|
Jason Elliott Outplays, Outwits and
Outlasts en route To First Career Feature Win
by
Spencer Lewis
To say Stompin’ Tom Walters has been
impressive in long-distance races in 2009 would be a grave
understatement. The Bradford, ON veteran has not only won the last two
75-lap features this season, he’s dominated them.
The veteran has credited proper tire
strategy as the biggest aid to his conquering of Sunset Speedway
Invitationals, and entered Sunday night poised to take win number 2
for the weekend (Walters also won on Saturday night) and win number 3
in 2009 75-lap events.
However, Walters (No. 47 G & D Wholesale
Tires Chevrolet) took a backseat early on to fellow veteran Al Inglis
(No. 69 Innovative General Contracting/Byers Hobby & Welding Dodge),
who set a blistering pace through the first 1/3rd of the
race.
Inglis, a former Sunset Speedway regular,
was able to keep his Dodge in the track’s ultra-quick first groove,
not allowing the hard-charging pack behind him a chance to get by.
However, as the race neared the halfway
mark, it became evident that Inglis’ car was developing a handling
problem. The #69 begin to push through the center of the turn, slowing
Inglis’ momentum with each passing lap.
Finally, after laps of waiting, a patient
Walters found the opening he needed when Inglis’ car drifted up the
speedway in corners 1 and 2.
From that point on, Walters was able to
check out on the field and an intense battle developed between Inglis
and Dwayne Baker (No. 48 Zancor Homes/Browns Moving & Storage
Chevrolet).
The two would be briefly challenged by
Gord ‘The Smoke’ Shepherd (No. 10 Dock in a Box/Montana’s Cookhouse
Ford) ,who appeared to be quickest of the three drivers clambering
behind Walters, but would drop out under caution after developing a
flat right front tire.
As the checkered flag flew, it was
Walters, Inglis and Baker heading to the podium.
“2 for 2!” exclaimed Walters on exit from
his Chevrolet
“These [longer] races here are all about
tires. We know this. That’s why we waited to put our [fresh] tires on
for the feature” explained the 25 time champion, adding he ran the
entire length of practice & qualifying on older rubber.
“I saw Al [Inglis] getting squirrelly for
about 10 laps, but didn’t want to rush to make the pass. I’ve been a
little inpatient in the past, and didn’t want to make contact with him
and ruin it all tonight. So I waited for the right time, and picked my
spot”
When asked about the rest of 2009, Walters
made it very clear his intentions. “We’ll be points racing from here
on out. We lost the points championship in 2008 because of my own
stupidity, and I’ll absolutely be doing my best to ensure that doesn’t
happen again”
Stompin’ Tom closed out the victory lane
festivities by thanking each member of his crew for all the help they
provide, as well as thanking the fans for coming out and supporting
racing at Sunset Speedway.
Sunday’s Thunder Car feature had all the
makings of a Hollywood drama. Before all was said and done, the two
favourites heading into the night would be sidelined due to mechanical
issues or on-track incidents, another budding star would breakdown
under caution and a tireless worker would snatch his first career
victory.
The fireworks started early, as former
Barrie Speedway champion and former Sunset Speedway feature winner
Dave ‘The Deuce’ Doucette would find his night come to a close before
even seeing a green flag. The Angus, ON driver would snap a torque
converter in his qualifying heat, effectively ending his evening
prematurely.
Fast forward to the 50-lap A Main, where
up-and-comer Jason Elliott was chasing his breakout win, 3 seasons in
the making. However, in order to visit victory lane, Elliott would
need to find a way to beat 2-time Sunset winner Darryl St. Onge (No.
00 Georgian Waste Services/Howard Engines Pontiac) and freelance
hotshoe Marty Monette (No. 72 Arnott’s Automotive/NAPA Auto Parts
Chevrolet).
Monette would lead early, mastering the
second groove of the race track, intent on locking up his first ever
Sunset Speedway victory. However, once clear of traffic, St. Onge was
able to pull to the rear-end of Monette’s Camaro, making the pass as
the pair battled down the back straightaway.
St. Onge would then turn his sights on
lapped traffic, weaving his way in and out of traffic with Monette
welded to his back bumper.
It was this very same weaving that brought
St. Onge’s evening to a screeching hault. With 6 laps remaining, St.
Onge found himself in front of Monette and Elliott, working through
lapped traffic. As St. Onge came up on the slower car of Matt Bentley
(No. 21x Bentley Motorsports Chevrolet), Bentley drifted high and spun
St. Onge out of the lead.
