Sunday, July 31, 2011

Beech Ridge ~ 7/28/11

Photo by Jamie Williams

reprinted from http://www.nelcar.net/

Beaulieu Back Into Title Fight With Win At Beech Ridge
The sixth round of Thursday Night Thunder took place this past week for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour. Under the hot mid summer sun, 20 of the best Legends Car drivers New England has to offer took to the track and with the points race still very close, and the season past its midpoint, there is no room for error. Plenty of wrecks for the title contenders have plagued the past few weeks, but this was a new week, and another chance for somebody to get right back into the points race.

Veteran Steve Fox led the field to the green flag with the 70 of Tylar Braunschweig on his outside. Fox was able to get out to the race lead with the 56 of Evan Beaulieu and the 27 of Kevin Hutchens, both drivers at the top of the title contention, right behind him. Fox held the bottom groove as Beaulieu kept looking low to make something happen, but he couldn’t get under as Fox held strong at the front and the top four drivers pulled away with the 5 of Bob Weymouth sitting fourth. At the midpoint of the race, the 2 of Ryan Hammar got spun around in the middle of the pack and he climbed the dirt banking on the inside of the track, bringing out the first caution. Hammar was able to get out of the banking and continue on.

On the restart, Fox led the field but Beaulieu was strong in the outside groove. The duo lead the next six laps side by side, inches from each other and even touching at times. As the field rolled down the back straightaway with six laps to go, Beaulieu was able to take the lead. As the field continued to race hard behind him, Beaulieu checked out and took his second Thursday Thunder win of the season. Fox held on for second, Weymouth finished fourth with David Garbo in the 86 in fourth and Hutchens rounding out the top five.

Kevin Hutchens still has the points lead, but Beaulieu closed the gap to just two points with the win. Terry Kirk is sitting back in third, with another strong run from the rear to finish 8th, just 38 points behind. Anything can happen and with three races still remaining, it likely will happen. If you haven’t gotten to Beech Ridge yet this season, time is running out! The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour will be back next Thursday, August 4th for found seven of Thursday Thunder. Tickets are just $4 and the action starts at 7PM! For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Our First Big Wreck

The #8 Hooligan Motorsports machine was involved in our first big wreck at Beech Ridge Motorspeedway on July 21.  The wreck happened on Lap 2 and took out at leave 5 cars, including us.  Click here for the race recap here.  As the result of the damaged suffered to the front end of the car, we were unable to race at NHMS on July 23, but the #8 will be back on track at Beech Ridge this coming Thursday night!

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All photos above by Hooligan Motorsports.

Special thanks to Jamie at Finish Line Photography for these shots...

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NHMS ~ 7/23/11

reprinted from http://www.nelcar.net/

Buffington Goes Six Straight At NHMS

The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour was back at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway this past weekend for race number fourteen on the schedule. After a caution filled race last weekend, the Tour was much tamer this weekend. The goal for everyone was the same though, to unseat Shaun Buffington from the top spot, as he came in undefeated in NHMS Legends competition so far this season. As the sun set on the tight quarter mile, 20 of the best Legends Car drivers in New England took to the track for some more tight racing.

The heat races were determined through practice times, and by just one one-thousandths of a second, Shaun Buffington edged his team mate Tom Gray for the pole spot in the first heat. Lined up on his outside was the 3 of Nick Ladyga. At the start, Buffington took the early lead. He wasn’t really pressured for the lead, as he drove off with the win. Ladyga finished second with the 5 of Bob Weymouth finishing third.

For the second heat race, it was Gray on the pole with the 56 of Evan Beaulieu on his outside. At the start, the two were even going into turn one, but Gray was able to pull ahead off turn two and take the lead. This heat was much like the first one, clean and green as Gray pulled away with the win over Beaulieu and the 11 of Stephen Miller.

