6/20/2022
Legion Speedway
Friday June 17th Race Recap
Wentworth, NH- Friday night saw two different divisions added to the program. The Modifieds and the Late Models were racing for the first time this season, along with the Non Wing Sprint Cars and the Pro 4 divisions. It was a nice night weather wise and the fans seem to like the track so far this season. Are attendance is looking better each week and we thank you all for that, along with the kind comments. The racing was good right from the start with some heat race action. The first heat out was the NWSC and it was the 37 of Rumney's Donald Ottati starting up front and led all eight laps to win the heat race, the biggest mover was Wade Prentice starting fifth and finishing second. Next up was the Modifieds and for the first event held for the division they showed up with twelve cars. Heat race 1 saw Maverick Eldridge take the win from the pole and Todd Buckwold come from fifth to claim the second spot. In heat race 2 it was DJ Robinson taking the win followed by Ricky Sanville. In the Late Models it was Carl Eldridge coming from fifth to take the win. The Pro 4's saw David Bill win the heat race. The heat race for the NWSC Rookie class saw Bobby Jones win the 8 lap race. After a few minutes of track prep it was time for Friday Night Lights with the feature first feature event lined up and ready to roll out. The Non Wing Sprint Car feature had Matt Collins starting on the pole with Brad Shanks along side. As the green flag waived the field was off and Brad Shanks got out front for lap one, until Wade Prentice got by and led lap two. Prentice would jump out to a huge lead and start to run away with the race. Lap 15 saw Peter Childs bring out the races only caution flag. Now Prentice would have to see if he could hold off any charges form Nick Comeau who had been closing the gap. On lap 21 Mark Cole was able to get past Comeau and reel in Prentice and get by him the next lap. Taking down the win was Mark Cole running the Outlaw class with Wade Prentice taking the win for NWSC A class.
In the Modifieds it would be Todd Buckwold and Ricky Sanville leading the field to green. Sanville would jump out front and made it look easy to drive away. But on lap 15 he would ride the wall just past the flag stand and spin out causing a right front flat. Sanville headed to the pit area to change the tire and would now start at the tail. Alan Hammond who was swapping the second spot with Buckwold would now lead the next laps until a late race caution flew on lap 22. On the restart Buckwold would get by Hammond to take the win followed by Hammond, and Matt Lashua finishing third.
Next up was the Late Models. Matt Lashua would bring the field to the green flag and at the line it was Carl Eldridge leading lap one. Eldridge would all 20 laps for the win followed by Rob French.
The Pro 4 division was next and Wayne Pillsbury Jr leading them to the green flag, Then Wayne Pillsbury Sr got by and led lap one. Pillsbury Sr would lead the first five laps until the red flag came out for a medical emergency in the pit area. The rest of the nights event had to be cancelled and will be made up at some other point in the season. Maybe Pillsbury Jr let his by for Fathers Day and will get the lead when the race is resumed.
On Sunday Legion Speedway was informed by the family of Carl Eldridge that Carl had suffered a major heart attack after winning his feature race just a few minutes before. Legion Speedway would like to thank Speedway Safety Services EMT's along with the Wentworth Fire and Police departments for how professional they handled the situation and got Carl to the hospital quickly.
We did not get the names of our 50/50 winner or kids bike winner but both were very happy to win each prize.
The next event is this Friday June 24th with The Sprint Cars of New England, The Granite State Mini Sprints , Non Wing Sprint Cars, Outlaw Midgets, and Pro 4 divisions.
Pit Gates open at 4;30 General Admission gates at 5:30
Bring a kid to a race because we are giving away another new bike.
Submitted By: Ron Giroux
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