Before two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch battled for his fourth career Cup victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he dueled with local short track racers at nearby Lee USA Speedway.
Busch fared much better in his first of two races in the state over the weekend, even if it didn’t add to a trophy haul that features more than 200 career NASCAR wins. Competing in the Keen Parts 150 for Open Pro Stocks at the Lee, New Hampshire, track Friday night, Busch crossed the line sixth after qualifying third out of 25 cars.
The 150-lap race was won by Windham, Maine, native Brandon Barker, who edged fellow Mainer Joey Doiron for the checkered flag. Massachusetts native and two-time Oxford 250 winner Eddie MacDonald crossed the line third, but was later disqualified during post-race technical inspection for an unapproved tire change. That bumped Busch’s NASCAR Cup Series spotter Derek Kneeland up to fourth, with Busch officially finishing fifth.
“I like getting out there and going and being able to run in some of those short track races,” Busch told SeacoastOnline.com after the race. “I’m looking forward to going up to Oxford (Plains Speedway) and do that one in a couple of weeks.”
Two days later and just under an hour up the road, Busch finished 35th out of 36 cars in the Cup Series race in Loudon.
After this coming weekend’s NASCAR action at Nashville Superspeedway, Busch will turn his attention to the first Celebration of America 300 at Oxford Plains Speedway on June 2-3.
PASS-ING THE FLAG
Victory lane has been a welcoming place for the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models so far this season.
In the past six races, there have been six different winners. The latest to join the fray was Ryan Kuhn on Saturday at Star Speedway in Epping, New Hampshire.
The Massachusetts driver first had to wait until a duel between New Hampshire racers DJ Shaw and Derek Griffith led to a spin and a caution, with Griffith going to the back after turning around and Shaw black-flagged to the back for causing the spin.
Doiron was the runner-up for the second time in two days, while Gabe Brown was third. Shaw, the series points leader rallied to finish fourth, while Griffith was sixth behind Bryan Kruczek.
Doiron was denied a second PASS SLM win in as many weeks, after winning the first of two PASS features at Oxford Plains Speedway the weekend before. Tim Brackett won his first-ever PASS SLM feature in last weekend’s second 150-lapper at Oxford.
In Saturday’s PASS Mods feature at Star, championship contender Spencer Morse topped defending champ Brandon Varney in the 40-lap race. The New England Supermodified Series feature was rained out.
The American-Canadian Tour was also at Star on Saturday, and Jimmy Renfrew Jr. beat out Shaw in a race that was shortened to 125 laps due to weather. Jesse Switser rounded out the podium, and Brown placed fourth to strengthen his points lead.
‘THE GODFATHER’ RETURNS
PASS and Oxford Plains officials announced earlier this month that Dave Moody will be the special guest announcer for the Celebration of American 300.
Moody, who broadcasts NASCAR races for Motor Racing Network and hosts a racing talk show on SiriusXM radio, spent two seasons as the PA announcer at Oxford Plains.
“I’m really looking forward to July 3,” Moody said in a joint media release from PASS and Oxford Plains. “The last race I announced there was in 1995.”
Moody’s career began at Thunder Road and then with the ACT Tour.
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