(Shediac, N.B.) — While hundreds of young race fans got the thrill of a lifetime with a ride in their favorite drivers’ stock car machine, veterans and rookies shared the spotlight during the Rock Auto / Covered Bridge Potato Chips stock car racing action Sunday afternoon at the Centre for Speed’s (CFS) in Grand Barachois, N.B.
Veteran Dan Bourque (#15) of Grande Digue, who is competing in his 20th season, recorded a grand slam in the Super Sportsman division with wins in the heat, semi-final and 35-lap feature. It was the same for Don Marcoux (#27) of St. Louis de Kent as he continued his early season dominance as the defending champ in the Shediac Sportsman division with his third feature win of the season. Not to be outdone, rookie Scott Hall (#98) of Sackville also picked up another big win in the 50-lap 4-cylinder Four Fun feature.
In Super Sportsman action, Bourque reeled off wins in the 10-lap heat and semi-final, both times outdistancing Bert Cormier (#3) of Bouctouche at the line, before having his hands full in the 35-lap feature with Craig Ward (#02) of Riverview. In the feature, Bourque and Ward battled throughout the event both crossing the stripe in a dead-heat and being declared co-winners of the race ahead of Matt Rodgers (#42), the sophomore 16-year-old from Smithtown, N.B.
Both the Mini Stock and In Four Fun division drivers were put to a serious test with a long and grueling 50-lap feature. In the end, Scott Hall (#98) of Sackville in the Four Funs and Julien Leblanc (#07) of Haute Aboujagane in Mini Stocks walked away with the first place hardware in their respective division, Hall had earlier captured wins in both his heat and semi-final and crossed the stripe ahead of Justin MacDonald (#7) of Springhill, N.S. and Ryan Bourque (#9) of Cap-Pelé. In Mini Stock feature, it was a one-two-three Leblanc finish in the feature with Julien (#07) taking first spot followed closely by Stéphane Leblanc (#3) of Memramcook and Denis Leblanc (#95) of Bouctouche. Denis had earlier claimed the in the 10-lap heat while Stéphane took the checkered in the 10-lap semi-final.
In Shediac Sportsman division action, defending points champion Don Marcoux (#27) of St.-Louis-de-Kent recorded another two wins in the 10-lap heat and the 35-lap feature while newcomer to CFS Shannon Brake (#18) of Quispamsis recorded the win in the semi-final. In the main event, Marcoux came home victorious ahead of division rookie Martin Landry (#00) of Grand Barachois and Brake.
Racing resumes next Sunday July 3 at 2:00 p.m. with the points championship racing in all four CFS stock car division and featuring a 50-lap feature for Shediac Sportsman division competitors.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com