WINCHESTER, N.H. — Monadnock Speedway held a full evening of racing this weekend, featuring the NASCAR Whelen All-American series, Lightning Stocks and Young Guns. The Mini Stocks raced an extended distance for extra cash in the Mini Stock Showdown. Matthew Kimball, Joel Monahan, Tyler Leary, Greenfield’s Richard Vincent, Matt Gauffin (after a post-race inspection in the Lightning Stocks) and Sammy Silva all won.
The Young Guns came first. Taylor Striebel led the first three laps. On Lap 4, Striebel bobbled in turn 2 as Sammy Silva capitalized for the lead. Silva led all the way for the win. The biggest battle on the track occurred on lap 8 when New Salem’s Chris Phelps battled Cooper Roberge for third place. Phelps took third on lap 9 while Striebel attempted to run down Silva, but couldn’t, settling into second.
Super Stocks rocketed onto the track next for its 25 lap feature. Nancy Muni and Orange’s Justin Littlewood made up the front row. Justin Littlewood wasted no time taking the lead. When the field came off turn 2, Solomon Brow ran second and Orange’s Cole Littlewood ran third. On lap 4, Cole Littlewood found himself facing the wrong way on the track. On the restart, Justin Littlewood and Brow brought the field to the green. Brow took advantage of the restart and took the lead. By lap 6 Tyler Leary moved into second and Athol’s Dennis Stange followed him around Justin Littlewood. Leary took over the lead on Lap 11 and never looked back in his fifth victory of the season.
The Mini Stock Showdown came next, all looking for extra cash. Tim Wenzel took the lead at the drop of the green. He stumbled coming out of turn 4 on lap 4, allowing Shelby Avery to take the lead. Her time in the lead was short lived, as Avery spun during Lap five. Jaret Curtis assumed the top spot in the restart. Baldwinville’s Louis Maher took the lead on lap 7. Three laps later, Matthew Kimball drove under Maher for the lead. On the second restart, Kimball and Maher brought the field back to take the green. Kimball took the lead and pulled away, while Maher found now way around him. Kimball eventually took the win.
Next on the track was the Lightning Stocks. CJ Johnson took the lead from Jon Fultz on Lap four and the caution flew on lap 5 for Fultz, ending his night. Johnson assumed the lead. On lap 7 Gordon Farnum took the lead from Johnson. After Josh Carey spun out on lap 9, Johnson headed to the pits for overheating, ending his night. Farnum was joined on the front row by Matt Gauffin. Gauffin jumped Farnum, but it was short lived as the caution flew before a lap was completed. Farnum and Gauffin went at it again on the restart with Gauffin taking the lead. On lap 20, a car got loose, causing Gauffin to check up and Farnum to take the lead. Gauffin threw everything at Farnum over the last two laps, but couldn’t reclaim the top spot. Farnum captured the win with Gauffin in second and Carey in third. In a post-race inspection, Farnum was penalized, giving Gauffin the win.
Sportsman Modifieds roared onto the track for the next 35 laps. Eric LeClair thundered his way into turn one with the lead. On lap two, Joel Monahan took the lead on a pass on the inside. Lap three saw the first of many cautions. On lap 6, LeClair spun on the front stretch as Brian Robie came to rest. Both retired to the pits. On the restart, Kim Rivet spun, bringing the caution back out. On the next restart, Jessica O’Leary and Mike Smith found themselves tangled together. Monahan wasted no time on the next restart, pulling from the field until the caution flew again on lap 8. To help move the race along, racers went in a single file restart. At the drop of the green, Monahan took off in the lead and pulled away to capture the win.
The Thunder Stocks was the last feature of the evening. Hillary Renaud and Athol’s Joshua Nutter brought the field to the green. Renaud took the lead early as Nutter stuttered at the start, allowing numerous cars to get past him. On lap 4, Dan Comeau made contact with Renaud causing both cars to spin out. James Nowakowski took first and Rich Vincent second on the restart. Vincent then took the lead. Vincent took the win and Nowakowski settled for second.
On June 23, Monadnock Speedway hosts the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and is joined by the Genden Auto Parts ISMA 75. Racing begins at 4 p.m.