LONDON, ON - It’s been a couple of months since Transmission Direct Enduro competitors have been able to run a full race – or two – at Delaware. We ran two 125-lap feature races in the Enduro division, the second of which was a Top Dog Showdown.
The #80 of Rick Johnson was out front to start race one. Chad McDonald (33) then led a couple of laps before Steve Lovie (141a) shot out front where he stayed for 25 laps.
The first red flag was thrown at lap 8 for a spin by the 99 of Josh Lucier who stalled facing traffic.
A new leader at lap 30 – Jeremiah Rabideau (52). A couple of potential contenders pitted around this point; the former leader, Lovie, and perennial Transmission Direct Enduro winner, Steve Book (64) with a fan belt problem. Lovie immediately returned to the race but Book didn’t return until very late.
By the halfway point the field had thinned a bit with overheated engines.
At lap 60, the leader crashed on turn one and couldn’t get going again. One of Rabideau’s competitors gave him a push but it wasn’t enough to keep him moving. A red flag gave the Delaware safety crew an opportunity to get out and clear the track and Whitworth to tow the 52 to the pits. Barry Watson (45) took the lead.
By the halfway point, the McCullough Brothers, David (39) and Derek (38), occupied the 4th and 5th spots respectively, with Manny Demelo (182) third and the 114 of Al Hilton, second. With Watson hanging on to the top spot, David McCullough traded places with Demelo and by the time they reached lap 80, Demelo was out of the top five, and the McCullough brothers were followed in fifth by John Lynch (04) but he pitted at lap 90.
We got an exciting lesson in the proper way to correct yourself after a spin when you’re left facing traffic. Heather Pearse (25) did just that on the front straightaway at lap 92, threw it in reverse, hit the gas and kept herself out of harm’s way through oncoming traffic until she could right herself at the exit from pit road and resume racing.
At lap 100 the 57 of Dan Irons hit the back end of the 69 of Roy Lewis - whose car had been chosen as one of the “best appearing” of the night prior to the race. Both drivers were fine but the 69 caught fire and the 57’s front end was smashed. The 109 of Doug Capp also spewed smoke at turn one and pitted. A lap later the 53 of Pete Schweddyk stopped on the front straightaway and needed a push to the pits.
Derek McCullough’s spin in the waning laps cost him a few positions but he fought his way back to the top five. At 118 Josh Blyth (82) lost power between turns three and four while traffic split high and low to avoid him. The #182 gave him a push to the pits.
Barry Watson took the checkered flag. Al Hilton came second followed by David McCullough, Jim Ferguson and Derek McCullough.
Our second Transmission Direct Enduro feature of the night was also 125 laps but had a bit of a twist. Those drivers determined to be Top Dogs (those who drove faster than 24-second laps this season) were held back for two laps before officials let the Dogs out! Top Dog cars were identified by special decals.
Adam Deauvall (19) was the race’s first leader. Steve Domingue (3) took his place at lap 3 as the Top Dogs jockeyed for position on the busy track, anxious to get on the lead lap.
At lap 8, another new leader: Mark Machado (160).
At lap 19, the first race winner, Barry Watson (45), spun into the pit wall in turn two but managed to right himself. He pitted but rejoined about 10 laps later.
The Top Dogs had their work cut out for them. By the 22nd lap, the top Top Dog, Justin Demelo, now driving the 182, was still a lap off the pace but running 17th and climbing.
Steve Book, in the #9 for this race, spun and lost some fluid at turn one causing some slipping and sliding for a few vehicles that followed. Book closed the night on pit road.
Brad Campbell (22) had been running second until lap 39 after some contact on turn 3. Soon after that Piet Blaauboer, a Top Dog, drove the 777 onto pit road while hanging half-way out of the vehicle! As it came to a stop the reason became clear; flames shooting out of the bottom of the car. The driver was unhurt but his car was finished for the night.
The 50-lap mark had Machado in the lead followed Stephen Richmond (15), Pete Schwedyk (53), Jim Ferguson (06) and Steve Lovie (141).
At the 60th lap the 182’s engine called it a night and the resulting fluid loss on turns 3 and 4 sent a few drivers over the patch of grass. Ferguson’s spin landed him next to the cement off turn 3 and ended his chase for the lead. After staying still for a few laps Ferguson made some moves to get righted just as light rain began to fall. A fellow driver, Heather Pearse (25), attempted to give him a push but was either waved off or changed her mind. Sharpie threw a red at lap 75 so the 06 could be towed away.
Machado continued his domination of the race into the triple digits and was almost alone on the lead lap. Second place runner Steve Lovie (141) was his only company. David McCullough had worked his way up to third, Jacob Orr (95) fourth and Al Hilton (114) fifth. And that’s where they stayed as the checkered flag flew. The only driver on Victory Lane who was not a Top Dog was the winner, Mark Machado.
The night’s Ultimate Sandblasting and Coating Chaos Car race winner: Blue Thunder, aka, Gary Triska.
