Wells keeps digging, hits Airborne paydirt
Dave Brown photo of Mike Wells Airborne recap July 9 South Plattsburgh – Mike Wells of West Chazy had hundreds of underdog rooters on their feet as he retook the lead from Martin Roy with five laps left in the 30-lap DIRTcar Modified feature and drove off to his first career win at Airborne Speedway. |
Wells started on the pole in the G&G Auto Parts No. 76 and stayed in the lead through four restarts in the first 12 laps before Roy took over on lap 13. The former track champion quickly built a five car-length advantage before a fifth restart tightened the field after 20 laps were completed. Suddenly on lap 22, Wells, working the bottom groove with Pat McGrail and Andy Heywood in tow, reached Roy’s door. On lap 25, he regained the lead entering turn three as Roy faded and finally pitted for a new right rear tire. “When the No. 90 passed me, I thought – now I’m racing for second and more of the big guys are coming,” Wells said. “Then I was able to get back to him. I didn’t overdrive when I got to his rear wheel. When I jumped on my horse, she responded.” McGrail stayed close for second. Heywood held off Aaron Bartemy and Patrick Dupree to finish third. Dupree pressured Bartemy for the final 15 laps, but couldn’t advance. Positions 6-10 went to Vince Quenneville, Kris Vernold, Max Viens, Martin Hebert and Don Scarborough. Wells had shown promise earlier when he won his heat and earned a spot in the Ernie’s Discount Tools Modified six-lap “Dash for Cash”. Roy won the dash and said “maybe tonight it’s my turn,” but Wells had other ideas. “I’m so excited,” Wells said after a rooftop dance in victory lane. “In West Chazy, the beer’s on me.” Wells moved up from the Sportsman division in 2009. Bucko Branham, driving the Liquor and Wine Warehouse No. 20, won the J&S Steel Sportsman feature with relative ease after taking the lead on lap 8. Danny Sullivan and Jamy Begor finished 2nd and 3rd. Branham won his heat race as did Travis Bruno. Two cautions and a red flag for Gordy Stone, who rolled onto a tire pile at the edge of the jersey barriers on the backstretch, ushered Branham toward the front. When the inside lane opened up in turns three and four n lap six, he drove into second place and challenged the leader Brandon Atkins. On the way to his top finish of the season, Atkins was dicing for second with Sullivan down the back chute and spun when the pair rubbed quarter-panels. “Sometimes getting pinned on the bottom has been my downfall this year,” Branham said. “I made the bottom work today.” The NAPA Mini Modifieds had two features. Point leader CJ Lavair of Gabrels won the opener after contact on the backstretch with leader Kris Clark, who held on for second with Erick Sayles third. Clark finished second in round two as well, trailing only winner Jamie LaFountain of Keeseville. Kevin Boutin won the Renegade feature comfortably ahead of Robbie Favreau and Lance Rabtoy. Josh Durivage scored his fifth win in the Bomber feature. Bill Joyal Sr. and Tyler Bresette were next. Airborne has double Sportsman features Saturday, July 16 on Adirondack Hardware Company Driver Autograph Night. Post time 6 p.m. 1. Mike Wells 2. Pat McGrail 3. Andy Heywood 4. Aaron Bartemy 5. Patrick Dupree 6. Vince Quenneville 7. Kris Vernold 8. Maxime Viens 9. Martin Hebert 10. Don Scarborough 11.Pierre Berthiaume 12.Matt Woodruff 13.Mike Phinney 14.Craig Reyell 15.Martin Roy 16.George Foley 17.Dan Brown 18.Roger Labreche 19.Richard Tisseur 20.Bryant Trim 21.Ryan McLean 22.Jimmy Ryan 23.Mike Reyell 24.Greg Atkins 25.Jason Durgan 26.Todd Ormsby 27.Chris Cayea 28.Jesse Mueller 29.Leon Gonyo |
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