September 5, 2010
Fredericton, NB – The biggest
motorsports event in Atlantic Canada once again did not disappoint with a record crowd of
over 8000 attending the Auto Value 250 and a dominating performance by Johnny
Clark. Thirty seven cars attempted to qualify for just 28 spots. Clark
who qualified through his heat started 5th on the starting grid and made his
way to the front just 17 laps into the main event. Pole sitter Shawn Turple
would lead the initial 16 laps but the 54 of Clark tracked him down in dominating fashion.
Clark
would lead the next 161 laps, only relinquishing the lead because he had to pit for tires
and fuel. That opened the door for “Big” Kevin Moore in his
#88. Moore led the next few laps only to be caught by the powerful Clark who would
lead until lap 187 when Shawn Turple in his #0 and the 54 got together as Turple was
attempting a pass on the leader. That sent the two front runners to the rear
and allowed Jonathan Hicken to assume the lead. The lead was again short
lived as Clark again made his way to the front in under 20 laps. On lap 208, Clark
would take the lead for the final time, weaving his way through lap traffic on his way to
a record payday of $ 26,350. A record held by the late Scott
Fraser. Clark led a total of 208 laps including the Bulletproof Solutions
Halfway Challenge.
Clark
said after the race “I never get tired of winning races and especially big ones like
this” Clark became the second two timer winner of the event with Lonnie
Sommerville being the first in 2009. Rounding out the top three with strong
performances were Shawn Turple in 2nd and Shawn Tucker in 3rd
place. Both drivers said after the race “they had nothing” for the
54 of Clark.
In
the LeisureFamilyRV.com Street Stock division, Peter Gaddess made a nice move on the
54 of Rick Cashol in the dying laps of the 50 lap event. Cashol took home a 2nd
place finish while Matt Matheson rounded out the top three.
In
the other support division, the Cummins Diesel Legends put on a great show in their 35 lap
main event with Steve Pye taking home the checkered flag followed by the legend Cy Harvey
and Paul Blenkhorn rounding out the top three.
