5/21/2024
Lee USA Speedway
Joey Doiron Wins Inaugural North American Pro Stock Nationals at Lee USA Speedway!
Lee, NH- After Mother Nature forced racing action to be moved from Saturday to Sunday the race teams did not disappoint the large crowd on hand. With 34 driver from all over New England and even Pennsylvania on hand to compete for the $30K to win! Derek Griffith (12G) set the quick time in the lone 40 minute practice session with a 14.732 second lap. Right behind him where the 17MA of Eddie MacDonald with a 14.776, Max Cookson (39) with a 14.780, the 90 of Casey Call with a 14.781, and Wayne Helliwell (27NH) with a 14.820.
Time trails for the North American Pro Stock Nationals were first on track. Griffith continued his trend of setting the fastest time to claim the pole position with a lap of 14.561. Jimmy Renfrew Jr. (00) turned the 2nd fastest lap with a 14.605 but it would be Nicholas Cusack (2) who turned the 3rd fastest lap that would accept the ladder challenge and start from the rear. Griffith would lead the field in a dominate fashion until lap 125 when the competition caution would fly seeing all teams pit. The bigger story would be Joey Doiron (73D) who would win the consolation forcing him to start 20th in the main event and would find himself running 2nd by lap 115. Doiron would follow Griffith closely after the competition caution and on lap 170 under Griffith and would race side by side lap after lap. Doiron would lead lap 179 with Griffith taking the lead back for the next 2 laps. Doiron regained the lead on lap 182 and would never look back as he captured the win and the $30K dollars. MacDonald would sneak around Griffith to take the 2nd spot forcing Griffith to settle for 3rd. Results are unofficial as the motors have been sent to RPM Racing Engines for inspections.
Also in action on the day were the MLM Diagnostic Open Pure Stocks. It was hot shoe Andrew Harmon (14) that took the heat race win. Unfortunately Harmon’s day would end early in the feature after breaking a tie rod. Also having a rough day would be Carlos Grenier (1NH) and David Smith (11NH) as Grenier would lose an engine and Smith would hit the oil and then the wall. It would be Cody Hodge in the 72 that seized the opportunity to capture the win. Sean Nadeau (35) finished 2nd and the 21 of Mackenzie Belisle finished 3rd.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Six Shooters put on a great show with Steve Miller Sr. taking the heat race win. Then in the feature it would be the lady on a hot streak, Erin Aiken in the 33A who seems to just win everywhere she goes taking the top spot. Michael Yeaton took the 2nd spot with Miller Sr. rounding out the podium.
The Ridge Runners had two heat races with Carl Gagnon (99) and Brian Caswell (47) taking the wins. Heath DeButts (76) took over the lead on lap 10. DeButts would capture the win followed across the line by Ricky Marrocco (7) in 2nd and Dan Caswell (47c) in 3rd.
The evening was wrapped up by the New England Dwarf Car Series Presented by Construction Site Machinery made their first of 3 scheduled stops at New Hampshire’s Center of Speed. Tom Harwood (29), Chris Sullivan (0No), and Jason Hodgdon (31H) won the heat races. Harwood captured the feature victory with Cody Hodgdon (31) and Ryan Carman (08) rounding out the top three. For full details check out their Facebook page, New England Dwarf Car Series.
Lee USA Speedway is next in action on Friday June 7th with the Beach Ridge Motor Speedway Night at the Races. Racing action starts at 7:05pm with more information and ticket purchase available on our website!
Article Credit: Ryan Lawliss
Submitted By: Mark Beaudry
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