Humberstone Speedway: May 17, 2009 report and results

FRIESEN, CUPOLO, ISRAEL, AUBE, GOULDING, CHARCZUK, MEULLER TAKE WINS ON REUNION NIGHT AT NEW HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY. PRESENTED BY HAMBLETS ROOFING, SIDING AND WINDOWS.

A great crowd consisting of past drivers, owners, crews, track officials, and current dirt track racing fans and their families were once again treated to a great racing program hosted by Humberstone Speedway. As the 50th year of dirt track racing season was celebrated. “This season has been off to a great start”. Reveals track general manager Bob Davidson. “Although the weather has been cool, the staff, officials and of course the greatly talented drivers that put on the show every week, have given the fans each week a very entertaining program.”

The first feature of the night was the Niagara Auto Sales Pro 4 trucks. A pair of sevens brought the field to the green. Hilary Haegens in the 7 and Brother Greg Haegens in the 7G.  It would be the 32a of Andy Imbeault who led the 1st lap, using his experience to navigate the slippery track. Kevin Aube started putting his driving skills to work as well, showing why he is a multi time feature winner in this class. Aube made his way to 2nd on the 2nd lap. Don Lessard would follow Aube through the traffic as well. Lap 7 was a caution for the k51 truck, spinning in turn 2. The restart would bunch the field up and the top 4 trucks of Aube, Imbeault, Lesard, and 117 Billy Beales would battle it out side by side for the remainder of the race. At the checkers it was 1) 5 Kevin Aube 2) 64 Don Lesssard 3) 32a Andy Imbeault 4) 117 Billy Beales 5) 7 Hillary Haegens.

Next up was the  Brian’s Tire Repair Street Stocks. 01jr of Barry Beck and the 37 of Roger Israel led the field to the green flag. Beck would lead lap 1 with the 108 of Billy Bleich jr using the bottom line to sneak by Isreal. Bleich continued to look strong on the bottom making the pass for the lead on lap 3. Jaren Isreal in the 10 made his move to 2nd sending Beck to 3rd . Bleich would continue to lead until lap 13 when Jaren Isreal would use lap traffic to make the pass on Bleich. Bleich would not give up that easy and battled back as the raced side by side for two laps exchanging the lead several times. Isreal grabbed the lead on lap 15 and looked to start pulling away just as the number 5 of rookie Dan Habiuk spins in front him. After barely avoiding Habiuk Isreal would cruise to the win. Top 5 1) 10 Jaren Isreal 2) 56 Rob Murray 3) 37 Roger Isreal 4) 108 Billy Bleich JR 5) 1 Jason Fontaine

The 358 Modified’s roared to the green flag next. The 80 of Chris Steele and 76 of Travis Braun, brought the field to the green flag. That’s how they would cross the line on lap 1 with the 52 of James Michael Friesen, and the number 6 of the Mighty Mouse Matt Williamson in close pursuit. Williamson looked fast early making the move to 3rd on lap 4. There was a yellow on lap 6 for the 56 of Dereck Lemyre spinning in turn 2. On the restart Friesen would go high and find the fast way around on the cushion, moving into the top three. Lap 13 a near crash as the 17c of Jeff McGinnis made contact with the inside wall going into turn 1. This allowed the 42 of Pete Bicknell into the top 5.

Meanwhile race leader Steele stretched his lead to 12 cars over Braun, but a lap 17 yellow erased that sizeable lead. On the restart Friesen would waste no time and jumped up to the cushion to move into the 2nd spot, bring Bicknell with him on his tail. The yellow would come out again on lap 23. The restart would set up a 7 lap dash to the checkers. Friesen using the high side pulled up beside Steele, both these drivers would battle it out side by side until the last lap when Friesen made the pass. Meanwhile behind them Bicknell and the 22 of Larry Lampman had their own battle going on. Friesen would grab the win in only his 8th career 358 Modified race. Top 5 1) James Michael Friesen 2) 80 Chris Steele 3) 42 Pete Bicknell 4) 22 Larry Lampman 5) 17c Jeff McGinnis

Up Next was the 4 cylinder Ministocks, leading the field to the green was the 2ez of Evan Curtis and the 5 of Carey Gore. Curtis would lead the first lap followed by Gore and the 43 of Matt Deschamps. A scary moment on lap 3 when the 47x of Kyle Pelrine slide of the backstretch and made very heavy contact with the jersey barrier at the pit entrance. The driver was ok but the car not so good. After 15 mins to remove the car and put the barriers back in place. The race was restarted and the 43 of Deschamps  quickly took over the 2nd spot, but one lap later the 16 of Rob Goulding would sling shot past both Curtis and Deschamps to take over the top spot. Goulding would continue to lead. On lap 13 Deschamps caught back up to Goulding and used the outside to make his challenge. Deschamps came up short at the line as Goulding would pick up the win. Top 5 1) 16 Rob Goulding 2) 43 Matt Deschamps 3) 2ez Evan Curtis 4) 71 Garnet Wilson 5) 67s Dave Small

