FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT TIM WILE @ 506 388-2415 FOR MORE INFO
Speedway Crowns Atlantic Champions
Riverview and Shediac, NB (Oct 6 and 7, 2012) - CENTRE for Speed was once again the host of the Atlantic Stock Car Championships this past weekend. One hundred and twenty five teams competed in this years "racing celebration" from throughout Atlantic Canada including the largest number of team from Newfoundland since the events inception at a total of 4 in Sportsman, Bandolero, and Pro Stock divisions. The total car count was an improvement over 2011 due mainly to the absence of rain and spurred by mild temperatures on all three days. Registered competitors totaled 143 with 18 "no shows" due mainly to a rain date conflict at another contributing speedway.
Champions, from entry level to Pro included:
Lonnie Sommerville #23 - Quispamsis, NB - Cavendish Farms Pro Stock Division
Dave O'Blenis #48 - Boundry Creek, NB - Vance Hanes Sportsman Division
Rick Cashol #54 - Saint John, NB - MacDonald Buick Street Stock Division
Ron Lane #38 - Riverglade, NB - MetalCore Open Wheel Division
Kyle MacMillian #5 - Hammonds Plains, NS - POGO Mini Stock Division
Courtney O'Blenis #12 - Boundry Creek, NB - Molson Coors Mini Cup Division
Chevy MacDonald #172 - Halifax, NS - ServiceMaster Four Fun Division
Cole Boudreau #00 - Fredericton, NB - D.R. Scrap Bandolero Division
In Sportsman action on Saturday CFS Rookie sensation, Shawn Connor sustained a broken ankle when his #14 was challenging for 3rd spot in the feature event and three cars collided in a domino effect. The episode sent the hard charging Connor into the wall in turn one and emergency crews scrambling to his side. When the dust settled Connor was removed from his vehicle at his request and transported to the pit area where ambulance services were recalled to transported him to hospital. Connors B and R Lane Racing machine sustained significant damage but the rookie says he will rebuild and be back for the 2013 campaign. Connor from Salisbury, Laurie Cormier of Riverview, Calvin Rankin of Quispamsis and Cal Hatfield of Saint John all won their qualifying races in the division. Rankin lead for much of the first half of the race until he was contacted by another competitor bringing out the caution and sending them both to the back of the pack. Dave O'Blenis, who started in the middle of the pack lead most of the remained of the race and held off several challengers including Connor, Cormier and Remi Gaudet at various times throughout the later stages of the race to take home his first Championships title. Brady Creamer in his #10 from the mighty Miramichi took second while Ross Lewis of Cape Breton took the final podium position
In Pro Stock it was Lonnie Sommerville who made a successful return to the CENTRE to snatch the Pro Stock Crown from defending champ Greg Proude of PEI. Sommerville laid down the gauntlet early in the day with a blistering track record time trial on the new 3/8th mile configuration of just 14.9 seconds and change per automated timing data. That gave the #23 an average speed of over 90 miles per hour and a new track record for MPST rules cars dethroning Greg Proude's 2011 record of 15.2 seconds. Sommerville started on the pole and lead most of the event but was challenged on numerous occasion by a trio of Islander in the 5 of Jonathan Hicken (PEI), 18 of Darren MacKinnon (PEI) and the 29 of Greg Proude. Hicken took the lead late in the race but Sommerville charged back after following Hicken for several laps and then several circuits of side by side racing. Mackinnon finished second and Proude was third. The race saw 18 starters with 14 still competing at the end of the event and 9 cars on the lead lap including the young rookie driver Brad Eddy (#72) of Halifax in his first race at the CENTRE. Josh Collins of Saint John's area, Newfoundland, was also notable in the race as he competed in this division for the first time after finishing in the top 5 the day before in Sportsman. Collins managed a 12th place finish in the top class just 2 laps down on the leaders in his Avondale Speedway sponsored #80 car.
Rick Cashol was the only competitor to successfully defend his title in the Street Stock Division after CFS Track Champ Brad MacLeans #13 had to be disqualified due to a rules misunderstanding between the regular season and the Championships. All other divisions saw new Champions.
There were many more great stories to tell and top notch racing in all the heats and features in every division. The speedway and the event sponsors congratulate all the competitors in all the classes for taking the challenge and the victors for their outstanding achievement. CFS is now closed for the season and plans to be present at the final race this weekend at Petty International Speedway. We thank the fans for their support at the championships and throughout the season.
Tim Wile
centreforspeed.com
gm@centreforspeed.com
506 866-6387
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=16651.msg105563#msg105563
