For Immediate Release
Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets
Flamboro Speedway (ON)
May 24, 2015
by Cindy Lorenz
Photos by Ralph Webbe
MACK DEMAN IN VICTORY LANE AT FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY
Lucas Oil Can-Am Midget Defending Champion Mack DeMan grabbed the checkered flag Saturday night at Flamboro Speedway. In the second race of this series in their 50th Anniversary Year, DeMan started 9th and took the lead on lap 16 from Todd Cresswell. In 'Victory Lane' for his first time this year DeMan wanted to thank car owner Andy Mackereth for a great set up on the car and all his help during the week. "The Mackereth boys and Crown Steering and Brake are what makes this car go around. I especially want to thank Lucas Oil for all their support of this series and for all they do for me as well," said DeMan. Sharing the spotlight in the winners circle was Cresswell with a strong 2nd place finish and 18 year old young gun Tyler Turnbull in 3rd after an impressive run from the 8th place starting spot.
Jeff Blackburn took the lead at the drop of the green with Cresswell in hot pursuit. Adrian Stahle, running TQ #50 this year in honor of the 50th season was third. Dave Hickson and Barry Dunn rounded out the top five. Cresswell stormed past Blackburn on the next lap to take the point. Blackburn held off the strong run of Stahle as Dunn found an opening under Hickson and took over 4th place. One lap later Turnbull was now in the top five. DeMan had a challenge to pass a strong running Hickson who had a lock on the 6th place. Finding an opening, DeMan made his move passing Hickson and Turnbull to get into fifth place. Passing Dunn one lap later, DeMan stepped up the pace to catch the leaders.
Cresswell opened up a ten car lead over Blackburn as Stahle now had DeMan knocking on his door. Dunn was now in fifth. Turnbull sized up and passed Dunn and again was in the top five. DeMan, getting stronger as the laps ticked off, caught Blackburn for second and set his sights on Cresswell. Turnbull also made a quick move around Blackburn to get into the top three.
At the halfway point Cresswell held the lead but DeMan was catching him going into the turns. Making a wide sweep in turn 3 and coming strong off of turn 4 was the key to DeMan making the pass on Cressweel and taking the lead. One lap later the first caution came out as Hickson spun in turn four setting up the field for a restart. DeMan wasted no time at the point with Cresswell now on the hunt. Dunn made a quick pass of Blackburn to take over 4th. Blackburn fell off the pace and went into the pits, out of the race. A second caution came out as Rookie Craig Pitchell spun in turn four. The cars again tightened up for the restart with DeMan at the helm. Cresswell and Turnbull ran nose to tail with Dunn now having Darren McLennan challenging him for the spot. With five to go, McLennan took over fourth place in a great run from his 12th place starting spot.
DeMan stretched his lead over the field as the checkered flag waved. Cresswell held on to second followed by Turnbull, McLennan and Dunn. Of note...Rookie Steve Murdock got his first top ten finish.
Heats were won by Lucas Smith and Todd Cresswell. The next race for the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets will be on June 13th at Peterborough Speedway.
Final Finish of the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets at Flamboro Speedway on May 23, 2015 was....1. MACK DEMAN, 2. Todd Cresswell, 3. Tyler Turnbull, 4. Darren McLennan, 5. Barry Dunn, 6. Ryan Fraser, 7. Brandon Zavarella, 8. Adrian Stahle, 9. Andy Mackereth, 10. Steve Murdock (R), 11. Rob Neely, 12. James Marche (R), 13. Dave Hickson, 14. Craig Pitchell (R), 15. Jeff Blackburn. DNS...Lucas Smith and Jerrid Morphy.
Unofficial points for the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets as of May 23, 2015 are...1. MACK DEMAN...344, 2. Ryan Fraser...317, 3. Tyler Turnbull...316, 4. Darren McLennan...291, 5. Barry Dunn...276, 6. Brandon Zavarella...275, 7. Todd Cresswell...274, 8. Rob Neely...265, 9. Dave Hickson...231, 10. James Marche (R)...227, 11. Steve Murdock (R)...226, 12. Craig Pitchell (R)...206, 13. Jeff Blackburn...192, 14. Lucas Smith...173, 15. Jerrid Morphy (R)...141, 16. Adrian Stahle...128, 17. Andy Mackereth...120, 18. Craig Mackereth...115.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets, contact Cindy Lorenz at clorenz74@yahoo.com
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=21043.msg113480#msg113480
