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The Ken Schrader show has come and gone. He was a nice guy and very much like he is on “NASCAR NOW”, a TV show on Speed TV. Scotia Speedworld gave him the best of equipment to drive and drive it he did, but it was James Graves, the Multi time Sportsman champion, who took the checkered flag. Actually, three Maritimers beat Schrader over the finish line, but then we knew our drivers were good long ago, didn’t we.
Anyway, it was a good race card from top to bottom and the large crowd in attendance was very appreciative. Schrader’s race in Halifax was the second of four races in five days in five different areas. Last Wednesday Schrader drove a truck in the NASCAR “Truck” series at Bristol, then Friday he raced a Sportsman at Scotia, Saturday he raced at Plattsville New York and on Sunday he performed at Minneapolis, Minesota. One would have to call him a “busy” guy.
The second last points day at Speedway 660 did nothing but tighten up the points battle more than before. None of the divisions are decided, heck, most of them still have four or five drivers with a realistic chance of winning.
Last week I told you about the River Glade / Centre for Speed situation and the resulting closure of River Glade. Facts are slowly coming out and it appears that money, and money owed, are the real reasons for what has happened. It is also starting to appear as if Tim Wile was “run over by the bus”, as the River Glade situation spiraled out of control.
Regardless, the fans are the big losers in this whole deal, and if some tracks don’t wake up and realize that it is the fans that ultimately pay and that they should be considered beforehand, or else they will find themselves looking at more empty seats.
Only one week remains before the next enstallment of “Super” racing as Speedway 660 presents the 8th edition of SPEED WEEKEND. Saturday night the Sportsman car are stretched to the limit in the O’Leary Pontiac Sportsman 150. Then on Sunday, the Peterbilt 250, for Pro Stocks is the centre attraction. This is also the final jewel in the “Triple Crown” of Maritime Pro Stock racing. Sterling Marlin is the NASCAR star slated to take part in this one. Marlin was a top runner in NASCAR circles for many years and won a lot of races, including the Daytona 500. Of all the “stars” that have tackled Speedway 660 and Riverside, only once has one of them delivered the mail. That was Reagan Smith one year ago at the IWK 250. Many of them have had disasterous runs down here. Lets hope that Marlin can bring it home.
Well, this column is a few sentences short this week as things are gearing up for all the finales, big races, and so on. Even Lake Doucette is having a big race after the Atlantic championships on October 17th. By that time we might need some long johns but we’ll be there.
Have a safe week and come on out to the races.
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