Norton Takes Two in
a Row
(By Gary Dutton):Second
generation racer Matt Kimball scored his first career win Saturday,
May 18, at Monadnock Speedway, topping one of two Young Guns feature
events to earn a victory lap his father, Sportsman Modified ace Bill
Kimball, has taken many times at the high banked speedplant. Other
first-time victors Saturday included Ed LaQuire Jr., who wired the
Super Stock main event to score his first Monadnock win, and Matt
Gauffin, who earned his first victory of the year by dominating the
Lightning Stock feature.
Thunder Stock strongman Ed Lofland won
his third feature in as many tries this season, while a trio of
drivers scored their second win of the young campaign. Adam Norton
won his second consecutive Sportsman Modified feature, with
defending Mini Stock champion Kimmy Rivet earning her second in a
row as well, and Young Gun Chris Lawrence notched his second victory
of the summer.
Ken Thompson led the first eight laps
of the Sportsman Modified main event, then giving way to Eric
LeClair on a restart. LeClair's stay at the point would be brief,
though, as another caution a lap later brought Adam Norton alongside
for the subsequent restart, with Norton then speeding ahead at the
drop of the green. With Norton leading the final 15 laps of the
event, Tyler Jarvenpaa’s charge came up three lengths short, netting
him a strong runner-up showing. Keith Carzello completed his solid
night’s work in third, with Bill Kimball and Russ Hersey rounding
out the top five.
Ed LaQuire Jr. survived eight caution
flag restarts to hold of Bill Johnston in the Super Stock main.
Johnston, from deep in the field, grabbed second from Tyler Lescord
on a lap-16 restart, staying glued to LaQuire the rest of the way to
earn a solid runner-up finish. Eddie Brehio III was strong in third,
with Tom Carey III and Lescord rounding out the top five. Points
leader John Lavoie finished out of the money after being jostled on
lap 19 and, while keeping his ride under him, losing valuable
positions while getting back up to speed.
Joe Rogers led the first five laps of
the Mini Stock main, then giving way to JT Cloutier, who would pace
the sizzling field the next 11 laps. Mike Stebbins took command when
Cloutier bobbled on lap 17, holding the point until Kimmy Rivet
rocketed under him three laps later. Beth Adams would soon grab
second, settling for the deuce finish behind Rivet. Chris McTaggart
got up for third, with Stebbins coming home fourth, and Julia
Raymond fifth.
Jason Barden held a healthy lead in
the Thunder Stock main until a pair of cautions brought Ed Lofland
knocking at his door, with Lofland taking control on lap 15 and then
outgunning Barden by a dozen carlengths to score his third win of
the season. Barden, Joe Ethier, Jon Goddard, and Marshall Usher
completed the top five.
In the Lightning Stock 30-lapper, Matt
Gauffin came from row four to seize the lead from CJ Johnson on lap
three and then pull away. Craig Chaffee, from deep in the field, put
on a strong run to finish 20 lengths behind Gauffin, with Chris
Davis a close third. Johnson and Matt Somerville rounded out the top
five.
Chris Lawrence led all the way in the
Young Guns A feature. Joe Collins and Cameron Sontag were second and
third, with Sonja Carey a close fourth, Justin Faford came in fifth.
Youth division rookie Matt Kimball won his first career event in the
Young Guns B event in style, leading all the way and lapping cars as
early as lap seven. Cole Littlewood was second, with Mike McGoldrick
third. Corey Wheeler and Dylan Stebbins rounded out the top five.
Rob Riccardi reeled in his brother
Dave on lap 11 of the Pro 4 feature, with the siblings then running
under a blanket for the next five laps before Rob seized control
from the top of the track. With Rob Richardi scoring the win, Andy
Major and Robin Bergman were second and third, with Mark Charette
wheeling the first Limited machine under the flags.
In the two NEAR events, Lloyd Hutchins
topped the Sportsman go-round, with Bob Donahue winning the Modified
event. Gregg Massini and Barry Roy followed Hutchins under the
checkers, with Scott Poirier and Jimmy Allen chasing Donahue to the
flags.
Race Tires for the
2013 Season-
Monadnock speedway management announced at
the Annual Rules meeting that the speedway will be selling the tires
for the Sportsman Modifieds, Super Stocks and mini Stocks divisions
due to the retirement of Joe Goss from Northern Race Tire. The
speedway has contracted with Hoosier Northeast. The Sportsman
Modifieds will remain on the same Hoosier tire as last year however
the Super Stocks and Mini Stocks will be changed from the American
Racers to the 8" Hoosier 800 series. Super Stocks and Mini
Stocks may use the American Racer tire from 2012 however any new
tire purchases must be made at the speedway and be the designated
Hoosier tire. Tires sales are on race day from 1:30pm - 5:30pm
on regular events..
Attention
Twin State Speedway Competitors...The speedway owners and
management are deeply sadden to see the announcement of the
possibility that another historical speedway, Twin State Speedway,
may not be in operation this season. It has been become a
horrible reality all over the country and no competitor, race team
or fan wants to lose their hometrack.
The Monadnock
Speedway management invites all Twin State Speedway race teams to
the rules meeting to discuss the possibility of making your new
hometrack...Monadnock Speedway. There are several divisions
that Twin State Speedway ran on a weekly basis that will fit into
one of the Monadnock Speedway divisions and we are willing to work
with you. If you are interested and cannot attend the rules
meeting, please email us at the speedway...monadnockspeedway@ymail.com
and a tech official contact you.

It is with sadness to announce
the passing of Carl Merrill. Carl was a big part of
Monadnock Speedway for many many years as the Race Director up to
his retirement in 2011. He was dedicated to auto racing for
well over 60 years starting at Norwood and Westboro. Carl will be
sadly missed by all in the racing community. Our prayers go out to
his wife Treva and all the Merrill Family.
Alderman
Carleton
P. Merrill, a lifelong
Newton resident, died on Jan 23, 2012. He was 88.
Carleton was elected 13 times to
serve as an Aldermen-at-Large from Ward 1 in Newton. His first term
was the 1950-1951 term. He then skipped a few years and served 3
terms from 1956 - 1961. In 1962 he became the Veterans Agent
for
the City and served in that role until 1995 when he retired. Upon
retirement he again ran as an Aldermen from Ward 1 and served 8 1/2
terms from 1996 until his death. Carleton
graduated from Newton High in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army Air
Corps during WW II. An avid stock car racing fan,
Carleton had owned and raced his
own car. He was a NASCAR official and had officiated at Norwood,
Westborough, Thompson and Monadnock Speedways and had
officiated at the Daytona 500 several times.
Carleton was also a member of the
VFW and American Legion Post 48. He is survived by his wife Treva
(Rector) Merrill, his sister Jane
Merrill of Newton and his sister in
law of Eva Austin of Wilmington DE. He was the brother of the late
Edward Merrill.
A funeral service will be held on Tues Jan 29 at
11 AM in the Newton Cemetery Chapel 791 Walnut St Newton Centre
followed by interment with Military Honors. Relatives and friends
are kindly invited. Visiting hours will be in the Eaton & Mackay
Funeral Home 465 Centre St. NEWTON CORNER on Mon from 4-7 PM.
In lieu of flowers donations in his name may be made to the American
Heart Assoc 20 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701.