Posted: July 11th, 2003

On a night where we had a little bit of everything, including bright sunshine, monsoon rains and even a full moon, rookie drivers took the spotlight as two newcomers grabbed their first career main event wins and the third rookie won his second feature of his career at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. The rookie list included Leslie Keysar, Johnny Ledger and Kevin Bowman. Veteran racers, Fulton Mountain, Tom Keith and Opie Thayer also collected first place hardware.

  The NAPA Late Models got off to a shaky start, but once the green flag fell on lap two, they put on an awesome show. Quinney Welch took over the top spot just past the halfway mark and held on to capture the win over a hard charging Fulton Mountain. The win was short lived as Welch failed post race inspection, handing the victory over to Barrington's, Fulton Mountain. Barre, Vermont rookie, Pete Potvin III ran a career best second, followed by Nottingham's, Pete Fraser, St. Johnsbury's, Tyler Cahoon and Stark's, Brian Mason. Heat wins went to Dave Labrecque, Brian Mason and Mountain, while the bonus point semi checkers flew for Corey Mason.

  Rookie driver, Leslie Keyser, led all thirty laps of the Gilmour Jeep/Ford/Dodge Super Street main event, thus picking up his first career win. It was no easy task as Tamworth's, Mike Davis rode his back bumper the entire way. West Burke, Vermont driver Howard Switser raced home third, ahead of McIndoe Falls speedster, Bernie Lantagne and Piermont's, Mike Stygles. Doug Laleme and Mike Stygles were winners of the qualifying heats.

  "Tiger" Tom Keith of Pike pulled off rare back to back wins in the Beacon Motel and Resorts Strictly Streets, as he raced home under the checkers in this rough and tumble, twenty lap main event. Five cautions waved during a race that saw some wild door to door racing. Toby Peters from Groton, Vermont challenged Keith all the way to the finish but had to settle for second. He was followed by Bath's, Gary Griswold II, Woodsville's, Jason Wyman and Littleton's, Tim Clark. Heat wins went to Kim Cotten and Peters.

  The Woodsville Guaranty Savings Strictly Mini's had a pair of features to run, as they made up the event lost to rain from three weeks ago. The first round went to Concord's, Opie Thayer as he held off a determined Brady Therrien from Lyndonville, Vermont, and rookie Johnny Ledger from Penacook. Completing the top five were Shawn Sinclair from Belmont and Concord, Vermont's, Tim Heath. Round two saw another great battle for the top spot as Gilford's, Trevor Lacasse got tangled up with a lapped car on lap fifteen giving the lead to Brady Therrien. Caution flew on lap sixteen, setting up a four lap dash. As the field headed to green, second place runner Corey Bean had a tire go down, thus moving Johnny Ledger to the outside of the front row with Therrien. When the green flew, Ledger won the race to turn one and cruised home for the win. Therrien raced home second followed by Lacasse, Thayer and Rick Shifflett. Qualifying wins went to Dan Bigelow, Keri Driscoll, Matt Anderson and Lacasse. Therrien won the last chance consi.

  Kevin Bowman from Grafton, Mass., won the Hobo Hills Adventure Golf Mini-Cup feature, as he easily outdistanced Danville's, Bill Matatall, Jason Welch, Scott Haag and Dean Skinner, Jr.. Matatall claimed the lone heat win.

  WMMP will be back in action this Saturday night as the PASS Pro Stock Series comes to town for a 150 lap main event. Joining them will be the Super Streets, Strictly Streets and Strictly Mini's. The LMS, Mini-Cups and Kids Trucks will have the night off. Gates open at 1pm, practice starts at 3pm and the first green flag flies at 6pm. Remember to bring last weeks ticket stub and receive $2.00 off the price of front gate admission. For more information, call the track hotline at 603-745-6727 or logon to www.whitemtnmotorsports.com. White Mountain Motorsports Park is located in the heart of the White Mountains, on Route 3 in North Woodstock, New Hampshire.