Bessey bests Burnham 150 field; Santerre close 2nd

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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Joe Bessey of Scarborough played a waiting game to win the Burnham 150 NASCAR Busch North series race at Watkins Glen International.

Bessey knew that Jerry Marquis of Enfield, Conn., would be close on fuel in the 62-lap race on the 2.45-mile road course Saturday. Sure enough, with only laps remaining, Marquis was forced to pit for a splash of gas, and Bessey took the lead.

Pole sitter Curtis Markham of Fredericksburg, Va., led the first eight laps, but a persistent engine miss finally caught up to him as the crew repeatedly pitted the race car in hopes of clearing up the problem. Bobby Dragon of Milton, Vt., winner of the inaugural NASCAR Busch North race here in 1993, led until his engine let go on lap 31, halfway through the race, after a rain delay of a little more than one hour.

Marquis was on the point for laps 37 through 58, only to run short of fuel.

Andy Santerre of Cherryfield, driving a V-6, chased Bessey’s V-8 across the line in second. Dale Shaw of Center Conway, N.H. brought home his third straight third-place finish.

Dick McCabe of Kennebunkport finished 34th with engine problems on lap 24. Kelley Moore of Scarborough, who qualified fourth, finished 37th due to an accident on lap four.

Bessey won $13,250 from a purse of $105,229.

Speedway 95

At Hermon, Jon Austin of Otis picked up a victory in the A&D Goodyear Tire Dash for Cash series at Speedway 95 on Saturday.

Austin outdistanced Dave St. Clair of Liberty and John Phippen of Bar Harbor for the win.

Austin, St. Clair and Phippen each won one of the three Dash for Cash events run at Speedway 95.

Limited: Ken Robinson, East Machias; Ken Eaton, Stonington; Dave Wilcox, Glenburn

Super Street: Jim Carr Jr. Clifton; Dwayne Overlock, Franklin; Rick Kane, Ellsworth

Strictly Street: Wayne Parritt, Steuben; Jay Parks, Old Town; Bernie Thayer, Hermon

Sport-Four: Jim Robichaud, Orrington; David Nason, Winterport; Ed Salisbury, Otis

Tiger: Terry Bragg, Bangor; Shane Richards, Levant; Ken Lord, Albion

Oxford Plains Speedway

At Oxford, Bill Childs Sr. of Leeds posted his first victory of the season Friday in the Street Stocks division.

John Sloan of Topsham was second and Rich Sirois of Leeds crossed the line in third.

The Late Model Sportsman and the Pro Stock features were rained out and will be added to the beginning of next week’s program. Racing will start at 7 p.m.

Stictly Stocks: Fred Thompson, Bridgton; Guy Stevens, Farmington; Doug Duguay, Rumford

Compacts: Jeff Wade, Peru; Rob Elliott, Strong; Bill Thibeault, Oxford

Super Street: Tommy Tompkins, Dixfield; Brad Hammond, North Turner; Rick Dyer, Harrison

Beech Ridge Motor Speedway

At Scarborough, Don Colpritt Jr. of Scarborough took the Super Sportsman 30-lap feature Saturday.

Chuck Willoughby of Westbrook finished second and Richard Pelton of Scarborough took third.

Limited Sportsman: Dave Langlais, Shapleigh; Roger Williams, Portland; Jeff Morgan, Scarborough

Wildcat: Chris Webber, Windham; John Waterhouse, Dayton; Skip Butler, Portland

Limited Sportsman Semi-Feature: Don Miner, Steep Falls; Dean Tosi, Sebago; Ray Michaud, Acton

Wildcat Semi-Feature: Russell Morse, West Buxton; Ed Leighton, Portland; Dan McGrath, Sanford

Unity Raceway

At Unity, Stan Meserve of Unity became the first two-race winner in the Irving Summer Sizzler series, leading the final 14 circuits of the 100-lap feature at Unity Raceway Sunday.

Steve Nelson of Albion, finished second with Don Belisle of Derry, N.H., taking third place.

On Saturday, Nelson drove to a first place finish in the Late Model Sportsman feature.

Matt Lee of Albion finished second and Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs crossed the line third.

Sunday’s Results

Chargers: Robert Green, Vassalboro; Mike Hodgkins, Jefferson; Mike Stickney, Wilton

Super Streets: Glendon Mehuren, Searsmont; Larry Burgess, Oakland; Dana Strout, Benton

Limited Sportsman: Ricky Burgess, Waterville; Mike Brown, Union; Bob Hallee, Winslow

Sport Fours: Keryn Laite, Lincolnville; Brian Pooler, Oakland; Bruce Pooler, Oakland

Wildcats: Judd Derbyshire, Mt. Vernon; Charlie Roderick, Albion; Mark LeClair, Waterville Saturday’s Results

Limited Sportsman: Dean Fuller, Albion; Leon Burgess, Belgrade; Mike Brown, Union

Chargers: Mike Hodgkins, Jefferson; Robert Green, Vassalboro; Maurice Young, Augusta

Super Streets: Glendon Mehuren, Searsmont; Bob Trask, Chelsea; Mark Matthews, Gardiner

Sport-Fours: Bruce Pooler, Oakland; Keryn Laite, Lincolnville; Brian Pooler, Oakland

Wildcat A: Dennis Knight, Oakland; Hawley Green, Fairfield; Andy Migliore, Pittsfield

Wildcat B: Mark Dodge, Anson; Ricky Austin, Mercer; Randy Leigh, Fairfield

Winterport Dragway

At Winterport, Steve McAllister of Norway beat Surry’s Chip Taylor to grab the Quick 32 title Sunday afternoon.

Saturday’s Results

Gambler’s Race: Rick Romano, Jay Sunday’s Results

Quick 32: Steve McAllister, Norway; Chip Taylor, Surry;

Non-qualifier: Mike Johnson, Stockton Springs; Harry Webber, Penobscot

Re-entry: Dave White, Auburn; Steve Murray, Brewer

Motorcycle Money: Steve Allen, Lewiston; Brian Hawthorne, New Gloucester

Super Pro: Eddie Rankin, Bucksport; Joe Paluga, Bar Harbor

Pro: Bud Ramsey, Carmel; Gene Newton, Belmont

Street: Jeff Paluga, Bar Harbor; Arthur Warman, Searsport

Motorcycle Trophy: Bernie Hunt, Corinna; Mike Spaulding, Lewiston

High School: Crystal Hatch, Lubec; Jeff Paluga, Bar Harbor

Junior Dragster: Bobby Cousins, Carmel; Jeff Fanjoy, Dexter

Spud Speedway

At Caribou, Glenn Rasmussen of Grand Falls, New Brunswick, outlasted Richie Harris of Caribou to win the Pro Stock feature Friday.

Ken Dumond of Van Buren finished third.

Late Model: Bobby Anderson, Limestone; Tharren McDougal, Fort Fairfield; Micheal Kinney, Danforth

Tiger: Don Cote, Grand Falls, New Brunswick; Fred Sewell, Monticello; Wayne Fox, Caribou

Mini A: Jamie York, Houlton; Brad Dixon, Grand Falls, New Brunswick; Dave Beals, Houlton

Mini B: Russ Woodman, Ashland; Everett Merchant, Caribou; Scott Gagnon, Van Buren

Bomber: Dale Hebert; Harold Cyr; Chris Haney

Lee USA Speedway

At Lee, N.H., Mike Gallo of Sanford ran to a fifth-place finish in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Pro Stock event Friday.

Gerry Reynolds of East Lebanon finished third in the Street Stock feature and Lewis Fortin of Berwick took a second and third in the first and second Hobby Stock feature.