Enduro Feature #1
1. 45 Barry Watson London
2. 114 Al Hilton Brantford
3. 39 David McCullough Glencoe
4. 06 Jim Ferguson Essex
5. 38 Derek McCullough Glencoe
6. 9 Ed Jeffery Appin
7. 37 Steve Arrand London
8. 07 Jamie Klumper Mitchell
9. 141 Steve Lovie London
10. 04 Tony Rumble Blenheim
11. 01 Jaden Freer-Chapman Sarnia
12. 31 Dan Hundt Sebringville
13. 88 Tim McGregor Ingersoll
14. 210 Bob Ferrow Woodstock
15. 160 Marc Machado Strathroy
16. 82 Rob Burton London
17. 2 Norm Schnekenburger
18. 15 Stephen Richmond Appin
19. 84 Tad Head Sarnia
20. 33 Chad McDonald London
21. 54 Kevin Allen Drumbo
22. 51 Derek Mosker Beachville
23. 777 Piet Blaauboer II Strathroy
24. 745 Scott Cottenden Blenheim
25. 50 Tyssen Toll London
26. 22 Brad Campbell St. Thomas
27. 260 Scott Hope Blenheim
28. 99 Josh Lucier Port Lambton
29. 182 Emmanuel Demelo London
30. 4 John Lynch Blenheim
31. 57 Dan Irons St. Thomas
32. 98 Dan Boutcher Burlington
33. 53 Pete Shwedyk Jerseyville
34. 409 Kevin Casson London
35. 117 Dave Rumble Blenheim
36. 109 Shawn Potvin London
37. 069 Roy Lewis Stratford
38. 12 Mike Skinner St Thomas
39. 95 Jacob Orr St Thomas
40. 23 Jeff Ferguson Brantford
41. 62 John O'Neill Kitchener
42. 96 Jordan Morris Dorchester
43. 25 Heather Pearce Ilderton
44. 91 Paul Brown
45. 156 Darren Thinkettle Strathroy
46. 52 Jeremiah Rabideau Mt. Brydges
47. 776 Rob Paff Kerwood
48. 28 Chris Voros Clinton
49. 93 Gary Zwygers
50. 78 Gary Graham London
51. 3 Steve Domingue Sarnia
52. 64 Steve Book Brantford
53. 44 Todd Walton Komoka
54. 92 Kyle Neumeister St. Marys
55. 26 Justin Doxtator-Kechego
56. 80 Rick Johnson
57. 74 Stan Cook St. Thomas
58. 71 Jeremy Rayner London
59. 19 Adam Deauvall London
60. 49 Rob Frampton
Enduro Feature #2
1. 160 Marc Machado Strathroy
2. 141 Steve Lovie London
3. 39 David McCullough Glencoe
4. 95 Jacob Orr St Thomas
5. 114 Al Hilton Brantford
6. 15 Barry Newman Arkona
7. 07 Jamie Klumper Mitchell
8. 53 Pete Schedwyk Jerseyville
9. 54 Kevin Allen Drumbo
10. 84 Tad Head Sarnia
11. 51 Derek Mosker Beachville
12. 31 Dan Hundt Sebringville
13. 01 Jaden Freer-Chapman Sarnia
14. 156 Darren Thinkettle Strathroy
15. 78 Gary Graham London
16. 98 Dan Boutcher Burlington
17. 260 Scott Hope Blenheim
18. 99 Josh Lucier Port Lambton
19. 745 Scott Cottenden Blenheim
20. 38 Derek McCullough Glencoe
21. 45 Barry Watson London
22. 50 Tyssen Toll London
23. 25 Heather Pearce Ilderton
24. 23 Jeff Ferguson Brantford
25. 91 Paul Brown
26. 210 Bob Ferrow Woodstock
27. 82 Steve McCaw London
28. 04 Tony Rumble Blenheim
29. 3 Steve Domingue Sarnia
30. 33 Chad McDonald London
31. 88 Tim McGregor Ingersoll
32. 28 Chris Voros Clinton
33. 37 Steve Arrand London
34. 06 Jim Ferguson Essex
35. 182 Justin Demelo London
36. 22 Brad Campbell St. Thomas
37. 44 Todd Walton Komoka
38. 777 Piet Blaauboer II Strathroy
39. 12 Mike Skinner St Thomas
40. 9 Steve Book Appin
41. 776 Rob Paff Kerwood
42. 92 Kyle Neumeister St. Marys
43. 63 Paul Weiler
44. 62 John O'Neill Kitchener
45. 19 Adam Deauvall London
46. 109 Shawn Potvin London
47. 26 Justin Doxtator-Kechego Oneida
48. 069 Roy Lewis Stratford
49. 80 Rick Johnson Ingersoll
50. 93 Gary Zwygers
51. 49 Rob Frampton
52. 409 Kevin Casson London
53. 2 Norm Schnekenburger
54. 74 Stan Cook St. Thomas
55. 117 Dave Rumble
56. 52 Jeremiah Rabideau
57. 96 Jordan Morris Dorchester
58. 57 Dan Irons St. Thomas
59. 64 Steve Book Brantford
60. 4 John Lynch Blenheim
61. 71 Jeremy Rayner London
From Lisa Brandt / Public and Media Relations, Delaware Speedway
