2008 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour Awards Presented at Banquet

Truro, NS (October 28, 2008) – This past Saturday night the Glengarry Best Western Hotel in Truro, NS was invaded by over 240 guests to celebrate the 2008 season of the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour. Drivers, teams, car owners, sponsors, staff, and officials enjoyed a lovely meal prior to the awards presentations. The eighth season of the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour came to a close with the official awarding of the year end point standings and contingency bonuses totaling nearly $60,000.

Wayne Smith of Timberlea, NS, took home a $10,000 cheque from the $50,000 CARQUEST Bonus Fund to cap off the evening and was awarded the prestigious title of 2008 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour Champion along with a standing ovation from his fellow drivers and all those present. Kevin Stuart and John Garnum of CARQUEST were on hand to present Smith with his award, along with the other 19 drivers who finished in the top 20 in the 2008 point chase. Lonnie Sommerville of Saint John, NB finished in second place, while Shawn Turple of Enfield, NS was third.

A large number of vendor, contingency, and service awards were also presented during the evening.

Stephen Henderson of R&D Performancenter started off prize awards from sponsoring vendors by drawing and presenting Donald Chisholm, Antigonish, NS with the Five Star Racing body award. Henderson followed this up by awarding Dave O’Blenis, Boundary Creek, NB, with the AFCO shock award drawing his name from eligible drivers.

New to the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour this year The Linde Group, represented by Gary Jamieson, drew for a set of Acetylene Torches and an Electric Welder to give to eligible drivers. The torches and welder were available to all drivers to use throughout the season. After the draws the torches were awarded to Daryl Mahar of Five Island Lake, NS and the welder to Mike Stevens of Salisbury, NB.

General Manager Ron Clarke presented the B Feature Awards. The third place trophy was presented to Lowell Affleck, Summerside, PE and the second place trophy to Pete Miller, Kennetcook, NS. The first place position was won by Shawn Pierce of Bridgewater, NS but was unable to attend the banquet to accept.

The Most Laps Led and Hard Charger awards were also presented by Ron Clarke. Wayne Smith took home the first place Most Laps Led trophy after leading the most laps throughout the season. Craig Slaunwhite, Terrence Bay, NS was runner-up and Lonnie Sommerville was third. Darren Vanderaa of Milton, PE was the winner of the Hard Charger Award, followed by Wayne Smith and Brad Mann of Glen Livet, NB.

Up next were the awards for the Parts For Trucks Challenge – a four race mini-series within the 11 race tour. Dave Hamblin, Parts For Trucks Equipment Sales Manager was on hand to present the awards. The winner was Lonnie Sommerville, followed closely by Shawn Turple in second and Wayne Smith rounding out third.

Mike Ledwidge, Race Director, presented the Atlantic Tiltload Time Trial Award and the Hipertech Pole Challenge award. Both awards went to Lonnie Sommerville.

Mike Ledwidge presented the Manufacturer awards. Donald Chisholm was presented the top Ford award, Kent Vincent was presented the top Dodge award, Wayne Smith was presented the top GM award, and Dave O’Blenis was presented the top Toyota award.

The EIT Race Radios Rookie of the Year awards were presented by Brent Rowley, President of EIT Race Radios. Craig Slaunwhite was the 2008 Rookie of the Year. Jonathan Hicken of Montague, PE was second, Robbie MacLean of Charlottetown, PE was third, Pete Miller was fourth, and Lowell Affleck was fifth.

Every year the drivers vote on who is the Most Sportsmanlike Driver on the tour. This is the second year that the award has been presented in honour of Cathy Ledwidge, a long time official in the Maritime stock car scene. Mike Ledwidge presented the award to Kent Vincent, who received a standing ovation, a testament to the esteem the other drivers hold for him.

Following the driver awards, Ernie Ledwidge called on the only three drivers to have raced in every race since the inception of the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour in 2001 – Shawn Tucker, Kent Vincent, and Wayne Smith. After honouring them, they presented a Service award to Mike Ledwidge for 25 years of service to Motor Sports in the Maritimes.

A dance followed the formal presentations.