Turple captures 2012 Maritime Pro Stock Tour title at Dartmouth Dodge 200

HALIFAX, NS – The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour closed out its 2012 season in style on Saturday at Scotia Speedworld. John Flemming (Halifax,NS) did everything he could to close in on the championship by winning the Dartmouth Dodge 200 in his #97 Dartmouth Dodge Charger. Flemming made his move with six to go on Mike MacKenzie (Dartmouth) to take the win after dominating the first half of the event.

MacKenzie, who led the way for 52 laps, held on as he and Jonathan Hicken (Brudenell, PE) slid across the line battling for the runner-up spot. Fourth place belonged to 2012 Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour Champion Shawn Turple (Enfield), who started ninth on the field and battled to keep himself in the top ten for the duration of the 200-lap feature. Turple, in the #0 Dexter Construction Impala becomes a two-time champion of the series with his second title in four years (2009, 2012). Completing the top five was Shawn Tucker (Fredericton, NB).

Flemming started from the pole after pacing Atlantic Tiltload Time Trials with a time of 14.380 seconds around the 3/10-mile oval. Leonard Boutilier (Dutch Settlement) won the Fast Eddie Race Wear Dash for Cash with heat wins being picked up by Turple and Kent Vincent (Crapaud, PE). Flemming pocketed the King Freight Lines Halfway Award and the Linde Most Laps Led Award (120 laps). MacKenzie charged to the front to take the Absolute Traffic Services Hard Charger Award, while Brad Eddy (Lower Sackville) took top freshmen honors in the race, finishing eight. 26 cars were slowed by 11 cautions for the race.

Steve Halpin (Saint John, NB) sealed the Exide Batteries Rookie of the Year title with his 10th place finish in the Dartmouth Dodge 200. Halpin, along with the rest of the series drivers, will receive official honours at the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour Year End Award Banquet on November 24, in Moncton NB.

The Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman, Scotia Speedworld’s Weekly Racing Series premier division, kicked off the day’s festivities with their season finale 50 lap feature. Russell Smith Jr (Lakeside) took the checkers, followed by Harry Ross White (Kennetcook) and Jeff Dillman (Shubenacadie). Aaron Boutilier (Porter’s Lake) finished fourth which clinched him the 2012 Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman Series Championship.

Thanks to the awesome Race Time Radio crew for their coverage of the Dartmouth Dodge 200. If you missed the broadcast it will re-air tomorrow, Sunday, Sept 9th at 6:00 PM on channel 157 Sports Express on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.