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Maritime Racing

By The Numbers – 2013 Season

When it comes to 2013, there were a ton of numbers that come to mind.

Between the eight major tracks in the region, there were many good, bad and middle of the road numbers that stood out over the 2013 year. Some were serious, some were more lighthearted and some broke records. Here’s some you may have missed over this past season…

0 – The amount of feature victories by Rick Cashol on his run at the championship in the DMR Auto Sales and Service Street Stock class at Speedway 660. “The Villain” finished four points behind champion and two-time feature winner Roger Slocum and tied with one time feature winner in 2013 in Rob Raynes. Cashol did have two Dash wins and a Heat win in 2013. It just shows that consistency can keep you near the front in a season long championship hunt.

2 – Female drivers who took to the track in their maiden Pro Stock voyages in 2013. Alexandra O’Blenis took to the track in August during a Speedway 660 Weekly Point Event while Sarah McKay ran in the Atlantic Championships Pro Stock event at the CENTRE For Speed in October. McKay is planning a full time foray on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour in 2014, while O’Blenis will be running her Street Stock again next season, though I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ve seen of the Petty track champ in a Pro Stock.

3 – Tracks Richie Moore has yet to win at in his Dodge Neon that run a Four Cylinder class. Moore won at three tracks in 2013 (Scotia Speedworld, Oyster Bed Speedway, CENTRE For Speed) and still has Petty Raceway, Speedway 660 and Speedway Miramichi to scratch off his list should he go for the complete sweep. While some drivers have come close with winning at all of the region’s race tracks with a Honda (S660 does not allow international models in their class), no driver to our knowledge has won at every race track that offers up a Four Cylinder class.

3 (or less) – The margin of victory for two Four Cylinder champions in the region in 2013. At Scotia Speedworld in the ACE Lumbermart Lightning class, Marc MacMillan came from behind to best BJ Nicholson by three points in the final race of the year.

Meanwhile, up at Speedway 660, three points was the margin between the top three in the class, with Tyler Seveck taking the championship after the final calculations were made. Daniel Clark, who was originally crowned the champion on the final point night on August 24th, came out in third after all results were made official while “the Rockstar” Jeremy Doran took second place in the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters Class.

Not to be outdone, after the Mister Transmission Mini Stock season at Petty International Raceway, Mike Phillips and Ryan Knowles tied for the point championship. The tiebreaker came down to wins, with Phillips win on the Caleb Dunn Memorial weekend being the difference. Brad Daley went in as the point leader but finished 13th in the final race of the season and wound up four points behind (the equivalent to eight points on the point scale used by Speedway 660/Scotia Speedworld) after their drop race was factored in.

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3 – The amount of INEX National champions that competed at INEX Winter Nationals at Auburndale Speedway. Chandler Smith (Bandits), Jensen Jorgensen (Outlaws) and Amherst, Nova Scotia’s Ryan Mackintosh (Semi Pro) all won season long National Championships from INEX. Winter Nationals champion Zachary Dabbs tied with Smith for the National Bandits title in 2013, but the title was given to Smith on the tiebreaker. Jorgensen is the only driver to win the Winter Nationals title AND the National Championship in 2013. Cole Tanner was the highest finishing Canadian in any division who competed on Canadian soil in 2013, finishing 25th overall in Bandoloero Outlaws of 117 registered INEX drivers.

*Note – in 2013, drivers competing at Maritime race tracks were not required to purchase an INEX member license and, therefore, the points for national championships end up a bit skewed when looking at the standings, but, the tracks in the region are working with INEX on a reduced Canadian license see that could change this and would see all drivers in the region registering with INEX for a fee lower than those south of the border. Why? We’ll have more information on this in a story prior to INEX Winter Nationals.

3 (Yes, I know, one more) – Tracks that John Flemming and Shawn Tucker won at in 2013. Flemming, who won the PST Championship in 2013, won two events at Scotia Speedworld while also taking victories at Oyster Bed Speedway and Speedway 660. Tucker also won at Speedway 660 during the Auto Value 250, while also taking a pair of victories on the Tour at Riverside Speedway and Petty International Raceway. They combined for eight of 12 feature victories on the Tour, or 66% of the races.

4 – The amount of first time champions over the six Weekly Racing Series classes at Scotia Speedworld. Adam Meehan, Marc MacMillan, Matthew Warren and Darren Wallage each captured first time titles at “Atlantic Canada’s Action Centre.”

4 – The number of Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour trophies John Flemming now has on his mantle after this season. His fourth in the PST era (2001 to present) is the most of any driver.

