Welcome, to the final instalment of “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines” for 2009. It has been quite a season with many new faces and many familiar faces in new divisions, new champions in almost every division at every track and excitement galore all season long.
The season began back in May with high hopes for successful seasons. New cars had been built, with new paint schemes, and new sponsors. The alliance between Centre for Speed and River Glade had been forged in the off-season and with it came the “South East Challenge”.
The season unfortunately did not end on the same high note as it began. The alliance between CFS and River Glade collapsed broke down part way through the season, leading to the temporary closure of River Glade. Rains either washed out, cancelled or delayed most of the final month of racing at several tracks.
There were lots of highlights though. Up at Speedway 660, Greg Fahey captured his second consecutive Pro Stock title in fine fashion. Brian MacNaughton served notice that he will be a major player in 2010 as he surged late in the season to finish third. Brent Roy came on strong in the late going to also become a major force. John Rankin, a Sportsman competitor for several years, finally put things together and captured the Sportsman crown. It was his first ever title. Glyn Nott, the early season Sportsman favourite, collapsed in the final month of the season, and is still hunting for that illusive title. In Street Stock, Rick Cashol came within a whisker of capturing another title, but in the end Brian Fox held on to win his first ever championship.
Centre for Speed had the most deserving champion of the year when Dan Bourque finally captured his first Sportsman crown. Bourque, who destroyed his car in the final race of 2008, had planned to retire after 2008 but now he has plans of returning in 2010. Victor Vienneau moved up to the Street Stock class and went on to capture the title in convincing style. Mike Weagle and Bob Prosser also found success at Centre for Speed, capturing the FOUR FUN and MINI STOCK divisions as well.
Down at Scotia, Jeff Dillman took his new Sportsman ride all the way to the Championship while Scott MacLean finished strong to capture the Legends class. Brad Eddy, Derek MacCallum and Dan Michaud Jr also captured titles in their respective divisions but the big surprise was Gordon Ritchie in Hobby Stock. This was the first year trucks were allowed to race in the division and Ritchie drove his all the way to his crown.
Raceway Park, over in Prince Edward Island, had a rebirth in 2009. The track was first closed, then taken over by a drivers group, then purchased by a new group headed by Robbie MacLean. The name of the facility was changed to Oyster Bed Bridge Speedway, or at least changed back to its original name of Oyster Bed Bridge Speedway. The track ran four classes and declared four champions in the end, Randie Millar, Gerold MacQuarrie, James Doucette and Johnathan Fitzpatrick. They also ran an invitational, the Spud 100.
Another successful season was held at Riverside International Speedway with Wayne Smith taking the IWK 250, Frank Fraser Jr. capturing the Highland Sportsman Super Series and Andrew Ranger winning the Canadian Tire Series event. Ranger actually laid claim to this title with his victory at Riverside.
The other Maritime track to operate on a regular basis was Island Speedway in Sydney, Cape Breton. Chris Drover, JJ Cusack, Larry Vaters, Joey Rudderham and John Halliday all claimed championships in 2009.
Both Miramichi City Speedway, Blue Mountain Speedway and River Glade Speedway all were unable to maintain any semblance of a regular schedule in 2009 and the future of each track is unknown at the present time.
The Pro Stock Tour had another very successful season, running eleven events at four different Maritime tracks. Shawn Turple put it all together this year, capturing his first Pro Stock Crown. Ian Mollins had another fantastic year in Legends Tour racing, capturing the championship for the second straight year. Mike “Sparky” Raeburn, a multiyear racer in several different divisions, also put the crowning touch on his career, capturing the Atlantic Open Wheel crown. This was the first time “Sparky” has ever climbed the mountain to sit in the champion’s chair.
Last but not least was Lake Doucette Motor Speedway, near Yarmouth. After closing its doors for the 2009 season with plans to reopen in 2010, management put together an invitational 150 on October 17th, to bring down the curtain on the 2009 season.
The biggest disappointment of the year has to be the failure of Brent Wiggins to make any kind of impact with his new car and “ALPINE” sponsorship. The year was one big battle of trials and tribulations for him. The other major disappointment was the failure of the CFS- River Glade association.
Well, that’s it race fans. The year is done and so am I. Have a safe and happy winter. We’ll see you again when the sun begins to warm and the aroma of gas, oil, and burning rubber again fills the air.