GERVAIS, CARBONE AND SMITH GRAB
VICTORIES AT RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY
The best weather night of the season greeted another large crowd in the grandstands and another full field of racecars at the P.A.S.S. sanctioned Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire on Kids Only Daycare Night. When the dust had all settled, checkers flew for Reno Gervais, Matt Carbone, Michael Smith, Ernie Laplant, Nick Miller, Brandon Lambert and Charlie Rockwell.
Reno Gervais came out on top of the main event in the North Country Ford Late Models, but not until after a dogfight with last event winner Corey Mason. Gervais raced by on the outside on lap 34 to collect the win. A tremendous battle for third came down to the wire with Mike Kenison coming across the stripe sideways ahead of Bryan Mason and a spinning Stephen Hodgdon. Hodgdon and Grant Folsom won the qualifying rounds.
A bone jarring crash on lap 28 ended the Budweiser Super Stock race as both drivers involved, Denny Degreenia and Jason Emerson were transported to the hospital after a vicious trip into the backstretch wall. No report on injuries were available at press time, but neither were considered life threatening. The race was sent to checkers and Matt Carbone became a first time winner as he was awarded the victory in the shortened event. Jeff Fysh placed second, followed by Jason Rogers, Nathan Swallow and Jamie Longley. Carbone and Jason Kenison carried the checkers in the preliminary rounds.
Michael Smith nailed down another win in the caution plagued River Bend RV Street Stock feature. He held off a late race challenge from point leader Shawn Swallow to secure the win. Kevin Whittum Jr. had a career best third place finish, while Jeff Ainsworth and Cody Hodge rounded out the top five. Alex Theroux and Hodge won their respective heats.
Ernie Laplant made it two in a row in the Twisted Tea Dwarf Car finale, as he held off a late race challenge from Dana Huoppi to win by a couple of car lengths. The field bunched up coming to the checkers and Jim Barker raced home to his best Riverside finish with a solid third place run. Dave Gyger and Bobby Riley were dead even at the stripe with Gyger getting the nod for a 4th place finish. Gyger and Eric Hall captured qualifying checkers.
As always the Kids Only Daycare Daredevils put on a whale of a show. In the Rookie division, Nick Miller carried the checkers for the first time in his career, as he bested newcomer Shauna Randall. Nick Gilcris, Randy Whittum and Aaron Poulin completed the top five. Brandon Lambert held off a stiff challenge from Jesse Switser in the Veterans feature. Kyle Pembroke, Dilyn Switser and Brett Gervais rounded out the top five.
The Jiffy Mart Cyclones feature was full of twists and turns as point leader Charlie Rockwell got to the front early and looked like a sure winner until Jamie Swallow Jr. ran him down and was cruising towards the win, when disaster struck as he lost a rear wheel with two laps remaining. Rockwell then rolled to victory over Anthony Hill, Rick Utley Jr., Shaun Stetson and Loren Vear.
Riverside Speedway will be back in action this Saturday night at 6pm as Central Asphalt Paving will be sponsoring the evening’s activities. Outlaw Sportsman, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Daredevils, Angels and Cyclones will be on the card. Post time is 6pm.
Riverside Speedway is located on Brown Road off Route 3 in Groveton, NH. For more information visit their website at www.riversidespeedway.org or call the track at 603-636-2005.