LALEME, GOSSELIN AND CODY HODGE
VICTORIOUS AT RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY
Mother Nature once again plagued the P.A.S.S. sanctioned, Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire this past Friday night as showers rolled into the area just before post time and delayed the start of the event for over an hour on Jiffy Mart night at the races. Once the track got dried, the races went off without a hitch. Winners on the evening included Doug Laleme, Brian Gosselin, Cody Hodge, Johanna Christman, Ernest Laplant, and Luke Shannon.
Once again, the Optical Expressions Outlaw Sportsman put on a whale of a show, and when it was all said and done, Doug Laleme made it two in a row as he raced by David Ofsuryk Jr. just past the mid-way point, and held off a late race challenge by the rookie to grab the win. Steve Patnaude, Pete Gilcris and Dan Sidney completed the top five. Ofsuryk also carried the heat checkers.
A determined Brian Gosselin won a late race restart duel with Jerrad Ledger to capture the Budweiser Super Stock main in a real nail biter. The pair raced side by side for several laps before Gosselin inched ahead. A torrid battle for the third spot ended with last week’s winner Jason Kenison edging out Luke Shannon for the spot. Nathan Swallow rounded out the top five. Qualifying checkers flew for Denny Degreenia and Gosselin.
Rookie sensation, Cody Hodge, dominated the River Bend RV Street Stock feature as he raced to his second win of the season. Hodge was followed by Alex Theroux, Tyler Therrien, Michael Smith and Shawn Swallow. Tori Delabruere had the final podium spot sewn up until a mechanical problem sent her for a wild ride down the back stretch giving her a seventh place finish. Hodge also won the qualifying round.
Ernest Laplant kept his win streak alive in the Twisted Tea Dwarf Cars as he held off challenges from Eric Hall and Dana Huoppi to garner another victory. Huoppi raced by Hall late in the event to secure the 2nd spot. Bobby Riley and Toby Merchant rounded out the top five. Laplant also walked away with qualifying honors.
Johanna Christman held off all challengers in the Leo Enos Landscaping Angels 35 lap feature event. Christman held back repeated challenges from Miranda Gervais to secure the victory. Jennie Dion raced home third, followed by Danielle Brigham and Jen Terrill.
Luke Shannon grabbed the lead from Kristopher Russell late in the Jiffy Mart Cyclones race and cruised to another victory. Russell had a career best second place finish, followed by Loren Vear, Charlie Rockwell and Andy Hill.
Riverside Speedway will be back in action this coming Friday night, July 4th, as Optical Expressions and R&R Fireworks present the 4th of July Spectacular. It will be Round #2 of the Bond Auto Parts Triple Crown Series for the Late Models. The 75 lap race will pay the winner $1,000. Also on the card will be Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Daredevils, Dwarf Cars and Cyclones. There will be Kiddie racecar rides from 5-5:45pm and a giant fireworks display will wrap up the evenings activities. Qualifying for support divisions will begin at 6pm, with Late Model qualifying beginning at 6:30pm.
Riverside Speedway is located on Brown Road, off Route 3 in Groveton, New Hampshire. For more information you can visit the track website at www.riversidespeedway.org or call the track hotline at 603-636-2005.
