Issue 62

MILLAR MOVES TO MACKINNON’S 07 FOR ‘11

Fans will see a change behind the wheel of the #07 Dairy Queen Chevrolet Impala this season as regular pilot Allison MacKinnon will be stepping out of the drivers seat in 2011. For Prince Edward Island fans, the change at the helm may come as no surprise as MacKinnon has tabbed a former Oyster Bed Speedway Street Stock and Modified champion as the driver of the Chevrolet for the upcoming season.

The decision stems from a crash at the beginning of 2010 when MacKinnon, who was piloting his Modified at his home track was in a crash. “The driver change was brought on by shoulder injuries opening day at Oyster Bed in 2010,” said MacKinnon at the beginning of April. “I suffered throughout the season and had hoped the winter would bring some relief, but sitting in the car with the belts on a couple of weeks ago brought on a lot of pain.”

With MacKinnon out for the season to help heal the injuries, he turned to his Pro Stock team. He had planned on racing a part-time schedule in 2011 but that was now in limbo.

Enter Randy Millar.

“I have always had a lot of respect for Randy Millar and ironically we have had some run ins and hard battles on the track over the past two seasons with our Modifieds,” commented MacKinnon on the decision. Millar’s resume at the Island oval is impressive with a championship in the Hobby Stocks in ’97, Street Stock class in 2008 and a Rookie of the Year and overall title in the high powered Modifieds in 2009. Last season saw Millar take home third in the standings – just one point shy out of second. He has also won the Most Popular Driver award at OBS nine times. “With stats like those,” said MacKinnon, “it was an easy choice for me.”

The goals have shifted for MacKinnon. The team owner will switch from the drivers role to the eye in the sky as the spotter for his #07 car. While they planned five races they also have to keep in mind that Millar will be running for the track championship in the Modifieds at OBS. Practice will be key for the team. “As soon as we can get testing, we will make a decision on running Halifax (Scotia Speedworld), the two races in Oyster Bed and Riverside. Our goals will be to qualify and make the races, complete all the laps and get Randy used to this highly competitive Pro Stock Tour.”

The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour goes green at Scotia Speedworld on May 22nd while the Tour will visit Prince Edward Island on June 25th and July 30th. Each of those three events are slated for 100 lap features. Keep tabs of MaritimeProStockTour.com for more information as these races draw near.

TOUR TEAMS SET TO BATTLE AT “THE RACE”

While our racing season is still well over a month away, a handful of local teams are making the long trek south to North Carolina for an event simply labeled “The Race” at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Sanctioned by the Pro All Stars Series, “The Race” is a $75,000 to win Super Late Model show though if a PASS regular wins the show, the bonuses that go along with the victory will put the winner’s bounty to $100,000! Atlantic CAT 250 winner Cassius Clark qualifies for that bonus and will look to pad his pocket that is already lined with over $15,000 from the victory at Scotia Speedworld last August.

Fan favorites from the east that plan on making the day long haul to North Wilkesboro include Dodge boys John Flemming and Greg Proude. Flemming has done extensive testing stateside at North Wilkesboro in the weeks leading up to April 9th in his #97 The Roofing Connection Dodge. Proude will be looking to make the #29 Loyalist Marble and Tile Charger a household name in the heart of NASCAR country as he will be looking to strike it big on April 9th.

Former Tour race winner and 2009 Atlantic CAT 250 titlist Lonnie Sommerville will also be in attendance. During the winter he landed a full time ride in the state side series with Scott Mulkern’s PASS team and will be driving in the full PASS North season in 2011 with a #48 on the side of the car. New Brunswick’s Matt Matheson is also on the pre-entry list for “The Race.” Matheson competed in Street Stocks at Speedway 660 last season and is nicknamed the “Haneytown Hornet” in the Geary woods.

Yours truly will be down south and will be sure to take some pictures to share on Tim’s Corner in an upcoming edition and on the Facebook page at facebook.com/timscorner.

If you have any news you want featured on Tim’s Corner, send it in to timscorner@timterry.ca or post it on the Facebook page at facebook.com/timscorner.

Until next time, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track.