CARSTAR Weekly Racing Series
Race Wrap & Full Results

May 25th: CTV Night

TOURSEC LIGHTNING
“Mr. Lightning on the Hill” wore the Toursec Lightning field out on Friday night in their 25-lap season opener.

After starting on the front row by virtue of his heat win, Steve Matthews (Bedford) wasted no time hopping out to the lead. By the time CTV Morning Live’s Kelly Linehan threw the checkered flag, Matthews walked out to a full straightaway lead on the field in his No. 198 Edward Collins Contracting Dodge Neon.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been to Victory Lane,” said Matthews after the race. “Our team put a lot of work in this car over the Winter and it has paid off.”

Reigning champion Scott Thibodeau (Williamswood) and David Jollimore (Spryfield) put on a spirited battle for the runner-up spot in the feature with Thibodeau able to seize the spot in the waning laps. Jollimore finished in third followed by 2017 Tim Hortons at the Airport Rookie of the Year Travis Keefe (Clayton Park) and “Rational” Richard Drake (Halifax).

Matthews and Jollimore scored heat race victories.

TOURSEC THUNDER
It was only a matter of time before Neil Miousse (Kentville) got to victory lane in the Toursec Thunder division. Friday night was finally that time.

Miousse won the 10-lap heat race and started on the pole for the 25-lap feature. On paper it may have looked easy but the former Speedway 660 Sharp Shooter had to hold off a frantic charge from Chris Hatcher to score the win.

“This feels awesome,” said Miousse of his first Scotia Speedworld win. “The 11 car was coming and I knew he was fast. I looked up to see two laps to go and all I did was look in the mirror.” 
Hatcher (Beaver Bank) showed speed throughout the night but after having to start seventh due to a penalty in the heat race he had his work cut out for him in a tough Thunder car field. The runner-up in the division in 2017 would finish second in the first feature of 2018 ahead of Greenwood’s Jesse Deveau.

Belnan’s Darren Flemming and Dartmouth’s Drew MacEachern completed the top five in the 10-car field.

STRICTLY HYDRAULICS LEGENDS
Emily Meehan (Rawdon Gold Mines) scored a popular win in the Strictly Hydraulics Legends division on Friday evening.

Meehan started seventh on the field and quickly got up on the wheel, making passes to position herself at the front of the field and into a battle with Shelby Baker (Fall River) for the win. Baker, who worked by reigning champion Paul Goulden (Shelburne) a few laps prior, had Meehan working him over before a caution flew with seven laps to go. The restart set the pair up on the front row but Meehan was on it on the outside, quickly hopping to the lead and slamming the door on the Lap 18 restart.

Meehan would not look back en route to her first win in a couple seasons.

Baker came home second in the 19-car field followed by Goulden. Danny Harvey (Lantz) and “The Flying Frenchman” Michael Cormier (Grand Barachois, NB) completed the top five.

Heat races were won by Goulden and Tim Hortons at the Airport Rookie of the Year contender Nathan Blackburn (Timberlea).


AFFORDABLE FUELS SPORTSMAN
Kirk Ryan (Upper Nine Mile River) said at the Rules Meeting way back in December that 2018 would be his year.

So far, so good for the driver of the No. 54 car.

Ryan won the Affordable Fuels Sportsman feature on Friday night for his first win of the year and first feature win since last August. Ryan led the way all race, holding off “the Fords from Porter’s Lake,” as Jordan Veinotte and Aaron Boutilier played chase at the end of 38-laps.
How did “Mr. Excitement” hold the two Fords off?

“I kind of did what those Fords were doing, I tucked my front wheel on the bottom of the rumble strip!” said Ryan with a smile after exiting his car.

Alex Johnson (Enfield) and Brentley Pirri (Three Fathom Harbour) completed the top five in the 14-car field.

Ryan and Pete Miller (Kennetcook) won qualifying heat races for Sportsman cars on CTV Night. Miller ran up front for most of the night but developed an issue related to the fuel pick up system which relegated the former champion to 12th on the night.