Centre for Speed
Dramatic Season to Wrap Up for ESMCS at Centre for Speed Saturday
Series Release/CFS Photo
For one final time in 2015, the Eastern Super Mini Cup Series will take to the track. The Atlantic Championships may be the season finale for the series, but it will be the first of the year at the Centre for Speed. A great field of drivers is expected, as drivers have one final opportunity to improve their position in points with a 10 lap heat race, and a 20 lap feature to be run.
After recording his 6th straight win, Matt Watson locked up the 2015 points title 1 race early. Don’t expect any sandbagging from the always competitive Watson, as he will be looking for a 7th consecutive win to sweep the season. That will have to happen at the only track he has never competed at in a mini cup car, but that hasn’t slowed him down at other tracks in the past. Watson is rumoured to have plans to make the jump to a big car in 2016, so expect him to finish off his time in the ESMCS with a bang.
Watson may have clinched the title, but 2nd through 5th are separated by a mere 18 points. Leading this battle is Steven Curtis, who after having his best season to date, has 226 points and a 7 point advantage over his Penske South Esk teammate Chris Wilson. To maintain 2nd in points, Curtis will have to average a 3rd place finish in the Heat & Semi Saturday. Curtis has never finished better than 5th at the Centre for Speed, but he has run better every time he returned to a track. As for Wilson, he had a great season going, challenging Watson for the championship, before a disastrous stretch struck, which was capped off with failing to start the last feature following a heat race wreck. Wilson is the only former winner at the Centre for Speed, but that was back in 2012. Despite not winning at the track since then, Wilson has an average finish of 2.5 in his career at the track, making it his best track.
With 216 points, Mark Ferguson has held onto 4th in points following a mid-season slide. He is just 3 points behind 3rd, heading into what Fergusons best, and favourite track too. After posting 3 DNFs in a row, he is hopeful to end the season on a strong note. And rounding out the top 5 in points, it is Mike Weagle. Had Weagle not missed a race at OBS, he may be contending for the title. Nonetheless, Weagle will be looking to finish as high as possible in points this year. As added pressure, Shediac is 1 of 2 tracks the series races at in the Moncton area, making Weagle a local favourite to capture the win Saturday.
A little farther back, there is a heated battle for 6th in points. In fact, there is a tie between Jared Tozer and Kyle Maher. Maher, who is coming off his first podium, is having a strong ending to his rookie season, which will end on Saturday. As for Tozer, he will not be racing on Saturday, but he will have a replacement driver. Who that is exactly, has not been confirmed, but the rumour mill is turning. Sitting just 3 points behind these 2, is Kirk Sheasgreen who will look to jump to 6th in points. Sheasgreen will be looking to put some bad memories from the Centre for Speed behind him. The last time he raced at the track was in 2013, and that night he rolled during the heat race.
Sheasgreen’s hard working crew got him back on track though, and he scored a top 5 during the feature the same night. As close as the battle for 2nd in points is, the battle between these 3 drivers is even closer, and will be fun to watch on Saturday.
Also on the entry list is Dave Griffin. Dave will be making his 3rd start of his early career. Dave has seen continuous improvement so far in his rookie year, finishing 6th in the feature at Speedway Miramichi. Griffin will be in great place to make a title run in 2016, but could a podium finish, or even a win come as soon as Saturday? The other 2 rookies this year, Mike Weagle & Kyle Maher, who have collected podium finishes, meaning rookie driver could sweep the podium Saturday.
Unfortunately, regular series announcer John O’Shea will not be on the mic Saturday. Nonetheless, fans will be in for a treat with Tim’s Corner Motorsport’s own Tim Terry filling in on the mic. Tim is one of the best in the Maritimes when it comes to announcing, and the series is excited to have him fill in on Saturday.
The green flag drops at 1pm Saturday, with a big card of racing on top. The highlight will be a 125 lap Sportsman race, along with 75 and 50 lap Mini Stock and Four Fun divisions’ features. Admission is just $20, and it is shaping up to be a great day of racing! Come on out to the Atlantic Championships at the Centre for Speed, so that you don’t spend a long winter regretting it!
Expected Entry List
#2 Chris Wilson
#3 Dave Griffin
#12 Steve Curtis
#16 Mike Weagle
#41 Mark Ferguson
#43 Kirk Sheasgreen
#55 TBA
#78 Kyle Maher
#88 Matt Watson
*Photo Credit Centre for Speed
