Saturday night, fans were treated to a great start to the Pro Stock feature event. In the Phil’s Propane Triple Crown Series 75 lap finale, Mike Brightman and Ryan Lineham started on the front row and went to work, both trying to hold the early lead. The two drivers were driving so hard that sparks were flying out from under the cars as they slammed the ground and both were sliding sideways all the way around the track.
The two drivers thrilled fans while beating off each other, but both staying straight and fighting hard for the lead. Eventually it was Lineham who cleared to the advantage, but by that time, both drivers had burned up their tires and were sliding backwards through the field. While they did that, it was Tom Scully Jr. who took advantage and rolled right up to the front and eventually to the lead. Scully was able to hold off David Darling in a tough battle in the final laps and capture his second victory of the season.
Almost more important than the win itself was the fact that he took over the championship lead after Angelo Belsito had problems. Belsito had the car shut off while exiting turn four running third in the first half of the race and the team wasn’t able to get the car restarted and get back on the track. Belsito finished last and lost a ton of points, while Fred Astle finished at the bottom of the top-10 and also lost a lot of points to Scully. It will be tough for anyone to close more than a 40 point gap with just three races remaining in the season.
Austin Blais continued his stellar season in the Everett’s Auto Parts Late Models on Saturday, capturing the win in the 30 lap main event. Blais got to the front early and was able to hold off defending champion Dylan Estrella in the final laps in route to his win. Blais has been impressive this season. The Somerset, Massachusetts driver has scored multiple wins and always has one of the fastest cars in the pit area right off the truck. As far as Estrella, he continues his successful season and is well on his way to his second straight Late Model championship.
The driver of the Everett’s Auto Parts No. 46 has scored four victories this season along with countless second place finishes. Estrella holds more than a one race points lead over the rest of the field with just four races remaining, meaning it will be tough for anyone to even come close to catching up. Congrats to Charlie Rose, TJ Moreshead and Vinnie Arrenegado on their solid top-five finishes.
In Saturday’s 25 lap Sports Truck feature, the championship chase changed drastically. In the final laps, Mike Cavallaro went spinning around and Chase Belcher kept going inside the top five. Cavallaro came into the race with a solid advantage over Belcher, but the wrecked changed things. Belcher finished inside the top-five and Cavallaro finished no where close. Meanwhile, the feature win was scored by John Paiva, who grabbed another win behind the wheel of his No. 21.
There were solid runs put in by Ed Perry and Lenny Guy, who both ran inside the top-five for almost the entire distance and showed that they still have something for the rest of the field. Congrats to Pavia on his win and the rest of the top-five on solid runs.
Rob Murphy also returned to victory lane in the Street Stocks on Saturday, taking the No. 2 into victory lane. It’s only been a handful of races since Murphy started driving the car and he was able to put it in victory lane in style. He beat Paul Lallier, Scott Serydynski and Mike Mitchell over the final laps — all three feature winners this season — in order to get the job done.
Next week, we have the pit party on the track before the racing where you can come down and celebrate with your favorite driver. In two weeks, the long-awaited return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on Saturday Sept. 10. See you all at the track!
SATURDAY NIGHT RECAP
WITH KYLE SOUZA
August 27th Recap