Airborne Park Speedway

Durgan, Branham Avoid Wrecks for Airborne Modified Wins

8/4/2015

Airborne Park Speedway

Durgan, Branham Avoid Wrecks for Airborne Modified Wins

Boutin inherits Renegade victory; LaVair back on top in Mini-Mods

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The full moon was out over Airborne Park Speedway on Saturday, August 1, and perhaps not-so-coincidentally the stock car racing action was a touch wild. Jason Durgan and Bucko Branham were among the survivors to stand in victory lane at the crash-marred Aaron’s Sales & Lease/Liquor & Wine Warehouse Night, as were Jon Boutin and Chris LaVair.

The J&S Steel Modified division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere ran twin 30-lap features, with Morrisonville racer Durgan and hometown veteran Branham splitting the victories. Durgan’s win in the first race came despite a 13th-place starting position; he sliced through traffic and avoided three wrecks to catch rookie Jamy Begor in the final eight laps. Durgan completed his pass for the lead with five circuits remaining and drove to his second win of the year. Branham followed a similar path through the field and finished second, while Begor, of Mooers Forks, finished a career-best third. Greg Atkins and Mike Wells finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the second round, Branham again charged through the field from 14th place to victory lane for his third win of the season and the 60th documented Airborne Park Speedway victory of his long career, extending his all-time track record. The race was full of bumps and bangs, including a wreck that demolished Begor’s car. Leon Gonyo of Chazy was the runner-up, his best Airborne result since a win in May. Plattsburgh’s Nick Heywood completed the podium after original third-place finisher Wells was disqualified for a weight infraction in post-race inspection. Atkins took fourth for the second time of the night, and Codie Aubin was fifth.

Heywood’s championship point lead took a hit following a 16th-place finish in the first 30-lap race, and Atkins trimmed his deficit down from 23 points to just two markers (594-592). Branham sits third, 28 points behind Heywood, followed by Durgan and rookie Danny Sullivan.

The Key R-D Trailer Sales Renegade division saw its share of bent sheet metal, and the race ended with an incident at the finish that saw Jim McKiernan cross the line first and Jon Boutin take second place backwards. McKiernan was stripped of the win in post-race inspection for a weight infraction and has been suspended indefinitely from both Airborne Park Speedway and partner track Devil’s Bowl Speedway for unsportsmanlike conduct following the disqualification.

Boutin, of St. Albans, VT, was moved up to the winner’s spot for the second victory of his career. Josh Terry of Essex, NY was scored as the runner-up, ahead of Dylan Rabtoy, Shawn Duquette, and Tylor Terry. Duquette, of Morrisonville, is the new championship point leader following a crash that severely damaged the car of previous leader Richie Turner. Duquette’s lead is a narrow seven points over Turner (491-484), with Robert Gordon another 10 points behind.

The Busch Beer Mini-Modified division saw another round of the “Chris & Kris Show” as Chris LaVair and Kris Clark put on a clean and entertaining battle for the win. LaVair, of Gabriels, took the checkered flag for his fourth win of the season. Clark was the runner-up, ahead of Eddie Bresette, Dale O’Neil, and Tim LaFountain. LaVair leads Clark by 45 points (546-501) for the title.

Andrew Bordeau of Dannemora cleaned house in the Renegade Mechanics Race, driving a car he fields for regular driver Tylor Terry. Bordeau defeated a trio of former division champions in Lance Rabtoy, Kevin Boutin Jr., and Dave Rabtoy. Clint Adams finished fifth.

Airborne Park Speedway is back in action on Saturday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m. as Ernie’s Discount Tools presents the second 100-lap Renegade race of the season. The event will also feature the Modified and Mini-Mod classes in regular events, along with the “King of the Hill” elimination tournament for the Modifieds. The top 10 point drivers and one other driver that wins a pre-race fan vote will have a shot at the $500 winner-take-all prize. General admission for the event is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for kids age 12 and under.

