Issue 75

Race Preview - Parts For Trucks 100, Speedway 660

Some events hold special places in the hearts of racers and fans alike. The July race at Speedway 660 will always be one of those for yours truly as July 26th, 2008 was the first time I was on the mic for Pro Stock Tour qualifying. That night it was Lonnie Sommerville who dominated the qualification rounds and the Parts for Trucks 100. Sommerville, who won this event in 2010,is racing on the PASS North tour this season, so this event is wide open for the taking!

This race will be the 22nd under Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour sanctioning at Speedway 660. The track in the Geary woods always lends itself to action packed and exciting racing as we’ve seen in recent races. Even though some yellow flags have plagued some of our most recent 100-lap events in the ‘woods, the racing had been the fantastic side-by-side, paint swappin’ entertainment we have come to know and love. Coming off the heels of a two caution, thirty-one minute affair at the Speedworld, I think we’re in for some green action at 660 this coming weekend!

Speaking of that Speedworld race, the Lockhart Truck Center 100 was a platform for some drivers who needed to have great runs to do so. As I mentioned in my Notebook earlier in the week, Shawn Turple and Craig Slaunwhite put themselves on the top two spots on the podium at their home track and now they head to a track they both like. “It’s my type of track,” Craig told me after the Lockhart 100. “I enjoy driving there and the facility is great. I really think we can continue this great run there next week.” Slaunwhite is a former Pro Stock 250 winner here (2008) at the track while Turple has one Pro Stock Tour sanctioned win to his credit at the Speedway in ’08.

New Brunswick drivers have won the last trio of 100-lap events at Speedway 660. While Sommerville has won two of those (2008 and 2010), Shawn Tucker took home a checkered flag at his home track as recently as 2009. In fact, Tucker has the most wins in this event with three as he has the 2002 and 2003 trophy from the Parts for Trucks 100 to go with his ’09 triumph. Out of the previous 21 races contested at the track under Pro Stock Tour sanction, the three-time Tour champ has six victories – that’s a 29% winning percentage!

Quick – who won their first career Pro Stock Tour event at this race in 2004? Did you say Donald Chisholm? If so, you’re right. Chisholm scored his first Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour win at this event in 2004 – one of three of that season and one of five on his career. Kevin Moore continued the first time winner trend the next season when he won the Parts for Trucks 100 in a wild race.

Art Steeves reminded me last Saturday that the race we are speaking of saw that wild wreck when Darren Vanderaa’s 19v got airborne down the front straightaway and got up into the flagstand where Art was working on that June day. “I knew it was going to be bad, so as I came down, I flipped the red light on and ducked down for cover,” Art said as we reminisced last Saturday morning. “The EMTs were fast to get me to me that day, but I was alright and told them I was ready to flag again. Ironically, the two wrecks that happened at that track that came into the flagstand when I was flagging both had the #19 on them.”

With a mix of weekly Pro Stock drivers expected to battle our Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour drivers on Saturday we could very well see one of those guys win like Dave O’Blenis, Matt Harris or Moore had done in the past as Speedway 660 Pro Stock division regulars.

Note the start time for Saturday’s show. Atlantic Tiltload Time Trials will roll off at 6:10pm while the Fast Eddie Racewear Dash for Cash begins at 7pm. The local Sportsman and Street Stock class will play support to the Tour this weekend and they always put on a fantastic show. It all happens in the Geary woods this weekend at Speedway 660, one night only – don’t miss it!

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

FAST FACTS – PARTS FOR TRUCKS 100

The track: Speedway 660, 1/3-mile oval located in Geary, New Brunswick, approximately 20 minutes south of Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick.

Winners of Parts for Trucks 100 at Speedway 660:
2010: Lonnie Sommerville
2009: Shawn Tucker
2008: Lonnie Sommerville
2007: Wayne Smith
2006: John Flemming
2005: Kevin Moore
2004: Donald Chisholm
2003: Shawn Tucker
2002: Shawn Tucker
2001: Bobby White