For Immediate Release
Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets
Sunset Speedway, Stroud, ON
August 18, 2013
by Cindy Lorenz
Photos by Ralph Webbe
TODD CRESSWELL WINS MAIN EVENT WITH LUCAS OIL CAN-AM MIDGETS
Todd Cresswell overcame fuel pump problems from the past few weeks to win the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midget 25 lap Feature race on Sunday afternoon. This was the highlight of the season as the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets shared prime billing with the amazing ISMA Supermodifieds at Sunset Speedway (ON). Cresswell was the 'Class of the Field' as he swept his heat race and led all 25 laps in the feature event. Thanking his Dad for all the time spent working on the car Cresswell said "It has been a very frustrating couple of weeks but this win erases all that frustration. We had gone through and changed everything we could to make the car run and found it to be a fuel pump issue. I really want to thank Lucas Oil for all their support of this Club for almost 10 years." Mack DeMan driving the Lucas Oil TQ #40 finished second and now leads the tight points race over teammate Adrian Stahle by 4 points. Rob Neely broke a driveshaft on lap 15 taking the points lead away from him and he is now down by 23.
With a full field of cars in front of the packed grandstands, Cresswell took the lead from his pole position as Starter Dale Shunamon threw the green flag. Ryan Fraser was in second place followed by Barry Dunn. One lap later Dunn took the second spot and tried to catch Cresswell. Fraser had Tyler Turnbull to battle with for the third position as DeMan, driving for Andy Mackereth, rounded out the top five. Turnbull and DeMan both passed Fraser one lap later. Cresswell began to stretch his lead over the field turning times in the low 13 second range, as the battle for position was going on behind him. Darren McLennan joined the top five, passing Fraser on the sixth lap.
At the half way point, Cresswell had a sizable lead over Dunn, Turnbull, DeMan and McLennan. Hardcharger James Gray was moving up through the field from his 11th starting spot followed closely by Neely. Two laps later Gray and Neely made the move around McLennan for those positions. Lap 15 saw the first caution as Mackereth, driving TQ #4 for Peter DeMan slowed with brake problems, taking him out of the race. At the restart Neely had the driveshaft brake coming out of turn two and Rob DiVenanzo got into Neely and both cars were out of the race.
The green flag waved again as the field picked up the pace. Cresswell couldn't be matched as he again took command. DeMan, Turnbull and Gray fought side by side with DeMan now taking over second place as Dunn was now in 5th. With 5 laps to go Corey Moesker, coming from his 15th place starting position was now knocking on the door of Dunn for that 5th place spot. Cresswell began to lap the field with DeMan not able to close the gap with 3 laps to go. Gray was in third place as Dunn and Moesker now were running fourth and fifth. Turnbull was now out of the top five. The checkered flag flew for Cresswell followed by DeMan, Gray, Dunn and Moesker.
Heats were won by David Balych, Cresswell and DeMan. The 'B' Main feature was won by Stahle.
The Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets return to the 'Bull Ring' of Grand Bend Speedway (ON) on Saturday, August 24th for the next race on their schedule. Points' leader DeMan won there on July 6th.
On a sad note, long time supporter of the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets as well as the ISMA Supermodifieds, Carol Forbes passed away on Wednesday. Our thought and prayers go out to her husband John and their family. Rest In Peace Carol.
Final Finish for the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets at Sunset Speedway on August 18th is...1. TODD CRESSWELL, 2. Mack DeMan, 3. James Gray, 4. Barry Dunn, 5. Corey Moesker, 6. Tyler Turnbull (R), 7. David Balych, 8. Adrian Stahle, 9. Darren McLennan, 10. Chris Holman, 11. Ryan Fraser (R), 12. Keith Dempster, 13. Daniel Bois, 14. Tom Kyle, 15. Dylon Smith (R), 16. Adam Racine (R), 17. Cody Winn (R), 18. Rob Neely, 19. Rob DiVenanzo, 20. Andy Mackereth, 21. Chris Bauman, 22. Mike Westwood. DNS...Greg Smulders (blown motor) and Jeff Blackburn.
Top Ten in Points for the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets as of August 18th are...1. MACK DEMAN...1660, 2. Adrian Stahle...1656, 3. Rob Neely...1637, 4. Corey Moesker...1622, 5. David Balych...1570, 6. Todd Cresswell...1515, 7. Barry Dunn...1489, 8. Darren McLennan...1319, 9. Tyler Turnbull (R)...1289, 10. Rob DiVenanzo...1275.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets, contact Cindy Lorenz at clorenz74@yahoo.com
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