June 14/08 Feature Winners    

CLARKE, MILLIGAN AND BRITT WERE THE BEST ON LUCAS OIL NIGHT

On June 14^th under perfect weather conditions Sunset Speedway the fastest 1/3 mile oval in Ontario witnessed an action packed evening of exciting stock car racing as we had a great car count, great action on the track and an outstanding crowd witnessed a fantastic show. The night’s action was sponsored by Lucas Oil and Brian Durette their rep was on hand for all the action and they entertained some customers before the racing got under way he also handed out trophies and hats to all the feature winners. It was fitting that on Father’s day weekend that we had a ceremony to celebrate the life and times of our thunder car driver # 25 Kristi Wolfe’s father John who passed away last November very suddenly. John was a very popular figure in the pits each and every Saturday night always smiling and willing to give his help to anyone who needed it and was the driving force in Kristi’s racing career. It was great to all of John’s family and friends out to remember this great man and all the thunder cars came out on the track for a slow lap and Kristi was presented with a plaque from everyone at Sunset Speedway and it would have been something John would have appreciated. We welcomed the best travelling series in this writer’s opinion the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models the very fast, very loud and great looking machines with very skilful drivers that always put on an outstanding show. The night also featured the local Shriner’s club and they held a 50/50 draw that collected $1,600.00 with $800.00 going to the winner and they also gave away a bike to one lucky kid thanks guys the money will go to great use in the community. In among all this activity there was some fantastic racing witnessed by the large crowd as the big winners on this night were # 49 Rob Clarke in the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late feature event, # 23 her second on the year Tammy Milligan in the Thunder Car and # 14 multi time winner Ken Britt fending off a late charge by Mike Zinkie and Dave Burrows. I was thinking as the racing action was taking place it was old school as we had Hanley, Milligan, Burrows, Weisbrod, Watson.... names from the past in the present what a deal!

THE 50 LAP LUCAS OIL OSCAAR OUTLAW SUPER LATE MODEL EVENT   

After they finished their qualifying heat races the Asphalt eating machines rolled out on the surface to take on the famous Sunset oval that can be the measure of any driver on any given night they lined up on the front chute so the fans could get a great look at these extremely fast great looking machines. After driver introduction we had one of young fans say the words synonymous with motor sports GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES! And they fired up the high horse powered racing machines and after warming their tires with crowd standing and waving their hats and yelling the drivers salute the crowd by waving back to the fans showing their appreciation for the fans in attendance something this writer loves to see it just adds spice to the show about to begin. On the drop of the green # 49 Rob Clarke grabs the point but in behind there was a mad scramble to get to the front as # 7 Derrick Tiemersma, # 88 TJ Woolsey, # 68 Stu Robinson Jr. and #20 Shawn Chenoweth were the fast 5. There were cautions at lap 8, 10, 12and 15 that slowed up the show but after that the show was spectacular. The running order on the restart on lap 16 was Clarke, Tiemersma, Woolsey, # 70 Jeff Hanley and # 22 local favourite Glenn Watson and they stayed in this formation and at the half way point Clarke had checked out on the field but in behind was a major scrap for position as Tiemersma was under heavy pressure from Woolsey who was under pressure from Hanley and Watson and Chenoweth. Just past the half way mark Woolsey makes a successful pass of Tiemersma and Hanley and Watson moved up looking to gain a position as Clarke had increased his lead finally Hanley moved to the outside of Tiemersma and they swapped positions as they duelled side by side until Tiemersma gained his spot back as the fast 5 were Clarke, Woolsey, Tiemersma, Hanley and Watson. There were 2 races shaping up as Woolsey had moved to the rear bumper of the 49 machine and there was a great battle for third as there was a freight train consisting of Tiemersma, Hanley, Watson, Chenoweth and Robinson. On lap 47 the last yellow appeared as # 54 slows and stops on the track so this sets up a 3 lap shoot out as the field is tightened up but it’s one thing to catch Clarke but another to pass him and the laps were winding down on the restart the fastest car would appear to be Watson who passed both Hanley and Tiemersma and would definitely have given the front 2 everything they would want but the laps ran out. The running order at the finish line was Clarke, Woolsey, Watson, Tiemersma, Hanley, Chenoweth and Robinson who went to the back in an early incident and fought back hard for a good finish. The heat winners were Watson, Tiemersma, # 03 Shane Maginnis and Hanley. Congratulations to Rob and his crew on yet another great 50 lap win many in the past and many more to come I’m sure. On behalf of the management of Sunset Speedway I would like to thank the fine folks of the OSCAAR Outlaw series for putting on a great show and welcome them back on Saturday July 5^th for their second visit and yet another great show as they always do. I would like to thank Brian Durette and the fine folks at Lucas Oil Products for their sponsorship of this fantastic show a great time had by all.

