Raabe halts Mahaney’s winning streak at Airborne
· Yahoo Sports
Plattsburgh — Thursday Night Thunder returned to Airborne Park Speedway with plenty of action.
Lady Luck finally shined on “The Big A,” and so did the sun as the rain steered clear and fans enjoyed an exciting card of racing.
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Chris Raabe hasn't had the 2026 season he was planning on so far, but sleeping giants don’t stay asleep forever. Starting from the outside of row one, the Alexandria, Ontario, campaigner had an opportunity to end the four-race, point-paying win streak of Mike Mahaney in the Hartson Total Opening 358 Modified 30-lap main event.
Raabe went to the point from the drop, but Tanner Siemons was in hot pursuit. Raabe extended his lead, but caution flew on lap 17. Mahaney navigated his way to fourth and was gunning for third and second when the yellow lights came on.
On the restart, Mahaney moved to second with 10 to go. Caution came out again on lap 27 when Danny Gagne’s motor exploded, setting up one final sprint to the checkers.
When racing resumed, Raabe fought off "Smooth Shoe" for the victory. Mahaney, Felix Roy, Tim Fuller and Adam Pierson completed the top five.
In the RainPro of Vermont 25-lap, Boomer Patterson fired from outside the front row, appearing as though he may snag the win. Pole sitter Parker Dermody led the opening lap, but Patterson swept around him off of turn two and opened up a commanding advantage.
When the caution flew on lap 12, second-place runner David Johnson used the restart to grab the top spot.
Patterson placed second, Dermody was third, Kobe Hernandez fourth and Cody Gregoropoulos fifth.
In the J&S Steel Sportsman Modified feature, Vince Quenneville and Charlotte Morin led with VQ2 nabbing the point. Lonnie Rivers and Codie Aubin slipped around Morin in the opening laps to chase after Quenneville.
Rivers took the point on lap four, but “The Mayor” refused to let him get away. Morin brought out the yellow on lap 10 when a tire went flat, sending her spinning into the infield.
Rivers regained the lead on the restart, but Caleb Durgan captured second and went on the attack. He hounded Rivers for several laps but could not take the lead.
Caution came out on lap 22 to set up a three-lap shootout. On the restart, Rivers retained point and Cory Castell blasted between Durgan and Aubin to steal the second spot. Rivers kept the R7 in front to park his machine in victory lane for the first time in 2026.
Castell was second, Travis Bruno rallied for third, Durgan slipped to fourth and Aubin fifth.
Shawn Duquette and Tim Wilcox comprised the front row for the start of the Renegade 25-lap feature. Duquette snagged the early lead, but the yellow lights came on two laps in. On the restart, Billy Thwaits lined up beside him.
Thwaits took point and began to pull away, but the yellow flag came out again on lap seven. Thwaits cleared Duquette off turn two and built an advantage when racing resumed for his fourth victory of the season.
Duquette finished second, followed by Nathaniel Guay, Tyler Irwin and Brad Bushey.
In the 15-lap Crown Vic feature, Nate Steady jumped to an early lead. But Richie Turner was on the move from the sixth starting spot.
Turner powered around Steady off turn four on lap two to take charge. Eric Friend charged from the back to attempt to challenge Turner, but the leader opened up a gap of more than half a racetrack for his third win of the season. Friend was overtaken by Josh Muir for the second spot, crossing the line third, followed by Mike Ero and Josh Turner.
The night wrapped with the Mini Stock 15-lap feature. Josh “Junior” Laporte took the lead. Behind Laporte, a four-car scrum between Glenn Engstrom, Jp Corrow, Joshua Blake and Speedy Bresette entertained the crowd.
When it seemed like Laporte would cruise to an easy win, caution flew with three laps to go; Laporte headed to pit road in a dramatic turn of events.
The fight for second was suddenly for the win.
When green flag racing returned, Bresette, Corrow and Tyler Bell raced three-wide into turns three and four, with “Senor Speed” establishing a slight edge. Corrow pulled to the inside of Bresette, but Bresette held on by a car length. Corrow was second.
Tyler Bell, Francis Whit, and Jake Fountain rounded out the top five.
There is no Thursday Night Thunder today with racing moving to Saturday for the "Make A Wish Saturday Night Special" with Mohawk Valley Vintage Cars and Kids Backpack Giveaway.
Pro Stocks and a 50-lap Enduro will also join the card.
Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m. Racing begins at 6 p.m.
Admission is $20. Kids 12 and under are free. Pit admission is $30 for members and $40 for non-members.