Eagle Times Staff
N. WOODSTOCK, N.H. — The return to racing at White Mountain Motorsports Park for the first time in nearly a month after rains plagued the North Woodstock oval gave way to a fantastic reopening night. Thunder returned to the Mountains courtesy of White Mountain’s six championship divisions plus the added attraction of Northstar Fireworks on Foley Oil & Propane Midseason Championship night.
The Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Division got things off to a rip-roaring start with twin 15 laps features with a larger-than-expected group of youngsters invading the White Mountain pit area. The halfway point of the first 15-lap feature saw two-time winner Hayden Bushey hit the spin cycle in turn four with Colby Stygles running away with the restart to take his first win of the season. Feature two saw Chloe Doyle almost go all the way before a lap 12 mishap saw the youngster cut a tire down. North Haverhill’s Kiptyn Aldrich would go on to take his first win of the season just three laps later.
The Ammonoosuc Asphalt Mini Late Models were lightning fast in their 40-lap main event going green to checkers without interruption in just over 10 minutes. Berlin’s Nick Miller took down the commanding win, even while his car sounded like it had seen better days with Cameron Sontag and Garrett Labounty rounding out the podium.
The Wayne’s Market Dwarf Cars returned for their twin 20-lap segments with Dave Gyger taking the first segment win over Andy Hill and Ethan Tyrrell. The second segment was brought to a grinding halt after a lap 7 spin for rookie Mitchell O’Brien when heavy rains descended on the grounds. A successful track drying effort, with the help of many Flying Tiger and Strictly Mini teams, got the Dwarf Cars back up and running to finish out their double point run. Under the return to green, defending champion Jason Wyman made short work of the field to win the segment but it was Andy Hill back in victory lane with the overall victory.
With both double points and the $1,000 Foley Oil & Propane winners bonus waiting in victory lane, the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models barnstormed the track for their 50-lap main event. Polesitters Reilly Lanphear and Oren Remick quickly gave way to the hard-charging Kaiden Fisher and John Donahue. A battle of two of the best in their generations was waged ahead of the pack as trouble over-boiled again and again in the back of the pack. Two cautions in the first eight laps spelled disaster for the back of the field while providing a great battle out front.
The fight with Donahue gave way to a battle with Scott Dragon with 20 laps to go. Once again the elder generation against the younger, Fisher kept pace just inches off Dragon’s bumper as the pair ran nose-to-tail lap after lap. Dragon made one final run for the lead under the white flag but it was Fisher who took the win by just 0.045-seconds. Kaiden Fisher took down his first career White Mountain Late Model win in a commanding way, as both the division’s Midseason Champion while also stealing away the $1,000 cash bonus courtesy of the Belmont-based oil company. Dragon and Donahue rounded out the top-three.
One lone caution slowed the 35-lap Fisher Auto Parts Flying Tiger feature on Saturday with E. Thetford, Vermont’s Brandon Gray showing the way to earn his fifth win of the season in as many starts over Shane Sicard and Kyle Streeter.
The Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Minis wrapped up the Saturday program. Donnie Baumgardner rapidly stole the lead from polesitter Tyler Thompson as the field slowed for their lone caution that saw rookie leader Connor Rueda spin on the frontstretch with instigator Pat Switser sliding through the wet infield grass. On the restart, Baumgardner maintained pace over Thompson, but Todd Derrington proved the bigger threat, stalking the leader through lap traffic and growing ever closer until time ran out. Donnie Baumgardner took down the win over Derrington and Thompson as the Strictly Mini Midseason Champ.
For more information, contact the White Mountain Motorsports Park offices at 802-244-6963, [email protected] or visit whitemountainmotorsports.com.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.