O’Hearn grabs second Sportsman Modified win

–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
 VMM Editor

WENTWORTH, N.H. – Even an experimental car couldn’t keep Chris Donnelly out of victory lane on Friday night at Legion Speedway.

The Piermont, N.H. driver took advantage of a midrace miscue by Luke Greenwood with lapped traffic to inherit the lead and then dominated the second half of the 30-lap feature.

“This whole car is an experiment,” Donnelly said in victory lane. “It’s got a tiny motor in it and a $175 spec right rear tire. The whole deal was done to prove to people that you can run these cars and it can be affordable.

“There is no better way to prove it than what we did tonight. (The car) was on a rail and I was real happy.”

Donnelly chased Greenwood for much of the first half of the race and attempted multiple times to work around the race leader. However, Greenwood would get caught behind two side-by-side lapped cars, which allowed Donnelly to roar past Greenwood on the outside and into the lead. Greenwood would then get tangled with the lapped car and spin out, ending his night.

From there, Donnelly quickly opened a gap back to second place Chaffee.

“We’re happy with second place with this new car tonight,” second place finisher Chaffee, of Bradford, Vt., said in victory lane. “We had nothing for (Donnelly) tonight.”

Polesitter Jake Williams of Center Tuftonboro, N.H. finished third while defending series champion Dan Douville of Bridgewater, N.H. finished fourth. Rookie pilot Mike Chaffee of Corinth, Vt. completed the top-five finishers.

Ryan Avery, Richie Simmons, Matt Hoyt, Lacey Hanson, and Dennis McLeod finished sixth through tenth, respectively.

The race was briefly red flagged for a roll over by Lauren Boisvert early in the feature event. Boisvert was able to continue on with minimal damage, but her night was cut short later in the event.

Derek O’Hearn grabbed his second Peanut’s Auto Sportsman Modified feature win in their 25-lap feature.

The Bristol, N.H. driver used a pole position start to quickly open and main a lead for the entire event.

Avery, doing double duty, finished second with Louie Cadwell third. Jason Sanville and Todd Buckwold finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Matt Pike of Warren, N.H. held off a hard challenge from Bob Crawford to grab his first Petro Mart of Enfield Super Street feature win of the season.

Pike was able to rebound after a heat race incident to claim the win.

Scott Heath finished third with Doug Boucher and Cassie Ottati completed the top-five finishers.

Mike Lique of West Lebanon, N.H. grabbed his second Enfield Garage Outlaw Mini Stock feature win. Matt Boucher, Aaron Bunker, Jack Cook, and Jonathan Baker completed the top-five finishers.

Legion Speedway returns to action on Friday, June 3. The Sprint Cars of New England continue their busy Memorial Day weekend event on Saturday, May 28 at Bear Ridge Speedway.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – O’Reilly Auto Parts Twlight Racing Challenge
Legion Speedway, Wentworth, N.H.
Friday, May 27, 2016

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

Sprint Cars of New England (30 laps)
1. (3) Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.
2. (6) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
3. (1) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
4. (5) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H.
5. (14) Mike Chaffee, Corinth, Vt.
6. (16) Ryan Avery, Campton, N.H.
7. (15) Richie Simmons, Bradford, Vt.
8. (13) Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H.
9. (8) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
10. (12) Dennis McLeod, Concord, N.H.
11. (7) Steve Hutchinson, Goffstown, N.H.
12. (17) Chad Turck, Pittsfield, N.H.
13. (4) Tyler Austin, West Fairlee, Vt.
14. (9) Will Hull, East Montpelier, Vt.
15. (2) Luke Greenwood, Hudson, N.H.
16. (11) Lauren Boisvert, Danbury, N.H.
17. (10) Christine Boesch, Concord, N.H.

Peanut’s Auto Sportsman Modifieds (25 laps)
1. Derek O’Hearn, Bristol, N.H.
2. Ryan Avery, Campton, N.H.
3. Louie Cadwell, North Thetford, Vt.
4. Jason Sanville, Grafton, N.H.
5. Todd Buckwold, Canaan, N.H.

Petro Mart of Enfield Super Streets (20 laps)
1. Matt Pike, Warren, N.H.
2. Bob Crawford, Groton, N.H.
3. Scott Heath, Warren, N.H.
4. Doug Boucher, Grafton, N.H.
5. Cassie Ottati, Rumney, N.H.

Enfield Garage Outlaw Mini Stocks (20 laps)
1. Mike Lique, West Lebanon, N.H.
2. Matt Boucher, Grafton, N.H.
3. Aaron Bunker, Newport, N.H.
4. Jack Cook, Moultonborough, N.H.
5. Jonathan Baker, Plymouth, N.H.

PHOTO: Chris Donnelly celebrates his Sprint Cars of New England win with his daughter, Kate, and his wife, Julie, on Friday night at Legion Speedway. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)