Third Time's A Charm For The Deuce
By Spencer Lewis / With Photos Courtesy of Al McLean www.sunsetspeedway.ca
The August 15th running of the Watson Building Supplies 50 Lap Thunder Car Invitational marked Dave Doucette's third appearance at Sunset Speedway for the 2009 season. And after a pair of runner-up results, Doucette finally landed the big one, leading all 50 laps over one of the most talented fields Sunset has seen all season.
The hot afternoon sun had left the field to deal with rather tricky track conditions, though all day long, 'The Deuce' appeared to have the tire strategy to work with the ever-slippery surface. The Angus, ON veteran would put his No. 44 Xtreme Auto Machine/ATV Landscaping Chevrolet on the pole, after taking the honors of top qualifier and re-drawing #1 for the invert.
Doucette found a rather conservative rhythm through the first half of the race, using the same tire conversation strategy employed weeks earlier at Sunset's August 2nd 50 Lap Invitational. As Doucette paced himself, Marty Monette (No. 72 Arnott's Automotive/NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet) remained welded to his rear bumper, awaiting any mistake to waltz into the top spot.
As the race passed the halfway mark, Doucette's #44 appeared to be feathering the gas less and less, pulling further away from Monette as the laps expired. The race was marred by a series of late race cautions, which left Doucette unfazed, though opened the door for 'The Polish Prince' Jim Beleskey (No. 12 Walker Logisitics Inc/Rama Moccasin & Smoke Chevrolet) to make a pass on Monette for second after a spirited two lap battle.
'The Deuce' would cross the stripe nearly half a straightaway ahead of Belesky, Monette, Donny Brandon (No. 40 Simcoe Auto Recyclers/McCarthy Contracting Chevrolet) and 'Stormin' Norm Mayhew (No. 60 Mayhew Graphics/Northumberland County Moving Chevrolet). However, Monette would later fail post-race inspection for a tire infraction, leaving Brandon to round out the top-5.
"We're definitely lucky to have gotten to where we are, but the ol' car is starting to feel it" smiled Doucette, surrounded by his Xtreme Team and family in victory lane. "These tires kept me going, I definitely have to thank my tire man John Glaze for that. We love coming down here, we'll be back for Labour Day and Summer Slam". Doucette then dropped the bombshell Sunset Thunder Car fans had been hoping to hear for years, "And you'll see us here full time in 2010...you heard it here first".
The front of the pack was certainly the wrong place to be on Saturday night in the 30-lap Limited Late Model feature. A series of mechanical failures, blown tires and contact between drivers shuffled the top-5 numerous times, keeping both the fans and drivers guessing as to who would find victory lane.
A pair of wheelmen searching for their first feature win would bring the field to the green, as Robert Thornborrow (No. 73 Golden Classic Car Restoration/The Frame Shop Chevrolet) and Steve Slaughter Jr. (No. 59 Slaughter Racing/Special Olympics Chevrolet) jostled for the lead early on.
While the fresh faces did battle up front, it appeared as though the two drivers who have dominated the class all season long had the cars to beat once again. Both Stompin' Tom Walters and 'Mr. Excitement' Chris Morrow had captured a pair of qualifying wins, and were making their way to the front in dynamic fashion.
As the race's first caution flew shortly before the halfway point, Morrow had settled into the top-3 behind race leader Slaughter and Scott Beatty (No. 88 Beatty Automotive Chevrolet), while Walters was biding his time just outside of the top-5.
Trouble began to brew at lap 16, over the next 10 circuits a trio of cautions would see contenders Walters (flat tire), Slaughter/Morrow (contact resulting in both sent to the rear of the field) and Jason 'Bam Bam' Witty (flat tire) taken out of the top-5.
When the dust cleared, veteran Scott Beatty was left leading the charge, and was prepared to take full advantage of the opportunity.
The Barrie, ON driver would spend the remaining 4 laps padding his lead over former ALSTAR mainstay Darin Malcolm (No. 43 Allen Roofing/OwenSoundLawyers.com Chevrolet), holding on for his first career Sunset Speedway win, followed by Malcolm, Walters, Ernie Fumerton and Morrow.
