CHICKENBURGER RACE WRAP

July 15, WEEKLY RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY CLASSIC ROCK 89.9 HAL FM

DARTMOUTH DODGE SPORTSMAN - 17TH ANNUAL SHRINERS CLASSIC

It always seems to come down to inches here.” – Colby Smith

Colby Smith (Cape Sable Island) and Jeff Dillman (Middle Musquodoboit) found themselves in a duel that we will not soon forget for the 17th Annual Shriners Classic trophy. Smith, the 2010 winner and Dillman, the 2009 victor were each chasing their second Classic win and like finishes we have seen twice previous this season it came down to a photo finish after a green-white-checkered showdown.

Smith took the lead on lap 17 from rookie Brentley Pirri (Three Fathom Harbour) and held the lead until Dillman charged his way to the front following several cautions at the midway point shuffled front runners the likes of Russell Smith Jr (Lakeside) and Mike Alexander (Cole Harbour) to the rear of the pack. Dillman was setting up for an outside pass on the defending Classic winner in the closing laps when Kirk Ryan’s #2 slowed to a stop on the back straightaway, drawing a yellow flag with two circuits remaining.

When it looked like Smith had the advantage out of Turn Two on lap 49, Dillman powered his Dodge back on the outside line to pull even with Smith at the white flag. Smith tried everything he could in the #77 Harlow Construction/Wade’s Wire Traps Chevrolet to hold off the hard charging Dillman, but it wasn’t enough as the #08 Absolute Traffic Services Dodge got the run on the high side out of Turn Four to take the victory by mere inches!

Aaron Boutilier (Porters Lake), who was involved in the early wreck with Pirri rallied from the rear of the pack and used the late race restart to take third in his #4 CARSTAR Ford Fusion. Fourth belonged to the returning Phil Barkhouse Jr., (Beaverbank) in the Robert Hage owned #45 Canadian Tire/Sackville Trenching Impala while Windsor’s Fred Schofield (#05 Schofield Autopro Fusion) completed the top five. Ryan and Mike Banks (Wilmot) took away the heat race wins.

Combined with the win and Smith Jr.’s 11th place finish, Dillman will take the point lead heading into an offweek for the Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman. Dillman used this race back in 2009 to catapult him to the Sportsman crown and will look to do the same in 2011!

COCO BEACH LEGENDS – BAKER CAPTURES FIRST LEGENDS WIN

Like Dylan Blenkhorn had done two weeks prior, another former Hydraulics Plus Bandolero champion broke through to capture his first Coco Beach Legend car win in the 2011 campaign. The ’07 titlist Shelby Baker (Fall River) drove his #53 Atlantic Tiltload Legend car to victory on Friday night, holding off a hard charging Matt Moore (Falmouth) and Dylan Blenkhorn (Truro) in the process. Point leader Steve Pye (Lantz) was hunting the leaders but ran out of time and had to settle for fourth ahead of Paul Blenkhorn (Truro).

Cathy Ledwidge Rookie of the Year candidate Dan Michaud Jr (Cole Harbour) picked up his first career checkered flag in the first heat race of the evening while “The Legend” Cy Harvey (Elmsdale) was victorious in the other 10-lap qualifier.

TRUCKS – RITCHIE PICKS UP MUCH NEEDED WIN

Coming from their off-week, Gordon Ritchie (Antrim) picked up some much needed momentum by notching the win on Shriners Classic Night. Ritchie, who came into competition just nine points behind the leader made the winning pass in the first half of the 20-lap feature and held off Church Point’s JP Arsenault for the victory. Vernon Brown of Antrim was third, followed by point leader Dan Smith (Lower Sackville) and Bridgewayer’s Ryan Goldsmith.

Arsenault was the winner of the 10-lap qualifying heat race. With his performance on Friday night, the driver of the #4 Pico et Bebbite Chevrolet should be back in control of the point standings – albeit by a single point over Smith. Ritchie, the 2010 champion will look for back-to-back victories this Friday night as apart of Lumbermart Night.

LUMBERMART THUNDER – LIVELY WIN SECOND FEATURE OF SEASON

The defending champion of the Lumbermart Thunder division became the first repeat feature winner of the 2011 campaign on Friday night as he edged out ’10 runner up Tylor Hawes for the victory. “Am I really [the first repeat winner this season],” Stevie Lively (Shubenacadie) asked in victory lane. “That is awesome. For this to be my second win of the season considering I only won one race last year is great!”

Hawes, from Sheet Harbour tried to become the fifth different winner in as many races but Lively had got the best of the #01 MacDonald Fencing/Fred M. Dunphy Honda on the final restart of the evening. Hawes dedicated the win to Dunphy, who was celebrating his birthday at the Speedworld on Friday. Third belonged to Matthew Warren (White’s Lake) in the #31 Markland Associates Honda, who admitted in victory lane that he is thinking points after making gains on the point leader Dave Matthews (Kennetcook), who finished right in his tire tracks in fourth. Joey Lawson of Porters Lake completed the top five in the 25-lap feature.

Teejay Awalt (Beaverbank), Jon Bonin (Glen Haven) and Warren each picked up heat wins in the 25 car field. The Lumbermart Thunder cars now head for one of their biggest races of the year in the way of the mid-season Lumbermart 50. One year ago it was Matthews who picked up the win and a win here would extend his point lead, which is now down to a single point.

LUMBERMART LIGHTNING – SMITH SHINES ON SHRINERS CLASSIC NIGHT

Jorden Smith (Lakeside) was not to be denied in the main feature for the Lumbermart Lightning division. Smith picked up the feature win after trouble in his heat race put him deep in the field in the qualifier results. Jamie Dillman (Carrolls Corner) came home with his best feature finish of the season in his #158 Scotia Auto Salvage Chevrolet with second while “Crazy” Craig Cordeau (Windsor) closed out the podium in third. Smith Brothers Racing pilot Nick Hurshman of Lakeside came home in the fourth spot while Lightning veteran Brian Parrott (Beaverbank) returned to the division for fifth place. Parrott’s daughter Megan races in the Hydraulics Plus Bandolero division, which saw their off-night on July 15th.

Heat wins in the field of two dozen Lightning cars went to Parrott, JR Lawson (Shubenacadie) and Hurshman. The Lumbermart Lightning cars are back on Friday for their 50-lap feature. Last season it was Hurshman who drove to victory after Russell Smith Jr’s #144 car lost power on the last lap after dominating the feature. Who will come home on top this season? Find out Friday night!

Until next time, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track!