Posted in

Chapin Tops Mods, Millette Wins Mini Belt Race At Monadnock

WINCHESTER, N.H. – Brian Chapin stormed to victory Saturday at Monadnock Speedway, blistering the high banks to become the track’s third different NHSTRA Modified winner this season.

By Gary Dutton

The Palmer, Mass. hot shoe who, along with his not-quite-ready-for-the-retirement-home racing team, were a close second a week earlier, was dominant Saturday.

Chapin was one of two drivers who took his first 2022 victory lap Saturday at Monadnock, as Justin Littlewood topped the LMS main, while Kenny Thompson, Owen Zilinski, and Greg Millette each scored victory number two.

Sunshine Town blaster Greg Millette entered Saturday’s Mini Stock Battle For The Belt 40-lapper having won every event he’d finished this season. Winning with ease Saturday, Millette kept that streak intact.

Julia Raymond charged into second on lap 21, firing low under speedway ace Gordon Farnum in turn three, then holding the Fitzwilliam flyer in her shadow the rest of the way to earn the runner-up hardware. Former weekly regular Tim LeBlanc was fourth, with 2021 track champ Louie Maher fifth in the 23-car field.

In the nightcap main event, Chapin, aboard his potent Geritol Express open-wheeler, took the lead from NHSTRA Modified rookie Nate Wenzel on lap 10 and blasted off to victory.

Rocket man Trevor Bleau got up for second on lap 18, while Wenzel, who set fast time with the night’s only sub-13 second lap, came home third. Ben Byrne, victorious a week earlier, was fourth Saturday, moving atop the points parade, now two markers ahead of Tyler Leary.

Alstead hot shoe Kenny Thompson wired the Street Stock 25-lapper to score his second win of the summer and of his career. Top points man Tim Wenzel, second to Thompson back on May 21, took home the runner-up hardware again.

Hillary Renaud, second a week earlier, was third in Saturday’s caution-free feature, taking the checkers just ahead of June 4 winner Chris Lindquist and Keith Johnson.

Justin Littlewood started up front in the Late Model Sportsman main event and never looked back, scoring his first victory of the summer ahead of Ryan Bell and division points leader Ryan Currier.

Littlewood’s win Saturday, stopped his brother Cole’s winning streak at three, as Cole was fourth on the night after winning his earlier heat race.

Owen Zilinski led the last 11 laps of the Young Gun feature to score his second win in a row. Addison Brooks, aboard the fan-favorite Punch Buggie 29, and Markus O’Neil each earned their first career trophy.

Zilinski joined his older brother Zach and Colton Martin – both recent Young Gun grads now competing in Pure Stocks – as two-time youth division winners.

Exit Realty Pro Truck Series ace G-Rod Giordano Jr. celebrated his 25th birthday in style Saturday, taking the lead from Connor Souza on lap 33 and then blasting off to victory in the 55-lap truck feature. Andy Lindeman and Andrew Morin joined him in trophy row, while Souza, victorious here earlier this year, was sixth on the night.

Next Saturday, June 18, Monadnock Speedway will host one of its biggest events in recent memory, as JDV Productions presents the Duel at The Dog 200, featuring 200 laps of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour excitement, a Granite State Pro Stock Series 75-lapper, along with Late Model Sportsman, Street Stock, Mini Stock, and Pure Stock racing.

Post time for Saturday’s very special event is 4:45 p.m.

 

MONADNOCK SPEEDWAY JUNE 11 TOP TENS:

MINI STOCK 40-LAP BATTLE FOR THE BELT: Greg Millette, Julia Raymond, Gordon Farnum, Tim LeBlanc, Louie Maher, Mike Viens, Emerson Cayer, Nick Houle, Kevin Clayton, Kevin McKnight.

NHSTRA MODIFIED: Brian Chapin, Trevor Bleau, Nate Wenzel, Ben Byrne, Aaron Fellows, Tyler Leary, JT Cloutier, Al Guibord, Eric LeClair.

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN: Justin Littlewood, Ryan Bell, Ryan Curtis, Cole Littlewood, Kevin Vaudrien, Sammy Silva, Dan Comeau, Nancy Muni-Ruot, Matt Winter.

STREET STOCK: Kenny Thompson, Tim Wenzel, Hillary Renaud, Chris Lindquist, Keith Johnson, Chris Buffone, Jon Porter, Dan Robinson, Mike Robinson, Chris Castor.

YOUNG GUN: Owen Zilinski, Addison Brooks, Markus O’Neill, Jaimielynn Flannery, Aaliyah Tacy.

PRO TRUCK SERIES: G-Rod Giordano Jr., Andy Lindeman, Andy Morin, Lucas Leone, Devin Deschaies, Connor Souza, Andy Pellegrini, Duane Noll, Jim Thompson, Chris Buffone.

Photo Credit – Chip Cormie: #44 Brian Chapin (NHSTRA Modified)