Thompson Notes: Brent Gleason Gets First Limited Sportsman Win At Thompson

Brent Gleason celebrates his first career Limited Sportsman victory Wednesday at Thompson Speedway

THOMPSON – Brent Gleason readily admits that for much of his nine years in racing competition locally he hasn’t been much more than just another car on the track.

“All I’ve ever done is really run mediocre and blow up engines,” Gleason said.

But Wednesday at Thompson Gleason got to play the role of the driver everyone else wanted to be.

Gleason, of Lisbon, scored his first career victory in the 20-lap Limited Sportsman feature Wednesday at Thompson Speedway.

“This means everything,” Gleason said. “This has been nine years of hard work and effort. A lot of struggle, a lot of heartache, a lot of money spent. To finally be here, it’s overwhelming really.”

Ryan Waterman of Danielson was second and Scott Sundeen of Douglas, Mass. third.

Gleason has spent the last nine years competing at Thompson and the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. He is in his second season running full-time in the Limited Sportsman division at Thompson.

“It’s unbelievable,” Gleason said. “I’m out in my race shop every single night. I put my kids to bed and I go out in the garage and spend a couple hours out there. Go to bed, wake up and just work on my car constantly. It’s been so much work and so much effort and I finally found something in the car this year and it’s really starting to pay off and it paid off tonight.”

Wayne Burroughs Jr. came out on top of a last lap three-wide battle to win the 15-lap Mini Stock feature.

With Brad Caddick and Dave Trudeau battling for the lead, Burroughs went under both out of turn two on the final lap. In turn three Caddick and Trudeau went up the track together, giving Burroughs a clean run to the front.

Ed Field of Deep River ended second and Trudeau, of Mansfield, third.

Paul Charette of Woodstock won the 25-lap Late Model feature. Larry Gelinas of Buxton, Me. was second and Lloyd Anderson Jr. of Wauregan third.