Hersey Cruises to Victory Lane

Winchester, NH: This past Saturday, Monadnock Speedway hosted the return of the Northeast Midget Association where 2008 champion Cabral took the checkers for their opening event of the 2009 season. Hersey cruised to the victory in the Outlaw Pros. Matt Mead made a late race pass in the Super Stocks to take his third victory, Tim Jackson was declared the winner in the Mini Stocks and Jeff Kirley took the Full Size Enduro win.

The Mini Stocks rolled onto the track with Travis Grover leading the field to the green. On lap six the leader and Joe Rogers came together collecting Beth Adams and Shawn Doubleday.   On the restart, Jamey King was the new leader as Derek Bergquist followed. Rich Fournier and Tim Jackson battled side by side for third. Ten laps into the books, King and Bergquist were bumper to bumper for the lead as Chris McTaggart sat in fifth. Half way to go, the battle continued between King and Bergquist as Jackson looked to the inside of Fournier for third. McTaggart and Kim Rivet challenged each other for fifth.  Five laps to go Jackson  ran third as Rivet tried the outside in turn four for fifth. Two laps to go, Bergquist looked high and low to get around King as McTaggart moved into fourth. At the checkers, it was Bergquist making the pass on King for the win followed by Jackson, McTaggart and Fournier. In a post race inspection, Bergquist and King were penalized for a rules infraction giving the win to Tim Jackson.

Ken Thomspon set the pace in the Super Stock main event. At the green, Thompson quickly took the lead followed by Craig Cashman, Adam Brooks, Robert Bedaw and Andy Brooks. By lap five, Adam Brooks moved into second as Andy Brooks and Ed Brehio Jr followed close behind. On lap seven, Adam Brooks took over the lead as Thompson was shuffled back to fourth. Lap ten, Adam Brooks continued to lead as Andy Brooks and Brehio III battled for second. Bedaw, Matt Mead, Thopmson and Ken Springer all ran tight for the top five spots. Two laps later, the caution came out as Andy Brooks bounced off the wall and made contact with Brehio III. Brehio III suffered extensive damage to his car and was forced to retire to the pits. On the restart, Adam Brooks held off Mead for the lead as Springer and Bedaw ran side by side for third. Five laps to go, Adam Brooks continued to lead despite many challenges from Mead for the pass in turn three. Jeff Wright moved into fifth attempting to make the pass on Bedaw. On the final lap, Mead tried the outside pass in turn two as both Adam Brooks and Mead came out of turn four side by side for the checkered flag. At the checkers, it was Mead by a fender for the victory followed by Adam Brooks, Springer, Bedaw and Wright.

Steve Gauthier and Mike Parks, side by side, led the Outlaw Pros to the green. Gauthier, after posting a DNF last week due to a broken wheel, took the lead. Parks settled in second followed by last week’s winner Brandon Ovitt. On lap five, Russ Hersey turned up the heat and looked to the inside of Ovitt for third.  Hersey completed the pass. By lap ten, Parks felt Hersey on his back bumper.   Hersey made the pass under Parks and moved in on the leader. By the next lap, Hersey on the inside of Gauthier in turn three gained the lead. Half way to go, Hersey began to pull away from the field as Parks defended his third spot from Ovitt and Barry Gray. Three laps later, Parks gets loose out of turn three allowing a side by side battle with Ovitt for third. Ten laps to go, Ovitt was driving the wheels off his car to catch Gauthier for second.  On lap thirty five, Hersey on cruise control began to show smoke due to a problem with his power steering. Ovitt caught up to Gauthier as Smith took over fourth from Gray.  At the end, it was Hersey hanging despite problems for the win followed by Gauthier, Ovitt, Smith and Gray.

The Full Size Enduros completed the evening’s event With Jared Edson being scored as the early leader followed by Randy Rameau, Bill Faford, Duane Stonier and Trevor Dyer for the top five. On lap six, Rameau took the lead as Jeff Kirley moved into fourth and was hunting down the top three. Rameau continued to lead through heavy lap traffic allowing Edson to catch him. Half way to go, a three way battle developed between Rameau, Edosn and Kirley for the lead. Kirley made the pass on Edson winning the side by challenge and placed pressure on Rameau. Kirley on the outside took the lead from Rameau. Kirley stretched out his lead as Edson and Rameau battled for second. Bill Faford and Dan Yagmin fought for fourth. Ten laps to go, Jared took back second as Yagmin moved into third. Ryan Rivet and Bill Faford challenged each other for the top five.  On the final lap, it was Kirley followed by Edson, Yagmin, Rameau and Duane Stonier.

Outlaw Pro Finish: Russ Hersey, Swanzey, NH; Steve Gauthier, Jaffrey, NH; Brandon Ovitt, Bernardston, Ma; Ron Smith, Oakham, Ma; Barry Gray, Belchertown, Ma; Mike Parks, Walpole, NH; Adam Brooks, Winchendon, Ma; Eric Poulin, Swanzey, NH

Super Stock Finish: Matt Mead, Richmond, NH; Adam Brooks, Winchendon, Ma; Ken Springer, Swanzey, NH; Robert Bedaw, Greenfield, Ma; Jeff Wright, Jaffrey, NH; Nancu Muni, Harwinton, Ct; Andy Brooks, Winchendon, Ma; Bill Joshnton, Athol, Ma; Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma; Craig Cashman, Keene, NH; Ken Thomspon, Alstead, NH; |Kevin Russell, Fitzwilliam, NH; Kevin Ouellette, Fitchburg, Ma; Dana Shepard, Putney, VT; Ed Brehio III, Baldwinville, Ma

Mini Stock Finish(unofficial at press time): Tim Jackson, Jaffrey, NH; Chris McTaggart, Swanzey, NH; Rich Fournier, Warwick, Ma; Kim Rivet, Chicopee, Ma; Joe Kendall, Winchendon, Ma; Beth Adams, Winchendon, Ma; Chris Davis, Winchester, NH; Dennis Wallace, Jaffrey, NH; Joe Rogers, Ludlow, VT; Travis Grover, Brattleboro, VT; Kevin McKnight, Warwick, Ma; Shawn Doubleday, Belchertown, Ma; Ricky Bernard, Whitingham, VT; Emerson Cayer, Contoocook, NH; Brennan Johnson, Winchendon, Ma, Derek Bergquist, Warwick, Ma; Jamey King, Orange, Ma

Top Ten Full Size Enduros: Jeff Kirley, Palmer, Ma; Jared Edson, Winchendon, Ma; Dan Yamin, Wethersfield, Ct; Randy Rameau, Westminster, Ma; Duane Stonier, Wolcott, Ct; Ryan Rivet, Chicopee, Ma; Bill Faford, Westminster, Ma; Joe Ethier, Auburn, Ma; Barry Schonborg, Westminster, Ma; Trevor Dyer, Wolcott, Ct