Ryan Wins CARQUEST Tour Season Opener

HALIFAX, NS (June 11, 2006) - It was Gordie Ryan who saw the checkered flag first in the CARQUEST 100 at Scotia Speedworld today. After a rain delay, the racing got underway at 4:30 pm. The 100-lap feature was John Flemming's to lose after leading the majority of the laps until the 11th caution of the race on lap 92. Eleven cars had piled up on turn four after a restart; the extended caution saw Flemming's No. 97 start to spew water from the overflow, and Ryan moved to the lead.

Flemming was able to cool the car down and finish the race, but with eighth-place rather than the win he thought he had. Wayne Smith was second and Brad Mann was third. Scott Alexander and Marty Prevost rounded out the top five.

Ryan started the race second behind pole sitter Shawn Turple, who had mechanical problems on lap 72, putting him to the rear of the field on the next restart.

Ryan led the first 31 circuits before being overtaken by Flemming, who started 11th. Flemming led until lap 82, when the yellow flag was shown for a caution, but then withdrawn before it flew. Flemming had slowed and the next two competitors (Ryan and Mann), passed him. Flemming retook the lead on lap 89 and stayed there until his overheating problems on lap 92, when Ryan took the lead and hung on for the win.

The race took one hour 46 minutes to run.

Defending series champion Rollie MacDonald was running a strong fourth when his car spun off turn three on lap 37; MacDonald' s racecar was towed to the pits and did not return to the race.

Heat race winners were Shawn Turple, Mike MacKenzie, Flemming and Kris Fournier. Chris Hughes won the B Feature. 34 cars entered the event; 28 started the feature race.

The CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour is back in action next Saturday (June 17) at New Brunswick International Speedway for The Parts for Trucks 100.