With St. Onge sent to the tail end of the
field, the lead was handed to Hamilton, ON hot-shoe Marty Monette. The
former dirt track standout had spent the previous night competing at
Sunset, in order to find the proper set-up for the 50-lap Labour Day
Invitational; And after a solid qualifying effort and an impressive
run earlier in the feature, appeared to be the obvious pick to win the
event.
However, 1 lap before the field was set to
go green, Monette’s car began to spew smoke as the field headed down
the backstretch. His car would pull off of the track, and after
further inspection from the infield, Monette would formally withdraw
with a broken transmission.
With the top-2 drivers taken out in a
single lap, the top spot was given to the current third place driver,
Barrie, ON’s Jason Elliott (No. 22 Simcoe Auto Recyclers/Mills
Excavation Company Chevrolet).
Elliott would bring the field to the green
with 6 laps remaining, running a flawless remainder of the race to
capture his first ever checkered flag, followed by fast qualifier “The
Polish Prince” Jim Beleskey and Sunset Speedway regular Brad Holden.
In victory lane, an elated Elliott
admitted his goals were rather simple late in the race, “I was just
trying not to break during the last 6 laps!” laughed the Barrie
Speedway regular.
“I feel so bad for Darryl [St. Onge] and
Marty [Monette], because they’re both such great guys.” added Elliott
when asked his feelings on the end of the race.
“We don’t really make too many adjustments
to come from Barrie to Sunset. Aside from some minor stuff, this is
what we ran last night [at Barrie].”
Elliott made sure to guarantee one more
appearance at Sunset in 2009, “Oh, for sure, we’ll be here for Summer
Slam [on September 26th].
In Mini Stock action, the capacity crowd
was treated to the coming out party of yet another one of the
division’s talented stars.
Holland Landing, ON’s Rob Krystal (No. 99
Reflections Hair Design/Dan’s Scrap Honda) had already notched a
feature victory earlier in the season. Although, his previous conquest
was not on the same big stage as the 35-lap invitational he brought
home on Sunday.
The 2008 Four Fun divison rookie of the
year led every single lap, holding off a very determined Doug Butler
(No. 10 Homeworks Certified Home Inspections/Jeff’s Towing Nissan)
through the final circuits.
As if Butler glued to his spoiler wasn’t
enough, Krystal also had to navigate a sea of lapped cars racing
side-by-side as well as the smoke and oil left by a Harold Noseworthy
blown motor directly in front of him on the final lap.
When Krystal finally pulled his Honda to
victory lane, it was clear the young rookie was simply glad it was all
over. “I couldn’t see anything that final lap. It was a little scary,
but I knew I couldn’t let off because Butler was right behind me”
“We blew a brake line last night, so after
fixing that it definitely feels good to come out and get a win” added
Krystal.
“This car has been so great, I just want
to thank all my guys, the Ryan family, my brother [Terry Clodd] and
Dan’s Scrap for all the support.
QUICK RESULTS
Mini Stock
Heat 1:Doug
Butler New Lowell, ON
Heat 2: Warren
Paxton Holland Landing, ON
Heat 3: Doug
Butler New Lowell, ON
Heat 4: Bill
Campbell Alliston, ON
A Main:
1) Rob
Krystal Holland
Landing, ON
2) Doug
Butler New
Lowell, ON
3) Warren
Paxton Holland Landing, ON
Thunder Car
Heat 1: Brad
Holden Midland, ON
Heat 2: “5 Second Delay” Jay
Cutting Holland Landing, ON
Heat 3: Marty Monette
Hamilton, ON
Heat 4: Jason
Elliott Barrie, ON
Heat 5: Rob
Morrison Barrie, ON
Heat 6: Dave Melson
Stayner, ON
B Main: “Too Quick” Kenny
Britt Midhurst, ON
A Main:
1) Jason
Elliott Barrie, ON
2) “The Polish Prince” Jim Beleskey Carthew
Bay, ON
3) Brad
Holden Midland, ON
Late Model
Heat 1: Al Inglis
Orillia, ON
Heat 2: Jason “Bam Bam”
Witty Queensville, ON
Heat 3: “Mr. Excitement” Chris
Morrow Anten Mills, ON
Heat 4: Stompin’ Tom
Walters Bradford, ON
A Main:
1) Stompin’ Tom
Walters Bradford, ON
2) Al Inglis
Orillia, ON
3) Dwayne
Baker Stayner, ON
|