Ok well time again to get some race related chatter going here. This is my own views on what the Barrie LLM field might look like in 09, with a brief synopsis of each driver and my own take on a percentage of the likelihood of them appearing at Barrie in 09. (Will be done by numerical order with new additions at the end)
#2 Hometown Mike Brown-------- coming off a tough 2008 season for sure. So much of Brown's availibility will be relying on securing the TTR sponsorship for 2008, and more so if Ron will allow the car to run at Barrie full time. The winner of at least a half a dozen features since he started running LLM in 04, Brown capped that off with a career best 5th in points in 07. A busy work schedule also seems to be hampering Mike right now, and could well be the case in 09. I would say a 50 per cent chance he returns full time in 09, but if some "sour grapes" are settled in off season between TTR and Barrie ownership that goes up to 75%.
#5 Steve Quesnelle--------- could go on for hours on this guy but I wont. My fav LLM driver bar none, and would get the vote of many for the cleanest/classiest driver in the LLM division that Barrie has come across. The Triple Skin Tattoo and Piercing Chevy Impala SS will 100 percent be back at BSW in 09 in my opinion, as thats where that sponsor likes him to run. Not a "front runner" in recent years but put a built motor in the Quesnelle machine and he could very well return to 2003 championship form.
#8 Dave Lewis-----------A staple of the Barrie field for the last 27 years, expect Dave to return for a 28th season in 09. The 1995 track champ is coming off a 3rd place in the points in 08, where he also captured 2 feature wins. Add to that title sponsor Rama Moccasin and Smoke came on board in a big way last year for the Thunder Car division, so Dave isnt likely to run anywhere else in 09.
#9 Brandon Watson-------- So much can be said about the future of this guy that one or two paragraphs couldnt possibly cover it!! Turning 16 this coming season will open more oppertunities state side for the prodigy, who finished a impressive 3rd in just his 1st year in a deep KD LM field. Expect Brandon to get in at least a half dozen features at his "home track" in 09, but its clear bigger and better things are abound for the 2007 Inside Track Short Track racer of the year including possibly the OSCAAR series full time in 09 with Barrie on off weekends.
#10 Gordie Shepherd ---------2 feature wins and the runner up in 08, to a very strong McLeod car, if anyone has a better handle on a crate motor and gets more speed out of one at BSW I dont for the life of me know who you could be talking about. Look for Gordie to come on strong as usual in 09, with a first track LLM title not out of reach for the 2003 Thunder Car champ. 100 percent back at Barrie in 09. I'm looking for big things for he and the RRR crew.
#13 Robert Thornborrow------- The 2007 Rookie of the Year got off to a slow start in 08, but short tracks are still proving to be a learning ground for the former drag racer. With added knowledge coming from a solid team a top 10 in the points is not out of reach for the lime green #13. Should 100 percent be returning in 09 again I feel.
#17 Garry "The Gambler" Reynolds ------------ Can you say bounce back year??? Garry sure can, and thats just what the 08 season entailed for the Coldwater driver. 4 feature wins and a 7th in the points shows the 35 year veteran might not be willing to hang em up just yet. And impending retirement might be looming for "The Gambler" or perhaps a future job in speedway administration, but I'd look for him to be back for at least one last run in 09 and willing to wager a 95 percent guess that indeed happens.
Ok gonna continue this later kinda getting tired now!!!!!LOL Also future Thunder and both 4cyl previews in the works. I will personally work on this thread tomorrow so feel free to comment on those I have already remarked on.
My list continued day/part 2. Gonna pick up where I left off numerically.
#18 Kyle Baker--------- The Stayner rookie got off to a very fast start for the first month of the season, but seemed to hit a stumbling block at midseason that was brought about by a little misfortune not particularily of his doing. Kyle had a nice bounce back by season's end, securing his first podium with a 3rd in a race late in August where he ran right with father Dwayne and the track champ McLeod. Car has since been sold to Ron Quesnelle and I'm hearing Kyle personally isnt all that interested in racing in 08, so I'm predicting only a slight 10 per cent chance he returns in 09.
#19 Keith McLeod--------- after being close on a few occasions in the past, McLeod finally broke through and captured a track title in 08 in the Look Company Dodge. All indications say he will be back to defend in 09, and after a ultra solid season in which he also captured 4 feature wins who could blame him. In my opinion this is the fastest/best handling LLM in province right now, add to that a driver with the skills of McLeod and a veteran crew led by father Ron McLeod and John Mombourquette and you can see why it wont catch anyone by suprise if he does indeed defend the crown in 09. Should be another 100 percent returnee.
#23 Rob Black --------- The Orillia driver ran the first 6 events in 08, and then didnt return to the track after that. I think a combination of fustration from never really being able to crack the top 10, and possibly budget led to the decision to park the 23 for the remainder of the year. If Rob can secure a meaningful sponsor and can find a bit more time to work on the car I could possibly see him returning on a part time basis, but even for that I'm giving it no more than 20 percent at best he returns in 09.
#28 Robin Jongen ---------The mild mannered Jongen treated the fans at BSW to one of the best driving displays on the final night of the season, just edging fellow driver Lewis at the line in what was the most thrilling race of the season. The orange Skelton Truck Lines Toyota Camry will 100 percent be a fixture in 09, and if Robin just steps it up marginally in the agressiveness dept. a track title could be within his grasp in 09, that is how far this driver has progressed since his 2003 rookie year in LLM.
