LeBlanc Captures Riverside Speedway’s Clash of the Titans Qualifier
Gorham seventeen year old, Cody LeBlanc, used a late race restart to take over the lead and went on to earn his very first North Country Ford Late Model feature win at Riverside Speedway Saturday night.
The win was especially special for LeBlanc, giving his team an automatic starting position for this Sunday August 15th’s Munce’s Superior $5000 to win, 150 lap, Clash of the Titans Late Model race.
The race had just one caution. Pole setter Cody Hodge set a torrid pace for the first 38 circuits. LeBlanc tried to keep pace with the fast Hodge as the duo had checked out on the field due to a ferocious battle for the third spot between several drivers. The last thing that Hodge needed was a caution flag. Hodge had built up a five car length advantage working around lapped traffic.
On the restart, LeBlanc and point leader Bryan Mason were able to work their way on the outside for the one, two finish. Hodge finished third, with Jeremy Lacoss fourth and Jesse Switser fifth. Heat wins went to Hodge and Matt Pepin.
The Mason Enterprises Outlaw/Sportsman division saw Chandler Davis take the feature victory. The red hot Jourdon Davis captured the second spot with point leader Dan Sidney third. Jefferson’s Jeff Marshall went fourth and Bethlehem’s Doug Laleme fifth. Sidney won the heat race.
The Isaacson Structural Steel Angel division crowned a new winner Saturday. Rookie driver Shawna Whitcomb started on the pole and led the race to the end. The “Berlin Bullet” Cynthia Litvin captured the runner-up spot with third place going to Lisa Hodgdon. Whitcomb and Traci Nelson won their heat races.
The Twisted Tea Dwarf cars ran a quick feature event, that had just one stoppage. Lyndonville Vermont’s Eric Corum got to the front late in the event and raced to his first feature win of the season. Toby Merchant raced his #99 into the runner-up position and the #96 of Trevor Roy finished third. Rookie Kevin Scott Hockman and Merchant carried the checkers in the heat races.
The Town & Country Street Stocks saw rookie driver Ben Belanger get out front and stay out front for the feature victory. Dean Switser of St. Johnsbury and rookie driver Dustin Mason finished in the second and third spots. Mason and Brendan Hunt captured the qualifying races.
The Jiffy Mart Cyclones raced a 50 lap enduro style race. Cole Kilby took the win, earning some valuable points on point leader Lorin Vear. Keith Norman ran in the second spot, with Jeremy Wyman in the third position.
The North East Classic Lites ran at the high banks of Riverside Speedway on Saturday. The traveling Lites brought 18 cars to the track, with 16 making the feature event. When the dust settled, George Helliwell raced his #07 into victory lane. The #11 of Roby Bryant finished second and Jimmy Ryder Jr. ran third. Heat wins went to Ryder Jr. and Helliwell.
One of the biggest events of the season is upon Riverside Speedway this coming weekend. The Clash of the Titans will take place on Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday night, The Budweiser Super Stocks take center stage, running a $500 to win, 50 lap main event. Riverside’s Angels, Daredevils, and Street Stocks will be in action.
Also on the card will be practice for the Clash of the Titan Late Model race. The Late Model teams present will time trial for the pole position for the 150 lap $5000 to win race. Over 40 of the finest Late Model teams will try and qualify for one of the 28 starting positions.
On Sunday, along with the huge Clash race, The PASS Sportsman will battle against the Riverside Speedway Outlaw/Sportsman in a 75 lap main event. The PASS Mods will be in action for a 40 lap feature. A 100 lap Cyclone/4 cylinder Enduro will end the Sunday racing, making it the busiest weekend of the season.
On Saturday evening, the racing action begins at 6 p.m. and on Sunday the racing will be starting at 1:30, with the grandstand gates opening two hours prior each day.
Riverside Speedway is located off of Brown Road in Groveton, NH. For your up to the minute racing news, you can go to the web site at www.riversidespeedway.org.
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