by Jay | Aug 9, 2009 | Canada
(Shediac, N.B.) — Shediac’s Daniel Gautreau (#20) and Petitcodiac’s Mike Weagle (#60) shared the spotlight on Sunday afternoon at the Centre for Speed (CFS) as they both captured first place in their respective divisions during the Guildfords ‘Little Guys 100’, the longest race
of the season in Atlantic Canada for four-cylinder racecars. The race was the feature event during the Covered Bridge Potato Chip Fan Appreciation Day at CFS.
Gautreau powered his way to the front early on in the 100-lap main event and then had to fend off challenges from both of his cousins, Martin Landry (#00) and Pierre Gautreau (#99) to pick up his second Mini Stock division feature win of the season aboard his Roland’s On-the-Spot Welding Honda. Landry and Pierre Gautreau, who had earlier captured the win in the 10-lap heat, crossed the finish line second and third respectively.
Meanwhile, Weagle once again showed the way for the Four Fun division competitors as he crossed the finish line first to claim his fourth feature win of the season aboard his Dunnett Brothers Plumbing Civic ahead of Kyle MacMillan (#5x) of Hammond Plains, N.S. and Jonathan Doucette (#57) of Summerside, PEI. Doucette had earlier picked up the win in the 10-lap heat.
In Sportsman action, Luc Bourgeois (#88) of Memramcook went back to the old suspension set-up on his Gautreau’s Auto Salvage Ford Fusion and paid off in spades, as he captured his first wins of the season in both the 15-lap
semi-final and a very close win in the 35-lap feature. Bourgeois charged into the early lead and then had to fend off a strong late race challenge from fellow Ford competitor, Ken MacKenzie (#85) of Salisbury to pick up his first feature win of 2009. Veteran Dan Bourque (#15) of Grande-Digue had to settle for third place in the main event, semi-final and heat. MacKenzie had earlier picked up first place hardware in the 10-lap heat while sophomore Marcel Goguen (#56) celebrated his first career Sportsman win in the Dash. Meanwhile, 14-year old Matt Rodgers (#42) of Smithtown took his first laps in Sportsman competition by taking over the driving from his father Steve Rodgers aboard the Ed Floyd Excavating Grand Prix.
In Streetstock action, Doug MacEwen (#40) of
Charlottetown picked up his first feature win at CFS in over 13 years aboard his newly purchased Chevrolet racecar. MacEwen, who last won a feature race when the facility first opened in 1996, decided last week to purchase the Streetstock racecar owned by former track champion Rémi Gaudet. On Sunday, his investment paid big dividends with wins in both the 10-lap heat and 25-lap feature. Rookie Gerald Brun (#33) of Moncton was second in the feature while Victor Vienneau (#03) of Cocagne came home third to go along with his second place finish in the heat.
Next Saturday, August 15th at 7:00 p.m., the Centre for Speed will host top Sportsman drivers
from throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for a Maritime Super Series for Sportsman 75-lap feature race. The Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) Modifieds will also make their first stop of 2009 at CFS. The event will also include regular Southeast Challenge Series points racing for Streetstock, Mini Stock and Four Fun division racecars.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com
TRAVEL
NOTE: Due to bridge construction on Route #133, all CFS traffic must use Exit #43 (Grand Barachois) off Highway #15 until further notice. From this exit, traffic must turn left onto Route #133, at Gaudet Supermarket, and travel 2 km to the CENTRE.
About CFS
The CENTRE for Speed,
built in 1996, is home to the Atlantic region’s largest and fastest paved 3/8 of a mile stock car oval as its centerpiece. The CENTRE overlooks the Northumberland Strait and is located 5 kilometers east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach on Route #133 in the village of Grand Barachois .
by Jay | Aug 9, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New Hampshire
North Haverhill, N.H. (August 10, 2009): Fadden Racing will field two cars at this weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Series East 200-mile event as car owner Mike Olsen gets back behind the wheel of the championship-winning No. 61 to compete in only his second start this season. Jonathan Smith, driver of Fadden Racing’s No. 16 is especially optimistic about the return to road course racing whereas Lime Rock Park was where he started his go-kart career more than ten years ago.
The Smith family has a long and storied history at the Connecticut road course. Jonathan’s father, who will offer advice to his aspiring son, raced there as well. He considers it to be his home track since many of Smith’s early successes were produced there.
