, fired from row two, quickly taking second, and then powering past Sykes for the lead on lap four and never looking back en route to victory lane.
If anyone thought the up-and-comer would crack under pressure, they probably also bet on the Celtics Friday. At the point, Martin was a rock Aiden White, himself a rising rookie in the division, got up for second on lap five and then survived a lap-22 whacking to impress in second.
Previous 2022 winners Nolan McClay and JD Stockwell were fourth and fifth; with former division champ Kyle Templeton filling the five hole Friday.
While the results of Friday’s R.E. Hinkley Oil Co. Street Stock 25 weren’t clear at night’s end, two things were certain. Two-time reigning champ Dave Greenslit had by far the fastest car on the track, and Andrew Brousseau’s ascension to elite status in the blockbuster Streeter division is complete.
The potent duo were first and second under the checkers Friday, with Trevor Rocke, who struggled to a woeful 20th the last time out, impressive in third, just ahead of rookie Haydon Grenier and Green Mountain blaster Brandon Gray.
Steve Miller Jr., gunning for his second Avery Insurance Six Shooter win in a row, had things his way for the first ten go-rounds Friday. When he then drifted high in turn four, both Robert Shaw and Steve Miller Sr. took full advantage.
Shaw, running strong on the eve of his Saturday wedding, held the top spot until the elder Miller took charge with two laps to go and dashed off to his fifth CMP win of the year.
The Peanuts Auto 602 Dirt Modifieds were in town for their third event of the season at CMP, and reigning champ Tanner Siemons took charge on lap 12, then rocketing off to his second victory of the summer.
Tim LaDuc, victorious here the last time out, was second Friday, with Keystone State hot shoe Jeff Parker earning the third-place hardware to savor on his six-hour drive back home.
If you love open-wheel Modified racing, you’ll want to be at Claremont Motorsports Park next Friday, June 17, when Weaver Brothers Construction will present the $4,000-to-win Whitcomb 125. The Mod Squad will lead a six-division card of racing, with post time set for 7:30 p.m.
CLAREMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK JUNE 10 TOP TENS
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN: Ricky Bly, Ben Poland, Craig Smith, Jeff Murray, Cody Schoolcraft, Travis Cass, Ryan Bell, Dylan Zullo, Greg Belisle, Andrew Campbell.
STREET STOCK (Unofficial pending tech inspection outcome): Dave Greenslit, Andrew Brousseau, Trevor Rocke, Haydon Grenier, Brandon Gray, Cody Schoolcraft, Matt Sonnhalter, Briana Akusis, Mike Williams, Dennis Greenwood.
PURE STOCK: Colton Martin, Aiden White, Nolan McClay, JD Stockwell, Kyle Templeton, Andrea St. Amour, Chris Chambers, Amy Jaycox, Tom Coates, Colton Hull.
SIX SHOOTER: Steve Miller Sr., Robert Shaw, Steve Miller Jr., Lucas Bernatchy, John Voorhees, Tyler Scott, Jeremy Blood, Eric Griffin, Andrew Scott, Chris Palermo.
602 DIRT MODIFIED: Tanner Siemons, Tim LaDuc, Jeff Parker, Marty Kelly, Matt Lashua, Todd Buckwald.
