Monday, June 25, 2012

Beech Ridge TNT ~ 6/21/12

reprinted from nelcar.net 
photo by Nichole, Hooligan Motorsports 

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Back To The Front, Beaulieu Wins at Beech Ridge

Going into the second round of V.I.P. Thursday Night Thunder at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Evan Beaulieu was on the stretch of six straight second place finishes, and a win would be almost out of the question coming from the rear of the field, but with a track that had plenty of grip after a week of great New England weather, it could be anyone’s race. Last week’s winner Matt Bourgoine, Beaulieu and former Thursday Thunder champion Bob Weymouth would have to make something happen from the rear of the field after finishing in the top three last week. With the sun shining, the field was set for what many fans called, the best Legends race they had ever seen.

After the draw in the driver’s meeting, Kevin Hutchens put his 27 machine on the pole with the 84 of rookie Matt Grant on the outside. As the green flag flew, Hutchens held on to the lead, with the 17 of Terry Kirk following through into the second spot. It didn’t take long for the first caution to fly, as the 49 of Pete Cannell spun on the backstretch just three laps into the race. The field was reset after a few laps of yellow, and Hutchens was able to get away once again on the restart. Grant found his way into second spot with the rest of the field two by two behind him with the drivers coming from the rear of the field working three wide in traffic at times. About halfway through the race, Beaulieu was able to break through the traffic on the outside line and find the bottom of the track to try and reel in Hutchens. With just eight laps to go, the 05 of Super Modified driver Mike Ordway and the 10 of longtime competitor Ed Getty made contact, sending Getty for a spin and bringing out the caution flag.

Hutchens on the inside, Beaulieu on the outside, the two championship competitors from a year ago were set to battle for the win. The green flag flew and the two drivers stayed side by side down into turn one. Hutchens started to gain a bit of an advantage on Beaulieu, but Beaulieu wasn’t backing down as he got back to even with Hutchens with a few laps to go. With just two laps to go, the two leaders made contact out of turn two while running side by side, which sent Hutchens into a spin and causing a huge wreck in turn three, collecting Kirk, Getty, Steve Fox, Alan Smith, Bourgoine, Tylar Braunschweig and Ryan Hammar. Everyone involved was okay thankfully. At the finish, Beaulieu was able limp his car to the win with his teammate Charlie Buxton finishing second and Matt Grant in third, the first podium at Beech Ridge for both drivers.

With the win, Beaulieu moved into the points lead for V.I.P. Thursday Thunder as well as the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour title fight. The Tour will be back at Beech Ridge next Thursday night for round three of V.I.P Thursday Thunder at Beech Ridge, and with Beaulieu, Buxton and Grant coming from the rear of the field this time and the competition as good as it’s ever been, it will be yet another great race. For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.

Monday, June 18, 2012

NHMS ~ 6/17/12

reprinted from nelcar.net
photos by RPM Photography


 
Buffington Back On Top At 89th Loudon Classic

The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour was back at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for one of the most insane weekends of the year, the 89th Annual Loudon Classic, otherwise known as “Bike Week.” The field has been getting tight in recent road course races, as last year’s dominating driver, Shaun Buffington, has been shut out in the two road course races thus far this season by Evan Beaulieu and Reid Lanpher. However, on this day, he knew he had a shot to win and the race did not disappoint the many fans who came out to enjoy their day at NHMS. The fifth race of the Moat Mountain Legends Series showed 22 of the best Legends Car drivers, once again doing battle on the 1.6 mile road course.

On the pole with a new track record in qualifying was defending Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour champion, Evan Beaulieu, with current point’s leader Matt Bourgoine on his outside. On the start, Beaulieu was able to get the jump into turn one with the race lead, but he had both Bourgoine and Lanpher right behind, as the top three were able to open up some distance on the rest of the field. It was all Beaulieu in the lead until about the halfway point, when Lanpher started to close in and made his move to the race lead, which allowed both Bourgoine and Buffington to catch right up to them and started a four car battle for the lead. The first yellow would come out with five laps to go, while in the battle for the lead, Lanpher went off in the downhill section of the track, along with Ryan Hammar in the 2 car having a mechanical failure in turn two.