“I’m a big fan of road course racing so I consider that to be one of my strengths,” said Smith. “Loving a track is the first big hurdle to get over before you can be successful at it. I have a lot of good memories there and I love the challenge the course presents.”
Last season, Smith was forced to do a start and park in the event. He wrecked in practice and had no back-up car to lean on.
“I can’t wait to actually get to race Lime Rock again,” said Smith. “We didn’t get a lot of track time last year, but it’ll be different this year!”
Smith is also looking forward to having a teammate in his car owner Mike Olsen. Olsen, who won the 2001 and 2006 NASCAR Camping World Series East Championships, has had a tremendous record at the road course including ten top-10 and seven top-five finishes. His highest finish is second place and includes leading a career total of 43 laps at Lime Rock.
“I’ll be able to gain a lot of knowledge from Mike,” said Smith. “Mike is a strong road course racer and I’m definitely ready to learn from him.”
The weekend kicks off on Friday, August 14th with practice and qualifying followed by the green flag for the 82-lap event on Saturday, August 15th. For more information on Jonathan Smith, Mike Olsen, or Fadden Racing, visit www.faddenracing.net.
by Jay | Aug 9, 2009 | New Hampshire
Epping, NH – Joe Lemay returned to his winning ways in the All-Star Modifieds on Saturday night, holding off a tough challenge from Eric Hudson to collect his third checkered flag of the 2009 season.
Lemay quickly worked his way past polesitter Dana Smith to grab the lead, with Smith setting into the second spot in the early going. Kenny White and Eric Hudson both managed to get past Smith by halfway, but neither of them had anything for Lemay.
Hudson eventually worked past White for second, and he moved in to challenge Lemay at the five to go mark. Hudson looked high and low, but Lemay was up to the challenge, holding on for the win and a trip to victory lane at the end of the 40-lapper.
Hudson’s recent win streak in the Newmarket Sand and Gravel machine was stopped at three straight with his runner-up finish, and White collected third place honors ahead of Smith and Bobby MacArthur.
John Bourdelais made his 2009 debut in the Super Streets a memorable one; as he led the feature from flag-to-flag to pick up his first win of the season in his Lawrence Crankshaft-powered machine.
Bourdelais’ victory was made even sweeter when he was joined on the post-race podium by teammates Rob DeAlmeida and Tony Kawejsza, who finished second and third. Rosebud Shea and Steve “Pinball” Wilmot wrapped up the top five.
Mike Williams continued his hot streak in the Strictly Stock feature event, bringing the Mike White entry to victory lane after his third consecutive win.
Williams and Steve Dubois battled hard for a dozen laps before Williams settled into the lead, and it was all over from there. Williams pulled away to easily score the win, with runner-up Dubois and Johnny Gervais joining the victor for the post-race victory lane celebration.
Ken McIlvaine, a longtime competitor with many wins in Strictly Stock and Roadrunner competition at All-Star, added another trophy to his collection with his first win of the year in the Outlaw Mini Stocks over Bruce Knowles and Gary Stagliola.
Jason Hodgdon didn’t lead much of the Fast-4 feature, but he lead the lap that counted, grabbing his first career win in the feature event at the checkers. Ken Mailhot beat out nephew Tyler to finish in the second spot.
by Jay | Aug 9, 2009 | Maine, Wiscasset Raceway
Wiscasset, ME- Chuck Colby is no stranger to victory lane at Wiscasset Raceway. Chuck has already visited Soule’s Auto Supply victory lane on more then one occasion this year and a countless number in years past. Saturday night however could have been one of the hardest battles Colby has had to fight to get there. Chuck held off Travis Benjamin over the closing laps to pick up the win. Benjamin would however finish second but he to had to work for the strong finish as he had Scott Chubbuck hot on his heels. 2008 division champion Randy Turner finished fourth and Jeff Burgess fifth.
The Aable Auto Parts Mini Stock’s put on a great show for the fans with two youngsters, Thomas True and Ryan Ripley leading the way. True would be able to hold Ripley off for the win. Ryan Ripley would finish second with Pete McCollett third. Fourth would go to Tim Collins and fifth to Doug Ripley.
The U.S. Cellular Mini Truck division saw Ryan Hayes put the #17 truck in victory lane again. Rick Sirios finished second after a post race inspection shake up. Third would go to Josh Harjula and fourth to Brandon Crandall. Rounding out the top five was Russ Anderson.
