Local roundup: Players picked for Shrine game to get picnics

HANOVER — The Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl can’t be played this summer, but organizers of the annual Vermont-vs.-New Hampshire senior high school all-star football game are still planning on honoring the players.

Athletes chosen for this year’s contest have been invited to separate small picnics on Aug. 1 at the Storrs Pond Recreation Area in Hanover. Because of social distancing regulations, the picnics will be limited to small groups in SPRA Area 5. The Shrine Game board of directors will get together with the Vermont team at 10 a.m. and the New Hampshire squad at 1 p.m.

“The New Hampshire and Vermont team members and coaches as well as the Shrine organization have done a remarkable job in raising funds in support of three Shriners Hospitals for Children, and our hosting this event is the least we can do to show our appreciation,” Shrine Game general chairman Kristi Morris said in a weekend news release. “They will each be receiving a program and certificate along with their team jerseys and T-shirts at this gathering.”

Players interested in attending should notify the Shrine office by Tuesday.

AUTO RACINGFellows’ streak at 20

CLAREMONT — Croydon’s Aaron Fellows extended his Late Model Sportsman feature winning streak to 20 races by taking the checkered flag in Friday’s 52-lap Dean Smith Memorial Race at Claremont Motorsports Park.

Fellows repeated as Smith Memorial champion. Friday’s effort was a dominant one, as Fellows won his heat race to earn a front-row spot in the main event, at the start of which he went low into turn two for a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. He ended up lapping all but seven of the cars in the 18-car field.

Robert Hagar claimed second place, with Ben Poland — Fellows’ front-row companion — taking third. Friday’s other feature winners included Dave Greenslit (Street Stocks), Kodi Sabins (Pure Stocks), Dustin Thibodeau (Six Shooters) and Matt Gauffin (Enduro). The Granite State Pro Stock Series returns to highlight this Friday’s 7 p.m. Claremont card.

BRADFORD, Vt. — East Thetford’s Jason Gray posted his third Sportsman Modified victory of the Bear Ridge Speedway season on Saturday night.

Starting 21st out of 27 cars after qualifying, Gray picked his way through traffic and made the most of early cautions to win. With three victories in four starts, Gray owns a 49-point lead on Jordan Fornwalt (252-203) in the point standings, with Matt Lashua (201) two points further behind.

Jason Horniak (Sportsman Coupes), Seth Carlson (Midgets), John Neddo (Late Models) Tyler Terry (Dirt Stockers) and Buddy Welch (Four Cylinders) also won on Saturday. Racing resumes this Saturday at 6 p.m.