Russ Clark sets sights on Riverside Late Model Title
In the Driver’s Seat by Jean LeBlanc
It has been a month since our last up date and the news is swirling more than ever at Riverside Speedway.
The Pre-Hangover 150 was just completed and it was a final send-off for former GM Dick Therrien. Therrien started this unique event four years ago, making it better and better each year. The racing surface usually takes several laps before any kind of speed can be attained. However, this year Therrien’s expertise at holding the event came to the forefront, providing a very fast surface right from the drop of the green flag. We would personally like to thank Dick with making the transition at Riverside Speedway a smooth one.
The race experienced its own version of “The Big One” on lap five putting 20 plus vehicles involved on a front stretch skirmish, eliminating several racers for the day.
Right from the beginning, Thorton’s Ryan Avery was the car to beat. Avery put the field down three laps through out the course of the race and was never really challenged. Jamie Heath took home second place from Waterford Maine. Third, fourth, and fifth place was captured by Riverside regulars Jeff Ainsworth, Jamie Swallow, and Pete Gilcris. Swallow took home a bonus of $125 dollars, getting his ticket pulled to start on the pole and finishing in the top five.
Licenses are beginning to trickle in, with several new faces in different divisions beginning to show up. Kevin Scott Hockman from Danville Vermont has purchased the Ernie Laplant Dwarf Car and has his sights set at a run for a rookie of the year honor. Veteran Thunder Road racer David Allen has purchased the Luke Shannon Super Stock. Morrisville’s Kyle Hess will take to the Riverside high banks in a Street Stock. Matt LeBlanc looks to do double duty in the Street Stocks and Cyclones, picking up the Frost bite 250 ride of Heywood Herriot.
The big news at the Speedway is that of veteran Late Model driver Russell Clark will set his sights on a Championship run in 2010. Clark is one of the most respected and class acts in the Late Model ranks in Northern New England.
Clark will have his hands full with the younger generation at Riverside Speedway. 2008 and 2009 Rookie of the year racers Paul Schartner III and Cody “The Kid” LeBlanc have all expressed interest in title runs. The list of possible new racers in the Late Model class is long. Luke Shannon, Jesse Switser, Dylan Switser, Ciara McCoy, and Brandon Lambert are just a few names being tossed about.
The Outlaw/Sportsman division will see the return of Mike Clark behind the wheel of a Pete Gilcris prepared automobile. Clark is a veteran driver of the Flying Tigers and Super Street divisions and will likely be a threat to win each time out.
The sponsorships for 2010 are beginning to take shape and in just a few short weeks, the 2010 schedule will really begin to get finalized.
The Big news there is the return of North Country Ford as the Late Model Division sponsor and the new Classic car night.
NAPA Auto parts will again sponsor the Car Show and the Bobby Shores Memorial classic that begins the racing season.
Isaacson Structural Steel has signed on at Riverside Speedway as the divisional sponsor for the Angels. Their night will be a special event in that it will include the Kids Pit Tour and the Special Olympians will be in attendance.
The dead line to reserve your last season’s car number is February 15th. If you want to run last year’s number get your driver’s license into the speedway before the 15th.
You can see all of the latest announcements on the track’s website at www.riversidespeedway.org.
That’s it for now. You will never experience the thrill of racing until you’re “In the Driver’s Seat”.