6 – The amount of championships Greg Fahey owns at Speedway 660, a record set in the 20th year of the track by taking the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman crown. Fahey is also the only driver to own championships in the top three (Street Stock, Sportsman and Pro Stock) divisions at the track. Fahey’s move from the RE/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stocks to the Martins Home Heating Sportsman was broke here in January 2013 and was one of the most popular stories on TimsCorner.ca over the past season.

7 – The amount of race cards covered by Tim’s Corner Motorsports, covering Atlantic Canadian drivers, during Florida Speedweeks at Auburndale Speedway and New Smyrna Speedway, in six days.

10th – The finish of Cole Boudreau in his first career Pro Stock start at Speedway 660 during the Best of the Best Pro Stock 150 on July 28th. Boudreau turned a lot of heads in his limited starts in 2013 – including a sixth place run late in the Auto Value 250 before an incident took him out of a top ten run.

17 – NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) cars lit up Riverside Speedway for their first August event following six seasons of being held in September. While it might not be related to the date change, the Wilson Equipment 300 Supporting Red Cross Disaster Relief  provided one of the best NCATS finishes at Riverside in the seven year history as Jason Hathaway muscled his way to the front to snap a 59-race winless streak in his #3 car. DJ Kennington and eventual champion Scott Steckly completed the podium in the event. Phil Barkhouse Jr took the win in the NAPA Sportsman Series event, held as the undercard to the 300-lap NCATS feature.

18 – The car count in each Late Model (Pro Stock and Sportsman) division that showed up for the Atlantic Championships Day One at the CENTRE For Speed in October. For the first time, management made the decision to put both Late Model shows on the same day along with the Atlantic Open Wheel Modified finale. Jonathan Hicken (Pro Stock) and Remi Gaudet (Sportsman) captured their first Atlantic Championships titles.

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20 – Speedway 660 celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2013 with new owners, some facility upgrades but one thing did not change – the stellar racing over their five Weekly Point Racing divisions. Drew Greenlaw (Bandolero), Tyler Seveck (Sharp Shooters), Roger Slocum (Street Stocks), Greg Fahey (Sportsman) and Dave O’Blenis (Pro Stocks) took home titles in the 20th Anniversary season.

21 – Number of female drivers who competed in at least one race at the region’s eight major tracks in 2013. Speedway 660 had the most “girl power” flowing with 11 different female drivers making at least one start, including Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman Rookie of the Year Sarah McKay, Sharp Shooters Courtney Barton, Christine Chittick, Jessica Hawkins and Leaha McNeil, Street Stockers Heidi Cooper and Destiny Enkel and “Bandokids” Courtney and Alex O’Blenis, Jayden Foster and Alicia Mowat.

Across the region, most female drivers found themselves in Four Cylinder cars, in addition to the four from Speedway 660, Jillian Gregory and Lisa Stewart (Oyster Bed Speedway), Miramichi’s Samatha Flieger, Petty’s Patricia Taylor and Scotia Speedworld’s “Hollywood” Chantel Ackles raced among the ranks of the four cylinder classes at their respective race tracks.

On Newfoundland, Whitney Farrell joined the ranks of the Bandolero class in 2013.

The Eastern Super Mini Cup Series rookie Amanda Wheatley and the Maritime League of Legends Tour runner-up “Miss Rawdon Rocket” Emily Meehan were the only two to partake in action on organized touring series in the region. In addition to her League of Legends run, Meehan also joined Ackles, Sportsman standout Marie Brown and Bandolero driver Megan Parrott as the Speedworld’s “Women on Wheels.”

The highest finishing female this season? Alex O’Blenis, who became the first female champion in Petty Raceway history by knocking down the Street Stock title over female fan favorite Martin Landry.

28 – The “Legendary” number of Emmett Donahue, who retired this season after 25+ years of racing at Oyster Bed Speedway. One of the most exciting drivers to watch in the Stella Maris Credit Union Street Stocks at Oyster Bed, Donahue is a fan favorite at the race track, is one of the best interviews in Island racing, and will be missed behind the wheel in 2014.

29 – The amount of laps run in the season finale for the Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman Series at Scotia Speedworld. The race was capped at 50 laps or 50 minutes, whichever came first. The time limit came first, and it was Jeff Dillman out front when the checkers flew. Darren Wallage came out of the event as the champion of the division to capture his first championship in the Speedworld’s top class.

33 – The number of the only repeat point champion at Petty International Raceway since their re-opening, Leisure Days/CRC RV Bandolero champion Cole Tanner of Shubenacadie, NS.

35 – Amount of different feature winners in Scotia Speedworld’s 66 Weekly Racing Series features in 2013. Of those, 12 were first time winners. Seven different winners came in 10 Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman Series wins and Adam Meehan won the most over the Weekly Racing Series in 2013, tallying six victories en route to his Hydraulics Plus Bandolero title.

