SPEEDWORLD SEASON SETUP ON SUNDAY

Months of anticipation will come to an end this Sunday as the first period of open track time will take the stage at “Atlantic Canada’s Action Centre.” For five of the Weekly Racing Series divisions it is time for the annual Test ‘n Tune at Scotia Speedworld where the cars and stars of the Sportsman, Truck, Legend and Lumbermart Thunder and Lightning classes will get to hit the track in the first multi-car practice session of the year. It is also the first opportunity to see some new combinations on track. Whether it is a different driver in a different division, a new paint scheme, a new number or a new crew, the opportunity to try new things is here! If you would like to take in the Test ‘n Tune for yourself on Sunday, it is easy to do so. Admission to the pits for the 12-5pm event is $5 while grandstand admission is free!

Last season’s Test ‘n Tune featured a few single car spins and one incident which saw Dan Delorey’s tire flying off his #19 Thunder car. The center piece from the wheel came off as the car entered the apex of the first and second turns and flew up and over the wall in Turn Two. “I’ve never had a wheel break like that before,” said Delorey after the incident. The Afton, Antigonish County driver ran a part time season in 2010 and has three heat wins and four top ten finishes in the past three seasons.

Speaking of familiar faces in new places, you can add another name to the list of potential Cathy Ledwidge Memorial Rookie of the Year candidates in the Legends division. Former Lumbermart Lightning car champion Dan Michaud, Jr. is stepping up to the competitive class after three full seasons in the four cylinder class. In those three seasons Michaud racked up seven heat wins, seven feature wins, nineteen podium, twenty-five top fives and twenty-nine top ten finishes – each of which are second to Russell Smith Jr., who is moving up to the Sportsman class. The Legend division is anticipated to have one of the highest counts of rookies seen in recent years, making the top freshman crown one of the most exciting championship chases as we head into the 2011 campaign.

It looks like Kyle Gammon will continue to build on his numbers amassed in the Lumbermart Thunder division this season as he has announced his intentions to run in 2011. Gammon, who ran part time in 2010, has eight heat wins, two “B” Feature wins, 6 “A” main victories along with fourteen podium, nineteen top five and twenty-four top ten finishes in the popular four cylinder division in the past three season. The driver of the #98 ranks tied for the lead in most feature wins with former two-time titlist Derek MacCallum and Dave Matthews and ranks up with those two when it comes to the other statistical categories.

While MacCallum moved up to the Legend division last season, Matthews is scheduled to be at the helm of his familiar #99 in 2011. Matthews comes off an exciting end to ’10 as he not only finished second in the 50-lap finale but he also got to do some Legend car racing on Super Sunday at the Speedworld. When you add them to the mix of dozens more drivers looking for Friday night glory, you have the ingredients for one fantastic summer for “the BEST Four Cylinder Drivers in Atlantic Canada!”

2009 Scotia Speedworld Legends champion Scott MacLean has been busy in the past few months. He has been preparing race cars for Capital City Speedway (ON) champion Chad Windsor and the two recently took away third place honors at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This weekend the duo, along with Speedworld regular Jerry Austin will be attempting to move up the podium two spots more in Loudon, New Hampshire. Though the driver lineup hasn’t been confirmed for the 2011 season, MacLean has told me the #61 will be ready to go for May 22nd! For more information on MacLean Motorsports, visit their newly revamped website at www.macleanmotorsports.com.

While the Weekly Racing Series opener is still two weeks away, the action heats up the Speedworld oval next weekend with the CARQUEST 100 – the season opener for the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour. The Maritime League of Legends Tour will also be in attendance for a fifty lap feature to kick off their summer. To get all the news leading up to the CARQUEST 100, please visit MaritimeProStockTour.com and check out my column that ironically has the same name as this one. I know, right? Really easy to keep track of!

You can also get advance tickets to the CARQUEST 100 (or any other Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour event at the Speedworld) by heading over to TicketAtlantic.com. That is also the place where you can get your ticket to the USHRA Monster Jam shows on June 11th and 12th. The lineup this season is impressive and includes GRAVE DIGGER ®, Son-uva Digger ®, Crushstation, Shock Therapy and Excaliber. If you have not seen Crushstation before, you’ll want to be at the Speedworld for one (or all) of the shows as the “Monstah Lobstah” will sure to leave you on the edge-of-your-seat! After all, what’s better than seafood and an Atlantic Canadian summer? That’s what I thought!

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