CLAREMONT– Kodi Sabins won the Cody Lafont Memorial Race Friday, July 27, at Claremont Speedway, a victory that meant a ton to him, Putting together a third-place run in the first 25-lap go-round and then acing the nightcap, the Windsor hot shoe topped the second annual event run in honor of his fallen friend.
Earning his first victory lap of the summer, Kenny Thompson stormed to victory in the Pepsi Street Stock feature race, while third-generation star Dylan Bodreau made easy work of gobbling up the field en route to his second R.E. Hinkley Super Street win of the season, good enough to place him back atop his division’s points race after a dozen weeks of racing.
The Northeast Classic Lites series was in town Friday and Bay State star Robbie Bryant blasted through the field to lead the final 15 laps of the Full Moon event for the motorcycle-engine-powered missiles.
Bodreau started up front in the Super Street 40-lapper, firing alongside Tyler Lescord and immediately pulling away from all contenders. On this night, the hometown speedster was untouchbable but, far behind him, many battles were being waged.
Aaron Fellows and Ricky Bly, racing for third-place when the sparks flew, traded paint at both ends of the track at mid-race, both pitting and then returning but never again factors. Ben Poland’s strong bid for victory went awry on lap 24 and, in the closing go-rounds, Joe Brown and Craig Smith swapped enamel but, on this rain-threatened Friday night, Dylan Bodreau simply drove away.
Following the Claremont pilot into Daddy’s Pizza Victory Lane, Judge Joe Brown – who’d arrived at the track too late to run a heat race – came home second, with Craig Smith just inches behind. Tyler Lescord’s strong run netted him the fourth-place finish, and steady Alex Poisson came home fifth.
In the first T-Bird Mini Mart Wild Cat 25-lapper – round one of the twin Cody Lafont Memorial 25s – Zach Lyn started in row two, immediately grabbed the point and – as he’s done many times over the past few years – sped away to victory.
Kyle Templeton chased Lyn under the flags in second, and Kodi Sabins came home third, putting himself in good position to later earn the over-all victory. Lyn, for winning the first 25-lap segment, earned a $100 bonus.
Chris Davis and Chris Riendeau – the Ascutney pilot doing double duty on the night – led early in the second 25-lap go-round, with Sabins reeling Riendeau in on lap five, dropping him to seconds five circuits later, and then running out the event from the point to earn the overall top prize. Templeton was second on the night, Lyn third, with Davis and Seth Melcher rounding out the top five.
Street Stocker Kenny Thompson had victory in his grasp when it was punted away from him in his heat race Friday. In the night’s feature, he was taking no chances.
Starting up front the Alstead teen never looked back, rocketing to his first win of the summer, then joined in Daddy’s Pizza Victory Lane by runner-up Dave Greenslit and number three man Lenny Silver.
Chris Riendeau’s fourth-place run brought him to within a single point of Bryan Town, eighth on the night after earlier winning his qualifying race. Briana Akusis ‘ hard work earned the teen driver the fifth-place finish.
Next Friday, August 3, Claremont Speedway returns to action with a full card of Super Street, Street Stock, and Wild Cat racing. Round two of the popular Spectator Drags will be held, along with Big Wheel racing for the children, personal bicycle helmets required. Post time is 7 p.m.
JACK IS BACK! If competition atop the R.E. Hinkley Super Streets isn’t tough enough already, 2016 track champion Jack McClay will be back in action Friday after recovering from surgery earlier this summer. For more information on this and all other events, please visit www.claremontspeedway.net.
CLAREMONT SPEEDWAY JULY 27 TOP TENS:
SUPER STREET: Dylan Bodreau, Joe Brown, Craig Smith, Tyler Lescord, Alex Poisson, Mark McClay, Ricky Bly, Tyler Searles, Aaron Fellows, Allen Fellows.
STREET STOCK: Kenny Thompson, Dave Greenslit, Lenny Silver, Chris Riendeau, Briana Akusis, Robbie Streeter, Nick Little, Bryan Town, Chris Colburn.
WILD CAT: Kodi Sabins, Kyle Templeton, Zach Lyn, Chris Davis, Seth Melcher, Chris Riendeau, Victor Branch, Zach Morse, Haydon Grenier, Chris Carver.
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