In the New England Transmission Strictly Street division Maurice Young of Windsor picked up his first win of the season. The 7 time track champion raced side by side with Mike Moody for 15 laps to get the win. Moody would finish second with Jamie Henderson third. Fourth and fifth would go to Alex Waltz and Dan Nezmith.
The Verizon Wireless Super Street’s saw a long red flag period and the race took about on hour to complete but it was worth the wait to see, Appleton’s Jeremy Glasier beat Bernie Dinsmore to the checkered flag. Ed Drake grabbed third with Bryan Robbins getting fourth and Allan Moeller Jr. fifth.
The Steel’s Real Rod’s and Custom’s late model division had the crowd on their feet as well Saturday. Adam Chadbourne picked up his first career victory in a late model. He did so in front Steve Reno of West Bath and Seth Raven of Waldo. Fourth would go to Chris Thorne and fifth to Will Collins.
Sat. 15th 5 p.m.– Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital Night
Sun. 16th 2 p.m.- Center of Speed 300 Weekend – Twin 150’s – 150 Lap Pro Stock Open Event plus 150 Lap Late Model Open Event/Qualifier for the
ACT Invitational to be held September 19th at NHIS
by Jay | Aug 9, 2009 | Maine, Speedway 95
Hermon’s Dale Swoboda recovered from a mechanical issue that took him out of the lead on the last lap of the qualifying heat, and returned to capture the caution free Late Model Feature victory at Speedway 95 Saturday night. The win wasn’t easy as it took Swoboda until the 17th lap to work his way past Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs and Don Alexander Jr. of Carmel, who had led the first 16 laps. Alexander chased Swoboda for the final 8 circuits, but was unable to retake the lead and settled for the runner up spot. Shane Clark of Winterport got past Seekins on the final lap to post a third place finish. Seekins finished fourth with Bar Harbor’s John Phippen Jr. in fifth. Swoboda was unable to make the initial line-up for the national anthem as, in addition to the distributor that went bad in the qualifier, his starter also quit and he had to be push started to leave the pits. Seekins won the qualifier for the Late Models.
Super Street action saw a replay of last week’s 50 lapper as Steve Moulton of Holden won again with Josh St. Clair chasing him under the checkered flag. The difference this week was that instead of both drivers shaking hands and congratulating each other on a good race as they did last week, both kept their distance from each other and traded barbs about the other’s driving abilities during their post race interviews. St. Clair took exception to Moulton’s driving tactics as a result of what he felt was a deliberate move on Moulton’s part to force him high in turn 2 as Moulton was working his way by St.Clair on the inside on lap 9. St. Clair had been running in the lead, but slipped high in turn four on lap 8, allowing Moulton to get close enough to strike. Moulton retorted that he was merely driving the way he saw St.Clair drive in the Late Models. Could there be a late season feud brewing between these two highly competitive drivers? Hermon’s Kris Watson finished third after a race long battle with Lindsey Young for the position. Young finished fourth with Doug Sinclair, also of Hermon finishing in fifth. Moulton also won the 10 lap qualifier earlier in the program.
Doug Day took the lead from Ellsworth’s Bradley Norris on a lap 18 restart, lost it to Norris on a lap 19 restart, then retook it on lap 21 and cruised on to the victory, his second since taking the wheel of the 37 at mid-season. The lap 18 caution was caused by a solo spin by Dustin Hubbard of Unity as he was running alone in third place at the time. On the 19th lap, Nick Huff spun on the back stretch when he pulled up too early while passing Travis Poulin on the inside. In his post race interview, Poulin stated that Huff had pulled the same stunt last week and he let off and let it go as a rookie mistake. This week, Poulin stated , he stayed in it and Huff learned a lesson. Current points leader Bradley Norris finished second in the event, followed by Poulin in third, Shawn Hamel II of Bangor in fourth and Hubbard recovering from his spin out to finish in fifth. Day also won the qualifier.
Gary Richards of Stetson won his first Sport-Four feature of the season Saturday night as he led the caution free 20 lap event from pole to checkers. Rick Grant of LaGrange and David Green of Hampden waged a race long battle for second and third, with Grant coming out ahead at the end. Grant congratulated both Richards on his win and Green on the good battle for the runner up spot. Green, the division’s current points leader, finished in third, with Veazie’s Kyle Gallant and Plymouth’s Derick Terrell finishing in fourth and fifth respectively. Ralph Allen of Hermon easily outdistanced the field in the 10 lap qualifier.
