The Strong
driver holds off
runner-up
Dale Shaw.
Tracy Gordon followed in the footsteps of Andy Santerre and Joe Bessey, making a successful return to native soil Saturday night by winning the Pro All Stars Series 150-lap feature at Speedway 95 in Hermon.
In only his second PASS start, the driver from Strong drove from fourth to first on the final restart 30 laps from the conclusion of the event when leader Larry Gelinas experienced problems shifting into gear.
From there, Gordon held off runner-up Dale Shaw and the last two PASS champions, Ben Rowe of Turner and Sam Sessions of Norway, for the victory.
Gordon, a 12-time winner in Busch North, spent the early spring driving for an American Speed Association team. After that deal dissolved, Gordon returned to local competition in a car purchased from Junior Hanley.
He’s the third Maine native with experience on a national touring series to make a triumphant retreat to his old racing neighborhood in recent months.
Former NASCAR Busch Series winner Santerre already has three Busch North victories in defense of his championship on that circuit this season, while onetime Winston Cup car owner Bessey won the PASS opener at Wiscasset Raceway in April.
Gordon led the first 57 laps before yielding to Gelinas, who later dropped out of the race with mechanical problems. Gelinas was one of only two drivers in the 22-car field who did not finish. Four caution flags briefly slowed the event.
Cassius Clark of Farmington led the remaining local contingent in seventh. Mike Rowe of Turner was eighth, with Litchfield’s Doug Averill 17th.
Leavitt leaves ’em behind
Buddy Leavitt hasn’t been seen often on the track at Oxford Plains Speedway since he was replaced by Ben Rowe at the wheel of Tom and Eileen Estes’ Pro Stock car in July 1999.
His competition didn’t see much of him Saturday night, either. Leavitt dominated the New England Dodge Dealers Late Model Stock 100, leading every lap.
“My last car that I drove, I kind of got fired,” said Leavitt. “It’s good to be back, and I have to thank my crew for that. They work hard, although I probably worked a little harder tonight. I’m old, you know. I’m in my 50s.”
The race technically went the full scheduled distance, although it ended under caution due to a rain shower, eliminating what would have been a five-lap, green-flag sprint for Leavitt against David Raymond, Ron Charpentier Jr., Jeff Moon and Travis Adams.
Leavitt took off from the front row, leading by nearly half a lap at one point as the first 72 laps rattled off without a stoppage.
Only one minor spin slowed the race, which was contested one week after LMS driver Dennis Dee was killed in a heat race crash.
Locals hit the coast
Several local racers stood out Friday on a double-feature night at Wiscasset Raceway.
Mike Short of Auburn, Phil Mitchell III of Poland and Darryl Cook of Sabattus ran first, second and third in the regularly scheduled Street Stock feature.
Brad Hammond of North Turner posted finishes of second and third in the Modified division, while Poland’s Kyle Coolidge swept two Mini Cup events.
Jim Kaler captured his first feature win in three years in the Pro Stock nightcap. Peter Oakes took the checkers in the make-up event for the top class.
Around the region
Steve Carrier won the 40-lap NASCAR Pro Series feature at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough on Saturday night.
Friday’s NASCAR Busch North race in Stafford Springs, Conn., went to Tom Carey Jr. of Orange, Mass. Santerre finished ninth and maintained his point lead over rookie Ryan Moore and Mike Stefanik.
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