NEWS RELEASE
SUNSET SPEEDWAY
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Saturday’s ‘Second to None: First Responder’s Night’ at Sunset Speedway was filled with action to the very end and a full line-up of amazing divisions.
In total ‘First Responder’s Night’ saw five divisions including, CPS Junior Late Models, TQ Can-Am Midgets, the Ontario Legend Car series, the Ontario Sportsman Series, and Juniors Haulage Bone stock division.
Opening the night, the TQ Can-Am Midgets visited Sunset Speedway. The division had two heaT races, a four-lap dash for cash race, and a 25-lap feature race. In heat one Daniel Hawn (#42) came first, with Darren McLennan (#78) coming first in heat two. The Dash for Cash race saw four races, race four laps for $200. Tyler Cullen (#43) went home with the cash and the checkered flag. The 25 lap feature saw the four-wide salute and was the only feature race without any cautions. In victory lane, racer Paul Jorgensen (#68) was in third and Jeff Blackburn (#7) in second and going home with a first-place finish was James Stanley (#57).
“I've given a few away here so to finally get this first Sunset win is incredible. I had to be patient trying to get past Paul and not use my stuff up in doing so, once I had my opportunity, I took it and didn’t look back,” a smiling Stanley said in Ideal Supply Victory Lane.
Following the TQ Midgets was the Ontario Legend Car series. Their night consisted of four heats and the second 25-lap feature of the night. Of the four heat races, Mitch Wright (#21), Steve Gareau (#8), Dawson Drimmie (#66) and Adam Cuthbertson (#79) all came first in their races. Wright not only came first in his heat, but he also came first in the 25-lap feature race. Following Wright came Parker Traves (#08) in second and Cuthbertson round out the podium in third place.
“This car was so good, we just hauled back 24 hours straight from Atlanta racing down there so to be able to turn the car around and win here is such an accomplishment,” an excited Wright said post race. “This series is so tough and Parker behind me is one of the best in Ontario so this is a great feeling.”
Sunset’s Junior Late division had their usual two heat races, each with 10 laps, closing out with a 15-lap feature. Josh Davenport (#30) and Keegan Moat (#52) both came through as heat winners. During the feature, both Davenport and Moat started in first place positions for the race but during the first lap both cars got together with them coming to rest against the outside wall.
Sunset track crew quickly checked on both racers who were unharmed and, with minimal damage to their cars, were able to continue. Due to causing a caution, both Moat and Davenport were put to the back of the pack upon restart but within the first lap back, Davenport was able to regain three spots. By the third lap, Davenport was in second place and the next lap returned to first. For the rest of the race, Davenport kept his lead spot and went home with another victory lane win. Moat and Chase Stevenson (#09) rounded out the podium.
“To be able to recover like we did is incredible, I wasn’t sure we would be able to after the incident with Keegan,” the soft-spoken Davenport said in NAPA Auto Parts Victory Lane. “This is a family effort all around and I cant thank them enough for all they do for me to come race.”
The Juniors Haulage Bone Stock division had a rather large number of cars in attendance with 18 cars racing the feature. In heat one, Calvin Reesor (#49) came first and collected his first heat win of the 2024 season and in heat two Chris Allard (#76) was first, adding yet another heat win under his belt. In the Exyle Mobile Services Dash for Cash the top eight qualifiers from the heat races battled it out.
Josh Berry (#22) kept his lead position for the entire race, even after some contact made by Jack Bird (#25) as the cars were going into turn two. In the end, Berry finished first, collecting his first checkered flag of the 2024 season and the $50 that went along with it. During the feature race, Bird gained the first position quickly and held it for the majority in the race, but Allard closed in on Bird and took home the win for the second time this season with Bird and Reesor second and third.
“This is why I do it, these kids right here the fun we get to have down here seeing them excited in victory lane,” Allard said in his post race interview. “We want a championship for our team this year either me or Josh so we come out swinging every week trying to try and get as many points as possible.
Closing out the night was the Ontario Sportsman Series. In time trials Kevin Trevellin (#19) came third, with Cory McAllister (#71) in second and Brad Robinson (#44) coming in first with a time of 15.613 seconds.
McAllister jumped to the early lead but would have Robinson following in his tire tracks. As the race wore on lapped traffic would come into play with Mark Patrick (#12) forcing McAllister to the third lane of the racetrack allowing Robinson to jump to the lead. McAllister eventually suffered a cut tire causing a spin to draw the caution. After several late race restarts McAllister worked his way back to second, hounding the rear bumper cover of Robinson as the laps wound down. The young Robinson held off the reigning series champion to score his first career OSS win with Brendan Patrick (#02) rounding out the top three.
“We finally did it. I thought being top qualifier was big, but to put the whole night together and get to victory lane is amazing,” Robinson cheerfully said in Ideal Supply Victory Lane. “My dad has been my biggest supporter, teaching me along the way to get here along with my crew they’ve all made this happen. We are going to celebrate this one for a while”
This Saturday, June 22, will be attempt two at the Flyin Frank 49 Super Stock Invitational paying $4,900 to win as well as twin 49-lap features for the G.D. Coates Used Car Superstore Late Models, Sunset Hot Rods, Struyk Energy Mini Stocks, Juniors Haulage Bone Stocks and at intermission is the inaugural running of the Power Wheels Drags.
Grandstands open at 1:30 p.m. with racing getting underway at 3pm sharp. All details can be found on the website or our Facebook and Twitter pages.
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