The CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour Reaches Halfway Point Of Season

Halifax, NS (July 16, 2007) – The CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour has reached the halfway point of the 10-race season and is taking the traditional mid-season weekend break. Racing action returns on July 28th at New Brunswick International Speedway for the CARQUEST Auto Parts 100.

A pair of Shawns are at the top of the championship point standings. After five stops on the 10-race tour, Shawn Turple of Enfield, NS holds a 39-point lead over Shawn Tucker of Fredericton, NB. Chris Hughes of Winsloe, PE is having a career year and sits in third place. The leading EIT Race Radio Rookie of the Year candidate Lonnie Sommerville of Saint John, NB holds the fourth spot ahead of Wayne Smith of Timberlea, NS, who is fifth.

Smith has been the dominant driver as far as wins are concerned, with three to his credit. He won the Lucas Oil 100 season opener at Scotia Speedworld on May 26th, the Parts For Trucks 100 at New Brunswick International Speedway on June 16th and the Lucas Oil 100 at Scotia Speedworld on July 7th. Mike MacKenzie of Dartmouth, NS won the Pioneer Coal 100 at Riverside Speedway on June 9th and Bobby White of Kennetcook, NS grabbed the win at the newly re-surfaced Raceway Park on June 30th.

The Atlantic Tiltload Time Trials has seen four different drivers setting fast time in qualifying. Only Turple was able to repeat this feat, setting quick times at Riverside Speedway on June 9th and Scotia Speedworld on July 7th. John Flemming of Halifax, NS was fastest on May 26th at Scotia Speedworld, while Sommerville was quickest on June 16th. Dale Holmes of West Covehead, PE was fastest on June 30th.

The EIT Race Radios Rookie of the Year race is a little lopsided with Sommerville in a comfortable lead. Although Sommerville has previous experience in Pro Stock cars, he meets the criteria for Rookie of the Year. Darren MacKinnon of Winsloe, PE holds second place, while Gary Bursey of Moncton, NB holds third place.

The Urquhart MacDonald Associates B Feature points chase sees Mike Stevens of Riverview, NB atop of the board, with a 14 point lead over Bursey, who is in second place. MacKinnon is in third spot ahead of a pair of Islanders in fourth and fifth, Kris Fournier of Charlottetown and Darren Vanderaa of Winsloe respectively.

Thirty-seven of the Maritimes top drivers have attempted to qualify for the extremely competitive CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour in the first half of the season. With five races left, drivers will be looking to maximize their points in the second half of the season, trying to move up in those precious championship point standings. The top 20 teams will share in the $50,000.00 championship fund at the year-end banquet.

The CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour visits four different race tracks in the three Maritime Provinces on the east coast of Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Facilities are required to meet specific criteria for the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour events; ensuring quality shows for the audience and the competitors. Dates remaining in the series are:
•CARQUEST Auto Parts 100 July 28th at New Brunswick International Speedway, Geary, NB
•The Parts For Trucks 100 August 4th at Riverside Speedway, James River, NS
•The Antigonish Mall August 18th at Riverside Speedway, James River, NS
•The CARQUEST Auto Parts 100 August 25th at Raceway Park, Oyster Bed Bridge, PE
•The Parts For Trucks 200 September 8th at Scotia Speedway, Halifax, NS