Event 25 - MORROW CROWNED POINTS CHAMP AT SUNSET AGAIN
September 13 Report by Brian Watt

Last Saturday September 13th we had another great night for racing at Sunset Speedway as the weather was warm and the racing would be awesome as one Plan Group points title would be crowned. The Sunset late models point’s championship would be settled when the checkered flag waves for their 35 lap season championship as only 15 points separate the 22 car of Chris Morrow and the 57 car of Ron Quesnelle so the action will be hot and heavy. We also had the season championship for 4 cylinders and regular racing for thunder cars but both have one final Plan Group points night next Saturday so we will crown 2 champs on that night. The night’s racing was brought to us by Fox’s Buns Master Bakery & Delicatessen and they handed out trophies and containers of cookies to all the night’s winners. Fox’s is a great sponsor at Sunset Speedway and they supply the track with all their baked goods so remember to go and see the Fox family for your baked goods they are located at 96 Victoria Street in Barrie. Wolf electric sponsor of the #59 late model of Larry Vitale had a barbecue for their employees in the south grandstand and we also had a visit from the military from Base Borden as they brought out 2 huge HLVM vehicles to tour the track to delight the fans and raise money for the Terry Fox run a fight for cancer as runs will take place throughout the country on Sunday September 14th. The military personnel walked through the crowd looking for donations and the generosity of the Sunset folks came through again as they managed to collect $739.00 for the cause way to go fans take a collective bow. The big winners on the night were #1 Vic Parsons in the Sunset Late Models, #21 Rob Deasy in the 4 cylinders and #47 Tyler Liscombe a repeat winner in the Thunder Car division but the real big winner in the Sunset Late Models was Chris Morrow who was a model of consistency as he won his 6th consecutive Points championship at Sunset Speedway, well done Morrow Boys. Chris and the crew fought a ill handling car all year which is a tribute to the driving ability of Chris and won the title without winning 1 feature in the 2003 race season but he was consistently in the top 5 each and every week and win or lose he always meets you with a grin from ear to ear in the pits afterwards well done Chris, Bob and the entire crew and their sponsors for a great year.

As the cars rolled onto the track for the 35 lap season end championship run and final point night for 2003 there were a mere 20 points separating Morrow and Quesnelle so the Plan Group title was definitely up for grabs. Once again there was a great field of late models to take the green flag anyone could win this championship. On the drop of the green flag from starter Doug #97 Simon Lloyd grabs the early lead with #87 Grant Lloyd, #68 Rino Montinari, #71 Brent Travis and #95 of Rompin’ Ron Lethbridge following in close formation. Simon continued to hold the point but was under heavy pressure from father Grant who got along side while in behind #1 Vic Parsons and Lethbridge also wage a side by side battle looking for any opening with Montinari, #72 Ron Tracey and #8 Brendan Adams followed close behind. While Simon Lloyd developed a handling problem and went backwards Grant Lloyd and Parsons went door handle to door handle with Parsons finally grabbing the point with Lloyd second and Montinari, Tracey, Adams, #47 Stompin’ Tom Walters and Quesnelle in hot pursuit. The first caution appeared on lap 17 as Lloyd seemed to break something and Tracey got into the rear of Lloyd causing him to spin out with the result both Lloyd and Tracey summoned to the rear. The running order on the restart was Parsons, Montinari, Adams, Walters, Quesnelle, Lethbridge, Bemrose and Morrow and they went another 15 laps before Tracey loops it in turn ¾. The racing was extremely quick as everyone trades paint, bumps and jostle for position throughout the field and the running order on the restart was Parsons, Montinari, Adams, Walters, Quesnelle, Bemrose and Morrow. There was another weird incident late in the race as Adams and Quesnelle make contact down the back chute but the caution flag was being thrown for #12 Cory Yake who made heavy contact with the wall in turn 3 so even though Quesnelle spun out he did not cause the caution so the result was he got his spot back. As the field went green, white checkered the running order at the checkered flag was Parsons, Montinari, Adams, Bemrose, Quesnelle, Walters, Morrow and Lethbridge. The heat winners were Travis, Lethbridge, Walters and Bemrose. Congratulations to Victor and his crew on yet another feature victory for this great veteran who has been around the Ontario stock car scene for a great number of years and a consistent winner. The big winner though was Chris Morrow by virtue of his 7th place finish managed to take the Plan Group Sunset Late Model point’s race by a mere 18 points over arch rival Ron Quesnelle. Congratulations to the Morrow Boyz on their 7th consecutive points championship, 6 at Sunset and one at Barrie Speedway way to go guys and also the Quesnelle crew on a great year coming up touch short but always here and very consistant each and every week.

