18 ON TAP CANAAN FAIR SPEEDWAY 

Canaan Fair Speedway was the second stop for the Star Tour for the double-header weekend of August 13^th and 14^th.  On August 14^th Star traveled to Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, NH with 18 cars on tap.  Star began their day with warm ups in the afternoon. The evening would bring the tour 2 10-lap heats and 2 15-lap features.  It was going to be an interesting day with the drivers still pumped up from the night before.  Who was going to take the wins tonight?  After the drivers meeting you could hear the drivers what moves and strategy they were going to make, but it does not always work out that way.   It was nice to see Star member Ronnie Bodge come with his beautiful sleek black classic sedan to pace the heats and features.  Now it was off to racing with the sportsmen pulling out first for their 10-lap heat race.  Joe Keefner from Ma in his #99  took advantage while Skip Stearns from NH in his #7X coupe and Dick Murphy from Ma in his #99 Vega road side by side locking in the pack as Keefner took a good lead on the pack and to take down the sportsmen heat win for the tour that night.  Then it was time for the modifieds to come out and give it all they have for their 10-lap heat race.  Darryl Dutch from RI in his #6 coupe shot to the front leading the pack lap after lap until Danny Ferland from NH in his #21 drove to the outside groove to take over first place.  Right behind Ferland was the Grassie brothers, Charlie in the #99 Pinto and Dave in the #61 Pinto.  When the flag came down it was Ferland to take the second win for the tour that evening.  While the cars were out on their heats races other Star members were in the pits cooking up more food for the members.  I think everyone gained 10 pounds this weekend with so much food on hand.  Then it was time for the feature racers.  Ronnie Bodge in his classic sedan led the sportsmen on the track for their 15-lap feature.   Skip Stearns in his #7X coupe and Rick MacDowell in his #76 Pinto lead the pack until MacDowell went to the inner groove giving Wade Worster from Me in his #32 coupe a chance to shoot to the front with Robert Harless from NY in his #8 coupe following him.  It took everything they had to keep up to Worster!  He made this little red coupe sing…..When the checkered flag came down it was Worster crossing the line to pick up the feature win.  Harless and Stearns battled for second place and Harless gave it all he had to pick up the second position with Stearns topping off the field with a third place.  The top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and presentation of trophies.  Then the modifieds hit the track for their 15-lap feature race.  Bob Bateman from RI in his #17 Pinto and Charlie Lima from Ma in his #10 Pinto lead the pack for 8 laps until a gap was open and then it was time for Charlie Grassie in the #99 Pinto to make his move.  Grassie pulled out to the front with Dave Grassie in the #61 following his bumper.  Danny Ferland in the #21 closed in on the top two leaders.  This was exciting as the Grassie brothers fought lap after lap side by side locking in the pack and when the checkered came down it was Charlie Grassie in the #99 to take the feature win for the modifieds that night.  Dave Grassie in the #61 pulled a very close second with Danny Ferland inches behind them to take up third place.   The top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and presentation of trophies.  I have seen winners happy through out the years but I have to say to see these two brothers get out of their cars and hug with enjoyment was all this Race Director needed to see!  

Star would like to thank Canaan Fair Speedway for a great night of racing.

GREAT TWO NIGHTS OF RACING - THANKS GUYS!!!!

From Mary Lima Race Director

TOP THREE SPORTSMEN WINNERS - FEATURE RACE - CANAAN SPEEDWAY

TOP THREE MODIFIED WINNERS - FEATURE RACE - CANAAN SPEEDWAY