6/15/2014
Airborne Park Speedway
Heywood Back on Track; McGrail Carries Modified Checkers
SOUTH PLATTSBURGH – Defending J&S Steel Sportsman Modified champion Nick Heywood of Plattsburgh picked up his first win of the year on Plattsburgh Ford/UniFirst Night at Airborne Park Speedway one week after demolishing the Budweiser No. 29.
Heywood started eighth in an 18-car field and met with some stiff resistance in the early going before a lap-9 restart put him alongside Tom Remington on the front row.
The restart was needed when Derrick McGrew got turned around in turn two, triggering a five-car pile-up that sidelined top runners Codie Aubin, Mark Lamberton and Jamie LaFountain. Jason Durgan was sent to the rear for contact with McGrew.
Heywood’s lead was erased by the fourth and final caution of the race as Eric Lauziere and Travis Bruno sparred through the turns at both ends of the track. Bruno retained the second spot on the restart, but was no match for Heywood. He settled for second a car-length ahead of Durgan’s resurgent No. 17. Remington was a season-best fourth ahead of McGrew.
Positions 6-10 went to Ty Drown, Rick Doner, Andrew Bordeau, Speedy Bresette and Rico Hernandez.
“We had to replace everything but the frame and the motor after last week, but it seems worth it now,” Heywood said.
McGrail won the Ernie’s Discount Tools 30-lap Modified feature handily after Leon Gonyo had trimmed his lead from eight car-lengths to two and drawn even on the second and final caution. When the green came back out, McGrail stepped away and raced off to his first win since 2012.
Gonyo brought the Egglefield Ford No. 4 home in second. Todd Stone was close by in third, followed by Kris Vernold and Chris Cayea.
“I was saving the tires a bit, but on the restart it was time to go or Leon was going to get me,” McGrail said.
The Ground Round Late Models ran twin-20 lap features and Nick Sweet of Barre, VT won them both. Sweet ran away with first 20-lapper and reeled in Josh LeClaire on lap 7. Sweet and runner-up Brandon Atkins were dead even at the line on lap eight before Sweet took command.
Atkins, who graduates from Ausable Valley Central High School Monday, was the runner-up in both races. Bucko Branham and LeClaire each had a 3rd-place finish.
Scott Richner of Champlain won the Busch Mini Modified feature despite a late rally by Dale O’Neill. Tim LaFountain, Steve Bresette and Michael Whalen were 3-4-5.
Next Saturday, June 21 the Key RD Trailer Sales renegades return to action for a 100-lap main event.
- Tom Herzig
Submitted By: JOHN WALKER