THE THUNDER CARS DIVISION 25 LAP FEATURE

As the cars pulled out on the track for their 25 lap feature the Plan Group points race in still in doubt as #49 Frank Davey leads by a mere 10 points entering the night’s action and it would appear Frank gained points on runner up #16 Amanda Connelly as he finished a head of her in each race on the night. On the drop of the green flag they went 10 green flag laps as #47 Tyler Liscombe grabs the early lead with #51 Mark Adams, #74 Mark Zacchigna, #3 Ernie Fummerton, #94 Doug Harvey, Connelly, and #49 Frank Davey were in pursuit. On lap 10 Zacchigna breaks something and makes heavy contact with the wall down the back chute and the caution flag flies. At the half way point Liscombe still holds the point while in behind Adams, Fummerton, Harvey, Davey and Connelly were trading paint to gain position. On lap 21 the final caution appears as #8 John Carlisle and newcomer #9 Norm Stoddard make contact with both summoned to the rear. On the restart Liscombe is still on the point while Davey was in the runner up spot but would run out of laps to take the victory, while in behind Adams, Fummerton, Connelly, Harvey, #45 Rob Poole and another newcomer #32 Dennis Yelle round out the top 8 as they crossed the finish line to take the checkered flag from starter Doug. The heat winners were Zacchigna, Adams, Davey and newcomer Norm Stoddard. Congratulations to Tyler Liscombe and crew on back to back feature victories having won the previous week also. It appears that Frank Davey increased his Plan Group points lead over Amanda Connelly as he picked up points on her in each race and it’s quite the feat considering Frank has raced one less point night than Connelly so he had some ground to pick up throughout the year. Next week will tell the tale as Saturday night is the final point night.

The only question to answer is could anyone beat the yellow Honda CRX of Rob Deasy who has completely dominated the class in the second half of the year. On the drop of the green flag the early leader was #10 Mario Poulin with #6 Aaron Martyn, #8 Rob Snow, #42 Joe Sherman and #11 David Henderson round out the top 5. After cautions on laps 4 and 6 slowed the flow the running order on the restart was Poulin, Martyn, #80 current point leader Jim Carter, Snow, #21 Rob Deasy, #88 James Rodgers and #9 Mike Carson. On lap 9 Carter grabbed the point but in behind Deasy was in hot pursuit while in behind Poulin, Martyn, Snow, Carson and #22.2 Bob and Jay Phinnemore battled for positions. Deasy and Carter put on a great show as they went door handle to door handle for probably 20 laps as neither could get enough of a run to take the lead but Deasy would always edge Carter as they crossed the finish line lap after lap. With the laps winding down and Deasy and Carter side by side, Carson caught up and this trio put on a great show to the delight of the fans that were on their feet. As they exited turn 4 Deasy and Carter were side by side with Carson inches behind and as they crossed the finish line Deasy had won by mere inches with Carson, the Phinnemore’s, Rodgers, Poulin, Snow and Martyn follow in that order. The heat winners were Poulin, Carter and Deasy with 2. Congratulations to Deasy and the crew on yet another great feature win and also to Mr. Carter as they put on spectacular show for the crowd. Although there is still one point night left Jim Carter has virtually sewed up the Plan Group point’s race for 2003 his first of his career now the question remains will he be back in 2004 to defend his point’s title only Jim knows for sure.

Once again we would like to thank Fox’s Bun Masters Bakery and Delicatessen for their night sponsorship and for supplying Sunset Speedway with those great buns for the hot dogs and hamburgers and Wolf Electric on their barbecue in the south end for their employees. Remember next week is our last week of racing until the Spring of 2004 and we will race on Saturday night with the 2 points races up for grabs as well as the ever popular OSCARR Outlaw Super Late Models make an appearance. On Sunday afternoon we will end the 2003 race season with Invitational for Late Models, Thunder Cars, 4 Cylinders, Hurricanes, Pro Cups and the final School Bus race so get out and see some great racing action as it will be a long Winter and no racing until the Spring of 2004.