MACKINNON NOMINATED FOR SPEED51 AWARD

Click here to vote...

Darren MacKinnon’s breakout season on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour has been recognized by short track racing website Speed51.com as their annual awards nominations came out Wednesday evening. MacKinnon of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island was nominated in the “Most Improved Short Track Driver” category and is the only full-time 2011 PFTPST competitor nominated for an award from Speed51.

MacKinnon completed the 2010 season in 13th place in the standings. The #18 Shaw’s Towing/First Choice Hair Cutters Chevrolet was shot out of a cannon at the first race of 2011, running many laps of the season opening CARQUEST 100 at Scotia Speedworld in the second spot to John Flemming (Halifax, NS). MacKinnon scored his first career Pro Stock Tour main feature victory at the Parts for Trucks 100 at Oyster Bed Speedway in June when he made a pass on eventual 2011 champion Wayne Smith of Timberlea, NS, with just five laps remaining in that event. He backed that up with a top three run at Speedway 660 two weeks later and followed that up with some more late lap heroics in the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body in July. MacKinnon positioned himself on the outside of Flemming on the front row on the final restart with three laps to go. MacKinnon would get the edge off Turn Two at Riverside International and held that to the victory, which was heard live around the world on Sirius Satellite Radio/The Score via Race Time Radio. MacKinnon kept himself in title contention all the way up to the Dartmouth Dodge 200 at Scotia Speedworld but fell short of the ultimate goal in Maritime racing by finishing fifth. The ’11 campaign has solidified MacKinnon as not only one of the top drivers in the sport every week but as a season long championship contender.

To vote for Darren MacKinnon, head over to the voting booth for the Speed51 2011 “51” Awards. Be sure to select one nominee from each category and remember, in order for your vote to be counted you must fill out the entire ballot and register a choice on each category. You may vote once a day until the poll closes on January 31st.

Click here to vote...