Story By: MIKE PARKS / CLAREMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK – CLAREMONT, NH – Tyler Shullick set a new track speed record Thursday at Claremont Motorsports Park, blistering the third-mile oval aboard his ISMA/MSS Super Modified ride with a mind-bending lap of 11.831 seconds, besting Bay State blaster Jon McKennedy’s previous CMP recond by four thousands of a second.
But when all was said and done, it was McKennedy basking in victory lane at the conclusion of the night’s 75-lap Thursday Night Thunder main event. Windsor’s Robert Hagar put on a speed show of his own Thursday, topping a rock star field of Super Streets to win the nightcap 30-lapper.
After suffering three consecutive rainouts, CMP, its fans and competitors, took full advantage of a perfect mid-August night at the track. Six Shooter points leader Steve Miller Sr. caught a break Thursday when the race leader – his son, Steve Jr. – cut a tire with one lap to go, then having to watch the elder Miller speed past to victory. Another divisional points leader, Ridge Runner ace Aiden White, also earned a Thursday victory lap.
Shullick looked almost unbeatable for a while Thursday. After setting the record time in qualifying, he drew the pole for the main event and quickly threatened to run away with the show. McKennedy, though, who’d played just a little bit of possum in his heat, had other plans.
Firing from row two, McKennedy took second on lap five and steadily reeled Shullick in, taking charge on lap 33 and then quickly opening a six-lengths lead of his own. When Shullick’s ride broke on lap 51, Mike Ordway Jr. moved up to second, then taking full advantage of his newfound fortune, as he blasted into the lead. McKennedy, though, still wasn’t done.
Rocketing low into turn one on lap 69, he again took charge and sailed off to victory. Canadian star Mark Sammut was second, and North Carolina pilot Trent Stephens third.
Dennis Greenwood and Jimmy Zullo sat up front as the Super Street feature went green.
Pouncing on the green, Zullo was quickly in charge. Robert Hagar stormed into second on lap two and then rode in Zullo’s shadow, holding the deuce spot until a turn-two bobble on lap 23 moved Zullo to the outside groove, then having to watch from the top as the freight train stormed forward beneath him.
Once in front, Hagar never looked back, taking the checkers ahead of a storming nine-car swarm at the front. Robbie Streeter passed Joe Tetreault for second with two to go but Tetreault had saved his best for last, blasting out of the final turn four to nip Streeter by inches for the runner-up hardware.
Carter Conroy and Amy Jaycox led the 18-car Pure Stock field to the green, but it was row-two starter David Smith – gunning for his third win of the summer – who pounced all over the opening lead.
Disaster struck early for points leader Andrea St. Amour. Bounced off the frontstretch wall on a lap-two jingle, her ride ricocheted into the infield, abruptly ending her night and, with it, losing the points lead to Keegan Tabor. Back under green, Kodi Sabins, blasting from row four, was quickly up to second.
Low-lining out of turn two, Sabins took charge on lap 14 and held off Smith the rest of the way to score the win. Second generation ace Adrian Smith continued his impressive 2024 campaign in third Thursday, with Josh Rondeau and Carlos Grenier completing the top five. Tabor, seventh on the night, took over the championship points lead.
Ridge Runner kingpin Aiden White took the lead from James Rhodes on lap nine of Thursday night’s feature and never looked back. Taking the checkers five lengths ahead of Ford pilot Seth Drown, White dedicated his victory to the memory of his recently deceased grandfather, former Claremont Speedway late model titan Gary Baker. It was Miller Time all the way in the caution-free Six Shooter feature. Steve Miller Jr. took control on lap five and appeared headed for victory but a last-lap flat allowed points leader Steve Sr. to cruise past him and score the win. Paul Colburn was third on the night.
Claremont Motorsports Park will roar back into action next Friday, August 23, when the Thrasher Road speedplant hosts 802 Credit Union Night, with the exciting Asetex Tire and Auto Sportsman Modifieds battling in triple 20-lap main events. The Super Streets, Six Shooters, and Pure Stocks will all be in action too. Post time is 7 p.m.
CMP THURSDAY NIGHT THUNDER TOP PERFORMERS
ISMA/MSS: Jonathan McKennedy, Mark Sammut, Trent Stephens, Mike Ordway Jr, Moe Lilje, Brandon Bellinger, Otto Sitterly, Tyler Shullick, Eric Lewis, Dave Duggan.
R.E. HINKLEY SUPER STREET: Robert Hagar, Joe Tetreault, Robbie Streeter, Matt Sonnhalter, Jimmy Zullo, Cody Schoolcraft, Dylan Zullo, Dave Greenslit, Chris Lindquist, Travis Sykes.
LAVALLEY BUILDING SUPPLY PURE STOCK: Kodi Sabins, David Smith, Adrian Smith, Josh Rondeau, Carlos Grenier, Kyle Kenny, Keegan Tabor, Carter Conroy, Chris Conroy, Gage Dillingham.
RACE DAY TV RIDGE RUNNERS: Aiden White, Seth Drown, James Rhodes, Richie Marrocco.
AVERY INSURANCE SIX SHOOTERS: Steve Miller Sr., Steve Miller Jr., Paul Colburn, Chris Bingham.