TCM Three Stars + Weekend Agenda – August 25th, 2016

Last weekend offered something for everyone when it comes to stock car racing at Atlantic Canada.

From racing at the dirt track of Valley Raceway, Pro Stocks at Speedway 660, Bandoleros at Scotia Speedworld or the NASCAR Pinty’s Series at Riverside International Speedway, whatever class you are a fan of, it could be found at one track or another in the region.

This week’s TCM Three Stars honors two drivers who came close to victory lane and one that dug deep late to solidify his first victory at a famed oval in the region.

Here we go – the TCM Three Stars for Weekend #14 in Atlantic Canada!

Third Star

Robert McNeil of Kingston, Nova Scotia

While Robert (BJ) McNeil did not win in one of the smallest classes in the region last Sunday at Valley Raceway, he sure did put on a show.

McNeil, driving “the Joker” themed Truck in the four entry Truck division at the dirt track, he appeared poised to win the first heat race until the late laps when Matt Bourguyne made a late race move to take the win. McNeil got up the wheel to try and get the victory in the late laps but came up short.

Then, the day turned upside down for the #7 team – literally.

While chasing Bourguyne in the second heat race, his wheels dug into the cushion in Turn Two on the last lap, tipping McNeil’s ride upside down before it landed back on its wheels. McNeil drove the truck back to the pits and after being checked out by the Medics and an interview with announcer Dylan Langille, he went to work to get the truck back in racing condition for the feature.

After it appeared he was not going to make it back out for the main event, the green and purple truck roared up the Turn Two ramp and onto the track for the feature to a cheer from the crowd.

The handle on the truck was lost as was shown in the opening laps of the feature but McNeil found a late lap battle with Chris Marshall. The duel ended with damage to the #7 as he slid uncontrollably into the spinning Jeep, causing further damage to the front of his truck.

After seeing the dirt track action for the first time at Valley Raceway, it is clear to see McNeil is a fan favorite and while we’re sure he did not want to put a show on the way he did on Sunday, he kept his fans plenty entertained. For his near trips to victory lane and to come back from his roll over, Robert McNeil is the first Valley Raceway driver to appear on the TCM Three Stars selection for the year!

Second Star

Jordan Veinotte of Porter’s Lake, Nova Scotia

Photo by McCarthy Photographic

In short, Jordan Veinotte drove two Veinotte Motorsports cars at two different tracks in two nights and came home with two third place finishes.

Veinotte began the weekend at Scotia Speedworld, where he got his season back on the proverbial tracks with a third place finish, his first podium since mid-June at his home track. With Aaron Boutilier and Matt Moore being swept up in a lap one, turn three wreck fueled by impatience, Veinotte was able to capitalize by moving to second in the championship chase to Pete Miller.

Less than 24 hours later, the team was at Speedway 660 with their other car to shake down for the A.E. McKay Builders 150 on Speedweekend. After winning his heat race, Veinotte worked from 12th on the starting grid in the 40 lap feature to third behind Harvey youngsters Ryan Messer and Jacob Logan.

To pull off a top three finish on any given weekend in the Sportsman division at either track, let alone two back to back in a 24+ hour period, that is quite impressive. Not to mention, with the run at Speedway 660, Veinotte put himself directly in the discussion as a favorite to contend for the victory on Speedweekend.

For his two trophy performance last weekend, Jordan Veinotte has earned the second star on the TCM Three Stars for the week.

First Star

Cayden Lapcevich of Grimsby, Ontario

Photo by Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR via Getty Images

Riverside International Speedway is seen as one of the best short tracks in Canada. The cars and stars of the NASCAR Pinty’s Series only visit the famed oval once a year, meaning the drivers of Canada’s top stock car touring series only have one shot per season at winning at the high banked, 1/3-mile oval.

While it looked like a Canadian Motorsports Hall of Famer would make good on his first start in James River, it was a young driver from Grimsby, Ontario that saved his equipment to lead the final 11 laps of the Bumper to Bumper 300 en route to his second career NPS victory.

Cayden Lapcevich started ninth in his first start at Riverside International Speedway and quickly worked into the top five in the early shuffle for position in the first 50 laps of the race. A slow stop put him back to eighth and the youngster started the climb again.

It wasn’t until Alex Tagliani’s misfortunes that Lapcevich began to really push his #76 car.

Lapcevich battled at the end with Kennington, Dumoulin and eventually took the lead from Jason Hathaway with 11 to go and ran to his first win at Riverside International Speedway in his first start at the track. In turn, he also took back the point lead on the series with three races to go over Andrew Ranger.

Lapcevich was told to “save, save, save” all race and had enough left at the end of the race to take the win. Where have Maritime race fans heard that in recent years? Think back to a young kid with a reverse number of #76 on his car that tops the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour with three races to go.

For his come from behind victory in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series Bumper to Bumper 300, Lapcevich receives the top nod in 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: Championship Point Racing on Saturday, August 27th @ 6pm – Sportsman, Street Stock, Mini Stock

Lake Doucette Motor Speedway in Salmon River (outside of Digby): Off – Next Race on Sunday, September 11th

Riverside International Speedway in James River: OFF – Next Race on Saturday, September 10th

Scotia Speedworld in Enfield: $20 Carload Night on Friday, August 26th @ 7pm; Strictly Hydraulics Legends, Coors Light Trucks, Hydraulics Plus Bandoleros, Toursec Thunder, Toursec Lightning

Valley Raceway in Kingston: Point Racing on Sunday, August 28th @ 1pm; V8, Four Cylinder, Trucks, Unlimited

NEW BRUNSWICK

Petty International Raceway in River Glade: Jones Auto Body Sportsman 125 on Friday, August 26th @ 7:30pm; Sportsman, Mini Stock, Street Stock, Atlantic Modifieds
Cummins 150 on Saturday, August 27th @ 6pm; Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour, Upper Clements Parks Maritime League of Legends Tour, Bandolero

Shediac CENTRE For Speed in Grand-Barachois: OFF – Next Event on Saturday, September 10th

Speedway 660 in Geary: Night of Champions on Saturday, August 27th @ 6:30pm; Re/Max Group Four Pro Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman, DMR Auto Street Stock, Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters

Speedway Miramichi in Miramichi: Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 27th @ 6pm; Demolition, Four Cylinders

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Oyster Bed Speedway in Oyster Bed Bridge: Championship Point Racing on Saturday, August 27th @ 6pm; Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Outlaw, Mini Four Fun

NEWFOUNDLAND

Eastbound Park in Avondale: Edward Collins Contracting 125 on Saturday, August 27th @ 4pm; Pit Party featuring the Navigators, Islander RV Bandolero, Hanlon Realty US Legends, Atlantic Dodge Dealers Hobby Stock, NAPA Auto Parts Sportsman

Thunder Valley Speedway in Bishop’s Falls: Off – Next Event on Saturday, September 17th and Sunday, September 18th

TCM Coverage Schedule – Weekend 15 of 2016

Friday, August 26th – $20 Carload Night – Scotia Speedworld (NS) – 7pm AT (TCM Race #36 of 2016)

Saturday, August 27th – River Glade International Cummins 150 – Petty Raceway (NB) – 6pm AT (TCM Race #37 of 2016)