August 18th

Thayne · 2007-08-19T13:14:07Z

Davey wins, points picture tightensBy: Thayne HallyburtonA large crowd filled the Barrie Speedway grandstands, braving the abnormally cold temperatures on August 18th. Even though it was a cold evening off the track, on it, sparks were flying all night as the TQ midgets were in town for their one and only trip to the “Greatest Show on Asphalt.”The LUCAS OIL CAN-AM Midgets put a fantastic show Saturday night. There was some great passes up front at the beginning with the 01 slowing when they took the green. The #94 of Lucas Smith ducked to the inside and made a great move to get bye, going into turn one. The #40 of Tyler Mackereth would assume the early lead with the #00 of James Gray hot on his heels. The pair was running ridiculously fats laps of 13 seconds flat. Gray would go to the outside of the Mackereth in three and four and would zip bye for the lead. There was nothing that could touch Gray on this night as he opened up a half-track lead in ten laps running 12.9. Mackereth, who was sitting in second, had his lap times fall off tow 13.3 seconds. The #74 of Rob Neely would start to pick cars off one bye one working his way up form fifth to second as he slipped bye Mackereth in turn 1. Neely could not close the gap however and Gray was able to put it on cruise control the rest of the race as it would go caution free to the end. Neely would finish up in second and Mackereth would grab the last podium position. The #48 of Darren McLennan and #3 of Todd Cresswell would round out the fast five. Gray had high praise for Barrie Speedway, “It was awesome racing here. It is such a great track and nice, clean facility. No wonder NASCAR wanted to collaborate with Barrie Speedway. said Gray, “We just unloaded a fast car and all I had to do was turn the steering wheel because the car was on rails tonight.”Heat wins went to Gray and Smith and the B main win went to the #12 of David Balych.The XCOPPER Thunder Car’s took to the track for a special 50 lapper and the usual suspects were up front battling it out again. From the drop of the green flag the #50 of Larry Woodward would take the lead, with the sharp looking #25 car of Darcy Gribbon right on his bumper. The pair were running around the 1/3 mile tri-oval in 16.1 seconds. This race would have many cautions in it, with the first one coming on lap two as rookie Thunder Car driver Brandon Crumbie spun coming out of corner two. We would stay caution free up until lap 17 when with Woodward still leading, the #42 of Troy Potts would get into the #9 of Chris Burrage sending him around and both drivers to the back. The race would restart, but just two laps later the third place car of Leonard Johnston would lose a wheel in three and four, bringing out the caution yet again. These cautions were really helping the big three, #00 Darryl St. Onge, #44 Dave Doucette and #49 Frank Davey get through the field after starting near the back. Davey would lead Doucette and St. Onge to the front, picking off one at a time on the outside. Just before the halfway point of the race the three would all clear Woodward and it would now be a three horse race to crown the winner. Davey was turning lap times in the 15.7 range and he had Doucette right on his bumper. St. Onge was a car length back. On lap 32, Doucette would try to get bye Davey on the outside after Davey got loose coming out of 2. Davey was strong though, holding off Doucette. This battle allowed St. Onge to get back into it though. Just when they were really starting to go at it the second caution on the night for smoke coming from the #48 of Kyle Baker. This would tighten the three Thunder Car goliaths up. On the restart Davey would get a good jump on the other two, but again Doucette would close up on his bumper. This truly would be a dog fight. Last week Doucette won at the line bye a nose, and he was setting Davey up the same way as last week. Davey and Doucette took the white flag nose-to-tail and Doucette made his move to the outside, but he drove it into three too hard and Davey would grab the win, with Doucette finishing right behind him, St. Onge finished a car length back to snag third. The #2 or Ed Tremblay and #97 of Brad Holden would round out the top five.Davey was not very happy with his car after and felt patience is what won him the race, “The car was junk tonight. I attribute my win to maintenance and patience. I just waited for the lanes to open up in front of me and then I took them,” said Davey.Heat wins went to Darryl St. Onge, Brad Holden, Dave Doucette and #42 Troy Potts.The LUCAS OIL Pure Stock ‘A’ class ran 40 laps on this night with a familiar car in victory lane. The #20 of Anna Milligan would jump out to the early lead over the #97 of Thayne Hallyburton and the #25 of Darrin McMinn. Milligan was running lap times in the 17.6 second range. #26 Bill Walt would pass the #45 of Derek Surerus for second on lap ten. At this point in the race, you could throw a blanket over the top 12 ...

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Thunder6

Aug 23, 2007 4:11 pm

(@thunder6)

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Joined: 19 years ago

I think I counted 18 Dave. I could be wrong, I have been before and I will be again. Excellent count for a travelling series... and the Can Am Midgets always put on a great show.

"Dont be BEECH! And as always comrades, have nice day" fpsrussia

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Thayne

Topic starter

Aug 23, 2007 4:15 pm

(@barrie97ps)

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Joined: 20 years ago

I too counted 18...only 17 made the feature as one hit the wall pretty ahrd int he heats

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blkflagagain

Aug 23, 2007 4:26 pm

(@blkflagagain)

Joined: 1 second ago

Was there much 3 wide action with the TQ'S ?? Be it for the lead or further pack in the pack?? If so did that happen more in the corners or straightaways?? Those cars facinate me have always enjoyed watchin the action they provide!! The thing I would like to see different when we do run the Twin 40 format I think the time trial part of it should be used to determine the starting line up for the first 40. Rather than just a point filler instead of running heats!! I just think it would be a different race to see the top half dozen guys at Barrie starting at the front for a change as the only night you really see that is the first night of the season depending on the inversion draw which I believe is no higher than 10!! I just think it would make for a different race once in a while and for the second 40 then invert the finish from the first!! Then just go back to the handicap system the next week!! What do you guys think??

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Thayne

Topic starter

Aug 23, 2007 4:48 pm

(@barrie97ps)

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Joined: 20 years ago

The only crazy three or four wide into the corner was the first corner and that pass..other than that it was single file or two wide...not a tonne of passing after three or four laps

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