Hersey Takes Bond Auto Parts Spring Dash Opener

Winchester, NH: This past Saturday, Monadnock Speedway hosted their annual Bond Auto Parts Spring Dash Season Opener with a full crowd on hand. First of the season victories went to TVMRS Rob Goodenough, Outlaw Pro Russ Hersey, Super Stock Matt Mead, Mini Stock Tim Jackson, Full Size Enduro Jeff Kirley and 4-cylinder Enduro Dick Houle.

The special event started off with the Mini Stocks rolling on the track with 2008 champion, Derek Bergquist , leading the field to the green. On the first lap, Bergquist lost the lead to teammate Chris McTaggart. On lap seven, the first caution flew for Ron Normandin. On the restart, McTaagrt held the lead with Tim Jackson on his back bumper. Joe Kendall worked on Bergquist for third. The top five run bumper to bumper as Bergquist gave a little bump to Jackson. Jackson held on to second and worked the outside of McTaggart for the lead. Bergquist looking at the inside of Jackson attempted to slip into second. Five laps to go, McTaggart and Jackson ran side by side with Jackson winning the battle for the lead. Bergquist attempted the same move on McTaggart for second as Joe Kendall and Beth Adams battled for fourth. Two laps to go Adams made her move and took over fourth. At the white flag, McTaggart and Bergquist ran wheel to wheel for second. At the checkers, Tim Jackson took down the win McTaggart held of Bergquist by inches for second.  Adams and Kendall followed for top five.

Nancy Muni sat on the pole for the twenty five lap Super Stock event. Muni quickly took over the lead as Jeremy Sorel challenged her on the outside. Lap ten, the top four ran tight with Muni still in the leas followed by Sorel, Bill Johnston and Matt Mead. Lap traffic began to be a factor as the top leaders carefully passed around the. Half-way to go, Muni continued to hold off Sorel as he looked to the inside for the top spot. Mead worked on Johnston for third. Ten to go, Sorel attempted the outside of Muni but was shuffled back to fourth. Mead and Johnston ran side by side with Mead coming out on top and in pursuit of Muni. Five to go, Mead made the move on Muni and took over the lead as Sorel follwed for second. Johnston, Ed Brehio III and Ken Springer as battled for fourth. Two to go, Brehio III ran side by side with Johnston. At the checkers, it was Mead celebrating the victory followed by Sorel, Muni, Brehio III and Springer.

Outlaw Pros took the track with Steve Gauthier and Russ Hersey, side by side, to the green.  Gauthier was the early leader with Hersey on his back bumper. Mike Parks and Barry Gray battled for third. On lap four, Hersey made the pass on the outside of Gauthier to take the lead. Gray moved into third as Brandon Ovitt was on the back bumper of Parks four fourth. On lap eleven, Ovitt took over fourth. Gray began to close in on Gauthier for second.  Half way to go, heresy developed a good lead as Gauthier continued to hold off Gray. Ten to go, Gauthier suffered mechanical issues as the caution was brought out. On the restart of the ten lap shoot out, Hersey got the jump for the lead as Ron Smith moved in on Gray for second. Smith moved into second and was on the back bumper of Hersey. Two laps to go, Smith attempted the outside for the lead but was denied. At the checkers, Hersey held off the hard charges off Smith to claim the win. Gray came in third as Parks beat out Brandon Ovitt by inches for fourth.

Full Size Enduro 2008 Champion, Jeff Kirley,  wasted no time starting where he finished last season. Kirley dominated the lead early as Dan Yagmin, Joe Ethier, Randy Rameau and Jared Edson followed in the top five. Twenty laps in the battle for fourth brewed between Edson, Ryan Rivet and Eitheir. Half way to go, Kirley was on rails as he developed a quarter track lead on second place runner, Dan Yagmin. Rameau attempted to catch Yagmin for third. Ten laps to go, Kirley gained a ½ track lead. Few laps later, third place runner, Rameau, suffered a blown engine giving the third spot to Rivet. At the checkers, it was Kirley, Yagmin, Rivet, Edson and Ethier.