The final event of the night was the Cosco Haulage Dirt Car Sportsman. The 53x of Jamie Gilbert and the 53 of Rich Farraway brought the field to the green. Gilbert grabbed the lead and looked very strong all race. The 140 of Mark Dixon moved into the 2nd position. A lap 8 yellow as 4 cars came together in turn 3, would set up a restart. Gilbert would choose to restart from the outside, sending Dixon to the bottom groove. The decision paid off as Gilbert continued to lead. Meanwhile eyes were on the 18r of Brad Rouse as he perfected the high line using the cushion to start picking off cars, moving into the 4th position.

By lap 12 Gilbert had his lead extended, but the battle was for the second position. 99c of Nick Cupolo, 1p of Daren Peters and 140 of Mark Dixon battled for the second spot. Cupolo took advantage of this. Then set his sight on Gilbert the race leader. Cupolo took the lead on lap 19 and never looked back taking the checkered flag. Top 5 1) 99c Nick Cupolo 2) 1p Daren Peters 3) 53x Jamie Gilbert 4) 18r Brad Rouse 5) 140 Mark Dixon

In other action Dave Charczuk took home the 10 lap vintage car feature event. The vintage cars were on hand to help celebrate the tracks 50 year of dirt track racing season. Darcy Meuller took home $50 cash prize by putting up the fastest time of the night in the GABS racing simulator. Former drivers, owners and staff were on hand for reunion night. A catered pasta dinner was served prior to the racing program, and at intermission they were introduced on the front stretch. The action packed  racing program ended at 9:33pm. And fans were treated to Victoria weekend fireworks.

Coming up next week Sunday May 24 CRL Campbell Construction presents a full card + pure stocks. Racing at 6pm, 4pm pre race pit party and autograph session. Come on out and meet the drivers and get up close to the race cars.

RACE RESULTS

Trucks
5 Kevin Aube, 64 Don Lessard, 32a Andy Imbeault, 117 Billy Beales, 7 Hilary Haegens, 8 Terry Larmet, k51 Bob Mcnamara, 79 Rick Book, 9 Kevin Conely, 7g Greg Haegens, 14j Jacob Davies, 41k Kameron Kocarik, 43 Scott Sherk

StreetStocks
10 Jaren Isreal, 56 Rob Murray, 37 Roger Isreal, 1j Jason Fontaine, 108 Billy Bleich JR, 97 Ron Loggie, 01jr Barry Beck, 88 Shayne Pierce, 9 Tyler Anderson, 41 Pat Thompson, 11 Andrew Iker, 5h Devon Habiuk, 711 Blake Reichel

358 Modified
52 James Michael Friesen, 80 Chris Steele, 42 Pete Bicknell, 22 Larry Lampman, 17c Jeff McGinnis, 71 Mike Bowman, 44 Brian Stevens, 72 Tom Flannigan, 6 Matt Williamson, 76 Travis Braun, 8s Justin Sharp, 69 Rob Pietz, xxx Todd Gordon, 37 Wayne Conn, 108 Bill Bleich, 7 Sam Crogan, 56 Dereck Lemyre, 88 Don Spiece, 26 Luke Carelton, 82 Ken Winfeild, 13 Dennis Giancola, 96 Fred Carleton, 16w Derek Wutzke

4 cylinder Ministocks
16 Rob Goulding, 43 Matt Deschamps, 2ez Evan Curtis, 71 Garnet Wilson, 67s Dave Small, 48 Rob Overholt, 58 Baden Curtis, 37 Steve Brooker, 14k Ron Cosco, 17 Chris Laskey, 38 Sam Rodgers, 33 Greg Wilson, 19h Jeff Hill, 5 Carey Gore, 95 Roger Gilbert, 79 Brandon Iduciani, 34 Rocco Conte, 47x Kyle pelrine

Cosco Haulage Sportsman
1  NICK CUPOLO
2  DARREN PETERS
3  JAMIE GILBERT
4  BRAD ROUSE
5  MARK DIXON
6  JEFF LEGGETT
7  GREG PANUNTE
8  RICK BELLANTE
9  CODY Mc PHERSON
10  PAUL GABOURY
11  JEFF ARMSTRONG
12  B J WILLARD
13  KEVIN SHARPE
14  TYLER Mc PHERSON
15  DOUG SPIECE
16  RICH FARRAWAY
17  SCOTT SPIECE
18  TONY COWELL
19  LEN DIGNARD
20  GREG RAUSCHER 

From Tom Beales / New Humberstone Speedway Public Relations Director