First Time Winners Late
in Season Common

It makes sense, the more experience you have as a driver, the better you get and the closer you get to that ultimate goal in winning races.

Most times, it is hard to get that first win, but once that first win happens, the next one(s) come a bit easier. Just ask Colton Noble and Nathan Blackburn, two Hydraulics Plus Bandolero drivers who have had different paths to their first wins last Friday. Noble led the most laps of any driver in the month of August in his class, but could not seal the deal until the August 28th feature came down to the line. Blackburn is a four year Bandolero veteran and was in the right place at the right time to squeeze out his first win.

As the season wears on, drivers get confidence, build speed and at the end of the day those whom have not visited victory lane all season long will make strong cases to do so. With only three races to go, while the championship battles are on the mind of those up front, we have drivers who will be gunning for victories. Some of which will be racing for their first career wins.

So, who should we watch to win their first career features in these last three weeks? Let’s offer up five names that could fit that title nicely.

Brad Hayes
The reigning Tim Hortons at the Airport Rookie of the Year has shown speed all season long in the Chickenburger Thunder division. While Hayes does not have a podium finish to his credit, he has the skills to battle with the best in the region every single week when it comes to four cylinder racing.

Hayes has quietly gone about his business this season and sits fifth in the standings with two races left to go for the class. Don’t be surprised if the Clam Bay Auto Salvage Civic can upset the apple cart on a season dominated up front by names like Matthews, Warren, Gammon and Lively.

Travis Roma
The end of the Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman Series season in 2014 saw Travis Roma light it up out front. Much like young Noble though, Roma led laps and ran up front, but could not close the deal for his first feature win.

In the 21st Annual Shriners Classic, he and Brentley Pirri, another driver who is knocking on the door of his first win, made their way to the front of the field but Roma could not solve Russell Smith Jr up front. Roma might be the closest to his first win than any other driver at our track is, but as mentioned, sometimes that first win is chased for multiple seasons on end.

Not to mention, Roma is locked up tight in the battle for second in the standings. Phil Barkhouse Jr leads it up with 776 points, and Pirri, who sits in eighth, has 754 points. That’s 22 points between seven drivers, including Pete Miller, Alex Johnson, Jordan Veinotte, Harry Ross White and Roma. This is a battle for the ages that will take a turn Friday night, but could it turn Roma’s way with a big feature win?!

Sam Rogers
One of three Tim Hortons at the Airport Rookies on this list, Rogers has impressed right out of the box in 2015. After coming out on Hydraulics Plus Night with a top five run in his first race, he has followed it up with five more top five finishes, including four podium finishes. Three of those top three runs have came in the last three races as he continues to scratch at the door to victory lane.

Now, don’t get me wrong, other rookies such as Owen Mahar, Austin Tanner and four time heat winner Dylan Dowe have each had impressive rookie seasons thus far as well. It is Rogers though who has held more consistency and it can be shown in the standings, with a 13 point gap between he and Mahar. The gap is the biggest in the Tim Hortons at the Airport Rookie of the Year battle within the class all season long. Oh, and by the way, Rogers is only 15 points out of third place overall in the division with three races to go.

Watch for the #12 car, as he could be the newest first time winner at our track sooner, rather than later.

Megan Parrott
Here’s another example of a driver leading laps and running up front without a checkered flag to show for it - yet.

Parrott has led laps in a number of features, including nine laps led last week before the heavyweights in the division, Fenton and Smith, made their way by prior to the halfway point.
Let’s call a spade a spade, if anyone wants to win a Coors Light Truck feature, they have to beat Fenton and Smith. After all, they have combined to win 70% of the 10 features run in 2015.

Parrott, who is the top rookie in the class and is locked in a back and fourth battle for fifth in the standings with veteran Jamie Creamer, does have a podium to show for her efforts. If the cards fall right, Parrott and her #10 truck could very well be celebrating a checkered flag in a main feature before this season comes to a close.

Adam Meehan
Much was made at the start of the season about the Tim Hortons at the Airport Rookie battle in the Strictly Hydraulics Legends. Thus far, it has lived up to all expectations. While Cory Hall has 31 point lead on Adam Meehan, it has been Meehan that has been turning heads as of late.

Meehan has had a respectable rookie season, with two top five efforts in a division which has very tough competition. Meehan ran at Oxford Plains Speedway last weekend in Maine, even scoring a podium finish in his first start at the iconic oval last Friday night.

Along with a rookie battle for Meehan is a sibling battle between he and older sister Emily. Only eight points is the difference, with the elder Meehan holding down fifth in the standings overall. Sandwiched between them is Danny Harvey, who is as hungry as anyone to take down a top five spot in the standings.

With three races to go, keep an eye on Meehan as he tries to become the second rookie in the Strictly Hydraulics Legends division to score a feature win in 2015.

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It is a big Friday night of racing action with five divisions in action. Each of which feature some incredible point battles, if not for the top spot, but for spots throughout the field. Did we mention Matthew Warren and Dave Matthews are deadlocked at the top of the Chickenburger Thunder standings with only two races to go?! Yeah, this race is huge for the Thunder cars!

It is also $20/Carload Night. We had a big crowd last week for Kiddie Night, and hopefully everyone that was at the Speedworld last Friday has been working their phones to get their friends out to the track. Not to mention, this would be a perfect way to finish off the first school week of the 2015-16 year!

I hope to see a lot of familiar faces at the track. After all, in just a few months, the snow will be falling once again. Hard to believe, eh?

Until Friday night, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track!