PHOTO: Carey Martin survived a wreck-filled PASS Sportsman feature to take his first victory of the season. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)

–by T.J. Ingerson

Shaw Begins Title Defense with Win; Buffington Sails to NELCAR Victory

SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Carey Martin may not have had the best car, but he didn’t have to. The Denmark, Maine driver just had to play survival in the 75-lap PASS Sportsman feature, and when the checkered flag flew, he was the lone survivor.

Martin, the defending series champion, started seventh in the 25-car starting field and stayed out of trouble during the race’s seven caution periods. Shortly before Martin took the lead on lap 30, two separate incidents changed the appearance of the top ten cars.

“Everybody else wrecked,” Martin said. “[Dan McKeage] and [Donnie Morse] were out. Those are two cars that would have been there. But when they wreck, it’s a lot easier to pass them when they are stopped in the infield. But I’m taking the win anyway I can get it.”

Martin was followed across the line by Waterboro, Maine’s Craig Smith. Like Martin, Smith was able to avoid the wrecks during the feature, but was unable to challenge Martin. Mike Clark of Littleton, N.H., finished third. Clyde Hennessey of Windham, Maine, who Martin passed on lap 30 for the lead, settled for fourth while Scott Dorr, of Portland Maine, completed the unofficial top five.

Joe Pastore, Jr., and Sam Gooden, Jr., finished sixth and seventh. The opening race winner at Lee USA Speedway JR Baril had an up and down day and finished eighth. Doug Wolfe and Geoff Rollins completed the unofficial top ten.

Andy Shaw began his PASS Modified title defense with a victory in their 40-lap feature. Shaw, of Center Conway, N.H., started on the pole and swapped the lead multiple times with his uncle Dale Shaw on the race’s restarts. Dale Shaw, of Center Conway, N.H., settled for second. Dana Reed of Shapleigh, Maine finished third, with Mark Lundblad, Jr., and Travis Buzzell rounding out the top five.

Shawn Buffington of Plainfield, Conn., started on the outside pole in the 25-lap Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour feature and immediately grabbed the lead. Buffington never surrendered it, going to wire-to-wire. Beech Ridge NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Pro Series regular Bobby Timmons, of Windham, Maine, started ninth and worked his way to the second position. Waterboro, Maine’s Kevin Hutchens started 18th in the 21-car starting field and charged his way to finish third. Thomas Gray and Charlie Buxton completed the unofficial top ten.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — SouthernMaineMotors.com Event
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Maine
Saturday, May 05, 2012

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)

PASS Sportsman (75-laps)
1. (7) Carey Martin, Denmark, Maine
2. (10) Craig Smith, Waterboro, Maine
3. (8) Mike Clark, Littleton, N.H.
4. (4) Clyde Hennessey, Windham, Maine
5. (6) Scott Dorr, Portland, Maine
6. (5) Joe Pastore, Jr., Gorham, Maine
7. (13) Sam Gooden, Jr., Whitefield, N.H.
8. (12) JR Baril, Haverhill, Mass.
9. (16) Doug Wolfe, Buxton, Maine
10. (21) Geoff Rollins, Groton, Mass.

PASS Modifieds (40-laps)
1. (1) Andy Shaw, Center Conway, N.H.
2. (2) Dale Shaw, Center Conway, N.H.
3. (7) Dana Reed, Shapleigh, Maine
4. (4) Mark Lundblad, Jr., Conway, N.H.
5. (5) Travis Buzzell, Hollis, Maine

AMSOIL Nelcar Legends (35-laps)
1. (2) Shawn Buffington, Plainfield, Conn.
2. (9) Bobby Timmons, Windham, Maine
3. (18) Kevin Hutchens, Waterboro, Maine
4. (4) Thomas Gray, Baltic, Conn.
5. (5) Charlie Buxton, Windham, Maine