WEEK 7 - BEMROSE CRUISES TO VICTORY FOR LATE MODELS
June 7 Report by Brian Watt

We were finally blessed with outstanding weather last Saturday - sunny and warm with an outstanding crowd ready for a great night of racing. Sunset hosted the second race in the 9 race ALSTAR Late Model Super Series. It is always an outstanding event with nearly 30 cars from all over Ontario to challenge the 1/3 mile bullring, as well as a regular night of racing by our 3 classes. The night's sponsor was B&B Decals, a long time Sunset Speedway supporter, and they handed out trophies to all the winners on the night. It was a great sight to see a pit full of great looking machines, great weather and the stands full of exciting race fans - so much so that the concession booths ran out of food. You could not pry the smile off Glenn Lloyd's face.

As for the racing, the big winners on the night were #3 Ken Bemrose in the Limited Late Model division, #3 Ernie Fumerton in the Thunder Cars and #12 Adam Tracey in the 4 Cylinder Road runners. In the featured ALSTAR event, #82 Jason Shaw completely dominated the field as he easily won the 75 lap ALSTAR Late Model event in a fashion we have not witnessed before.
Credit: Photos by Betty
 75 LAP ALSTAR LATE MODEL SUPER SERIES
This is a race all Sunset race fans circle on their calendar as a "must see "event. Nearly 30 Late Models try to tame the 1/3-mile bullring, some say to tough to tame. These are among the best Late Models cars in the province - always professionally run and great looking equipment. This particular race never had any flow early as we had caution after caution. This culminated in a serious incident as #55 Greg Cox violently made contact with the wall when several cars got together in turn 1. The result - Cox was unconscious and had to be taken to hospital. There was a 45 minute delay which took all the momentum from the event. The early leader was #5 JR. Farrelly with #88 Jim Rodgers, #48 Gerry Wheaton, #27 Glenn Schnurr and #31 Shawn McWhirter rounding out the top 5. But there was rocket on the move, as #82 Jason Shaw had moved to 6th by lap 15 and was easily the fastest car on the track. Shaw was untouchable as he went around car after car with relative ease until he wrestled the point from Farrelly by lap 25. At the half-way point, Shaw had a straightaway lead while Wheaton, Schnurr, #7 Derrick Tiemersma and McWhirter rounded out the top 5. Wily veteran #47 Tom Walters was 6th and on the move. As the race rolled on, Walters a noted Sunset Speedway champion, made a great move driving under both Wheaton and Tiemersma to grab the runner up spot. As the cars roared down the front chute to take the checkered flag, the top 5 running were Shaw, Walters, Tiemersma, #4 Craig Zurbrigg and Schnurr. After 2 events, the 82 car of Jason Shaw has dominated both races - unless the other drivers come up with some horsepower it will be long year with runner up being the only possibility for everyone else. Make sure you circle July 19th on your race calendar as the ALSTAR Late Model Super Series returns to Sunset Speedway for the second event. It's always an exciting night with full pits and full stands.
THE LIMITED LATE MODEL DIVISION
The limited late models had the same problem as the ALSTARS, as it was a caution filled event due to an extremely greasy track. This was probably from all the rain we have received this spring and all the rubber was washed away. On the drop of the green #95 Ron Lethbridge grabbed the early lead with #12 Lambert Yake, #87 Grant Lloyd, #3 Ken Bemrose and #57 Ron Quesnelle rounding out the top 5. Bemrose was handed a gift as Yake gets into the rear of Lethbridge causing him to spin. Both were summoned to the rear, leaving Bemrose on the point followed by Lloyd, #22 Chris Morrow, Quesnelle and #8 Brendan Adams. At the half way point the top 5 were Bemrose, Morrow, Quesnelle, #1 Vic Parsons and Adams. With no cautions they all got spread out and the only change in the top was #71 Brent Travis taking the fifth position from Adams. Bemrose went uncontested and won by a straightaway. The heat winners were Yake and Bemrose. Congratulations to Ken and Judy and the crew on a well deserved feature victory on a very tricky race surface.
THE THUNDER CAR DIVISION
With a great field of cars ready for battle, #67 Rick Santigato roared to the early lead with #4 Billy MacDonald, #3 Ernie Fumerton, #60 Mike Norris and #72 Roy Anderson tucked in behind looking for any opening to advance. On lap 3, Norris and Anderson got together causing the first yellow with the new order Santigato, Fumerton, #45 Rob Poole, Anderson and MacDonald. On the restart, Fumerton wasted little time in taking the lead while Santigato got freight trained - Anderson, #90 Andy Wheller, #51 Mark Adams and #49 Fast Frank Davey all sped past him. As Wheller looked poised to take the lead, he suddenly pulled off with mechanical problems. At the half way point, Fumerton held the point while Adams and Davey were side by side. Anderson was 4th, while #16 Amanda Connolly and #74 Mark Zacchigna were side by side for 5th. As Fumerton looked home and cooled out, there was a tremendous battle behind him as Davey and Adams dice it out. Connolly, #45 Rob Poole and #7 Smokin' Joe Whitaker battled for 4th. As the cars roared down the front chute to take the checkered flag Fumerton easily held the point while Adams held off a determined Davey. Connolly and Poole rounded out the top 5. The heat winners were Fumerton and Poole. Congratulations to Ernie and the crew on a great feature win - the point's race got even tighter as a result.
THE 4 CYLINDER ROAD RUNNER DIVISION
This growing class took to the track for their feature - 19 cars were about to take the green flag. On the drop of the green flag, #90 Darren Lloyd grabed the early lead with #12 Adam Tracey, #00 John Cole, #42 Joe Sherman and #71 Brian Wilson completing the top 5. With Lloyd still on the point there was a war going on in behind with a swarm of bees battling for position. As they approached the half way point Lloyd lead Sherman, while Tracey and Phinnemore were side by side. #80 Jim Carter tucked in behind looking for any opening. Finally, with a sudden burst of horsepower, Tracey motored around both Sherman and Lloyd to take the lead. As the race moved along to it's conclusion, Tracey looked extremely strong while the Phinnemore wave of Bob and Tim were sandwiching Sherman. Lloyd had slipped to 5th. As they roared down the front chute to take the checkered flag, Tracey held the point with Bob Phinnemore, Sherman, Tim Phinnemore and Carter round out the top 5. The heat winners were Adam Tracey and Tim Phinnemore. Congratulations to Adam and the crew on a great win - the future looks bright for this young lion. PS Adam will you tell your grandfather to hurry up with his race car we miss him.

In conclusion, we would like to thank B&B Decals for their nightly sponsorship and continued involvement at Sunset Speedway as it has been a long and distinguished relationship. Make sure you mark July 19th on your racing calendar, as the ALSTAR Late Model Super Series makes it return for round 5 of the 9 race series. It will be standing room only!