PODIUM FINISH: Week Ending May 13

Each Monday we take a look back at the weekend that was from around the region.

A lot of old familiar faces dotted Victory Lane across the northeast as touring series and short tracks are in full swing with the arrival (finally) of bonafide spring weather.

Without further ado, here's a look at who made The Podium this week:

1. Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn.

Preece finally broke through to solidify his hot start to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season, leading every lap and winning the Whitcomb 200 at Monadnock Speedway on Saturday after setting a track record in qualifying.

Preece, 21, has now won the pole for all three Tour events to start the season – and four straight dating back to last year – and set a track record in the last two events.

2. Wayne Helliwell Jr., Dover, N.H.

Helliwell fought back on a late-race restart to win the Subway Fresh Fit 150 – an open competition for ACT-legal Late Models – at Canaan Fair Speedway on Saturday night. It was the second straight win on a half-mile for Helliwell, the ACT points leader, who also won the Spring Green 112 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Vermont on May 6.

3. Randy Potter, Groveton, N.H.

Potter opened the season at his hometown track of Riverside Speedway by winning the 50-lap Late Model feature on Sunday afternoon. Potter took the lead on a mid-race restart and then held off several challengers over the closing laps to secure the victory.

Honorable Mention

Eric Berndt of Rocky Hill, Conn., won his first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature of the season Friday night at Stafford Motor Speedway, holding off the track's all-time winningest driver, Ted Christopher, for the victory... Johnny Clark of Hallowell, Maine, won the PASS North Series Star 150 at Star Speedway on Saturday, using a bump-and-run pass of Travis Benjamin in the closing laps to win after starting dead last in the 22-car field... Vince Quenneville Jr. of Brandon, Vt., made it 2-for-2 to start the season at Devil's Bowl Speedway by winning the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series DIRT Modified feature on Sunday... Brent Dragon of Milton, Vt., won the 30-lap Late Model feature at Devil's Bowl... Jeff Smith of Old Lyme, Conn., won the 30-lap Late Model feature at Waterford Speedbowl Saturday night after a last-lap battle with Dillon Moltz.

– TB