PORT COLBORNE, ONTARIO… (August 26, 2017) St. Catharines, Ontario’s Mike Bowman was victorious in the inaugural visit to the Humberstone Speedway for the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Series in the Tribute to Pete Cosco 75 presented by Rankin Construction, Wood and Company, and Cosco Haulage. With the victory, Bowman’s name will be placed on the Pete Cosco Memorial Perpetual Trophy. Port Colborne, Ontario’s Chad Chevalier scored his second win in the Race of Champions Dirt 602 Sportsman Series for 2017. Bobby Tolton from Fergus, Ontario won his first career Mini Stock feature at Humberstone.
“I bought my first car from Pete (Cosco) in 2004 and our families have been really close for years” stated race winner Mike Bowman. “It is really special to win here and win this race in Pete’s honor” Bowman added. Todd Gordon and Jeff McGinnis brought the field to the green flag with Gordon leading the opening circuits with Erick Rudolph taking second away from McGinnis on lap four. Rudolph would go to the outside of Gordon to take the lead on lap eight. Mike Bowman would battle with Gordon for second, as Rudolph would open up his advantage over the field. Tyler Willard would bring out the races first caution on lap 19. On the restart, Rudolph would take the lead with Gordon, Mike Bowman, Cody McPherson and Jay Mallory raced in the top five. Bowman would challenge Gordon for second place throughout the feature distance, with taking the runner up spot for good on lap 31.
At the races halfway mark, Rudolph continued to lead Bowman, Gordon, McPherson and Jay Mallory. Bowman would catch Rudolph while working lap traffic and would challenge for the lead on lap 45, and would take the lead on the outside of turn two with 29 laps remaining. Bowman would open up his lead over Rudolph. Bowman would lead the final 30 circuits to score the win with Rudolph, Gordon, McPherson and Brad Rouse completed the top five.
This event made up the first race of the season for the Race of Champions Dirt Modified Series. Event number two will take place on Thursday, September 7th, at the Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY.
In race number four of the Race of Champions Dirt 602 Sportsman Series, Tyler Puchalski and Dylan Davidson brought the field to the green flag with Davidson showing the way early. Luke Carleton raced in second with Puchalski, Chad Chevalier and Adam Leslie racing inside the top five. Davidson continued to show the way over Carleton as the leaders hit lap traffic on lap 16. Adam Leslie went over the edge in turn three to bring out the races first caution. On the restart, Davidson would clear Carleton for the lead, as Carleton raced with Chevalier for second. Chevalier would take the second spot from Carleton on lap 18 and would quickly go after Davidson. At the halfway mark, Davidson continued to show the way over Chevalier with Rouse, Puchalski, and Carleton in the top five. Chevalier would work on the outside of Davidson to take the lead on lap 29. The leaders would hit lap traffic on lap 31. While in lap traffic, Chevalier would be able to pull away from Davidson. Chevalier would drive on to get his second RoC Sportsman tour win of the season, and fourth win of the year at Humberstone. Dylan Davidson, Brad Rouse, Tyler Puchalski, and Luke Carleton completed the top five. Race number five on the Sportsman Series trail will take place on Thursday, September 7th at the Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY.
Leroy Buscumb and Bobby Tolton led early on in the 17-lap feature for the Mini Stocks. Tolton would take the lead on lap three but Buscumb would battle back for the lead and would take the lead on lap four. Tolton, Buscumb and Jason Coutu went three wide for the lead on lap six. The lead trio was joined by Olivier Larocque to make it a four car battle for the lead in the final seven circuits. Tolton would take the lead with two laps remaining and would hold off Buscumb, Larocque, and Coutu to score his first career win at Humberstone, in his first ever appearance.
NEWS AND NOTES: In hot lap time trials, Mike Bowman earned a new track record of 15.106sec. The Race of Champions unveiled the Pete Cosco Memorial Perpetual Trophy to the winner of the Modified event. The Pete Cosco Race of Champions Trophy will be awarded each year. The event will be determined and scheduled by Race of Champions management and the Cosco and Davidson families. The winner will also get to keep the perpetual trophy for a time after the event and receive a keepsake replica silver cup that signifies being a Race of Champions winner.
Humberstone is back in action on Sunday, August 27th as Cosco Haulage presents the third annual Pete Cosco Memorial for Modifieds. Big Block Modifieds will be allowed to run against the Niagara Region’s best 358 Modified drivers. A full Humberstone show is also on the card with gates opening at 4:30 pm in the pits, 5:00 pm in the grandstands and race time on Sunday is at 6:30 pm.
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