brief report...as I want to get some food into me..and watch the Cup Race.
Well the first Barrie Fall Thunder Car Invitational...from a racing stands point was good..from an attendance stand-point....bad that this caliper of show..I missed the heats as I cound't get there until 2...but I believe only 28 cars showed up?!? I figured it wound't be anything huge but I expected about 35 cars.
1st-50 was set by qualifying and Dave Doucette started up front and never looked back...lead from flag-to-flag and nobody was even close.
4 yellows slowed the race...nothing to major a few guys got banged up preety good but nothing to major.
2nd-50 they inverted the whole field and this was the most exciting of the 3....Larry McKenzie lead almost the whole race untill around 15 to go...as Doucette worked his way from shotgun on the field up to 2nd..but McKenzie was doing an amazing job of holding him off lap after lap...Doucette tryed inside-outside everything..finnaly out of 4 with about 6 laps to go...the 44 pulled ahead on the outside...but going into 1..76 slide up and bumped into the 44 both cars got loose but 76 took the lead back....then a yellow came out and they went back to previous lap and 44 was ahead. That was all she wrote as Doucette took off and never looked back.
2nd-50 was also slowed by 4 yellows & 1 red flag...as St.Onge blew up big time on a re-start.
3rd-50 was set by points..but top 3 inverted.... Doucette started 3rd and didn't take him long to pass Davey for the lead and he took the 3rd leg as well.
only 1 yellow slowed the 3rd 50 lapper.
all 3 races were very exciting..a lot of close racing..and wild action, a lot of contact but for the most part it was clean as only a total of 9 yellows threwout the 150 laps.
Chargers was won by the 98(I bealive) ...was a clean race...the 2 drove a smart race and came home the champion
Pure Stocks was won by the (1)64 the little CRX was on fire as he drove to the front quickly and never looked back. one "big" accident took place that could have been A LOT worse...on about lap 3 the 2 dropped oil from the start of turn 3 all the way until turn-4 ...and the leaders came barreling into turn-4 and it was like they were on ice..as the 50 leading the race slide up into the 77 and basically the whole field was either involved or had to stop, everyone contiuned with minimal damage..but it could have been A LOT worse as this was heading into the fastes part of the track and the field was packed tightly
the 63 came home 3rd to take the championship with him.
Good day at Barrie..I hope they run this again next year..I just hope it is attended a bit better.
Great racing today!!!
Ok I will add a little and make just a few slight corrections to my buddy 3 WIDE's report. First off the date is Sept 21st!!LOL Your a day early on that one!!!LOL All three 50 lappers went to "The Deuce". After winning the first of the qualifying heats last evening, Dave started pole for the first 50 and led the entire way as stated. #9 Chris Burrage would slip of the 2 of Tremblay in the early going and was able to ride it out to a 2nd place the rest of the way.Tremblay would then bow out to the pits a few laps later. 2008 Barrie champ Frank Davey would charge from a 10th place starting position to finish 3rd, with Burrage just nipping him at the line. #12 Jim Belesky and #22 Jason Elliott would have solid runs to finish 4th and 5th respectively. The field would be totally inverted on the second race, with Doucette starting 2nd from the rear after one of the non qualifiers got in due to attrition. Dave would charge to inside the top 5 at the midway point, with Sunset's #96 Larry McKenzie leading the way. The Deuce would eventually power into 2nd, and from there pulled himself next to McKenzie where they battled for a couple laps side by side. A late caution would appear when the Polish Prince spun in two after running over some debris one lap earlier. It was deemed Dave had a slight lead at the last completed lap and this moved him to the point. From there you all know the story;;;; nobody was touching the 44 as he breezed to the 2nd segment win as well. McKenzie had an ultra solid run to finish 2nd, with #24 Leonard Johnston, #72 Marty Monette, and Tremblay rounding out the top 5. Was a thrilling race between the 1-2 cars for much of this one. In the third race the top dog Doucette would pull #3 on the inversion draw bringing the ever tough Davey to pole position. Dave would finally slip by Frank out of 4 just shy of lap 20. Do you see where this one is going??? Yep "The Deuce" would notch the triple matching the feat of OSS driver #88 Steve Matthews the night prior. Flyin Frank would come home the runner up, with #22 Jason Elliott, Tremblay and MacKenzie completing the fast five. Eddie would slip past Larry on the last lap in 1&2 so that was a good battle late in the race for position. 1 caution as mentioned in the last 50, and this was by far the smoothest of the 50 lappers. Good solid day for drivers such as Elliott, Monette, Belesky, and #15 Donny Brandon so it was nice to see some different guys running at the front of the field for the most part. By my accounts a total of 8 visiting cars showed which was not bad considering the time of year and crazy format. The total was 28 Thunders that took to the track Sunday. Charger feature won by #99 Drew Stieler, who also won two earlier heats for the hat trick. #98 Brent Stieler( Drew's brother ) would finish 2nd, capping off a solid rookie year for him. #49 Mike Woodward would finish 3rd, with #15 Mike Burtoo, and #33 Crystal Doucette rounding out the top 5. #2 Billy Melenhorst also won 2 heats, and with that would take the Charger track title in his rookie year. #21 Desi Walt had a stellar 2nd season and would come home 2nd in points, which was a substantial improvement over her rookie season last year, when I believe she finished 8th in points. #164 Beau Burrows would win the Pure Stocks, with Meyer, Crumbie, Surerus, and Robbie Sikes completing the top 5. Heats to Burrows, Meyer, Crumbie, and #2 Ben Melenhorst. Crumbie would take the track title in his 6th year in the division, a nice way to cap off his time in Pure Stocks, as he will be making his LLM debut in 09. Once again FROM THE CHEAP SEATS!!
Great report as always Dave. Only downer on the day is I got a wicked sunburn!
Great report as always Dave. Only downer on the day is I got a wicked sunburn!
;D ;D ;D There is a great product out now 'Its Called Sunblock''lol''Siverstone'' and for your Lilly white Skin pfd 30 is good for you !!!,,and Good Report there Davey you rock man''and Cograts to the 08 Champs!!!!.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D