30something – The age difference between Glyn Nott and Dana Hamm, the top two rookies in the Re/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stock division at Speedway 660 in 2013. Ironically, Nott won the freshman title over Hamm by 46 points – Hamm’s car number. Don’t feel bad Glyn, last year’s ACE Lumbermart Thunder Rookie of the Year battle at Scotia Speedworld had 43 years between Richard Ramsay and eventual winner “Hollywood” Chantel Ackles.

37 – The biggest field of Sportsman cars, or for that fact, the biggest field of any cars assembled for any stock car race in Atlantic Canada in 2013. The event? The Dartmouth Dodge 100 at Scotia Speedworld. Qualifying was held on August 9th, but the feature was washed out and was run on Sunday, August 11th. Russell Smith Jr. held off Dale Richardson and Darren Price for the win to collect his first Dartmouth Dodge 100 victory. Richardson would fail post race technical inspection, giving veteran Larry Fisher a third place finish in the 28-car field.

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48 – While Jimmie Johnson won his sixth title in 2013, Waylon Farrell drove his #48 car to his second consecutive championship in the Bandolero division at Thunder Valley Speedway in Bishop’s Falls, Newfoundland. Adding to the Farrell franchise in 2013 was Waylon’s brother Will, who took home the Legends title at the track to go along with Wayne Walsh’s Sportsman championship. Well done, by’s!

50 – The number of race cards Tim’s Corner Motorsports covered in 2013. These races took place at ten different tracks in four Canadian Provinces and one U.S. State.

70% – The amount of panel votes Braden Langille’s Bandolero received in the TCM Best Looking Car presented by Imaginit Designs Award voting – the most of any other car. Langille won the award over Chris Duncan’s #97 Pro Stock.

100% – The percentage of races James Matchett won on the Eastern Super Mini Cup Series in 2013. Matchett swept all six feature races en route to his second consecutive championship. The two-time champ plans on moving to Street Stock in 2014.

152 – Brad Keselowski not only visited Atlantic Canada and Riverside Speedway in July for the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body, he came to play! Keselowski led 152 laps in the event before the handling faded on the #13k CAT Car for Kids Ford. Keselowski finished third behind winner Shawn Tucker and Donald Chisholm.

2497 – The amount of points Ryan Mackintosh scored to take home his first INEX Semi Pro Legends Championship. Mackintosh, originally from Amherst, Nova Scotia but now resides in Kannapolis, North Carolina, bested 363 INEX registered drivers for the title in 2013. The record for Mackintosh and the Chris Woods Racing and Repair team included 24 wins, seven seconds and five third place runs of 48 oval races. In addition, Mackintosh also recorded four road course Legends wins.

$3,000 – Stephane Poirier’s payday for the MONSTER Eliminator Demolition at Speedway Miramichi in October, the biggest payout for a Demo winner in 2013. In addition, Poirier also took the Baddest Burnout on the day.

$5,000 – The top prize won by Colby Smith at the Irving Blending and Packaging 150 at Speedway 660. 36 drivers, including John Flemming, Wayne Smith, Dave O’Blenis, Lonnie Sommerville, Frank Fraser and many more tried their hand at taking away the top prize, but in the end it was Smith on top – at 1:30am in the morning after a lengthy rain delay held up the show.

$25,400 – The biggest payout in Atlantic Canada over the 2013 campaign, won by Auto Value 250 champion Shawn Tucker. That is in addition to around $10,000 or so he won a month and change prior at the IWK 250.

1,000,000 – Reasons to smile for those at the IWK Children’s Hospital after a $1,000,000 donation to the NICU from Riverside Speedway owner John Chisholm.

Countless – Delicious meals served up at the race track over the past season. If you know me, I love food and I had my share this year at and away from the tracks. From Joe Mason’s Pie Irons, to Chantel Ackles’s Bologna Burgers (and those fabulous ones with egg at the Centre for Speed), to the always delicious VanZutphen Pig Roast, the full meal from Roger, Cathy, Kim, Bob and Shirley on Speedweekend at 660, footlongs at Riverside, Popcorn Chicken at Oyster Bed, Speedway Fries at 660, the Casino New Brunswick weekend brunch buffet, pre-race meals at Murphy’s Fish and Chips with Race Time Radio in Truro and, of course, one of my favorites, birthday cake during the Dartmouth Dodge 100 thanks to Olivia Meehan. I’m sure I’m forgetting some, and if I did, thank you. Maybe I should be starting a new food blog here on TimsCorner.ca in the new year?!

