Issue 235

Race Preview: Lucas Oil 150 @ Oyster Bed Speedway

After an off-week, I am ready to get back at it for two big races to kick off the month of August.

Oyster Bed Speedway comes up on our schedule this weekend and looking back not only at our first stop there in June and our most recent race at Petty International Raceway, I would almost forecast the same familiar faces up front battling for the win in Race Eight.

The problem is, we have so many of those “familiar faces” and only one spot in victory lane with John Coyle and the folks at Lucas Oil.

Qualifying is going to be key. Yes, I say that knowing that Cole Butcher came from about midway through the starting grid to ultimately win the Parts for Trucks 150 but if you are able to stay up front and get a good position on restarts, you won’t have to put up with the chaos mid pack that could boil over with a flip of the switch.

Restarts will be pivotal and were key in Butcher going to victory lane. With no lane choice on this Series and the outside line typically being the stronger groove on a restart, the driver with that outside line on the final restart will have the upper hand. Now, that final restart could be with five to go or forty-five to go, we don’t know, but we do know track position at Oyster Bed Speedway is always king.

Now, I picked Jonathan Hicken the last time we were here in the Pick the Winner promotion, but I’ll throw two other names in the ring here from the Island you should consider. Kent Vincent and Darren MacKinnon both had awesome runs going at Petty International Raceway and both are due for a victory. MacKinnon stormed to the front at Petty and a late race caution with 14 to go saw him twirled around at the front of the field. Just before that, Vincent was out of shape with Shawn Turple that drew a caution flag. Vincent was fourth, MacKinnon was sixth but both could have easily been on the podium.

While I think one of the three above, or potentially Cole Butcher, will be your winner, for the sake of having to only pick one to win on Saturday, I’ll take Darren MacKinnon to go to victory lane. There are another handful or more that could end up being there when Lap 150 clicks off Saturday night.

Dylan Gosbee was on the podium at Petty International Raceway, sliding in for second in the Irving Blending & Packaging 150. Again, like the trio above, Gosbee is due for a win and it looks like they have their Greenfield Enterprises Ford primed up to do so Saturday. He was in the top five in the June race here.

I’m going to group Nicholas Naugle and Greg Proude together as two that are ready to hit victory lane if they find all their ducks floating in the same row Saturday. Proude has had speed in his VanDoorn Racing entry but they haven’t been able to put together a full race, though they were on the podium here in June with clutch issues. Naugle was fourth here in June, was in the top five during the IWK 250 but had early issues at Petty International Raceway. If these two can put it all together during the Lucas Oil 150, they will be a threat.

Braden Langille has been up on the wheel in the last two races. Langille was in the top five in the IWK 250 when all the dust settled and raced more laps than not in the top five at Petty International Raceway before the incident with 14 to go set him back. While he has laps at Oyster Bed in a Legend, this will be his first Pro Stock Tour start here. This track can reach out and bite the most seasoned veteran, let alone a rookie, but if anyone is up to the task it is Langille.

Dylan Blenkhorn’s No. 67 hasn’t quite had the speed in it over a race since their wreck here while leading in June. We haven’t known this team to struggle and one would have to believe they will turn the corner either this week or next during the Toromont Cat 250. Don’t count Blenkhorn out, he’s won here before and was strong here in June. Do you want to throw him in for your pick to win though? We’ll leave that up to you.

I think the obvious choice by looking at results and standings is Cole Butcher. As Cole has said before though, winning a race on this Series is difficult, especially at Oyster Bed Speedway. I would have him on your list when considering your favorites for Saturday.

Could Saturday be Craig Slaunwhite’s time to race to victory lane at Oyster Bed Speedway. It’s hard to believe but Slaunwhite (and you can throw Turple in here too) has zero victories at the Island race track. This track is difficult to get a hold of, as can be seen by that statistic.

Slaunwhite is second in points, but he is 60 points back, which is the maximum you can make up on a race day if both drivers are in attendance. So, for all intents and purposes, the field is one race back from Butcher. There are five races to go, this isn’t time to panic or for the fat lady to start warming up, but if you’re Slaunwhite, Turple and the field, you have to start chipping away now at Butcher and not let him get away any more. Oyster Bed might not be a make or break point, but it can certainly help or hurt in the standings.

Glad to see Mark LeClair on the entry list for Saturday night. Mark, who made the move to the Pro Stock class after Oyster Bed dissolved their weekly Late Model division, will make his Parts for Trucks Tour debut Saturday at his home track. In my opinion, he is one of the most underrated weekly racers over the past few years, whether it was in a Late Model or a Street Stock, and I’m quite excited to see where he measures up against our regulars.

Another pleasant surprise on the entry list is “THE THRILL MAKER” Craig Ward. Ward, who has raced about everywhere in his career, will make his first Tour start outside of Petty International Raceway on Saturday. Ward, like LeClair, is one of the most underrated talents in the region and is still getting a handle on this Pro Stock. While he likely won’t be contending for the victory on Saturday, it will be interesting to track the progress of the driver from Riverview.

Give a call out to Sarah McKay for her run that she had going at Petty International Raceway. McKay, was running for a top five spot past the halfway point before being put in the middle of a three wide situation that ended up with the No. 32 slapping the backstraight wall. McKay, who had a different car here in June, was quick at Oyster Bed before a brake issue ended her night into Turn One.

Before we turn the page, give a tip of the cap to Terry Dougay from his run at Petty. Dougay has been doing a great job as of late of keeping his No. 14 car clean and being there at the end of the race when Art drops the checkered flag. Terry was actually fourth on the final restart at Petty Raceway two weeks ago before being shuffled to eighth. With us being at his home track Saturday, if he can keep the car clean like he did at Petty, he’ll likely end up driving back to Albany with another top ten finish.

This is going to be an exciting night of racing. With the Maritime League of Legends Tour on the card for the Island Coastal Services 50 and the Oyster Bed Street Stocks ready to roll for 50 laps, this is one of the best entertainment values in stock car racing in Atlantic Canada. We hope you can join us on the Island Saturday!

Until then, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track!