NORTH WOODSTOCK, N.H. — Jimmy Renfrew Jr. took home more than $6,200 worth of purse and lap money with his victory in the R&R Raceparts NH Fall Foliage 100 at White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday.
Renfrew withstood furious pressure from Kris Watson down the stretch, then nursed his Lemieux Racing machine home for the win after smoke started flowing from the rear end in the final few laps.
The multi-time Foley Oil & Propane Late Model winner started 18th in the 30-car field, for which 42 cars attempted to qualify. Newly crowned Thunder Road Flying Tiger champion Mike Martin started on the pole and led the first 18 circuits before Watson roared around the outside.
A caution came out a lap later when Aaron Day spun after the field accordioned in front of him. On the restart, Martin made contact with Shane Sicard while trying to get to the inside groove. Sicard ended up with a flat tire while both Martin and Jason Woodard were shuffled back in the field. Renfrew was the big beneficiary, snaking through to the fourth spot.
The Lee USA Speedway Street Stock point leader continued his march, getting past Chris Riendeau for second with 24 laps complete. Renfrew then chased down Watson and slingshot past him following a lap-47 restart for the race’s fourth caution.
But Watson wasn’t done, and after three more quick cautions — which included Travis Hollins parking atop the turn three tire barriers — the duo went at it. The lead changed hands on four consecutive laps before Renfrew was able to secure the point again.
Renfrew then pulled away over a long green flag run but encountered a crowd of lapped traffic with 15 to go, giving Watson one more shot. As Renfrew went to the outside of Ron Bolduc, Watson put his car three-wide coming off turn two. He couldn’t make it stick though, getting way sideways in turns three and four.
Watson made the save but could only watch Renfrew scoot away again. Renfrew built up enough of a lead that, when the car started showing smoke with three laps to go, he was able to nurse it home. The victory netting Renfrew the guaranteed $5,000 top prize plus $25 for each of the 50 laps he led.
Watson finished second while Adam Lovejoy came on strong late to take third. Jim Storace, Riendeau, Bryan Wall Jr., Martin, Woodard, Pat Thorne, and Christopher Buffone rounded out the top 10.
Tyler Thompson captured his first win of the season in the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s while Luke Shannon barely held off Thompson for the championship. Shannon entered the 30-lap feature with a 16-point advantage but was dealt a blow on lap four when Brendan Clark spun out of the third position entering turn one. Shannon, Jillian Baumgardner, and Mike Smith all piled in and sustained major damage.
A lengthy caution for clean-up allowed Shannon to make it back for the restart. At the front of the field, Thompson grabbed the lead from James Knights on lap 10 while Shannon struggled to break through the pack. Another caution on lap 17 for fluid on the track helped Shannon close things up, and he eventually made it up the seventh position.
Meanwhile, Thompson surrendered the lead to Brett Jackson on the restart before taking it back two laps later. The 17-year-old then fended off a late bid by Donnie Baumgardner for the victory. But although Thompson earned maximum points on the day by also winning his heat race, the 15-year-old Shannon was able to hang on to the championship by four points.
Jackson finished third followed by Les Washburn and Cody Hodge.
Tommy Smithers wrapped up the Arnold’s Wayside Diner Dwarf Car championship while teammate “Downtown” Bobby Brown took his third win of the season in their 30-lap feature.
McKenna Merchant capped the Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Truck season with her fourth win of the year.