Fredericton N.B – Dave O’Blenis rolled to an impressive win in the Firecracker 150 at Speedway 660 on Saturday night. O’Blenis drove his Irving Blending & Packaging Sportsman car to the Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane in one of the biggest Sportsman races of the year.
“I am proud of this race team because they worked hard to give me a great car tonight and I also want to congratulate Brent Roy and John Rankin for running me hard and clean in this race” said O’Blenis. “It was great to get the win tonight, especially after having a strong car in the Martins’ Home Heating 100 back in June and not winning that race after breaking the transmission.”
O’Blenis took the lead on lap 24 and although he led the rest of the race, he had to hold off strong challenges from Roy who finished second and Rankin who came home third. O’Blenis, Rankin and George Jamieson won the qualifying heats.
“I like these long races, we always seem to have good runs and usually have good finishes but we have never been able to close the deal and win one of these things” said Brent Roy, who finished third in the Martins Home Heating 100 back in June. “We’ve got a couple of important point races in the next two weeks, but we’re going to come back for the Irving Blending & Packaging Sportsman 100 on SpeedWeekend and try again.”
Race fans also saw some great racing action in three other Speedway 660 divisions on Saturday night. Peter Martin won the DMR Auto Sales & Service Street Stock feature, ahead of Geoff Tugwell and Robert Raynes. Justin Cole won his heat race and the dash, while rookie T.J. Madore won the other heat.
Darren Beatty had his best night ever in the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division. Beatty won his heat race and the feature. Malcolm Suley finished second in the feature and Daniel Clark ran third. Jeremy Doran won the other heat race.
Twelve year old Ashton Tucker came of age in the West Wood Estate Apartments Bandolero division on Saturday night. Young Ashton won his heat race and the feature. Points leader Drew Greenlaw ran second in the feature, while Alexandra O’Blenis finished third. Ryan Messer won the other heat race.
The second Enduro 200 of the 2013 racing season runs Sunday (today) at 2PM. Next Saturday night there will be point racing in all five divisions at Speedway 660.