Witty
Leads The Only Part That Counts En Route To First Victory Of 2009By
Spencer Lewis
Only one week after a
disappointing rainout, Sunset Speedway competitors and staff bounced back
with one of the most competitive shows of the young 2009 season, in front of
a packed house of fans.
The drivers of the Mini Stock
division were coming off of 2 fantastic rounds of heat races that saw over
30 cars attempt to qualify for the 20-lap feature. Due to Sunset’s
handicapping system, many of the division’s former winners and perennial
contenders rolled off from the tail end of the field. This led to some
interesting early race battles up front, that saw some fresh faces show
flashes of brilliance.
Four Fun division veteran Bill Campbell (No. 66
California Dave’s/New Tech Automotive Honda) started on pole, and wasted
little time putting a decent chunk of real estate between himself and second
place runner Shawn Ryan (No. 2 Dan’s Scrap/Rust Check Honda). During the
longer green flag runs, the 5-year veteran was able to stretch his lead out
to a half straightaway, only to be repeatedly brought back to Ryan’s front
bumper during the race’s multiple cautions.
While Campbell and Ryan jostled for supremacy at
the front of the field, Week 5 feature winner Marshall Pender was cutting
his way through the middle-pack of cars with surgical precision. Following
Pender through were rookie Paul Geniole Jr. and veteran Dan ‘Rover’ Nolan.
However, the barnstorming trio would only get as
far as 3rd as Campbell and Ryan had walked out to nearly a half
straightaway lead, with numerous lapped cars in their wake. Bill Campbell
would go on to win his first ever feature behind the wheel of a Mini Stock,
followed by Ryan, Pender, Geniole Jr and Nolan.
“I think I had a little bit of luck” admitted
Campbell, “I got to start at the front and all the fast cars were at the
back” added the veteran with a laugh. “I haven’t done a single thing to this
car since I bought it [from Derek Laronde], this is the way I got it!”.
Campbell went on to thank his sponsors, supporters and family for everything
they do for him on race day.
The Ontario Pro Challenge
Series was next on the card for their second of four scheduled 2009
appearances. An even spread of rookies and veterans made it difficult to
pick a favourite as the cars took the green for their 30-lap affair.
Ken Nicholson (No. 99 International Truck &
Engine Chevrolet) led early, though it was clear he had his hands full
keeping his son and team mate Josh Nicholson (No. 66 Firkin Pubs Dodge) at
bay. After a short game of cat and mouse, the younger Nicholson powered into
turn-3 and ducked under to snatch the lead.
Nicholson would fend off a late race challenge
by defending champion Dennis Thomson (No. 02 Thomson Signs Ford) for his
second straight feature victory, followed by Thomson, Ken Nicholson, Tim
Forbes and Tim Norris.
In victory lane, Nicholson explained how the
series’ mandatory change in setup didn’t quite affect him the way it did
some of his competitors. “For me, it takes it back to the way these cars
felt 4 or 5 years ago. I’m not having a problem with it at all”. Nicholson
then acknowledged the pressure veteran Dennis Thomson had him under towards
race end and thanked his sponsors and crew.
The Thunder Car division has
yet to have a repeat winner in 2009, and Week 6 saw yet another new face
emerge from the speedway’s most competitive division.
Former Limited Late Model veteran Dave Case (No.
5 Just Lubes of Newmarket/C.W. Coops Chevrolet) made the move to Thunder Car
for 2009 and found the move to be far more difficult than expected. Case and
company have grappled with various minute problems for the first 5 weeks of
the season. With an extra week of adjustments and the addition of four new
tires, Case was finally ready to showcase what he could do behind the wheel
of a Thunder Car.
The River Drive Park ON, Dave Case found himself
starting from the pole position and jumped out to an early lead, battling
with rookie Ethan Courneyea (No. 71 Innisfil Garden Centre Ford). Case would
win the battle, and while Courneyea was busy holding off the rest of the
top-5, Case was stretching his lead out further with each passing lap.
Courneyea would eventually be overtaken by
fellow rookie “Five Second Delay” Jay Cutting (No. 25 Dizzy Gastro Sports
Pub/Trailhead Lager Chevrolet), who would attempt to chase down Case.
However, Case’s lead would prove to be insurmountable, handing the veteran
Late Model driver and rookie Thunder Car driver his first win of 2009.
Following Case across the stripe were Cutting, Courneyea, Doug Harvey and
Charlie Smith.
“The car runs pretty good with all the bugs
worked out” chuckled Case in victory lane. “The 4 new tires are definitely
what made the difference for us. We’re excited to come out here next week
and aim for two in a row. I just want to thank my sponsors, my family and
everyone else who helps me out”.
The stage was now set for the
Limited Late Models to close out the night, with their headlining 30-lap
feature event. Veteran Dario Capirchio (No. 03 Concept Auto/Christina
Excavating & Grading Ford) in the ‘Silver Bullet’ started near the front of
the field and after a first lap caution held firm control over the top spot.
Capirchio’s only threat through the first 29
laps came around the half way mark, when ‘The Professional’ Rob Poole (No.
45 Visser Farms/Slessor Motors Chevrolet) made a run to the outside going
into turn-1. However, Poole’s left front tire would make contact with
Capirchio’s right rear, nearly sending the former 3-time Thunder Car
champion nose-first into the wall.
As the cars headed into turn-3 for the final
time, it appeared as though Capirchio had the win sewn up; Then, just as
Capirchio dove for the final turn, the left front tire of his Ford locked up
and shot the race leader up the track. With Capirchio momentarily
incapacitated, Jason ‘Bam Bam’ Witty (No. 19 Georgina Rental/Toronto
Bearings Chevrolet) who had been following closely in second, snuck
underneath to bring the field to the checkered flag.
“Man, my heart goes out to Dario” sympathised
Witty as he climbed from his winning car, “He just overdrove that final
corner and that was all the room we needed. This is right up there with my
most dramatic win. I mean, my most dramatic finishes usually end with me in
2nd or 3rd, so we’ll definitely take the win” joked
the Queensville, ON standout.