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GREAT WEEKEND AT DELAWARE SPEEDWAY June 7, 2009
The first major race weekend of the year was a stunning success at Delaware Speedway. Thousands of fans came to the racetrack to witness the most thrilling racing seen so far this year. The campground was full with hundreds of race fans and by Saturday the racetrack would experience a near capacity crowd with the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. The weekend kicked off on Friday night, AutoTrim Design of London night, with Time Trials for the Demar Aggregates Trucks, POWERADE Open Wheel Modifieds and Auto Value Super Sprints. Two new track records were set during the trials. Justin Demelo of London set the new record in the Demar Aggregates Trucks of 21.799 edging out Chad Rijnen of Thamesford’s previous record of 21.925 seconds. With the new asphalt on the speedway Ryan Litt (#07) of Lyons, Ontario in the Auto Value Super Sprints set a new benchmark track record with a blistering time of 15.682 seconds. Jamie Cox (#3) of Dorchester won the POWERADE Modified time trials with his time of 19.271 seconds. The Demar Aggregates Trucks were first up on the card with a 25-lap feature race. Kathleen Hosang (#16) of Zurich led the opening lap before being passed by Devon Bloemendal of Delaware. Bloemendal would stretch to an early lead as Team Remax driver Paul Fothergill (#88) of London battled with Jeff Showler (#56) of Mt. Elgin. Fothergill would get the lead from Bloemendal on lap 9. A single caution would fly on the final laps of the race as Showler and Justin Demelo (#82) of London spun in turn three, setting up a green-white-checker finish. Fothergill would win the event, Bloemendal was second, Rijnen, Fothergill’s team-mate, finished third. “It was good, we made a little adjustment before we went out,” said Fothergill in victory lane. “I’m happy with it. I didn’t like that caution. It was a good showing for team Remax.”
Tyler Hendricks (#38) of Pain Court would lead the opening laps of the first POWERADE Open-Wheel Modified race. Caution flew on lap 7 for a spin by Gary Brooks (#57). Two laps after the restart Barry Newman (#1) of Springfield was able to make the pass for lead, caution flew shortly after for a spin by Dean Scott (#19) of Beachville. Caution would fly once again on lap 20 when Stephen Richmond (#24) of Appin spun in turn one. Newman would go on to win the race, Jamie Cox (#3) of Dorchester was second, Third was David McCuollough (#39) of Glencoe.
On the restart, Shawn Thompson (#72) led the field to the green flag with Paul Shipway (#88) of Ailsa Craig in hot pursuit. David McCullough (#39) of Glencoe was able to pass Darrell Limon (#54) of Watford to move to third position. A lap later the caution would fly on lap 4 for a spin in turn one involving Limon and Barry Newman (#1) of Springfield. After the caution a time curfew was placed on the race by Delaware Speedway officials to ensure that the entire race program could be completed. On the restart Paul Shipway (#88) attempted to get the best of Shawn Thompson around the outside. David McCullough held third position as the pair battled side by side. Unable to get around Thompson, Shipway fell back and was passed by McCullough, just as a caution came out for debris. Jamie Cox (#3) of Dorchester’s roof had flown off the car on the back straight.
“It feels good,” said Thompson in victory lane. “We’ve been over five years waiting for this one!” The Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprint series invaded Delaware Speedway on Friday evening and the event was won by hometown driver Mike Ling. A full recap article of the event can be found here. On Saturday, Brad Clarke of Thedford won the Delaware Speedway Super Stock time trials and set a new track record at the same time. His winning lap time was 21.168. His time beats out Ray Morneau of Windor’s previous time of 21.223 seconds. The Delaware Super Stocks had a 50-lap event ahead of them divided into two parts. The first 25 laps would count for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points, as well as the second set of 25-laps. The finish for Delaware Speedway points would be taken from the running order on lap 50. Andrew Perkins (#3) of London led the opening laps of the race. He would lead until lap 18 when he was passed by Jeremy Reid (#76 of Kerwood. Caution would fly shortly after for Jared Shield (#7) of London spinning in turn two. A lap after the restart Perkins found himself back in fourth position, passed by Jason Lidster (#11) of St. Thomas and Darrell Lake (#77) of London. Caution checker would fly at lap 25 to complete the first part of the event for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points, with Jeremy Reid emerging as the winner. The race resumed at lap 25, three laps later the caution would fly for Jared Shield (#7) spinning in turn two. Several laps after the restart, another caution would fly for Don Dadson (#1) of Union as he hit the front straightaway wall. The next caution was the big one and involved Jared Shields (#7), Louie McColl (#48) and D.J. DeJesus (#9) of London. DeJesus was visibly upset by the incident, leading to an exchange of words with Shields on pit road. The race resumed with eleven laps to go. Two laps into the restart Jason Lidster (#11) was able to pass Jeremy Reid (#76) on the inside for the lead. He would go on to take the win. Darrell Lake (#77) of London finished second, Brad Clark (#52) of Thedford was third. “He just slipped a little bit, and we had a consistent car,” said Lidster in victory lane. “I love seeing this many competitive cars out and the speedway is doing a great job getting these fans out here.” The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event race report for the Delaware 200 presented by Belfor can be found here. The inaugural race of the series at Delaware Speedway was won by hometown diver D.J. Kennington of St. Thomas. The race was a coming home of sorts for the series, which was formed at Delaware Speedway in the mid-1980’s as the CASCAR Super Series. The next race event at Delaware Speedway is Friday, June 12 presented by Mobil Striping and Sweeping. Racing features the APC Late Models, POWERADE Modifieds, Demar Aggregates Trucks as well as a Throne Kings of the Hill Spectators Race. Gates open at 6:00 pm, racing starts at 8:00 pm. Photos / Video Captures Courtesy: Checkered Flag Media Additional Photo Gallery located here.
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On the restart, Tom Zagorodny (#77) had inherited the lead and was followed closely by Devon Bloemendal (#01). Within a lap, the pair were door handle to door handle with Shawn Johns (#00) of St. Mary’s waiting in third. On lap 9 the pair would make contact spinning the #77 and bringing out the caution. After the caution flew, Bill McDonald (#97) of London inexplicably ran into the #33 of Chad Rijnen, locking the two trucks together. On the restart Shawn Johns (#00) of St. Mary’s was the leader. He would go on to win the race. Second was Justin DeMelo (#82) of London, third was Jordan Dupuis (#75) of Lasalle.
The second POWERADE Open Wheel Modified race would be marred by a number of cautions and cleanups. An early caution would fly on lap one for Jamie Cox (#3) of Dorchester spinning in turn one. On the restart Tyler Hendricks led the field to the green with Shawn Thompson (#72) of Ailsa Craig in second and Tyler Finley of London in third. Thompson quickly got the in inside to take the lead from Hendricks. As the pack went into turn three, Finlay drove to the inside of Hendricks. Their open wheels touched putting Finlay’s car out of control and sending both drivers up into the turn three wall. Dean Scott (#19) of Beachville also hit the wall as he attempted to evade the crash. All drivers were uninjured from the incident, however a lengthy cleanup operation by the Delaware Speedway safety crew was required.
When the race resumed, Thompson continued to lead. Shipway and McCullough again battled side by side with McCullough taking the highline. Three laps after the restart McCullough impacted the outside wall exiting turn four, nearly rolling the vehicle and slid all the way to turn one where he again hit the wall. The caution flag brought an end to the race on lap 12, Shawn Thompson (#72) of Ailsa Craig was the winner, a career first for him at Delaware Speedway. Shipway was second, Barry Newman (#1) was third.