by Jay | Oct 15, 2009 | Canada, New England
October 12, 2009 – Shediac (N.B.) – After a number of second place finishes over the past few years at this event, Kirk Thibeau (#28) of Fort Fairfield, Maine was finally able to enjoy a victory lane celebration after capturing the win in the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 during Sunday’s 9th annual Atlantic Stock Car Championships presented at the Centre for Speed (CFS) in nearby Grand Barachois, N.B.
Meanwhile, John Rankin (#28) of St. Martins, N.B. capped off a successful Sportsman season by winning the Vance Hanes Autoparts 75 Atlantic Championship event to go along with his 2009 season championship at Speedway 660.
The full-day event attracted 156 of the top drivers and teams from throughout Atlantic Canada and Maine to compete in six different Atlantic Championships stock car features for Pro Stock, Sportsman, Streetstock, Mini Stock, Four Fun and Legends drivers with over $50,000 in payouts and lap sponsorships on the line.
Four other Atlantic Champions were crowned in their respective divisions including Jamie Vassallo (#38) from Glace Bay, N.S. in Streetstocks, Geoff Bevan (#43) of Middle Sackville, N.S. in Legends, Martin Landry (#00) of Grand Barachois in Mini Stocks and Dan Michaud Jr. (#119) of Waverley, N.S. in the Four Fun division.
In Pro Stock action, Thibeau started third in 31-car grid for the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 as a result of his win in the third qualifying heat behind the two other heat winners, Shawn Tucker (#52) of Fredericton (pole) and Kevin Moore (#88) of Charlottetown. On the very first turn of the feature, defending event champion, Wayne Smith (#44) of Timberlea, N.S., who had battled lap traffic throughout the qualifying and semi-final events to start near the back of the field, and Terry Dougay (#14) of Albany, PEI collided sending Smith to the pit area for quick repairs which put him one-lap behind the leaders upon his return to the track.
Meanwhile, Moore took the early lead from Tucker on the first lap of the event, a lead he held until lap #18 when Thibeau got by thanks to an inside pass. Thibeau and Tucker then battled bumper-to-bumper over the next 24 laps until Tucker finally found a way around Thibeau on lap #42 to claim his first and only lead of the event with a hard-charging Smith one-lap down but third in the field behind Thibeau.
Over the next 8 laps, Thibeau battled hard to reclaim the lead on lap #50 with this time, a hard-charging Mike Stevens (#26) of Riverview parked on his back bumper followed by Tucker, Craig Slaunwhite (#99) of Terrence Bay, N.S. and Moore. The fifth lead change of the event occurred on lap #59 when Stevens took the high line to get around Thibeau – a lead he would hold over the next 12 laps.
A scary moment occurred on lap #68 when Canadian Motorsports Hall of Famer, Rollie MacDonald (#13) of Pictou, N.S. plowed hard into the turn #3 wall after coming into contact with another racecar. The good news was that MacDonald emerged from the crumpled racecar under his own power complaining of a sore ribcage as a result of the violent collision.
A few laps after the resumption of the event on lap #71, leader Stevens appeared to loose control of his racecar on his own coming out turn #4 thus handing the lead back to Thibeau. After a quick trip to the pit area, Stevens returned, but a loose handling racecar kept him well back from the lead pack.
Over the final 79 laps of the feature and a number of caution flags, Thibeau was able to hold his lead and beat back challenges from Slaunwhite, Tucker and Moore to finally capture the win that had eluded him over the past number of years. At the finish line, Moore had to settle for second with Tucker in third, Jonathan Hicken (#5) of Brudenell, PEI in fourth and Kris Fournier (#37) of Charlottetown, PEI rounding out the top five.
« I’ve been coming to this event since 2001, finished three or four times in second, and now this feels awesome, » said a beaming Thibeau in victory lane as he collected the winner’s trophy as well as the lion’s share of the purse after having led the most laps in the event.
Pro Stock semi-final winners included Hicken and Brian McNaughton (#18) of Lower Coverdale, NB.
