Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Beech Ridge TNT ~ 8/16/12

Ready for practice last night #racing #legends #nelcar #maine #tnt #vipthunder @beechridge
 
 
reprinted from nelcar.net
photo by Nichole, Hooligan Motorsports
 
Buxton Closes Thursday Thunder With Win, Bourgoine Crowned Champion

After nine races, the VIP Thursday Thunder Series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway was coming to a close. The Thursday Thunder campaign has been at it’s best this season, as in the first nine races, there had been seven different winners. By far one of the most competitive seasons to date was coming to a close under the lights atMaine’s most popular short track on Mainely Motorsports’ night.

On the pole was the third place point’s driver Charlie Buxton in the 12 car, with the 2 of Ryan Hammar on his outside. On the start, Buxton was able to get out to the lead, but it didn’t take long for the first incident to occur. On lap two, the 10 of Ed Getty and the 84 of Matt Grant got together in the middle of the pack and the field stacked up behind them. After the smoke cleared, the 33 of Alan Smith, the 98 of Dean Dezak, the 88 of Steve Fox and the points leader Evan Beaulieu in the 56 were all wrecked on the backstretch. After a long hard season, Beaulieu saw his chances to win his second straight VIP Thursday Thunder title took a hit.

As the race went back green, Buxton took off with the lead again while the runner up in point’s going into the night Matt Bourgoine saw the door to take the championship open, and began to make his run to the front from the rear of the field. As Buxton lead the field, Bourgoine worked his way through the traffic on his way to a championship. Buxton would lead the field flag to flag, and in convincing style ended the VIP Thursday Thunder Series with his second win of the season! Hammar finished second and Bourgoine drove his way to third to claim the VIP Thursday Thunder championship! Bob Weymouth and Terry Kirk rounded out the top five.

After a long ten week stretch, VIP Thursday Thunder at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway had concluded after the race, proudly sponsored by Mainely Motorsports. With an autograph session after the race, the fans were able to meet and socialize with all their favorite drivers. The fans are what makes short track racing what it is and they were treated to ten great races. Congratulations to Matt Bourgoine, the 2012 VIP Thursday Thunder Champion and all the competitors on another great season at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. While the Thursday Thunder campaign is over, the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour continues on with races just about every weekend into October. The schedule, along with news and how you can get into a Legends Car, is available on Nelcar.net!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Beech Ridge TNT ~ 8/9/12

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reprinted from nelcar.net
photo by Nichole, Hooligan Motorsports


Steve Fox Back In Beech Ridge Victory Lane!
 
 
With just two weeks remaining in the VIP Thursday Thunder Series for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour, many different drivers were still looking to break intoVictory Laneand time was running out. The driver victorious tonight however has had his share of victories and championships in his career. The 21 car field took to the racetrack as the final event of another exciting night at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, and another great show was in the making.

Ready for practice last night #racing #legends #nelcar #maine #tnt #vipthunder @beechridge

On the pole was another veteran of the Tour, Chad Harrington behind the wheel of car 46 with the 2 of sophomore driver Ryan Hammar on the outside of the front row. On the start, Hammar was able to use the outside line and vault himself to the lead with Harrington in second. Just a few laps into the race however, the 17 of Terry Kirk and the 81 of Dan Winter made contact through turns one and two, which resulted in Winter going for a spin and snapping his rear axle, ending his night early after limping back to the pits. The race would stay green however. Making his way closer to the leader was former champion Steve Fox in the 88 car. He had been very close toVictory Lanethe past couple of seasons and hadn’t been able to seal the deal. He was closing in on Hammar as the laps were winding down. Closing in behind them however were the top two in TNT points, Evan Beaulieu in the 56 and Matt Bourgoine in the 38, looking to steal the show. As Hammar and Fox got racing for the lead, Beaulieu made a run on the outside for the lead and the shuffling was on from there for the race. Fox was able to get a nose underneath Hammar with two laps to go, and wrestle the race lead away. Fox was able to keep his car up front and take home his first win of the 2012 season! Beaulieu crossed the line in second with Bourgoine in third. Hammar was fourth with Harrington rounding out the top five.

