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BAILEY AND OVITT CLAW THEIR WAY TO VICTORY

AT RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY, NAPA OPENER

The 2023 season officially began on Saturday, May 13th, at Riverside Speedway and Adventure Park in Groveton, New Hampshire. A pit full of racecars and a good crowd was on hand to welcome NAPA Auto Parts to the Speedway2. Winners on the night included Mike “Beetle” Bailey, Alby Ovitt, Cody Hodge, Aaron Smith, Traci Dean, Kevin Whittum Jr., Justin Harris, Conner Charbonneau, and Connor Dow.

Mike “Beetle” Bailey took advantage of just one caution and rolled to the season-opening 75-lap TMS Diesel Late Model feature event. Even though Bailey walked away from the field, several other side-by-side battles took place, including one for the second spot, with Stephen Donahue edging out Jason Kenison for the silver position. Mike Kenison raced home 4th ahead of Jamie Swallow Jr in 5th. The 6th through 10th spots were Luke Shannon, Matt Mason, Bryan Mason, Jeffrey Marshall, and Brenna Humphrey.

The best race of the night saw Alby Ovitt nipping Cole Watson at the stripe in the R.N Craft Street Stock main event. Ovitt survived an all-out assault by Watson, Todd Libby, Mike Giroux, and Ryan Heuser. Watson spent most of the main event rim riding in the outside groove, pulling even with Ovitt several times and holding back Libby down low. When it was all said and done, lapped traffic sent the field scattering, leaving Watson a very close second-place finish, while Giroux snuck by Libby to capture the 3rd spot. Libby and Heuser rounded out the top five. The 36 of Giroux did not pass post race inspection.

Aaron Smith held off a determined Scott Corey to take home the victory in the Dad’s 4 by Tool and Supply, Mattix Mad Dogs 6 & 8 cylinder finale. Jamie Arsenault edged out Anthony Benoit for third place, and Cody Richards was 5th.

Cody Hodge blew the field away in the White Mountains Community College Lightning 4’s as Matt St. Cyr, Tanner Amyot, Jarvis Sottile, and John Drown were second through 5th. Conner Charbonneau won the first of two Claudette and Deans Place Daredevil features and continued from where he left off last season. Karsen Murphy scored the runner-up spot, followed by Karson Theroux, Ethan Benoit, Connor Sherburne, and Kiya Roger. Feature #2 saw Connor Dow handily defeating Devin Morrill, Sophia Beer, and Nicole Watson. In the inaugural Women’s division race, Traci Dean took the checkers ahead of Nicole Sherburne and Callie Ball.

Kevin Michael Whittum Jr. shook off the rust after being away from racing for over ten years to capture the win in the Bad Boy Mowers of Morrisville Cyclone 4 class. Christopher Cass finished a close second ahead of Julian Kenison, Doug Collins Jr., and James Aiken.

Justin Harris defeated a stellar field of Top Furniture Lil Rascal Dwarf Cars, Holding off Tom Harwood and Howard Switser. Completing the top five were Nicholas Poggi and Brad Sanborn.

  Riverside Speedway and Adventure Park are back in action next Saturday at 6 pm as Top Furniture from Gorham, New Hampshire, sponsors the night’s events featuring The New England Dwarf Car series as they invade the high-banked ¼ mile facility. Joining them will be the Street Stocks, Lightning 4’s, Cyclones, and Dare Devils. Come early and enjoy our delicious fresh dough pizza and the best track food in the area. Riverside Speedway is located at 78 Craggy Road in Groveton, New Hampshire. For more information, follow Riverside on Facebook and Instagram or visit the web at www.riversidegroveton.com.