7/11/2023
Hudson Speedway
Hudson Beats the Rain!
Hudson, NH – After a few weeks off The Family Fun track was back in action. Despite the unfavorable ever-changing forecast the decision was made to roll the dice and get the racing in. As mentioned, the forecast was consistently changing and just before practice started at 4pm with most weather models showing rain coming around 7pm the decision was made to forgo qualifying races for the weekly division and victory lane to make sure everyone got their feature event in. With 23 Pro-Four Modifieds on hand they opted to take one round of practice to allow for 3 heat races to be run. The three heat race winners were Jack Dumas (4xl), Brayden Meservey (5), and Henry Sirignano (3x).
For the first time this season the Hudson Heroes Youth Racing Program joined the Sunday racing card to show the Hudson faith what they have learned to date. For those that are looking for some quick information on the Hudson Heroes Youth Racing Program then you are in luck. The program is designed to teach 8–12-year-olds about racing, cars, and safety amongst other things. The program uses Thursday nights to teach various aspects of stock car racing and then a few times a year they come out on Sundays to display what they have learned. For more information on the program check them out on Facebook at Hudson Heros Youth Racing Program. Five program participants were on hand, and they wheeled there 4 cylinder cars around the track for 15 laps. Birthday girl Emily McInnis in the 23 and the 3scm of Sophie Charbonnier-Marshall brought the field to the green flag. But Mina Connell in the 9 wasted no time to jump out to the lead. The caution flag would fly on lap 2 as Charbonnier-Marshall would spin after a little contact with 12 of Quintin Perkins in turn 1 but everyone would be okay. Connell took off like she was shot out of a cannon on the restart pulling away from the field. Caution would fly again around lap 7. This time Perkins had worked his way to the 2nd spot and would look to challenge Connell on the restart. Perkins would take the top spot on the restart but Connell roared back two laps later to take the lead as she would put it on cruise control to take the win. Perkins finished second but the excitement at the finish was for third place as Charbonnier-Marshall tried a last lap pass for third but fell just short of getting around the 1 of Hailey Crestuk.
The Black Flag Podcast Ridge Runners took to the track next for their 30-lap feature. Brandon Mercier (5) and Richard Marrocco (7) made up the front row. Mercier would lead the first lap but Heath DeButts (76) would make the pass for the lead as they entered turn 1. DeButts would pull away as Marrocco would do battle with the 37j of “Squirt Gun” Joey Fraser but Fraser would make the pass for 2nd on lap 6. Fraser would toss a line out to catch the rear of DeButts and over the next 6 laps would real him in. Fraser would provide consistent pressure the rest of the way but DeButts would hold on for the win; followed by Fraser in 2nd and Marrocco in 3rd.
Northeast Auto Import Late Models would roll onto the track and what a show they would put on for the fans. Robbie Streeter (55) and current points leader Milton Duran (08) lead the field to the green and would go side by side, lap after lap for 7 laps before Duran was able to use the outside groove to prevail. The “Cabana Boy” Justin Beecher (57) followed Duran to take the 2nd spot and would look to go around Duran but the caution flag would save Duran. Duran and Beecher would look to get the party started as Duran would drop the hammer to resume his lead. Beecher would be glued to the rear bumper of Duran, followed closely by the 33jr of Billy Clement Jr. with 10 laps to go the 3 car breakaway continued. Caution flew on lap 8 as the 45 of Oscar LeClair would spin. Duran and Beecher would bring the field back to the green going side by side for a lap before Beecher muscled his way around the top side for the lead. On lap 5 the caution flew one more time. Beecher took the lead on the restart as Clement Jr. would use the restart to take the 2nd spot from Duran. Beecher took the win with Clement Jr. 2nd and Duran 3rd.
The NHSTRA Outlaws would make a special visit to Hudson Speedway for the Steve Kolofsky Memorial race. Tyler Lescord (15) and Stever Bly (10) brought the field to the green. Lescord wasted no time to get out front of the field. Bly and John Meany (15ma) would battle for the 2nd spot by Bly would prevail and set his sights on the Lescord. Bly would take the top spot on lap 4. Mark Hudson in the 82MA would use a lap 17 pass to take the 3rd spot and would look to chase down Lescord. Hudson would try everything he could to take the 2nd spot but it wasn’t until lap 35 that he was able to get around Lescord for the 2nd spot. Bly would cruise to the win as Hudson settled for 2nd and Lescord for 3rd.
21 Pro-Four Modifieds of New England took to the track for the feature event. Dumas and Sirignano brought the field to green. Dumas would hold off all challengers in a race that saw second place finisher Doug Meservey (1a) having to driver from middle of the pack and Derek Robbie (25) coming from around the same place to finish 3rd.
Hudson Speedway is back in action this coming Sunday July 16th with the 75 lap Granite State Gun Range Six Shooters Steve Krupski Memorial Race. Also on tape are the Granite State Mini Cups, MLM Diagnostic Service Pure Stocks, Black Flag Podcast Ridge Runners, and the New England Dwarf Car Series. Pits open at 1pm, Practice at 4pm, On track Pit Party at 450pm and racing starting at 530pm!
Article Credit: Ryan Lawliss
Submitted By: Mark Beaudry