WINCHESTER, N.H. — Monadnock Speedway was back in action on Saturday after a two-week break due to rain. The evening started off by honoring the American flag with a special guest of Kevin Bezio representing Squadron 172 of Orange.
First-time winners included Ben Byrne (Sportsman Modifieds), Josh Carey (Lightning Stocks) and Matt Kimball (Mini Stocks). Repeat winners included, Tyler Leary (Super Stocks), Ed Lofland (Thunder Stocks) and Nate Wenzel (Young Guns). Sean Donnelly won the Spectator Race.
Chloe Wright of Athol led out the field for the Young Guns in its 15-lap main event. At the green, Wright held the lead as Taylor Striebel and Sammy Silva followed close behind. Nate Wenzel made the pass and was on the move to catch Wright. On lap seven, Wenzel took over lead. With five laps to go, Silva moved into second, leaving Wright in a fight for third. At the checkers, Wenzel earned his second win followed by Silva, Gage Coates and Wright.
The Lightning Stocks took to the track next. Josh Carey quickly took the lead as John Fultz settled into second. By lap four, Matt Gauffin challenged Fultz for third and made the pass by lap six. Leon Keniston, who started in fifth, worked his way up to third. Carey stretched his lead as Kenistion put pressure on Gauffin for second. With five laps to go, the top three weaved through traffic as Carey continued to lead. At the wave of the checkers, Carey captured his first career win.
Sixteen Mini Stocks rolled onto the track for the 25-lap feature. The race began with Ethan Marsh and Kevin McKnight crashing with the two tire barriers. Marsh was able to continue, however McKnight had to retire to the pits. On the restart, Louie Maher took the lead as Kevin Pittsinger sat in second. Matt Kimball quickly moved into the top three and then made his move to the inside of Pittsinger for second. On lap 10, Kimball passed Maher for the lead. On lap 19, Jaret Curtis slowed, causing the yellow flag to come out as he limped into the pit area. On the restart, Kimball showed the way. He went on to win the race.
The fight for top position in the Super Stock race started early as Orange’s Cole Littlewood and Tyler Leary quickly moved into the top three, running wheel to wheel for second. By lap 8, leader Dennis Stange felt the pressure of both Littlewood and Leary on his back bumper. Leary looked to the inside of Stange in turn four but bobbled and backed out. On lap 9, Littlewood tapped the back bumper of Stange and turned him around as the caution flew. On the restart, Leary inherited the lead with Solomon Brow in second. Leary commanded the lead until lap 12, when the caution flew as Cole Littlewood made contact with Kozacka. The field restarted again when Brow and Curtis collided. On the lap 14 restart, Leary showed the way as Nancy Muni Ruot took second. Within a few laps, Cole Littlewood and brother Justin Littlewood made the pass on Scott Beck for third and fourth. Cole Littlewood passed Muni-Ruot for second on lap 18. Leary eventually earned his third win of the season followed by Littlewood, Muni-Ruot and Justin Littlewood.
The Thunder Stocks rolled on the track next. Chase Curtis led at the start. Hillary Renaud and Ed Lofland followed close behind. The caution flew for Joshua Nutter and Greg Williams. On the restart, Curtis continued to lead, but felt the front bumper of Lofland. By lap 7, Lofland took over the lead as Bruce Clark took second. With the race winding down, Curtis fought to protect his fourth spot from Richard Vincent when Vincent slowed, falling back with one lap go. At the checkers, Lofland had his second win.
The final feature of the night, the Sportsman Modifieds, thundered onto the track for its 25-lap feature. Eric Leclair and Brian Chapin led the field to the green. Chapin wasted no time taking over the top spot as Ben Byrne, Kim Rivet and Joel Monahan followed. Chapin took the lead on lap 9. Rivet put the pressure on Chapin on lap 13, running wheel-to-wheel in second. The caution flew on lap 14 for Alyssa Rivera. On the restart, Byrne led followed by Rivet and Chapin. On lap 16, Chapin slid back giving, giving up the third spot. Byrne began to break away from the field. The caution flew on lap 19. Byrne led on the restart. Rivet was in second. Byrne eventually took home the win.
On Saturday, Monadnock Speedway will host the Sportsman Modifieds, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, Lightning Stocks, Young Guns, Pro 4 Modifieds and Star Antique Racers. Racing begins at 6 p.m.