Dulux Paints Three Stars – Weekend No. 5 of 2018

The popular Three Stars selection returns to TimsCorner.ca this season thanks to the folks at Dulux Paints and Dulux Paints Bayers Lake. The Dulux Paints Three Stars honors three drivers who put up a performance from the weekend previous, on or off the track, that is worth some extra kudos.

This week, we look back at our weekend of Nova Scotia coverage with three of the closest finishes over the three feature events at Scotia Speedworld, Riverside International Speedway and Valley Raceway. Two of the finishes were side-by-side photo finishes while the other saw a huge pack fighting for the lead at the end of the race.

Without further adieu, here are the Dulux Paints Three Stars from Weekend No. 5!

Photo by McCarthy Photographic

THIRD STAR – TRAVIS ATWATER OF AYLESFORD, NS

Some of the most exciting racing of the day at Valley Raceway, besides Guy Meister climbing the bank to make some impossible passes possible, was in the Team Auto Four Cylinder division.

While it seemed like he had just a bit more than the others on the day, it was not easy for Travis Atwater to hold off the pack of cars he did to take the feature victory on the third race meet of the season in Melvern Square.

Atwater held off a hard charging Tanner Spinney, along with Matt Bourguyne, Conner Roop, Kyle Bent, Jesse Deveau and others who closed the gap at the end to contend for a victory. The crowd also navigated lapped traffic and clouds of dust to put on an edge of your seat battle for the fans in the Annapolis Valley.

At the end, it was the No. 13 of Travis Atwater out front to take the win and a spot on this week’s Dulux Paints Three Stars Selection.

SECOND STAR – SHAWN TURPLE OF ENFIELD, NS

Photo by McCarthy Photographic

While the story of the opening two rounds on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour had been about Butcher and Blenkhorn, it was the reigning champion who stole the show at Riverside International Speedway.

Or, if you want to call it that, he kept Butcher from stealing the Ron MacGillivray Chevrolet Buick GMC 150, by 0.002 seconds.

After a rough and tumble first 20-laps, a back and forth battle late on restarts between Shawn Turple and Cole Butcher kept fans entertained.  Turple was able to gain the advantage late but Butcher gave it everything he had in the final handful of laps. Butcher dug deep in Turn Four coming to the checkers but fell short to Turple in the closest finish in Series history. The mark bested to 0.004 second finish at Speedway 660 in 2007. That one had Turple in it too only on that occasion it was Wayne Smith taking the win.

With the win, Turple brings his name back to the forefront, not only in the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour championship picture but also in the IWK 250 discussion. The 150 is the final tuneup at the high banked oval before the IWK 250 and Turple will look to grab his first 250-lap crown jewel win in the event next month. The No. 0 team will be favorites as he head down the stretch to that big race!

FIRST STAR – JESSE DEVEAU OF GREENWOOD, NS

Photos by McCarthy Photographic

For the second straight week, the Dulux Paints First Star goes to the winning driver in the Scotia Speedworld Toursec Thunder division.

After coming within three laps of winning his first Thunder car race during the Toursec 50, it was Jesse Deveau who saw the door open to that prestigious first asphalt win one week after.

It was only fitting that Deveau, a former Valley Raceway Four Cylinder champion led only the last lap to win his first feature at Scotia Speedworld.

Deveau saw the inside line open up when Darren Flemming and a returning David Hibbs drifted up the track in Turn Four. Most would not think about driving it in, but Deveau did and it stuck down into Turn One on the final lap. As they exited four, Hibbs got a run on the outside but fell short, by inches (no transponders at Scotia Speedworld), to Deveau. It just goes to show, especially in the last two weeks, that you can lead all the laps you want as long as you lead the final one that ends with the checkered flag.

With the East Coast Mini Stock Tour coming into town this weekend, Deveau and the No. 51 Greenwood Auto Sales/TJ Greenlawn Civic will be considered as one of the top drivers trying to defend his home (asphalt) turf on Saturday evening.