CHAMPIONS SET TO DEFEND TITLES AT RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY
With the 2008 racing season getting closer to becoming reality each day, several of the 2007 champions are readying their equipment to make an all out assault on defending their titles at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire. Late Model champion, Corey Mason, Super Stock champ, Luke Shannon, Angels queen, Vanessa Brown, Dwarf Car leader, Eric Hall, and Cyclone king, Josh Lafleur are all very busy putting the final touches on their machines.
Stark, New Hampshire’s, Corey Mason, is spending many hours in the shop preparing his Monte Carlo for a second title defense. Mason has been a competitor at Riverside Speedway for many years, and finally nailed down his first Late Model championship in 2007. “Corey really matured into a leader in 2007 at Riverside, stated General manager, Dick Therrien, He finally learned how to race, and figured out what it took to be a champion. Corey had been a bridesmaid a couple of times and finally leapt the final hurdle last year by accepting what the track would give him. Many a time in the past, disaster would strike him due to not having patience, and being over aggressive. Last year he turned into the racer we all new he could be and raced home with the championship belt! Corey is a good representative for Riverside and I am looking forward to his defense title in 2008.” Mason will have his hands full as close to thirty Late Models will be battling him in each Late Model event. Some of the top names returning to challenge for the title include Reno Gervais, Russell Clark, Owen Wimble, and Brian Greer.
Luke Shannon got off to a great start in 2007 in the Super Stock division, picking up several top finishes and a few wins along the way in the early going. Late in the season, Shannon had to overcome some rough finishes, but the talented driver secured the title on the final night of the year. Shannon has spent much of the winter checking each nut and bolt on the car in preparation for a title defense. It will be an interesting season in this class in 2008, as some of the top names have moved up to other divisions. Leading the move has been 2006 champion, Jeremy Lacoss, whom has moved up to the Late Models for 2008. Shannon will have plenty of competition from some of the veteran campaigners, as Ron Watson plans on returning for a full season, plus Brian Gosselin, and Denny Degreenia are sure to challenge Shannon for the title.
Vanessa Brown will be defending her Angel’s division title in 2008 at Riverside. The Groveton High School, and Granby, Vermont native racer, will be in her second year in the class as she won the title as a rookie in 2007. Brown graduated from the Daredevil Youth racers to compete in the Angels in 2007. She won a couple of races last season and also won the championship on the final night of competition, edging out Traci Nelson for the championship. Brown will see a significant challenge in 2008 from Jen Dion, Allison Brown, Nelson, Miranda Gervais and a host of other talented racers.
Eric Hall will be back in 2008 to take on an ever expanding field of Dwarf Cars. Hall, whom hails from Colebrook, New Hampshire is going to have his hands full in his title defense as several veterans, and a bunch of newcomers are preparing for the season. His top challengers expect to be Ernie Laplant, Dana Huoppi, and possibly Nathan Brown. Brown has handed the wheel of his potent machine over to his dad, the legendary journeyman, Guy Brown for 2008, as he has purchased a Late Model to run, but he is also building another Dwarf Car to compete with. Hall is a driver that consistently records top finishes in this ultra-competitive class.
Cyclone champion, Josh Lafleur will be back to defend his title in what could be defined as one of the toughest divisions at Riverside. The Cyclones are four cylinder, front wheel drive cars that in the past, raced one hundred lap feature events numerous times each year. This is a pure stock entry class that averages nearly thirty cars per event, and features no caution flags, only red flags for a major incident. These drivers weave in and out of traffic all night long, and keep the fans on the edges of their seats. Lafleur was a model of consistency last year and managed to finish near the front each week. Lafleur will see a stiff challenge once again in 2008 from Charlie Rockwell. This year, most races will be cut back to 50 laps which will bring a lot of excitement back into the race. Lafleur also will be sporting a new ring on his finger in 2008, as he is getting married on April 19th.
Close to one hundred drivers have registered to race at Riverside Speedway in 2008, and more license applications are arriving daily. The season is tentatively scheduled to open on Saturday, May 3, with the Eastman Trophy / NAPA All Star Car Show. For more information on Riverside Speedway, visit their website at www.riversidespeedway.org, or call the track at 603-636-2005. Riverside Speedway is located off Route3, on the Brown Road in Groveton, New Hampshire.