PLATTSBURGH — After a dozen laps of close-quarters racing for the lead between Craig Reyell and the father-son duo of Michel and Maxime Viens, Pat McGrail of Candiac, Quebec arrived and took control of the 30-lap Modified feature Saturday at Airborne Speedway.
McGrail shot the gap between Andy Heywood and Todd Ormsby on lap 12 to move into striking position and put the Fastenal No. 10 on the point for keeps two laps later. While the other early contenders began to fade, Maxime Viens held his ground to claim runner-up honors.
George Foley rallied late up the outside lane to edge Heywood for third. Greg Atkins and Leon Gonyo finished a few feet apart in fifth and sixth. Adam Bartemy, point leader Todd Stone, Aaron Bartemy and Vince Quennville filled out the top 10. Reyell, who led for 13 laps, wound up 11th.
Patrick Dupree brought out a caution with four laps remaining, but Viens could not stay with McGrail when the green came back out. “I’ve had fast cars and some seconds and thirds, but this is my first win here and it feels very good,” McGrail said.
Bucko Branham padded his slim point lead in the J&S Steel Limited Late Model division by recording his fourth win after several door-to-door laps with Shawn Duquette perched on his outside. Branham used an early restart to rush to the front in the low lane in the Plattburgh Paving/Bud Lite No. 20.
When Duquette pushed up high on a turn two exit midway through the race, Jamy Begor and Robin Wood got into the hunt. Wood passed Begor for second in the closing laps. Duquette held onto fourth. Brandon Atkins overhauled Keith Pelkey to round out the top five.
Kevin Boutin of Fairfax, Vt. came out on top in the Renegade feature after getting ready to pounce as Robbie Favreau and Rick Doner battled for the lead. It was win number three for the defending Renegade champion. Doner, Favreau, Joe Warren and Robert Gordon ran 2-3-4-5.
Nick Heywood won his fourth Sportsman Modified feature in the Plattsburgh Distributing No 29. Lonnie Rivers and Sebastien Fournier were next in line.
Busch Mini Modified point leader Erick Sayles of Lake Placid was first to the line in the night’s finale ahead of Dale O’Neil of Mooers and Josh LaPorte of Peru.
Airborne hosts a fireworks extravaganza Tuesday, July 3.
