BARRIE, ON – Mack DeMan, driving the Lucas Oil Can-Am TQ Midget #40, owned by Andy Mackereth, survived a hard fought battle with Rob Neely to come out victorious at Barrie Speedway on Saturday night. Accepting the trophy in Victory Lane, DeMan said, “I have so many people to thank this season starting with the Mackereth family, Norm, Andy and Craig, along with my Dad and Mom.
And Lucas Oil, what a great sponsor and supporter of this series! I also want to give a ‘shout out’ to all our officials and corner workers for always having ‘our back’. This trophy is for all of you.” This win became number three for DeMan this season and put him within 21 points of series leader and defending champion, Darren McLennan.
Corey Moesker, on pole for this 25-lap feature race, took the lead at the drop of the green. Chris Holman, starting second, wasted no time putting Moesker behind him by lap two. Neely was third as DeMan, starting in 6th place was now in fourth. Jeff Blackburn rounded out the top five. Neely passed Moesker on the next goaround and set sites on Holman. Lap by lap these two hard runners fought for position. DeMan was now in third and joined the battle. Neely would power inside of Holman but he would keep the lead going hard into the corner.
Finally with 10 laps of side by side racing Neely took command. DeMan remained in third followed by the #82 driven by James Gray and the #48 of McLennan. By the halfway point DeMan was now on Neely’s tail. Two laps later DeMan was out in front but Neely stayed at his side. Neely again went to the the lead in some very clean, hard racing between these drivers and held on for another lap. The fans were on their feet as DeMan again took over the point passing Neely in turn four one lap later.
DeMan began to move through some lapped traffic as the final laps ran down keeping Neely behind him. Holman began to challenge Neely for the second spot followed by Gray and McLennan. DeMan took the checkered flag as Neely hung on to second and Holman, Gray and McLennan rounded out the top five. This 9th race of the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midget 2012 series ran caution free as these cars turned lap times in the 13 second range at this 1/3 mile high banked oval.
Heats were won by McLennan and Holman. The Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets return to Sauble Speedway for a doubleheader weekend of racing for the fans of “The Beach” on Saturday, August 4, and Sunday, August 5.
Final finish for the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets at Barrie Speedway on July 28 is…1. MACK DEMAN, 2. Rob Neely, 3. Chris Holman, 4. James Gray, 5. Darren McLennan, 6. Jeff Blackburn, 7. Corey Moesker, 8. Michael McCann, 9. Adrian Stahle, 10. Daniel Bois, 11. Tom Kyle, 12. Chris Bauman, 13. Rob DiVenanzo, 14. Carey Hickson, 15. Dave Hickson, 16. Brian Mackereth. DNS..Todd Cresswell.
The ‘Unofficial’ Top Ten in points for the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets as of July 28, 2012 is…1. DARREN MCLENNAN…1446, 2. Mack DeMan…1425, 3. James Gray…1405, 4. Rob Neely…1397, 5. Corey Moesker…1316, 6. Jeff Blackburn…1236, 7. Chris Holman…1214, 8. Adrian Stahle…1208, 9. Tom Kyle…1146, 10. Todd Cresswell…1124.
From Cindy Lorenz
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