(Shediac, N.B.) — Undoubtedly, Calvin Rankin (#45) of Quispamsis likes to get a early jump on his Sportsman competitors in Atlantic Canada as he recorded a flawless win in an early season 100 lap event during Maritime Super Series for Sportsman stock car racing action Sunday afternoon during the Centre for Speed’s (CFS) first
event of the 2011 season.
In 2009, Rankin also recorded a win in the first extended Sportsman race of the season at CFS and, as he did then, he credited his crew for providing him with just the right set-up to enable him to master the newly configured 3/8 mile oval at CFS.
Meanwhile, Scott Bourque (#69) of
Cap Pelé made a triumphant début in the Mini Stock division after having captured last year’s Four fun division championship at CFS, by recording a grand slam with wins in the heat, semifinal and 35-lap feature.
In the Maritime Super Series for Sportsman 100, Rankin started on the outside pole and got a great jump on the green flag to gain the lead by the time the cars completed lap one. Then, he held on to the lead for the remaining 99 laps, beating back all challengers, to cross the stripe just
ahead of Colby Smith (#77x) of Cape Sable Island, N.S. and defending CFS Super Sportsman champion, Luc Bourgeois (#88) of Memramcook. Both Rankin and Smith had earlier captured wins in their individual 10-lap heats.
In Mini Stock action, Scott Bourque (#69) of Cap Pelé started the season exactly where he left off in the Four Fun division in 2010 by capturing wins in the 10-lap heat, 10 lap semifinal and 35-lap feature in his first time behind the wheel of his new Roland’s On the Spot Welding Honda racecar. In the 35-lap main event, Bourque was first across the finish line ahead of
Julien Leblanc (#07) of Haute Aboujagane and Josh Simon (#71) of Bouctouche.
In Four Fun division action, three different drivers visited victory lane with Scott Hall (#98) of Sackville, N.B. recording his first career win in the 10-lap heat, while veteran Phil Coombes (#15) of Shediac Cape picked up the very close win in the 35-lap feature and Wilfred Simon (#10) of Bouctouche came home first in the 10-lap semifinal. Two Halifax area brothers, Kirk Mulvane (#4) of Bedford, N.S. and Kyle MacMillan (#5) of Hammonds Plains, N.S. settled respectively for second and third behind Coombes in
the main event.
In Shediac Sportsman division action, defending points champion Don Marcoux (#27) of St.-Louis-de-Kent recorded two wins in the 10-lap semifinal and the 35-lap feature while Tyler Rossiter (#14) of Weldon was victorious in the 10-lap heat. In the 35 lap main event, Marcoux came home victorious ahead of Jamie Vassallo (#38) of Sydney, N.S. and Rossiter.
Racing resumes next Sunday June 12 at 2:00 p.m. with the first visit of the season from the Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) Modified touring series along as well as championship points racing in Shediac Sportsman, Mini Stock and Four Fun divisions.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com