It was the Houle versus Houle showdown in the 50 lap 4-cylinder Enduro event.  Dick Houle commanded the lead early with Adam Houle, Patrick Houle and Josh Houle all battling for the top spot. The leaders approached heavy lap traffic as a lap car blocked Dick Houle giving Adam Houle the lead. Josh Houle moved into second. Half way to go, Dick Houle and Patrick Houle made contact resulting Pat Houle loosing position. A few laps later, Adam Houle and Josh Houle ran wheel to wheel as the red flag was displayed for Jacob Wilkins who took a hard hit into the third turn wall. Wilkin’s car suffered extensive damage but he was okay. On the restart, Ada Houle continued to lead as Josh Houle and Dick Houle challenged him. Louis Maher held off Pat Houle and Matt Gauffin for fourth. Ten laps to go, Dick Houle made his move and took the lead a s Adam Houle and Josh Houle ran side by side. Maher moved in on the Houles’ and challenged them for second. At the checkers, it was Dick Houle followed by Josh Houle, Adam Houle, Pat Houle and Louis Maher.

This Saturday, Monadnock Speedway will welcome the return of Modified racing at the high banked ¼ mile. The Monadnock Speedway Modified field consist of tour type open wheel race machines guarantee to keep the fans on the edge of their seat in the 50 lap debut.  In addition to the Modifieds on May 2nd,   the Allison Legacy North Series, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks and 4-cylinder Enduros will be competing. Race time is at 6pm.
Outlaw Pro Results: Russ Hersey, Swanzey, NH; Ron Smith, Oakham, Ma; Barry Gray, Belchertown, Ma; Mike Parks, Charlestown, NH; Brandon Ovitt, Bernardston, Ma; Geoff Rollins, Groton, Ma; Eric Poulin, Keene, NH; James Hancock, Litchfield, NH; Steve Gauthier, Jaffrey, NH

Super Stock Results: Matt Mead, Richmond, NH; Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma; Nancy Muni, Harwinton, CT; Ed Brehio III, Baldwinville, Ma; Ken Springer, Swanzey, NH; Bill Johnston, Athol, Ma; Jeff Wright, Jaffrey, NH; Andy Brooks Jr; Winchendon, Ma; Robert Bedaw, Greenfield, Ma; Adam Brooks, Winchendon, Ma; Kevin Ouellette, Fitchburg, Ma; Dana Shepard, Putney, VT; Ken Thompson, Alstead, NH; Buster Duncan, Greenfield, Ma; Dan Jackman, Bernardston, Ma; Scott Cashman, Keene, NH

Mini Stock Results: Tim Jackson, Jaffrey, NH; Chris McTaggart, Swanzey, NH; Derek Bergquist, Warwick, Ma; Beth Adams, Winchendon, Ma; Joe Kendall, Winchendon, Ma; Travis Grover, Brattleboro, VT; Ron Normandin, Fitchburg, Ma; Joe Rogers, Ludlow, VT; Cosmo Casamassa; Dennis Wallace, Jaffrey, NH; Chris Davis, Winchester, NH; Jamey King, Orange, Ma

Top Ten Full Size Results: Jeff Kirley, Palmer, Ma; Dan Yagmin, Whethersfield, CT; Ryan Rivet, Chicopee, Ma; Jared Edson, Bernardston, Ma; Joe Ethier, Auburn, Ma; Duane Stonier,  Wolcott, Ct; Barry Schonborg, Westminster, Ma; Jon Wyman, Westminster, Ma; Dan Cheveralls, Harvard, ma; Bucky Sheats, Troy, NH

Top Ten 4-cylinder Enduro Results: Dick Houle, W. Brattleboro, VT; Josh Houle, Vernon, VT; Adam Houle, Vernon, VT;  Pat Houle, Vernon, VT; Louis Maher, Spencer, Ma;  Matt Gauffin, Hancock, NH; Eric Pomasko, Peterborough, NH;  Jason Spaulding, CJ Johnson, Keene, NH; Scott Hatt, Swanzey, NH