On the restart, with just five laps to go, Beaulieu opted to restart from the outside, with Buffington running second next to him. The two went in a drag race into the first corner, but Buffington was able to get around and take the lead. The two who fought each other hard in the first road course race, were once again running one-two for the win. Beaulieu would stalk Buffington for the final laps, but coming around to the white flag, Buffington was able to open up enough distance to hold him off, as he took his first road course win of the season! Beaulieu finished second, for the sixth straight race, while Bourgoine rounded out the top three. Tom Gray in the 18 was fourth while Bob Weymouth finished fifth.



After ten races, Bourgoine still holds on to the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour points lead, but it’s tight up at the top as Beaulieu is just three points behind. In the Moat Mountain Legends Series at NHMS, Buffington was able to stretch out his points lead to four points over Beaulieu and 33 ahead of Lanpher. The next stop for the Tour is at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Thursday night, June 21st, for the second round of VIP Thursday Thunder, racing starts at 7 PM. Then the Tour will be back at Star Speedway on Saturday, June 23rd. Racing starts at 6 PM! For more news, info and how you can get into Legends Car racing, visit Nelcar.net.

Beech Ridge TNT ~ 6/14/12

reprinted from nelcar.net
photos by Nichole/Hooligan Motorsports


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Bourgoine Takes Round One of Thursday Thunder

VIP Thursday Night Thunder at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is the most popular series in all of New England for Legends Car racing. With grandstand tickets costing just $4, a full card of racing that is finished in just two hours, and some of the most intense Legends Car racing that will bring out the best, or worse of the drivers. On any given night, half the field of the competitive Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour field can win, and it’s never predictable on what the outcome may bring. As the 21 car field drove onto the track as the final feature of the evening, it was set to be a very interesting opener to VIP Thursday Thunder.

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The field was set by a random draw in the drivers meeting, just as it is every week in the Thursday Thunder Series, and Nelcar point’s leader Matt Bourgoine started on the pole with the 84 of rookie Matt Grant started on the outside. On the start, Bourgoine got the jump as the field bunched up behind him trying to make up ground before the field got strung out too early. Grant fell into the second spot while defending VIP Thursday Thunder Champion Evan Beaulieu moved his way into third with his main competition for all of last season, Kevin Hutchens closely behind. Early on, Beaulieu and the 05 of Modified driver Jacob Dore were able to work the outside and move their way into second and third, with the two swapping positions a few times before Beaulieu drove up to challenge Bourgoine for the lead. The two drivers ran bumper to bumper the entire race, and at the finish, Bourgoine was able to get the win in the opening round of Thursday Thunder, his third Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour victory of the season. Beaulieu finished second for the fifth straight race, and former track and tour champion Bob Weymouth rounded out the top three.

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With Bourgoine, Beaulieu and Weymouth all having to come from the rear next week, it will be an interesting as ever as the field is as competitive as it’s ever been, and coming from the rear of the field is never an easy task. With a host of both young talent and experienced veterans, the VIP Thursday Thunder is a must see event each week. Next Thursday night the racing will start at 7PM and you will not want to miss it. The next race for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour is at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Father’s Day, on the 1.6 mile Road Course. For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Welcome Pampered Paw Gifts!

Hooligan Motorsports is excited to welcome Pampered Paw Gifts to our amazing family of sponsors!

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If you're looking for unique gifts for the pampered furbabies in your life - or even the human pet lovers - Pampered Paw Gifts is the place!  Owner Tera Hamby says, "We think every doggie and kitty cat should get a gift, so we keep our prices pretty close to our cost.  It is our idea that with excellent service and customers' re-orders and telling others about us, that we will grow slowly but in the right way."

We are very excited to have Pampered Paw Gifts on board, and the Hooligan crew dogs are all wagging their tails!  In addition to the amazing gifts and delicious treats, the company supports rescue groups. "As we grow we put a lot back into the local and national rescue groups that need our help so much! They do so much with so little.," says Tera.

Visit the Pampered Paw Gifts website today!

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Monday, June 4, 2012

Speedway 95 ~ 6/2/12

reprinted from nelcar.net



No Rain On Bourgoine’s Parade
 
The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour returned to Speedway 95 this past weekend for the first time in three years. The 3/8s mile track is located in northernMainein the town ofHermon. While rain cancelled all other events in all ofNew England, there was a big crowd on hand for the Dysart’s Northeast Legends Showdown with hopes that the weather wouldn’t spoil the party. The 14 car Legends field was ready to do battle and run for a big purse in the first annual Dysart’s Northeast Legends Showdown.