After nice races, Beaulieu was able to stretch his points lead in the VIP Thursday Thunder to 21 points over Bourgoine and 42 over Charlie Buxton in third with just one race remaining. However, anything can happen in these races and the championship isn’t settled until the final checkered flag is waved. The next race for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour is Saturday, August 11th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on the quarter mile oval, racing starts at 5 PM! Be sure to get to the track next week for the final VIP Thursday Thunder race of the season, followed by an autograph session with all the drivers after the races! Tickets are just $4 and racing starts at 7PM. For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Beech Ridge TNT ~ 8/2/12

After a career best finish at Beech Ridge last week, the #8 suffered a DNF when a coil wire came unattached on Lap 3.

reprinted from nelcar.net
photo by Nichole, Hooligan Motorsports

It's #vipthunder race night! #nelcar #legends #racing #maine

Jacob Dore Is Back To Winning Ways at Beech Ridge

While there have been many new drivers on the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour since Jacob Dore won his last series title in 2007, he hasn’t forgotten how to get the job done in a Legends Car. Now running a Modified full time, he runs occasionally in the Legends Car, and can always put up good results. He was able to pick up the win on Re/Max night of VIP Thursday Thunder in front of a packed house at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. The 19 car Legends field took to the track as the last race of the evening for their feature event, and put on a show as they always do.

On the pole for Re/Max night was the “racing realtor” Ed Getty in car 10, on the outside was Dore in car 05. On the start, the two drove side by side through the first two corners, before Dore was able to edge his blue machine out in front and pace the field around as the leader. The racing behind them got very dicey on lap three as an ignition problem on the 8 of Matt Chagnot bunched up the second half of the field and had many drivers scrambling for position. Back to the race for the lead, right behind Dore was longtime rival Bob Weymouth in the 399. Those two would pull away from the rest of the pack as they dueled it out for the race lead. Behind them however was some intense three and sometimes four wide action behind them as the field sorted itself out. At the finish, Jacob Dore was able to hold off Weymouth, and take the victory! Weymouth was second while Matt Bourgoine continued his late season charge and finished third. Matt Grant continued his impressive rookie season with a fourth place run while Peter Craig had his best finish as he rounded out the top five.

It was another great night on Re/Max night at VIP Thursday Thunder as the fans were treated to another great show. With the third place run Bourgoine moved to just 18 points behind Beaulieu who finished seventh in the points standings. The next race for VIP Thursday Thunder is next Thursday, August 9th at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. With just two races left and a close point’s race up front, anything can, and will happen at VIP Thursday Thunder. Racing starts at 7PM and tickets are only $4! For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net!

Beech Ridge TNT ~ 7/26/12

The #8 took home a 6th place finish in Round 7 of Thursday Night Thunder at the Ridge!!

reprinted from nelcar.net 
photo by Nichole, Hooligan Motorsports
 

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Bringing The Thunder, Buxton Wins at Beech Ridge!

While storms threatened much of the Maine region on Thursday night, that would not stop the show at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. After a few light showers during the day, the skies cleared just enough to get some racing in at round seven of VIP Thursday Thunder. The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour has seen a lot of new faces in victory lane and with familiar faces at the front. The 17 car Legends field took to the track, and a longtime Legends competitor was gearing up for his first trip to Beech Ridge victory lane.

Through the luck of the pill draw, point’s leader Evan Beaulieu in the familiar black 56 was on the pole, with his teammate Charlie Buxton in the 12 car to his outside. On the start, Beaulieu got out to the early race lead, as Buxton blended into second spot. The two would lead the 84 of Matt Grant and the 8 of Matt Chagnot through the first few laps. The field begun to string out quite a bit and the two teammates had opened up a straightaway lead on the field. At the race’s half way point, Buxton made his move off of turn four, and took the lead from Beaulieu. Beaulieu wasn’t going to go down without a fight however, as he would draw back to the outside of Buxton for the lead. Coming from the rear of the field though was the 38 of Matt Bourgoine, as he moved into third with a few laps remaining, and was able to drive to the leaders racing for the win. Both Beaulieu and Bourgoine made a few moves for the win, but Buxton would not be denied, as he took his first win at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway! Beaulieu would finish in second, as Bourgoine was third. Grant would complete his best career in his impressive rookie season in the fourth spot, with Matt Chagnot having his best career run as well in sixth in just his second season of Legends competition.

With the win, Buxton vaulted himself back into second place in the VIP Thursday Thunder points standings. Beaulieu still leads by 23 markers. The Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour will be back in action at Star Speedway this Saturday, July 28th for race 21 of the season. Racing starts at 6PM. The VIP Thursday Thunder Series will continue next week, with just three weeks remaining, the championship battle is still wide open, as Beaulieu, Buxton and Bourgoine are all separated by just 28 points. Racing kicks off at 7PM at Beech Ridge. For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.