Kawartha Speedway 2008 – A Week Late, But Worth the Wait
By Jim Clarke, Kawartha Speedway PR
The 2008 season opener at Kawartha Speedway (Fraserville, Ontario) was originally scheduled for Friday, May 30th – until Mother Nature intervened. It didn’t seem to matter though, as fans of the popular 3/8ths mile oval were treated to an exciting night of action, just 7 days later than they’d originally hoped. A bright, sunny forecast greeted an overflowing pit area – as Kawartha’s 4 regular weekly classes were joined by the Ontario Pro Challenge Series and OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models – to kick-off the brand new season.
With the special ‘guest classes’ in attendance, the on-track activities were bumped-up to a 6:30 start, with the Pro Challenge cars first to take to the track for the 3rd date on their 12 race tour. These scale-model replicas of NASCAR Sprint Cup rides put on a great show, with excellent side-by-side racing. Come feature time, it was Dennis Thomson claiming the checkered flag. Point’s leader Kevin Crowhurst and Dario Valente were 2nd and 3rd respectively. The OSCAAR teams were next to hit the spacious Kawartha Speedway layout for a pair of qualifying events won by Jeff Hanley and Pee Wee Evans. It was the season opener for the super late models and the wolves were certainly hungry. Glenn Watson scored the victory, over Rob Clarke and Hanley. 2007 OSCAAR champion Derrick Tiemersma was 4th. The OSCAAR tour comes back to Kawartha Friday, August 8th.
In action for Kawartha’s weekly classes, the Mini Stock heat wins were shared by Shannon Kimmerly and Jason Juriga. Shanna Moroney claimed the semi feature. The Mini Stock feature was delayed due to the curfew and will be made-up Friday, June 20th. It was a dominating night for Willie Reyns in the Thunder Car division. The 2007 Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Driver claimed a heat race and semi feature victory. The second Thunder Car heat belonged to 2007 series champion Steve Mayhew. Reyns also won the 20 lap feature event, with Mayhew and Brian Strawn completing the top 3.
In Limited Late Model racing, Todd Delisle and Vic Parsons split a pair of qualifying heats. Delisle won the semi feature, with Dwight Brown earning the opening night feature event checkered flag. 2007 champion Larry Jackson and Dave Morgan had Late Model qualifying heat race wins. Norm Mayhew took home the checkered flag in the semi feature, while Dan McHattie entered the 2008 record books with a feature race win over Linc Brown and Darren Thring.
Kawartha Speedway is closed Friday, June 13th for the annual Millbrook Fair – but action returns Friday, June 20th with 100 lap Late Model invitational and a full card of action. Gates open at 3:00, with rotating, on-track practise sessions starting at 5:00. See www.kawarthaspeedway.com for the full schedule, including the ACT Late Model Summer Sizzler – Sunday, July 13th and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season finale – Saturday, September 27th.
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