Renfrew Charges from 13th to Win Chummy Brown Memorial
September 14, 2026 — Epping, NH — Chelmsford, Massachusetts veteran Jon McKennedy extended his recent control over the Bob Webber Sr. Memorial Star Classic at New Hampshire’s Star Speedway by capturing the 61st edition on Saturday, September 12.
McKennedy took the lead from hometown racer Dan Bowes on a lap 28 restart en route to his sixth victory in the crown jewel event for the New England Supermodified Series (NESS). It was McKennedy’s sixth victory in the event, all coming since 2013.
Starting fifth after winning his qualifier, McKennedy dodged an opening-circuit spin by Mark “Sparky” MacIver, then bided his time early in the 100-lap event. After methodically taking over second from polesitter Dave Duggan, McKennedy was stalking Bowes when the track’s red-flag lights inadvertently came on at lap 28, triggering the second and final caution.
McKennedy got the jump on Bowes when the race resumed, darting out to a big lead. Reigning Star Classic Champion Jeffrey Battle moved into the runner-up spot for good on lap 60 after a back-and-forth with Bowes and seemed poised to challenge for the lead.
But despite being hung up a couple of times in lapped traffic, McKennedy had too much in the tank. He put the power down in his Chris Ferreira-owned #79 and cruised to the victory by over seven seconds. The win matched Bentley Warren for the second-most Star Classic championships. McKennedy now trails only Russ Wood (seven wins) on the all-time list.
Battle finished second to maintain his NESS point lead over P.J. Stergios, who caught Bowes late for third. Bowes finished fourth with Oswego Speedway invader Dan Connors Jr. completing the top five.
A season-high 16 NESS cars checked in for the Star Classic. Fourteen started the main event after Eric Lewis had mechanical problems in practice and Anthony Nocella hit the wall in qualifying.
The event was also the final round of the Dr. Mom Says School is School Challenge. After the chance die rolled a “9” in Victory Lane, the odd-numbered finishers evenly split $12,000 in bonus money. The Challenge point standings are pending as of press time.
In the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models, Candia, New Hampshire’s Jimmy Renfrew Jr. became the first three-time winner of the season by taking the Chummy Brown Memorial 144. Renfrew started 13th, but quickly and aggressively sliced his way through the field as Joey Doiron pulled away with the early lead.
Renfrew was up to third when the yellow flag flew on lap 79 for Cole Robie’s spin. On the restart, Renfrew quickly darted underneath Kuhn to second, then nudged Doiron to get to the inside. Doiron didn’t surrender, though, and the duo went wheel to wheel for nearly 10 laps with nobody giving an inch.
Coming out of turn four to complete lap 89, the two touched doors and got sideways. The break in momentum caused Kuhn to tap Doiron, sending the Petit Motorsports Machine spinning into turn one for the event’s final caution flag.
From there, it was all Renfrew as Kuhn started to fade. Sylas Ripley moved up to second after the final restart, but never could reach Renfrew, who flew to the victory.
Gabe Brown completed the podium, followed by Derek Griffith and Johnny Clark. PASS North point leader D.J. Shaw fought handling woes all night but salvaged a sixth-place finish. Kuhn, Dan Winter, Garrett Hall, and Bobby Baillargeon rounded out the top 10.
The 50-lap Kennebec Equipment Rental PASS Modified feature saw West Bath, Maine’s Reed Reno take his second win of the season in a wild finish. Jeremy Davis had charged from 15th on the starting grid to take the lead with 11 laps remaining after polesitter Spencer Vaughn spun out of the top spot.
Davis seemed home free, but as the field was preparing to receive the two-to-go signal, Thomas Brackett spun in turn two. Brackett got his car going as the leaders were approaching, and the race stayed green. Davis hesitated in the smoke, and Reno kept his foot to the floorboard, swinging beneath Davis on the backstretch.
Davis didn’t have enough time to counter, and Reno sped to the win. The chaos continued on the final circuit, as Spencer Morse looped it while battling with Chanler Harrison for fourth place, and then several cars piled up in turn one after taking the checkered flag.
Davis was relegated to a disappointing second-place finish, while Cody Macomber was elated after coming from last in the 17-car field to take third. Harrison, point leader Jacoby Maines, Zach Bowie, Bill Penfold, Vaughn, Alex Smith, and Morse were fourth through 10th.
The PASS Super Late Models travel to North Woodstock, New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday, September 19, as part of a Fall Foliage Tripleheader with the Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour and Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA). Post time is 5:00pm.
The Kennebec Equipment Rental PASS Mods will next be seen at Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway for a 75-lap showdown as part of Spencer Group Paving PASS 400 Weekend on September 26 and 27. The New England Supermodified Series has two weekends off before heading to Vermont’s Thunder Road on Saturday, October 3, for Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Milk Bowl Qualifying Day.
