reprinted from nelcar.net
Buffington Finally Gets Elusive Beech Ridge Win
For Shaun Buffington, success at one of the premier race tracks in New England has never come easy. Buffington has won races all over New England, but had never picked up a win at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. That all changed during the Pro All Stars Series, Southern Maine Motors 150 weekend. The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour was one of many events on an action packed day of racing at “The Ridge,” and Shaun Buffington was finally able to get that monkey off his back when it came to racing on the fast 3/8s mile oval.
Constant rains throughout the week set the stage for a fresh track for the Legends Car on Saturday, and it all started with the first heat race that had the 81 of sophomore driver Dan Winter. On the start, Winter was able to get out to the lead, and held on for two laps until the 17 of Terry Kirk showed his experience at Beech Ridge and took over the lead. The 38 of Matt Bourgoine was on the move though, and it wasn’t long before he took the race lead and set sail. Bourgoine took the heat win over the 2 of Ryan Hammar and Winter rounded out the top three.
For the second heat race it was another sophomore driver on the pole, this time the 64 of Jim Karatsanos with defending champion, Evan Beaulieu on the outside. When the field took the green, Beaulieu was able to grab the lead into turn one, but behind him the 18 of Tom Gray and Karatsanos made contact racing for position, sending the 64 machine for a machine and collecting Buffington and the 33 of Alan Smith. On the next restart however, Buffington was wasting no time making his way back to the front, as he used the outside lane to his advantage. Beaulieu held on to the lead when with two laps to go, the rear gear blew in the car. Buffington was able to get by on the outside and take the heat win. Beaulieu was able to limp the car home in second while Gray rounded out the top three.
For the feature, it was Hammar on the pole with Buffington to his outside. When the green flag waved for the 35 lap feature, Buffington was able to continue to use the outside to his advantage, and took the lead early. On the second lap, there was contact in the middle of the field, sending the 8 of Matt Chagnot for a spin in turn one. He was able to continue on but not without bringing out the races first yellow flag. On the next restart, Buffington was able to pull away once again. Early on it was the 12 car of Charlie Buxton and the 1 of Bobby Timmons who were able to make their way to the front of the field as they filled into the top three spots trying to run down Buffington. Halfway through the race came the second yellow flag, when the 84 of Legends rookie Matt Grant went for a spin in turn three and couldn’t get back going, ending his day early. On the final restart, it was Buffington who once again was able to pull out to the lead, while Timmons and Buxton followed behind. Meanwhile coming from the rear of the field were the 27 of Kevin Hutchens and the 38 of Matt Bourgoine, who made their way through the field and were challenging for positions inside the top five. At the end of it all however, it was Buffington who was able to pick up that elusive Beech Ridge win. Timmons finished second with Hutchens in third. Tom Gray and Charlie Buxton rounded out the top five.
Three races in the books, and it’s been three different races as Bourgoine, Beaulieu and Buffington have showed early on this season that they have what it takes to take the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour championship. The next race for the Tour is at Seekonk Speedway on Sunday, May 6th, as the division is part of the first race for the Nick’s Pitstop Friday Night Legends Series. For ore information, news and how you can get in a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.
All photos by Hooligan Motorsports.