For the first heat race, it was a pair of rookies with the 59 of Reid Lanpher and the 84 of Matt Grant were on the front row. On the start, it was Lanpher who took the early race lead with Grant falling in second. Coming from the third and fifth starting spots were the 399 of Bob Weymouth and the 56 of Evan Beaulieu were coming to the front. On lap four, the 49 of Pete Cannel went for a spin in turn one and brought out the caution flag. On the restart, Weymouthwas able to get the lead from Lanpher with Beaulieu following through into second place. Beaulieu then made the move on Weymouthand found the lead as he got the heat win over Weymouth and Lanpher.

For the second heat race, it was the 81 of Dan Winter and the 33 of Alan Smith on the front row. The action didn’t take long to come around, as contact on the second lap between the two leaders sent Smith for a ride into the turn three barrier, ending Smith’s race early. On the next restart, it was Winter and a new challenger with the 12 of Charlie Buxton, who is a past winner at Speedway 95. Coming in a hurry though was the 38 of Matt Bourgoine, and he overtook Buxton to take the lead. At the finish, it was Bourgoine winning heat two with Buxton in second and the 2 of Ryan Hammar in third.

It would be Evan Beaulieu leading the field to the green flag for the feature event with Bourgoine on his outside. Using the preferred outside groove, Bourgoine took the early race lead after Beaulieu put up a fight on the inside before falling in second spot. The first run was a long one, with Bourgoine and Beaulieu pulling away as they ran each other bumper to bumper. The first yellow came out on lap ten as the 96 of rookie Wyatt Alexander went for a spin in turn one. The first restart of the race had Bourgoine using Nelcar’s new “choose rule” which allows the race leader to choose which lane he starts in on the front row, to his advantage as he took off with the lead in the outside groove. There were many drivers wrapped under a blanket at the front of the field as Bourgoine held the lead. The second caution came out for Alexander finding more problems in turn one, only to find out later in the day he had a motor mount going bad making the 96 car hard to handle. The next restart was more of the same as Bourgoine held the lead in front of Beaulieu and Weymouth. Once again it was all Bourgoine and Beaulieu at the front of the field, as Beaulieu made a few bids for the lead to no avail. The races final caution flag came out as the 8 of Matt Chagnot went for a spin in turn four, but was able to continue. On the final restart, Bourgoine and Beaulieu drove into turn one side by side, and the two were fighting hard for the lead, but the hometown kid was able to get the lead once again, and hang on to get the win! Beaulieu finished second with Lanpher in third. Weymouth finished fourth and Matt Grant finished a career high of fifth.

The win was a popular one for Matt Bourgoine, who calls Speedway 95 his home track and had many of his family and friends there to watch him take the checkered flag. Along with the win, Bourgoine now holds a three point advantage over Beaulieu for the points lead. The Tour would like to thank BDS Waste Disposal, Dysart’s, Maine Equipment Company, Casella Waste and Chadwick-BaRoss for their sponsorship of the event. The Tour has next weekend off, but will be back in action on Thursday, June 14th for the first race in the Thursday Night Thunder series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. The popular ten race series is one of the most exciting nights in all of racing, and tickets are only $4 for grandstands, and $8 for the pits with racing starting at 7PM. For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.

Star Speedway Photos ~ 5/26/12

The NELCAR series spent part of Memorial Day Weekend at Star Speedway for a little Saturday Night Short Track Racing! The 26 car field hit the track for two heat races and a highly competitive feature. The #8 Hooligan Motorsports car finished 6th in our heat race and 19th in the feature - with the wrong gear in the car. 

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Special thanks to Chris at RPM Photography for the above photos.

We are pleased to announce Babs, the Friends of Retrievers foster pup that was crashing at the Hooligan household, has been adopted by The Cannell's and is now known as Belle!  We love fostering and love it even more when people we know adopt! We could not be happier than having Belle remain a part of our NELCAR family! 

Congrats to Pete & Wanda on
their adorable new addition!

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Friday, June 1, 2012

2012 Hero Cards

Coming Soon....The Hooligan Motorsports 2012 Hero Cards!  Stop by the #8 pit to get yours!