By Dan Walker
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway release
Scarborough, Maine-The annual Budweiser 100 for the NASCAR Sport Series took place on Saturday night at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, and when the dust settled Clyde Hennessey stood in victory lane. Hennessey had to survive 12 caution flags and several strong competitors before securing the win. Travis Buzzell led the field to the green flag and bolted to the lead with Reggie Leeman hot in pursuit. Buzzell would lead the opening 10 laps before Leeman went in front leading the field to the 3rd caution flag on lap 11.
When racing resumed Leeman and Russ Morse staged a very entertaining battle for the lead swapping the top spot several times over the next 10 laps as they raced side by side until the caution waved again at lap 20.
Things remained the same as Leeman and Morse continued their side by side duel to lap 42 when a new player arrived on the scene in Clyde Hennessey. The field took the green flag on lap 43 following a quick caution period and Morse took Leeman a little high on the backstretch allowing Hennessey to shoot to the inside of both leaders and come out of turn 4 with the lead.
Once Hennessey had the lead nobody got close enough to challenge him for the position despite 6 more caution flags as he cruised to the win by about 4 car lengths. Leeman was second and Bradley Babb who in only his fourth start in a Sport Series car was third as he raced with the lead cars all race long. Russ Morse finished fourth with Sally Gherardi taking the fifth place position.
Bub Bilodeau put another win together in the Pro Series as he out dueled Bobby Babb for the win. Rookie contender Chris Smith was leading the race to lap 21 when Bilodeau and Babb who represent 7 track championships, took aim at the rookie. Just as Babb and Bilodeau were about to challenge Smith the motor let go in his #10 racer handing the lead to Bilodeau who had to fend off several attempts from Babb for the win.
Third place honors on this night went to Tim Brackett who appears to be getting closer to taking that first Beech Ridge win and fourth was Aaron Ricker. T.J. Brackett rounded out the top 5 place finishers in the 40 lap event. Buddy Poole laid an old fashioned whooping on the Wildcat division Saturday night as he took the lead from Richard Randall on lap 24 and pulled away for an easy win. Ron Corbeil finished second with Randy Snow third. David Wildes and Glenn Bradbury were fourth and fifth at the finish.
David Palmer was a first time winner in the entry level Road Runner division leading the final 15 laps for the win. Shawn Brackett was second with Marc Sylvain third. Mark Hill and Mark Boutin filled the fourth and fifth place positions.