Alex Gallant (No. 5) scored a long-awaited and monumental first win of the season in the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division and did so in one of the biggest races of the year, claiming victory in the 5th Annual Gunslinger 75!
Gallant ironically took the win without crossing the line first in the feature event. The unique Gunslinger format split the race into three 25-lap segments, with an invert happening between each segment, and the driver with the lowest finish total (a.k.a. best average finish) of the three segments being declared the winner. Finishes of 5th, 2nd, and 7th would seal the deal for Gallant, with a score of 14 over Daniel Atyeo (No. 15), who put up a strong run to win the second segment, but finishes of 4th and 12th earned him a score of 17. Darren Wilcox (No. 32) would be third overall, with finishes of 3rd, 4th, and 11th.
Ryan Bernard (No. 68) picked up an impressive two segment wins, winning the first and third segments, but a dismal second segment, with an 18th-place finish, would be detrimental to his hopes of winning on what was an otherwise strong night.
Atyeo, Wilcox, and Gallant all grabbed victories in ten-lap heat races, in the 21-car field, for the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division. For Gallant, it was his second career feature victory, proving himself as one of the top young drivers in the division. The unique format for the Gunslinger certainly made for a memorable race, with plenty of action. Results are unofficial as of press time; official results will be finalized and posted soon.
Luc McLaughlin (No. 11) finally got the monkey off his back in the Shur-Fit Automotive, Bumper to Bumper Street Stock division, claiming the feature win in a dominating performance. It was McLaughlin’s first feature win in years and he brought it home victorious over Kyle MacKinnon (No. 22), who put forth a strong second-place effort.
A wild final lap will shake the point standings up, as heat winner Michael Cormier (No. 68), who entered second in points, will gain after going from fifth to third on the last lap of the race to round out the podium. Cormier claimed the final top-three position after points leader Justin Cole (No. 38) and Shawn Hyslop (No. 99) tangled while battling for the final podium spot. The chaos permitted Karl Schaefer (No. 00) and Rick Cashol (No. 54) to round out the top-five.
In addition to Cormier, Kyle MacKinnon also scored a heat victory. Thirteen Street Stocks were in attendance. The win marked Luc’s seventh career Street Stock victory at Speedway 660.
Dave O’Blenis continues to chase a seventh career Re/Max East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock division title and, after Saturday’s feature, that is closer to a reality yet again, but youngster Hudson Weston (No. 43) continues to keep him honest week in and week out. O’Blenis would take the lead from the back in the early laps and cruise to victory, his third of the season, while Weston drove to his fourth podium finish in a row, with a second-place effort. Clark Moore (No. 54) rounded out the top-three.
Kevin Moore (No. 88) claimed victory in the 10-lap heat race to kick off the day. Five Pro Stock competitors were in attendance.
Speedway 660 is back in action on Saturday, August 19 for the highly-anticipated return of the Super Late Model Series! The ReCar 150 presented by Wonder Auto and Tire headlines the event and action will also be contested in the Sportsman, Street Stock and Sharp Shooter divisions, plus a visit from the Atlantic Modified Tour.
Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter Gunslinger 75 Podium
1. Alex Gallant #5
2. Daniel Atyeo #15
3. Darren Wilcox #32
Heat Winners – Daniel Atyeo, Darren Wilcox, Alex Gallant
Shur-Fit Automotive, Bumper to Bumper Street Stock Division 35-Lap Feature Results
1. Luc McLaughlin #11
2. Kyle MacKinnon #22
3. Michael Cormier #68
4. Karl Schaefer #00
5. Rick Cashol #54
6. Ron Enkel #52
7. Shawn Hyslop #99
8. Justin Cole #38
9. Jimmy Sommerville #5
10. Dan Gillespie #60
11. Jonathan Hanley #16
12. Robert Raynes #41
13. Riley Goodwin #77
Heat Winners – Kyle MacKinnon #22, Michael Cormier #68
Re/Max East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock Division 50-Lap Feature Results
1. Dave O’Blenis #48
2. Hudson Weston #43
3. Clark Moore #54
4. Kevin Moore #88
5. Ian Rasmussen #81
Heat Winner – Kevin Moore
- By Denver Matchett/Speedway 660
