TCM Three Stars + Weekend Agenda – July 28th, 2016

Last weekend saw racers dodge thunderstorms to get racing in throughout the Maritimes. Three race tracks got their shows in, one got their racing in a day late and one lost features due to rain. At the end of the day, the racing that was seen around the region was exciting and kept fans on the edge of their seats.

In our TCM Three Stars for Weekend #10, we have two drivers who had to work on their cars to wind up in victory lane at the end of the day while the other had to dance with raindrops and some of the top talent in the region to mark his return to the winners circle. As a side note, all three drivers also hail from different Maritime provinces!

Here are the TCM Three Stars for the week!

*Photos by McCarthy Photographic, Petty winner photos by TCM

Third Star

Mike Duskey of Albany, PE

If the racing card at Petty International Raceway went off on Saturday evening, Mike Duskey might not have ended up where he did at the end of Sunday afternoon.

Duskey, who won the season opener at the track in the Street Stock division, crashed hard during the practice session on Saturday afternoon. Even as the skies opened and the thundershowers surrounded the track, Duskey’s team worked hard under a tarp draped over the right front corner to get the car back to working condition for the heat race.

The race was called on Saturday and the team would have some extra time to work overnight to get the #42 back in as pristine condition as they could.

Their hard work paid off and Duskey returned to victory lane but it was much harder than that.

While Duskey won the heat race and began to set sail up front, Craig Ward began to reel in the #42 and by the end of the feature he was up on the leader looking to make his move for his fourth consecutive win of the season. As hard as Duskey worked on his car in the shop and in the pits, he got up on the wheel and held off the frantic charge of “The Thrill Maker” for his second win of the year.

For his hard work on, off and away from the track to get the win last Sunday at Petty International Raceway, Mike Duskey gets a TCM Three Star selection for the week.

Second Star

Cory Hall of Jolicure, NB

Much like Duskey, Cory Hall had to fight back from some mechanical issues to end up in victory lane last Friday night at Scotia Speedworld in the Strictly Hydraulics Legends division. While his issue with the blue plate in his Legend car wasn’t as big as Duskey’s practice crash, Hall still got up on the wheel and quite possibly passed more cars than any driver in Atlantic Canada last weekend.

Hall started sixth in the first feature and was up in front leading before the halfway point in the feature. On Lap 13, the car had shut off on him and forced him to pit road to get a quick repair. Starting last on the field and having to work from the back, he worked his way back up to sixth in 11 laps.

In the second feature of the evening, he started dead last and passed the whole field, taking the lead three wide on Lap 17 and holding the field off on a five to go restart en route to his third feature win at Scotia Speedworld on the season. Even sweeter was the win following not only the issue in the first feature but a blown motor the week prior at Riverside International Speedway.

Hall will look to return to victory lane this weekend at Oyster Bed Speedway, an event he won last year on the Upper Clements Parks Maritime League of Legends Tour. Until then, Hall has taken a place on the TCM Three Stars for Weekend #10.

First Star

JR Lawson of Shubenacadie, NS

It took five races, but JR Lawson is back in victory lane at Petty International Raceway.

The 2014 Mister Transmission Mini Stock champion had to earn his first win of the year as he held off a charge from the defending Mini Stock track champion at Petty Raceway in Mike Weagle and current point leader Tim Webster in one of the best finishes to a race all weekend. As Weagle worked high and low to find a way around the #81 Civic, Lawson held his line and was flawless in the closing laps to cross the stripe first. While the two had a run-in during the first race of the year, the battle waged between the two last Sunday saw the pair show a ton of respect to each other as they fought hard for the checkered flag.

To open the weekend, Lawson won the only race completed at Petty International Raceway on Saturday by taking the only Mini Stock heat contested. As a drizzle fell and fans watched from the stands under umbrellas, Lawson danced with the drops and girlfriend Chantel Ackles for the heat win with Lawson edging the #30 for the win. While the hope of race officials was to keep heat in the track for the Irving Blending & Packaging 150, the rain picked up and would eventually wipe out the second heat race.

For his run in the rain and his Sunday show which both resulted in checkered flags, JR Lawson tops the TCM Three Stars selection 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.

NOVA SCOTIA

Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway in Sydney: Cape Breton Cancer Centre 100 on Saturday, July 30th @ 6pm; NAPA Sportsman Series 100, Ramsay’s Honda Racing for Autism 75, Saf-way Auto Parts Poogie Hache Memorial 52

Lake Doucette Motor Speedway in Salmon River (outside of Digby): OFF – Next Race on Sunday, August 7th

Riverside International Speedway in James River: OFF – Next Race on Friday, August 19th

Scotia Speedworld in Enfield: Nitro Circus Pre-Party on Friday, July 29th @ 7pm;  Toursec Lightning, Strictly Hydraulics Legends, Coors Light Trucks, Hydraulics Plus Bandoleros, Affordable Fuels Sportsman

Valley Raceway in Kingston: Championship Point Racing on Sunday, July 31st @ 1pm – V8, Unlimited, Four Cylinder

NEW BRUNSWICK

Petty International Raceway in River Glade: 4th Annual Caleb Dunn Memorial on Sunday, July 31st @ 4pm; Sportsman 150, Extreme Window and Entrance System Street Stock, Mister Transmission Mini Stock, Leisure Days RV Bandoleros, Atlantic Modified Tour

Shediac CENTRE For Speed in Grand-Barachois: OFF – Next Event on Saturday, August 6th

Speedway 660 in Geary: OFF – Next Event on Saturday, August 6th

Speedway Miramichi in Miramichi: OFF – Next Event on Saturday, August 13th

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Oyster Bed Speedway in Oyster Bed Bridge: Lucas Oil 100 on Saturday, July 30th @ 6pm; Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour, Upper Clements Parks Maritime League of Legends Tour, Stella Maris Credit Union Street Stocks

NEWFOUNDLAND

Eastbound Park in Avondale: Hickman Automotive Group 125 on Saturday, July 30th @ 4pm; NAPA Auto Parts Sportsman, Islander RV Bandolero, Hanlon Realty Legends, Atlantic Dodge Dealers Hobby Stock

Thunder Valley Speedway in Bishop’s Falls: OFF – Next Event on Sunday, August 7th

TCM Coverage Schedule – Weekend 11 of 2016

Friday, July 29th – Nitro Circus Pre-Party – Scotia Speedworld (NS) – 7pm AT (TCM Race #27 of 2016)

Saturday, July 30th – Lucas Oil 100 – Oyster Bed Speedway (PE) – 6pm AT (TCM Race #28 of 2016)

Sunday, July 31st – Caleb Dunn Memorial 150 – Petty International Raceway (NB) – 4pm AT (TCM Race #29 of 2016)

**Schedule Subject to Change Without Notice