The Vance Hanes Auto Parts Sportsman 75 saw 30 of the top Sportsman drivers from throughout Atlantic Canada take the green flag with New Brunswickers Al Snelgrove (#0) of Moncton, CFS 2009 Sportsman Champion, Dan Bourque (#15) of Grande-Digue, Cal Hatfield (#11) of Rothesay, and Jim Duke (#84) of Lakeville in the four top starting positions thanks to their earlier heat wins.
Snelgrove and Glyn Nott (#12) of Burton, NB battled for the lead throughout the first half of the event. On a lap #36 restart, there was dramatic turn of events as Snelgrove led the field to the green flag, with Knott in second and Speedway 600 champion, John Rankin (#28) of St. Martins, N.B in third. Snelgrove’s left front wheel slipped into the infield on the restart sending him spinning in front of the field. As a result of the caution flag, he had to go to the back of the pack for the ensuing restart, thereby handing the lead to Nott.
Over the next 18 laps, Rankin tried to find an opening to get around Knott, which he finally accomplished with an outside lane pass on lap #55. Knott kept pace with Rankin until lap #70 when his racecar slid up the track in turn #3, opening the door for Matt Maillet (#29) of Burton, N.B. to vault into second. Rankin then held on for the win, crossing the stripe ahead of Maillet and 2008 CFS champion, Claude Gaudet (#22) of Grand Barachois.
Sportsman semi-final winners included Ronnie Lane (#46x) of Prosser Brook, NB, Calvin Rankin (#46) of Quispamsis, NB and Luc Bourgeois (#88) of Memramcook while 16-year old Jacob Logan (#37) of Harvey Station, N.B. picked up the win in the Sportsman Consolation.
In Streetstock action, Jamie Vassallo (#38) of Sydney, N.S. continued the Cape Breton domination in this Atlantic Championship event by capturing the win in the 50-lap feature ahead of former Speedway 600 Champ, Rick Cashol (#54) of Saint John and Joey Rudderham (#67) of Marshy Hope, Cape Breton. Cashol, who also finished second in the 2008 Atlantic Championship event, started third on the 25-car grid. He quickly took the lead from pole-sitter Doug MacEwen (#40) of Charlottetown on lap #2 with Vassallo in hot pursuit in third. Four laps later (lap #21), Vassallo took the outside groove to overtake both MacEwen and Cashol and held on for the win.
In Mini Stock action, drivers from CFS dominated the field to finish in the top three positions. Martin Landry (#00) of Grand Barachois picked up the win after taking the early lead from Brad Daley (#33) of Moncton. At the finish line, Daley had to settle for second place while Pierre Gautreau (#99) of Shediac, the 2008 CFS Mini Stock champion, came in third.
In Four Fun action, champion drivers from Scotia Speedworld (SSW) in Halifax once again took two of the top three positions in the 23-car feature. Dan Michaud Jr. (#119) of Cole Harbour, N.S. capped off a very successful season by winning the Atlantic Championship event to go along with his 2009 Lightning division championship at SSW. Michaud crossed the stripe ahead of Gerald Brun (#17) of Moncton and fellow SSW Thunder division champ, Derek MacCallum (#16) of Lower Sackville, N.S.
Finally, in Legends action, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion, J.R. Fitzpatrick (#23) of Cambridge, Ontario wagged a fierce battle with rookie Brad Eddy (#28) throughout the 20-lap feature. As both drivers raced hard to checkered flag out of the final turn, their racecars collided sending both of them crashing heavily into the front straightway wall. Shaken, but otherwise uninjured, they emerged from their disabled cars to the applause of the crowd who had just witnessed a tremendous battle between two talented competitors.
The win went to Geoff Bevan (#43) of Middle Sackville, N.S. who ran a strong third throughout the event, with Shelby Baker (#53) of Halifax, NS placing second and Ray Cox Jr. (#55) of Porters Lake, NS in third.
As a result of having to move all qualifying and feature events to Sunday because of rain on Saturday, J.R. Fitzpatrick, the NASCAR Canadian Tire series champion and NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series driver for the Kevin Harvick NASCAR racing team, was unable to compete in Sunday’s delayed Pro Stock 150 event due to an early evening flight back to North Carolina.
