With only four races remaining in the season, Franklin County drivers are in the middle of three close points races at Monadnock Speedway.
Deerfield’s Ben Byrne picked up his fourth victory of the season last Saturday in the NHSTRA Modified division. He holds an eight-point lead over Hatfield’s Tyler Leary, himself a four-time winner.
In the Pure Stocks division, Turners Falls teen J.D. Stockwell moved within two points of leader and defending champion Chris Davis — who is nearly 40 years Stockwell’s senior — with his runner-up showing last week.
The Littlewood brothers of Orange are on top, with eight points separating leader Cole, second-place Justin and third-place Ryan Currier. The division did not compete last weekend.
Last week, Byrne took the lead from top qualifier Nate Wenzel of Granby on lap three and drove away to win the 30-lap NHSTRA Modified feature. Wenzel finished fourth, followed by Leary and Cole Littlewood, who won his heat race.
Stockwell came in hot off another victory the previous night at Claremont (N.H.) Motorsports Park. He took the lead from Zach Phillips on the second lap, but Kyle Boniface had other plans, charging through the field to reel Stockwell in for the win in the 25-lapper. Zach Zilinski of Gill was fourth, Dominick Stafford of Millers Falls was eighth, Greenfield’s Jimmy Zellmann was 12th and Northfield’s Mike Douglas was 15th.
Gordon Farnum continued his dominance in the Mini Stocks by winning his sixth consecutive race and ninth of the season. Tim Griffith of Athol was fourth and Kevin McKnight of Orange seventh.
Holyoke’s Tim Wenzel won the Street Stock feature to increase his points lead to 22 over Keith Johnson.
Aaliyah Tacy grabbed the lead from Markus O’Neil to earn her first victory in Young Guns competition.
The 350 SMAC Super Modified Tour made its Monadnock debut last Saturday and put on some great ground-pounding action. Kenny White turned a lap around the quarter-mile in 11.999 seconds in time trials and ran all 50 laps under the green flag. Dave Helliwell grabbed the lead on lap 19 and held off his brother Bill and points leader Scott Watts Sr. for the victory.
This Saturday, the Exit Realty Pro Truck Series will contest a 55-lap feature at Monadnock. Joining them will be the NHSTRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, Late Model Sportsmen, Mini Stocks and Young Guns. Racing begins at 6 p.m.
Jason Remillard is a copy editor and page designer at the Recorder. He can be reached at jremillard@recorder.com and followed on Twitter @racinwithjason.