After a 27-lap battle, two late-race restarts and a three day review process, Tony “The Gun” Tiemersma exited week-2 with his first Limited Late Model victory of the young 2012 season. With 3 laps remaining, it appeared as though the win would be settled between provincial heavyweights “Mr. Excitement” Chris Morrow (No. 11 Morrow Electric/Contractor Rental Supply Chevrolet) and Mike “Lights Out” Bentley (No. 51 Dave Bentley Motorsports Chevrolet). The pair had waged war from the drop of the green flag, swapping the lead 4 times over 27 laps, with the battle intensifying with each passing lap.
Back-to-back spins on lap 27 would set up a crucial green-white-checkered finish with Bentley on the point, working feverishly to hold off the encroaching Morrow.
As the pair hit the restart stripe in turn-3 to bring the race back to green flag conditions, Morrow seemed to pull ahead of Bentley, and by the time lap-28 was completed, had control of the lead. ‘Mr. Excitement’ would continue his methodical approach on the topside of the track, and as the white flag was given to signify one lap remaining, appeared to have Bentley cleared heading into turn-1. However, as the pack travelled down the back straightaway for the final time, Bentley again pulled to Morrow’s driver’s door, setting up a drag race through the final two turns.
The pair appeared even entering turn-4, but as they exited, chaos ensued. Contact was made between the two, sending Morrow’s #11 head-on into the front stretch retaining wall. Bentley would continue on, with a number of cars collected in the melee.
Bentley, himself having just totaled a race car the weekend earlier, was informed as he cruised into victory lane that he was deemed an involved car and thus, scored at the tail end of the lead lap, resulting in a mixed chorus of cheers and boos from the crowd.
The original ruling had Kevin Cornelius as the victor, as his was the car that crossed the stripe behind the two involved cars at the conclusion of lap-29. However, after a careful review process, track officials awarded the victory to Tiemersma (No. 7 Golden Leaf Landscaping Chevrolet) for crossing the line first at lap-30.
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Rounding out the top-5 were Taylor Holdaway (No. 41 Downing Roofing/Holdaway Automotive Ford), who will walk into week-3 as the points leader, Sean Cronan (No. 84 Rental City/Supercuts of Barrie & Wasaga Chevrolet), Billy Zardo (No. 46 Holmes on Homes/Hassel Automotive Chevrolet) and Dario Capirchio (No. 03 Innisfil Machine & Welding/Ground Work Drilling Chevrolet).
Defending Super Stock champion Lane Zardo (No. 46 National Exhaust/Holmes on Homes Monte Carlo) would shake off the poor fortune that plagued him on opening night, to capture a dominating victory on night 2. The 16-year old led every circuit in the 30-lap event, surviving an early race battle with 12-year old Cayden Lapcevich (No. 34 Tim Horton’s Monte Carlo), a short rain delay and a late race pursuit by third-year pilot Dan Archibald for the victory.
“After the halfway mark I stopped looking in my mirror and started focusing on what was ahead of me, that’s when I was able to hit all of my marks and really start to show off” beamed the third-generation driver in victory lane.
When asked about his early race battle with Lapcevich, Zardo replied “I just think it’s amazing, because he’s doing really great too, to have young drivers coming up in this sport”
“The [surface] was kind of wet all the way around, I couldn’t really step on the gas or else my tires would spin. So I just tried to put it where the car wanted to go”
Zardo would close out his interview by thanking his devoted sponsors, and all those who have supported him in his racing ventures.
Milton, ON’s Eric Yorke (No. 51 Milton Napa Auto Parts/McKeown Auto Collision Nissan) would close out the action with his first career Sunset Speedway win in the Mini Stock division. The rising star would lead all but 3-laps, at times enjoying an entire straightaway lead over his nearest pursuer.
“It felt good, the car was working good. We had a little bad luck last week, but we made it up. I’m very happy”
“I’m gonna try for a championship!” exclaimed Yorke when asked his plans for the 2012 season. The 21-year old will enter the 3rd week of competition second in points, trailing leader Warren Paxton by only 7 markers.
QUICK RESULTS
LIMITED LATE MODEL
Heat 1: “Hollywood” Taylor Holdaway Orillia, ON
Heat 2: Scott Beatty Barrie, ON
Heat 3: “The Frequent Flyer” Sean Grosman Golden Beach, FL
Heat 4: Mike “Lights Out” Bentley Acton, ON
A Main:
1) Tony “The Gun” Tiemersma Holland Landing, ON
2) “Hollywood” Taylor Holdaway Orillia, ON
3) Sean Cronan Barrie, ON
4) Billy “Z3” Zardo Brampton, ON
5) Dario Capirchio Gilford, ON
SUPER STOCK
Heat 1: Nick Roth Baden, ON
Heat 2: Matt Bentley Guelph, ON
Heat 3: “The Cheque Casher” Herb Walters Stroud, ON
Heat 4: Dan Archibald Barrie, ON
A Main:
1) Lane Zardo Brampton, ON
2) Dan Archibald Barrie, ON
3) Nick Roth Baden, ON
4) “The Cheque Casher” Herb Walters Stroud, ON
5) Cayden Lapcevich Grimsby, ON
MINI STOCK
Heat 1: Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON
Heat 2: “The King of Hearts” Brian Love Barrie, ON
Heat 3: Eric Yorke Milton, ON
Heat 4: Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON
Heat 5: Brandon McFerran Acton, ON
Heat 6: Rob Krystal Holland Landing, ON
A Main:
1) Eric Yorke Milton, ON
2) Dan ”The Bandit” Britt Midhurst, ON
3) Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON
4) Rob Krystal Holland Landing, ON
5) Brandon McFerran Acton, ON
By Spencer Lewis
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