Speedway Miramichi
ACKLES, DOUCET KICK OFF THE VERY BEST FALL SHOOTOUT AS WINNERS
Track Release
After mother nature pushed The Very Best Fall Shootout back by 24 hours, the Kick-Off event went off with great action and incredible storylines. When it was all said and done, two drivers notched their first career Speedway Miramichi feature win! Chantel Ackles (#30) finally earned her first win in Miramichi by winning the 50-lap Mini Stock feature in a hard-fought battle, while rookie competitor Dylan Doucet (#02) grabbed his first ever checkered flag by leading wire-to-wire to win the 30-lap Bomber feature.
Both features got a twist when a coin flip decided to invert the field and shake things up, creating some hard and intense racing.
Chantel Ackles (#30) used the invert to her advantage, starting inside the top 5. She would take the lead on the sixth lap of the race and pulled away on the first green flag run. That green flag run would last for thirty-one laps, with Ackles leading over Mitchell Poirier (#28), who was having the best run of his career. PEI’s Ricky Millar (#17) used the long run to work through the field and worked his way past Poirier before the first caution flew, which was for issues for Matt Martin (#33).
On the restart, Ackles and Millar would do battle for the lead on the ensuing restart, while BJ Gillespie (#69) took advantage to move into third. After making contact with Mitchell Poirier, Conrad Murphy (#89) would spin in turn 3 on the thirty-ninth lap. On the final eleven lap run to the finish, Ackles would hold off Millar to earn her first career victory at Speedway Miramichi! Millar would hang on to finish second, while Ryan McKnight (#46) capitalized on the final restart to earn the podium – for Millar and McKnight, it was their first career Speedway Miramichi podium finishes. Mitchell Poirier wrapped up the night with a fourth-place finish, tying his personal best, while BJ Gillespie slipped late and finished fifth.
Gillespie and McKnight scored the victories in the 10-lap heat races. Fifteen cars were in attendance for what was a 50-lap feature.
The Bomber race was an incredible night for some young drivers. Bathurst driver Dylan Doucet (#02), who is looking to wrap up the Rookie of the Year award tomorrow, started on the pole thanks to the invert. In the feature, he lit it up, leading every single lap to drive to his first career victory! Blake Bransfield (#60) drove from mid-pack to second and attempted to challenge Doucet but would settle for the runner-up spot. In his second career start, Riley Connell (#43) held off a hard-charging Tyson Donovan (#63) to take the final podium position in the thirty-lap race. Billy Pelletier (#18) rounded out the top 5.
The thirty-lap race ran caution free. A couple of contenders dropped out early. Axten MacLean (#13) started near the front but would head pit side in the early laps, where Kenny MacKenzie Jr (#68 – subbing for Jordan Campbell) drove from dead last to just outside the podium before suffering a mechanical issue, ending his race twelve laps shy of the finish. Ten cars were in attendance for the exhibition show.
Kenny MacKenzie Jr and Tyson Donovan picked up victories in the ten-lap heat races. For Doucet, Bransfield, and Connell, it was their first career podium finishes. All three drivers are eighteen years of age or younger.
The race was broadcast live on Tims Corner TV. Fans can watch a full replay of the event with a single day or weekend PPV pass!
Tomorrow is the biggest day of the year at Speedway Miramichi – The Very Best Fall Shootout featuring the 5th Annual Street Stock 100 and the Demolition Blowout. Mini Stock, Bomber, and Atlantic Modified Tour action will complete the card. Seven champions will be crowned on what is a super Sunday at Speedway Miramichi. Pit gates open at 8am, grandstand gates open at 10am, and action gets underway at 1pm. We will see you at Speedway Miramichi!
Mini Stock 50-Lap Results
- Chantel Ackles #30
- Ricky Millar #17
- Ryan McKnight #46
- Mitchell Poirier #28
- BJ Gillespie #69
- Conrad Murphy #89
- Zean Dutcher #55
- Tyler Lannan-McLeod #24
- Jamie Turner #26
- Tom Ackles #130
- Matt Martin #33
- Cody Lannan-McLeod #00
- Mathieu Mallet #80
- Billy Pelletier #22
- Neil Miousse #71
Bomber 30-Lap Feature Results
- Dylan Doucet #02
- Blake Bransfield #60
- Riley Connell #43
- Tyson Donovan #63
- Billy Pelletier #18
- Samantha Blakely #96
- Riley Harris #1
- Kevin Kinney #81
- Kenny MacKenzie Jr #68 (subbing for Jordan Campbell)
- Axten MacLean #13