When 2007 Mini Stock champion "Hollywood" Matt Henderson (No. 00 Simcoe Auto Recyclers/Stuck Up Media Honda) announced his return to the division, many wondered how many weeks it would take the charismatic and exciting veteran to return to victory lane. Their answer? Only 4.
The Barrie, ON native started on the second row, and took only 3 laps to dispense of early leader Gil Harpin (No. 77 Performance Signs/Dan's Scrap Honda). Utilizing the aggressive yet smooth style that made him a fan favorite, Henderson would walk out to a lead as large as a full straightaway, before being reeled in by a caution flag.
Henderson's lone challenge would come in the form of Thunder Car transplant Terry Clodd (No. 34 Barrie Tire Shaving/Newmarket Pennzoil Honda), who looked as though he may be fast enough to make a run at Henderson in the race's later stages, but would run out of time.
"Hollywood" clinched his first feature win of 2009, followed by Clodd, points leader Doug Butler, Brian Love and Nicole Podewils.
"I don't really like to start at the front of the pack. I prefer to have to work my way from mid-pack" admitted Henderson during post-race festivities. "On a night like tonight I'll take it, because I know there's a lot of fast cars in this division now-a-days. I saw Terry [Clodd] working towards me before the caution and thought 'oh man, this is it'" the former champion added with a laugh. Henderson had announced earlier in the night that the 2010 driving duties for the #00 would likely be handed over to his son, Adam, with Matt examining the possibilities of campaigning as a two-car team.
LEFTOVERS
- Thunder Car driver "The Tokyo T-Bird" Mike Zinkie made history Saturday night when he piloted his V6 powered Acura Legend to a B-Main victory. The Barrie, ON driver's win marked the first time a modern-day V6 Thunder Car has won at Sunset Speedway.
- Former Mini Stock prospect Gary Gagnon made a surprise return to active competition piloting the No. 75 Praxair/Ponderosa Campground Camaro. The one-time standout has been missing from Sunset for the past 3 seasons.
- Saturday marked the debut of Bracebridge, ON's Stieler Racing Team. Comprised of third year driver Drew Stieler, sophomore driver Brent Stiler and rookie Kyle Stieler. Though the team struggled mechanically all night, a source close to the Stielers confirmed the three enjoyed themselves and would be returning for the rest of the
2009 campaign.
QUICK RESULTS
Mini Stock
Heat 1: Bryan Daluz Lefroy, ON
Heat 2: Rob Krystal Holland Landing, ON
Heat 3: Paul Geniole Jr Keswick, ON
B-Main: "The Immortal" Trevor Martin New Lowell, ON
A-Main:
1) "Hollywood" Matt Henderson Barrie, ON
2) Terry Clodd Holland Landing, ON
3) Doug Butler New Lowell, ON
Late Model
Heat 1: "Mr. Excitement" Chris Morrow Anten Mills, ON
Heat 2: Stompin' Tom Walters Bradford, ON
Heat 3: "Mr. Excitement" Chris Morrow Anten Mills, ON
Heat 4: Stompin' Tom Walters Bradford, ON
A-Main:
1) Scott Beatty Barrie, ON
2) Darin Malcolm Angus, ON
3) Stompin' Tom Walters Bradford, ON
Thunder Car
Heat 1: "The Deuce" Dave Doucette Angus, ON
Heat 2: "The Cheque Casher" Herb Walters Stroud, ON
Heat 3: Steve Lang Bolton, ON
Heat 4: Marty Monette Hamilton, ON
Heat 5: Brad Holden Midland, ON
Heat 6: Charlie Smith Orillia, ON
B-Main: "The Tokyo T-Bird" Mike Zinkie Barrie, ON
A-Main:
1) "The Deuce" Dave Doucette Angus, ON
2) "The Polish Prince" Jim Beleskey Carthew Bay, ON
3) Donny Brandon Barrie, ON
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