Branham, Rivers Wrap up Second Airborne Titles

Fall Foliage 300 weekend coverage by Vermont Motorsports Magazine

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Bucko Branham and Lonnie Rivers might have each won their second-straight championships at Airborne Speedway on Sunday, but they were won in completely different fashion. Branham did what he has done all season and remained consistent up front, finishing third in the Sportsman feature and in close proximity to his nephew, Robin Wood, who was Branham's biggest challenger for the championship through the year. Rivers, though, had a huge amount of luck, combined with the misfortune of Nick Heywood.

In the Sportsman feature, Bill Sawyer spun in Turn 1 after coming down on leader Toby Ebersole with five laps to go; Plattsburgh racers Wood and Branham narrowly missed collecting both drivers. (See video of the incident below -- Sawyer (#39) spins as Ebersole (#82), Wood (#61), Branham (#20), and others avoid.)

Wood took the lead from Ebersole on the restart following the incident, then held him and Branham off for the win. Unofficially, Branham took the championship by just seven points.

Branham's game plan was to keep Wood in sight. "I just stayed tight to Robin," he said. "He's my nephew and he's a great competitor. He's as strong as I am behind the wheel, and he's really good at picking the car apart to make it faster and obviously it shows, he's got a lot of wins."

Wood was gracious in defeat. "I can't complain about the year, we won seven races," he said. "Losing the title to Bucko makes it hurt a little less."

Branham celebrated his 25th season of racing in 2008 with his first career championship, and now he's gone back-to-back. He said that it took him a while, but he figured out the secret to winning a title. "Keeping my temper, that's basically what it's all about," he said. "Just keeping my temper and keeping my cool. I'm getting soft."

Tylor Terry finished fourth in the race with Jamy Begor fifth. The top ten was completed by Shawn Duquette, Rick Frenyea, Jimmy Bushey, Larry Underwood, and Howard Stoner.

Rivers, of Cadyville, N.Y., entered the Renegade division finale trailing Heywood by a dozen points. Both were running inside the top ten -- with Heywood trailing Rivers in the race but clinging to a slim point lead -- when Heywood came together with another car and sailed off Turn 2 with just three laps remaining. The yellow flag came out, with Rivers restarting in third place and Heywood a distant 20th. Rivers eventually lost third place to Joe Warren at the finish line, but Heywood was only able to make his way to 16th at the finish.

"I didn't see Nick go off, but when the caution came out I saw him at the very tail [of the field] and I assumed that something had happened to him. Thank God," Rivers said. "Thank God for Nick spinning out. You know, sorry Nick, but it happens."

Former Renegade champion Dave Rabtoy of Swanton ended a frustrating season with his first win of the year. Josh Terry finished second over Warren, Rivers, and Randy LaDue.

Billy Thwaits of Clintonville, N.Y. captured his first Mini-Modified championship with a fourth-place finish in his feature. Justin Doner of Keeseville, N.Y. was the race winner, followed by Randy Martin, Dustin Duvall, Thwaits, and Chris LaVair.

Jayson Blondo of Champlain, N.Y. finished second in the Bomber feature to overtake rookie Josh Durivage for the division championship. Josh LaPorte of Peru, N.Y. was the race winner, Durivage finished seventh.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Fall Foliage
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

J&S Steel Sportsman (25 laps)
1. Robin Wood, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
2. Toby Ebersole, Peru, N.Y,
3. Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
4. Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, N.Y.
5. Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
6. Shawn Duquette, Morrisonville, N.Y.
7. Rick Frenyea, Schuyler Falls, N.Y.
8. Jimmy Bushey, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
9. Larry Underwood, Milton
10. Howard Stoner, Altona, N.Y.

Versatile Trailer Sales Renegade (25 laps)
1. Dave Rabtoy, Swanton
2. Josh Terry, Morrisonville, N.Y.
3. Joe Warren, West Chazy, N.Y.
4. Lonnie Rivers, Cadyville, N.Y.
5. Randy LaDue, West Chazy, N.Y.

Keeseville NAPA Mini-Modified (15 laps)
1. Justin Doner, Keeseville, N.Y.
2. Randy Martin, Keeseville, N.Y.
3. Dustin Duvall, Keeseville, N.Y.
4. Billy Thwaits, Clintonville, N.Y.
5. Chris LaVair, Gabriels, N.Y.