What was your favorite number? Was it something we missed here? Let us know on our Facebook page or by contacting us at content@timscorner.ca!

Photos by McCarthy Photographic

Oh – and when it comes to numbers, our most popular piece this season – outside of the Petty Fan Choice and RacingSpectator.ca Driver of the Year voting? Brandon Snow’s breathtaking wreck on Opening Day at Oyster Bed Speedway was caught through the lens of Scott Sinclair. Sinclair shared his shots with us, and in turn, thousands others. Click the photo to see more pictures of the light pole shattering ride by the Modified rookie.

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Champions of 2013:

Speedway 660 – Geary, NB

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Westwood Estates Bandoleros – Drew Greenlaw of Eastport, ME
Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters – Tyler Seveck of Temperance Vale, NB
DMR Auto Sales and Service Street Stocks – Roger Slocum of Chipman, NB
Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman – Greg Fahey of St. Stephen, NB
RE/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stocks – Dave O’Blenis of Boundary Creek, NB

Auto Value 250 – Shawn Tucker of Fredericton, NB
Irving Blending and Packaging Sportsman 150 – Colby Smith of Cape Sable Island, NS

Petty International Raceway – River Glade, NB

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Leisure Days RV Bandoleros – Cole Tanner of Shubenacadie, NS
Mister Transmission Mini Stocks – Mike Phillips
C Max Paint and Body Shop Street Stocks – Alexandra O’Blenis of Boundary Creek, NB
GT Enterprises Sportsman – Russell Smith Jr of Lakeside, NS

Caleb Dunn Memorial 200 – Dave O’Blenis of Boundary Creek, NB
Jones Auto Body Twin 75′s – Laurie Cormier of Riverview, NB
Parts for Trucks International 150 – Shawn Tucker of Fredericton, NB

Scotia Speedworld – Enfield, NS

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Hydraulics Plus Bandoleros – Adam Meehan of Rawdon, NS
ACE Lumbermart Lightning – Marc MacMillan of Glenholme, NS
ACE Lumbermart Thunder – Matthew Warren of White’s Lake, NS
Strictly Hydraulics Legends – Cole Butcher of Porter’s Lake, NS
Coors Light Trucks – Dan Smith of Lower Sackville, NS
Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman – Darren Wallage of Oakfield, NS

14th Annual Atlantic CAT 250 – Craig Slaunwhite of Terence Bay, NS

19th Annual Shriner’s Classic for Sportsman – Darren Wallage of Oakfield, NS

PARTS FOR TRUCKS PRO STOCK TOUR

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#97 – John Flemming, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Photo by McCarthy Photographic)

IWK 250 – Shawn Tucker of Fredericton, NB
Atlantic CAT 250 – Craig Slaunwhite of Terence Bay, NS
Dartmouth Dodge 200 – Shawn Turple of Enfield, NS

OYSTER BED SPEEDWAY – Oyster Bed Bridge, PE

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Central Engine Services Modifieds – Kris Fournier
Stella Maris Credit Union – Stephen Gass
Duffy’s Service Centre Outlaw – Kendall Palmer
Chris’s Bobcat Services Inc Mini Stock – Brandon Conohan

SHEDIAC Centre for Speed – Atlantic Championships

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Pro Stock – Jonathan Hicken (PE)
Sportsman – Remi Gaudet (NB)
Street Stock – Mike McLeod (NS)
Mini Stock – Scott Williams (NS)
Four Fun – Richie Moore (NS)
AOW Modifieds – Larry Gulliver (NB)
Eastern Super Mini Cup – James Matchett (NB)
Bandoleros – Cory Hall (NB)

Eastern Super Mini Cup Series

#18 – James Matchett – Miramichi, NB

AOW Modifieds

#98 – Mike “Sparky” Raeburn – Hampton, NB

MARITIME LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

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#10 – Justin MacNeill of Bedford, Nova Scotia

Atlantic Tiltload Challenge at Petty Raceway – Cy Harvey of Elmsdale, Nova Scotia

Thunder Valley Speedway – Bishop’s Falls, NL

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Sportsman – Wayne Walsh
Legends – Will Farrell
Bandoleros – Waylon Farrell
Hobby Stocks – Travis Sheppard

NAPA SPORTSMAN SERIES – James River, NS

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#4 Aaron Boutilier of Porter’s Lake, NS (Also won the Highland Home Building Centres 100 on IWK 250 Weekend)

MARITIME SPORTSMAN CHALLENGE

#77 Colby Smith of Cape Sable Island, NS

SPEEDWAY MIRAMICHI

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Coors Light Sportsman 125 – #48 Dave O’Blenis of Boundary Creek, NB

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