'The Cheque Casher' Parties Like It's 2008 By Spencer Lewis

Fresh off of a disappointing Week 3 rainout, Saturday June 6th saw picture perfect skies and impressive car counts set the tone for Ontario Competition Fuels night. Several drivers amongst Sunset's three competing home track divisions made their 2009 debuts, and others returned after correcting mechanical issues that had sidelined them since opening night.

The visiting Canadian Vintage Modified tour kicked off the feature action with their 25-lap affair. Early on, the two drivers that appeared dominant in qualifying, Mike Klotz No. 46 Klotz Auto Repair and Engine Machine Shop Ford) and Chris Milwain (No. 21 The Lawn Guy
Chevrolet) waged war for the top spot all over the race track.

The turning point occurred on lap 6, when Milwain made contact with the left rear wheel of Klotz while trying to make a pass for the lead.

The contact sent Klotz' car spinning, leading to both victim and perpetrator being sent to the rear of the field as involved cars. This handed the lead over to series veteran and past Sunset Speedway winner Brian Atkinson (No. 92 Beverly Caulking/Performance Plus Automotive Dodge).

Atkinson would lead until the race's late stages, when Phil Shaw (No.0 Lucas Oil Slick Mist/Harlin Plating Pontiac) began to mount a challenge. For 5 laps, Shaw looked to the inside of the leader, waiting for the right track position and opportunity to make his move. Finally, as Atkinson coasted into turn 3, Shaw jumped to the first grove of the race track, making the clean pass for the lead.

The Orangeville, ON native would lead unchallenged for the remainder of the race, claiming the 25-lap feature victory. Shaw was trailed across the stripe by Atkinson and Steve Trendell. 'I'm very happy with this' remarked Shaw 'I know he's a great driver, and it just took me a couple of laps to hang back there and see what he was doing'. When asked about his Pontiac's loose tendencies, Shaw smirked 'I hate a tight handling race car'. Shaw went on to thank his sponsors and family, adding the victory was extra special as Saturday night marked his baby daughter's first visit to a race track.

The burgeoning Outlaw Mini Stock class was next in line, with a 10-lap trophy dash. Barrie, ON's Rob Gibson Jr. nabbed his first victory of 2009, as he held off 2007 Mini Stock champion 'Hollywood' Matt Henderson in his Outlaw Mini Stock debut.

After the race, Gibson was quick to explain how much he's enjoying himself in the new division. 'This is great. I'm having a blast. I just wish there was a couple more guys out here.' When asked the differences between his former Mini Stock ride and new Outlaw vehicle, Gibson noted there are more similarities than one would think. 'It's not too different. A little faster. With this thing you need to know how to feather the gas a little bit and get on the brake more. But it's way more fun than the Mini Stock, we're looking forward to running the rest of 2009'. Gibson closed the interview by thanking his father Bob Gibson Sr. for all the help in preparing and maintaining the new car.

All eyes were on New Lowell's Doug Butler in the 20-lap Mini Stock feature. The 2008 breakout star had won the previous 2 features in 2009, and appeared to be as strong as ever through qualifying on Saturday night.

However, another prospect was emerging as a threat for the win all evening. Rookie driver Warren Paxton (No. 33 Blue Mountain Honda/J.F Kitching & Son Ltd Honda) turned in a pair of masterful performances in his qualifying heats, and appeared intent on making June 6th his coming out party.

The early stages of the race saw Four Fun graduate Clyde Doucette (No.88 New Tech Automotive Honda) lead from the inside pole position, though a multitude of cautions slowed the pace and hampered the flow of the race. The long green flag period the drivers had been looking for came after caution number 5, allowing for the faster cars that had started at the tail of the field to work their way through the slower traffic. Among these cars were Paxton, Butler and 2008 Mini Stock champion Smokin' Joe Ireton.

Paxton reached the leader first, easing his way past Doucette on the inside after 2 laps of time biding. Paxton would then slice through lapped traffic, using the slower cars to open up a 10 car length lead over the battle for second place. As the white flag flew, Butler had made it to second, though time was not on his side. Warren Paxton would capture his first career Sunset Speedway feature victory, followed by Butler, Ireton, 'Mr. White Walls' Nick Brown and Dan Britt.

An overwhelmed Paxton admitted the early race cautions did him no favours. 'Those cautions definitely affected my rhythm early in the race. We got by him on the inside, so I guess that was the line that was working for us tonight. It just feels so good to win one of these, there was a lot of good cars out here tonight, some that we've never even seen before. I just want to thank Blue Mountain Honda for all the support they've given me and of course all the family and buddies I have in the pits helping me every week'

The Thunder Cars were the evening's designated headliners, and their 30-lap feature closed out Ontario Competition Fuels night. It was a mix of new and old at the front of the field early on, as sophomore driver Speedin' Corey Lehman (No. 87 Ford) and former Pinecrest Speedway competitor Ken Weisbrod (No. 84 FastFence.ca/Aldin Industrial Ford) swapped the lead back and forth. The duo found a tight-knit pack of cars behind them, as each of the top-5 battled and shoved in search of traction and track position.

2008 division champion 'The Cheque Casher' Herb Walters (No. 88 mariodesign.ca/Matt's Rentals Chevrolet) was the first to find the much desired traction, as he put his Camaro into the track's tricky third groove, completing a highlight reel pass for the lead on the exit of turn-4.
From there, Walters would flex his motor with nothing but clean air in front of him, putting half a dozen lapped cars between himself and second place runner Mark Adams (No. 51 Rankin's Auto/Racin Stuff Chevrolet). As Walters' tires began to fade away, Adams would cut his lead to 5 car lengths, but would run out of laps. At the line, it was Walters, Adams, week 2 winner Flyin' Frank Davey, Paul Maltese and Charlie Smith.

When asked about his superb feature running, Walters immediately made clear his hopes for another championship. 'Of course we're happy with a run like this. We had a great year in 2008, and for sure we're hoping to dominate again; But there's a lot of stout competition out here. 2009 was supposed to be the year where we planned on coming out and just having some fun, but if we're going to get runs like these we'll definitely take 'em.'


LEFTOVERS
- Multi time Four Fun feature winner Jon Graham made his Sunset Speedway Mini Stock debut on Saturday. Graham had taken a hiatus from the track in 2008, opting to run a partial schedule at Flamboro Speedway, though made clear his intentions of running the complete Mini Stock schedule at Sunset in 2009.

- 2007 Mini Stock champion 'Hollywood' Matt Henderson made his long-awaited Outlaw Mini Stock debut on Saturday. The Ultimate Custom Cycles sponsored Civic was the same car he used for his championship run 2 seasons ago, though it now boasts a brand new motor and slick looking new body kit.

- Former Mini Stock front runner 'Sensei' Bill Gallant made his maiden Thunder Car voyage on Saturday night. Gallant admits he has some bugs to work out of the brand new Chevrolet, but is excited for the new challenge.

- Thunder Car rookie 'Too Quick' Kenny Britt was handed his first DNF of 2009 when his Chevrolet broke a pinion in his second qualifying heat. The Midhurst, ON native assured fans he would return for action on week 5.

- Saturday night saw a pair of Thunder Cars loaded up before qualifying even began. Midland, ON driver Brad Holden experienced motor problems in practice and was forced to park his Holden Electric #97 for the night. Rookie Ethan Courneyea also had his share of problems on week 4, loading his car after only 2 practice sessions.