THE JOHN WOLFE MEMORIAL THUNDER CAR FEATURE

There were 18 thunder cars ready to take on the Sunset bull ring in the inaugural John Wolfe Memorial feature on the Father’s Day week end and remember the life and times of John Wolfe greatly missed in the Sunset community just a great guy loved by all in the pit area. On the drop of the green flag # 98 Steve Hart was the point man with # 23 Terrible Tamy Milligan, # 40 Paul Scott, # 84 Ken Weisbrod and # 97 Roy Anderson rounding out the fast 5. On lap 3 # 45 Steve Slaughter Jr. and # 51 Mark Adams get together with both summoned to the rear of the field and on the restart Hart still paced the field but Milligan was applying heavy pressure while Anderson, # 57 Steve Lang and # 58 Stan Coe were the top 5. Milligan using a daring inside move and using a lap car to her advantage takes the lead with Lang, Coe, Anderson and # 88 Herb Walters following in the top 5. At the half way point Milligan was the leader but in behind there was a tremendous battle for second as Walters and Lang battled for the runner up spot with Weisbrod and Anderson rounding out the top 5. As they exited turn 4 to take the checkered flag from starter Rob Robinson the running order was Milligan, Walters, Weisbrod, # 69 Rob Skyler and # 97 Roy Anderson. The heat winners were Adams, Weisbrod, Slaughter and Lang. Congratulations to Tammy and her crew on her second feature win and winner of the inaugural John Wolfe Memorial feature. It was great that all the thunder cars participated in the lap for John it was great to see John’s family and friends to celebrate his life as I know that is what John would have wanted as he looks down from that speedway in the sky the Sunset family extends our sympathy to Kristi and her family but John’s memory will always be with us.

THE 4 CYLINDER ROAD RUNNERS 

The 4 cylinders took to the track 24 strong to tame the bull ring that can be too tough to tame from time to time. On the drop of the green flag the early leader was the 18 car of Jay Cutting followed by # 05 Rusty Burleigh, # 97 Dave Pitman, # 11 Dave Henderson Jr. and # 14 Ken Britt were the fast 5. Britt was on a mission on this night as he moved quickly to the rear of Cutting with # 8 Mike Zinkie substituting for Gibson, # 54 Joe Ireton and 63 Dave Henderson were the top 5. At the half way point Britt was at the point with Zinkie welded to his back bumper while Ireton and Burrows were in a side by side battle and # 5 Bill Gallant rounded out the fast 5. As the laps were winding down there was a 3 way battle for the lead as Britt and Zinkie were side by side with Burrows waiting in behind looking for any bobble or mistake to grab the lead Zinkie had the lead but as they came to the checkered flag Britt was the winner with Zinkie, Burrows, Ireton and Gallant were the fast 5. The heat winners were Ireton, Britt, Burrows and # 78 Jason Martin. Congratulations to Ken and his crew on another fantastic feature win with many more to come in the near future and it was good to see a familiar face in the # 8 as Mike Zinkie piloted the 8 machine in Rob Gibson’s absence.  Mike will have his new thunder car ready in a couple of weeks and we look forward to his return as he is an excellent driver.

There are a number of people to thank on this evening as it was action packed and a ton of thing happening. We would like to thank the OSCAAR folks for putting on a great show, the Lucas Oil Products rep Brian Durette for sponsoring the night’s activities, the Shriner’s club for the 50/50 draw and kid’s bike give away, everyone that participated in honouring John Wolfe’s life and most importantly the fans that were in attendance as their patronage is much appreciated. Next week we have our regular show plus we welcome back the Ontario Pro Challenge for their second visit of ’08 and just a reminder that on June 28^th we have fan appreciation and car show a must see for the stock car racing fan as all the drivers bring their cars to the track and the fans can visit and get autographs and take pictures of their favourite drivers and we welcome back the OSCAAR Outlaws on July 5^th get there early as the crowd will be awesome and seating will be at a premium.

 Brain Watt