White Mountain Planning Big Holiday Celebration This Saturday

Alan Ward photo

N. Woodstock, NH — White Mountain Motorsports Park will be the place to celebrate Independence Day in New Hampshire’s North Country this Saturday, July 3. The annual Holiday Spectacular presented by J.P. Sicard Inc. features four thrilling divisions capped by a Northstar Fireworks display rivaling anything fans across the country might see this weekend.

Both the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers and Foley Oil & Propane Late Models have 76 green-flag laps to honor the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s and Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks join the card against a scenic White Mountains backdrop.

For the Flying Tigers, Saturday’s long-distance showdown is the second leg of the J.P. Sicard Triple Crown Series. That means both regular-season and Triple Crown champion points are on the line along with the pride of carrying a checkered flag.

Most eyes will be on Waterbury Center, VT’s Jason Woodard and Barton, VT’s Shane Sicard when the Tiger green flag flies. Woodard, the four-time Thunder Road Flying Tiger champion and 2019 J.P. Sicard Triple Crown champion, has been pulling away with the weekly point lead. The veteran began the season at White Mountain this year to race with his son Tanner, who is a rookie in the Flying Tiger ranks. However, he’s taken quite the liking to the track, with three straight feature wins and a perfect record of podium finishes.

Sicard, though, cannot be counted out. The three-time defending track champion is having another solid year, which includes a victory over Woodard in the Triple Crown opener. He remains a threat for both titles and knows one slip-up is all it will for him to be back on top.

In a 76-lap race, though, anything can happen. Rookie Brandon Gray of East Thetford, VT was impressive in the first Triple Crown event, finishing third after running up front all night. Sophomore competitor Ryan Ware of Littleton, NH has been a breakout star with five trophies to his credit. Michael Potter, Matthew Potter, Bryan Wall Jr., Colin Cornell, and reigning Triple Crown champion Jaden Perry are some of the other Flying Tigers drivers to watch on Saturday.

Alan Ward photo

The Foley Oil & Propane Late Model Late Model Independence Day 76 is sure to be an intriguing affair. The division has been hyper-competitive with six different winners in seven point-counting events. Fields are full as well with at least 19 cars every time out. With extra laps on the card, several invaders are expected, either to chase points for the New England Late Model Challenge Cup or tune up for the $10,000-to-win Midsummer Classic 250 on July 31.

Those invaders will have to beat some stout local competition. In his first full year racing at White Mountain, Raymond, NH’s Alby Ovitt is leading the weekly point standings and sits second in Challenge Cup points. Ovitt has yet to find Victory Lane but owns five podium finishes, more than any other Late Model racer. The feat is even more impressive when you consider his team came together just a few weeks before the season started.

Newcomer Jimmy Renfrew Jr. of Candia, NH and eight-time champion Quinny Welch of Groveton, NH are tied for second just five points behind Ovitt. Renfrew is the only two-time Late Modelwinner this year while Welch has four top-3 finishes in his “Drive for Nine”. Oren Remick, Mike “Beetle” Bailey, and Matthew Morrill have all been fast this year while reigning champion Stacy Cahoon is finally pulling himself out of an early-season slump.

Four-cylinder fans will love what they see in the 25-lap Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini feature. Rookie Luke Shannon of Groveton, NH has been the racer to beat this year. Just 14 years old when the season started, the youngster won his first time out and then chalked up three straight victories in June. Shannon leads the points by 20 over fellow teenager Tyler Thompson of Littleton, NH, who has been consistently fast all season.

Defending champion Brett Jackson of Bethlehem, NH still is a contender for back-to-back titles. He’s tied for third in points with hometown racer Jillian Baumgardner, who is one of the track’s most improved drivers this year. Jillian’s dad Donnie broken Shannon’s winning streak last time out while Michael Smith is the only driver to finish in the top-10 of every feature.

The Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks round out the program with excitement beyond their years. St. Johnsbury, VT’s Logan “The Cone Eater” Farnsworth finally broke into Victory Lane last week, edging Damion Sicard and Thomas Smithers VI in another barnburner. Four different kids have won features this year while many others have had a blast learning the racing ropes.

White Mountain Motorsports Park goes green this Saturday, July 3 at 6:00pm with the Independence Day Spectacular presented by J.P. Sicard Inc. The Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers and Foley Oil & Propane Late Models both go 76 laps for the holiday weekend. Fans also get to see the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s, Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks, and a sizziling firework display by Northstar Fireworks. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and $30 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).

For more information, contact the White Mountain Motorsports Park offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.whitemountainmotorsports.com. You can also follow us on Facebook at @WhiteMtnMotorsports.