CHICKENBURGER RACE WRAP

September 2, LUMBERMART TWIN 50s

LUMBERMART THUNDER – LIVELY WINS 50, MATTHEWS EDGES WARREN FOR TITLE

Though he knew he had an outside shot at the championship, 2010 Lumbermart Thunder champion Stevie Lively (Shubenacadie) was out for the win on Friday night during the season finale of the class – and that’s exactly what he did! Lively put on a show in the #32 Hubley Auto Sales Honda Civic to take the convincing win in the Lumbermart 50, his fourth feature win of the season and fifth of his Lumbermart Thunder car career. The battle for second ended up being the battle for the title in the end as Dave Matthews (Kennetcook) held off a hard charging Matthew Warren (White’s Lake) after Warren charged from the rear following an altercation in the opening stages of the extra distance race. Andrew Cluett (Kennetcook) brought home his #94 car in fourth with Andrew Warren (White’s Lake) not too behind him in fifth. Veteran Thunder car pilot Drew MacEachern (Dartmouth) led a majority of the opening half of the race but fell to sixth at the finish of the event.

Jordan Pirri (West Chezzetcook) and Ross Harvie (Kennetcook) took the honors in the ten lap qualifying heat races.

When the points were tallied up, it proved that the one position that Warren could not gain on Matthews was the difference in first or second place in the points. Matthews would edge Warren by one point over the 2011 season with Lively vaulting to third after Tylor Hawes (Sheet Habour) finished fifteenth on Friday night. Kirk Mullane of Hammonds Plains was awarded with the Rookie of the Year Award. The youngster, whose car won the Media Race this season with Calvin Clarke (The Chronicle Herald) at the helm finished tenth overall in the point standings.

LUMBERMAT LIGHTNING – SMITH COMPLETES CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON WITH BIG WIN IN LUMBERMART 50

Jorden Smith (Lakeside) closed off a fantastic season of racing at Scotia Speedworld in the Lumbermart Lightning class by taking the victory in the Lumbermart 50. Smith, who captured his fifth feature and second 50-lap feature of the season would clinch the championship title by just starting the marquee event. The win was far from easy though as the #144 DaBest Construction Dodge Neon was flanked by Nick Hurshman (Lakeside) for many of the 50-laps of the event. The two went at it in a see-saw battle for the top spot before Smith took the advantage in the late laps. Hurshman had to settle for second while Jamie Dillman (Carrolls Corner) brought home his Chevrolet in third. Completing the top five was Cody Singer (Kennetcook) and “The Pit Lizard” Jamie Creamer (Spryfield).

Heat races in the 28-car field were won by Creamer, Robert Henry (Eastern Passage) and John Poan (Hantsport). The fans were treated to a massive smoke show on the front straight following the feature by Smith Brothers Racing drivers Smith and Hurshman. On the final tally, Smith will win the championship by 93 points over Dillman. Mark Campbell (Halifax) finished twelfth overall in the standings, good enough for the Rookie of the Year Award in the Lumbermart Lightning division over Mike Brown (Urbania) and Matt Farrell (Stewiacke).

TRUCKS – BROWN BAGS SECOND FEATURE WIN

Vernon Brown (Antrim) picked up his second main feature win of the 2011 campaign Friday night at Scotia Speedworld in the Truck class. Brown, in the #80 R. Dearman Foresty/Town and Country Auto Salvage Chevrolet had to hold off Derek Sutherland (Dartmouth) and Jason Fenton (Eastern Passage) for the win as the two were nipping at his tailgate in the closing laps. Rounding out the top five was rookie Ryan Goldsmith (Bridgewater) and point leader JP Arsenault (Church Point).

Goldsmith picked up the win in the ten lap qualifier. The heat race was marred by a scary incident into Turn One on lap two as Dan Smith’s (Lower Sackville) #39 truck sailed off the course and into the tire barrier surrounding the track. Smith was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Halifax for observation after the wreck. Arsenault will lead the points heading into the final race of the season on Finale Friday, September 9th.

HYDRAULICS PLUS BANDOLEROS – MEEHAN TAKES WIN IN WILD FINISH

Just when it looked like the Butcher brothers were on their way to another 1-2 finish and Jarrett Butcher was on his way to a third consecutive feature win, contact in Turn Two took that all away.

Entering the last lap, the Butchers (Porter’s Lake) looked like they had the 15-lap Hydraulics Plus Bandolero feature wrapped up. Cole, who trailed Jarrett on the final lap made contact with his brother’s car on the exit of Turn Two, sending the #3 car around. Enter Adam Meehan (Rawdon), who flashed by the spinning #3 to take the victory in the feature! Jarrett rebounded to be credited with second, ahead of lady driver Megan Parrott (Beaverbank). Dylan Sutherland (Beaverbank) was scored in fourth with point leader Cole Tanner (Shubenacadie) finishing in fifth place.

Cole Butcher took the win in the eight lap heat race. The point standings now see Tanner up over Jarrett Butcher by just four points heading into Friday night’s finale.

COCO BEACH LEGENDS – MEEHAN SCORES POPULAR VICTORY

The Scotia Speedworld crowd erupted Friday night like never before when “Miss Rawdon Rocket” Emily Meehan brought her Coco Beach Legend car underneath the checkered flag first to collect her first ever feature win in the division. Meehan, in her #75 Ocean Truck Equipment Legend out dueled point leader Dylan Blenkhorn (Truro) and former Canadian champion Justin MacNeill (Bedford) in the closing laps for the popular win. Driving Cy Harvey’s #37, Steve Pye of Lantz was fourth while Centre Burlington’s Richard Salter brought his #16 car home in fifth place.

Leading Cathy Ledwidge Rookie of the Year candidate Dan Michaud Jr (Cole Harbour) and Shelby Baker (Fall River) each took away wins in their respective ten lap heat race. The rookie battle tightened up to 14 points between Michaud and Meehan on Friday night and the two will look to settle that battle Friday night. Meanwhile, Dylan Blenkhorn leads his father Paul by 30 points as the championship will be decided during Finale Friday!