Touring Series News
Donnelly Thwarts Car Owner Allen With Last-Lap Pass For Win
(From series press release)
BRADFORD -- Sprint Cars of New England rookie Chris Donnelly has seemingly become a master of the last-lap domain, this time outdueling his car owner Si Allen for the victory on Saturday at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford.
Pleasant weather greeted fans at race time for SCoNE’s third visit of the year to Bear Ridge Speedway. Another SCoNE rookie, Dan Douville, entered the event undefeated for the year at the track.
At drop of the green, Donny Sharp, Jr., quickly jumped out front, with Allen settling in second. Sharp enjoyed nearly a straightaway’s lead by lap five, but his car hit a big clod of clay two circuits later, sending his car into the air and hard into the turn four wall.
Allen, who hadn’t finished better than ninth this year, inherited the lead with Robby Bodwell in second. Meanwhile, the action would heat up for third, with Kevin Chaffee hugging the low side and Donnelly, his car owner, on the high side. The two battled tooth-and-nail for several laps, with Douville sitting fifth.
Donnelly finally turned up the heat in the closing laps, getting by both Chaffee and Bodwell for the second-place position. On the final lap, Donnelly set his sights on his car owner and race leader, Si Allen. Donnelly took the high side out of turn two and powered his way into the lead off four and into victory.
Donnelly's win would be his second of the season in SCoNE and very reminiscent of his first, which featured last-lap heroics, too, at Big Daddy's Speedbowl on June 20. Allen would have to settle for a season’s best second-place finish while Chaffee finished third, Douville fourth, and Shawn Lawler fifth.
SCoNE’s next race is Friday, July 16 at Canaan Dirt Speedway in Canaan, N.H., followed by another race on Sunday, July 18 at nearby Big Daddy’s Speedbowl in Rumney, N.H. SCoNE returns to Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday, July 31. For more information on these great shows and other upcoming ones, visit SCoNE's official website at www.nesprintcars.com .
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Dennis Preston Builder 25
Sprint Cars of New England -- Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# - denotes rookie
1. (12) # Chris Donnelly, Orford, N.H.
2. (1) Si Allen, West Windsor
3. (5) # Kevin Chaffee, Orange
4. (13) # Dan Douville, Concord, N.H.
5. (10) Shawn Lawler, Mason, N.H.
6. (11) Mark Cole, Lebanon, N.H.
7. (4) Robby Bodwell, Sanford, Me.
8. (7) Lacey Hanson, Orwell
9. (6) # Shawn Berry, Ossipee, N.H.
10. (8) Bruce Kimball, Lebanon, N.H.
11. (2) Donny Sharp, Jr., Grafton, N.H.
12. (9) Clay Dow, Ossipee, N.H.
13. (3) Nick Berry, Ossipee, N.H.
PHOTOS:
1. Chris Donnelly (#20) makes his way past Kevin Chaffee (#44v) en route to his SCoNE win at Bear Ridge on Saturday. (Don MacIntosh photo)
2. SCoNE victory lane, L-R: Kevin Chaffee (3rd), Si Allen (2nd), winner Chris Donnelly. (Don MacIntosh photo)
