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Epping, NH – All-Star Speedway opened up the 2009 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season on Saturday night, and it was veteran Joe Lemay taking home the win in the All-Star Modifieds, beating out 2008 Super Late Model champion J.R. Baril by a nose at the checkers.

Eric Hudson jumped out to the early lead aboard the Newmarket Sand and Gravel machine, and he looked to be well on the way to victory when mechanical failure sent him to the pits with five laps to go.

Baril picked up the point from there, but after trying Hudson unsuccessfully for most of the race, Lemay took one last shot at the win against Baril, and he made it work on the outside.

He got loose and bounced his right rear off the wall coming to the checkers, but somehow managed to maintain control, and he inched ahead of Baril at the stripe for the win.

Baril arrived at the track late and had virtually no practice time before starting the main, but he had a solid run to score second behind Lemay, with fan favorite Brandee Tree taking third over Bill Boudreau.

Gary Beauregard and Nick Gravel battled side by side when the Super Streets went green, with Beauregard eventually gaining the advantage and pulling out to the lead.  Gravel settled into second right on Beauregard’s back bumper, and the two pulled away from the field.

The duo set the pace for the entire distance, with Beauregard pulling into victory lane when the smoke cleared.  Gravel checkered second, followed by Chris Lee, Gary Modugno, and defending Super Street champ Sandy Lee.

Polesitter Bill Beardwood outran Mark Parenteau to claim the top spot when the green waved to start the Strictly Stock feature, and he immediately established himself as the man to beat.

Mechanical problems sent Mike Williams to the pit area with the Mike White entry on lap six, with Beardwood once again moving out to the lead on the restart.   Keith Walton came on like gangbusters in the final few laps, but he came up short at the checkers.

Beardwood held on to score his first career win, with Walton, Chris Augevich, Parenteau, and Chuck Roberto filling out the top five spots.

It was another first-time winner when the Fast-4’s hit the track, as Josh Kirk led from green to checker to make his first career trip to victory lane.  Kirk held off a tough Bryan Scott and Tyler Mailhut to pick up the win.