NEWMAN WINS SEASON OPENER

Morneau, Rijnen also Head to Victory Lane

May 9, 2008

John Houghton

Announcer / PR

Barry “THE BEAR” Newman won the season opening POWERADE Open-Wheel modified race Friday evening at Delaware Speedway.  John Saunders (#70) of Watford led the opening laps of the race but before lap five the caution flag would fly.  Robin McKluskie (#44) of British Columbia clipped the outside wall just before the start finish line and spun into Darrell Limon (#54) of Watford.  Shortly after the restart Newman claimed the lead from Saunders.  The race would be yellow flagged nearing the halfway point when Limon’s #54 spun in turn three.  Battles occurred all over the racetrack side by side for position.  When the checkers fell Newman was the winner, David McCullough (#39) of Glencoe finished second, and defending champion Mark Watson (#20) of St. Thomas finished third.

“There was lots of pressure.  All it would have taken is one slip in the corner and I would have been done,” said Newman in victory lane.  “There are some fast guys out there!”

Newman was also the winner of his heat race, along with Jamie Cox (#3) of Dorchester.

Returning from an extended absence from competition Brad Clark (#52) of Parkhill surprised many fans with a strong showing at the beginning of the Peterbilt of Ontario Super Stock feature race, leading defending champion Ray Morneau (#98) of Windsor until lap 12.  Clark would mount a late race challenge to #98 with five laps to go but it would not be enough.  Morneau would head to victory lane.  Brad Clark finished second, Darrell Lake (#77) of London was third.

Darrell Lake (#77) of London and Jeremy Reid (#76) of Kerwood were the heat race winners in the Peterbilt of Ontario Super Stocks.

Chad Rijnen (#33) won the season opener for the Challenger Motor Freight Trucks.  Dennis McColl (#6) of London, Darrell Porter (#8) of Dorchester and Devon Bloemendal (#01) of Delaware were involved in a minor incident on the opening lap of the race, leading to a restart.  On that restart, Chad Rijnen (#33) of London was able to get the advantage from pole-sitter Steve Lovie by shooting to the inside before turn one to take the lead.  The race ran caution free from that point and saw fierce battles for second, third, and fourth position between Paul Fothergill, Shawn Johns (#00) of St. Marys and Jeff Showler (#56) of Tillsonburg.  Fothergill would finish second, followed by Johns and Showler.

“We weren’t good and practice, or the heat races either,” said Rijnen in Victory lane.  “[My crew] worked hard tonight, I was just along for a good ride.”

Shawn Johns (#00) of St. Mary’s and Devon Bloemendal (#01) of Delaware were the heat race winners in the Challenger Motorfreight Trucks.

The next race event at Delaware Speedway is Friday, May 16 at 8:00 PM.  The line-up features the Challenger Motor Freight Trucks, Peterbilt of Ontario Super Stocks and the much anticipated season debut for the APC Late Models.  The night will also be the first Throne Kings of the Hill Spectator’s event of the season!

The next day, Saturday, May 17 is the second Transmission Direct Enduro of the year, beginning at 2:00 PM.  The line-up features the added bonus of a Four Cylinder invitational event and the official season debut of the Ultimate Sandblasting and Coating Chaos Cars.

Don’t miss a lap of the excitement next weekend at Delaware Speedway!