Next Saturday, October 17th at 1 :00 p.m., the CENTRE for Speed (CFS) will present the Atlantic Demolition and Endurance Championships with up to $10,000 in winnings available to Demolition Derby competitors.
The CFS is located 5 kms east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach on Route #133 in the village of Grand Barachois, New Brunswick.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com
by Jay | Oct 12, 2009 | ACT, Canada, Maine, New England, Oxford Plains Speedway
Eric Williams Wins Fall 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway
Oxford, ME – Williston’s Brian Hoar captured his sixth career American Canadian Tour Championship with a fourth place finish in the New England Dodge Dealers Fall 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday, October 11. Hoar’s most recent title came in 2000, after which he took several years off from ACT competition. Hoar returned for the 2009 season with a new car owner in Rick Paya. Paya has seven previous ACT championships as a car owner. Hoar earned the championship over Scott Payea who finished in the runner-up position for the second year in a row.
Hyde Park’s Eric Williams scored his second ACT Tour win of the season and first career win at Oxford Plains. Williams took the lead from John Donahue on 119 and held off Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. during several restarts in the final ten laps. Polewarczyk held on for second followed by Donahue, Hoar and Oxford regular Tim Brackett. Bradley Babb, Jay Laquerre, Scott Payea, Brent Dragon and Jamie Fisher completed the top ten.
The New England Dodge Dealers Fall 150 was completed in just over one hour and was slowed by just six cautions. Twenty-eight of the thirty-three drivers that took the green flag were running at the finish. Four different drivers led a lap.
The New England Dodge Dealers Fall 150 caps off the 2009 ACT Tour season. Hoar will be honored among others at the 2009 ACT Banquet of Champions. The date and other information will be announced at a later date.
Unofficial Results
New England Dodge Dealers Fall 150
Oxford Plains Speedway
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Pos Car # Driver
1 7VT Eric Williams
2 97NH Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
3 26VT John Donahue
4 37 Brian Hoar
5 68 Tim Brackett
6 60NH Bradley Babb
7 50 Jay Laquerre
8 89 Scott Payea
9 55VT Brent Dragon
10 18 Jamie Fisher
11 7ME Glen Luce
12 03 Travis Adams
13 15VT Joey Laquerre
14 2 Aaron Ricker
15 55NH DJ Shaw
16 94 Shawn Martin
17 9VT Chip Grenier
18 57 Austin Theriault
19 73ME Joey Doiron
20 17 Eddie MacDonald
21 6 Tom Ricker
22 26ME Corey Morgan
23 78NH Quinten Welch
24 88 Nicholas Sweet
25 02NH Randy Potter
26 71 Scott Dragon
27 25 Shawn Knight
28 51ME Ricky Rolfe
29 41 Pete Potvin, III
30 5 Jeff White
31 38VT Tyler Cahoon
32 10NH Ben Rowe
33 40VT Eric Chase
by Jay | Oct 10, 2009 | Canada
October 9, 2009 – Shediac (N.B.) — Over 200 drivers and teams from throughout Atlantic Canada and Maine are making their way to the Centre for Speed (CFS) for this weekend’s 9th annual Maple Leaf Foods / Vance Hanes Auto Parts Atlantic Stock Car “Championships Speed Weekend” on October 10 & 11.
After a review of the current weather forecast from Environment Canada, the CENTRE has decided to move forward with the event as currently planned. While the weather forecast calls for showers to end Saturday morning, the CENTRE is hoping that the trend will continue to improve throughout tomorrow and track management has therefore decided to undertake the event as originally scheduled. Monday, October 12th will continue to be a rain date, if required.
Saturday and Sunday’s stock car racing action will include a number of the top drivers from throughout the four Atlantic provinces, including most area track and tour champions as well as a number of former champions and defending Atlantic Champs. All will be vying for a share of the over $50,000 in payouts and lap sponsorships. This ‘year-end celebration’ for the 2009 stock car racing season in Atlantic Canada will feature teams and drivers in seven stock car divisions of Pro Stock, Sportsman, Streetstock, 4 cylinder Mini Stock and Four Fun, Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) modifieds and Legends.
