Cole Cashes in at The Very Best Fall Shootout!
On a day when his family was celebrating his daughter Kamber’s 3rd birthday, Justin Cole (#38) scored the biggest win of his racing career Saturday at Speedway Miramichi, as he led wire to wire to win The Very Best Fall Shootout Street Stock 100, a win that earned Cole approximately $3200! After earning the pole with his pole race victory, Cole held off all challengers en route to victory. James Matchett (#55), Alex Sheehan (#06), and Shawn Hyslop (#99) all attempted to make a run at Cole throughout the 100 lap feature, but all came up short. In the end, Hyslop would settle for second after starting 11th, while Brandon Carter (#19) would finish 3rd in the 17-car field. Alex Sheehan was the top PEI representative finishing 4th, while Bryar Ellis (#95) had a career day, earning himself a 5th place finish.
Ellis’s career day started off on a high note after he, Sheehan, and Matchett all won their 10 lap heat races. Ellis captured his heat win after Riley Goodwin (#77) and Brandon Carter made contact coming to the white flag in the first heat race.
Chris Wilson (#2W) started shotgun on the field, and then had to drive from the back a second time after a flat tire on lap 31 to end up with a top 10 finish. That was good enough for Wilson to capture the 2019 Speedway Miramichi Street Stock championship! 2nd in points and rookie of the year would go to Jamie Jardine (#10) who had an impressive run for his first career extended distance feature.
A total of 3 cautions slowed the 100-lap feature. The first was for Wilson’s flat tire on lap 31, while spins for Ryan Richard (#80) and Zean Dutcher (#01) brought out the other cautions. The final green flag run went for a total of 48 laps, with the top 6 cars finishing on the lead lap.
JR Lawson (#81) held off Passione Flooring & Interiors East Coast Mini Stock Tour champion Dave Matthews (#99) to complete a sweep of the 2019 Mini Stock season at Speedway Miramichi and win the 2019 Mini Stock championship. Matthews stalked Lawson all race, but just didn’t have enough to make a move. Trevor Smith (#33) rounded out the podium in his first career start in Miramichi.
Only 2 cautions slowed the 50-lap feature. The first came on lap 24 due to a hard crash involving Chris Garnett (#66) and Michael Savoie (#00). The second came on the ensuing restart, when Chantel Ackles (#30) had her engine expire. Lawson, Matthews, and Rob Poirier (#0) captured 10 lap heat races to start the day.
In Modified action, Joe Hoyt (#17) entered the day 2nd in Speedway Miramichi points, but he would find redemption from one year ago, as he captured his heat win and feature win, allowing him to overcome the points deficit and win the 2019 Speedway Miramichi Modified championship! Hoyt overcame an incident on the opening lap to capture his feature win after a spirited battle throughout the race. “The Racing Ranger” Kim Hallihan came home in second, while Brandon Skidmore finished in 3rd. Skidmore’s 3rd place finish was good enough to earn him the 2019 Atlantic Modified Tour championship. Only the top 3 cars finished on the lead lap. Braxton Stafford (#91) rebounded from an early crash to finish 4th, while Tyson Donovan (#63) captured his first career top 5, placing 5th. Despite crossing the line first, Travis Conroy (#7) did not pass post race technical inspection and forfeited the win. Despite the disqualification, Conroy had a big enough lead to still earn the Modified Rookie of the Year for Speedway Miramichi.
The race was halted by 4 cautions, 3 of which were on the initial lap. On the first attempt at a green flag, a 3-wide attempt at the front of the field went wrong, with Hoyt getting into Yves McCray (#58) collecting Braxton Stafford in the process. The second attempt turned heated, after contact between Zean Dutcher (#55) and Doug Matchett (#75) ended Matchett’s day, and collected Ashton Tucker (#2W) in the process. Following the incident, Matchett exited his car and confronted Dutcher. The third attempt saw Kevin Brideau (#14) spin after contact from behind from Brandon Skidmore. The final caution came out on lap 19 for debris from Tucker’s car, ending his day while he challenged for a podium.
