Issue 8

Notebook — Lucas Oil 100

DODGE TAKES TWO OF TOP THREE AT LUCAS OIL 100

When Springvale, PEI's Greg Proude emerged from his #29 Loyalist Marble and Tile car on Saturday afternoon, he credited the power under the hood to help him get to where he was after 100-laps. "The Dodge power was working today," said Proude in victory lane following the event. The win is Proude's third win on the Tour and first at the Scotia Speedworld oval.

Another Dodge driver was nipping at the top two in the closing stages of the race as well. Three time champ John Flemming (Halifax) was closing in on Proude and Daryl Mahar (Hubley) in the final laps of the race, which featured a run of about sixty laps without a yellow. Flemming, who is aiming on a partial CPST schedule in 2009 got a boost with a top three finish. "Our main plan is the Triple Crown races and a couple of other races when our schedule permits," Flemming commented following the Lucas Oil 100. One of those Triple Crown races will be the Atlantic CAT 250, held at Scotia Speedworld in August.

ANOTHER "PART TIMER" FINISHES SECOND

One of the many drivers that calls Scotia Speedworld their home track posted a great run on Saturday. Daryl Mahar led the Nova Scotia drivers with a career high second place run in the Lucas Oil 100 in front of an appreciative crowd at the Enfield track. The former Legends champion was pumped following the Lucas Oil 100 and is looking forward to the Summer of '09. "We're only planning on a part time season, this gives us something to build on," Mahar commented after receiving his second place hardware from John Coyle of Lucas Oil. Mahar and his Inglis Jewelers/K. Hubley Woodworking and Contracting Chevrolet Impala plans on doing the "close" races this season and will be in James River for the June 6th Ron MacGillivray Chevrolet 100.

THE CHAMP BATTLES BACK TO FOURTH

The first seven green circuits of the Lucas Oil 100 were tough for some drivers including the defending titlist of the series Wayne Smith. The Timberlea driver got a piece of the action during the first handful of laps and ended up near the back with cosmetic damage to the Jetco Contracting Chevrolet Impala. The Oval Outlaw charged to the front of the field, getting back to fourth place under the long green flag run at the end of the race. Smith battled Flemming for third in the battle of MPST champs in the late stages before Flemming pulled out for the position.

KING OF THE ROAD EARNS WAY INTO LUCAS OIL 100

After an early race incident in LiteCo Heat race #2, some figured Roger Miller (Kennetcook) would have to work his way into the Lucas Oil 100 through the "B" Feature, but that wasn't the case. Miller fought the handling of the car off turn two after three laps in the event but lost control of the #80 Eric Noble Trucking Chevrolet and impacted the back straight away hard with the back end. That is when the crew stepped in as Miller brought the car back, the crew bent the #80 back into place, got the driver back out and he drove the car into the third and final transfer spot into the main event. The Harvey Racing crew got Roger out for the feature, in which he finished 14th.

ISLAND DRIVERS NEARLY SWEEP DAY AT SCOTIA

Though Greg Proude won the Atlantic Tiltload Time Trials, the Dartmouth Dodge Dash for Cash, the Coast Tire Most Laps Led Award, and the Lucas Oil 100, he wasn't the only driver to collect checkered flags on Day #1 of the 2009 season. Kent Vincent (Crapaud) and Robbie MacLean (Charlottetown) won two of the three LiteCo heat races while Jonathan Hicken (Brudenell), sporting new colors this season won the "B" Feature. Dave O'Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB) won LiteCo heat race #1. We may see a bit of the same at Riverside in two weeks as Vincent is a former race winner at the facility and Proude led over fifty laps in last summer's IWK 250. You can get more information on how you can purchase tickets for the season's second event by going to www.riversidespeedway.ca!