Two feature races highlight these 2009 Atlantic Stock Car Championships with the Vance Hanes Auto Parts Sportsman 100 on Saturday, October 10th and the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 on Sunday, October 11th, both starting at 1:00 p.m. The October 10th event will also feature Atlantic Championship racing for Legends, Mini Stock and Four Fun division drivers. Sunday’s action will include Atlantic Championship racing for Streetstock (50 lap feature) competitors as well as 35-lap events for Sportsman and AOW Tour competitors.
NASCAR drivers J.R. Fitzpatrick of Cambridge, Ontario, and Donald Chisholm of Antigonish, Nova Scotia highlight a field of top stock car drivers from throughout Atlantic Canada, including for the first time ever, competitors from two Newfoundland speedways – Avondale and Thunder Valley Speedways.
On Saturday, October 10th, a total of 60 of the Maritimes top Sportsman drivers will battle for positions on the 28-car starting grid for the Vance Hanes Auto Parts 100. Top competitors from most of the stock car tracks in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, will be driving hard during the qualifying heats for one of the coveted starting positions in the 100 lap feature. The event will include top competitors and multi time track champs such as Dan Bourque (Grande Digue), Claude Gaudet (Barachois), John Rankin (St. Martin’s), Glyn Nott (Harvey Station), Bradley Logan (Harvey Station) and Jeff Dillman & Terry Roma (Halifax).
The Saturday program will also include drivers from the Atlantic region’s Legends racecar series putting their skills to the test against NASCAR driver, J.R. Fitzpatrick in the Legends 50 feature race.
J.R. Fitzpatrick, the youngest NASCAR Canadian Tire series champion and NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series driver for the Kevin Harvick NASCAR racing team, will be driving the Vance Hanes Autoparts / RacingTrader.ca Legend racecar during Saturday’s racing action. J.R. will also be competing in the Pro Stock 150 race on Sunday afternoon.
The 4 cylinder Atlantic Championship will also be up for grabs on Saturday, with top drivers and track champions from throughout the Atlantic region, including a few competitors from two Newfoundland speedways, battling it out in the very competitive Four Cylinder 35 for Mini Stock and Four Fun competitors.
Then, on Sunday, October 11th, the action heats up again starting at 1 p.m. with over 40 Pro Stock drivers registered to compete for positions on the starting grid for the Maple Leaf Pro Stock 150. This event will feature Maritime Pro Stock Tour (MPST) champion, Wayne Smith (Timberlea, N.S.), defending his 2008 Atlantic Championship title against the best Pro Stock drivers from our region, including Kirk Thibeau (Fort Fairfield, Maine), Donald Chisholm and John Flemming from Nova Scotia, local favorites Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek), Mike Stevens (Riverview) and Brian McNaughton (Lower Coverdale), as well as Bern Hickey of Avondale Speedway (NL).
Other top Pro Stock competitors expected to compete include George Koszkulics (New Glasgow, N.S.) and Craig Slaunwhite (Terrence Bay, N.S.), Fredericton-area drivers Shawn Tucker and Greg Fahey along with PEI competitors Jonathan Hicken, Kris Hughes, Scott Livingston and Kris Fournier.
Sunday’s action will also include top Streetstock track champions and drivers from throughout the Atlantic region in the very competitive Atlantic Streetstock Championship 50. If last year’s ‘photo finish’ is any indication, defending 2008 Atlantic Champ Fred Broussard from Sydney’s Island Speedway will have his hands full in this ‘edge of your seat’ Streetstock feature. Drivers from the AOW ModifiedsTour will also battle it out in the AOW 35.
On Friday afternoon and evening, the CENTRE will hold practice sessions for all divisions, starting at 1 p.m., as well as a pit party.
Weekend passes for adults are $40 while youth (5-15 years old) weekend passes go for $10. Weekend Family Passes for 2 adults and 2 youths are also available for $85 – a savings of $15! Furthermore, a limited amount of advance weekend passes for only $30 can be purchased at Race Time located in Dieppe’s Champlain Mall.
