WINCHESTER, N.H. — Monadnock Speedway hosted the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Saturday, along with the lightning stocks and young guns.
Brian Robie captured his first win in the Sportsman Modified division this season, Tyler Leary took the win in the Super Stocks and Mike Stebbins won his second race in a row in the Mini Stocks. Leon Keniston got his first ever win at Monadnock Speedway after trying for 10 years in the Lightning Stocks. Athol’s Chloe Wright won her first Young Guns feature of the season.
The Young Guns was the first feature of the night. Nathan Wenzel led early, but came loose in turn four. Wright took the lead. By lap 10, Wright had a commanding lead. The first caution of the race flew on lap 11. On the restart, Wright led the field and held on for the win.
After the win, Wright said she missed last week’s feature due to transmission problems and was thankful for the hard work of her team to get her back onto the track this year.
Lightning Stocks came next. Before a lap could even be completed, the caution flew as Josh Carey spun on the backstretch after making contacting with a few cars. Erin Aiken and Keniston brought the field to the green. Aiken and Keniston went side-by-side into turn one, but Keniston found the lead. Aiken settled into the second spot but soon felt pressure from Matt Gauffin, who took over the second spot on lap six. Keniston went on to win the race. Gauffin finished second and Aiken held on for third.
The next feature was the 25-lap Mini Stock feature. Just like the Lightning Stocks, the caution flew before the first lap was even completed. Louis Maher and Jaret Curtis battled side-by-side before Maher took control of the top spot. Maher led until lap six when Stebbins drove past Maher. Stebbins pulled away from the field and went on to win his second race of the season. Maher and Curtis battled for second. Curtis tried everything he could to get around Maher, but Maher held on to finish second, while Curtis settled for third.
Sportsman Modifieds roared onto the track next for their 35-lap feature. Joel Monahan led before a caution on lap two came out. On the restart, Monahan was joined by Robie. The caution flew on lap 14. Monahan and Robie led on the second restart, but this time Robie bested Monahan. Monahan settled into the second spot. For numerous laps, the second- to fifth-placed cars ran nose-to-tail until lap 27 when Monahan pulled ahead in turn four.
To end the night the Super Stocks ran its 25-lap feature. Marc Curtis and Orange’s Justin Littlewood started in the front row. Curtis took the lead at the drop of the green. Littlewood was challenged by Solomon Brow. They went back-and-forth until Brow prevailed on lap three to take the second spot. The caution flew on lap six for Chris Curtis’ spinning into the infield after making slight contact with Littlewood’s rear panel. Tyler Leary utilized the restart to take the second spot from Brow. The caution flew again on lap 16. Leary and Curtis were in the front row for the restart. Leary took the lead on the restart. He went on to win his first race of the season.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series returns to action with the Sportsman Modifieds, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Thunder Stocks, Saturday. They will be joined by the Young Guns and Classic Lites. Racing starts at 6 p.m.