For the feature event it was the team mates Buffington and Gray on the front row. That’s how it would stay for most of the race as the two long time Legends competitors took off and pulled away from a race for third between Ladyga and Beaulieu. This time however, Buffington was not able to get away from his team mate, as Gray was all over the rear bumper of Buffington for the race lead. Throughout the feature, the two drivers were neck and neck the whole time with Gray looking under Buffington multiple times. It wasn’t enough however, as the race ran clean with no cautions and Buffington held off his team mate for the victory. Gray was the runner up with Beaulieu in third rounding out the podium. Ladyga and Weymouth rounded out the top five.

After five NHMS points races, Buffington holds a 44 point lead over Bob Weymouth. The racing was great as always on the tight quarter mile and the drivers are getting well adapted to the track’s challenging conditions in preparation for their next big race there during the Nascar Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 weekend on September 25th. For more news, info and how you can get in a Legends Car at an affordable cost and have a fun time racing, visit Nelcar.net.

Beech Ridge ~ 7/21/11

reprinted from http://www.nelcar.net/

Garbo Becomes First Repeat Winner At Beech Ridge

Round five of Thursday Night Thunder at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway took place this past week on July 21st. Through the first four weeks, the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour has seen four different winners, would there be a new face in victory lane once again tonight, or would we see a repeat winner? The points race is close as well, while both Kevin Hutchens and Evan Beaulieu have had one bad race each, there is no room for error as the season is at its halfway point. It was a hot day at the track and 20 Legend Cars took to the track for their feature event.

On the pole was the 1 of Aaron Lewis with the 48 of Kendall Curit on his outside. At the drop of the green flag, Lewis took off with the lead with Beaulieu moving into second and the 17 of Terry Kirk in third. It didn’t take long for the action to heat up on the track, on lap two the 30 of Ed Field and the 33 of Alan Smith made contact racing for fifth position. The contact resulted in Smith going for a spin and collecting the 399 of Bob Weymouth, the 05 of Jacob Dore, 8 of Matt Chagnot and the 29 of Charlie Buxton, ending their nights early.

On the next restart, Lewis got out to the lead once again with Beaulieu, Kirk and the 88 of Steve Fox right behind. Field however, was making the outside work on the slick race track and he was able to work his way into the top spot, and a few laps later, last weeks winner David Garbo in the 86 worked his way into second. Those two took off and settled the race on their own. At the finish of the 25 lap feature, Field was able to barely hold off Garbo for the win! Lewis was third with Kirk in fourth and Hutchens rounding out the top five.

Through post race tech, Field was disqualified from the event, giving Garbo his second straight win, the first repeat winner at Beech Ridge this season. After six Beech Ridge points races and just four to go, Kevin Hutchens gained another three points over Evan Beaulieu, as just 14 points separate the two long time competitors. Terry Kirk sits in third, just 23 out of the lead. The next Thursday Thunder is next Thursday, July 28th. Racing starts at 7PM and tickets are just $4. For more news, info and how you can get behind the wheel of a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.

8th Place Finish in Nascar Invitational Race

The NELCAR Legends Tour hit the big stage on Sunday, July 17th when they were the opening event for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  It was an exciting race and the #8 Hooligan Motorsports machine took home an 8th place finish!  Click here for the race recap.

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All photos above by Hooligan Motorsports.

Special thanks to Chris at RPM Photography for these great on track shots...

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Friday, July 22, 2011

Autograph Hour at Beech Ridge

Hooligan Motorsports had a blast meeting all of the fans at our very first "Autograph Hour" at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on July 14th and we can't wait for the next one!  Don't miss the next one on August 18th!

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All photos above by Hooligan Motorsports

Beech Ridge ~ 7/14/11

Photos from the July 14th race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and Autograph Night!  The #8 started on the pole and finished 9th.

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We had a broken rear axle in final practice.  Special thanks to the Johnson Racing team for helping get the #8 back on the track for the feature race!

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All photos above by Hooligan Motorsports