Tucker, Skidmore Among Winners of Mid-Summer Madness!
Mother nature tried, but she couldn’t stop Speedway Miramichi on Sunday afternoon with the running of the Mid-Summer Madness Demo! A couple brief sprinkles throughout the afternoon were not enough to delay the show, which went off without a hitch!
The afternoon saw a war of attrition unfold for the Demo drivers, but it was Kevin Tucker (#87) once again proving that 2019 is his year. Tucker landed the final blow to Adam Plourde, who was driving Derek Ramsay’s #15 to capture the Mid-Summer Madness Demo! Marc-Andre Benoit (#81) ran much of the Demo on just three wheels, and somehow managed to hang on to capture 3rd with the same car that he won a Demo with in 2018!
Tucker entered the day as the points leader, and his victory is sure to only extend his already massive points lead!
The Atlantic Modified Tour produced the biggest car count of the day and the drivers put on a great show in their 35-lap feature. Brandon Skidmore (#84) spoiled what looked to be a Joe Hoyt (#17) day, when he reeled Hoyt in during the closing laps and took the lead with 6 laps to go to score the feature win. It was Skidmore’s 2nd consecutive win on the Atlantic Modified Tour, but his first of the year in Miramichi. Hoyt stayed on Skidmore’s bumper but had to settle for second. Kevin Bailey (#2) rounded out the podium. Braxton Stafford (#91) and Kim Hallihan (#97) rounded out the top 5.
Steven Curtis (#12) started on the pole and lead the opening laps, before Hoyt assumed the lead. Hoyt lead for a total of 27 laps during the feature. 2 cautions slowed the feature. The first caution was for a scary and wild incident in turn 2. Curtis and Hallihan had been racing side by side for 2nd position, when contact occurred in the middle of the corner, resulting in Curtis’s car driving over the top of Hallihan’s - monster truck style. Curtis’s strong performance would be cut short early, but Hallihan, the points leader entering the day, would recover to finish in the top 5.
Skidmore and Hoyt picked up heat race victories to kick off the day. The next time the Modified’s hit the track in Miramichi, it is scheduled to be for an extended 50 lap feature!
James “Hollywood” Matchett (#55) was the class of the field for the Street Stock class, as he cruised his way to victories in both the heat and feature. Matchett led wire to wire in the feature, to score what is his first Street Stock feature in Miramichi, adding to his impressive resume in the class. Zean Dutcher (#2W), who was subbing for Chris Wilson who had to work on the rain date, came home 2nd, while Jamie Jardine (#10) scored his first career podium finish in 3rd.
The Mini Stock class put on an entertaining 30 lap feature, with JR Lawson (#81) coming from the back to take the victory in the caution free feature. Lawson took the lead from Mathieu Savoie (#00) on the 8th lap and never looked back. Chantel Ackles (#30) closed on Lawson late but ended up in 2nd, while Savoie took 3rd. Guy Basque (#27) and Mathieu Mallett (#80) rounded out the top 5, while Lawson claimed the 10-lap heat race.
The Dukes class drivers surprised the crowd and staff, when Robert Legere jumped behind the wheel to fill in for Darcy O’Neill in car #68. Legere would take home both the heat and the feature, while one of his crew members drove his #04 car to 3rd place finishes in both races. Jonathan Dickson (#3) finished 2nd in both races in his second career start. The wildest moment for the Dukes class came on the last lap of the heat race, when both Dickson and Legere’s crew member spun on the exit of 2, almost in synchronization.
In Demolition preliminary action, Adam Plourde (#52) captured the 8 lap Figure 8 race, which had a small field start due to a war of attrition throughout the afternoon. Norm Robichaud (#666) and Marc-Andre Benoit (#81) rounded out the podium.
The Kidney Shaped Heat Race eliminated multiple competitors from competition, but it was Plourde once again claiming victory Kevin Tucker (#87) and Benoit. The wildest moment from the Demo came during this race, when Jacob Smith (#29) made contact with Benoit, which launched Smith airborne through the air!
The 5-lap back-up race was a breeze for Benoit, as he put on a clinic to score the victory. Kirtlin Jardine (#118) and Jacob Smith claimed the remaining podium positions.
Samantha Flieger jumped out of her mini stock and jumped into Kevin Tucker’s #87 car to claim the victory in the Powder Puff race. Amie Nash, driving Adam Plourde’s #52, and Erin McCallister in the #118, rounded out the podium.
Kevin Tucker also claimed the 8 lap Dash for Cash race. Plourde battled Tucker but came home 2nd, while Colby Buggie (#738) rounded out the podium.
The next race for Speedway Miramichi is coming up in just over a month - it'll be the Back to School Smash and Modified 50! Stay tuned for more details on our social platforms and website as we approach the next event!
Atlantic Modified Tour 35 Lap Feature Results
1. Brandon Skidmore #84
2. Joe Hoyt #17
3. Kevin Bailey #2
4. Braxton Stafford #91
5. Kim Hallihan #97
6. Doug Matchett #75
7. Yves McCray #58
8. Travis Conroy #7
9. Kevin Brideau #14
10. Zean Dutcher #55
11. Steven Curtis #12
Street Stock 20 Lap Feature Results
1. James Matchett #55
2. Zean Dutcher #2W (subbing for Chris Wilson)
3. Jamie Jardine #10
DNS - JR Lawson #81
Mini Stock 30 Lap Feature Results
1. JR Lawson #81
2. Chantel Ackles #30
3. Michael Savoie #00
4. Guy Basque #27
5. Mathieu Mallett #80
6. Mitchell Poirier #28
7. Samantha Flieger #17
8. Stacie Huston #55
Dukes 20 Lap Feature Results
1. Robert Legere #68 (Driving for Darcy O’Neill)
2. Jonathan Dickson #3
3. #04
Mid-Summer Madness Demo Podium
1. Kevin Tucker #87
2. Adam Plourde #15 (Driving for Derek Ramsay)
3. Marc Andre Benoit #81
Figure 8 Podium
1. Adam Plourde #52
2. Norm Robichaud #666
3. Marc Andre Benoit #81
Kidney Shaped Heat Race Podium
1. Adam Plourde #52
2. Kevin Tucker #87
3. Marc Andre Benoit #81
Back-Up Race Podium
1. Marc Andre Benoit #81
2. Kirtlin Jardine #118
3. Jacob Smith #29
Powder Puff Podium
1. Samantha Flieger #87
2. Amie Nash #52
3. Erin McCallister #118
Dash for Cash Podium
1. Kevin Tucker #87
2. Adam Plourde #52
3. Colby Buggie #738