Riverside FANatic 9/30/06
by Alan Plummer
Wow, hard to believe the racing season has come to an end at Riverside Speedway, a PASS sanctioned track. It seems like just yesterday the season was just starting. A great show was put on by all divisions, although there were a few too many cautions for my liking.
The Daredevils started off the night. Instead of running two divisions of youth, it was decided to run them all together. After a few bad starts, things sorted out and the young drivers put on a great race. The 2 of Curtis Randall started on the pole with the 8 of Tyler Leighton outside. Randall took the lead, a few cautions flew, and Randall remained in the lead. During those few cautions the 01 of Sammi Gooden had made some great passes to come from deep in the pack, to take the lead. On lap 5 the 93 of Alex Theroux moved into the 2nd spot and the 04 of Shawn Swallow overtook 3rd, then 2nd. On lap 18 the 77 of Brandon Lambert moved into the 3rd place just as the 52 of Kristen Kennett blows a tire and hits the backstretch wall. Gooden again takes the lead, but on lap 23, Swallow sneaks inside of Gooden and takes the lead. On lap 24 both the leaders slide in turn 1 and Gooden retakes the lead and the checkers followed by Swallow and Lambert. Swallow and Gooden go to the backstretch infield, park door to door, and proceed to do a synchronized post race spinning celebration. Points are not counted in the Daredevils, and they were all crowned winners.
The Dwarf cars were up next. With only a few points separating the 2 of Eric Hall, and the 22 of Dana Huoppi, they were both giving it their all. Huoppi started on the pole, with Hall outside. Hall took the lead. On lap 2 the 68 of Tim Sherman moved into 3rd place. The yellow flies on lap 3. Hall takes the restart. Huoppi and Sherman get together, sending the 68 around. Hall heads to the pits and has to restart at the rear. Huoppi takes the restart. By lap 9 Hall had caught the top 3. On lap 13, Sherman got loose, and the 28 of Ernie Laplant overtook 2nd place. Another caution on lap 14, a single file restart took place. On lap 16, Laplant slows, and Hall drives right into his bumper. Laplant leaves with a broken axle. Hall overtakes 3rd on the restart. Hall watches Huoppi and Sherman battle in front of him, and he can’t make a pass, and ends up third, while Huoppi wins and Sherman takes second. Hall is crowned the season champion. Hall does a few celebration donuts in turn 2, before returning to the pits.
The new Outlaw Sportsman took the field next. Apparently this is a new division for next year. Most of the cars were White Mountain Super Street regulars, as well as a Thunder Road car, and a Lee Speedway car. Most of these drivers have raced Riverside in the past in other divisions. The 77 of Gene Leblanc started on the pole, with the 68 of Jonathan Ledger outside. Ledger took the lead. On lap 3 the 74 of Doug Laleme took over the 2nd spot. Lap 6 the 16 of Steve Patnaude loops it in turn 2 with sparks flying as he broke a rim. Ledger again took the lead. On lap 20 the 2 of Mike Clark moved into the 3rd spot. Ledger took the win, followed by Laleme and Clark. Other drivers were Chandler Davis, Ken Marier, Reno Gervais, and James Shorey. Hope these guys all come back to compete at Riverside next year, I think the return of this class would be great.
The Street Stocks were up next. The 2 of Arnie Krupula Jr. was on the pole with the 66 of Michael Moore outside. Moore took the lead as the 07 of Bill Stebbins Jr. moved into 2nd, and the 22 of Michael Smith took 3rd. On lap 7 Stebbins moved into the lead and the 03 of Jason Kenison moved into 2nd, and the 27 of Troy Randall moved into 3rd. On lap 8 the 6x of Jerrad Ledger moves into 2nd then 1st. On lap 18 the 28 of Dustin Jackson, and Kenison get together sending Kenison around. On the restart the 19 of Jake McDowell takes the restart, as the 76 of Ryan Delabruere moves into 2nd, and Smith regains 3rd. At the line it is McDowell followed by Delabruere and Smith. Delabruere is crowned the Street Stock Champion. Rumor has it he will be in a Late Model next year.
The Super Stocks took to the track next. The 31 of Brian Middleton was on the pole, with the 10 of Adam Hurd outside. Middleton and Hurd were immediately together, allowing the 76 of Shawn Hood to take the lead. The 73 of David Ofsuryk and the 16 of Blaine Dorman get together and the caution comes out. Hood retakes the lead, as the 8 of Denny Degreenia ducks into the 2nd spot. Hurd, Dorman and the 18 of Ron Watson all get together in turns 3 and 4 bringing out another caution. Degreenia takes the restart, and Middleton regains 2nd on lap 7. The 04 of Nathan Swallow goes off turn 3, he broke a hub, and was done for the night. Degreenia again takes the restart as the 1 of Jeremy Lacoss moves into the 3rd spot. I missed something and lap 13 the 48 of Willie Holbrook moved into the 2nd spot, and on lap 15 took the lead, as the 93 of Reggie Theroux moved into 3rd. On lap 24 Lacoss retook 3rd. At the stripe it was Holbrook followed by Theroux and Lacoss. Lacoss was crowned the season champion.
The Late Models rounded out the night, as it started to be really chilly. The 42 of Brian Greer started on the pole with the 90 of Floyd Bennett Jr. outside. Bennett took the lead, the 10 of Brian Mason moved to 2nd, and the 04 of Jamie Swallow Jr. moved into 3rd. On lap 5 Swallow moved into the 2nd spot. On lap 6 the 1 of Corey Mason moved into the 3rd position. A caution flew on lap 9 for the 51 of Dave Simpson as he spun around in turn 1. Bennett and Swallow were neck and neck on the restart, then another caution flew. Swallow takes the restart. The 0 of Kyle Caron goes around and the 11 of Brian Gosselin runs into him. Swallow again takes the lead. The 3 of Mike Kenison moves into 2nd on lap 14. A yellow flies for the 98 of Chris Wimble with a tire down in turn 1. On the restart, Kenison cuts a little low on Swallow, with neither of them wanting to give up the real estate, they both go around. Both are sent to the rear. Corey Mason takes the restart over his brother Brian in the 10. On lap 22 the 18 of Brooks Clark moves into 2nd. By lap 33 Kenison had moved back into the 4th spot. On lap 37 Kenison slides under Clark for the 2nd spot. At the checkers it is Corey Mason followed by Kenison and Clark. Ken Dufour is crowned the season champion.
I didn’t make it to the Frostbite 400, had to work, I’m sure it was a great show. Well the season is over, only the Banquet remains. It is hard to believe I’ve been doing this for 2 seasons. Some of the pictures I’ve taken this season have been used in the Caledonian Record by fellow columnist Big Bigelow. Big is a year round race reporter with his column Strap In, check it out if you get a chance. If anyone has any racing rumors over the winter email me them, I will continue to update the website over the winter when I here of things. Pictures and archived FANatic articles can be seen at http://racing.apcomptech.com If you have any questions or comments email me at riversidefanatic@apcomptech.com