Airborne Park Speedway is located on Broderick Road in Plattsburgh, NY, one mile south of Exit 36 on the Interstate 87 Northway. Visit www.airborneparkspeedway.com for more information, or call (518) 647-4444. Airborne Park Speedway is on Facebook at Facebook.com/AirborneParkSpeedway and on Twitter at @AirborneSpeed.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Aaron’s Sales & Lease/Liquor & Wine Warehouse Night
Airborne Park Speedway, Plattsburgh, NY
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere
Saturday, August 1, 2015

J&S Steel Modified Feature #1 (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# - denotes rookie)

(13) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY
(12) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY
(2) # Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, NY
(4) Greg Atkins, Clintonville, NY
(9) Mike Wells, West Chazy, NY
(11) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
(10) Jamie LaFountain, Keeseville, NY
(3) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
(5) # Timex Morgan, Plattsburgh, NY
(1) Speedy Bresette, Plattsburgh, NY
(15) Jayson Criss, Plattsburgh, NY
(16) # Danny Sullivan, Morrisonville, NY
(6) Rico Hernandez, Plattsburgh, NY
(7) Eric Lauziere, St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, QC
(8) # David Bourgeois, Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, QC
(14) Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, NY
Heat Winners: Mike Wells; Jamy Begor; Danny Sullivan
Ernie’s Discount Tools Rookie of the Race: Jamy Begor
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Jason Durgan
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Nick Heywood
Liquor & Wine Warehouse $100 Fuel Card Bonus: David Bourgeois

J&S Steel Modified Feature #2 (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# - denotes rookie)

(14) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY
(13) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
(16) Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, NY
(6) Greg Atkins, Clintonville, NY
(5) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
(2) Eric Lauziere, St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, QC
(9) Jayson Criss, Plattsburgh, NY
(11) # Danny Sullivan, Morrisonville, NY
(7) # David Bourgeois, Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, QC
(3) Speedy Bresette, Plattsburgh, NY
(15) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY
(12) Jamie LaFountain, Keeseville, NY
(8) # Timex Morgan, Plattsburgh, NY
(1) Rico Hernandez, Plattsburgh, NY
(4) # Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, NY
Disqualified: (10) Mike Wells, West Chazy, NY (weight)
Ernie’s Discount Tools Rookie of the Race: Danny Sullivan
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Bucko Branham
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Jamy Begor
Liquor & Wine Warehouse $100 Fuel Card Bonus: Jason Durgan

Key R-D Trailer Sales Renegade Feature (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# - denotes rookie)

(3) Jon Boutin, St. Albans, VT
(9) Josh Terry, Essex, NY
(1) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, VT
(7) Shawn Duquette, Morrisonville, NY
(12) Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, NY
(5) Jimmy Bushey, Mooers Forks, NY
(10) Brent Jarvis, Peru, NY
(17) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT
(16) # Michael Wright, Alburgh, VT
(4) Brandon Nolan, Au Sable Forks, NY
(2) Zach Rabtoy, Fairfax, VT
(14) Curt Giventer, Saranac, NY
(15) Keith O’Neil, Mooers, NY
(13) Richie Turner, Fairfax, VT
(11) Zack Daniels, Plattsburgh, NY
(8) Jason McClatchie, Plattsburgh, NY
Disqualified: (6) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, NY (weight)
Heat Winners: Josh Terry; Robert Gordon; Brent Jarvis
Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Hot Shoe Challenge Award: Jon Boutin
Ernie’s Discount Tools Rookie of the Race: Michael Wright
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Robert Gordon
Liquor & Wine Warehouse $100 Fuel Card Bonus: Brent Jarvis

Busch Beer Mini-Modified Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# - denotes rookie)

(9) Chris LaVair, Saranac Lake, NY
(11) Kris Clark, Keeseville, NY
(12) Eddie Bresette, Plattsburgh, NY
(10) Dale O’Neil, Mooers, NY
(2) Tim LaFountain, Keeseville, NY
(5) Harold LaVair Jr., Gabriels, NY
(4) Pete Blaney, Jay, NY
(8) Tyler Irwin, Peru, NY
(3) Mike Bresette, Keeseville, NY
(1) Robert Foley, Saranac, NY
(7) # Tanner Crary, Saranac Lake, NY
(6) # Clement Bell Jr., Peru, NY
Heat Winners: Kris Clark; Chris LaVair
Ernie’s Discount Tools Rookie of the Race: Tanner Crary
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Kris Clark
Liquor & Wine Warehouse $100 Fuel Card Bonus: Harold LaVair Jr.