Maritime Auto Glass
Beginner Bandolero

Heat Race 1: 83 63 92 17 10-1 33-5
Heat Race 2: 99 44 47 57 12 43-2

The Maritime Auto Glass Beginner Bandoleros put on another thriller of a feature, leaving fans on the edge of their seats with the action only the class can deliver. When the checkered flag flew, it was McKenna Little (Williamswood) standing tall with her second win of 2023, but it was not easy.

Bristol Matthews (Nine Mile River) and Little battled for the lead in the middle stages of the 12-lap feature before the two hooked bumpers for the lead, sending the No. 99 for a spin and both to the back of the lead lap cars in fourth and fifth for the ensuing restart.

On the restart, Hudson Ruff (Long Reach, NB) was slow to come to speed, allowing Shelby Chisholm (Antigonish) to race by for the lead. While they exchanged the top spot, Little and Matthews stormed to the front. The holes opened for Little and the No. 44 emerged with the lead with three laps to go and never looked back. Chisholm held on for second while Matthews edged out Ruff in a tight battle for the final podium position. Hudson Linzel-Waddell (Charlottetown, PE) finished fifth in only his second career Bandolero race and first at Scotia Speedworld.

Ruff and Matthews took home heat races.
Little maintains the point lead as the division competes next during Fanfest on Friday.  

Toursec Mini Stock

Heat Race 1: 92 45 8 20 96 34 87 05
Heat Race 2: 68 47 84 58 11 17 13 3-9

“Heartbreaking” could be used to describe the first two Toursec Mini Stock races of the year for Travis Keefe (Chester). A hub failure sidelined the No. 45 the first week with a flat tire ending the Toursec 50 early for the multi-time winner at the Speedworld.

He was not to be denied on the third attempt though as Keefe raced to the win in the 25-lap feature on Friday night. Keefe took the lead on Lap Three after jockeying for the spot with Dylan MacMillan (Maitland), who won his heat win and, like Keefe, had a couple of weeks where his finishes did not indicate his speed. The caution two laps into the feature would be the only one in the feature as Keefe would take advantage on the restart and run away from the field for the victory.

MacMillan would battle with a half dozen other cars at the end as the accordion came together for the runner-up spot with a handful of laps to go. Kyle Sinton (Truro) would get by for his best finish of the season in second, followed by Darren Hodder (Beaver Bank), former champion Colin Matthews (Dartmouth) with his best finish of the season, and Ross Moore (Lake Egmont) in fifth. Chad Sinton (Truro), sophomore Chris McMullin (Shubenacadie) and MacMillan would just miss out on top five efforts in the 16 car field.

MacMillan and Hodder took home heat wins. Moore moves into the point lead after three events.

Strictly Hydraulics
& Industrial Supply Legends

Heat Race 1: 00 13 8x 7 14 46 17 3-1
Heat Race 2: 71M 39 07 81 73 71 27
Heat Race 3: 25 18 24 19 20 8 03DQ

After getting started off on a bad foot during the Season Opener with a mechanical failure, Gage Gilby (Enfield) has put it behind him with a big win during the INEX National Qualifier for Legend cars.

Gilby, the 2023 INEX Winter Nationals Young Lions Champion, started ninth in the 22-car field and wasted little time getting to the front in the extended distance 50-lap feature. In fact, it took him seven laps to get to the back bumper of pole sitter Caden Tufts (Halifax), making the eventual winning move on Lap Eight.

A final restart with eight laps to go would put fellow Young Lion Ayden Christensen (Windsor Junction) on his back bumper for the run to the checkers. While it appeared that Christensen was poised to make a challenge for the victory, he could not solve Gilby and shadowed the No. 25 to the line. Following some exciting racing in the middle portion of the event, the top five got settled out quick on the final restart with Dawson Noble (Upper Nine Mile River), Tufts and Pro driver Devin Wadden (Hammonds Plains) following the top two across the line on Lap 50.

Tufts, Gilby and Chase MacKay (Bear Cove) took home heat wins on Friday.

With his third consecutive top four and second runner-up finish in the 2023 CARSTAR Weekly Racing Series, Christensen moves into the Strictly Hydraulics Legends point lead heading into Fanfest.

Bay Equipment Rentals
Sportsman

Heat Race 1: 56 88 62 96 01 51 47
Heat Race 2: 25 85 31 37 92 14 27 74-2

Dylan Dowe (Bedford) scored his third career Bay Equipment Rentals Late Model Sportsman victory and first of 2023 on Friday night.

Dowe passed Darren Hilchie (Lake Charlotte) on the outside on a final restart with two laps to go. Championship point leader Alex Johnson (Enfield) was able to slide by Hilchie in Turn Three coming to the white flag to take second with Hilchie holding off over a hard charging Pete Miller (Kennetcook) for the final podium position. Fifth belonged to Cory Leonard (Goodwood) in his first start of the season.

Mark Josey (Halifax) and Craig MacDonald (Waverley) scored popular heat race wins in the 16 car field. It was Josey’s first heat win in quite some time in the Wade Slauenwhite Special while MacDonald was in the No. 25 as Andrew Lively (Middle Sackville) was away for a wedding.

The Bay Equipment Rentals Late Model Sportsman return to competition for their third race of 2023 during Fanfest.