CLAREMONT, N.H. — Despite the recent snow fall and colder temperatures the fourth annual Turkey Day Classic took to the Thrasher Road speed plant to wrap up the season. As 154 race teams packed the pit area for an action-filled day of racing from nine different divisions.
RE Hinkley Super Streets kicked off the evening with their 50-lap $1,000-to-win race with 15 cars in attendance. Andrew Morin in car No. 30, a regular at Lee Speedway and Hudson Speedway, jumped out to the early lead but it didn’t take long for him to see a familiar face driving past him car No. 2 driven by another Lee and Hudson regular, Charlie Baldwin.
Despite some cautions for various mechanical failures across various cars Baldwin maintained the top spot, capturing the $1,000 payday. Corey Fanning in the No. 11F, a regular at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl, started in sixth and by lap 26 took control of the second spot holding off all challenges to finish second. Jeff Alley in car No. 24 from Jonesport, Maine and a regular on the R&R Open Street Stocks drove from his seventh starting spot and used a lap pass finished third.
New England Dwarf Series
The New England Dwarf Car Series presented by Bumpy’s Auto Service and Construction Site Machinery came to town for a non-points open race in which Bumpy’s Auto Service picked up the drivers pit pass costs. 2024 series champion Tom Harwood in his orange No. 29 wasted no time jumping out into the lead come feature time.
The race would go caution-free and would see Harwood take the win. Ryan Carman in the No. 08 gave chase trying everything he could to get around Harwood but would settle for second. Ronnie Carman in the No. 07 car used the outside over the last few laps to take the third spot at the line over the No. 08x of Caden Roberts.
Mini Stocks
Mini Stocks rolled out onto the track next for their 25-lap feature. Division champion Kyle Templeton in his familiar No. 671 took the lead and looked to be the class of the field before surrendering the lead to Julia Kendall in car No. 62 on lap 19 after she had been lurking and looking for a way from the drop of the green flag.
Templeton would retire two laps later. Julia Kendal would hold on to take the win. Cameron Sontag in the No. 13 ran a great race and was able to finish second. Rounding out the podium was Joey Kendal in car No. 131.
PRO V-8 Sportsman
RaceDayTV Ridge Runners and the PRO V-8 Sportsman cars were tasked with running together with each running under their own rules. Nick Prenaveau in car No. 29H led the first five laps before Brian Caswell in the No. 63 wrestled the top spot away. Heath DeButts in car Mo. 76 ran second for most of the race but his day came to an end on lap 21 due to a flat tire.
Adam Lovejoy in the No. 29 assumed the second spot with Cody Boucher in the 9NH taking over third. At the checkered flag it was Caswell taking the win followed by Lovejoy in second and Boucher in third.
Pure Stocks
LaValley Building Supply Pure Stocks rolled out next. They would see Gage Dillingham in the No. 41D take the early lead. Kyle Kenny in the No. 57 took over the top spot on lap 17. Kenny would go on to take the win putting an exclamation point on an amazing rookie season.
Dillingham’s day ended on lap 18 and the No. 11NH of David Smith capitalized on this to take over the second spot, where he would finish. Eric Laurendeau in the No. 20x started second but fell back as far as seventh early in the race before bidding his time and staying out of trouble in order to finish third.
Six Shooters
The Avery Insurance Six Shooters saw plenty of new faces in attendance but would see familiar faces on the podium. Bradey Lamotte started on the pole and would lead the first 22 laps of the 25-lap feature before the one they call the “Space Cowboy”, Steve Miller Sr. drove his No. 68 machine around Lamotte for the lead.
Miller would hold on for the checkered flag with Lamotte in second spot. The man with the best seat in the house for the battle for the lead settled for third and that was Steve Miller Jr. in the No. 79. Steve Miller Sr.’s win was short lived as he failed post-race inspection.