GERVAIS CRUISES TO RIVERSIDE LMS VICTORY

DEGREENIA AND RANDALL GRAB CAREER FIRSTS

 

            A full house of race fans stormed through the front gates at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire on opening night, as NAPA Auto Parts presented the 2^nd Annual Bobby Shores Memorial Day Classic. Picture perfect weather along with a jam packed pit area set the stage for an exciting 2007 racing season.

 

            The night of activities started off with the first ever blessing of the racecars, as every car in the pits lined the Speedway, as American Legion Chaplin, Lenny Egan, gave the blessing and the invocation to over 100 cars in attendance.

 

            Reno Gervais had not driven a Late Model at Riverside Speedway since 1995, but it didn’t take him long to nail down his first victory, as he outran Brooks Clark in a near photo finish in the Gilmour Jeep / Ford / Dodge Late Model Sportsman. Gervais came upon lapped traffic in the final five laps and struggled to find a way through, as Clark reeled him. Coming off turn four they were three wide at the stripe, with Gervais winning by a fender. Corey Mason, Mike Kenison and Russell Clark rounded out the top five. Qualifying checkers flew for Brooks Clark, Corey Mason and Mike Paquette.

 

            The Budweiser Super Stocks had everyone on their feet as Denny Degreenia and Luke Shannon ran side by side for all 30 laps of their main event. Shannon made his car stick on the outside groove, and his incredible effort came up six inches short. This was also a career first victory for Degreenia. Following the front pair home were Jeremy Lacoss, Jeff Fysh and David Ofsuryk Jr. Heat wins went to Nathan Swallow and Ron Watson.

 

            An emotional Troy Randall dedicated his River Bend RV Street Stock victory to the late Jake McDowell, as he claimed his career first Riverside Speedway victory. Randall held off all challengers, including a late race restart which saw his large lead come to an end. Rookie driver, Tyler Therrien started dead last in the sixteen car main event and raced home to a solid second place finish. Mike Smith, Rookie Shawn Swallow and William Hennequin placed third through fifth. Smith and Randall won their respective qualifiers.

 

            Ernie Laplant fought off heavy challenges from runner-up Eric Hall and Dana Huoppi over the final seven laps of the Twisted Tea Dwarf Car feature, and went on to claim the opening night win. The race featured a horrendous crash, as Haywood Herriott and Nathan Brown rubbed wheels battling for the lead on lap eleven. The contact sent Brown flying over the top of turn one, where he flipped in six times. Brown walked away unscathed, much to the delight of the crowd. The top five rundown included Laplant, Hall, Huoppi, Jim Barker and Haywood Herriott. Hall carried the heat checkers.

 

            The Wildman Auto Daredevil Youth Racers saw nineteen entries pour into the pit area with many more on their way. The kids were divided into two divisions, the Rookies and the Veterans. The Rookies took the track for their first career event, a scheduled fifteen lapper. The youngsters had only one caution flag, that being for a minor spin for Jerrad Ainsworth on the front stretch. Kyle Pembroke brought home his first Riverside Speedway trophy, as he defeated Dilyn Switser, Brendan Hunt, Andrew Fecteau and Manville Powers III. The Veterans feature was a good one as Jesse Switser held off a late race challenge from Cody Hodge to capture the 20 lap event. Brandon Lambert raced home third ahead of Kristopher Russell and Brett Gervais.

 

            The night’s activities concluded with the Jiffy Mart Cyclone 100, a race that had many twists and turns. Josh Lafleur led the first 35 laps before a flat right front tire sent him to the pits, handing the lead over to 2006 champ, Jeff Ainsworth. Ainsworth lost the lead to a flying Charlie Rockwell with twenty laps remaining. Rockwell was about to carry the checkers when his right front tire went down on lap 96, giving the win to Ainsworth. Andy Simpson, Paul Schartner, Jeff Marshall and Jeremy Way completed the top five.

 

            Riverside Speedway will be back in action this coming Saturday night at 6pm, as Leo Enos Landscaping presents the evenings activities. It will be the debut of the all new Outlaw Sportsman division, along with the Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Angels and Daredevils. Riverside Speedway is located off Route 3, on Brown Road in Groveton, New Hampshire . For more information visit our website at www.riversidespeedway.org, or call the track hotline at 603-636-2005.