For the Saturday only events, individual day passes are $20 for adults and $10 for youths while day passes for Sunday’s action are $25 for adults and $10 for youths.
The CENTRE for Speed (CFS) is located 5 kms east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach on Route #133 in the village of Grand Barachois, New Brunswick.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com
by Jay | Oct 7, 2009 | Canada
October 7, 2009 – Shediac (N.B.) — Over 200 drivers and teams from throughout Atlantic Canada and Maine including a number of current and former track, tour and defending Atlantic Champions, have registered to compete in this weekend’s 9th annual Maple Leaf Foods / Vance Hanes Auto Parts Atlantic Stock Car “Championships Speed Weekend” on October 10 & 11 at the Centre for Speed (CFS), Atlantic Canada’s Super Speedway and Metro Moncton’s ‘Playground of Power’, located in nearby Grand Barachois.
A total of over $50,000 in payouts, including lap sponsorships, will be available for teams in the seven stock car divisions of Pro Stock, Sportsman, Streetstock, 4 cylinder Mini Stock and Four Fun, Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) modifieds and Legend stock car racing events during this upcoming weekend.
Two feature races will highlight the 2009 Atlantic Stock Car Championships with the Vance Hanes Auto Parts Sportsman 100 on Saturday, October 10th and the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 on Sunday, October 11th, both starting at 1:00 p.m. The October 10th event will also feature Atlantic Championship races for Legend, Mini Stock and Four Fun division drivers. Sunday’s action will also include Atlantic Championship racing for Streetstock (50 lap feature) competitors as well as 35-lap events for Sportsman and AOW Tour competitors.
NASCAR drivers J.R. Fitzpatrick of Cambridge, Ontario, and Donald Chisholm of Antigonish, Nova Scotia will highlight a field of top stock car drivers from throughout Atlantic Canada, including for the first time ever, competitors from two Newfoundland speedways – Avondale and Thunder Valley Speedways.
“Were very excited about this year’s Atlantic Championship events,” says Tim Wile, track promoter and general manager for the Centre for Speed (CFS). “We’ve got a super field of competitors in all divisions and the cars continue to register every day. We should have the strongest overall field of stock cars that we’ve ever seen at our facility for this years annual event, including drivers from all four Atlantic provinces thanks to our first-ever Newfoundland entries and strong representation from each of the stock car facilities in our region including Fredericton, Halifax, Sydney, Antigonish, and Charlottetown.”
The long weekend events are expected to attract most of the top drivers from throughout the four Atlantic provinces, including most area track and tour champions as well as a number of former champions and defending Atlantic Champs.
On Sunday, October 11th, the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 will feature CARQUEST Maritime Pro Stock Tour (MPST) champion, Wayne Smith (Timberlea, N.S.), who will be defending his 2008 Atlantic Championship title against the best Pro Stock drivers from our region, including Nova Scotians Donald Chisholm and John Flemming, local favorites Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek), Mike Stevens (Riverview) and Brian McNaughton (Lower Coverdale), as well as Bern Hickey of Avondale Speedway (NL). J.R. Fitzpatrick, a rising NASCAR Canadian Tire series driver, will also be competing in both the Pro Stock 150 on Sunday and the Legends feature on Saturday. This year, J.R. has been quite busy in both Canada and the United States, competing in a number of Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series events south of the border as part of the Kevin Harvick NASCAR racing team.
Other top regional Pro Stock competitors expected on Sunday include a number of teams from Nova Scotia including George Koszkulics (New Glasgow) and Craig Slaunwhite (Terrence Bay), Fredericton-area drivers Shaun Tucker, Greg Fahey along with PEI competitors Jonathan Hicken, Kris Hughes, Scott Livingston and Kris Fournier. Over 40 Pro Stock drivers have registered to compete for positions on the starting grid for the Maple Leaf Pro Stock 150 on Sunday.
