WINCHESTER, N.H. — After a two-week layoff, Monadnock Speedway was back in action to host the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Young Guns, Granite State Legends and Bandoleros on Saturday. But fine weather early on became increasingly uncooperative as the event progressed.
After a rain delay that lasted an hour and a half, racing resumed with some of season’s best finishes. Giovanni Ruggiero won the Bandoleros event, while Shaun Buffington took the win in the Legends feature. Ed Lofland (Thunder Stocks) and Nathan Wenzel (Young Guns) returned to victory lane; while Orange’s Cole Littlewood (Super Stocks), Brian Chapin (Sportsman Modifieds), and Baldwinville’s Louis Maher (Mini Stocks) captured their first wins of the season.
The Bandoleros feature came first. Kyle Souza took an early lead over Ruggiero, who quickly took the lead in Turn 4. Souza then took the lead again following the first restart. A second restart came during Lap 2, when Souza took the lead again until he spun coming out of Turn 2. Ruggiero took advantage of the next restart and rocketed out to the lead. He never looked back on his way to victory lane.
After the rain delay, the Thunder Stocks came next for its 25-lap feature. Nathaniel Nunez led for the first five laps. During Lap 5, Hillary Renaud spun out in Turn 4. Craig Chaffee had nowhere to go and got caught up in the accident. Nunez resumed the lead on the restart, but the top five cars where so close they were almost touching. On Lap 8, Greenfield’s Richard Vincent eventually took the lead from Nunez. Nunez spun during Lap 12 and took Dan Comeau with him. Comeau made hard contact with the passenger side of Nunez, ending both of their evenings. Vincent took the lead on the restart. Ed Lofland pressured him, but Vincent pulled away. On Lap 14, Chris Buffone took over the third spot, but Vincent led the way. Lofland took second. In a post-race inspection, Vincent was penalized for a rules infraction, which gave Lofland the win.
Young Guns took to the track next for its 15-lap feature. Jake Puchalski took a commanding lead by the end of Lap 1.
By Lap 5, Puchalski had a half of a straightway lead. By Lap 10, Nathan Wenzel reduced Puchalski’s lead to two cars lead. On Lap 12, Wenzel tried to dive to the inside of Puchalski but coudn’t. He then turned to the outside groove and was then able to make the pass in Turn 4 for the win. It was Wenzel’s fourth win on the year.
Mini stocks came next. Shelby Avery led the first four laps before Louis Maher captured the lead on Lap 5. Maher took control of the top spot following a restart on Lap 6. Caution flew again during Lap 20. Maher maintained the lead again, even with Matt Kimball trying everything he could to pass. Maher collected his first win of the season.
Super Stocks came next for its 25-lap feature event. Nancy Muni-Ruot and Cole Littlewood went side by side at the drop of the green. After the first restart, Littlewood took the lead. On Lap 7, Solomon Brow began to pressure Littlewood. Going into Turn 3, Brow accidentally locked his brakes and spun out. On the restart, Cole Littlewood took the lead. By Lap 17, the top three ran nose to tail as the caution flew a final time. The field restarted single file. Tyler Leary tried getting by Littlewood for four laps, but failed to do so. Littlewood took home his first win of the season.
The Granite State Legends zipped onto the track for its 25-lap feature. Shaun Buffington, the winner of the event’s previous running, wasted no time taking the lead. After things slowed during Lap 3, Noah Korner joined Buffington in the front row on the restart. A second restart occurred, in which Buffington rocked out for the lead. Korner caught Buffington during Lap 20. Korner tried hard to pass Buffington, which causing him to spin out in Lap 23. Buffington was put back into the lead while Korner was punished back. Jake Matheson went side by side with Buffington. They raced the final two laps like that. Buffington won by a difference of 0.01.
The Sportsman Modified’s 35-lap event came last. At halfway, Brian Chapin had a straight away lead. By Lap 27, Kim Rivet had moved to within five car lengths of Chapin, but that was as close as she could get. Chapin held on to celebrate the win.