Episode 110
June 12, 2016
County Kids Race In Bangor
Three County kids ran at the opening of Speedway karting at the Speedway 95 track on Saturday. The track utilizes a part of the big track with the remainder infield according to some of the people who raced there.
As pictured above Gage Theriault won his race in the Kids Kart Division. Gage’s words after his feature… ” I had to drive it like I stole it Daddy. I could see the gas tank was falling off again”
Gage is the son of Erin and Galen Morror of Limestone. Galen described the race saying ,”He took 1st in his heat and 1st in his feature. We lost a clutch spring in his practice run…JRT Customs had one on hand for us to replace it. Then lost his fuel tank in feature. Speedway Karting gave us time to fix it on track. He then took the win! “
Last Chance Motorsports, based out of Houlton, made their presence known sweeping the podium in the Senior Sportsman class and first in the Junior Sportsman class. The team provided parts and technical support for those racing at the new venue. Their support was appreciated I am sure.
Ryan Messer Takes a Hit and Keeps on Racing
Harvey, New Brunswick’s Ryan Messer fought back from an on-track incident at Speedway 660 to finish . Ryan is one of the youngsters I am following this season. He already has one feature win.
Crew chief and Dad Robb Messer said,” Ryan Just got caught up in a spin that happened in front of us. We went under the car in front of us while another car slid up under our rear.”
“Pretty extensive damage to the rear frame section. Starting to tear apart now”
I will be following his progress as the season continues.
Swanson Did Not Win
Kingsburg, California’s Kody Swanson did not win the Horn/Schindler Memorial 100 USAC Silver Crown race at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He placed third. Race winner Chris Windom edged fellow Hoosier, second place Bryan Clauson for the win on the 1/2 mile dirt track.
The race marked the first time USAC Silver Crown cars raced at Williams Grove in 35 years. Second place Clauson was trying to be the first to lead a lap in the Indy 500 and win at Williams Grove. The last to do so was Roger Ward did it in 1959. Oh so close…
The Championship Points race tightened up with Windom’s win. Swanson still leads by 15 points going into the next race the “St. Louis Silver crown Showdown” ay gateway Motorsports Park June 26th.
Newgarden Okay After Heavy Crash at Texas
Josef Newgarden was side swiped by Conor Daly on the front stretch at Texas Motor Speedway on lap 42 of the Firestone 600. Watch the in-car and out-of-car videos and one can see the cars and the SAFER barrier did their jobs.
In a press release Newgarden said, “Thank you to Dallara, INDYCAR, the Holmatro Safety Team and everyone we work with at Texas Motor Speedway,”
“The car held up great and the response from the safety team was amazing. I’m banged up a little bit but I’m generally OK. That’s all thanks to INDYCAR and all the work everyone within the series does. I am feeling a little pain but I hope to be ready to rock and go again soon. We had a great car today, it just did not go how we had planned. I feel bad for both Conor and myself but I’m glad Conor is OK as well. I’ll be back out there fighting as soon as I can. Luckily I am all right, thank you again to everyone who helped me.”
Newgarden has a fractured clavicle and a small hand fracture. James Hinchcliffe who was leading the race at the end of lap 71 when the red flag was thrown, will be able to say he lead the race for two months since the final laps will be run at Texas on August 27th at 7 pm.
It still had not been decided what to do about the wrecked cars of Daly and Newgarden. Track officials have said the two drivers will be given a chance to get back in the race whatever that means.
Northern Maine Karting Association Race Results
Racing at Spud Speedway last Friday evening as part of the Friday Night Kart Series saw a new winner in the Haney’s Building Specialties Junior Champ Karts Division. Limestone’s Braden Thibodeau made his first trip to Victory Lane this young season followed by Noah Coventry , Van Buren and points leader Bryan Searles of Presque Isle in third.
Full results are:
Kids Karts
Parker Bosse, Caribou
Avery Lloyd, New Denmark, New Brunswick
Haney’s Building Specialties of Caribou Junior Champ Karts
1. Braden Thibodeau, Limestone
2. Noah Coventry, Van Buren
3. Bryan Searles, Presque Isle
Aroostook Savings and Loan Senior Champ Karts
1. Damian Theriault, Caribou
2. Jason Theriault, Caribou
3. Tom Hale, Westmanland
The next race is Friday June 17th at 6:30 pm. Thanks to sponsor support there continues to be free admission in the grandstands.
Fathers Day
This Sunday will be Erik Jones first Father’s Day without his Dad. I know many of you are in the same situation. My sympathy goes out to you. Though it has been 10 years since my Dad passed away it still hurts very much to not have him here to share with him some of the things I have been up to that would make him proud. To hear me on the radio or to read this blog post I would give a lot to hear him once again play his guitar or fiddle. I know since he was a follower of Christ I will get to see him once again. That is my blessed hope.
For you with your Dad still here would you reach out to him on this special day? I admire the Messer family, the Alexander family, and the Austin Theriault Racing family who treat their Dad and Grand Dad with respect and tell them they are appreciated. There are many others as well who take advantage of this day to do the same..Will you take a few moments to do the same?
Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads out there.
Let’s Go Racing,
Tom Hale
Soli Deo Gloria