Big Daddy’s Speedbowl

The word is spreading about the rejuvenated Big Daddy’s Speedbowl in Wentworth, NH. A whole lot of racing gets packed into a busy afternoon every Sunday. Fans can watch great racing at a state-of-the-art facility and be on the road home before dark.

On Moses Family Memorial night at Big Daddy’s, fans saw some especially good racing and they also saw some racing history. A number of the famous racing coupes from the sixties and seventies came by for a visit. It was a big thrill to see restored race cars made famous by Ralph Stygles, Brother Eastman, John Bucklin, and others out on the track taking laps. At the show held before races, models and old photos were on display.

When we returned to 2010, the OE Parts Direct Mini-Stocks were the first division on the track. Josh Sunn (11) won the feature after a heated battle with Matt Morrill (9). Dana Whiting (04) had another good solid finish, taking home the third-place trophy. Josh continues his winning ways on the clay and leads the Bandits points at Big Daddy’s.

“Racin’” Jason Sanville (96) arrived for the Mid-State Trucking Modified feature with a borrowed engine. It didn’t keep him from taking the lead on lap one and holding it all the way to the end. Travis Shinn (11) held second place for most of that time, holding off challenges from Ryan Avery (01), Allan Hammond (97), and David Heath (15). On the final lap Kevin Chaffee (73) managed to get by, leaving Shinn in third.

The Modified race was also the 5th event in the Twin State Modified Series composed of 2 races at each of the area dirt tracks: Big Daddy’s Speedbowl, Canaan Dirt Speedway, and Bear Ridge Speedway. Kevin Chaffee (73) leads the series with feature winner Jason Sanville (96) in third.

Derek O’Hearn (14) dominated the next event. After an early-race battle for the lead, Derek took off and never faced a serious challenge for the feature win in the Cutting Edge Grafix/Keyser Trucking Super Street. Jim Travis (17) and Jack Whynot (27) came home second and third.

Jamie Bezanson’s entry in the Mike’s Automotive Outlaw Late Model main event looked like it wasn’t going to even get to the starting line. In the heat race, his #13 1/2 car punctured its oil pan and the car went onto the trailer; everyone assumed that was it. But soon the car was unloaded, a jack went under the big racer, and a new oil pan was installed in record time. Jamie went out and finished the car in second place in one of the closes finishes of the year, only inches behind the seemingly unstoppable Dirt Track Cadillac of Brad Shanks (8). “Dangerous” Dan Collins (4) was third.

The Camaro Heaven Bandit division feature may have been the best race of the afternoon. Marcus Jenness (19), Scott Blake (21), and Alicia Smith (88) formed a lead pack that quickly put distance on the rest of the field. In the last half of the feature, the trio raced wheel to wheel, but never touching. Jenness, Blake, and Smith was the order at the end, and all the drivers were so busy complimenting each other for driving such a clean, hard race they almost forgot to collect their trophies. It proved once again that the best racing involves a minimum of bent race cars.

Big Daddy has added some exciting events to the 2010 schedule. One August 1st an Enduro race for 4 and 6 cylinder cars will be held. On August 15th a bike race for kids will be held with trophies going to the top three in each age group. Later in the month, on August 29th, another enduro will be run. Also on August 29th, a Driver Appreciation event will be held where fans can meet their favorite drivers and get autographs.

This coming week, July 18th, the regular divisions compete along with the 360 sprint cars from SCoNE.

Big Baddy’s Speedbowl is a family orientated racing facility featuring a D-shaped, 1/4 mile, clay oval. Grandstand admission is only $10 for an adult with a familypackage of $25. Pit admission is $25.

The gates at Big Daddy’s open at 12 noon, the driver’s meeting starts at3:30, and the first race goes off at 4:00pm sharp. The track is located on the Rumney/Wentworth town line on NH Rte. 25. Check the track website, www.BigDaddysSpeedbowl.com, for complete race results, coming events, and race photos. You can also call the track phone, 603-786-2866, on race day for more info.

By Rick Clogston and Ray Heath