Monster Energy Bomber (15 laps)
1. Josh LaPorte, Peru, N.Y.
2. Jayson Blondo, Champlain, N.Y.
3. Curtis LaGrave, Jr., Plattsburgh, N.Y.
4. Bill Joyal, AuSable Forks, N.Y.
5. Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

(PHOTOS: 1. Bucko Branham and crew celebrate their second-straight Sportsman championship at Airborne Speedway. 2. Lonnie Rivers came from behind to win the Renegade title. Photos and video by Justin St. Louis/VMM)

Roy Capitalizes at Airborne, Takes Point Lead

Dupree recovers for fifth place

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Martin Roy did exactly what he needed to do on Saturday night at Airborne Speedway: Win.

The Napierville, Qué. driver, who entered the Aird Dorrance/Monster Energy/Taylor Rental event in a tie atop the Modified point standings with defending track champion Patrick Dupree, posted his sixth victory of the season, taking advantage of some troubles suffered by his title rival.

Dupree was involved in minor incident in his qualifying heat race to begin the evening, breaking a tie rod end on his car's steering. Having finished outside the top-four in the heat, Dupree was unable to use his handicapped starting position in the feature race and was forced to start 32nd on the 33-car grid for the 40-lap main event. Roy, however, won his heat and was given his handicapped spot in 11th place.

The results for the evening were almost set into place at that point.

Roy took the lead on a lap 15 restart, passing Richard Tisseur for the top spot. The caution flag had previously come out after Pierre Berthiaume crashed himself out of the lead while attempting to put Chris Cayea and Neal Provost a lap down. Dupree, meanwhile, had to fight his way through heavy traffic, running almost exclusively two- and three-wide through the field. He ran as high as fourth place on the final lap, but was passed just before the finish line by Mike Bruno.

Roy's win, combined with Dupree's fifth-place run -- his first finish not on the podium since May 30 -- gives Roy a 12-point advantage, unofficially, 658-646, with two point-counting races remaining.

Roy knows the championship battle is far from over.

"No, no, no," he said. "The winner (will be decided) on the last lap of the last race. It's very tight with me and Patrick Dupree."

Dupree took his misfortune in stride. "Throughout the whole race I probably melted the right-front and the right-rear (tires) off," said the Saranac Lake, N.Y. driver "That last lap when the 22 (Bruno) got by me, I figured I'd try to get one more spot and I drove in really hard but those guys checked up. I tried to check up but it just dropped the nose and pushed the car right up. So that was a bonehead, last-ditch attempt at a move, but I think it was the only spot I lost all day. We only lost 12 points, I think, so it wasn't a terrible night. I was a little mad at myself for that last lap and doing something stupid, but all in all it worked out pretty good."

Roy had a run to the front similar to Durpee's on July 11. "I had my bad night a couple of (weeks) ago. I had the pole (for a restart) and had a flat tire. I started 30th with three laps to go and I finished (11th). It's the game."

Tisseur, of Chateauguay, Qué. held on for the runner-up finish, with Chazy, N.Y. driver Leon Gonyo in third place. Bruno, of Castleton, was fourth ahead of Dupree. The top-ten was completed by Andy Heywood, Mike Reyell, Bryant Trim, Matt Woodruff, and Mike Wells. NASCAR driver Kenny Schrader finished 16th, one lap down, with an ill-handling car.

Bucko Branham of Plattsburgh, N.Y. took his third Sportsman victory of the year after passing leader Chris Reeves with four laps remaining. Branham worked his way under second-place runner Rick Frenyea on lap 16, then dueled door-to-door with Reeves for three laps before taking over. Reeves of Plattsburgh, finished second with Saranac, N.Y.'s Frenyea third, Bill Sawyer of Milton fourth, and Shawn Duquette or Morrisonville, N.Y. fifth.

Robin Wood entered the night with a 10-point lead over Branham, but suffered a flat tire late in the race and finished 18th, several laps off the pace. Branham now leads Wood, his nephew, by 19 points, unofficially, 588-569, with foru Sportsman championship events remaining.

Rob Gordon of Milton took the lead from West Chazy, N.Y. driver Randy LaDue with a lap-and-a-half remaining in the 25-lap Renegade feature, and held on for his first win of the season. LaDue finished second, with Swanton's Dave Rabtoy third. Rabtoy led the majority of the race before surrendering to LaDue on lap 19. Josh Terry and Nick Heywood completed the top five.

Billy Thwaits of Clintonville, N.Y. took his fourth Mini-Modified win of the year over Randy Martin and Rick Doner. Josh LeClaire of Plattsbugrh notched his second Bomber win of the year, with Josh LaPorte second and Jayson Blondo third.