#36 Stoyan Zutich ---------- Missed a few nights in 09 due to mechanical issues, but the Bracebridge driver was able to compete in most of the races unlike years past when he had to start mid season due to work commitments. I would look towards the return of Zutich in 09 in the former Glenn Watson 2002 championship car, and if hes learned anything these past couple years its patience, and that could pay off for him in 09 with some tidy results possibly in the forcast.
#43 Darin Malcolm --------- quite possibly the most talented LLM driver in the province, the only question that remains is commitment and sponsorship. Ran a strong year in 2005 with 5 feature wins and a 4th in points, then took 2006 off and started off running the majority of the races in 07 before taking a hiatus for a few weeks. Darin was limited to just three starts in 08, but if sponsorship is found I could see him back with a vengeance looking for a track title to follow in father Brian's footsteps. Due to all this uncertainty the best I can predict right now is a 50/50 chance the talented Malcolm returns to full time duty in 09.
#44 Rick "Big Dog" Meyer -------- The 2008 Rookie of the Year had a very solid season in the former Ian Bourque car. The first month was particulrily tough on the driver of the 44, but he grew by leaps and bounds at mid season, stringing together a bunch of top 10 finishes and keeping a clean car under him most nights. I say its a 100 percent lock the "Big Dog" returns in 09 looking to better upon his 11th in points, and I for one could envision this guy being one of the top 7 or 8 drivers in 09 with a full year under his belt and much of the "learning curve" now a thing of the past.
#48 Dwayne Baker -------- Alas I've been sworn to secrecy on the plans of the 2007 track champ as 09 approaches. But needless to say he wouldnt be on the list if I didnt forsee at least "selected appearances" in the works at BSW for the always exciting Baker. Has a Super Late in the shop as well, so OSCAAR fans could also be in for a treat as Baker will debut in that series in 09 as well.
#50 Larry Woodward ------- Quite possibly the most talented driver of the strong rookie crop of 08. Woodward impressed right from night one in the clean manner in which he drove and the patience exhibited all season long. Missed 2 races in 08, one due to a prior commitment and lending the car to McLeod on another occasion. 100 percent that he returns in 09, with the added factor being that he could miss a couple events due to his profession or the possibility of bad weather and he just wont want to make the long haul from North Bay on the weeks where inclement weather is looming.
#69 Allan Inglis ---------- Coming off a couple ultra solid season since his return to the Barrie ranks at the start of 07. The only thing eluding "The Red Rocket" over this time frame is a feature win. Allan did manage a respectable 5th in points this past season, and was right there with the division leaders on most nights this year. The drive and will to win still burns brightly in this venerable veteran and due to this its 100 percent Inglis returns in 09, and the capper to that would be for him to nail that elusive feature win, after being the bridesmade on many occasions this past year.
#84 Sean Cronan "The Barbarian" --------Another of the strong rookie crop of 08 that really made noted improvements as the year went on in the former Steve Tiemersma LM. Cronan recorded a career best in late Aug with a 4th place result, and really ran strong from that point forward. Also impressed many with his willingness to run virtually every track in Southern Ont. where the LLM divisions compete. Been told the travel schedule will be limited greatly in 09, as he focusses on one track (BSW) and tries to improve upon his 12th in points which is a very realistic goal for this talented shoe.
#97 Rob Inglis ------- had a very consistant year in 09, with several top 10 finishes and also matched a career best feature result with a 2nd on the second night of the season. Could be priming himself for a possible breakthrough year in 09, as he tries to be the most resent of the Inglis clan to taste a feature win at BSW. I'm thinking 100 percent Rob returns in 09 as the vast majority of his sponsors are based in the BSW marketplace.
#42 Jeff Walt --------- so much for my numerical order!!LOL Jeff had a really good start to the season, with a 4th on opening night in his return to Barrie. Lost his ride at the midway point of the season after a rough on track incident. Might be returning in his former Sunset ride the #31 Pontiac Grand Prix, a car which he finished 2nd in the Sunset points in 07 with. All of what I have said concerning Walt is purely speculation, and due to this I can only forcast a 50 percent chance of him having a full time LLM ride in 09.
Ok so after a brief synopsis of the 2008 field at BSW this what I come up with at this point. #5 Quesnelle, #8 Lewis, #10 Shepherd, #13 Thornborrow, #17 Reynolds, #19 McLeod, #28 Jongen, #36 Zutich, #44 Meyer, #50 Woodward, #69 Al Inglis, #84 Cronan, and #97 Rob Inglis all should be returning full time in 08. That is 13 full timers right there if my calculations are correct. Add to that the possibility of Malcolm, Dwayne Baker, and Watson all doing selected appearances and that could add a couple cars on any given night. All I have to add now is the new additions that I'm hearing might come give Barrie a whirl, and that should give us a pretty good grasp on what to expect for 09. Look for the complete list of potential new additions in a post either later today or tomorrow. Thats all for now folks, and sorry for breaking this up into so many parts/posts but I have to get some stuff done at home too and can only spend so much time at once doing this.
you da man Davey! I think we can expect 17-18 full timers next year! Can't wait to see the additions post..I have a few that I was hearing but a few u mentioned shocked the hell outta me!
