An absolutely gorgeous day greeted race fans at the Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, as they brought the curtain up on the 2008 racing season with two of the regions most popular touring series’, the True Value Modifieds and the ACT Late Models headlining the show.
    Although he couldn’t join the action, NH governor John Lynch sent along greeting to the fans assembled for the Governor’s Cup 200, with a pair of 100-lap features topping the card for the day. The Allison Legacy North Series and Legends saw action on the undercard as well.
    James Logan turned his luck around in the Allison Legacy Series event, leading the field under the checkers to score his first-ever Lee USA Speedway win. Logan has had some rough times at Lee, including a hard trip into the retaining wall.
    But he put that all behind him on Sunday, outrunning Cristy Chaves in the early going to take command of the event. The ALS series returns to Lee for another event on Friday, May 9.
    A strong field of Legends took the green flag for their 20-lap feature event, but none was stronger than veteran campaigner Shawn Buffington, who pulled away from the field and went on to post the win.
    After four qualifying heats, two consolation races and a “B” main, the American Canadian Tour Late Models took to the track for their feature event, with Larry Gelinas sitting in familiar territory on the pole.
    Rookie contender Nick Sweet started alongside Gelinas, but early problems left him with a last place finish. Defending ACT champ Jean-Paul Cyr wrecked early with Bobby Baillargeon, putting both out of action for the day.
    Up front meanwhile, Gelinas held the point for the first ten laps, but from there, it was all Joey Pole. The teenage sensation started his career in the Lee Youth League just a few years back, but his career has progressed quickly from there.
    A strong competitor on the ACT series in 2007, Pole quickly made it clear he would be the man to beat, pulling away to nearly a straightaway lead well before the halfway mark. While several drivers had trouble and fell to the wayside, another local favorite was having a good run.
    Eddie MacDonald was well under the radar for the first half of the race, but he turned up the wick at that point and headed to the front. MacDonald took over second in the late going, but he ran out of laps before he could get to the leader.
    Behind the lead duo, it was Cris Michaud, Scott Payea, Randy Potter and Lee USA’s former champ, Ricky Wolf next across. Eric Chase, Patrick Laperle, Ron Henry and Brent Dragon rounded out the top ten.
    The TVMRS Modifieds closed out the opening day action, and Kirk Alexander was once again the star of the day. Alexander got to the front early, and although he faced a couple of challenges along the way, he went the distance to post the win.
    David Pinkham took down runner-up honors, with Dale Evonsion and Mike Holdridge, two second-generation Modified racers taking third and fourth. Former Lee USA Small Block Supermodified standout Jon McKennedy rounded out the top five.

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