Billy VanInwegen, Jr. of Sparrow Bush, N.Y. won a special 20-lap event for the SpeedSTR Midgets. VanInwegen took the lead from Paul Lotier on lap 16 and held on for the win. Carl Labonte passed Lotier for second place two laps later.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Aird Dorrance/Monster Energy/Taylor Rental Night
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Saturday, August 22, 2009

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

Ernie's Discount Tools Modified (40 laps)
1. Martin Roy, Napierville, Qué.
2. Ricahrd Tisseur, Chateauguay, Qué.
3. Leon Gonyo, Chazy, N.Y.
4. Mike Bruno, Castleton
5. Patrick Dupree, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
6. Andy Heywood, Morrisonville, N.Y.
7. Mike Reyell, West Chazy, N.Y.
8. Bryant Trim, Morrisonville, N.Y.
9. Matt Woodruff, Bloomingdale, N.Y.
10. Mike Wells, West Chazy, N.Y.

J&S Steel Sportsman (25 laps)
1. Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
2. Chris Reeves, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
3. Rick Frenyea, Saranac, N.Y.
4. Bill Sawyer, Milton
5. Shawn Duquette, Morrisonville, N.Y.
6. Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, N.Y.
7. Howard Stoner, Altona, N.Y.
8. Jamy Begor, Mooers, N.Y.
9. Toby Ebersole, Peru, N.Y.
10. Travis Bruno, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Versatile Trailer Sales Renegade (25 laps)
1. Rob Gordon, Milton
2. Randy LaDue, West Chazy, N.Y.
3. Dave Rabtoy, Swanton
4. Josh Terry, Morrisonville, N.Y.
5. Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Keeseville NAPA Mini-Modified (20 laps)
1. Billy Thwaits, Clintonville, N.Y.
2. Randy Martin, Keeseville, N.Y.
3. Rick Doner, AuSable Forks, N.Y.
4. Justin Doner, Keeseville, N.Y.
5. Dustin Duvall, Keeseville, N.Y.

Monster Energy Bomber (20 laps)
1. Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
2. Josh LaPorte, Peru, N.Y.
3. Jayson Blondo, Champlain, N.Y.
4. Curtis Seymour, Jr., Plattsburgh, N.Y.
5. Curtis LaGrave, Jr., Plattsburgh, N.Y.

SpeedSTR Midget (20 laps)
1. Billy VanInwegen, Jr., Sparrow Bush, N.Y.
2. Carl Labonte, Dummondville, Qué.
3. Paul Lotier, Jr., Lebanon, Penn.
4. Patrick Vigneault, Trois Rivières, Qué.
5. Richie Tobias, Jr., Hershey, Penn.

(PHOTO: Martin Roy of Napierville, Qué. sttod in Airborne Speedway victory lane for the sixth time in 2009 after winning Saturday's 40-lap Modified event. Photo by Justin St. Louis/VMM)

It's 'The Roy & Dupree Show' at Airborne

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Don't expect things to change at Airborne Speedway for the rest of the year, at least not with the Modified point battle. It'll be Martin Roy vs. Patrick Dupree all the way.

From his 12th starting position, Napierville, Qué. driver Roy made a pair of three-wide passes to slice through the field, then passed Mike Phinney for the lead on lap 8. From there, he walked away, needing only to negotiate lapped traffic, for his fifth victory of the year.

"It was easy tonight," Roy said. "On other nights it's more tough, but the car is very good."

Dupree, from Saranac Lake, N.Y., lost the point lead to Roy by two points, unofficially; Dupree passed Phinney on the final corner of the 30-lap Aaron's Leasing/Bunker Orchards/Vermont Life Safety feature to finish third.

Through 11 events in 2009, only George Foley -- who finished second between Roy and Dupree on Saturday -- Jason Durgan, and Aaron Bartemy have been able to beat both point leaders. Dupree has three wins to his credit, and in fields averaging 30 starters, has yet to finish a race outside the top-five. With the win on Saturday night, Roy earned his ninth top-five finish.

"It's exciting for the fans, but I hope [it stops]," laughed Dupree, the defending track champion. "I hope we get out front and just stay there. [Roy is] pretty fast though in that 90 car, they've really got their act together. It's gonna be, I'd say, probably back-and-forth for the rest of the season."

"Is it a good show for [the fans]?" asked Roy. "That's very important. It's very fun, and it will be a tight battle through the year."

