Published in The Keene Sentinel: Friday, April 30, 2010
by DAVID LANIER

WINCHESTER — Some of the new drivers at Monadnock Speedway can barely see over the steering wheel.

Of course, veteran drivers and track regulars like Kirk Alexander and Matt Mead still have a lot of laps and more victories to run down, but there is a new batch of drivers charging down the backstretch — and not old enough for a driver’s license.

The Young Guns, an entry level class for ages 12-15 racing 4-cylinder stock cars, is one of several new divisions set to debut at the paved quarter-mile oval this season.

“It’s (all about) getting experience and getting the feel for racing,” said Tyrell Dugre, 13, a seventh-grader at Great Brook School in Antrim. “I’ve always watched racing here and there, and it looks like a lot of fun.”

The Young Guns Division revs up Saturday in the Spring Dash season opener, with racing in all divisions, including a 100-lap Modified Racing Series event and action in another new division, Sportsman Modifieds.

Outlaw Pros, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks and 4-cylinder and full-size Enduros also are on the card.

Gates open Saturday at noon, with practice set for 3 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. Pit area tickets are $25 for NASCAR members and $35 for non-members. General admission is $25 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Children under 12 get in free.

The Sportsman Modifieds is a toned-down version of the open-wheel Modifieds division, with smaller engines — and expenses. The new division is a stepping stone for drivers interested in jumping up to Modifieds, track manager Michelle Cloutier said.

Derek Bergquist and Ed Brehio are among the drivers scheduled to race in the Sportsman Modifieds class.

Alexander, of West Swanzey, is a three-time winner of the Modified Racing Series Spring Dash. The 18-time series winner is expected to be joined in the race by three-time Dash winner Les Hinckley of Windsor Locks, Conn., and 2009 series champion Jon McKennedy of East Chelmsford, Mass., who is looking for his first win at Monadnock.

Swanzey’s Rob Goodenough and Jim Boniface also are expected to race.

The Young Guns drivers can only hope to find the Monadnock Speedway winner’s circle as much as the track regulars like Alexander, Russ Hersey and others. Still, they have to start somewhere, and with NASCAR lowering the age-limit for the NASCAR All-American series from 16 to 14 years old, this seemed like the right time.

“A lot of them have been go-karting for a while, and this is the next step,” said Cloutier, whose son, J.T., 12, is part of the Young Guns field.

Dugre, whose parents own Dugre’s Auto Repair in Antrim, has been preparing for the season for quite some time, doing much of the work on his 1993 four-cylinder Honda Civic. The No. 7 car is black with two eight-inch red stripes over the hood and down the back.

“He’s worked hard at it,” said Tyrell’s dad, Paul Dugre, adding that his son has helped cover racing costs by shoveling snow in the winter and other odd jobs.

The cars are required to have all of the safety features of a NASCAR Sprint Cup car, like a cage for the car, and drivers have to have all the gear, down to fire-retardant shoes — even though the cars only average around 55 mph on the track.

Paul Dugre said fitting the car to safety standards, in addition to other work, took some 400 hours and another $2,000 or so on parts, material and other items.

“I’m not really worried much about crashing,” Tyrell said. “I’m not really going fast enough to go airborne and stuff like that.”

The "Senior sprinter" as he was called today - celebrated his fifth win of the season - his first full season in a couple of years.

Mark Martin beat Juan Pablo Montoya on a three-lap sprint to the finish on Sunday to win the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship opener and spoil the 34th birthday of the younger Montoya.

Although Montoya complained and whined about what he originally called a "dirty move" on the part of Martin - had to admit that his lack of experience was really at the heart of his loss.

"Pinch me. I am sure I'm sleeping. I am sure I am dreaming." said the 50 year old Martin at the end of the race that placed him 35 points ahead of runner-up Denny Hamlin and three time defending champion Jimmy Johnson in the race to the chase.

Martin is one of the oldest and most respected drivers in NASCAR.  His win is cause for celebration from all the drivers - except perhaps Montoya. 

Check out our top 10 reasons for Keene bailing on the Turkey Tussle in today's "SportsTown" section. Several of them are probably closer to the truth than the reasons we've heard so far. Maybe you can think of a few others; let's hear 'em.

Sports Czars

The Ravens clinched their first-ever NCAA Division II Final Four appearance with their 88-73 victory over California, Pa., on Tuesday night.

FPU will play the winner of tonight's late game between Delta State and West Texas A&M in the Final Four on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

The national semifinal will be broadcast on ESPNU.

Johannah Leedham led the Ravens with a game-high 34 points. Jennifer Leedham and Toby Martin each scored 16 points and Tori Ahrens scored 10.

FPU (28-5) established a program record for victories with the win, while California, Pa., winds up 29-5.

Lindsay Johnson led the Vulcans with 30 points. Brooque Williams scored 14.

Jennifer Leedham just hit a 3-pointer to put FPU up 85-68 with 1:35 to play.

The Ravens are shooting 56 percent (27-of-58) from the field.

Leedham and Martin each have 16 points.

Johannah Leedham just hit two free throws to give her 30 points and put FPU up 77-68 with four minutes to play.

It's now 69-61 FPU with 7:45 to play. The Ravens committed three straight turnovers.

The announcer said this was FPU's first-ever Elite Eight appearance - forgetting about last year's berth.

At the midpoint of the half, Franklin Pierce leads 68-56.

The Vulcans just had a chance to make it a single-digit deficit, but missed a free-throw attempt.

Marielle Giroud just hit 1-of-2 free throws to make it 69-56.

Toby Martin has scored five straight points to give her Ravens their largest lead of the night, 66-51, with about 12 minutes to play.

Martin hit a wide-open 3-pointer and on the next possession hit a running jumper.

Martin has 14 points.

Johannah Leedham has three fouls.

First timeout of the second half, with Ravens up 58-49 about three minutes in.

Johannah Leedham leads FPU with 23 points, matched by Cal's Lindsay Johnson.

The Vulcans have not attempted a free throw yet tonight.