Sunday’s action will also include top Streetstock track champions and drivers from throughout the Atlantic region in the very competitive Atlantic Streetstock Championship 50. If last year’s ‘photo finish’ is any indication, defending 2008 Atlantic Champ Fred Broussard from Sydney’s Island Speedway will have his hands full in this ‘edge of your seat’ Streetstock feature. Competitors from the AOW Tour will also battle it out in the AOW 35-lap main event.
On Saturday, October 10th, a total of 60 of the Maritimes top Sportsman drivers are expected to battle for positions on the 28-car starting grid for the Vance Hanes Auto Parts 100. Top competitors, including current and former track champions from most of the stock car tracks in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, are expected to make the trek to CFS for the 100 lap feature. The event will include top competitors and multi time track champs such as Dan Bourque (Grande Digue), Claude Gaudet (Barachois), Jim Duke (Moncton), Glyn Nott (Burton), Bradley Logan (Fredericton) and Jeff Dillman & Terry Roma (Halifax).
The Saturday program will also include track champions from throughout the region and other top drivers, including a few competitors from two Newfoundland speedways, in the very competitive 4 cylinder (Mini Stock, Four Fun). Both of these division drivers will be competing for their respective Atlantic Championship bragging rights in the Four Cylinder 35. Also included in the Saturday event will be drivers from the region’s Legends racecar series putting their skills to the test against J.R. Fitzpatrick in the Legends 50 feature race.
“There are two things that make this weekend event unique,” said track promoter Wile. “Fans, drivers and crews get a chance to celebrate the end of the racing season in friendly competition, without any pressure, and it’s also an opportunity to match skills with most of the top teams from throughout the region – in every class with a chance to be named the ‘best of the best’ in your division.”
Friday afternoon and evening on October 9th will feature practices for all divisions as well as a pit party.
Weekend passes for adults will be sold for $40 while a youth (5-15 years old) weekend pass will go for $10. Weekend Family Passes for 2 adults and 2 youths will also be available for $85 – a savings of $15! Furthermore, a limited amount of advance weekend passes for only $30 are available at Race Time located in Dieppe’s Champlain Mall.
On Saturday October 10th, individual day passes will be $20 for adults and $10 for youths while day passes for the October 11th races will be $25 for adults and $10 for youths. Monday, October 12th has been reserved as a rain date for either event.
The CENTRE for Speed is a 128-acre motor sports park which includes Atlantic Canada’s largest and fastest stock-car oval along with several other racing facilities. The CENTRE overlooks the Northumberland Straight and is located 5 kms east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach in the village of Grand Barachois, New Brunswick.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com
by Jay | Oct 7, 2009 | Canada
It was just one short month ago that Cambridge, Ontario’s J.R. Fitzpatrick was at Scotia Speedworld outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia racing, and winning in a Legend car. The game plan will be the same this upcoming weekend as Fitzpatrick will once again team up with RacingTrader.ca to race in the Annual Speed Weekend festivities at the CENTRE For Speed in Grand-Barachois, New Brunswick!
Fitzpatrick’s weekend will start off on Saturday, October 10th by stepping foot into the #3 CAT Rental Store/Vance Hanes Auto Parts Legend car that he won in at Scotia Speedworld back in September. The fifty lap Legend race will be on a complete compliment of racing on Saturday which will include racing in the Sportsman, Atlantic Open Wheel and Four Cylinder classes at the CENTRE.
The next day, Fitzpatrick will climb behind the wheel of the Univeral Truck and Trailer – Robbie MacLean Chevrolet Impala Pro Stock for the Maple Leaf Foods 150. This event is one of the most prestigious events in the Maritimes each year and is expected to be contested by a full field of Pro Stock drivers from the Atlantic Region and beyond! Fans have seen the Universal Truck and Trailer Impala on track all season racing in the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour with Charlottetown, P.E.I.s Robbie MacLean behind the wheel and will be a threat to win on Sunday as it has been all season throughout the Maritimes.
Fitzpatrick has had a busy season North and South of the border this season as the youngest Canadian Stock Car Champion has run races for Kevin Harvick Incorporated in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series. As a side dish to the compliment of NASCAR Racing down South, Fitzpatrick has been running his share of NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races which included a win in front of the big crowd at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal!