"We're having fun," echoed Dupree. "It's a little frustrating when you don't win, but oh well, that's racing. That's why they call it 'racing' and not just 'winning'."

Phinney's fourth-place finish was his best effort of the season, and Maxime Viens' fifth-place run matched his best result. Don Scarborough finished sixth, followed by Mike Wells, Leon Gonyo, Chris Cayea, and Matt Woodruff.

Bucko Branham of Plattsburgh turned a rough night around with his second Sportsman victory of the year. Branham was involved in multiple incidents in his qualifying heat, and entered the 25-lap feature minus the entire front-end bodywork on his car. Branham took the lead from Toby Ebersole on lap 13, one lap after leader Larry Underwood was disqualified for not heeding the instructions of officials. Branham and Ebersole traded the lead again on lap 14, then Branham took over for good three laps later.

"The heat race was a lot my fault. I went four-wide, didn't know I was four-wide, and had a lot of carnage there," said Branham. "I kind of felt bad, I was mad at myself for a while, but we had a little redemption there in the feature. Overall [the night rates] about an 8 [out of 10]. It could be a little better, but I've got to spend the money I won fixing the car. Other than that, it's pretty good."

Jamy Begor was able to sneak under Ebersole on lap 17 as Branham took the lead, and held on for the runner-up finish. Ebersole was third, followed by Chris Reeves and Tylor Terry.

Joe Warren of West Chazy, N.Y. earned his first career Renegade victory after a restart with three laps to go in the division's 25-lap feature. Rob Gordon of Milton made a late charge, but settled for second place. Josh Terry, Keith Pelkey, and Nick Heywood completed the top five. Billy Thwaits of Clintonville, N.Y. dominated the 15-lap Mini-Modified feature, and Josh LeClaire of Plattsburgh won the 15-lap Bomber race.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Aaron's Leasing/Bunker Orchards/Vermont Life Safety Night
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Saturday, August 8, 2009

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

Ernie's Discount Tools Modified (30 laps)
1. Martin Roy, Napierville, Qué.
2. George Foley, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
3. Patrick Dupree, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
4. Mike Phinney, Keeseville, N.Y.
5. Maxime Viens, St-Cesaire, Qué.
6. Don Scarborough, Brandon
7. Mike Wells, West Chazy, N.Y.
8. Leon Gonyo, Chazy, N.Y.
9. Chris Cayea, Mooers, N.Y.
10. Matt Woodruff, Bloomingdale, N.Y.

J&S Steel Sportsman (25 laps)
1. Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
2. Jamy Begor, Mooers, N.Y.
3. Toby Ebersole, Peru, N.Y.
4. Chris Reeves, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
5. Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, N.Y.
6. Robin Wood, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
7. Jim Bushey, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
8. Rick Frenyea, Saranac, N.Y.
9. Travis Bruno, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
10. Danny Sullivan, Morrisonville, N.Y.

Versatile Trailer Sales Renegade (25 laps)
1. Joe Warren, West Chazy, N.Y.
2. Rob Gordon, Milton
3. Josh Terry, Morrisonville, N.Y.
4. Keith Pelkey, Clintonville, N.Y.
5. Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

NAPA Mini-Modified (15 laps)
1. Billy Thwatis, Clintonville, N.Y.
2. Rick Doner, AuSable Forks, N.Y.
3. Dustin Duvall, Keeseville, N.Y.
4. Justin Doner, Keeseville, N.Y.
5. Chris LaVair, Gabriels, N.Y.

Monster Energy Bomber (15 laps)
1. Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
2. Bill Joyal, AuSable Forks, N.Y.
3. Josh LaPorte, Peru, N.Y.
4. Jayson Blondo, Champlain, N.Y.
5. Josh Lavarnway, Morrisonville, N.Y.


(PHOTOS: 1. Martin Roy celebrates his fifth Modified win of the season; 2. Bucko Branham -- sans bodywork -- in Sportsman victory lane. Photos by Justin St. Louis/VMM)

Roy Takes Fifth Airborne Win

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Martin Roy of Napierville, Que. dominated the 30-lap Modified feature at Airborne Speedway on Saturday night for this fifth victory of the season. George Foley finished second, while Patrick Dupree passed Mike Phinney on the final lap for third place. Unofficially, Roy took the point lead -- by a scant two points -- from Dupree.

Other feature winners included Bucko Branham (Sportsman), Joe Warren (Renegade), Billy Thwaits (Mini-Modified), and Josh LeClaire (Bomber).

Vermont Motorsports Magazine will have a full recap of the event on Sunday.