"TRACKSIDE"

Tom Herzig

Twin State Hosts ACT, NEMA Midgets

Thursday “King” Richard Petty will be at Thunder Road as a part of the Nation’s Site of Excitement’s” 50th anniversary celebration. Petty will conduct an autograph session from 5:45-6:30, answer questions submitted from the crowd during intermission and reportedly drop the green flag on one of Ken Squier’s favorite and goofiest creations – the “Port-A-Potty” Grand Prix. This little beauty is a human-powered part soapbox derby, part outhouse race down the frontstretch. Drivers lucky, or unlucky, enough to be the point leader in their respective divisions get to build contraptions and vie for the top prize – a gold-painted plunger.           Friday night the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model Tour and the NEMA Midgets will combine for a first-ever doubleheader at Twin State Speedway in Claremont. Owner/promoter Dennis Fleury has significantly refurbished the Claremont facility and is hoping ACT loyalists make the trip down I-91. Car counts have been a struggle for Fleury although he had 18 Late Models take the green last week. To his credit, he just made an $18,000 mid-season point fund distribution across all divisions. Twin State has a Mud Bog facility that’s been attracting attention and providing entertainment – next event Saturday at noon.          This is ACT’s first race at Twin State since 2004 when Patrick Laperle carried the checkers. With his win at Beech Ridge last week, five-time ACT champion Brian Hoar has closed to within 22 points of Tour leader Scott Payea. Hudson’s Joey Pole sits another three points back. Fourth-place Randy Potter of Groveton trails Payea by 54 points.          Long Island driver Adam Cantor won the latest NEMA race at Waterford Speedbowl. Randy Cabral of Plymouth, Mass, driver of the Tim Bertrand No.47, is the point leader. Bobby Santos of Franklin, Mass, brother of NEMA regular Erica Santos, took the Silver Crown main event at O’Reilly Motorsports Park in Indianapolis on Cup weekend to become the first driver this season to win in all three USAC divisions, Silver Crowns, Midgets and Sprints. NEMA races at Monadnock Saturday night.          Monadnock started 23 cars in their Modified main event, which was won by Bryan Shumway of Belchertown, Mass. Locals Jim Boniface of Winchester and Todd Patnode of Richmond finished 2-3. With his podium finish, Patnode is the new point leader. Kirk Alexander, who’s very tough to beat at Monadnock, was 20th. Riverside’s two-day Summerfest program went well according to reports, but the PASS All-Star turnout was thin (17 cars). Cassius Clark broke a long dry spell with a win over Kelly Moore, Donnie Whitten and Ben Rowe. DJ Shaw of Center Conway got home fifth. Another Granite Stater, Adam Bates of Warner placed sixth. Bates is the number two point man, trailing only Johnny Clark of Hallowell, ME (1939-1899).          Tucker Williams of Hyde Park, VT, a Thunder Road regular, took the $1,000-to-win Jake McDowell Memorial Street Stock 100 that started 28 cars. Haywood Herriott of Gorham won the North Country Ford Late Model feature, which qualified him for the Mason Tractor and Equipment, Twin State Clash of the Titans 150 on Sunday, August 16th. The event pays $5,000 to win. Herriott took over the point on a lap two restart, withstood three more cautions and held off Bryan Mason of Stark over the final 20 laps to secure the win.          White Mountain Motorsports Park has also added an extra-distance, extra-dollar Late Model event in August. It’s set for Saturday, August 8 and it pays $1,500-to-win, starts 25 cars and pays a minimum of $200. Double features went off last Saturday. Norm Andrews, Brett Clairmont and Glenn Martel were 1-2-3 in the first. Clairmont, Matt Anderson and Travis Fadden were the top three in the finale.          It was brother see, brother do at Lee USA. Wayne Helliwell Jr. drove to his fourth win of the season in the E Keys 4 Cars sponsored Late Model feature. Brother George then made the most of starting on the pole in the Hobby Stock feature and ran off to his first career win. The Hobby Stocks are slated for the Doug Ricker Memorial 50 Lap Hobby Stock Shoot-Out tomorrow night.          Saturday night winners at Rattlesnake Motordrome in Rumney: Modifieds – Brad Shanks, Rumney; Super Streets – Marc Junot, Plymouth; 4-Cylinders – Mitchell Davis, Canaan.

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