GERVAIS, KENISON AND THERRIEN

ON TOP AT RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY

            Another big crowd filed into the P.A.S.S. sanctioned Riverside Speedway this past Saturday night, and when the dust settled, it was Reno Gervais, Jason Kenison, Tyler Therrien, Traci Nelson, Kyle Pembroke, Lyndsay Dawson, and Charlie Rockwell all scoring impressive wins on North Country Ford night.

            The North Country Ford Late Models struggled with cautions in their forty lap main event, but none the less, Reno Gervais, and Grant Folsom battled each other to the checkered flag. The final caution flew on lap 29, and the field restarted single file. Folsom jumped to the outside of Gervais and hung in the high lane for three laps before settling into second spot, where he remained until the checkers flew. The big battle came for the third spot as Bryan Mason battled brother Corey and Mike Kenison to the stripe. When it was all over, Gervais had picked up his second victory of the season, followed by Folsom, Bryan Mason, Corey Mason and Kenison. ARP Body heat checkers flew for Stephen Hodgdon, Corey Mason, and Grant Folsom.

            Rookie driver, Jason Kenison jumped out front early in the Budweiser Super Stocks, and then withstood a torrid challenge from point leader Luke Shannon, and Brian Gosselin to capture his first career Super Stock victory. Gosselin slipped by Shannon with two laps remaining to secure the runner-up position. Jerrad Ledger and Jeff Fysh completed the top five. Kenison and Jamie Longley were victorious in their preliminary rounds.

            Another rookie, Tyler Therrien took and early lead, and survived a pair of cautions and a red flag to nail down his first ever River Bend RV Street Stock main event. The red flag flew for point leader Shawn Swallow as he tangled with another car in turn four an ended up on his roof. The car suffered extensive frontend damage, but the crew went to work and got him back on the track as the race went back to green. Therrien and Theroux then battled hard over the final laps as Therrien forged ahead with four laps remaining to pick up his first ever, Street Stock win. Theroux, Cody Hodge, Brendon Hunt and Bill Stebbins Jr. rounded out the top five. Therrien and Theroux won the respective qualifiers.

            Traci Nelson charged to the front from deep in the pack to pick up her first win of 2008 in the Leo Enos Landscaping Angels feature event. Her road to victory lane was not an easy one as Johanna Christman, Jennie Dion and Vanessa Brown were right on her heels. Newcomer, Danielle Brigham completed the top five.

            The Kids Only Daycare Daredevils performed a rare feat as both the Rookies and the Veterans ran green to checkers. The Rookies saw the young lady, Lyndsay Dawson win her first ever main event, as she defeated Nick Miller, Nick Gilcris, Jerrad Ainsworth and Stephen Donahue. Kyle Pembroke dusted the Veterans field, winning handily over Brandon Lambert, Jesse Switser, Dilyn Switser and Keith Lord.

            The final event of the night was the Jiffy Mart Cyclone 50 lapper. Young Kristopher Russell had his best run of the season going as he led the first 22 laps before giving away to “Chargin” Charlie Rockwell. Russell held off the advances from Luke Shannon before mechanical problems sent him pit side on lap 32. From there it was all Rockwell, with Shannon in chase, and that’s the way they finished. The big battle was for third spot as Rick Utley Jr. nipped Josh Lafleur at the stripe for third. Anthony Hill finished out the top five.