Issue 24

Off Season Notebook - Speedweeks 2010

Can you hear that faint roar off in the distance? That is the sound of race engines running at full song to the south of us in a climate just a bit warmer than the Maritime winter. Two of those power plants belong to Maritime based teams looking to make some laps and bring some trophies back up North well before the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour goes green in the Spring!

The first Maritime team to get laps in down south was the #23 A.E. McKay Builders Chevrolet Impala team with Saint John, NB based driver Lonnie Sommerville at the helm. They were among the twenty-two drivers to take the green flag at the PASS Winterfest 150 at New Smyrna Speedway on January 31st, which pitted the best Super Late Model drivers against each other in the first Pro All Stars Series National event. Sommerville would pilot his Chevrolet to a solid fifth place finish in the 150-lap affair which was won by New Hampshire's Brad Leighton. The finish puts him third in the PASS National point standings after one event.

Following the PASS National lid lifter came the 44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at the same New Smyrna Speedway starting the following weekend. Sommerville ran his #23 in the Super Late Model division while five time Maritime touring champ and defending IWK 250 winner Wayne Smith took to the track in the Crate/ASA Late Model division. The Oval Outlaw crew held an auction to raise funds for the trip in January which brought in $19,000. Smith ran competitively with the best Late Model drivers in North America, coming home in a tie for thirteenth in the week long point standings.

Sommerville's week was also successful as the A.E. McKay Builders Impala ended up coming away with one win on the third day of competition. The Saint John driver ran up front during each of the SLM main features during the week but had to settle for fourth in the week long standings after some tough luck in the final two races.

With more racing set to go down south before the season opening CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour race in June we are likely to see more Maritime drivers visiting race tracks outside the country before the green drops at Scotia Speedworld. We know when that does happen that the drivers from Eastern Canada will be up front battling with the best short track drivers in the world as Lonnie and Wayne have done in the past few weeks! Congrats guys!

Until next time, keep the hammer down and we'll see you at the track!

If you have any news, questions or comments, email timscorner@timterryonline.com