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TCM Three Stars and Weekend Agenda – June 9th, 2016

Feature Photo by Mike Francis/RacinPhotos.com.

This week’s edition of the TCM Three Stars brings us three drivers, who all had different paths to getting on the list this week. One came close to their first career feature victory, one scored their first feature win on the road and one crossed the line first in an incredible performance by not only themselves but by the whole field behind them.

Without further adieu, here are the TCM Three Stars for the weekend of June 3rd to 5th.

THIRD STAR

Sam Rogers of Lower Onslow, Nova Scotia

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Sam Rogers’ stock is quickly on the rise and further confirmed the fact on Sunday when he pulled his #12 Bandolero into victory lane for the first time at Petty International Raceway.

Rogers started on the pole of the 20 lap feature after winning his heat race and while the race looks pretty status quo on paper, it was far from it. By the fifth lap, Opening Day winner Michael Cormier had worked his way up to second and was poised to take his second straight win. As the laps wound down, Cormier was aggressive as he put relentless pressure on Rogers. Rogers stayed cool as a cucumber though, whether it was splitting a lapped car or keeping Cormier behind him in the late laps when he looked as low as the curb to try and force a mistake out of the Lower Onslow driver.

At the end, Rogers, who is a feature winner at Scotia Speedworld in 2015, came out with the first “road win” of his young career by winning at the high banked New Brunswick oval. By the way he has run over the last 12 months, his first in a Bandolero dating back to June 2015, this win will likely not be his last in 2016.

Holding off the field for his first win at Petty International Raceway was good enough to nab Rogers a spot on the TCM Three Stars list this week.

SECOND STAR

Shawn Warren of Waasis, New Brunswick

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Shawn Warren made a return trip to Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane for the first time in a few years. In fact, he won on this weekend in 2012 in one of the first races Tim’s Corner Motorsports covered at Speedway 660. The Pro All Stars Series was in town and Warren, in a white and blue Ford drove to victory lane in the Sportsman division.

Times have changed and in a division that sees a handful of young kids running amuck at the top of the heap each week, it was Warren’s experience that prevailed in victory lane in the third race of the year.

Oh, but the return to victory lane, the youth movement, all that was in the back of everyone’s mind after Warren had to hold off Justin Cole and a pack of six others that were side by side behind for 40 laps to punch his return ticket to hold a checkered flag.

Warren and Cole started on the front row of the race and kept it that way for about 39 of the 40 laps in the feature. It appeared Warren was going to get the upper hand just past the Lap 30 point, but a caution would bring Warren back to the field and his dancing partner on the outside.

With the two side by side, there was not much movement behind. When Colby Smith broke at the midway point in the feature, Andrew Rodgers slid in to take his side-by-side spot. Richard Atkinson had a bobble on the inside, which allowed Alexandra O’Blenis to dip low and Ryan Messer to move up to second on the outside.

Fans and teams watching were on pins and needles waiting for someone to make that one critical mistake, the one opportunity that would shake up the field and alter the running order.

That did not happen. Cole remained on the outside of Warren, not able to make a move while those behind did not get impatient and upset the proverbial apple cart. Warren crossed the line by inches over Cole to get back to victory lane for the first time in a few seasons.

The thrilling Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman feature, won by Shawn Warren, was enough to get Warren into the TCM Three Stars list this week!

FIRST STAR

Allison Hall of Oromocto, New Brunswick

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Photo by Mike Francis/RacinPhotos.com

It appeared as if Allison Hall was going to score her first main feature victory at Speedway 660 this past weekend in the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters feature. Hall won her heat race, started up front in the feature and led the first 13 laps of the 15 lap feature.

A lap and a half away from that elusive checkered flag, her #73 car ended up in the beach exiting Turn Two.

Hall had kept Matt Crocker, Kyle Boudreau and Kyle MacKinnon at bay nearing the end of the race until she caught two lapped cars that were racing side by side for a spot. One of those lapped cars gave Hall and the field the outside line and after some anxious moments let out and let the leaders by.

One lapped car did not and decided to run the leaders like he was on the lead lap, forcing Hall and Crocker three wide around him on one end of the speedway. Instead of rolling out and giving the faster cars some room to race for the win, at the other end, the dust flew and Hall ended up in the beach. The white flag flew followed by the caution, ending the race which resulted in Hall being scored in seventh.

I know, the lapped car did not have to give Hall, Crocker, MacKinnon, Boudreau or the other four lead lap cars lined up behind him the room but there’s a respect level and a unwritten gentleman’s agreement to not race the leaders coming to the end of the race if you are out of the picture for the win. The driver that was in question was racing for no position since the other lapped car respectfully let the leaders battle for the top spot, by doing what he did gained him absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. It cost Hall a chance to fight for the win and I’m sure it cost the driver in question some respect among those in the pit area for his moves late in the race.

Hall will have her day in Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane, but for now, she tops the TCM Three Stars list for the week.

WEEKEND AGENDA

The Weekend Agenda takes a bit of a different look this year, but will give you a quick glance at the basics. If a track is racing, you’ll see the track name and location in green and if a track is not running an event on a weekend, their name and location will be red. The line proceeding will display the divisions running on the weekend and a start time, or a date of when the next event is at the track. If a track has provided us a pre-race advance or press release by Thursday afternoon, that information will be linked.

NOVA SCOTIA

Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway in Sydney: OFF – Next Event, Saturday, June 25th

Lake Doucette Motor Speedway in Salmon River (outside of Digby): OFF – Next Event, Sunday, June 19th

Riverside International Speedway in James River: Ron MacGillivray Chevrolet Buick GMC 150 on Saturday, June 11th at 6pm; Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour, Napa Sportsman Series

Scotia Speedworld in Enfield: Fanfest on Friday, June 10th at 6:45pm; Hydraulics Plus Bandolero, Affordable Fuels Sportsman (Make Up Feature from May 22nd + Regular Feature), Toursec Thunder, Toursec Lightning, Strictly Hydraulics Legends

Valley Raceway in Kingston: OFF – Next Event, Sunday, June 19th

NEW BRUNSWICK

Petty International Raceway in River Glade: OFF – Next Event on Saturday, June 25th

Shediac CENTRE For Speed in Grand-Barachois: OFF – Next Event on Saturday, June 18th

Speedway 660 in Geary: Weekly Point Racing on Saturday, June 11th at 6:30pm; Re/Max Group Four Realty Pro Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman, DMR Auto Sales Street Stocks Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters.
Capital City Auto Parts Enduro 200 on Sunday, June 12th at 2pm
ENDURO CANCELED DUE TO LOW CAR COUNT

Speedway Miramichi in Miramichi: Backwards Bash Demolition on Saturday, June 11th at 6pm

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Oyster Bed Speedway in Oyster Bed Bridge: OFF – Next Event on Sunday, June 19th at 2pm

NEWFOUNDLAND

Eastbound Park in Avondale: OFF – Next Stock Car Event on Sunday, June 19th at 2pm

Thunder Valley Speedway in Bishop’s Falls: Season Opener on Sunday, June 12th at 2pm; Sportsman 75, Hobby Stock, Bomber

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TCM Coverage Schedule – Weekend Four of 2016

Friday, June 10th – Scotia Speedworld – Fanfest – 6:45pm AT (Race Nine of 2016)

Saturday, June 11th – Riverside International Speedway – Ron MacGillivray Chevrolet 150 – 6:00pm AT (Race 10 of 2016)

**Schedule Subject to Change Without Notice

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