On board once again for his Eastern Canadian swing is RacingTrader.ca. The Fastest Growing Racing Classified and Online Community Website in Canada that was on board the #3 Legend car one month ago when Fitzpatrick pulled into Victory Lane at Scotia Speedworld and will be on the hunt for more victories with Fitzpatrick this weekend. We had too much fun not to do this again! said RacingTrader.ca Founder and Co-Owner Mark Williams.
The CENTRE For Speed can be found on Route 133, just outside of the scenic town of Shediac, New Brunswick. Spectator gates open at the stock car oval at 10am on Saturday and Sunday with racing beginning at 1pm. A full field of cars is expected in all divisions. A two day pass can be purchased at the front gate on race day for $40 (Adults) or $10 (Juniors, 5-15 years old). For more information on the weekend, please visit www.centreforspeed.com!
by Jay | Sep 23, 2009 | ACT, Canada, New England
Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) crowned Quebec City, Quebec veteran racer Donald Theetge as the 2009 Série ACT Castrol Champion. It was the second ACT Championship for the Theetge team. Theetge led the JPN Racing Patrick Laperle team by 33 points going into the final and longest race of the season, a 300-lap event on the 4/10ths mile oval at Autodrome St. Eustache, just outside Montreal.
Theetge was racing comfortably past the halfway mark in the 300-lap grind when he was involved in a major wreck on the front stretch. The race car suffered what appeared to be irreparable damage. “My team never gave up. My guys literally rebuilt the entire left side of the front suspension during the middle of the race. I have won this ACT Castrol title because of them. They were unbelievable, and I am very proud of how hard they worked to give us a chance to win the title”. Theetge finished 18th after returning to the race 50 laps down. He won the Championship following a bizarre set of events.
Laperle led a total of 189 laps of the event. He was leading around lap 268 when he appeared to have a tire going flat. Maintaining the lead but slowing dramatically until lap 270, Laperle knew he was in trouble. Sylvain Lacombe took over the lead on lap 270 and was then passed by eventual winner Jonathan Urlin of London, Ontario. Laperle started going back through the field. At this point there was not much question that he would have to pit under green flag conditions unless he could catch a ‘lucky’ caution flag.
On lap 273 Laperle’s cousin, Jacques Laperle, racing in only his second ACT Castrol event of the season, was running sixth on the lead lap. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, Jacques Laperle stopped his car under green in the outside lane on the backstretch, bringing out a yellow. The Jacques Laperle team claimed that they had a flat tire. ACT officials observed that the tire was not flat. Jacques Laperle was disqualified from the event for his actions of intentionally bringing out a yellow.
Following a timing and scoring re-check of several positions which was requested by the Patrick Laperle team, there was a scoring adjustment on the Daniel Descoste finishing position. There was also a procedural penalty issued to the Patrick Laperle team by ACT officials for violation of the ACT rules and procedures. A Patrick Laperle crew member left their pit stall and entered the pit stall of cousin Jacques Laperle, just prior to the alleged ‘flat tire’ on the backstretch. Patrick Laperle was issued a one-lap penalty for this infraction. Under ACT rules and procedures the driver is responsible for the conduct of his team. Patrick Laperle finished the event in 8th position, the first car two laps down.
With only 17 of the 33 cars that started the event finishing, Donald Theetge managed to complete the race in 18th position. The final results awarded Theetge the Championship by a single point.
The event had 13 cautions, five lead changes among 4 different drivers. Jonathan Urlin won $5,000 for winning the race.
The top ten final standings of the 2009 ACT Castrol Série are:
Pos. Car # Name Points
1. 80QC Donald Theetge 733
2. 91QC Patrick Laperle 732
3. 48QC Karl Allard 697
4. 21QC Jean-Francois Dery 641
5. 51QC Patrick Hamel 630
6. 5QC Patrick Cliche 596
7. 27QC Alexandre Gingras 523
8. 97QC Jacques Poulin 500
9. 11QC Claude Leclerc 496
10. 92QC Jonathan Desbiens 485
The annual Banquet of Champions will be held in November and the 2009 Série ACT Castrol will be honored.
