Loudon, NH — Dover, NH’s Wayne Helliwell Jr. reigned supreme at Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) on Saturday, September 12 by taking the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Full Throttle 75. Helliwell took the lead for good from Newmarket, NH’s Bryan Kruczek on lap 42 and crushed the competition down the stretch in his familiar orange #27NH to earn the 14th point-counting win of his ACT Late Model Tour career.
LOUDON, N.H. – A wild finish featuring a mind-blowing 20 lead changes in the last 20 laps, Bobby Santos III found a way to keep points leader Justin Bonsignore in his rearview mirror for the last few turns to earn a hard-fought checkered flag at the Musket 200 presented by Whelen Saturday afternoon during the third annual Full Throttle Fall Weekend, earning his sixth win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Wayne Helliwell Jr. won the ACT 75 while Shaun Buffington won both Granite State Legends Cars events.
Santos hung back in the pack until lap 167 when he slingshot around a trio of frontrunners going into turn three and pulled a similar move a few turns later to take the lead, setting up a thrilling string of lead changes with Bonsignore. The two traded the lead 20 times over 20 laps; Bonsignore dominating turn three and Santos showing how to pass going into turn one. Over and over they traded places, with Ron Silk briefly nudging his way into second, with four laps remaining. Bonsignore took the spot back, but not before Santos took advantage and drove just far enough away from the other leaders to keep from being caught before the checkered flag waved.
Williams, Donahue Take Caron Fabrication Twin 100s at White Mountain
N. Woodstock, NH — Ellington, CT’s Ronnie Williams and Graniteville, VT’s Stephen Donahue were both standing tall after 100 laps of action at N. Woodstock, NH’s White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday, September 5. Williams won the Honor to Essential Workers 100 for the Modified Racing Series (MRS) while Donahue captured the Leaf Peepers 100 for the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models on Caron Fabrication Night.
Williams earned his first career MRS victory in the first series visit to White Mountain since 2005. Despite a lower car count than what series officials were expecting, the action was hot and heavy for the ground-pounders. West Swanzey, NH’s Kirk Alexander, the winner of the last MRS event at the track, grabbed the early lead off the outside pole. Alexander easily paced the field for the first half of the event while Williams and Bellingham, MA’s Woody Pitkat worked their way through the field.
Griffith Dominates 10K to win GSPSS Newport Chevrolet 150
The Granite State Pro Stock Series held its biggest event ever on Sunday and Derek Griffith dominated the day.
It was a picture perfect day for racing in southern New Hampshire as the gates swung open for an incredible day of racing at Claremont Motorsports Park. The highlight of the day would be the presentation of the $10,000 check to the races winner but qualifying and 150 laps of intense racing had to take place first.
As the Crazy Horse Racing fast time challenge played out, two things became apparent. First; Derek Griffith was going to be a force to be reckoned with and second; point leader Ray Christian III was in trouble.
Therrien Asserts Control Late for Labor Day Classic Victor
American Canadian Tour
Barre, VT — Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien saved his best for last to win the Optical Expressions Berlin Labor Day Classic 200 on Sunday, September 6 at Barre’s Thunder Road. Therrien got the top spot for good from Barre’s Jason Corliss on a lap-140 restart and stormed into the sunset for his fourth career win both at Thunder Road and on the American-Canadian Tour (ACT).
Therrien started sixth for the 200-lap endurance test and put on a charge early. The 2018 “King of the Road” moved around Matt White into the runner-up spot on lap 22 and went to work reeling in polesitter Stephen Donahue. Therrien went around the outside of Donahue for the lead on the 42nd circuit. However, after the second caution on lap 45 for Ryan Kuhn broken suspension, it was Donahue who got the jump to regain the point.
Silk Gets Late Break for Win in Thompson 150 Barnburner
Thompson, CT — Norwalk, CT’s Ron Silk had both the fast car and good fortune he needed to triumph over a stout NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour field in a wild and wooly Thompson 150 at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Thursday, September 3.
Silk was handed the lead under caution on lap 149 when NASCAR Cup Series invader Ryan Preece ran out of fuel. The veteran Silk then held off point leader Justin Bonsignore on a green-white-checkered overtime finish to capture his 14th career Whelen Modified Tour victory and put an end to Bonsignore’s grip on the historic speedway.
