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Sept. 13, 2009 Race Report |
| Morrow Is Twice As Nice With Win Number 2 by Spencer Lewis Chris Morrow looked to be back in championship form on Sunday afternoon, taking his second win of the doubleshot weekend. The 2008 track champion was able to follow up his Saturday night win by easing his way through traffic, taking the lead before the 30-lap feature’s half-way mark. ‘Mr. Excitement’ was able to expand that lead when working through lapped cars, at one point enjoying a cushion of nearly a half straightaway. The Anten Mills, ON veteran was able to withstand a late-race charge by 2008 Inside Track Magazine Up-and-Coming Stock Car Driver of the Year Steven Mathews (No. 88x Mathews Motorsports Ford), as well as negotiate his way through a tricky green-white-checkered finish, en route to his 3rd victory of 2009. When asked about Mathews’ late-race charge, Morrow (No. 11 Morrow Electric/Plumbtech Plumbing Chevrolet) assured he was not phased by the late-race pressure. “Believe it or not, the car was getting better as the race went on” stated Morrow matter-of-factly. “We charged hard through the pack to get the lead, but once we were there, we were just kind of cruising….waiting for a kid like Steven [Mathews] or Jason Witty to take a run at us” continued the 7-time Sunset champion. “This actually wasn’t the same setup we used last night. [Setup man] Laurie [Melson] has actually been wrenching on the thing all afternoon” explained Morrow. When asked his plans for the rest of 2009, he was quick to confirm his entry for Summer Slam. “We’ll be here on the 26th” nodded Morrow, adding with a smile “And we’ll be even better”. Once victory lane festivities were complete, it was time to bring out the 2009 Sunset Speedway Limited Late Model champion, Stompin’ Tom Walters. “This was such a group effort this season” beamed an elated Walters “I just want to thank every single person who’s had a hand in getting us here” “I think losing to Chris [Morrow] last year was a bit of an eye opener for me. We had a real good lead coming down the stretch….how we lost it is still a mystery to me” explained the 26-time champion. “I also want to thank the new owners of Sunset Speedway. This group has done so much for this place this season, and I know it’s only going to get better. The group they’ve assembled to run Sunset, Mark [Dilley], Linda [Jones] and Steve [Slaughter Sr] are top-notch, and trust me, this will be the place to be at in 2010” When asked his plans on the final stretch of 2009, specifically the Ontario Short-Track Playoff Season, Walters was unsure of how many events his G & D Wholesale Tires team have left this season. “Obviously we’d like to go to all the invitationals that are left on the schedule, but I’m just not sure if it’s financially possible” said Walters. “Our goal was to lock-up this championship, so now we’ll have to go home and take a look at things and see what more we have left in the budget. I’d like to confirm my attendance at all the events, but right now that’s not possible” “We will, however, be at Summer Slam” closed the 2009 champion. Already a Thunder Car champion at his home track of Sauble Speedway, Scott McTeer entered Sunday’s 30-lap feature with the intent on introducing himself to the rest of the province. The Tiverton, ON resident was certainly able to make his entrance in a big way, taking home the win in his first visit to Sunset in over 2 years. McTeer (No. 69 Bayview Roofing & Renos/Kathy’s Over Night Purses & Bags Chevrolet) started deep in the 22-car field, but was able to hook his car up in the tricky second groove of the racetrack, putting himself on a fast track to the front of the pack. Once in the outside lane, McTeer was not to be denied; Picking off nearly a car per lap before he reached the back bumper of early leader Mike Zinkie. After disposing of Zinkie, McTeer would switch to cruise control, making his first ever Sunset win appear almost effortless. “This win definitely ranks right up there as one of my biggest. There are a lot of quick guys here, and this is only the second place we’ve won at outside of Sauble” said McTeer after climbing from his dominating ride. “[In order to get hooked up on the outside] we made so many changes. I couldn’t even tell you all the adjustments we made this afternoon. We just kept working at it” “This place is a lot different than what we’re used to at Sauble. It’s a lot slicker here. In the heat race we were getting off the corners and were still spinning the tires down the straightaway” explained the 2009 Sauble champion when comparing the two tracks. “We’re definitely going to take what we learned today and use it in a couple of weeks. We’ll be here for Summer Slam” beamed McTeer as he closed out his interview. Sunday afternoon saw Holland Landing, ON rookie Shawn Ryan become the second member of the Dan’s Scrap racing stable to win a Mini Stock feature in as many weeks. Ryan’s team-mate Rob Krystal accomplished the feat last Sunday, and it would be Krystal who would put the test to Ryan in the closing laps of the 20-lap A Main. Ryan (No. 2 Rust Check of Newmarket/Meineke Car Care Honda) started towards the front of the 24-car field and was able to stay in contention for the first handful of laps, before taking control of the lead. While at the front, Ryan would fend off challenges from a who’s-who of the Mini Stock elite, including Terry Clodd (No. 34 Bourque Transmission/Pathfinder Lubricants Honda), Warren Paxton (No. 33 J.F Kitchings & Son Ltd/Blue Mountain Honda Honda) and ‘Mr. White Walls’ Nick Brown (No. 48 Brown Brother’s Roofing/Slimlite Skylights Honda). Although it was not until the final handful of laps, that Ryan was truly tested, by stable-mate and off-track friend Krystal (No. 99 Taurus Property Maintenance/Reflections Hair Design Honda). Lap after lap, the rookies battled, with Krystal in an everlasting search for a clear lane, Ryan working hard to keep the 2008 Four Fun Rookie of the Year at bay. Finally, with Krystal glued to his bumper, Ryan crossed the stripe, picking up the checkered flag and his first ever win in the process. In victory lane, an exhausted Ryan made no bones about the intensity of the battle between the Dan’s Scrap team. “It was everything I had in me to keep Rob back there” smiled Ryan. “I came into this season with absolutely no experience in racing whatsoever. So this is amazing. We worked with this car all season long, mostly adjusting the suspension and whatnot, to be here [in victory lane] is awesome” Ryan closed the interview by thanking his team and his family for all their help and support towards his racing endeavours. QUICK RESULTS LATE MODEL Heat 1: Dario Capirchio Heat 2: Jason ‘Bam Bam’ Witty Queensville, ON Heat 3: Steven Mathews New Liskeard, ON Heat 4: Stompin’ Tom Walters Bradford, ON A Main: 1) ‘Mr. Excitement’ Chris Morrow Anten Mills, ON 2) Steven Mathews New Liskeard, ON 3) Jason ‘Bam Bam’ Witty Queensville, ON 4) Stompin’ Tom Walters Bradford, ON 5) Mike Wietzes Lefroy, ON THUNDER CAR Heat 1: Charlie Smith Orillia, ON Heat 2: Mark Adams Mississauga, ON Heat 3: Flyin’ Frank Davey River Drive Park, ON B Main: ‘The Upgrade’ Rick Walt Barrie, ON A Main: 1) Scott McTeer Tiverton, ON 2) Mark Adams Mississauga, ON 3) ‘The Tokyo T-Bird’ Mike Zinkie Barrie, ON 4) ‘5 Second Delay’ Jay Cutting Holland Landing, ON 5) Ryan Semple Loretto, ON MINI STOCK Heat 1: ‘Mr. White Walls’ Nick Brown Keswick, ON Heat 2: Doug Butler New Lowell, ON Heat 3: Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON B Main: ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Sikes Hawkestone, ON A Main: 1) Shawn Ryan Holland Landing, ON 2) Rob Krystal Holland Landing, ON 3) Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON 4) Terry Clodd Holland Landing, ON 5) Doug Butler New Lowell, ON |