BARRE — The Times Argus Midseason Championships started off without a hitch at Thunder Road on Thursday with rains moving in mid-program to postpone both the Late Model and Road Warrior features to next Thursday’s racing action.
In victory lane for the Street Stocks were (from left) Ryan Foster (3rd), winner Kyle MacAskill and Parker Gagne (2nd).
Following the qualifying rounds for all four divisions, the Street Stocks kicked-off the championship action. Paige Whittemore and Curtis Franks led the twenty-six-car field to green with Whittemore taking the impressive lead over the pack. Two-by-two the field ran six-car-lengths behind the leaders as traffic reshuffled with the first caution on lap 13 for the infield-spinning Walker Fitch and Derek Farnham.
With ten laps remaining, Kyle MacAskill launched into the outside lane and sped around Whittemore, leaving her with a rearview mirror full of Parker Gagne. Todd Raymo would send Kylee Potter into the spin cycle as they motored into turn on to bring out the final caution on lap 32 for a three-lap shootout between MacAskill and Gagne at the head of the pack. It would be Kyle MacAskill winning the war as the Times Argus Midseason Champion for the Street Stocks followed by Parker Gagne and Ryan Foster on the podium.
The Flying Tigers took the field, led to point by Rookie of the Year chaser Logan Farrel and longtime veteran Mike Billado. Farrell took charge early, growing his lead by car lengths over Billado and Cam Gadue. Gadue would make headway and begin to successfully chase down Farrell as Adam Maynard and Kevin Streeter broke away from the pack as well. Gadue would stalk Farrell within a six-inch gap before the halfway point and kept pace behind the rookie as both looked to nab their first career victory in the division.
In victory lane for the Flying Tigers were (from left) Logan Farrell (3rd), Brandon Gray and Cam Gadue (2nd).
After being caught in Maynard and Streeter’s battle for third, Brandon Gray broke free with twenty laps remaining to begin his own chase to the front. Gray would grab second under Gadue with six laps remaining and steal the lead on lap 46 around the top of Farrell to motor on to his first championship with Cam Gadue taking second and Logan Farrell taking his first podium in third.
The annual driver’s autograph session went off following the Flying Tiger with weather quickly moving into the area. A heavy, sideways flying rain came over Thunder Road and stuck around to soak out the highbanks with no end in sight. The rains, and lack of a satisfactory racing surface, prompted officials to close the night’s racing action early, pushing the championship event for the Late Models and Road Warriors to begin next Thursday’s event.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
(local competitors)
Flying Tigers – (50 Laps)
10. 15NH, Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
Street Stocks – (35 Laps)
5. 34, Patrick Tibbetts , Plainfield
17. 18, #Walker Fitch, Marshfield
18. 32, #Kylee Potter, Marshfield
