Fredericton N.B., June 13, 2009-It was another great turnout tonight for the Pro All Star Series 200. After last year’s Pro All Star Series event was cancelled due to rain and was unable to be re-scheduled fans were excited to see racing from drivers from Eastern Canada & the United States. Pro All Star Series visits many speedways throughout the United States each year and Speedway 660 was very lucky to have them come here, as this was their only stop at a Canadian speedway in 2009.
Fans saw regular weekly points racing in the Coast Tire Street Stock and Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman Division. These two classes feature some of the most exciting racing action each week and this week was no exception.
Fans saw some very exciting racing the Coast Tire Street Stock division. It was really a family affair tonight and the big story was Heidi Cooper winning the 20 lap feature holding off the hard charger #88 of Brian Fox and #11 Rocket Rodney Ness. Heidi started the race on the pole and led every lap of the caution free race. This was a very special evening for Heidi, not only because she dominated the feature and took her #1car to the Auto Pride Victory Lane but that she got to share a podium finish with her father. Both Heidi and Rodney have had podium finishes in the past but not at the same time. This is what racing is all about.
Randy Moore was the big story in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportman division as he started on the outside pole and sprinted out on the high side to take the early lead in the 30 lap feature. Moore dominated the race holding off challengers and leading the race until the only caution of the evening on lap 24 when Dave Biggar and Cody Price got together and spun between turn 3 and 4. In the closing laps, Moore was being challenged for the lead by Cal Hatfield. The two of them battled back and forth until the last lap when the two got together and Hatfield spun coming to the checkers in turn 3 and 4. This resulted in Moore being disqualified, which gave the win to Myles Harris. Finishing a close second was Michael Banks and rounding out the top three was Glyn Nott.
It’s not over till the last lap. This was the case in the Pro All Star Series 200. In the early laps of the race pole sitter, DJ Shaw and Kelly Moore battled for the lead. It wasn’t long before Saint. John’s Lonnie Sommerville had moved up to challenge for the lead from Kelly Moore. Sommerville soon had the #28 Ford of Kirk Thibeau knocking on his door. The two of them battled for most of race. Restart after restart they would take turns sprinting out into the lead. Quietly moving up was the #4 of Ben Rowe. He had been in the top five for most of the race. Throughout all the cautions and mechanical problems Sommerville had remained up front until after the break at half way. After that Sommerville experienced minor mechanical problems causing him to lose positions and eventually spin out. After the problem was fixed Sommerville began moving back up towards the front but ending up a little short. He still had a very good finish after all that.
In the closing laps of the race Ben Rowe had moved in into the lead and never looked back. Rowe held off the #98 of Adam Bates and the #97 belonging to John Flemming for the win. Rowe is a 4 time Pass Tour points champ and has won many races. Of the local cars Lonnie Sommerville finished in the highest position finishing seventh on the grid. Also, Shawn Tucker finished in 9th and Greg Fahey rounded out the top ten.
The Pro All Star Series next race on the schedule is in Unity, ME.