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We are now entering the last month of the Maritime Stock Car Race season and what a year it has been. Records have fallen, new stars have risen to the top, and more of NASCAR's top flight competitors than ever before have invaded the tracks for the big races. Three "big guns" showed their stuff at Speedway 660 during the "Speed Weekend" extravaganza alone. Two more joined the fray for the IWK 250 in Antigonish. No announcement has been made for the Atlantic Championships as yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if one surfaces.
They all displayed their talent on the track but with the exception of NASCAR's Reagan Smith, none of the others were competitors at the end. The "local" guys held their ground every time, with Halifax driver, Craig Slaunwhite capturing both the Scott Kelly Memorial and the Peterbilt 250. This speaks volumes about the talent we have here in the Maritimes and one of the reasons a National US racing magazine named the Carquest Pro Stock Tour as the best organised and run tour in North America. Definately a huge feather in the cap of those such as Ernie and Mike Ledwedge, who battle it out in the pits every time, keeping the show organized and professional.
This week the Tour runs its final race on Saturday at Scotia Speedworld with the "Parts for Trucks" 200. The points title is still up for grabs, with at least four guys still able to capture the title. Rumour has it that this might be the last run for some of the competitors as expenses mount and sponsors tighten purse strings and team members move on to other things in their lives.
It takes a lot of dedication for crew members to run a complete season, with travel, late nights, and time being away from family creating added pressure. It's not often that they get much attention as they work in the pits but any racer will tell you that it couldn't be done without them. They are the true unsung heroes of this sport.
At every "local" track, the points battles rage on as few races are left on the schedule and victory can make or break a whole season. These guys are the backbone of the sport as it is from them that the new stars emerge and drivers cut their teeth in a division.
Not often do I mention things that I have a personal stake in, but this week is an exception. My wife and I, through our race website www.racingspectator.ca, offer a trophy to a driver called the "Driver of the Year" award. This is the sixth year we have offered it and no driver can win it twice. Fans nominate their driver of choice and then fans go into the site and vote through an on-line poll for their choice. No driver from the top rung here in the Maritimes, the Carquest Pro Stock Tour, has ever won it although two of the winners, Springhill's Sandy Livingston Jr. and PEI's Jonathan Hicken, have won it while competing in weekly racing and then went on to the Pro Stock Tour. Livingston was actually the first winner of this award. The top of the leaderboard in this year's race covers a lot of geography with Fred Broussard of Island Speedway leading and being closely chased by St John racer Rick Cashol and Newfoundland's Avondale Speedway two time champion Dennis Weir. Several other still have a chance as voting doesn't end until September 19th.
Once the tour finale is completed, all eyes will be on Riverside Speedway as the top guns from Nascar's Canadian Tire Tour invade the "high banks" for the second year in a row. Last year many of these drivers heaped high praise on the Riverside Speedway facility, calling it the best short track in Canada one one of the best in North America. If you venture down Antigonish way next weekend, you will quickly see why. The track is a third mile replica of the famed Bristol Motor Speedway in the States and no expense was spared in the reconstruction a little over a year or so ago.
Carquest Pro Stock Tour competitor Donald Chisholm will once again enter this one. Last year he had a very strong run until mechanical failure forced him to the sidelines.There are rumours that a couple of other Pro Stockers might be considering entering, but nothing official has been announced as yet. One name that has bounced around is that of Rollie MacDonald, the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Famer, but a less than stellar year on the Carquest tour might mitigate against this. At any rate, these guys put on a very professional show and the racing isn't bad either.
There is lots more to say but it will have to wait for another week. "Let's go racing, boys" as Darrell Waltrip likes to say.
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