Hoyt and Stafford were the winners of 10 lap heat races to start the day. All incidents which occurred are currently under review and drivers may be subject to penalties, which would be announced in the near future.
Riley Harris (#1) put on a show during the Demolition Blowout! Harris’s car shut off after heavy contact with a fellow competitor, but Harris got it re-fired and made contact with only 5 seconds left on his clock to keep him in competition, and then he held on to take the victory! Cody Lee (#17.5) finished 2nd while Jeremy Faulds (#11) finished 3rd. 17 cars started the Demolition Blowout out of the 25 in the pits.
Marc-Andre Benoit (#81) moved McLaughlin Roof Trusses Pro Stock 250 champion Ashton Tucker (#66) in the closing laps to make the race winning pass in the Dash for Cash. Sam Jardine (#12) dominated the Powder Puff race to score the victory over the driver of car #11, and Candace Sherrard (#1). Hugo Richard (#48) put on a clinic en route to victory in the Kidney race, while Marc-Andre Benoit (#81) won a thrilling Figure 8 race. Stephane Poirier was victorious in the Burnout Competition.
The Back-Up race was a wild affair that saw tempers flare. After an opening lap incident, several cars proceeded to head to the infield and “begin the demolition early,” resulting in tempers spilling over. The race was red flagged with 2 vehicles being parked for the night due to their actions. When the race resumed, only 5 of 17 starters were remaining. It would be Jeremy Faulds scoring the victory with a last lap turn 4 pass on Joey Pitre (#20). As with the Modified incident, this ordeal is under review, and penalties, if necessary, will be announced in the near future.
The 2019 season is now officially complete at Speedway Miramichi. Up next is the 2019 banquet! More information will be coming soon!
Street Stock 100 UNOFFICIAL Results
1. Justin Cole #38
2. Shawn Hyslop #99
3. Brandon Carter #19
4. Alex Sheehan #06
5. Bryar Ellis #95
6. Michael Cormier #68
7. Ryan Richard #80
8. James Matchett #55
9. Chris Wilson #2W
10. Dan Smith #39
11. Riley Goodwin #77
12. Jamie Jardine #10
13. Zean Dutcher #01
14. Darcy O’Neill #68x
15. Jared Tozer #51
16. Robert Legere #04
17. Mitchell Arsenault #51x
Street Stock Champion - Chris Wilson #2W
*Note on Street Stock Results - official results have yet to be confirmed and will be updated if necessary.
Mini Stock 50 Results
1. JR Lawson #81
2. Dave Matthews #99
3. Trevor Smith #33
4. Guy Basque #27
5. Mathieu Mallett #80
6. Rob Poirier #0
7. Mitchell Poirier #28
8. Ryan McKnight #46
9. Zean Dutcher #55
10. Brad Daley #72
11. Conrad Murphy #89
12. Neil Miousse #71
13. Cody Byrne #67
14. Chantel Ackles #30
15. Michael Savoie #00
16. Chris Garnett #66
17. Tom Ackles #30x
Mini Stock Champion - JR Lawson #81
Atlantic Modified Tour 35 Results
1. Joe Hoyt #17
2. Kim Hallihan #97
3. Brandon Skidmore #84
4. Braxton Stafford #91
5. Tyson Donovan #63
6. Kevin Brideau #14
7. Zean Dutcher #55
8. Ashton Tucker #2W
9. Yves McCray #58
10. Doug Matchett #75
Speedway Miramichi Modified Champion - Joe Hoyt #17
Demolition Blowout Podium
1. Riley Harris #1
2. Cody Lee #17.5
3. Jeremy Faulds #11
Dash for Cash Winner - Marc-Andre Benoit #81
Powder Puff Winner - Sam Jardine #12
Back-Up Race Winner - Jeremy Faulds #11
Kidney Race Winner - Hugo Richard #48
Figure 8 Race Winner - Marc-Andre Benoit #81
Burnout Competition - Stephane Poirier