HOLMAN TAKES 1ST WIN, NEELY TAKES CHAMPIONSHIP
The final race of the 2012 Lucas Oil Can-Am Midget season saw a new Champion crowned and a first time winner grabbed the checkered flag at Flamboro Speedway (Ont) on Saturday night. Rob Neely, driving TQ #74 for Ken and Cindy Lorenz, captured his second Championship by 17 points over Darren McLennan. A very excited Chris Holman won his first ever feature race with a sweep of the field for all 25 laps as well as his heat race.
McLennan lead the points battle over Neely by 23 coming into the final event of the year. Lorenz and Justin Fraser worked on the #74 hoping to find the perfect set up. Neely went out and won his heat race giving him an extra 10 points. McLennan, running in the same heat, spun with one lap to go, now forcing him to run the 'B' main to qualify and no points. Finishing 3rd in the 'B' main, he would now start 15th in the Feature race of the night.
As the green flag flew by starter Dale Shunamon, for the last race of the 47th season of the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets, Holman took the lead from his pole position starting spot followed by Jeff Blackburn. By the end of lap one, Neely came from 5th place to third. At the beginning of lap three Todd Cresswell broke a front axle and brushed the wall coming out of turn four taking him out of the race. Holman again took the lead with Blackburn and Neely having their own battle for second spot.
With 11 laps in Neely found an opening inside of Blackburn and made a quick pass in turn three and set his sites on the fast paced Holman. DeMan was 4th and James Gray moved into the top five. McLennan was now in 10th place. Dave Hickson spun in turn four bringing out the second caution. As the field returned to green the red flag came out as Gray spun in turn four and collected Kyle. Close behind, Jonathan Reid, driving for Harry Macy, went into the wall in turn three and Andy Mackereth got into him. After a quick clean up by the safety crew, Reid and Mackereth retired to the pits and Gray and Kyle rejoined the field at the back. Blackburn also went into the pits for repairs. He would also rejoin the field at the restart.
Holman took the lead with Neely close behind. DeMan was in third as Daniel Bois and Corey Moesker joined the top five. McLennan was now up to seventh place. One lap later McLennan passed Adrian Stahle for 6th. Two laps later Gray was up to McLennan after starting at the rear after the red flag. The laps ticked down with Holman, Neely and DeMan in a cluster. Bois and Moesker battled for fourth place. With 2 laps to go, Gray passed McLennan, sealing his chances of catching up to Neely for the Point's Championship. After the race it was found that McLennan had an issue with a loose panyard bar in the rear affecting the handling of the car.
With the checkered flags waving Holman took the win followed by Neely and DeMan. Bois kept the 4th spot as Moesker finished 5th. In Victory Lane Holman dedicated his win to the late Roger Riberdy and Bill Lyons. "I want to thank Wayne Gray and Cliff Walsh for all their help. I also want to thank my sponsors Flamboro Machine Shop, Jasen Enterprises, Gerrie Electric and Martins Camp and our series sponsor Lucas Oil for all their support. And a 'Big Thank You' to our Can-Am Officials for helping us to have a safe season, this is a great Club to be part of", said Holman.
Neely, accepting the Champions' Trophy, said "I want to thank my wife, Yvonne, and daughter, Kaitlin, who won her first feature race here this morning in a go-kart, for always being there for me. And I especially want to thank Ken and Cindy Lorenz for making this Championship so much fun. Ken never gives up. Thanks also to Bill Pippard for giving us our 'Zoom Zoom' this season".
Heats were won by Holman and Neely. The 'B' main was won by Arik McGruder. Four cars from the Casey's series in Buffalo, New York joined the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets for this final race. Besides McGruder and Reid, Erik Musto, driving for Bill Pippard and Kent Turnbull joined the field running the Can-Am Midget rules.
Final Finish for the 2012 Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets at Flamboro Speedway on September 22, 2012 was...1. CHRIS HOLMAN, 2. Rob Neely, 3. Mack DeMan, 4. Daniel Bois, 5. Corey Moesker, 6. James Gray, 7. Darren McLennan, 8. Adrian Stahle, 9. Kent Turnbull, 10. Arik McGruder, 11. Erik Musto, 12. Jeff Blackburn, 13. Tom Kyle, 14. Dave Hickson, 15. Earl Caine, 16. Jonathan Reid, 17. Andy Mackereth, 18. Mike Westwood, 19. Todd Cresswell, 20. Rob DiVenanzo.
The 'Unofficial' Top 15 in final points for the 2012 Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets are...1. ROB NEELY...2486, 2. Darren McLennan...2469, 3. Mack DeMan...2449, 4. James Gray...2413, 5. Corey Moesker...2291, 6. Chris Holman...2210, 7. Adrian Stahle (Rookie of the Year)...2207, 8. Jeff Blackburn...2138, 9. Todd Cresswell...2132, 10. Tom Kyle...1943, 11. Chris Bauman...1715, 12. Dave Hickson...1262, 13. David Balych...1178, 14. Rob DiVenanzo...1137, 15. Earl Caine...964.
The Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets will hold the elections for the Officers and Board of Directors for the 2013 - 2014 season on October 14th at the Black Bull in Burlington. Their 47th Annual Lucas Oil Can-Am Midget Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, November 17th at the Best Western Cairn Croft on Lundy's Lane in Niagara Falls, Ont.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets, contact clorenz74@yahoo.com
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